May 15, 2025 • 18 mins
Transplanted from New York to save his familys business in the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Price Ruyler quickly ascends to the top of the citys bachelor list. Yet, he remains immune to the local girls advances and their mothers schemes. That is, until he encounters the enchanting Helene, leading to a whirlwind proposal within just a week. As they journey into their fourth year of marriage, Prices love for Helene remains steadfast. However, he begins to sense a shift, sparking questions about her enigmatic past and whether any family secrets were lost in the earthquakes aftermath.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter eight of The Avalanche by Gertrude horn Atherton. This
LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Lynn Thompson,
Chapter eight, Part one. He arrived at home on the
following afternoon at six, and was immediately wrung up by Spalding,
who demanded an interview. It was not worth while going
(00:23):
down town again, as Elen was out and would no
doubt return only in time to dress for dinner. They
were to dine at half past seven and go to
the play afterward. He told Spalding to take a taxi
and come to the house. Nothing had occurred meanwhile to
cause him anxiety. He had taken Ellen out to the
cliff House to dinner the night before, and afterward to
(00:45):
see the road houses whose dancing is so painfully proper.
Early in the evening, Polly Roberts had come into the
most notorious of them at eleven, chaperoning a party which
included Aileen Lawton, a girl as restless as and avid
of excitement as herself. Rex Roberts and several other young
(01:05):
men had been in attendance, and Polly had begged Ryler
to stay on and let his wife see something of
real life. This is one of the sights of the world,
you know, she said, puffing her cigarette smoke into his face.
It's too middle class to be shot and not to
see occasionally what you really cannot get anywhere else. Why,
(01:27):
there'll even be a lot of tourists here later on,
and these dancers don't do the real apache until about
one at least. Leave alein with me if you care
more for bed than fun. But Ryla had merely laughed
and taken his wife home. Elene had made no protests.
On the contrary, had put her arm through his in
the car and her head on his shoulder, vowing she
(01:50):
was worn out and glad to go home. It was
only afterward that it occurred to him that she had
clung to him. That night, Spalding entered the Libry without
taking off his hat and chewing a tooth pick vigorously.
He began to talk at once, stretching himself out in
a Morris chair and accepting a cigar. This time, Pryce
(02:10):
smote with him. Well, said the detective. It's like the
game of button, button, Who's got the button. Sometimes I
think I'm getting a little warmer, and then I go
stone cold. But I've found out a few things. Anyhow,
how tall should you say, Madame de lano Is. I've
only seen her sitting on her throne there in the
palace court, looking like an old sphinx that's having a
(02:33):
laugh all to herself. About five feet ten, the mother
superior said, six feet, But no doubt when she had
figure instead of flesh, she looked taller. Well, I've discovered
no less than five tall, handsome brunettes that sparkled here
in the late eighties and early nineties. But it's a
juice and all to get an exact description out of anybody,
(02:56):
especially when quite a few years have elapsed. Most people
don't see details, only effects. That's what we detectives come
up against all the time. So whether these ladies were
five feet eight, five feet ten or six feet, whether
they had large features or small, big hands and feet,
or fine points, or whether they added on all the
(03:17):
inches they yearned for by means of high heels or
style is beyond me. But here they are. He took
his neat little notebook from his pocket and was about
to read it when Riyler interrupted him. But surely you
know whether these women were French or not. Oh, that's
just what you can't always find out. Lots of them
(03:38):
pretend to be, and others, if they come from good
stock in the old Country, want you to forget it.
But the Queen's generally run to French names as having
a better commercial value than Mary Jane or Anna Maria.
One of these was Marie Garnett, who wasn't much on
her own, but spun the wheel in Jim's joint down
(03:58):
on Barbary Coasts, which was raided just so often. For
form's sake, she always made a quick getaway, was never
up in court, and died young. Gabrielle ran an establishment
down on Geary Street and was one of the swellest
lookers and swellest togged dames in her profession till the
drink got her. I can't find that she ever hooked
(04:19):
up to a James or any one else. Pauline Marie
was another razzle dazzle who swooped out here from nowhere
and burrowed into quite a few fortunes and put quite
a few of our society leaders into mourning. She disappeared
and I can't chase her, but she seems to have
been the handsomest of the bunch. And was fond of
(04:39):
showing herself at first nights, dressed straight from Paris, until
some of our war hardened leaders called upon the managers
in a body and threatened never to set foot inside
their doors again unless she was kept out and the
manager's succumbed. Then there was the friend of a rich
Englishman whose first name I haven't been able to get
(04:59):
told of. They lived first at Santa Barbara, then loafed
up and down the coast for a year or two,
spending quite a time at San Francisco. She was foreign
looking and a stunner all right. All of these dames
drifted out about the same time. What was the Englishman's name,
j Horace Medford front name may or may not have
(05:21):
been James. I doubt if his name could be found
on any deeds, even in the South where there was
no fire. He doesn't seem to have brought any property
or transacted any business, just lived on a good sized income.
Of course, all the hotel registers here were burnt. But
I wired to Santa Barbara and Monterey and got what
I have given you. He had a yacht and he
(05:44):
took a woman with him. Everywhere there was always a
flutter when they appeared at the theater. Of course she
went by his name, But as he never presented a
letter all the time he was here, and it was
quite obvious he could have brought all he wanted. And
as men are always on anyhow, there was but one conclusion.
Where did he bank? They might have his full name,
(06:06):
Bank of California, But his remittances were sent to order
of j. Horace Medford, And of course he signed his
checks the same way. That sounds the most likely of
the lot and the most hopeful. Well, haven't handed you
the fits yet? And in my mind she's the most
likely of all. Ever hear of James Lawton's trouble with
(06:27):
his wife, trouble I thought she died. She did not.
She went east suddenly about fifteen years ago, and soon
after a notice of her death appeared in the San
Francisco papers. But there was a tale of woe for
old Lawton that I doubt if most of her own
crowd had even a suspicion of good heavens. Riyla recalled
(06:51):
the apparent intimacy of his mother in law and the
senior member of the respectable firm of Lawton and Cross.
If Madame Delano were the former Missus Lawton, how many
things would be explained. This woman's name was Marie all Right,
and she was French, although she seemed to have been
adopted by some people named a Dubois and brought up
(07:12):
in California. She was quite the proper thing in high society.
But the trouble was that she liked another sort better.
She was a regular fly by night. It began when
Naughton Moore, a rotten limb of one of the grandest
trees in San Francisco society, so respectable that they didn't
know that there was any side to life but their
(07:32):
own sneaked Missus Lawton and three girls out of his
mother's house one night when she was giving a ball,
put him in a hack, and took him down to Gabrielle's.
There they spent an hour looking at Gabrielle's swell bunch,
dressed up and doing the grand society act with some
of the men about town. Then they danced some and
opened a bottle or two. I never heard that this
(07:55):
little jaunt hurt the girl's anny, but it woke up
something in Missus Lawton. After that, well, there are stories
without end won't take up your time telling them. The
upshot was that one night Lawton, who took a fling
himself once in a while, met her at Gabrielle's or
some other joint, and she went Easter day or two after.
(08:16):
I suppose he didn't get a divorce, partly on account
of the kid Eileen, partly because he had no intention
of trying his luck again. But is there any evidence
that she had another child that she hid away? No,
but it might easy have been. This life went on
for about eight years, and it was at least five
(08:36):
that she and Lawton merely lived under the same roof
for the sake of Aileen. They never did get on.
That much, at least was well known. It might easy
be Rayler made a rapid calculation. Eileen Lawton was just
about three years older than Elene. She was fair like
her father. There was no resemblance between her and his wife,
(08:58):
but the intimacy between them had been spontaneous and had
never lapsed. She had grown up quite unrestrained and spoilt,
and broken three engagements, and was always rushing about, proclaiming
in one breath that California was the greatest place on earth,
and in the next that she should go mad if
she didn't get out and have a change. Another grievance
(09:20):
was that, although her father let her have her own way,
or rather did not pretend to control her, he gave
her a rather niggardly allowance for her personal expenses, and
she was supposed to be heavily in debt. Riyla thought
he could guess where a good deal of his wife's
spare cash had gone to. He disliked Alien Lawton as
(09:41):
much as he did Polly Roberts more, if anything, because
she might have been clever and she chose to be
a fool. Both of these intimate friends of his wife
were the reverse of the superb outdoor type he admired.
Good Lord, he said, I don't think there's much choice,
But in a moment he shook his head. Too many
(10:02):
things don't connect. Where did she get the money to
go to her relations in Ruon he pensioned her off,
of course, and the child? How did he consent to
let her return here with a daughter he probably never
heard of. I figure out either that she came into
some money from a relation over in France, or else
she has something on the old boy and wanting to
(10:25):
come back here and marry her daughter. She held him up.
He's a pillar of the church, been one of the
presidents of the Pacific Union Club, has argued cases before
the Supreme Court that have been cabled all over the country.
When a man of that sort gets to Lawton's time
of life, he don't want any scandals. All the same,
(10:46):
said Ryla, positively, I don't believe it. I think it
far more likely that he was a friend of Madame
Delano's husband, assuming that she had one, and that some
money was left with him in trust for her or
the child. Well, it may be, but I inclined to Lawton.
There's one person who would know, Jean Bisbee. But I
(11:08):
never went to that bunch yet for any information, and
I don't go this time except as a last resort.
Of course, he knows, and that is one reason I
believe she is missus Lawton. He was Gabrielle's mackaro for years.
When he d rung enough out of her, he set
up for himself. Well, I ain't through yet by a
long sight. Beliefs ain't proof. He rose slowly from the
(11:32):
deep chair, stretched himself and settled his hat firmly on
his head. What's this I hear about a wonderful ruby?
Your wife wore up to Gwins the other night. Gosh,
I'd like to see a sparkler like that? Why by
all means, Rylah swung the bookcase outward, opened the safe
and handed him the ruby. Spaulding regarded it with bulging
(11:53):
eyes and touched it with his finger tips, much as
he would a new born babe. Some stone, he said,
as he handed it back. But why in thunder don't
you keep it in a safe deposit box. There are
crooks that can crack any safe, and if they got
wise to this, Oh, how do ma'am Elene had come
in and stood behind the two men. Spaulding snatched off
(12:16):
his hat, and she acknowledged her husband's introduction graciously. She
was dressed for the evening in white. Her eyes looked
abnormally large, and she kept dropping her lids as if
to keep them from setting in a stair. Her lovely mouth,
with its soft curves, was faded and set. The whole
face was almost as stiff as a mask, and even
(12:37):
her graceful body was rigid. Ryla saw Spalding give her
a sharp sizing up look as he murmured, Well, so long,
guv see you to morrow. Hope the man will turn
out all right after all. I hope so he's a
good chap. Otherwise, good night, ma'am. Tell your husband to
put that ruby in a safe deposit box. Oh nobody
(12:59):
knows the safest there except mister Riler and myself. There
have been safes hidden behind bookcases before, said Spalding dryly,
and crooks, like all the other pests of the earth,
just drift naturally to this coast. If I were you,
I'd have a detective on hand whenever you wear that
bit of glass. Not at a friendly affair like the
Gwyn's dinner, of course, But good idea, exclaimed Ryler. My
(13:23):
wife will wear the ruby to the Thornton fete on
the fourteenth. Will you be on hand to guard it?
Won't I about half our forces engaged for that blow out,
But no one but yours truly shall be guardian angel
for the ruby. Well, good night once more, and good luck.
As soon as the detective had gone, Ryler drew his
wife to him anxiously. What is it, Helene? You look well?
(13:47):
You don't look yourself. I have a headache, she said, irritably.
Perhaps I'm developing nerves. I do wish you would take
me to New York. Other women get away from this
town once in a while. But you told me on
Sunday that you adored California, that it was like fairyland. Oh,
all the women out here bluff themselves and everybody else
(14:10):
just so long, and then suddenly go to pieces. It's
a wonderful state. But what a life? What a life?
Surely I was made for something better. I don't wonder
what he asked sharply. Oh nothing, I feel ungrateful. Of course,
I really should be quite happy. Think I had to
(14:31):
go back to Ruin to live after this taste of
freedom and beauty. For California has all the beauties of youth,
as well as its idiocies and vices. There is not
the remotest danger of your ever being obliged to live
in rule again. Oh I don't know. You might get
tired of me. We might fight like cat and dog
(14:51):
for want of common interest, of something to talk about.
You would never take to drink like so many of
the men, But I might well, and glad dinner is
ready at last. But she played with her food that
she was repressing an intense and mounting excitement. Rayla did
not doubt, and he also suspected that she wished to
(15:12):
broach some particular subject, from which she turned in panic.
They were alone after coffee had been served, and he said, abruptly,
what is it, Elene? Do you want money? I have
an idea that Polly robertson to Aileen Lawton borrow heavily
from you, and that they may have cleaned you out
completely on the first How dear of you to guess,
or rather to get so close. It's worse than that.
(15:35):
I that is well, Poor Polly went quite mad over
a pearl necklace at Shrieves, and they told her to
take it and wear it for a few days, thinking
I suppose she would never give it up and will
get the money somehow. She Oh, it's too dreadful. She
lost it and she dares not tell Rex. He's lost
(15:55):
quite a lot of money. Later, and she's mad with fright,
and I told her where did she lose it? It's
not easy to lose a necklace, especially when the clasp
is new. She thinks it was stolen from her neck
at the theater. You heard what that man said? Ah,
what was the price of the necklace twenty thousand dollars.
(16:17):
The pearls weren't so very large, of course, but Polly
never had had a pearl necklace. I'll let her have
the money to pay for it, on one condition that
it is a transaction between Roberts and myself. No, no,
not for anything. I've leant him money before, but he'd
never forgive Polly. He he's one of those men who
(16:40):
make an awful fuss on the first of every month
when his wife's bills come in. There must be a
base chorus on the first of every month in San Francisco. Oh, please,
don't jest. She must have this money. She may have
it on those terms. I'll have no business dealing with
women of the Polly Roberts sorts. That would be the
(17:03):
last I'd ever see of the twenty thousand. I never
thought you were singy rylah. In spite of his tearing anxiety,
laughed outright. Is that your idea of how the indulgent
American husband becomes rich? Oh? Of course I wouldn't have
you lose such a sum. I really have learned the
(17:24):
value of money in the abstract, Although I can't care
for it. As much as men do. I have no
great love of money, but there is a certain difference
between a miser and a level headed business man. Price
I must have that money. Polly, Oh, I am afraid
she will kill herself. Not she a more selfish little
(17:46):
beast never breathed. She'll squeeze the money out of someone.
Never fear. But I think I'll lock up your jewels
in case you are tempted to raise money on them
for her darling without a sound had fainted. End of
Chapter eight
Chapter eight of The Avalanche by Gertrude horn Atherton. This
LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Lynn Thompson,
Chapter eight, Part one. He arrived at home on the
following afternoon at six, and was immediately wrung up by Spalding,
who demanded an interview. It was not worth while going
(00:23):
down town again, as Elen was out and would no
doubt return only in time to dress for dinner. They
were to dine at half past seven and go to
the play afterward. He told Spalding to take a taxi
and come to the house. Nothing had occurred meanwhile to
cause him anxiety. He had taken Ellen out to the
cliff House to dinner the night before, and afterward to
(00:45):
see the road houses whose dancing is so painfully proper.
Early in the evening, Polly Roberts had come into the
most notorious of them at eleven, chaperoning a party which
included Aileen Lawton, a girl as restless as and avid
of excitement as herself. Rex Roberts and several other young
(01:05):
men had been in attendance, and Polly had begged Ryler
to stay on and let his wife see something of
real life. This is one of the sights of the world,
you know, she said, puffing her cigarette smoke into his face.
It's too middle class to be shot and not to
see occasionally what you really cannot get anywhere else. Why,
(01:27):
there'll even be a lot of tourists here later on,
and these dancers don't do the real apache until about
one at least. Leave alein with me if you care
more for bed than fun. But Ryla had merely laughed
and taken his wife home. Elene had made no protests.
On the contrary, had put her arm through his in
the car and her head on his shoulder, vowing she
(01:50):
was worn out and glad to go home. It was
only afterward that it occurred to him that she had
clung to him. That night, Spalding entered the Libry without
taking off his hat and chewing a tooth pick vigorously.
He began to talk at once, stretching himself out in
a Morris chair and accepting a cigar. This time, Pryce
(02:10):
smote with him. Well, said the detective. It's like the
game of button, button, Who's got the button. Sometimes I
think I'm getting a little warmer, and then I go
stone cold. But I've found out a few things. Anyhow,
how tall should you say, Madame de lano Is. I've
only seen her sitting on her throne there in the
palace court, looking like an old sphinx that's having a
(02:33):
laugh all to herself. About five feet ten, the mother
superior said, six feet, But no doubt when she had
figure instead of flesh, she looked taller. Well, I've discovered
no less than five tall, handsome brunettes that sparkled here
in the late eighties and early nineties. But it's a
juice and all to get an exact description out of anybody,
(02:56):
especially when quite a few years have elapsed. Most people
don't see details, only effects. That's what we detectives come
up against all the time. So whether these ladies were
five feet eight, five feet ten or six feet, whether
they had large features or small, big hands and feet,
or fine points, or whether they added on all the
(03:17):
inches they yearned for by means of high heels or
style is beyond me. But here they are. He took
his neat little notebook from his pocket and was about
to read it when Riyler interrupted him. But surely you
know whether these women were French or not. Oh, that's
just what you can't always find out. Lots of them
(03:38):
pretend to be, and others, if they come from good
stock in the old Country, want you to forget it.
But the Queen's generally run to French names as having
a better commercial value than Mary Jane or Anna Maria.
One of these was Marie Garnett, who wasn't much on
her own, but spun the wheel in Jim's joint down
(03:58):
on Barbary Coasts, which was raided just so often. For
form's sake, she always made a quick getaway, was never
up in court, and died young. Gabrielle ran an establishment
down on Geary Street and was one of the swellest
lookers and swellest togged dames in her profession till the
drink got her. I can't find that she ever hooked
(04:19):
up to a James or any one else. Pauline Marie
was another razzle dazzle who swooped out here from nowhere
and burrowed into quite a few fortunes and put quite
a few of our society leaders into mourning. She disappeared
and I can't chase her, but she seems to have
been the handsomest of the bunch. And was fond of
(04:39):
showing herself at first nights, dressed straight from Paris, until
some of our war hardened leaders called upon the managers
in a body and threatened never to set foot inside
their doors again unless she was kept out and the
manager's succumbed. Then there was the friend of a rich
Englishman whose first name I haven't been able to get
(04:59):
told of. They lived first at Santa Barbara, then loafed
up and down the coast for a year or two,
spending quite a time at San Francisco. She was foreign
looking and a stunner all right. All of these dames
drifted out about the same time. What was the Englishman's name,
j Horace Medford front name may or may not have
(05:21):
been James. I doubt if his name could be found
on any deeds, even in the South where there was
no fire. He doesn't seem to have brought any property
or transacted any business, just lived on a good sized income.
Of course, all the hotel registers here were burnt. But
I wired to Santa Barbara and Monterey and got what
I have given you. He had a yacht and he
(05:44):
took a woman with him. Everywhere there was always a
flutter when they appeared at the theater. Of course she
went by his name, But as he never presented a
letter all the time he was here, and it was
quite obvious he could have brought all he wanted. And
as men are always on anyhow, there was but one conclusion.
Where did he bank? They might have his full name,
(06:06):
Bank of California, But his remittances were sent to order
of j. Horace Medford, And of course he signed his
checks the same way. That sounds the most likely of
the lot and the most hopeful. Well, haven't handed you
the fits yet? And in my mind she's the most
likely of all. Ever hear of James Lawton's trouble with
(06:27):
his wife, trouble I thought she died. She did not.
She went east suddenly about fifteen years ago, and soon
after a notice of her death appeared in the San
Francisco papers. But there was a tale of woe for
old Lawton that I doubt if most of her own
crowd had even a suspicion of good heavens. Riyla recalled
(06:51):
the apparent intimacy of his mother in law and the
senior member of the respectable firm of Lawton and Cross.
If Madame Delano were the former Missus Lawton, how many
things would be explained. This woman's name was Marie all Right,
and she was French, although she seemed to have been
adopted by some people named a Dubois and brought up
(07:12):
in California. She was quite the proper thing in high society.
But the trouble was that she liked another sort better.
She was a regular fly by night. It began when
Naughton Moore, a rotten limb of one of the grandest
trees in San Francisco society, so respectable that they didn't
know that there was any side to life but their
(07:32):
own sneaked Missus Lawton and three girls out of his
mother's house one night when she was giving a ball,
put him in a hack, and took him down to Gabrielle's.
There they spent an hour looking at Gabrielle's swell bunch,
dressed up and doing the grand society act with some
of the men about town. Then they danced some and
opened a bottle or two. I never heard that this
(07:55):
little jaunt hurt the girl's anny, but it woke up
something in Missus Lawton. After that, well, there are stories
without end won't take up your time telling them. The
upshot was that one night Lawton, who took a fling
himself once in a while, met her at Gabrielle's or
some other joint, and she went Easter day or two after.
(08:16):
I suppose he didn't get a divorce, partly on account
of the kid Eileen, partly because he had no intention
of trying his luck again. But is there any evidence
that she had another child that she hid away? No,
but it might easy have been. This life went on
for about eight years, and it was at least five
(08:36):
that she and Lawton merely lived under the same roof
for the sake of Aileen. They never did get on.
That much, at least was well known. It might easy
be Rayler made a rapid calculation. Eileen Lawton was just
about three years older than Elene. She was fair like
her father. There was no resemblance between her and his wife,
(08:58):
but the intimacy between them had been spontaneous and had
never lapsed. She had grown up quite unrestrained and spoilt,
and broken three engagements, and was always rushing about, proclaiming
in one breath that California was the greatest place on earth,
and in the next that she should go mad if
she didn't get out and have a change. Another grievance
(09:20):
was that, although her father let her have her own way,
or rather did not pretend to control her, he gave
her a rather niggardly allowance for her personal expenses, and
she was supposed to be heavily in debt. Riyla thought
he could guess where a good deal of his wife's
spare cash had gone to. He disliked Alien Lawton as
(09:41):
much as he did Polly Roberts more, if anything, because
she might have been clever and she chose to be
a fool. Both of these intimate friends of his wife
were the reverse of the superb outdoor type he admired.
Good Lord, he said, I don't think there's much choice,
But in a moment he shook his head. Too many
(10:02):
things don't connect. Where did she get the money to
go to her relations in Ruon he pensioned her off,
of course, and the child? How did he consent to
let her return here with a daughter he probably never
heard of. I figure out either that she came into
some money from a relation over in France, or else
she has something on the old boy and wanting to
(10:25):
come back here and marry her daughter. She held him up.
He's a pillar of the church, been one of the
presidents of the Pacific Union Club, has argued cases before
the Supreme Court that have been cabled all over the country.
When a man of that sort gets to Lawton's time
of life, he don't want any scandals. All the same,
(10:46):
said Ryla, positively, I don't believe it. I think it
far more likely that he was a friend of Madame
Delano's husband, assuming that she had one, and that some
money was left with him in trust for her or
the child. Well, it may be, but I inclined to Lawton.
There's one person who would know, Jean Bisbee. But I
(11:08):
never went to that bunch yet for any information, and
I don't go this time except as a last resort.
Of course, he knows, and that is one reason I
believe she is missus Lawton. He was Gabrielle's mackaro for years.
When he d rung enough out of her, he set
up for himself. Well, I ain't through yet by a
long sight. Beliefs ain't proof. He rose slowly from the
(11:32):
deep chair, stretched himself and settled his hat firmly on
his head. What's this I hear about a wonderful ruby?
Your wife wore up to Gwins the other night. Gosh,
I'd like to see a sparkler like that? Why by
all means, Rylah swung the bookcase outward, opened the safe
and handed him the ruby. Spaulding regarded it with bulging
(11:53):
eyes and touched it with his finger tips, much as
he would a new born babe. Some stone, he said,
as he handed it back. But why in thunder don't
you keep it in a safe deposit box. There are
crooks that can crack any safe, and if they got
wise to this, Oh, how do ma'am Elene had come
in and stood behind the two men. Spaulding snatched off
(12:16):
his hat, and she acknowledged her husband's introduction graciously. She
was dressed for the evening in white. Her eyes looked
abnormally large, and she kept dropping her lids as if
to keep them from setting in a stair. Her lovely mouth,
with its soft curves, was faded and set. The whole
face was almost as stiff as a mask, and even
(12:37):
her graceful body was rigid. Ryla saw Spalding give her
a sharp sizing up look as he murmured, Well, so long,
guv see you to morrow. Hope the man will turn
out all right after all. I hope so he's a
good chap. Otherwise, good night, ma'am. Tell your husband to
put that ruby in a safe deposit box. Oh nobody
(12:59):
knows the safest there except mister Riler and myself. There
have been safes hidden behind bookcases before, said Spalding dryly,
and crooks, like all the other pests of the earth,
just drift naturally to this coast. If I were you,
I'd have a detective on hand whenever you wear that
bit of glass. Not at a friendly affair like the
Gwyn's dinner, of course, But good idea, exclaimed Ryler. My
(13:23):
wife will wear the ruby to the Thornton fete on
the fourteenth. Will you be on hand to guard it?
Won't I about half our forces engaged for that blow out,
But no one but yours truly shall be guardian angel
for the ruby. Well, good night once more, and good luck.
As soon as the detective had gone, Ryler drew his
wife to him anxiously. What is it, Helene? You look well?
(13:47):
You don't look yourself. I have a headache, she said, irritably.
Perhaps I'm developing nerves. I do wish you would take
me to New York. Other women get away from this
town once in a while. But you told me on
Sunday that you adored California, that it was like fairyland. Oh,
all the women out here bluff themselves and everybody else
(14:10):
just so long, and then suddenly go to pieces. It's
a wonderful state. But what a life? What a life?
Surely I was made for something better. I don't wonder
what he asked sharply. Oh nothing, I feel ungrateful. Of course,
I really should be quite happy. Think I had to
(14:31):
go back to Ruin to live after this taste of
freedom and beauty. For California has all the beauties of youth,
as well as its idiocies and vices. There is not
the remotest danger of your ever being obliged to live
in rule again. Oh I don't know. You might get
tired of me. We might fight like cat and dog
(14:51):
for want of common interest, of something to talk about.
You would never take to drink like so many of
the men, But I might well, and glad dinner is
ready at last. But she played with her food that
she was repressing an intense and mounting excitement. Rayla did
not doubt, and he also suspected that she wished to
(15:12):
broach some particular subject, from which she turned in panic.
They were alone after coffee had been served, and he said, abruptly,
what is it, Elene? Do you want money? I have
an idea that Polly robertson to Aileen Lawton borrow heavily
from you, and that they may have cleaned you out
completely on the first How dear of you to guess,
or rather to get so close. It's worse than that.
(15:35):
I that is well, Poor Polly went quite mad over
a pearl necklace at Shrieves, and they told her to
take it and wear it for a few days, thinking
I suppose she would never give it up and will
get the money somehow. She Oh, it's too dreadful. She
lost it and she dares not tell Rex. He's lost
(15:55):
quite a lot of money. Later, and she's mad with fright,
and I told her where did she lose it? It's
not easy to lose a necklace, especially when the clasp
is new. She thinks it was stolen from her neck
at the theater. You heard what that man said? Ah,
what was the price of the necklace twenty thousand dollars.
(16:17):
The pearls weren't so very large, of course, but Polly
never had had a pearl necklace. I'll let her have
the money to pay for it, on one condition that
it is a transaction between Roberts and myself. No, no,
not for anything. I've leant him money before, but he'd
never forgive Polly. He he's one of those men who
(16:40):
make an awful fuss on the first of every month
when his wife's bills come in. There must be a
base chorus on the first of every month in San Francisco. Oh, please,
don't jest. She must have this money. She may have
it on those terms. I'll have no business dealing with
women of the Polly Roberts sorts. That would be the
(17:03):
last I'd ever see of the twenty thousand. I never
thought you were singy rylah. In spite of his tearing anxiety,
laughed outright. Is that your idea of how the indulgent
American husband becomes rich? Oh? Of course I wouldn't have
you lose such a sum. I really have learned the
(17:24):
value of money in the abstract, Although I can't care
for it. As much as men do. I have no
great love of money, but there is a certain difference
between a miser and a level headed business man. Price
I must have that money. Polly, Oh, I am afraid
she will kill herself. Not she a more selfish little
(17:46):
beast never breathed. She'll squeeze the money out of someone.
Never fear. But I think I'll lock up your jewels
in case you are tempted to raise money on them
for her darling without a sound had fainted. End of
Chapter eight
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