The Branding Iron - Page 125/142

Jasper made his guest comfortable, sat opposite to him, and lighted a

cigarette. Although Pierre had accepted one, he did not smoke. He was

far too disturbed.

"Frank Holliwell gave me a note to you, Mr. Morena. I got your address

some years ago from Yarnall, of Lazy-Y Ranch, Middle Fork, Wyoming.

I've been gettin' my affairs into shape ever since, so that I could

come East. I don't rightly know whether Yarnall would have wrote to

you concernin' me or no."

"Yes. He did write--just a line--two years ago."

Pierre studied his own long, brown hands, turning the soft hat between

them. When he lifted his eyes, they were intensely blue. It was as

though blue fire had consumed the smoke.

"I've been takin' after a girl. She was called Jane on Yarnall's ranch

an' she was cook there for the outfit. Nobody knowed her story nor her

name. She left the mornin' I came in an' I didn't set eyes on her. You

were takin' her East to teach her to play-act for you. I don't know

whether you done so or not, but I've come here to learn where she is

so that I can find out if she's the woman I'm lookin' for."

Morena smiled kindly. "You've come a long way, Mr. Landis, on an

uncertainty."

"Yes, sir." Pierre did not smile. He was holding himself steady. "But

I'm used to uncertainty. There ain't no uncertainty that can keep me

from seekin' after the person I want." He paused, the eyes still fixed

upon Morena, who, uncomfortable under them, veiled himself thinly in

cigarette smoke. "I want to see this Jane," Pierre ended gently.

"Nothing easier, Landis. I'll give you a ticket to 'The Leopardess.'

She is acting the title part. She is my leading lady and a very

extraordinary young actress. Of course, it's none of my business, but

in a way I am Miss West's guardian--"

"Miss West?"

"Yes. That is Jane's name--Jane West. You think it is an assumed one?"

Pierre stood up. "I'm not thinkin' on this trip," he said; "I'm

hopin'."

"I am sorry, but I am afraid you're on the wrong track. There may be a

resemblance, there may even be a marked resemblance, between Miss West

and the person you want to find, but--again please forgive me--I am in

the place of guardian to her at present and I should like to know

something of your business, enough of it, that is, to be sure that

your sudden appearance, if you happen to be right in your surmise,

won't frighten my leading lady out of her wits and send her off to

Kalamazoo on the next train."