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"I suppose your own folks feel that your wealth is a barrier." "Why should they? I treat 'em just the same as ever. I'm not the kind to go back on my friends because I'm Marshall Haney's wife. If I'd earned this money I might put on airs; but I haven't I've just married into it." "How did you come to do it?" he asked, quickly almost accusingly. Her tone again faltered, and her eyes fell.
His voice faltered, and in the dead silence which followed this revelation of Haney's secret he turned and re-entered the inner room, to watch beside his friend. The hush which lay over the men at the bar lasted till the barkeeper softly muttered: "Boys, that's news to me. It does make it just too tough."
She struggled against him as she answered: "I don't know Yes, I do know it ain't right for me for you to say these things to me while I am Mart Haney's wife." He caught at her hands and looked upon her with face grown older and graver as he bitterly wailed: "Why couldn't we have met before you went to him? You must not go with him now, for you are mine at heart, you belong to me."
Then, as the wounded were led back to the Ska and he recovered strength and was happy in seeing his Indian protectors lavishly fed, clothed, and rewarded, he began to talk of the events of the campaign of the previous summer and to inquire why the captain was away now; and then Hastings and Archer took him in hand, and later poor stricken Haney, conscious of the approaching end, begged to see him, and then came Haney's broken confession.
Suppose even Joe, who seemed as true as Williams, should prove to be a selfish sycophant. Ah yes, it would be a different city with the magic of Haney's money no longer hers to command.
As she re-entered the room she caught Haney's repeated declaration "I will be loyal to the men" and Ben's reply. "Very well, I'll go back and do the best I can to keep them in line, but Williams says the governor is entirely on the side of the mine-operators." "Does he?" retorted Haney.
But under the almost hypnotic spell of her West-Indian attendant she bought shoes, hats, hosiery, and toilet articles till her room looked "like Christmas morning," as Haney said, and yet there was little that could be called foolish or tawdry. She wore little jewelry, having resisted Haney's attempt to load her with rings and necklaces.
She thought she had just packed a bag with the gown she wore the night she came to Haney's rescue, when he came shuffling into her room and said: "Where are you goin', darlin'?" She replied: "To the ranch to think things over." The tears came to his eyes, and he said: "'Tis the sun out of me sky when ye go, Bertie. Do not stay long."
Was not her refusal to be Marshall Haney's wife the basest ingratitude? Not merely so, but the girl felt in herself potentialities not yet drawn upon, unlimited capabilities leading towards the accomplishment of good. It could diffuse warmth like a flame, and send forth joy like a bell. "With it I am safe, strong: I can help the poor.
Haney's promise of relief from want was very sweet, yet disturbingly empty, like the joy of dreams, and yet his words took her breath clouded her judgment, befogged her insight.
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