THE DICE OF GOD
1 A HANDSOME FILLY
The hotel proprietor did not linger over his coffee. He gulped it hurriedly, murmured that his presence was required in the office, and left the table. The captain watched him cross the dining room, then grinned wryly and gave his attention to the wine the man had ordered. A mild drink, a ladies drink, but it brought a little life to the whisky hed had before dinner. Wont you ever learn sense, Demos Harrod? Are you going to sound off every time you hear the name of Tuthill? Hes your commanding officer, remember. Now youll have to find that hotel man again and apologize for your rudeness. You were rude, goddam it!
He drew a cigar from his pocket but refrained from lighting it in the presence of the ladies in the dining room. St. Paul was still on the edge of the frontier and the Metropolitan Hotel was a long way from Willards in Washington, but there were some women here who didnt have to take a back seat to the best of em in Washington or New York. Take that one over by the windowa handsome filly if there ever was one. Nice hands and slender wristsalways a sign of small feet and a well-turned ankle. She was married, though. There was a ring on the third finger of her left hand and she chatted gaily with the man who sat across from her. Not for me! I dont fool with married womenespecially in a town thats department headquarters, like this.
He pushed back his chair, rose, and walked toward the lobby and the bar on the further side, quite unaware that the eyes of the woman followed him until he was out of sight. He lit his cigar at the gas flame of a torch held by the bronze figure of an Indian maiden at the end of the bar whoever made that thing sure hadnt seen many squaws and signaled the bartender.
Yes, sir, Captain, be right with you. Taint often I get a chance to serve two captains, both at once.
Harrod glanced toward the other man on his side of the bar.
Captain? he began hesitantly.
Yes, sir, the bartender said proudly. This here is Captain Jonas Whiteman of the packet Des Moines . Meet Captain Harrod of the Twentieth Cavalry, Fort Doniphan.
The two shook hands. The packet captain invited the cavalryman to drink and the bartender supplied a glass. The bottle held an oldan unbelievably oldbrandy which was Captain Whitemans especial pride. He had purchased the last dozen bottles to be found in New Orleans, twelve bottles which by some miracle had survived the war, the thirst of the occupation forces, and the chaos of Reconstruction. He had resold them to Davidson, proprietor of the Metropolitan, and now...
Whenever I get to St. Paul he lets me buy some of my own liquor back from him. Drink hearty, Captain, and tell me if any sweeter liquor ever touched your tongue.
The brandy was superb. Harrod would have enjoyed taking it to a side table and there devote himself to the pleasant task of lowering the level in the bottle, but Captain Whiteman was already maudlin and Harrod had little desire for further acquaintance. He made his excusesIm leaving for Fort Doniphan tomorrow and have an appointment with an officer from the departmentand returned to the lobby. The woman he had noticed in the dining room was seated in a chair beneath one of the artificial palms. She was alone now and when she met his eyes she smiled.
Good evening, Captain Harrod.
He bowed. His eyes flashed to the hand in her lap. By God, hedve sworn shed been wearing a wedding ring in the dining room, but the third finger was bare now.
Your servant, madam, but
But you dont remember meis that it?
Im ashamed to confess it, maam, but thats the truth.
I cant blame you, really. It was a long time ago and a lot has happened sinceto both of us. You were in St. Louis on the unpleasant duty of inspecting mules and approving their purchase by the army. My father had a contract to deliver several hundred and
Wait a minute! he interrupted. Your father is Cyrus PierceLong Cy Pierce. I dined twice at your home on the Bluff Road. Your names Louise. I remember now.
The names Lulu, but outside of that youre quite right. You left out only one thingwe rode together one Sunday. Have you forgotten that? She smiled gaily.
Of course not! That ride is the most pleasant memory I have of St. Louis. He had dined at the Pierce home on Saturday and after dinner, mellowed by Long Cys excellent whisky, had remarked that his life followed a rut between his boardinghouse and the stockyards. He was a cavalryman, he had said, and he missed his horse. Pierces daughter had suggested instantly that they ride together the next day; her father had several excellent saddle horses which were eating their heads off. She was a skinny youngster, much younger than he, and not particularly attractive. A born horsewoman, though; nice hands, a good seat, and quite fearless at the fences theyd taken when they left the road and struck cross-country. Hed enjoyed every minute of the afternoon and had thanked her sincerely for the pleasure shed given him. Then, as she clung to his arm, he had turned her face upward and kissed her. Damn if he knew why, but something had told him that she wanted him to. She had returned the kissif shed been a couple of years older hed have said she was passionate about itand then had dashed into the house without a word.
You cant blame me for not recognizing you at first, Miss Pierce. That was some time ago andwell, youve changed.
You mean Im fatter!
No, no!
Well, I amnearly twenty poundsand Im glad of it! Its been more than six years and I was just a skinny girl, as skinny as a plucked jaybird, who was trying to keep house for my father and to entertain his friends. And its not Miss Pierce nowits Mrs. Gorton.
My apologies again. Was that Mr. Gorton I saw you with in the dining room?
No, merely an acquaintance who happened to arrive today on the Des Moines packet. Im a widow, Captain, and have been for three years.
Im sorry, I didnt know
Of course not, how could you? Im flattered that you even remembered Cy Pierces skinny daughter. Do tell me, Captain, what are you doing in St. Paul? Are you stationed hereand if you are why havent we met?
Thats my misfortune, Mrs. Gorton. I only reached town this afternoon and am leaving again in the morning. Im on my way to South CityFort Andrew Doniphan. Ive been assigned to the Twentieth Cavalry.
