Serial Story. CAPTAIN ADAIR’S WIFE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue IV, 28 July 1900, Page 146

Serial Story. CAPTAIN ADAIR’S WIFE.

By

LIEUTENANT JOHN PAYNE,

SYNOPSIS OF FREVIOI S CHAPTERS. The opening chapter, as is usual, intro duces a number of dramatis personae. We are at Fort Hauchiia, in Arizona, where a number of soldiers and otlieers are gathered interested in the capture of Geron.in », an Apache chief, and a band of Indians devas tilting the country. We first meet the men. who evidently dislike one Mellish, who is about to be promoted as their sergeant. Hellish is a man of good family, who has come to grief, but who is, it appears, trying to pull up. We are then introduced to Lieut. Ileekt r and his friend Ronan, an IrishMexican, the son of a Spanish-Mexican mother, and an old gold prospector from the Emerald Isle. He is a charmingly lazy and graceful man, and seems a inns: ng. <’II AI’TER II. —This begins on the train which is taking Colonel Marcy, his daughter Mary, and his niece Nina to the fort. Botii girls are very beautiful, Nina as a semiSp.inish type, and Mary as a Northerner and an English girl. Captain Adair Joins the train, and is immediately much taken with Nina, who is quite conscious of the effect her power and beauty have had upon him. Chapters 111. and IV. describe the party at the Fort, and the progre.-s of two love affairs. In Chapter V. the first ot these, the attachment between Captain Adair and Nina develops into an exchange of vows between the two. The girl is greatly distressed at the thought that the Captain must leave her to take pari in a dangerous expedition against the Indians, and at his suggestion she agrees to marry him at once. Chapter VI. reveals some unpleasant facts about Mellish. who it appears has a wife and child whom he has deserted. Chapter VII.. as Nina and the Captain are riding home they are attacked by Indians. Adair, grasping the terrible position, aims his revolver to shoot Nina. But his arm is struck up and he falls to the ground pierced by a bullet*. CHAPTER VIII.—On recovering his senses, six weeks later, he finds, to his great distress that Nina has gone home. CHAPTER IX.—Tells us more of Lieut. Hecker's way of life. CHAPTER X.—Hecker loses heavily at play, but is reimbursed by Mrs Savage, who is evidently much attached to him. CHAPTERS XI. and Xll.—Adair having received no communication from Nina, gets leave of absence and takes a trip to Japan. On his return, greatly improved in health, he meets Hecker, who. he hears, has lately taken to himself a wife. Hecker asks to introduce the lady to Captain Adair, and to his dismay, the latter discovers her to be Nina. <ll APTERS XIII.. XIV.. XV.—Adair is so stunned by the shock that he is barely able to speak, and makes his way. as best Im can, back to the Fort. The lady has received him most graciously, and <me gathers she is innocent of any knowledge that Adair is her husband. In a Mrs Bland, who has arrived at the Fort in the capacity of companion to Nina. Mellish discovers his deserted wife. He tells her of Nina s marriage to Adair, of which ho was a witness. Later Mellish discloses his knowledge to Adair. The latter threatens to kill him if he breathes a word of what he knows. © © & AVI. "There isn’t any retison why we should slay with the rest of the party that I can see,'* Ronau said. "And I do want yon to see my mine. I wain to escort yon over my sole and only property. I once owned a lot in the eemetvry in San Francisco, and I believe there were some other lands that fell to my share when my father left me an orphan, but cireumstances some most enjoyable circumstances—have robbed me of tin* latter. The burial lot I turned over to my mother. ’ “I'm sure I should enjoy nothing better than a journey through your mine. The only mines I have ever visited were the big mini's. Where are your hoisting works?” •‘Well. they are visible to the naked eye when you art* near them, hut at tliis distance they keep modest Iv out of sight." Mr Ronan ami Miss . .arcy wen* sitting on their horses at the top of a little hill. Mrs Savage anti Mi Neal had gone on ahead, a little t ai! of dust showing the direction the\ hxl taken. "Where do you suppose they will "I do not suppose anything about It. I know. They wi l ! go on. and on. and on. ’ There was a far awa\ look in Mr Ronan's eyes, as though “iiikl on led to infinity. “I'ntil they conic to that vidua r hostelrx known as ‘Pick-me-up.' that is stationed on the Charleston Road tor

the eouvenieuce of thirsty travellers, mill just there Mrs Savage will begin to feel a little faint. .ar Neal will suggest that they have a claret punch, unit Mrs Savage will say she ’couldn’t,’ it ‘wouldn’t do’ for her to stop and drink elaret punch over the dust in the road. There will be various other things suggested, but when 'Pick-me-up’ disappears front view there will be beer bottles in Neal’s pockets. They will probably go on over to the dam and get into the one boat there and row around and look at each other and talk.” "I don’t think they either of them talk very much, t Mrs Savage isn’t half as gay as I expected to find her.” "There is a sort of shadowy wingover Mrs Savage these days. Site doesn’t seem like herself. But we, 1 trust, are going to visit my mine. The two miners who trust me enough to continue to give me their labour - in the hope of a future reward will let us down and we eau explore." The plain was bright and sunny, and the yucca bells rang their sweetness all through the atmosphere. The horses hung tceir heads and walked slowly along unehided. Neither Ronan nor Mary knew where nor how they were going. The road was straight before them, one of the smooth trails that are all over Arizona made by the once or twice passing of horses and ore waggons. Not many ore waggons nad left Ronan's mine.

There was a long string of the odd vehicles coming along the trail from the Topaz mine now to an accompaniment of cracking whips and Mexican oaths. Suddenly, at the end of the trail, they were following, .here was a smoothed place in the mesa where the cactus had been cut away, and there were evidences of work—a little “dump,” a heap of ore. some timber, and in the midst of all a windlass wry much such as yott see in the yards of farmhouses, it was wrapped with tarred rope and a bucket hung over the shaft underneath.

“This, my dear Miss Marey, is my hoisting works.” Ronan leaned over the side, of the hole, ami called out “Hello. Mike! Michael! Duffy.”

But there was no reply. Evidently Mr Duffy was lost in the labyrinthine depths of the mine, or was roaming on top of earth, far from the scenes of bis labours.

“Well” Mr Ronan cheerfully prefaced most of his remarks with ■"Well"—“they seem to have followed the example of their comrades and concluded that picking at barren rock was a feckless job.”

He looked at the windlass and then he looked at Miss Marey. She had slipped down from her - wrist, was putting the rein over her wrist, was standing beside him. her eyes dancing with the spirit of adventure. There isn't anything on earth a healthy girl loves more than a suspicion of a lark with a man in whom she has perfect confidence. “I can let you down all right, if vou'll go.” he said. -I'll go." Ronan drew the big bucket, which was intended for use in bringing up the ore. over to the side, and Mary, drawing her habit together, daintily and gingerly stepped in. holding on tightly. “Is it very deep?” “About thirty feet." .Ronan took off his tight riding coat, showing the fine muscles in his chest «ind arms and back. As she swung over the blaek hole beneath. Mary looked at him with admiration in her Slowly slowly he let her down, until she stopped and called back to him. Ronan swung himself after her. going hand over hand down the rope. He found Mary standing there in the darkness. He laughed, a happy excited little laugh; it was as though they were cut off from the whole wide world and left there together. A de-

sert island was nothing to the depths of the earth.

Ronan felt in his pocket and brought out a box of wax matches and struck one I

“There ought to be some candles here,” he said, peering about. Before the little taper died out he 15gh|<ed another, and then antother. Down in one corner there was a box of candles. He gave Mary one, and took one for himself, and like two children hunting the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, they set out idn their jexplorafiion of t<hei mine. There wals not much to see.

There were no pockets of wire silver looking like frosty cobwebs such as Mary had admired in some of the other mines; only about half a mile of tunnelling, badly timbered. “Tt’s «|. poor thing,” Ronan said reverently, “but it’s mine own.”

“I don’t see but that it is als good ass any of the others,” Mary replied. “They all look alike. It isn’t as big. but then you haven’t been working it so long.” “What a pity you are not an Eastern capitalist, or even a mining expert. .Inst here. now. is where we thought the lode was going to develop into a wonder. \Ve imagined the ‘lmcky Cuss’ was not going to hold a candle to us, but some way it disappeared, and nobody has been able to discover any- sign of it since.” Mary held her - candle near the wa'l, and locked closely as though she expected the lost lode to appear anywhere, but it was all the same dull rock. They had made the circuit, peered down winces, and stumbled’ over tools thah lay uncannily about, and come back to their starting point. Suddenly Ronan uttered an exclamation. Mary looked at him, startled. It was the first time she had heard him give any expression of surprise, whatever happened. He was looking up toward the hole where sunshine was visible, an indescribable expression upon his faee. Her eyes followed his. There, merrily burning, almost to the. windlass. in a torch-like blaze, was the tarred rope by which they bad come down.

Evidently in- lighting the candles one of Ronan’s wax matches had ignited it, and it had burned like tinder. They were prisoners in the mine. XVII. Mrs Savage and Mr Neal had ridden on towards Charleston. As Ronan imagined. they cast longing eyes toward “Piek-me-up” and its refreshments. Mr Savage had said once that the reason he was not a billionaire, was because he would not go into Mexico to Jive. In Mexico malt was unknown, and Mr Savage loved the product of the hop. His wife had been an apt pupil. She bad never beard that beer was vulgar. and so enjoyed it. and offered it to people with a clear conscience, and a sensation of duties of hospitality well carried out.

But just as Mr Neal and Mrs Savage came down the little hill which looked upon that wayside station. Lieutenant Hecker walked out of the cottonwood shaded doorway, and took his horse’s bridle from the Mexican boy who held it. Mrs Savage gave her own horse just the least little touch with the tiny silver spur she wore on her boot heel, ami in a second she was bolding out her well gloved hand to Hecker, smiling with an expression she had often practised before her mirror. in those hours when her hopes made her see herself as conquering.

Hecker had not expected to meet Mrs •Savage. That was not on his programme at all, but his was the easy spirit which accepted the good the gods sent, and made no complaint. “Where for?” he asked gayly.

“We are riding for riding’s sake, but 1 believe our ultimate destination was the Charleston dam. We were going up to rest our eyes on water. Can you not come along?”

“Why of course. Although my eyes do not need any resting.” And Hecker gazed straight at Mrs Savage with a look which sent the blood into her rather too plump cheeks. She turned her head and looked away at the hills, a little vexed with herself at the way her heart beat. Neal dangled along in the background. He was thirsty. He made up his mind that at Charleston he would make an excuse to leave Hecker and Mrs Savage and go somewhere and refresh himself.

The little town of Charleston consisted of half a dozen adobe, houses besides the large, airy wooden dwelling which was occupied by the owner of the mill. The San Pedro River ran through it. a little stream which would not have been above the dignity of a brook in a land of real rivers. Two miles above there was a dam which held the water back to supply power for the mill. It made a placid little lake in the barren roeks. and was much visited for picnics in the season. A rickety little boat was tied to the dam, and around a point of rock was a board hut where the watchman lived. As Hecker and Mrs Savage turned from Charleston into the barren trail which led to the dam, Neal drew in his horse.

“I think, if you don't mind, I’ll ride up and drop in on Featheriy for a moment. He asked me to see about some horses for him and I haven't had time to talk to him about it. I’ll join you at the dam. Be there almost by the time you are,” and hearing no protests, Mr Neal turned joyfully toward the mill superintendent’s house and his well stocked sideboard. Heeker and Mrs Savage rode on.

The little lake was a pretty sight to eyes unaccustomed to a body of water larger than a. bath tub. Heeker lifted Mrs Savage down from her horse, and they walked together out upon the dam. The river was low. as it was midway between rainy seasons, and the water forced its way through interstices in the timbers, at least five feet below the top of the dam. The boat was just below them.

“Suppose we row." Hecker said. “How eau we get down?" He swung himself over and dropped his heavy weight gracefully into the boat. and. untying it. rowed to the rocky side where she could elimb down. He held out his hand to her i"’ d «ut. into the centre of the little pond propelled by Hecker's (Sltrong arms. H|e was happv with any sort of action, and having Mrs Savage, adoring, before him. he for got everything- else, and said things to her that she could never fo, gvt. They had gone up and down and across, and finally eame back and sat in the shadow of the dam. The sun was hanging owr the Whetstone Mountains, gilding everything, merely accenting the peculiar yellowness nliK'li is . Arizona's dominant tint. Hecker laid the oars up on the dam and lighted a cigar. "A woman is to be pitied always” Mrs Savage said, mournfully. “Her mistakes there is no rectifying." ’And a man’s cannot be undone ” jjuker refspondiecl, in a soft voice, with the same cadence.

“But a young girl is so powerless. Think of me. 1 was only sixteen when I married a man I hardlv knew. I did not know what love was. I had no idea that there was such a thing. “-Vs you know it now!” There was a deeper note in Hecker's voice. “As I know it now. But oh, Harry, what I cannot forgive is your marriage. You knew.”

“1 cannot forgive myself.” “I know she must haw tbrowti

herself at your head,” Mrs Savage said, her tone becoming vicioufe, “bu)t I never thought you were one to be eaught.” Juist then the boat began to float out. There was a piece of rope nailed to the timber® almost in Mrs Savage’s hand. “Catch that rope and hold the boat in,” Hecker said hastily. Mrs Savage reached for it as it was fast recpding, and unconsciousily arose; the boat shot from under her, and she went into the water.

The oarls were on top of the dam. Hecker gave one look of disgust, and one exclamation that was by no means complimentary, and sprang over the side of the boat to her assistance. The long boots of the cavalry we>ixt \MidK| topped and reaching almost to his hips. The instant he struck the water these filled and dragged him under. But Hecker was a strong man with perfectly trained muscles and quickly recovered himself. He reached Mrs Savage by a few strokes. The rope had broken short off in her hands, and she was ready to sink. Hecker supported her and attempted to swim with her toward the steep place where she had climbed down to the boat, but she was perfectly unmanageable. She threw her arms about his neck and almost dragged him under. “Let go!” he shouted. “You will drown us both.”

But the woman was in perfect frenzy of fear. Her long cloth riding skirt tangled its sodden heaviness about his legs, almost powerless already from the water filled boots. He forcibly pulled her arms from his neck, and catching the skirt tore it off, with the strength of despair.

Even then he felt that they were sinking, that horrible incubus of a woman pulling him down. He swore fairly in her face, and then remembering that the watchman was probably’ somewhere about, lifted his voice in a loud call for help. The ery went echoing through the rocks. “Help!” “Help!" and again. “Help!” Neill had ridden up to the big verandaed house where Featherly, assisted by an excellent Chinese cook, kept a bachelor establishment that was the delight of all his friends. .Featherly was sitting on the verandah his stockinged feet lifted to the railing, and a siphon of soda and a bottle of brandy at his elbow. Neal lost no time in joining him. “(lood gracious!” Featherly exclaimed. “Where on earth did you drop from? I haven't seen you in an age. 1 heard yesterday that you were chained to Mrs Savage’s chariot wheels. Do you know. Neal, it looks to me as though Mrs Savage was getting a little heavy for it to be any fun to draw her chariot.” “Fact is I never did find it any fun. But you get roped in sometimes. I’m entirely left to-day. Was allowed to resign without a single protest. Ronan has. taken Mary Marcyoff somewhere and Mrs Savage met Heeker back here and forgot ray existence that minute. I’d serve ’em just right if I went off and let Hecker take her back home. There’s no doubt he would enjoy- it, but I feel sorry’ for Mrs Hecker." "How is Hecker behaving himself?” “Same old fashion. He can’t settle down, any more than he could settle up. if it were not for his wife’s money." “Is" Ronan going to marry Miss M a rey ?” “It' looks like it, and yet he hasn’t a penny, and she hasn't a, cent.” “Queer taste women have. They always seem to take to the black sheep.” “Ronan isn’t as black as he is painted. He has the heart and grace of a gentleman. One is obliged to like Ronan. He is full of follies that he exaggerates himself, but they are clean follies. If Ronan liad not spent his fortune he would be the best fellow on earth in the eyes of the world. His wild oats were not the seed-l>earing variety. But say, T can’t stay here all day. Get your horse and ride over to the dam with me. Maybe the two of us can induce Mrs Savage to let Hecker go home to his The two men reached the dam jusit in time to hear that hoarse cry for help. . Noel stop|>e<l his horse for an instant. listening intently. It came again. “Help.” , The men galloped on, and when the trail became too narrow they flung

themselves down and took to running. They were just in time to see the struggle in the water. Hecker, worn out, exasperated, drew back and gave Mrs Savage a blow that for an instant stunned her. He did not see the coming men, and it seemed their only possible chance of escape.

“Hold on,” Neal cried. “We are here.”

Featherly’ threw off his coat and shoes and in an instant was drawing Mrs Savage up out of the water. She recovered from the confusion of the blow almost at once, but Hecker had succeeded in giving her a concussion that would in a few minutes become a very black eye. Mrs Savage did not know that yet. She stood shivering on the edge of the bank, skirtless, attired in very tight riding trousers, boots ami a short basque, and a tall silk hat, which still remained tightly pinned to her hair, although knocked to one side in an extremely degage fashion, and very battered and wet. The curl was out of her hair and it hung in strings, over her wet face. She was sobbing on the borderland of hysterics. The long skirt of her habit was wrapped tightly about Hecker’s legs. “Say, Hecker,” Neal asked, “did you and Mrs Savage change clothes before you got into the water or afterwards.?”

Hecker gave one glance at the figure before him and lost all sense of reason, delicacy or kind feeling and roared with laughter. Mrs Savage gave him a look of utter astonishment and then, seeing only mirth in his face, and realising her helplessness, went into violent hysterics. XVIII. “We’ll take Mellish along. I always like to have two men, merely for the look of the thing,” Hecker said. “I think you might enjoy that ride down towards the Mexican line.” “Oh, I should.” Nina replied. “I love any sort of outdoor sport. Do you know, Harry, I believe that was the reason I cared for you, you looked so sort of outdoorsy. You looked so honest and sincere, so different from the other men I knew. They were always hanging round talking about things they didn’t know anything about. Now you—” “I never talk about anything. “Well, you really do not talk much. But vou never pretend. You are just von.' I could not stand it if vou were not like that. I feel sure of you all the time.” , , Heeker laughed his easy laugh. That was the proper attitude for a wife to take of course. That was the point of view he wanted his wife to have toward him. Hecker had the variety of conscience which is never in the least disturbed until there is a prospect of being found out. . He felt honest so long as his wife jtna<rined him to be so. Hecker within himself had not the virtue of believing in his own lies. He laughed at himself for telling them and at the people who believed them. “Well, come along now.” he. said. “Get into your habit and we will hie ns down towards the border. I’ll order the horses around.” Heeker had bought a thoroughbred Kentucky horse from a man in Tombstone who had brought two on I in a fit of exultation over a lucky strike he had made in a mine, ami was ready enough to sell them when the hoped-for vein proved to be only a “pocket.” While Hecker stood on his verandah, walking idly about, petting the horses, and wishing that he had a lump of sugar to give them, talking to Mellish about their harness, and giving expression in his whole big personality to the supreme content which possessed him, Adair came out of his house across the parade ground, flung himself upon his horse, and. looking neither to the right nor left, rode rapidly up the canyon. „ “There goes an unsociable devil, Heeker thought to himself. “I cannot imagine what pleasure Adair finds in living.” He turned as his wife came out ol the door, her short habit held up a trifle, showing her dainty boots with their patent leather toes. and the trimness of its make. Heeker never had seen so pretty and dainty- a woman. The thought of her belonging to him impressed him. He was like a child with a toy that was so fine he wiis almost afraid of it. It was a thing to show and enjoy the possession of with a swelling heart of exul-

tation, but never the thing* to be quite easy with.

He looked down the row now. and was glad to see that there were so many people sitting out on their verau dahs who would see them ride by. Mellish waited until Hecker had thrown his wife into her saddle and then he threw himself upon his horse and followed them. It was a continual enjoyment to him to see Mrs Hecker's manner towards her husband and every one else with whom they came in contact. It was the enjoyment of what was to him perfect acting. He had grown to admire Mrs Hecker as he had never admired any woman before. She appealed to the deceptive instinct which was his own strongest quality.

He looked at her now as she rode out of the fort, bowing with graciousness to the people on each side, and followed the smiles that were sent after her, even from the verandah where the Judd gidis were standing. He thought how clever she must think herself; what daring recklessness must possess her soul at the risk she had taken.

“Talk of pluck!" Mellish said to himself. “There is more pluck in that woman than in a dozen men.” The immorality of her stand was as delightful to him ns a tale of the boulevards. He became fond of her. as she seemed to move upon his own levels. He would not have dreamed of

disturbing her In telling her that hr knew her secret. Hr sometimes wondered t<» himself what she woiftd do. Sometimes thr savage that lurked within him came to the surface, and made him fancy how it would seem to have this woman in his power, mid have her conscious of it.

They had ridden about five miles when they saw in thr distance a little whirling dust cloud, that presently re solved itself into a Mexican boy ambling along upon a burro. He was sitting far back, and thrumming idlyl a badly strung guitar. Hr looked at Hecker as he passedl him as though he had never seen him before, but Heeker half unconsciously drew* up his own horse..

Mellish stopped the boy for an instant, ami then the burro was turned, and with digging in of heels and cries was urged wildly back the way it had come. Mellish stopped, and alighting, drew up the buckles of the “cuick” which held his saddle.

I wonder if anything is wrong with Mellish's outfit." Hecker said. “Sit still a moment. Nina, and T will go back ami see."

Mellish was still bending* over his saddle. “What is it?"

Mellish handed out a small envelope whose strong perfume puffed up in Hecker’s fare. He tore it open impatiently. and then a smile, went around the corners of his mouth.

“Confound the girl,” he said, but his lone was anything but confounding. He ro<ie slowly back to Nina with a serious face.

“My dear,” he said, ‘’that Imh brought some news which it seems to me ought to be looked into at once. I shall have to go on down into Mexico for a few miles to investi gate the rumour. You will not mi ml riding back with Mellish?” “Oh. my dear, it ifsn’t anything about Indians?” “No! No! It. is some of those Mexican thieves. Be very careful to say nothing to any one concerning it. I ought not to have toid even you. It is a matter between myself and the commanding officer.” “I suppose this is the penalty of marrying a man with a commanding officer above his wife. Good bye: hurry back.” and Nina turned her horse, looking laughingly over her shoulder nt Hecker. He kissed his hand to her.’ saluted, and rode down toward Mexico with an open face and a clear conscience.

Mellish waited until came up. and drew in about two yards behind her. Nina almost forgot the man’s existence. She looked about at the queer country, and thought of the first tUne she had •seen it. They passed among the rolling foothills, the buttes which follow the mountain chain, and there coining down a dry aroya. the bed of one of the swift and evanescent mountain torrents which devastate in the rainy season, was Adair, his horse carefully picking its wav. To he continued.