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diff --git a/old/30074-h/30074-h.htm b/old/30074-h/30074-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3911a60 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30074-h/30074-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7717 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Jessica, the Heiress, by Evelyn Raymond</title> +<style type="text/css"> + @media screen { + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none;border-top:thin dashed silver;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; text-indent: 0; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + } + @media print { + hr.pb {border:none;page-break-after: always;} + .pagenum { display:none; } + } + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + + h1 {font-size:1.6em;} + h1,h2,h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal;} + h2 {font-size:1.4em;} + h3 {font-size:1.2em;} + h1.pg {text-align:center; font-weight:bold; font-size: 190%; } + h3.pg {text-align:center; font-weight:bold; font-size: 110%; } + hr.p10 {border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; width: 5%;} + p.tp {font-size:1em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:center;} + + .chsp {margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em;} + .fnanchor {font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + hr.fn {width:3em; text-align:left; margin-left: 0; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; height:1px; border: none; border-bottom: 1px solid black;} + hr.toprule {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; clear:both;} + p.ralign {text-align: right !important;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + td.chalgn {text-align:right; margin-top:0; padding-right:1em;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, Jessica, the Heiress, by Evelyn Raymond</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Jessica, the Heiress</p> +<p>Author: Evelyn Raymond</p> +<p>Release Date: September 24, 2009 [eBook #30074]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JESSICA, THE HEIRESS***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Roger Frank<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h1>Jessica, the Heiress</h1> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='tp' style='margin-top:20px;font-size:2.0em;margin-bottom:20px;'>JESSICA, THE HEIRESS</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;'>By</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.4em;margin-bottom:20px;'>Evelyn Raymond</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:60px;'>Author of<br />“Jessica Trent,” “Jessica Trent’s Inheritance,” etc.</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;'>WHITMAN PUBLISHING CO.</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:20px;'>RACINE, WISCONSIN</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:0.8em;margin-top:20px;'>Copyright, 1904, by The Federal Book Company</p> +<hr class='p10' /> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:0.8em;margin-bottom:20px;'>Jessica, the Heiress</p> +<p class='tp' >Printed by<br />Western Printing & Lithographing Co.<br />Racine, Wis.</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:smaller;margin-bottom:20px;'>Printed in U.S.A.</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> +<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'><span style='font-size:0.8em'>CHAPTER</span></td> + <td /> + <td valign='top' align='right'><span style='font-size:0.8em'>PAGE</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>I</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>Jessica Disappears</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_I_JESSICA_DISAPPEARS'>11</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>II</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>The Hush of Anxiety</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_II_THE_HUSH_OF_ANXIETY'>22</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>III</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>Old Century Takes the Trail</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_III_OLD_CENTURY_TAKES_THE_TRAIL'>31</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>IV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>Deliverance</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_IV_DELIVERANCE'>41</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>V</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>Jessica’s Story</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_V_JESSICAS_STORY'>50</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>VI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>Behind Locked Doors</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VI_BEHIND_LOCKED_DOORS'>59</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>VII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>A Royal Gift</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VII_A_ROYAL_GIFT'>70</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>VIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>The Face at the Window</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VIII_THE_FACE_AT_THE_WINDOW'>79</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>IX</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>The Prisoner Disappears</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_IX_THE_PRISONER_DISAPPEARS'>90</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>X</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>On the Road Home</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_X_ON_THE_ROAD_HOME'>99</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>The Passing of Old Century</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XI_THE_PASSING_OF_OLD_CENTURY'>110</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>The Rebellion of the Lads.</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XII_THE_REBELLION_OF_THE_LADS'>121</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>Ned’s Story</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIII_NEDS_STORY'>131</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XIV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>Taking the Doctor’s Advice</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIV_TAKING_THE_DOCTORS_ADVICE'>140</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>Ninian’s Greeting</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XV_NINIANS_GREETING'>150</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XVI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>Jessica Gets Her Wish</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVI_JESSICA_GETS_HER_WISH'>161</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XVII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>The Cactus Hedge</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVII_THE_CACTUS_HEDGE'>170</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XVIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>What the Sabbath Brought</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVIII_WHAT_THE_SABBATH_BROUGHT'>180</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XIX</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>Antonio’s Confession</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIX_ANTONIOS_CONFESSION'>189</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XX</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>The Verdict</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XX_THE_VERDICT'>201</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XXI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'>Conclusion</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXI_CONCLUSION'>210</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span></div> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em;font-size:1.6em;'>Jessica, The Heiress</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp' style='padding-top:0'> +<a name='CHAPTER_I_JESSICA_DISAPPEARS' id='CHAPTER_I_JESSICA_DISAPPEARS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> +<h3>JESSICA DISAPPEARS</h3> +</div> +<p>Mrs. Benton and Jessica were upon the south +porch of the Sobrante ranch house, the former busy +as usual, the latter idly enjoying her charming surroundings +as she swung to and fro in her hammock.</p> +<p>Mighty vines of pale yellow roses, intermingled +with climbing fuchsias, cast shade and sweetness +over them; the porch was bordered by a wide swath +of calla lilies, also in full flower, while just beyond +these a great shrub of poinsettia dazzled the sight +with its gleaming blossoms.</p> +<p>When a momentary silence of the other’s nimble +tongue allowed her to speak, Jessica exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Aunt Sally, you’re the only person I know who +can do three things at once. You sew as fast as +you rock, and talk faster than either. You’re a +very clever woman.”</p> +<p>The old lady answered complacently, as she bit +off a fresh needleful of thread and looked at her +companion over her spectacles:</p> +<p>“Yes, dearie, I expect I am. I can do more’n that, +too. I can keep up a powerful thinking.”</p> +<p>“About what, pray?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span></div> +<p>“How that life is a patchwork quilt. All the +colors of the rainbow, and some that any self-respectin’ +rainbow would scorn to own. Some +scraps so amazing homely you hate to put ’em in, +but just have to, else there wouldn’t be blocks +enough to square it out.”</p> +<p>“What sort of a scrap am I, Aunt Sally?”</p> +<p>“Huh! Fair to middlin’. Neither very light, nor +very dark. You’d be prettier, to my notion, if you’d +fetch a needle and thread and sew a seam with me, +’stead of swinging yourself dizzy out of pure +laziness.”</p> +<p>“Now, Aunt Sally! I call that unkind! I hate to +sew.”</p> +<p>“I believe you. You’ll never put a stitch where a +pin will do. But, never mind. If everybody else +sets out to spoil you, I don’t know as it’s my call to +interfere.”</p> +<p>There was so much tenderness in the glance that +accompanied these words that nobody could resent +them; least of all the girl, who now sprang from +the hammock and curled herself at the other’s feet.</p> +<p>“Tell me those powerful thoughts, auntie, dear.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Benton sighed, but responded nothing loath:</p> +<p>“There’s your mother, Gabriella. Only child, +left an orphan, raised by a second cousin once +removed, who’d more temper than sense, and when +your mother fell in love with your father, who’d +more goodness than cash, shut the door on them +both forthwith. So off they come to Californy and +pitch their tent right here in the spot.”</p> +<p>“They couldn’t have chosen a lovelier place,” their +daughter answered, with a sweeping glance over the +fair land which formed her home.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span></div> +<p>“That’s true enough. Then him getting that +New York company to buy Paraiso d’Oro Valley, +so’s a lot of folks that was down in the world could +come out here and live in it. Poor Cass’us dying, +just as he’d got things to his liking; the losing of +the title deed and your journeying to Los Angeles +to get it back.”</p> +<p>“Not ‘lost,’ Aunt Sally. Poor Antonio hid it at +El Desierto, in the cave of the Three Rocks. He––”</p> +<p>“Cat’s foot! Don’t you go to ‘pooring’ that snaky +sneak, or you and me’ll fall out. I should hate +that.”</p> +<p>“So should I. But you’ve set me thinking, too. +How wonderful that Mr. Ninian Sharp was, the +newspaper man. If it hadn’t been for him, we’d +never have won that battle. What could I have +done, with Ephraim Marsh in the hospital, and I +knowing nothing about the city? That Mr. Hale +was another splendid man. I can understand how +he had to keep his word and do his best for the +company which thought father had wronged it; +and I can also understand that he was as glad as +we to find their money safe with the poor banker +who was killed, Luis Garcia’s father.”</p> +<p>“‘Pooring’ again are you? Another scamp, too.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Aunt Sally! He’s––dead!” remonstrated +Jessica, in awestruck tones.</p> +<p>“And a fine job he is. There’s plenty of good-for-noughts +still living. A man that’s been wicked +all his life ain’t apt to turn saint at the end of it. +I like folks that do their duty as they go along. If +the robber, Garcia, had got well he’d likely claimed +our Luis and reared him to be as bad as himself.”</p> +<p>“Aunt Sally, you’re uncharitable this morning. +What’s made you so?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span></div> +<p>“The plumb meanness of human natur’.”</p> +<p>“Your own?” asked the girl teasingly.</p> +<p>“No, saucebox. My boy, John’s. His, and all +the rest of ’em.”</p> +<p>“Toward whom?”</p> +<p>“Oh! ’tisn’t toward anybody, out and out. If it +was I’d roll up my sleeves and switch the lot of ’em, +just as if they were the little tackers they act like. +It’s them pesky hints and shrugged shoulders, every +time the Dutch Winklers or ‘Forty-niner’ is spoke +of. I wish to goodness that man’d come home and +clear his name, or give me a chance to do it. He no +more stole that knitting-woman’s money than I did.”</p> +<p>“Aunt Sally! Stole? Stole! My Ephraim! +Why, you must be crazy!”</p> +<p>“There, it’s out. Needn’t hop up like that, mad +as a hornet, at me. I’m not the one hints and +shrugs. It’s the whole lot of your precious ‘boys’––boys; +indeed! and needing spanking more’n they +ever did in their lives.”</p> +<p>Jessica’s swift pacing of the wide porch came to +a sudden halt, and she dropped down again at Mrs. +Benton’s feet, feeling as if the floor had given way +beneath her tread.</p> +<p>“This, then, was what my mother meant, that very +day when I came back, that Ephraim was happier +where he was! The dear old fellow; thrown to the +street by his graceless Stiffleg; picked up with a +leg full of broken bones; a prisoner in a hospital +all these weeks; giving all his savings of years to +us; and the ‘boys’ he’s lived with since before I was +born accusing him of––theft! Aunt Sally, it’s too +monstrous to be true!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span></div> +<p>“’Tis, indeedy. Seem’s if the Evil One had been +let loose, here at Sobrante, when the word of a +half-wit––poor half, at that––is held proof against +the entire life of an honest old man.”</p> +<p>Aunt Sally was so deeply moved that, for once, +she allowed herself a moment’s respite from unceasing +industry, unconsciously holding a patchwork +block to her moist eyes, and slowly swaying the +great rocker as she sorrowfully reflected that:</p> +<p>“I raised him the best I could, that boy John. I +gave him a pill once a week, regular, to keep his +bile down. I washed him every Saturday night and +spanked him after I got through. I never let him +eat butter when he had gravy, and I made him say +his prayers night and morning. I had a notion that +such wholesome rearin’ would turn him out a decent +man; and now, just see!”</p> +<p>In spite of her own distress, Jessica laughed.</p> +<p>“Aunt Sally, if anybody but yourself hinted that +John wasn’t a ‘decent’ man you’d do something +dreadful to punish the slanderer.”</p> +<p>“Suppose I should? Wouldn’t I have a right? Ain’t +he my own?”</p> +<p>Jessica smiled faintly, but sat for a long time +silent. The talkative woman in the rocker also kept +silence, brooding over many things. Finally she +burst forth:</p> +<p>“I don’t see why it is that just as soon as a body +gets into smooth sailing, along comes a storm and +upsets things again. There was your mother, beginning +to feel she could go ahead and do what her +husband wanted to, and now here’s this bad feeling +among her trusted hired men. Suspicion is the +pisenest yarb that grows. The folks that could +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span> +suspect old ‘Forty-niner’ of wrong things’ll be plumb +ready to watch out for one another. Somebody’ll +be caught nappin’, sure. ’Tisn’t in human natur’ +to walk upright all the time, and it’s foolish to +expect it. But––shouldn’t wonder if I’d be the next +one accused. And it comin’ Christmas time too. +Land! I’m so bestead I’ve sewed that patch in +wrong side up. What? Hey? You laughin’? I +don’t see anything funny in this business, myself,” +said the old lady, fretfully.</p> +<p>“You would if you could look in a glass! Your +face is all streaked purple and green, where you cried +on your patch,” explained Jessica, whose grief had +changed to amusement.</p> +<p>“You don’t say! I knew them colors’d run. John +fetched the piece from Marion, last time he went +for the mail. Of the two stores there, I don’t know +which is the worst. Their ‘Merrimac’ won’t wash, +and their flannel shrinks, and their thread breaks +every needleful. But, to ‘Boston’––dear me! Whatever +did make me think of that place! Now I’ve +thought, it’ll stick in my mind till it drives me wild––or +back there, and that’s about the same thing. To +go live with that slimsy cousin of mine, after being +in the same house with your mother, is like falling +off a roof into a squashy mud puddle. That’s all the +sense and substance there is to Sarah, that was a +Harrison before she was a Ma’sh. I warrant she’s +clean out of medicine an money, for she’s a regular +squanderer when it comes to makin’ rag rugs. I +wish you could see ’em! I just wish’t you could. +Such dogs and cats as she weaves into ’em would +have druv’ Noah plumb crazy if he had to take ’em +into the Ark. Their eyes are just round rings of +white, with another round ring of black in the +middle–––”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span></div> +<p>“Aren’t rings always round, auntie, dear?”</p> +<p>“No, they ain’t. Not after they’ve been trod on!” +was the swift retort, as the old lady pointed downwards +toward the floor of the porch.</p> +<p>Both stooped and rose again, astonishment deepening +upon their faces as Jessica held out her open +palm with the injured trinket lying upon it.</p> +<p>“Elsa Winkler’s wedding ring! How came it +here?”</p> +<p>“How indeed? I don’t believe that woman’s been +on these premises since I came.”</p> +<p>“Even if she had, Aunt Sally, why should she bring +the ring with her? It was always too small for her, +and she never had it on except during the marriage +ceremony. I’ve often heard her laugh about it; +how Wolfgang bought a ring as big as his money +would pay for, and let it go at that. She didn’t see +what difference it made whether it went only on the +tip of her finger or all the way down it. But she +must have been here, even if we didn’t know it. I’ll +take it straight to mother to keep. Then, too, I’ve +idled enough. I promised my dear I’d write all her +Christmas invitations for her, because she says it +will save her the trouble, and be such a help to my +education.”</p> +<p>“Christmas! Well, well. Does seem as if I +couldn’t leave before then, nohow. And hear me, +Jessie, darlin’, don’t you let your poor ma worry +her head over your book learning. Being she was +a schoolma’am herself makes her feel as if she +wasn’t doing the square thing by you letting you +run wild, so to speak. If the Lord means you to get +schoolin’ He’ll put you in the right way of it, don’t +you doubt. Who all does Gabriella set out to ask +here to visit?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span></div> +<p>“Mr. Hale, of course; and dear Mr. Sharp. I hope +Ephraim will be well enough to come, too. Then +there are the Winklers, from the mine; the McLeods, +from their inn at Marion; and, maybe––we’ve +never had a Christmas without him––maybe +poor Antonio.”</p> +<p>“Well, all I say is––if you ask him you needn’t +ask me. There wouldn’t be room on this whole +ranch for the pair of us.”</p> +<p>“Then, of course, it’s you first. Yet, it’s all so +puzzling to me. If it’s a time of ‘peace and good +will,’ why do people keep on feeling angry with one +another?”</p> +<p>“Jessica Trent, dast you stand there and look +me in the face and say that you have forgive that +sneaky snakey manager for cheating your mother +like he did?”</p> +<p>“He was sorry, Aunt Sally. Every letter he sends +here tells that.”</p> +<p>“Fiddlesticks!”</p> +<p>“And he’s punished, isn’t he, even if the New York +folks let him go free, by his disappointment? I can +fancy how dreadful it would seem, did seem to think +this beautiful ranch was one’s own, and then suddenly +to learn that it was not.”</p> +<p>“Oh! Jessie! You try my soul with your forgivin’ +and forgivin’. Next you know you’ll be sorry for +Ferd, the dwarf, though ’tis he himself what’s started +all this bobery against ‘Forty-niner,’ and eggs them +silly Winklers on to be so––so hateful. I’m glad +that witless woman did lose her ring, and I hope +it’ll never be straightened out. I guess I’m out +of conceit with everybody living, not exceptin’ +old Sally Benton, herself!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span></div> +<p>With this home thrust at her own ill temper, the +whimsical woman betook herself and her dangling +array of patchwork to Mrs. Trent’s sitting-room; +there to discuss the prospects for holiday festivities +and to take account of stock, in the way of groceries +on hand. Deep in the subject of pies and puddings, +they forgot other matters, till a wild whoop outside +the window disturbed them, and they beheld Ned +and Luis, painted in startling “Indian fashion,” +mounted upon a highly decorated horse, which had +never been seen in the Sobrante stables.</p> +<p>“Hi, there, mother! Your money or your life!”</p> +<p>“Money––life!” echoed Luis, clinging to his playmate’s +waist and peeping over his shoulder.</p> +<p>The horse was rearing and plunging more dangerously +each second, and both women rushed to +the rescue of the imperiled children, who realized +nothing of their danger, but shouted and screamed +the louder the more frantic their steed became. +Mrs. Trent caught the bridle, and Aunt Sally snatched +first one, then the other, child from the creature’s +back, who, as soon as he was relieved of his yelling +burden, started at a gallop across the garden, ruining +its beds and borders on his way.</p> +<p>“Oh, oh! Children, how could you? Whose +horse is that? Where did you get that paint? +How shall I ever make you clean?”</p> +<p>“I’ll tend to that part, Gabriella. You just call +a boy to fix them flower beds before the plants +wither. Oh, you rascals! You won’t forget this +morning’s fun in a hurry, I warn you! You’ve been +in John Benton’s paint pots again. Well, you like +paint, you shall have it, and all you want of it too. +Red and yeller, green and pink, with a streak of +blue. H’m! You’re a tasty lot, ain’t you!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span></div> +<p>The lads squirmed and twisted, but Aunt Sally’s +grip merely tightened upon them so that finally, +they ceased struggling and allowed her to lead +them whither she would, which was to the small +laundry, that stood at some slight distance from +the house. Here she sternly regarded each bedaubed, +but otherwise nude, little figure, with so +fierce an expression upon her usually pleasant face +that the young miscreants winced, and Ned cried +out:</p> +<p>“Quit a-talking eyes at me that way, Aunt Sally +Benton! I don’t like it.”</p> +<p>“Oh! you don’t, eh? Well, what’d you disgrace +yourselves this way for, if ’twasn’t to make folks +stare? Where’s your clothes?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know.”</p> +<p>“Very well, then I’ll help you to remember.”</p> +<p>“I won’t be whipped! I’ll tell my mother!” +shrieked Ned, retreating toward the closed door +of the building.</p> +<p>“Won’t be whipped, old Aunt Sally!” added Luis, +clasping his leader; whereupon the customary +scuffle ensued; for, no matter what their business +in hand, personal contact always insured a slight +passage at arms. At present, this diverted their +thoughts from what might be in store at the will of +their mutual enemy, and it came with appalling suddenness. +Each small boy was lifted, bidden to shut +his eyes and mouth, then plunged downward into a +barrel of some cold slippery stuff. Here he was +soused vigorously up and down, until every portion +of his skin was smeared with the stick mess; after +which he was placed on his feet and once more commanded:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span></div> +<p>“Now, son, just you stand there and dreen a spell. +Lucky I made that barrel of soft soap last week. +It’s just the stuff to take this paint off, and what +drips from you to the old adobe floor won’t hurt. +Pasqual’s a master hand at scrubbin’, and I’ll give +him the job of you and the floor both. Reckon +you’ll wish you hadn’t ever seen paint pots time +he gets through. Now––where’s your clothes?”</p> +<p>Ned was silent, but Luis “guessed they’s under +a tree.”</p> +<p>“Well, son, Garcia, knowing it better than guessing +’bout now. Me and Santa Claus is sort of partners, +and he’s due here soon. ’Twon’t take me a +jerk of a lamb’s tail to write and tell him how things +stand at Sobrante, and whose stockings’d better +have switches ’stead of goodies in ’em. Hear me? +Where’s your clothes?”</p> +<p>A laugh caused Aunt Sally to glance through the +window, where Jessica was an amused spectator of +the scene within. She now begged:</p> +<p>“Don’t be hard on the little tackers, auntie, dear. +That was Prince, Mr. Hale’s horse, that Pedro has +tended on the mesa all these days. I’ll find out how +they came by it, and their clothes at the same time. +Tell mother, please,” and with a merry nod to the +unhappy urchins, so shamfacedly “dreening” at Mrs. +Benton’s pleasure, she disappeared.</p> +<p>Disappeared not only from the window, but, +apparently, from life, as suddenly and completely +as if the earth had opened and engulfed her.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_II_THE_HUSH_OF_ANXIETY' id='CHAPTER_II_THE_HUSH_OF_ANXIETY'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<h3>THE HUSH OF ANXIETY</h3> +</div> +<p>Mrs. Trent and Aunt Sally sat down alone to +dinner. The little lads were in their beds, recovering +from the sound scrubbing Pasqual had given +them. Clothed in fresh nightgowns, and refreshed +by generous bowls of bread and milk, they had been +left in a darkened room to reflect upon the hard +ways of transgressors. But reflection was unusual +work for their active brains, and they had promptly +fallen asleep; hence the profound peace which +rested upon the house.</p> +<p>“I wonder where Jessica is? She was to have +written my letters for me, but I haven’t seen her +since breakfast,” said the mother, somewhat anxiously.</p> +<p>“Oh! she’s around somewhere. Was at the laundry +window while I was tending to the children, +and said she’d go find their clothes. In all my born +days I never saw two small heads could hatch the +mischief Ned’s and Luis’ can. It’s out of one scrape +into another, and seems if they must break their +necks some day.”</p> +<p>“Oh! don’t forecast evil. Their pranks keep my +nerves on tension all the time, yet I shouldn’t worry +so. They always escape from harm. But I’d like +to know how they got that horse.”</p> +<p>“So would I. They must have had help painting +it. Stands to reason two midgets like them couldn’t +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +have kept a high-spirited creatur’ quiet while they +wasted enough good paint on him to cover a meeting +house.”</p> +<p>“John won’t be pleased. He’s so careful of his +belongings, even I never touch them without permission,” +said the ranch mistress, smiling afresh at the +memory of the ridiculous picture the boys had +made.</p> +<p>“Don’t surprise me’t you laugh, Gabriella, but +you’d ought to put the reins on tighter to them +chaps, lest first you know they’ll be driving you, +not you them. Do it already, seems if.”</p> +<p>“How can I be stern with Cassius’ little son? +Every day I see more resemblance to his father in +the childs face; yes, and in his nature, too. Nobody +was ever fonder of fun than my husband, yet surely +there never was a better man.”</p> +<p>“Oh! Neddy’s all right. Trouble is to keep him +from thinkin’ so himself. But, there. Why don’t +you eat your dinner? You haven’t more’n half +touched it. It’s a shame to waste good victuals, and +these are good. I fixed ’em myself.”</p> +<p>The other smiled again at the complacency visible +upon her friend’s face, which so innocently dsplayed +the same feeling that had just been deplored in Ned. +However, Aunt Sally was too busy with her own +food to notice anything else, and it seemed long to +her companion before she had finished and risen, to +call, sharply:</p> +<p>“Pas-qual! Oh, Pasqual-ly! Why aren’t you on +hand to clear the table? Don’t you know I’ve got––and +here followed a long list of things to be done, +more than many could accomplish in several days.” +Each had some reference to the coming holidays, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span> +and the house boy understood this. He entered, +more willingly than usual, grinning with the anticipation +of the raisins he would have to stone, the +nuts he must crack, and the goodly samples of each +that he would surreptitiously procure.</p> +<p>Mrs. Trent asked him to put aside Miss Jessica’s +dinner, till she came in, and to be sure that it was +also kept nice and warm.</p> +<p>“All right, lady. I’ll do that good enough. Don’t +mind what I has to do for ‘Lady Jess’;” and immediately +seized the plate, which Aunt Sally had +already filled, to place it in the warming oven.</p> +<p>Then the mother went out, and among the adobe +buildings, which formed the “boys” quarters and +the business part of the ranch, calling gently, as she +went, in the brooding sort of note which had long +been a signal between her and her child. But no +Jessica responded; and, to her fancy, it seemed that +the whole place was strangely silent.</p> +<p>“After all, that is not to be wondered at. The +men are done with dinner, and gone about their +work. The boys are asleep, and only Jessica would +be anywhere near. What can keep her, I wonder?” +and with this thought the lady again uttered the +tender call which would summon her daughter, if +she were within hearing.</p> +<p>Then she returned to the house and tried to accept +Aunt Sally’s theory that, likely some of them ‘boys’ +is in trouble about his job, and wants his ‘captain’ to +go oversee. ’Mazin’ strange, Gabriella, what a influence +that child has over ’em. “They ’pear to think, +the whole lot of ’em, that she can straighten out +all the kinks that get into brains or business.”</p> +<p>“She is quick to understand,” said the mother, +proudly.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span></div> +<p>“Course. Nothin’ strange, is it, seeing who her +folks was? Best go take a nap, honey.”</p> +<p>“Oh, no! Thank you for suggesting it, but I’m +too wakeful.”</p> +<p>“Well, then, I’ll fetch them kerns and citron right +out here on the kitchen porch. The sun’s off it now, +and there ain’t a prettier spot on earth where to +prepare Christmas fixin’s. I’ll fetch the raisins and +stone ’em myself. That Pasky boy’d eat more’n +half of ’em, if I left ’em to him. Then we can visit +right sociable; and I can free my mind. The truth +is, Gabriella Trent, that I ought to be harnessin’ +Rosetty an’ Balaam this minute, and be startin’ for +‘Boston.’”</p> +<p>“Oh, Aunt Sally!” protested the ranch mistress, +in real distress.</p> +<p>“There, dearie, hush! Don’t worry. I said ‘I +ought,’ I didn’t say I was goin’. Seem’s if I couldn’t +just tear myself away from Sobrante. If Sarah +Ma’sh, she that was a Harrison, and married +Methuel, hasn’t got gumption enough to bile her +own plum puddin’, I ’most feel as if she’d ought to +go without. Though I don’t know as that’s real +Christian in me.”</p> +<p>“Dear Mrs. Benton, I wish everybody was as +sincere a Christian as you are.”</p> +<p>In her surprise, Aunt Sally tipped her rocker so +far back that she just escaped upset.</p> +<p>“Why, Gabriella Trent! Me! Me! Don’t say +that, and make me feel meaner’n dirt. It’s you, +honey, is that–––”</p> +<p>Mrs. Trent laughed as she answered:</p> +<p>“We make a mutual admiration society, don’t we? +But Aunt Sally, you mustn’t think of leaving Sobrante +before the holidays are past. I can’t spare +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +you. I need the help of your head, as well as your +hands, and what would Christmas be to the children, +if you weren’t here to cuddle and scold them after +their greediness has made them ill.”</p> +<p>“Well, well, child, say no more. Here I am, and +here I’ll stay, if Sarah Ma’sh don’t get a stiver of +pudding or fowl. Here, honey, I reckon you best +slice this citron. You’ve got a dainty hand for such +work and––my sake’s alive! That fruit cake’d +ought to been made weeks ago, if it was to get any +sort of ripeness into it before it was et! Hurry up, +do. We haven’t a minute to waste.”</p> +<p>This adjuration had the good result of amusing +Mrs. Trent so that, for an hour at least, she forgot +to be anxious over her daughter’s unexplained absence. +Aunt Sally was a person who was always +“driven to death” by the mere thought of tasks +for which there was, in reality, ample time. But +now that she had decided to remain at the ranch +for a further indefinite stay, her spirits rose and her +brain busied itself with a thousand plans for the +comfort or amusement of the household, over which +she domineered, yet so ardently loved.</p> +<p>“We haven’t got much money for presents, I +know. So I’ll just get out the piece-bag to-night, +and press off them canton flannel scraps. They’ll +make splended ducks for the youngsters–––”</p> +<p>“I fear that would be wasted labor, friend. The +little lads have outgrown homemade toys. Nothin +that will not make a noise is acceptable to them. +I’d thought of sending over to Marion for drums and +whistles, if the stores there can furnish them.”</p> +<p>“Well, Gabriella Trent! I declare you are the +benightenest woman that ever set out to raise children! +Drums! For them two? My, my! But +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span> +what won’t a mother do for her little ones, I’d like +to know!”</p> +<p>The words were no sooner out of Mrs. Benton’s +mouth than she regretted them. At the name of +“mother” Mrs. Trent’s forced gayety vanished, and +she lifted her eyes to her companion’s face with a +pitiful appeal.</p> +<p>“Aunt Sally, what has happened to Jessica?”</p> +<p>“Nothing, honey. Nothing in the world. What +a master hand you are to worry.”</p> +<p>The lady rose so hastily that the dish upon her +lap slid to the floor, and the other laughed:</p> +<p>“There, Gabriel, you do beat all. If I’d dropped +that dish ’twould have upset, and every slice of +citron in it rolled whithrety-yonder. But for you––it +knew better; just slipped off as slick as could be, +landed right side up, and not a morsel scattered. +Seem’s if dirt nor nothin’ disorderly ever could come +a-nigh you, honey.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Trent did not even hear. Upon her face +had grown a look that hurt Aunt Sally to see; the +more because the feeling it expressed was continually +increasing within her own heart.</p> +<p>Where could Jessica be? Many hours had passed +since she vanished from the laundry window, and +if she had gone upon any errand for her “boys,” she +would have returned long since. Also, she would +be swift to restore the missing clothes of the little +boys, as soon as found, for she knew they would +be prisoners within doors till she had done so.</p> +<p>“Don’t you worry, I tell you, Gabriella. I’ll take +the great horn and blow a blast will fetch the whole +kerboodle back here, hot foot. If that don’t, I’ll +ring the mission bell! That’ll mean trouble, sure +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span> +enough, and its dreadful racket’ll reach clear to +Los Angeles, ’pears.”</p> +<p>The mother crossed to the lattice and leaned +against its post. Something was wrong with her +darling. She knew that as well as if she had been +told so by word of mouth, and a dreadful numbness +stole over her whole frame. As if in a dream, she +saw Aunt Sally emerge from the lean-to, where the +great horn was kept, and raised the thing to her +lips; but the blast which followed seemed to have +been ringing in her ears forever. The silence that +succeeded lasted but a moment, yet was like an +eternity. Then from one direction, and another, +came the ranchmen, understanding that there was +need of their presence at the “house,” and each +quickly catching something of the fear so plainly +depicted upon the faces of the waiting women.</p> +<p>“John Benton, where’s ‘Lady Jess’?” demanded +Aunt Sally, with terrible sternness.</p> +<p>“Why, mother, how should I know? I was off to +the lemon house early, fixing some shelves. I +haven’t seen her to-day and it makes it a long one.”</p> +<p>Came “Marty” from his garden, a hoe over one +shoulder and a mighty vine of ripened tomatoes over +the other, exclaiming:</p> +<p>“How’s this for a second year’s growth? I +thought you’d like ’em for catsup, Aunt Sally, and +what’s the horn for?”</p> +<p>“George Ceomarty, where’s the ‘captain’?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know.”</p> +<p>“You don’t! You don’t!” indignantly.</p> +<p>“No. How should I? Last I saw, she was sitting +the porch along with you. You needn’t glare at +me so, but say yourself: ‘Where’s the “captain”?’”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span></div> +<p>“Come, gardener, this ain’t a time for foolin’.”</p> +<p>He disdained to answer, reading the anxiety upon +his mistress’ face, and feeling an unaccountable one +growing in his own mind.</p> +<p>It was a relief to all when the figure of Sailor +Samson came into view, making for the cottage +with those firm strides of his, that seemed to cover +the distance with incredible speed. He was always +to be depended upon in an emergency, and there +was good cheer in his tones, as, having been asked +the same question which had greeted his mates, he +tossed back the light answer:</p> +<p>“Why, I don’t know just at this minute, but I’ll +wager wherever she is, she’s doing good to somebody, +or finishing up some fellow’s neglected job. Why? +Ain’t scared of ‘Lady Jess,’ are you?”</p> +<p>“That’s just what we are, herder. She’s no hand +to run off an’ stay off without tellin’ where to; and +if she couldn’t find the children’s clothes she’d been +back before now to say so. Somethin’ dreadful has +happened to the precious girl, and you needn’t say +there hasn’t!” wailed Mrs. Benton; adding in fresh +dismay as the ranch mistress quietly sank to the +floor in a faint! “There! Now I have done it! Oh! +that tongue of mine!”</p> +<p>“Yes, old woman! That tongue of yours’ has +wrought a heap of mischief in its day,” cried Samson, +angrily, as he lifted the fallen lady and carried +her into the house.</p> +<p>But Aunt Sally was quite herself again, and put +him coolly aside, while she ministered to the unconscious +ranch mistress, and, at the same time, gave +him a succinct history of the morning’s events. +Everybody at Sobrante knew the deep devotion of +Lady Jess to her widowed mother, and the thoughtfulness +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span> +with which she always sought to prevent her +loved one’s “worrying,” and all realized that there +might be something seriously amiss in this protracted, +unexplained absence. However, and to a certain +degree, the child was allowed to be independent, +and she was liable to reappear at any moment and to +gibe at their “foolish fear” for her. But to summon +her, at once, was the surest way of comforting Mrs. +Trent, and Samson went out again to distribute the +assembled ranchmen into searching parties, with +the injunction:</p> +<p>“Don’t scare the ‘captain’ when you find her, but +just let her know her mother needs her, and her +dinner’s drying up in the oven. Now scatter; and +don’t you show a face back here without her in +hand!”</p> +<p>“Can’t all of us find her, herder. Ain’t ‘captains’ +enough to go ’round,” said a cowboy, with an ill-attempt +at playfulness, which was instantly frowned +down. For, though all assured themselves that +there was no substantial cause for alarm, and that +women were “nervous cattle, always scared at shadders,” +they had already caught something of this +nervousness. Each felt that the best sight for his +eyes at that moment would be the gleam of a golden +head, and the sweetest music his ears could hear +the sound of a young girl’s laughter.</p> +<p>But, alas! Daylight gave place to the sudden +night of that region, where no lingering twilight is +known; and still over the great ranch there rested +the terrible silence which had followed the loss of +one merry voice.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_III_OLD_CENTURY_TAKES_THE_TRAIL' id='CHAPTER_III_OLD_CENTURY_TAKES_THE_TRAIL'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<h3>OLD CENTURY TAKES THE TRAIL</h3> +</div> +<p>The clatter of horse’s hoofs on the dry sward made +Pedro, the shepherd, lift his eyes from his basket +weaving, but only for an instant. The sight of +Samson, the herder, mounted upon the fleetest +animal of the Sobrante stables, was nothing compared +to the working out of the intricate pattern +he had set himself to follow. Even the centenarian, +dwelling in his lofty solitude, knew that there was +approaching the blessed Navidad, whereon all good +Christians exchanged gifts, in memory of the great +gift the Son of God; and what could he do but put +forth his utmost ingenuity to please his heart’s +dearest, even Jessica of the sunny face?</p> +<p>Like Aunt Sally, at the ranch, he had, at last, +caught a feeling of haste and wished not to be disturbed; +so he did not even look up again when he +was accosted.</p> +<p>“Hello, old man! Hard at it, still?”</p> +<p>No reply forthcoming, Samson shouted, as if the +shepherd were deaf:</p> +<p>“Where’s Capt. Jess, abuleo (grandfather)?”</p> +<p>The deferential title won the attention which the +loud voice could not gain, and Pedro glanced carelessly +upon the mighty herder, a mere youth of +sixty summers, and replied, with equal carelessness:</p> +<p>“Am I the nina’s<a name='FNanchor_0001' id='FNanchor_0001'></a><a href='#Footnote_0001' class='fnanchor'>[A]</a> keeper? But, no,” then resumed +his weaving.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span></div> +<p>In another instant the delicate, finely split rushes +had been snatched from the weaver’s hands, and he +exhorted:</p> +<p>“By all that’s great, old man! Tell me, has Jessica +Trent passed this way?”</p> +<p>“Why for? Once, but once, since the long journey +and the finding of that bad Antonio came she +to Pedro’s hut. Give back the basket. For her, +of the bright hair, it is; my finest, and, maybe, my +last. Why not? Yet still again I will keep the +fiesta, si. The child. Many have I loved, but none +like my little maid. The basket.”</p> +<p>This was a long speech for the silent dweller on +the mesa, and there was more of anger in his usually +calm eyes than Samson had never seen there, as he +rose and extended his skinny hands for his treasure.</p> +<p>The herder restored it, his heart growing heavier +as he did so.</p> +<p>“Think fast, good Pedro. The old are wise, and +hark ye! These many hours the child is from home. +The mistress––you love her?”</p> +<p>“She is my mistress,” answered the shepherd, in +a tone which conveyed all his deep feeling. To him +his “mistress” represented a material Providence. +From her hand came all the simple necessaries of +his life. From her, on the approaching nativity, +would also come some things which were not necessaries, +but infinitely more precious to the centenarian +than such could be. On the nativity he would +be sent, upon the gentlest mount his lady owned, +to the mission service which he loved. Thereafter +he would ride back to Sobrante, his own priest beside +him, to feast his fill on such food as he tasted +but once a year. At nightfall of that blessed day +he would gather the ranchmen about him, in that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span> +old corridor where once he had seen the ancient +padres walk, breviary in hand, and tell his marvelous +tales of the days when the land was new, when +whole tribes of redfaces came to be taught at the +padres’ feet, and when the things which now were +had not been dreamed of. Some who listened to +these Christmas stories believed that the secrets +at which the shepherd hinted were vagaries of his +enfeebled mind, but others, and among them Samson, +gave credence to them, and yearly did their +best to worm from him their explanation.</p> +<p>That mention of the “mistress” had touched him, +also, to anxiety, and he motioned the herder to +repeat his statement. He then straightened himself +to almost the erectness of the younger man, +and begun at once to gather his rushes and rap them +carefully in a moistened cloth. With an expressive +gesture toward his cabin, he suggested that Samson +was free to enter it and provide such entertainment +for himself as he chose, or could find. And so well +did the herder know the shepherd that he fully understood +this significant wave of the hand, and replied +to it in words:</p> +<p>“Thanks, old man, but some other time. At present +I’m keener on the scent for my captain than +for even your good coffee. If she comes, report, +will you?”</p> +<p>The other did not notice what he heard, but himself +proceeded to the cabin and safely deposited his +handiwork within it. Then he came out again, +whistled for his dog, Keno, whose head he stroked +for some time, and into whose attentive ear he seemed +to be whispering some instruction.</p> +<p>A shade of amusement, merging into wonder, +crossed the herder’s countenance, and he communed +with himself thus:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span></div> +<p>“Blow my stripes, if Old Century isn’t going to +take the trail himself! He’s telling that canine +what to do while he’s gone, and, ahoy, there! If +the knowin’ creatur’ doesn’t understand him! All +right, grand sir! Yet, not all so right, either. It +takes a deal of business to move Pedro off his mesa, +and if he’s riled enough to leave it now, it’s because +he sees more danger to Lady Jess than even I do. +Hello! what’s he waiting for?”</p> +<p>Evidently for Samson to depart, which that gentleman +presently did, grimly considering:</p> +<p>“Old chap thinks the whole mesa belongs to him, +and ’pears to suspect I might rob him if he left me +behind. Well, friend, I’ve no call to tarry. Since +my lady isn’t here, I must seek her elsewhere,” and +down the canyon Samson dashed, his sure-footed +beast passing safely where a more careful animal +would have stumbled.</p> +<p>All this had happened soon after the dispersing of +the ranchmen to search for Jessica, and Samson +had now taken that turn of the trail which led to +the miner’s cabin.</p> +<p>“’Tisn’t likely she’s there, though. She’d never +travel afoot that long distance, and Buster’s in the +stable.”</p> +<p>The Winklers received him with gloom. The +hilarious gayety that had once distinguished their +small household had vanished with the loss of Elsa’s +money. Their son, and idol, had been defrauded of +a rich future for which they had toiled, and life now +seemed to them but an irksome round of humdrum +duties, to be gotten through with as easily as possible. +Over the cabin hung an air of neglect which +even Samson was swift to note, and most significant +of all, Elsa’s knitting had fallen to the floor and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span> +become the plaything of a kitten, which evoked no +reprimand, tangle the yarn as she would.</p> +<p>“Hello, neighbors! Ain’t lookin’ over and above +cheerful, are you? What’s wrong?”</p> +<p>“Good-day, herder. How’s all?”</p> +<p>“Glum, I should say. Where’s Lady Jess?”</p> +<p>Wolfgang elevated his eyebrows, shrugged his +shoulders and made a gesture of ignorance, but +said no word.</p> +<p>“Lost your tongues, mostly, hey? I say––where’s +the captain?”</p> +<p>Elsa lumbered forward to the doorway, and dully +regarded the visitor; then, after a time, replied:</p> +<p>“Not here.”</p> +<p>Her brevity was another contrast to her former +volubility, but it was sufficient to thrill the questioner’s +heart with fresh dismay.</p> +<p>“Has she been here to-day?”</p> +<p>Elsa shook her head. Otto came out from the +shed and glanced disconsolately at Samson, then +slowly returned whence he had come.</p> +<p>The herder’s temper flamed, and, snapping his +whip at the air, he cried out, hotly:</p> +<p>“Look at me, you passel of idiots! You think +you know what trouble is just because you’ve lost +a handful of money? Well, you don’t! You haven’t +even guessed at it. Money! The world’s full +of that, but there never was more than one Lady +Jess, and I tell you––I tell you––she’s lost!”</p> +<p>He had spoken out at last the fear he had scarcely +acknowledged, and the shock of his own plain speech +held him silent thereafter. His head drooped, his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span> +great body settled in the saddle, as if the whole +burden of his sixty years had fallen upon him in +that moment. His attitude, even more than his +words, conveyed his meaning to his hearers, and, in +a flash, the real values of what they had loved, and +now lost, fell into their rightful places.</p> +<p>“Money? The little lady?” Ah! what, after all, +was the one compared to the other?</p> +<p>“Man––you lie!” retorted Wolfgang, clinching +his fist and advancing with a threatening air. Elsa +stepped to his side, her wide face turning even paler +than it had been, and a startled look dawning in +her eyes. Even Otto, the six-foot “child,” reappeared +from his retreat and regarded the horseman +reproachfully.</p> +<p>As for him, he roused from his momentary despondency +and glared upon the trio of spectators as if +they, and they alone, were to blame for the calamity +which had befallen.</p> +<p>Question and answer followed swiftly, and again +Samson was off down the slope, headed now for +distant Marion, the least likely of all places wherein +his darling might be found. Once he was out of +sight, the Winkler household resolved itself into an +additional search party; and it was noticeable that, +whereas formerly, when they were leaving the +home, they would carefully secure the cabin against +intruders, they now disdained any further preparation +than kicking the kitten out of doors, and removing +the kettle of boiling stew from the fireplace +to the ground before the door. A fleeting +smile did cross Elsa’s face, as she reflected that +the meddler with her knitting would probably +scald itself in the pot, but she didn’t care. Her +whole mind was now set upon Sobrante and its +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span> +mistress, and so eager was she to reach the spot +that she set off on her long walk with an alacrity +she had not shown since the discovery of the robbery.</p> +<p>Wolfgang and Otto armed himself each with +a sharp, iron-pointed staff, and silently, with one +accord, started toward El Desierto. Why, even +they could not have explained, beyond the fact that +it seemed a place for hiding things. It was a long +walk, and so weary had the “little boy” become by +the time the deserted ranch was reached that Wolfgang +left it unfatherly to force a return trip on +that same day, although no signs of recent occupancy +had rewarded their search.</p> +<p>So it was in every case. Jessica had simply and +completely disappeared, and there settled upon the +home the darkest night it had ever known. Even +that on which its master had been brought back +dead did not equal in intensity of anguish the uncertainty +which drove the waiting mother frantic. At +times she would call for a horse and ride wildly +to and fro, peering into every shadowed spot and +call pitifully upon her child, at others she would +hasten to the house, eagerly demanding of Aunt +Sally, “has she come?”</p> +<p>“Not yet, honey. Not quite yet. Just wait a +spell, and you’ll see her all right. Best be here at +home when she does come, Gabriella. You’d hate to +have anybody else the first to meet her, you know.”</p> +<p>This advice, uttered in tones so gentle they were +hardly recognizable as Mrs. Benton’s, would be +followed for the moment, till the torture of dreadful +possibilities would send the distracted ranch +mistress again afield.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span></div> +<p>So the night wore away, and sunrise came, and +still there was no returning party that brought good +cheer. Each tarried, for a brief time, to attend to +the live stock under his immediate care, and some +even to snatch a morsel of food, but mostly they +were off and away again, a flask of water and a bit +of hardtack in pocket, oftener than not forgetting +even this meager nourishment.</p> +<p>By the end of the second day the sorrowful news +had spread all over the countryside, and other +ranches were well-nigh as deserted as Sobrante, +while their forces joined in the apparently hopeless +search.</p> +<p>By then, also, Mrs. Trent had resigned herself to +a quiet acceptance of the worst, and sat for hours +at a time rigidly motionless, with only her sense of +hearing intensely alert, strained to its utmost for +whatever news might come. As each party came +back to consult the others, and for the refreshment +that human nature could no longer do without, it +reported to the waiting woman, who received the +message in silence, yet with the courteous bow +which acknowledged the other’s effort on her behalf.</p> +<p>Aunt Sally now rose to the occasion as only her +great heart could suggest. All the petty fussiness +which had annoyed her neighbors dropped away +from her as she moved softly, keen-eyed and solicitous, +among them all. The steaming bowl of +coffee and strengthening sandwich, ready on the +instant for each arrival the unshaken hopefulness of +her eyes, and her wordless control of the awestruck +little boys, were comforts scarcely realized in that +dark time; yet comforts truly. Even Gabriella +could not refuse the nourishment so lovingly pressed +upon her, and mechanically drank the cup of broth +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span> +which her friend had taken care should be of the +strongest. To one and all this homely ministering +angel affirmed, with unshaken persistence:</p> +<p>“Jessica Trent is safe. Jessica Trent is coming +back.”</p> +<p>Meanwhile, old Pedro, for the first time in nearly +a twelvemonth, had turned his back upon the mesa +which he loved and set out on a toilsome path. In +his hand he carried a curious, notched stick, upon +which he sometimes leaned, but oftener bore upon +his shoulder, as it were a precious possession that +he must guard. Old as he was, his staff was older +still. It had come to him when the valley mission +had been abandoned, and the padre who bestowed +it upon this, his faithful servant, had also given into +his keeping a valuable secret. This metal-pointed +rod was one thing Pedro never left behind him when +he journeyed from home.</p> +<p>Starting from the east side of the mesa, he dipped +into the canyon; not by the trail over which Jessica +had ridden the ostrich on the day of her eventful +meeting with Morris Hale, but by the farther, ragged +wall where it seemed as if feet so old could +never make their way. Yet make it they did, as +surely if not as swiftly as in their younger days. +There was not the slightest hesitation in their direction, +though there were indeed, frequent pauses +during which the Indian’s keen hearing was strained +for an expected sound. After each such halt Pedro +would resume his path, climbing over rocks which +looked insurmountable and skirting others by ledges +less than a span’s width. Over this part of the +canyon wall none of the Sobrante ranchmen had +ever come; though below it, along a smoother portion, +ran the flume that watered the ranch in the +valley.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span></div> +<p>Darkness found the shepherd still among the overhanging +crags, and with true Indian stolidity he +rested for the night. His blanket wrapped around +him, his staff on the safe inner side, he lay down +upon a shelf of stone and slept as peacefully as in +his cabin on the level mesa, from which two motives +had driven him abroad.</p> +<p>Something had warned him that this approaching +Christmastide might be his last, and that the time +of which he had often dreamed was to come. He +would now test the truth of the secret he had received, +and, if it proved what had been promised, would +share it with his beloved mistress, his priceless +Navidad gift to her and hers.</p> +<p>Also sitting solitary at his basket, weaving on the +isolated island, Pedro had still observed much. Each +trifle was an event to him, and of late these trifles +had gathered thick about him. With annoying +frequency Ferd, the dwarf, had invaded and contaminated +his solitude. The hints which the misshapen +creature had dropped, though receiving no outward +attention, had, nevertheless, remained in the Indian’s +mind to disturb it. It was to hunt for this wretched +fellow, as well as to prove his “secret,” that he was +now in the canyon, believing that when he was +found, there would be Jessica also.</p> +<p>When morning came he rose and tightened his +belt about him and set out afresh. The long sleep +had restored his vigor and his eye gleamed with +satisfaction. The muscles that had stiffened from +long disuse––he would not have admitted that the +stiffness came from age––were limber as of old, and +he felt that, after all, it was good to be once more +upon the trail. But even his confidence would have +been rudely shaken could he have foreseen the +peril wherein that trail would end.</p> +<div class='footnote'><a name='Footnote_0001' id='Footnote_0001'></a><a href='#FNanchor_0001'><span class='label'>[A]</span></a> +<p>Little one.</p> +</div> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV_DELIVERANCE' id='CHAPTER_IV_DELIVERANCE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<h3>DELIVERANCE</h3> +</div> +<p>A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky +wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot +which he had thought so near, full twenty-four +hours before. He had fed his hunger upon the few +wild plums he had found, and more than once he +had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then +reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay +the road of his goal. Again and again he tapped the +solid rock or the scant earth about it for a response +to that magical tip upon his rod; and now, as the +second day lightened the gulch, the response came.</p> +<p>The staff forsook his hand, as it had been a creature +of volition, and stood upright upon a smooth-faced +bowlder. It needed all the man’s strength to +wrest it thence, and, grasping it securely, he carefully +descended, for the last time, the precipitous +wall. Always the staff tugged at his grasp, seeking +the earth, but he carried it still toward a clump +of gnarled trees which appeared to him like the +faces of long-lost friends. It seemed to him that in +all the half century since he looked upon them, +neither branch nor twig had altered. So had they +been on that sad day when the last of the padres +had brought him hither and shown them to him. +Beneath their roots lay the secret he had kept so +well.</p> +<p>But the cave––what had become of that? And +the stout shaft of hewn timber which led below +into the heart of earth?</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span></div> +<p>“Alas! I deceive myself. I have forgotten, for I +am old; not young as I seemed to me. I have come +in vain,” he complained, in his thought; and with a +gesture of despair, in his hunger and weariness, +the shepherd sank upon the ground and dropped +his face on his breast.</p> +<p>Long he sat thus, till there came to him upon +the silence the answer no call could have awaked. +He began to hear sounds. The creeping of some +heavy body amid the chaparral, coming nearer, +more distinct. Some wild shrubs sheltered him +from sight, and, peering through their twigs, he +watched in breathless silence. Ah! Reward!</p> +<p>It was Ferd who approached, as cautiously as if +he were conscious of those gleaming eyes behind +the mesquite, and who, turning in his path, entered +a point among the trees which even Pedro had not +suspected of leading any whither.</p> +<p>It was now the Indian’s part to creep after this +crawling creature; and he did so as swiftly, almost +as silently, as if he were the dwarf’s mere shadow. +Always he kept a screen of leaves between them, +less needed soon, as the unconscious guide led the +way out of the sunlight into the depths of gloom. +The cave at last!</p> +<p>But the half-wit, Ferd? Had he guessed its +secret?</p> +<p>On and on, it seemed interminably. Now and +then the dwarf would pause and listen, but at every +halt there was utter silence behind him. Then onward +again, and at length into a spacious place, +around the walls of which great jagged rocks made +recesses of impenetrable gloom. With one arm +outstretched, feeling his way, and with his precious +staff secured against his back within his blanket, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +Pedro paused in such a recess just in time, for the +dwarf had struck a match and lighted a lantern. +This he swung round his head, peering in each +direction, and blinded, maybe, by the very rays +with which he sought to disclose any possible follower. +Satisfied that he was alone, Ferd moved +onward again, and Pedro followed, hugging the +chamber wall and screening himself in every +shadow.</p> +<p>But Ferd had no longer any fear of discovery or +any thought of aught save that which lay before +him. The passage was higher now and he could +easily stand upright; the Indian also rising to his +feet, though he had to bow his head lest it should +brush the ceiling.</p> +<p>The dwarf began to talk aloud, to himself, apparently; +but after a moment of this muttering, +grew silent again. He had come to the mouth of a +black pit which seemed to descend into great depths. +In reality the depth was not so great; yet to anyone +within it escape was impossible without help +from above. Into this hole Ferd peered, holding +the lantern so that its rays fell straight downward, +and calling in a jeering voice:</p> +<p>“Is the ‘captain’ ready yet?”</p> +<p>“Oh, Ferd! good Ferd! Please, please let me +out!” answered a voice that thrilled old Pedro’s +heart with joy.</p> +<p>“All right. The money first.”</p> +<p>“But I have no money. You must help me up!”</p> +<p>“Down there safe. Is you hungry?”</p> +<p>“No, Ferd. The food you took out of Aunt +Sally’s pantry kept me from that.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span></div> +<p>The dwarf threw himself backward, on the rocky +floor above, and laughed loudly, yet his mirth was +shortlived. Pedro’s hand was on his throat before +a movement had been heard, and Pedro’s voice +was calling into the pit:</p> +<p>“Here am I, Sunny Face. Wait. I come.”</p> +<p>During all the hours of her imprisonment, Jessica’s +courage had not faltered, but, at the sound of that +blessed cry, it suddenly gave way and she burst +into a paroxysm of sobs and tears, which effectually +prevented her hearing the struggle that ensued +in the gloom between the shepherd and the +hunchback. For though the lantern had not been +extinguished, as it rolled from its owner’s hand, +it had fallen upon its one glass side and gave no +light.</p> +<p>For a time, even the Indian feared the issue of +that battle in the dark and the abnormal strength +of the dwarf’s long arms; but the craft, if not the +whole vigor of his own youth remained with him, +and at a chance opportunity, he whipped off his +blanket and smothered his opponent’s face therein.</p> +<p>The blanket was almost priceless, and, next to +his staff, his dearest possession; but when its heavy +folds had subdued the other to unconsciousness, he +did not hesitate to tear it into strips. With these +Ferd was promptly bound, hand and foot. Then +Pedro recovered the lantern and again called to +Lady Jess:</p> +<p>“I find a way. Wait.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Pedro! I know your blessed voice! There’s +a rope somewhere. Ask him. Quick––quick!”</p> +<p>“Wait.”</p> +<p>But the dwarf had almost immediately recovered +his breath, recognized his opponent, and now +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +directed the search. With a few superstitious ranchmen, +he shared the belief that Old Century was +under supernatural protection, and that it was extremely +dangerous to meddle with one so guarded. +Of all who might have traced him to that hidden +spot, here was the last he wished to meet; and +now that he knew himself beaten, he began to +whimper and plead in a cowardly way:</p> +<p>“Let me up, Pedro. Ferd’ll take little lady out. +Just fun, to make big talk. Ferd never hurt the +‘captain;’ no Ferd is a good boy, Pedro. Ferd is +a good boy. Poor Ferd! Pedro, let poor Ferd go.”</p> +<p>The only attention the shepherd vouchsafed the +whiner was to put his own foot under the inert +body and roll it well back from the pit’s mouth. +He had found the rope, a long and costly lariat +which he recognized as having once been the property +of Jessica’s father, and he secured it about +an upright timber that he tested and saw was still +firm. Then he took the handle of the lantern between +his teeth and slipped swiftly down the shaft.</p> +<p>As he reached the bottom Jessica threw herself +upon his breast with a fresh outburst of joy and +tears. But he dared not tarry below even with +an apparently helpless enemy above, and, giving her +the rope, he tersely bade her:</p> +<p>“Climb!”</p> +<p>With an intuition of his fear, she promptly obeyed +him and stood guard over the lariat lest Ferd should +make a fresh attempt upon it. Yet it seemed an +interminable time that Pedro stayed below; and +when at last he came above, she held him fast, not +willing again to let him go.</p> +<p>But he was in no haste. Allowing her to keep +between himself and the cavern’s wall, even intrusting +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +to her care the curious staff that now persisted +in dancing along the cavern’s floor in an +elfish way which amazed the girl, he made a circuit +of the place. At one spot he paused, and a single +grunt of satisfaction escaped him. Then he seized +a loaf of bread from a shelf-like niche and began to +eat it eagerly. He even pointed to another, lying +in the same place, but Jessica shook her head.</p> +<p>“No, no. I am not hungry. He gave me plenty +of stuff to eat. Lots of things that have been missing +from the kitchen and puzzled Aunt Sally so. +Oh! Pedro, let us go! Shall I ever see her again? +or my precious mother? How long has it been? +It seems forever. Come, come! Oh! come!”</p> +<p>“Wait,” was the imperturbable answer, and the +only one she could win from him. She was alive +and well. He had found her. There was no cause +for haste, nor had he ever hasted in his long life. +The man who wastes his time in hurry loses all. +He had found what he sought. This was the very +pit, the forsaken shaft of which the padre told him. +It led to what no other person dreamed. Was he +to be balked of his purpose, for the child’s whim? +No. It was for her, even, that he tarried.</p> +<p>In his groping about the cave the lantern had revealed +some loose fragments of rock which he now +pushed in front of the dwarf’s body, thus making +him a more secure prisoner; and, satisfied that all +was now safe, he descended again into the old shaft, +leaving Jessica in darkness.</p> +<p>Her impatience was almost unbearable, and escape +seemed as distant as ever, but there was +nothing left except that “waiting” Pedro had so +constantly advised.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span></div> +<p>It was rewarded, at last, by his call from the pit, +and even his calm voice was now shaken by excitement.</p> +<p>“Come, Sunny Face!”</p> +<p>Leaning over the edge of the hole, she saw him +point toward the rope and understood that he +wished her to descend, but with a shiver of distrust +she declined.</p> +<p>“Come.”</p> +<p>This time the order was peremptory and she +obeyed it, sliding swiftly down, to be caught and +safely deposited on the floor of the shaft. Placing +the lantern in her hand, the Indian began to gather +a strange collection of articles from one corner of +the narrow chamber and to display them to her. +As each was held up, an exclamation of surprise +broke from her, but even she had grown mostly +silent now, and her interest prevented fear. When +a goodly heap had been piled beside her, she found +her voice again, saying:</p> +<p>“I reckon everything that’s ever been lost from +Sobrante since it began is down here. Elsa’s little +leathern bags with their knitted covers; Beppo’s +plumes; Marty’s watch, that he thought he had lost +in the gulch; Wun Lung’s carved image. Oh, Pedro! +how dreadful and yet how splendid!”</p> +<p>The shepherd allowed her rhapsodies to answer +themselves. Though his eyes betrayed his complacency, +he had more serious work on hand, and, +pointing upward, he commanded:</p> +<p>“Fetch the padre’s staff.”</p> +<p>Lady Jess now realized that obedience was the +shortest road to freedom, so climbed and descended +the rope again, with the ease gained by her gymnastic +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span> +training under the “boys’” tuition. But she +took into the pit, beside the staff that curious +basket which she had once seen Ferd carrying up +the canyon and over which she had, most fortunately, +just then stumbled.</p> +<p>“See, Pedro! This will do to hold all those +things!”</p> +<p>The Indian “saw,” indeed, that this was a bit of +his own handiwork which had been missing from +the mesa, for many moons. He nodded gravely, +but was more eager for the staff than for his lost +property; and, taking the lantern again to the inner +wall of the shaft, he set the rod upon its point. +It remained motionless, exactly upright, where he +placed it; and now, truly, the old man paused to +gaze upon it in wordless delight. He was so rapt +and still that the girl grew frightened and awestruck, +watching his odd behavior, and begged him:</p> +<p>“Tell me what that means, Pedro! The thing is +bewitched.”</p> +<p>“Ugh!” said the Indian, arousing from his contemplation, +and, stooping began to dig amid the +loose stones at his feet, with the only tools at his +command––his own lean fingers. For these he +sometimes substituted a bit of rock, and to Jessica +it seemed as if he would never give over his strange +task. When she had begun to really despair of the +liberation which had seemed so near a while ago, +he ceased his labor and stood upright, holding +something shining toward the lantern’s light. To +the girl it appeared as only another worthless stone, +of a pretty, reddish hue, but wholly unworthy the +toil which had been spent to secure it. She was +further surprised, if anything could now surprise +her, to see the Indian place the fragment carefully +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span> +within his shirt front and tighten his belt afresh +below it. Then he lifted the basket she had filled +with the articles they had found and motioned her +upwards again.</p> +<p>“Now, we’re really going, aren’t we, Pedro?”</p> +<p>“Yes, Sunny Face. We go.”</p> +<p>Indeed, he was as eager for departure as heretofore +he had been loath. Releasing the dwarf’s feet +from their bandages, he helped his prisoner to them +and gently propelled him forward by a kick of his +own moccasined toe. Thus compelled, Ferd led the +way, the shepherd at his heels, carrying the basket +slung upon the staff over his shoulder, and his free +hand pressed closely against his breast where he +had placed the gleaming stone. Behind him walked +impatient Jessica, with the lantern, and in suchwise +the little procession came swiftly and silently to +the end of the passage and stood once more under +the free air of heaven. Here they had to halt, for +a moment, till their vision became accustomed to +the dazzling light; then with a cry of rapture, the +“captain” darted from her comrades and sped wildly +down the rocky gorge.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_V_JESSICAS_STORY' id='CHAPTER_V_JESSICAS_STORY'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<h3>JESSICA’S STORY</h3> +</div> +<p>Though it had seemed as a lifetime to impatient +Jessica that she had been kept in the cave, after +Pedro’s arrival there, in reality it was less than an +hour; and it was yet early in the day when a cry +she had expected never to hear again, rang through +the room where Gabriella Trent was lying.</p> +<p>“Mother! My mother! Where are you?”</p> +<p>Another instant, and they were clasped in close +embrace as if nothing should ever separate them +again. Words were impossible, at first, and not till +she saw that even joy was dangerous for her overwrought +patient did Aunt Sally, the nurse, interpose +and bodily lift the daughter from the parent’s arms. +All at once her own calmness and courage forsook +good Mrs. Benton, and now that she saw the lost +girl restored, visibly present in the flesh, anger +possessed her till she longed to shake, rather than +caress, the little captain.</p> +<p>“Well, Jessica Trent! These are pretty goings on, +now ain’t they?”</p> +<p>Gabriella sat up and her child nestled against her, +their hands clasped and their eyes greedily fixed +upon each other’s countenance. The unexpected +brusqueness of the question was a relief to their +high tension, and Jessica laughed, almost hysterically, +as she answered:</p> +<p>“They didn’t seem very ‘pretty’ to me, Aunt +Sally.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span></div> +<p>“What a sight you be! Where you been?”</p> +<p>“In the canyon cave.”</p> +<p>“Didn’t know there was one.”</p> +<p>“Nor I––before.”</p> +<p>“What for? What made you stay? Didn’t you +know you’d raised the whole countryside to hunt +for you? Don’t believe there’s an able-bodied man +left on a single ranch within fifty miles; all off +huntin’ for you. You––you ought to be spanked!”</p> +<p>“Mrs. Benton!” warned Gabriella, in a tone of +such distress that the reproved one promptly sank +in a capacious heap on the floor and fell to weeping +with the same vigor that she applied to all things. +Jessica, too, began to cry softly, at intervals, with +such shuddering bursts of sobs, that the mother’s +tears, also, were soon dimming the eyes to which +they had been denied during all the past anxiety. +However, this simultaneous downpour was infinite +relief to all; and presently the mother rose and +with the strength happiness gave to her slight figure, +carried her child away to rest.</p> +<p>“You are safe. You are here. I see that you +have suffered no hurt, and bed is the place for +you. When you have slept and rested you must +tell us all. Oh! my darling! Many hearts have +ached for you, and I thought my own was broken. +But, thank God! thank God!”</p> +<p>Aunt Sally followed them, and, as if she had been +a new-born baby, the two women washed and made +ready for a long sleep the precious child that had +been given back to them from the grave. Then +the mother sat down to watch while Aunt Sally +hurried to ring the ancient mission bell, whose +harsh clanging had been agreed upon among the +searchers as the signal of good news.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span></div> +<p>They all came flocking back, singly or in groups, +from wherever the summons, which could be heard +for miles in that clear air, chanced to find them. +Impatience was natural enough, too, on their part, +since to their eager questions Mrs. Benton could +not give answer beyond the simple statement:</p> +<p>“Yes, she’s back, safe and sound. Says she’s +been in a cave, though where it is or whether she’s +just flighty in her head, land knows. She’s sleepin’ +now, and it won’t be healthy for any you lumberin’ +men to be makin’ a noise round the house before she +wakes up, of her own accord.”</p> +<p>Nor when Pedro and the subdued dwarf came +slowly over the road would they make any further +explanation. Indeed, they were both utterly silent; +the Indian forcing his captive before him into the +deserted office where he intrenched himself, with +his basket and staff, until such time as it should be +his mistress’ pleasure to receive him.</p> +<p>Thus, with time on her hands and nothing else to +do, Aunt Sally collared Wun Lung and withdrew to +her kitchen, whence, presently, there arose such +various and appetizing odors that the weary ranchmen +scented a feast, and sought repose for themselves +till it was ready. Samson and John, however, +were called upon for aid, and, whereas they were +ordered to “dress six of the plumpest fowl in the +hennery,” they brought a dozen, and for “one likely +shoat,” they made ready two. Nor, when they +were upbraided for wastefulness, were they a whit +abashed, but John demanded, with unfilial directness:</p> +<p>“Why, mother, what’s got your common sense? +Tisn’t only our own folks you’re cookin’ for, but +fifty others, more or less. Do you s’pose Cassius +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +Trent would skimp victuals on such a day as this? +My advice to you is: Put on all the pork and bacon +you’ve got, to bile; and roast the lamb that was +butchered for our mess; and set to bakin’ biscuit +by the cartload, and–––”</p> +<p>“John Benton, hold your tongue, or I’ll–––”</p> +<p>“No, you won’t, mother! I’ve outgrown spankin’ +though I’d be most willin’ to submit if ’twould be +any relief to your feelin’s, or mine either. I tell you +this here’s the greatest day ever shone on Sobrante +Ranch, not barrin’ even the one when the ‘captain’ +came home with the title in her hand.”</p> +<p>“You misguided boy, don’t I know it? Ain’t I +clean druv out my wits a-thinkin’ ever’thing over, +and where in the name of natur’ am I goin’ to do +it all, with them horrid gasoline stoves no bigger’n +an old maid’s thimble, and Pasqually gone off +s’archin’ with the rest, and no’count the heft of the +time and my sins!”</p> +<p>“Had to take breath, or bust, hadn’t you?” cried +her disrespectful son, catching the portly matron +about the spot where her waist should have been +and hilariously whirling her about in a waltz which +his own lameness rendered the more grotesque. +“And where can you cook ’em? Why, right square +in them old ovens at the mission. Full now of +saddles and truck, but Samson and me’ll clear ’em +out lively. I’ll make you a fire in ’em, and they’ll +see cookin’ like they haven’t since the padres put +out their own last fires. They weren’t any fools, +them fellers. They knew a good thing when they +saw it, and if they tackled a job they did it square. +The ovens they built, just out of baked mud and a +few stones, are as tight to-day as they were a hundred +years ago; and, whew! won’t old Pedro, that +found her, relish his meat cooked in ’em?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span></div> +<p>Nor was Benton to be outdone in suggestion on +the matter of providing. Some of the searchers had +brought back a quantity of game, with which the +country teemed, and which it had delayed them but +little to shoot. This was levied upon without ado, +and in the preparation of the great feast Aunt +Sally’s helpers forgot their fatigue, and were as +deftly efficient as women would have been.</p> +<p>Indeed, between sleep and labor, the hours of +Jessica’s unbroken rest passed quickly, after all; +and the good news having spread almost as swiftly +as the ill, the grounds were full of people when, +at last, she awoke. But, even yet, Mrs. Trent’s +consideration for others refused a prior or full +hearing of the story to which her faithful helpers +had as good a right as she, if not as intense an +interest in it. She made the child eat and drink, +and went with her to her favorite rostrum when +addressing her “company” of soldierly “boys”––the +horse block. Here the girl stood up and told +her simple tale.</p> +<p>“You see, dear folks, it was just this way: Aunt +Sally and I were on the porch, and we found Elsa’s +ring, all crooked. We couldn’t guess how it came +there, and I’d just been made pretty angry about +the way you felt toward ‘Forty-niner.’ Oh! it was +dreadful, dreadful of you all, and I never was so +ashamed of my ‘boys,’ not in all my life.”</p> +<p>“Go on with the story, captain. Never mind us,” +cried somebody.</p> +<p>“And a little way farther I found a piece of Elsa’s +knitted bag. That made me think a lot. Then the +tackers came, all paint, and with Mr. Hale’s horse, +that had been on the mesa ever since he was here. +That made me think some more, and I told auntie +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span> +if she wouldn’t scold the little ones I’d try to find +their clothes. I didn’t find them, though, Aunt +Sally.”</p> +<p>“Go on! Go on! What next?” demanded an impatient +listener.</p> +<p>“Then I saw Ferd. Oh, mother! If I tell I’m +afraid they’ll hurt him.”</p> +<p>“He shall be protected, daughter, and you must +tell,” said the mother, though she now shrank from +the hearing.</p> +<p>“I asked him about the horse and the children, +and he said ‘yes,’ he had fixed them. He had driven +Prince down from the mesa, when Pedro didn’t +see him, and had ‘showed that old carpenter’ something +to pay for kicks and hard words. He knew +something I’d like to know. So I asked him what, +and he said it was Elsa’s money. But if I didn’t +go with him without saying anything to anybody +he wouldn’t tell me how to find it. I begged to +tell my mother, but he said her least of all. It +wouldn’t take long, only a few rods up the canyon; +so, of course, I went. I thought I should be back +long before dinner-time, and that mother would tell +me to do anything which would clear old Ephraim’s +name from your cruel suspicions. And, oh, boys! +You were wrong, you were wrong! He never took +a cent that wasn’t his own, and Elsa’s money is +found!”</p> +<p>Absolute silence followed this announcement, +then Samson’s great voice started the wild “Hurrahs” +which made the wide valley ring. The cheers +were long and lusty, but when they subsided at last, +Mrs. Trent bade her daughter finish the tale.</p> +<p>“It wasn’t a little, but a long way up the canyon; +yet I was so eager to right Ephraim’s wrong that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span> +I didn’t feel afraid, though I never have liked Ferd. +He can’t help being queer, maybe, with his queer +body to keep his half mind in–––”</p> +<p>The hisses that interrupted her were almost as +loud as the cheers had been, and it would have fared +ill with the dwarf had he at that moment been +visible. Fortunately, he was still under the surveillance +of the grim shepherd, in the locked office, +and the majority of those present were ignorant of +his whereabouts.</p> +<p>“Quit hindering the captain. Her story is what +we want!” cried “Marty.” “The dwarf can wait.”</p> +<p>“So we went on and on, and into a strange, dark +tunnel, that scared me a little, yet made me more +curious than ever to see the end of it all. The tunnel +led to a cave, and in the cave there was a deep +hole; and before I knew what he was doing, Ferd +had slung a lariat about me and dropped me into it.”</p> +<p>Again an interruption of groans and howls, that +were promptly suppressed by a wave of the mistress’ +white hand; then Jessica continued:</p> +<p>“As soon as he had put me there, he told me he +would keep me till my mother paid him great +money to let me up. Yet he wouldn’t even go to +her and ask for it. He said I must promise, and +that she would do anything I said. He told about +a boy in ’Frisco, he’d heard the men say, was taken +from his folks and kept till they paid lots for his +release––even thousands of dollars! Antonio had +taught him that money was the best thing to have. +He believed it. He took it whenever he could find +it. That’s what made him take Elsa’s, and blame +it upon Ephraim. And I wouldn’t promise. How +could I? My dear has no money to give wicked +men, and I knew the dear God would take me back +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span> +to her when He saw fit. As He did, indeed. For +it must have been He who put it into Pedro’s heart +to seek the cave just when I needed him most. Only +the Lord could see through all that darkness and +lead the shepherd by that crooked way.”</p> +<p>She paused, and, turning to her mother, laid her +sunny head upon the shoulder that was shaken by +such sobs as moved her faithful ranchmen to +thoughts of deep revenge. Eyes that had not wept +for years grew dim, and out of that circle of listening +men rose a low and ominous sound. Some, remembering +their own idle talk of kidnaping and the +like, shuddered at the practical application the +dwarf’s dim mind had made of their words; and +various plans for punishment were forming when +the captain clapped her hands for fresh attention.</p> +<p>“Hear me, ‘boys.’Do you belong to me?”</p> +<p>“Ay, ay! Heart and soul!”</p> +<p>“Then you must mind me. You must let Ferd +alone. You must do even more to please me––and +teach him to be good, not bad.”</p> +<p>None answered these clear, commanding sentences, +which, as the strangers present thought, +came so oddly from such childish lips, and they +wondered at the effect produced upon the Sobrante +men. These glanced at one another in doubt, each +questioning the decision of his neighbor; and then +again at the lovely girl who had never before +seemed so wholly angelic.</p> +<p>“Will you do this?”</p> +<p>“Hold on, little one. Let the ‘admiral’ speak. Has +she forgiven that human coyote?”</p> +<p>The unexpected question startled Mrs. Trent. +She was a strictly truthful woman, and found her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span> +answer difficult. She had never liked the wretched +creature who had just brought such misery to her, +and she now loathed him. She had already resolved +that, while she would protect Ferd from personal +injury, she would see to it that he was put where he +could never again injure her or hers. Her momentary +hesitation told. The whole assemblage +waited for her next word amid a silence that could +be felt, when, suddenly, there burst upon that +silence a series of ear-splitting shrieks which effectually +diverted attention from the perplexed ranch +mistress.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VI_BEHIND_LOCKED_DOORS' id='CHAPTER_VI_BEHIND_LOCKED_DOORS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +<h3>BEHIND LOCKED DOORS</h3> +</div> +<p>The shrieks were uttered by Elsa Winkler, who +frantically rushed to the horse block, demanding: +“Where? Where?”</p> +<p>Mrs. Trent gave one glance at the rough, unkempt +woman, and sternly remarked:</p> +<p>“Elsa, you forget yourself! Go back indoors, +at once.”</p> +<p>The unhappy creature shivered at this unfamiliar +tone, yet abated nothing of her outcry:</p> +<p>“My money! My money! My money!”</p> +<p>She had come to the ranch thinking only of +Jessica’s mysterious absence, and meaning to do +something, anything, which might help or comfort +the child’s mother; but the long walk, for one so +heavy and unaccustomed to exercise, had made her +physically ill by the time she reached Sobrante. +Which state of things was wholly satisfactory to +Aunt Sally, who, having received the visitor with +dismay, now promptly suggested bed and rest, saying:</p> +<p>“You poor creatur’! You’re clean beat out! If +you don’t take care, you’ll have a dreadful fit of +sickness, and I don’t know who’d wait on you if +you did. Not with all this trouble on hand. You +go right straight up into one them back chambers, +where the bed is all made up ready, and put yourself +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span> +to bed, and––stay there! Don’t you dast get +up again till I say so; else I won’t answer for the +consequences. You’re as yeller as saffron, and as +red as a beet. Them two colors mixed on a human +countenance means––somethin’! To bed, Elsa +Winkler; to bed right away. I’ll fetch you up a cup +of tea and a bite of victuals. Don’t tarry.”</p> +<p>“But––the mistress!” Elsa had panted. “I come +so long for to speak her good cheer. I must see +the mistress, then I rest.”</p> +<p>“The mistress isn’t seeing anybody just now, except +me and––a few others. You do as I say, or +you’ll never knit another wool shawl.”</p> +<p>“No, no. I knit no more, forever, is it? Not I. +Why the reason? The more one earns the more +one may lose. Yes, yes, indeed. Yes.”</p> +<p>“That’s the true word,” Mrs. Benton had replied; +“and so being you’ve no yarn to worry you, nor no +mistress to see, off to bed, I say, and don’t you +dast to get sick on my hands, I warn you!”</p> +<p>So Elsa had obeyed the command, glad enough to +rest and be idle for a time. Aunt Sally had seen +to it that the visitor was kept duly alarmed concerning +her red-and-yellow condition, nor had she given +the permission to arise when Wolfgang and Otto +arrived from their fruitless visit to El Desierto. +They found the place crowded with returning +searchers, and joyfully hailed the good news of +Jessica’s safety. But when there was added to this +the information that their own property had been +found, they demanded to be taken to Elsa, and it +was their visit to her room which had sent her +afield, half-clad, and with thought for nothing but +her lost treasure.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span></div> +<p>Even now, husband and son joined their entreaties +to hers, though Samson soon brought them to hear +reason, and to withdraw from public for the present, +asking, indignantly:</p> +<p>“Have you folks lost all your manners, as well +as your dollars, up there on the foothill? The idee +of a woman screeching her lungs out afore all the +ranchers in Southern Californy! Your money? +Well, what of it? If it’s found, it’ll be give to you, +and if it isn’t you ain’t the first feller’s been robbed. +Besides, can’t you smell? Don’t you know that +you’re interruptin’ the prettiest spread ever was +seen at old Sobrante? Like chicken? Like roast +pig? Like hot biscuit and plum sess? Then go +wash your face, and make your folks fix up and +come enjoy yourself. So far as I hear, it’s old +Pedro holds the cash, and you might as well try +to move the Sierras as him, if he ain’t ready to move. +At this present writin’ he’s set himself guard over +that scalliwag, Ferd, and I ain’t envying him his +job, I ain’t. Hurry up, there won’t be anything but +necks and drumsticks left for you laggards.”</p> +<p>Thus admonished and reassured, Wolfgang +hurried his family away to prepare for the feast, +and the interruption they had caused to the proceedings +at the horse block effectually relieved Mrs. +Trent from an immediate answer to an awkward +question, so she said:</p> +<p>“Come, daughter. I see by Aunt Sally’s manner +that she wishes the people would begin to eat. +Every pair of hands, that belongs to us, must help +in serving these kind neighbors who have flocked +to our aid. Some of them have forty good miles +to ride before they sleep, and they must be fed first. +I’ll stand by the head table yonder, and name them, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +and do you, for whom they left their business, wait +upon them yourself. That will show them your +gratitude, and give them honor due.”</p> +<p>So it was, and to every dish she brought, the little +captain added a graceful word of thanks, which +seasoned the food better than even Aunt Sally’s +wondrous skill had done; and many an encomium +did the child hear, in return, of that lost father +who had made himself so well-beloved in all that +countryside.</p> +<p>When all was over and done, when the last +“neighbor” had ridden homeward, when everybody +had had his fill, and more than his fill of good things, +and the rudely constructed tables had been removed +from the wide lawn, came Aunt Sally, beaming with +happiness, and glanced over the scene, till there +broke from her lips the wondering question:</p> +<p>“Can this be the same spot that was so dark and +lonely yesterday? I’ve had my heartstrings so +stretched and tugged at, betwixt joy and sorrow, +that I don’t know myself. I––I believe I’m tired! +And if I am, it’s about the first time in my life. +Well, well! Talking of Christmas––this little supper +we’ve just give is about equal to forty Christmases +in one. Seem’s if.”</p> +<p>“Dear, kind, Aunt Sally, how shall I ever thank +you for all you’ve done for us?” cried Mrs. Trent, +appearing at her friend’s side, and impetuously +clasping the portly matron. The embrace was so +unexpected, for the ranch mistress was never a demonstrative +woman, that its recipient was, for the +instant, speechless; the next, she had turned herself +about and demanded:</p> +<p>“Gabriella Trent, have you had a bite to eat?”</p> +<p>“No. Have you, Mrs. Benton?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span></div> +<p>“Not a morsel. I’m as empty as a bubble. No +more has the captain touched a thing. She’s here, +there and everywhere, among her precious ‘boys,’ +yet not a one of ’em has the decency to say: ‘Share +my supper, Lady Jess.’ If they were my ‘boys,’ +I’d–––”</p> +<p>“No, you wouldn’t, mother. And I’m glad to see +you two women resting a spell. Keep on sitting +there. We’re going to wait on you now, and don’t +you believe we haven’t put by the pick of the pies +for you all! The captain is fetchin’ the tackers, +and Pasqual’s fetchin’ the food. But what about +old Pedro and the coyote?”</p> +<p>“John, don’t call names, ’specially hard ones. +They always come home to roost. But I’m glad you +do some credit to your upraisin’, and did remember +that somebody else, except yourself, might be hungry. +Wait, Gabriell’. Don’t you worry about that +Indian. I’ll just step in and fix him somethin’.”</p> +<p>“You’d better not, mother. He’s got all the +company he wants at this present writing.”</p> +<p>This was sufficient to spur Mrs. Benton’s energy +afresh. Curiosity was her besetting sin, and she +could not endure that anything should go on about +the ranch in which she had no hand. Rising rather +hastily from a chair that was much too frail for +her weight, she and it came to grief, and the fact +diverted her attention for the time.</p> +<p>John was glad of this, though outwardly he sympathized +with her slight mishap, and facetiously +offered her a dose of her own picra.</p> +<p>Mrs. Trent also rose, saying:</p> +<p>“I will go to Pedro. Though I did try to thank +him, when he first came, I had but a moment to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +give him then, and I fear he will feel he has been +neglected. As if I could ever neglect one to whom +I owe my darling’s restoration!”</p> +<p>Mrs. Benton looked after her, and sighed.</p> +<p>“There she goes again! and that woman hasn’t +tasted a mouthful in a dog’s age!”</p> +<p>“How long’s a ‘dog’s age,’ Aunt Sally?” demanded +Ned as he helped himself to a buttered biscuit which +Pasqual had just placed on the old lady’s plate.</p> +<p>“Age as long as a dog,” commented Luis, seizing +the biscuit from his mate and running away with +it. Of course, Ned gave chase, and the usual battle +ensued, after which they dropped down upon the +spot where they had fought, threw their arms +around each other’s necks, and munched the biscuit +together with an air of cherubic delight.</p> +<p>Everybody laughed at the pair, upon which Aunt +Sally now descended with a threatening mien and a +plate of plum cake.</p> +<p>“Ain’t you ashamed of yourselves, you naughty +children? Fighting half your time. Here! Eat +that and let your suppers stop. By the way, how +many suppers have you had already?”</p> +<p>“Six or seven,” promptly replied Ned, who had +eaten with whoever invited him.</p> +<p>“Sixty-seven,” echoed Luis.</p> +<p>“Then to bed you go, this instant!” And off +they were marched, without delay. Of course, this +was another postponement of Mrs. Benton’s own +meal, but she didn’t mind that, so long as she had +an opportunity to deal with the small lads. Explaining +to them, as she undressed and bathed them: +“You’d go to wrack and ruin if ’twasn’t for me takin’ +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +a hand in your upbringin’ now and then. You pull +the wool over Gabriella’s eyes the worst ever was. +My! What you doing now, Edward Trent?”</p> +<p>“Pullin’ wool, like you said!” and wound the +white blanket he had caught from his cot the more +tightly about Luis’ head.</p> +<p>Meanwhile, the ranch mistress had gained the +office and asked admission at its locked door. When +a long wait ensued, she reflected rather anxiously +upon what the men had often said, “That Old Century +is as top-lofty as a king. Thinks he is a king, +in his own rights, and his having lived a hundred +years makes him better’n anybody else.”</p> +<p>This was quite true. Faithful and devoted to her +as he was, the shepherd exacted even from her the +respect that was his due. On that day he felt that +much more than ordinary consideration was owing +him; yet he had been left for hours, unvisited by +her for whom he had done, and meant still to do, +so much. Therefore, it was with a bearing full of +injured dignity that he at last slid the bolt and +opened the door, though he did not invite the visitor +to enter, nor withdraw from the opening.</p> +<p>“I came to see about your supper, good Pedro. +Do you know that it has been cooked in the old +mission oven? That should make it taste fine to you. +You must pardon my not being earlier, but there +have been so many, many guests. All gone now, +save our own people.”</p> +<p>“Senorita, am I not also a guest, yes? Was one +at Sobrante as old as me? Should not I have ruled +the feast?”</p> +<p>“Indeed, you should, my friend, if there had been +any ruling whatever. It was simply take and eat, +and away to their distant homes. You are already +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span> +at home, nor have I, either, tasted food. Come now +and feast with me. I am hungry, and so should +you be. You mustn’t keep the mistress waiting, you +know!”</p> +<p>Pedro’s countenance had softened, and he had +expended all his sternness, but his caution remained. +With a significant glance toward his prisoner, the +dwarf, he shook his head.</p> +<p>“When he is safe, then will I break my fast. The +senorita does me honor.”</p> +<p>“That is what I should like to do, dear Pedro. +But is not poor Ferd safe in here? Can we not +send him in some supper and turn the lock upon +him?”</p> +<p>She could not hide the repugnance she felt toward +the miserable, misshapen creature, now sleeping on +the floor, and after one glance in his direction looked +swiftly away. But that glance had been sufficient +to startle her by its resemblance to another face +she hoped never to see again.</p> +<p>Pedro’s keen old eyes noticed her surprise and +dismay, and he smiled grimly.</p> +<p>“The mistress sees. Slumber shows it––the likeness. +One breed of snakes were in the den. Fear +both, watch both, for they are brothers. Yes.”</p> +<p>This, then, explained many things; not the least, +the wonderful influence and control which Antonio +had always maintained over his half-witted “left +hand,” as the “boys” called the unfortunate hunchback.</p> +<p>“Antonio––Ferdinand––both Bernals––brothers?” +asked Mrs. Trent, in a tremulous voice.</p> +<p>“Si. Yes, indeed. In truth.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span></div> +<p>“And all this time nobody knew or suspected it?”</p> +<p>“Senorita, the master knew. That was part of +his great goodness to the wicked one who would +ruin him if he could. ’Ware Antonio––’ware Ferd. +One is the shadow of the other. One thinks, the +other works. When Antonio went, Ferd stayed. +No good, senorita. Watch him.”</p> +<p>The lady sat down upon the nearest chair, and, +as she did so, caught sight of the basket upon the +desk. It was filled to overflowing with articles of +various sorts, and beside it lay the curious metal-pointed +staff. Her impulse was to reach forward +and take it, but the Indian arrested her hand by an +upward motion of his own. Then he opened it himself +and showed her, at the bottom, a number of +leathern bags with knitted covers.</p> +<p>“Elsa’s money?”</p> +<p>Pedro silently assented.</p> +<p>“Oh, let us call her, and give it back to her at +once.”</p> +<p>“Fools must learn. Let the miner come, and +Samson.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Trent stepped outside and dispatched a messenger +for the two men, who presently came; the +one glum and offended, thinking in his slow way +that he had been made a jest of, and that the money +his wife so loved had not, after all, been found. +The other, as always, proud and alert to serve the +“admiral.”</p> +<p>When they had entered the room, Wolfgang’s eyes +at once rested greedily upon the basket, which +Pedro had again closed, as if he guessed what treasure +lay within. Samson’s glance went straight to +the sleeping dwarf, and an almost irresistible impulse +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span> +to kick the inert figure possessed him. But he +restrained himself, and colored high when he met +the lady’s own glance.</p> +<p>“No, Samson, please. No violence. Yet it is +Pedro’s wise advice that Ferd be placed under the +charge of somebody who shall know at all times +just where he is and what he is about. Will you +take that charge, herder?”</p> +<p>“That ain’t the kind of cattle I keep, ‘admiral.’”</p> +<p>“I understand it isn’t a pleasant task. That’s not +the question, which is simply: Will you be responsible +for––Ferdinand Bernal?”</p> +<p>The mighty sailor fairly jumped, but his reply +was: “You could knock me down with a feather!”</p> +<p>Mrs. Trent laughed. “Yes, it is strange. But +look sharp. The resemblance is strong. Pedro +knows the relationship, and my husband knew it. +I did not, until just now. Something better may +suggest itself to you or me, but for the present, +will you take charge of this unhappy one?”</p> +<p>A delayed and most reluctant “Yes” came at last +from the herder’s lips. If he had been asked to +punish the dwarf the answer would have been swift +and eager; but “take charge!” That meant constant +association, decent treatment and responsibility +for the most “slippery” of human beings.</p> +<p>“Then, please take him away at once.”</p> +<p>Ferd had roused, and was sitting up; so that when +Samson laid his great hand on the lad’s shoulder, +the latter understood, in a dim way, that he was +now the herder’s, rather than the shepherd’s prisoner. +Of the two, he would have preferred the +latter keeper; but he would bother with neither +very long.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span></div> +<p>It was a relief when the door closed upon the +outgoing pair, and Pedro rose and locked it. There +was something preternaturally solemn and mysterious +in his manner as, placing a chair nearer to the +desk for Mrs. Trent, he motioned Wolfgang to +take another opposite. Then, standing between +them he drew the basket toward himself, and keeping +one hand upon it, thrust the other within his +shirt and drew from that the reddish bit of rock +which Jessica had seen him so careful of.</p> +<p>Holding it so that the last rays of the sun fell +through the window full upon it, he extended it +on his open palm and demanded of the miner:</p> +<p>“What?”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VII_A_ROYAL_GIFT' id='CHAPTER_VII_A_ROYAL_GIFT'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +<h3>A ROYAL GIFT</h3> +</div> +<p>Wolfgang took the bit of stone in his own fingers +and examined it critically. Always deliberate +in his words and actions, he was now doubly so, +and Mrs. Trent grew impatient of a situation which +seemed unimportant, and that delayed for others, +as well as herself, a much needed supper.</p> +<p>But Pedro was not impatient. He stood with +folded arms and triumphant bearing, ready for the +miner’s reply, whether it came soon or late; also, +quite ready to disregard it should it be different +from that expected.</p> +<p>“Well, Wolfgang?” asked the ranch mistress.</p> +<p>The miner heaved a prodigious sigh, and returned +the ambiguous answer:</p> +<p>“That is what I have thought already, is it not?”</p> +<p>“What have you thought, good Wolfgang?” demanded +the lady, looking toward the Indian’s glowing +eyes.</p> +<p>“Copper. Copper, without alloy.”</p> +<p>“Ugh!” grunted Pedro, with satisfaction, and +taking the metal again in his hand bowed low and +gravely presented it to his mistress.</p> +<p>She received it without enthusiasm, wondering +what significance could attach to a bit of stone +that might have been picked up anywhere. Her +husband had believed that everything valuable +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +would, sooner or later, be unearthed from the +mountains of the State he so loyally loved, but her +own interest in the subject was slight. However, +she must say something grateful or again offend +the dignity of her venerable servitor.</p> +<p>“Thank you, Pedro. It is very pretty. I will add +it to the case of minerals that your master arranged +yonder.”</p> +<p>The shepherd cast one contemptuous glance toward +the shelves she indicated, and straightened +himself indignantly. He had loved and revered her, +ever since she came a bride to Sobrante, and had +tended him through a scourge of smallpox, unafraid +and unscathed. Though she was a woman, the sex +of whose intelligence he had small opinion, he had +regarded her as an exception, and his disappointment +was great.</p> +<p>“Is it but a ‘thank you,’ si? Does not the senorita +know what this gift means?”</p> +<p>“I confess that I do not, Pedro. Please explain.”</p> +<p>“Were the old padres wise, mistress?”</p> +<p>“So I have always understood.”</p> +<p>“Listen. From them it came; from the last who +left the mission here for another––to me, his son +and friend. Into the heart of the world we went, +and he showed me. Down low, so low none dream +of it, lies that will make you rich. Will there be +anybody anywhere so rich as the senorita and her +little ones? No. But no, not one. This I give you. +It is for the Navidad, the last old Pedro will ever +see. And the senorita answers, ‘thank you’!”</p> +<p>He was deeply hurt, and his manner was now +full of an eloquent scorn. He was returning the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +stone to his breast, when she asked for it again, +saying, gently:</p> +<p>“You are so old and wise, good Pedro, you must +bear with my ignorance and teach me. This is +copper, you say. It is very pretty, but how can it +make me rich? I do not understand.”</p> +<p>Wolfgang answered for the other, and his phlegmatic +face had lost its ordinary expression for one +of keen delight.</p> +<p>“It is true, what the old man tells you, mistress. +He means––he must mean––somewhere on your +property lies a vein of this metal. The dead master +thought the coal was fine already. Ay, so, so. But +copper! Mistress Trent, when this vein is mined, +what Pedro says––yes, yes. In all this big country is +not one so rich as he who owns a copper mine. Ach, +himmel! It is a queen he has made you, and you say, +‘Thank you!’”</p> +<p>He had fully caught the shepherd’s enthusiasm +and feeling, and for the first time in his life looked +upon the lady of Sobrante as a dull-witted person.</p> +<p>But she was no longer dull. Even if it seemed an +impossibility that even this “vein” could be mined, +since she had no money to waste in an experiment +so costly, still she realized, at last, what Pedro’s +will had been. Catching his hand between her own +soft palms, she pressed it gratefully, and beamed +upon him till he smiled again.</p> +<p>“Whatever comes of it. Pedro, you have given +us a royal aguinaldo<a name='FNanchor_0002' id='FNanchor_0002'></a><a href='#Footnote_0002' class='fnanchor'>[B]</a>, and I do appreciate it. Come +now, and share our rejoicing over that greater good +that you have brought to Sobrante––the salvation +of its little captain. For that––for that––I have not +even the ‘thank you’; my feeling is too deep.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span></div> +<p>Though he showed it little, the old man was +almost as moved as she, and he followed her as +proudly as if he were the “king” his fellow ranchmen +called him. Yet even pride did not prevent his +being cautious still, and he carried the basket and +staff away with him, though Wolfgang protested, +and asked, angrily now:</p> +<p>“The money? Is it not my Elsa’s, yes? Would +you break her heart already, and the little one so +needing it?”</p> +<p>Mrs. Trent laughed. She, too, wondered that the +Indian had not at once surrendered the other’s +property, but understood that he could not be +hurried. So she merely suggested that Wolfgang +bring his family around to the living room immediately +after sunset, when, doubtless, he would receive +his own again.</p> +<p>At that time, also, she meant to have John Benton +present, to hear what Pedro had to say about +this copper find, and to comfort him in his disappointment, +for between these two there had always +been close friendship.</p> +<p>However, to her surprise, John attempted no comfort. +He was instantly and heartily on the shepherd’s +side, and demanded, excitedly:</p> +<p>“Begging pardon for plain words, as you are a +woman with growing children, can you sit there +calm as molasses and say ‘you wish you could do +something about it,’ yet say no more. ‘Wish!’ +Why, land of Goshen! this ain’t a wishin’ sort of +business, this ain’t! It’s ‘Hurray for old Sobrante! +Hurray, hurray, hurray!’ Call ’em in, captain, +dearie! Call in the whole crowd! That was the +luckiest gettin’ lost anybody ever had! Oh, won’t +somebody call ’em in?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span></div> +<p>To the group about the table it seemed that the +sensible carpenter had suddenly gone mad. Nobody +had ever heard him so address the mistress whom +he loved, and his excited prancing around the room, +alternately hugging and examining the mineral in +his hand, added to the impression. While the captain +departed to summon the other “boys,” Aunt +Sally attempted to reduce her hilarious son to +sanity by a sharp box on the ear, and the sharper +reprimand:</p> +<p>“You, John Benton! Do you mean to bring my +gray hairs with sorrer to the grave? What’s the +reason of these goings on, I’d like to know? I +never was so disgraced in all my life, never. Now, +quit! Quit to once, or–––”</p> +<p>He paid no heed to her, but laid his hand on +Pedro’s shoulder and shook it vigorously, demanding:</p> +<p>“What kind of a feller are you, anyway? Why in +the name of sense didn’t you tell this thing while +the boss was alive? Shucks! Half of you is Indian, +and that means dirt. Known it all this time, and +kept it hid! You’d ought to be drawn and quartered, +that’s what you had!”</p> +<p>Mrs. Benton advanced with threatening hand, +and from force of habit he retreated before her, and +sank into the nearest chair; so that, when his mates +entered, they found him sitting with bent head and +down-hanging hands, as limp and inert as if his +vitality had been sapped by the news he had heard.</p> +<p>“What’s up?” asked “Marty,” making his respectful +salutation to the mistress, but looking past her +toward the carpenter, who, with another change +of mood, sprang again to his feet and waved the +fragment of mineral overhead, exclaiming:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span></div> +<p>“This is ‘up’! Copper’s ‘up’! Sobrante’s ‘up’! +And lucky the men that belong to it. Only––that +old villain, yonder, has known it even since forever, +and was mean enough to keep his secret. That’s +what he is, that Pedro, yonder!”</p> +<p>Yet, with another whimsical change, he seized +the shepherd’s hand and wrung it till even that +hardened member ached. But the Indian remained +as calm and undisturbed, amid the torrent of blame +or praise, as if he had been sitting alone at his weaving +on the mesa. His soul was satisfied at last. +He had done that which he had pondered doing +for many years, without being able, heretofore, to +bring his thought to action. Surely he had known +that, locked within his own breast, his “secret” was +worthless; yet he had clung to it tenaciously. Now +he had imparted it to others, and behold! all the +world knew it, even so soon. Well, that did not +matter. It was no longer his. His part was ended. +Meanwhile, on his beloved upland, there was a faithful +collie watching for his return, and lambs bleating, +needing his care. Suddenly he rose, placed his +cherished staff in Mrs. Trent’s hands, and bowing +low, said:</p> +<p>“Keep this, as I have kept it, where none but you +may find. At the Navidad I come once more, the +last. Adios.”</p> +<p>His departure was so unexpected that, at first, +they did not try to prevent it, but Jessica was swift +to follow and protest:</p> +<p>“Not to-night, dear Pedro! Please not to-night. +You have been so good to me, you must stay and +be glad with us this one night. In the morning–––”</p> +<p>“In the morning the sheep will need new pasture. +Adios, nina.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span></div> +<p>“Then, if go you must, it shall not be on foot. +Wait! I know! Prince, Mr. Hale’s horse, that +he left with you on the mesa. It is here. The +naughty children painted him, but I saw him in the +corral, just now, and you shall ride him home. That +is if you will not stay, even for me.”</p> +<p>“The Navidad. Till then, adios.”</p> +<p>She had never heard him talk so much nor so well +as since these few hours among his friends. He +seemed to be almost another Pedro than the silent +shepherd of the mesa, and as she followed him, +taking his direct way to the paddock, she wondered +at the uprightness of his bearing and the unconscious +dignity which clothed him like a garment. +Then she remembered something else––his blanket, +and sprang to his side again, entreating:</p> +<p>“Just one five minutes more, Pedro. Your blanket. +You must have a new one.”</p> +<p>He hesitated and sighed. Then shook his head +sadly. That which he had torn, to bind the dwarf, +had been a Navajo weave, so fine and faultless that +even he, the wonderful weaver, knew it for a marvel. +There could not be its mate in all that country, +nor had been since the old padres went and took with +them, as he believed, all the wisdom of the world.</p> +<p>Before he had caught and bridled the horse, +Jessica was back, and playfully enveloped in a +wonderful piece of cloth that made the Indian stare. +If it were not the mate to his lost treasure, it was +quite as fine and soft, as generous in size, and far +cleaner.</p> +<p>“See, dear old fellow. This was my father’s. My +mother sends it to you with her love. Put it on, +so I may see how fine you look. Oh, grand! When +the children play ‘Indian’ why can’t they copy you, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span> +and not those dirty Diggers, that Ferd teaches them +to be like! Pedro, you are splendid, and––I love +you! I love you!”</p> +<p>All at once, as she gazed upon him, there returned +to her a memory of that dark time in the cavern’s +pit, where he had found her, and which, in the general +rejoicing over her safety she had, for the present, +almost forgotten. By now, save for this old +man, she might have been dead.</p> +<p>He received the onslaught of her embrace exactly +as he had accepted the gift of the blanket––in +silence. There was a momentary lighting of his +somber eyes, but no word, as, putting her quietly +down upon the ground, he mounted the barebacked +Prince and loped swiftly away into the darkness +and solitude.</p> +<p>Brighter by contrast was the room to which the +little captain returned, after Prince and his rider +had vanished into the night, and the circle of lamp-lighted +faces gleamed with excitement. Everybody +seemed trying to outtalk his neighbor, and only one +glowering countenance showed dark by contrast; +the face of Elsa Winkler, with its eyes angrily fixed +upon the basket which Mrs. Trent held on her lap, +quite forgetting what it contained in her listening +to the others’ words.</p> +<p>Suddenly, Samson brought his fist down upon the +table, enforcing a brief silence, while demanding:</p> +<p>“What’s amiss with using the capital on hand? +There sits our ‘admiral,’ with money enough in that +basket to start the whole business. Set Wolfgang +to manage, and the rest of us to dig and delve. +More’n one here has tried mining for a yellower +metal than this”––holding up the bit of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span> +copper––“’twould do us proud to give the first pick to Sobrante’s +fortune! Lads, what say?”</p> +<p>“Ay, and right off! That’s what we say!” cried +somebody, but Mrs. Trent lifted her hand, and they +were silent.</p> +<p>She had become as interested now as any of the +others; far more, indeed, since if this amazing tale +of Pedro’s proved true she would be able, at last, +to fulfill her husband’s interrupted life-work, and +make Sobrante a power for good in the world.</p> +<p>“What does Elsa say? Will she lend us this +money?”</p> +<div class='footnote'><a name='Footnote_0002' id='Footnote_0002'></a><a href='#FNanchor_0002'><span class='label'>[B]</span></a> +<p>Christmas box or gift.</p> +</div> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VIII_THE_FACE_AT_THE_WINDOW' id='CHAPTER_VIII_THE_FACE_AT_THE_WINDOW'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<h3>THE FACE AT THE WINDOW</h3> +</div> +<p>All waited breathlessly for Elsa’s answer. They +knew her greed, or, rather, why she hoarded her +money so closely, and were not so surprised, after +all, when it came.</p> +<p>“No, I cannot.”</p> +<p>“Can’t? I should like to know why you can’t?” +demanded John Benton, indignantly, though Mrs. +Trent protested against his urgency by a nod of her +head.</p> +<p>“It is for the little one. It is mine. I want it +already.”</p> +<p>The ranch mistress at once extended the basket, +but it was now the carpenter’s turn to object.</p> +<p>“Please, ‘admiral,’ not so fast. Let her tell us, +first, how much money she lost.”</p> +<p>Elsa caught her breath. To save her life she +could not have stated in exact figures the sum, because, +though she had known to a dime before the +robbery, at, and after that time, she had recklessly +tossed aside the little that remained. This wasted +portion belonged with the whole amount, and being +as truthful as she was penurious, she hesitated. +Her color came and went, as she looked anxiously +into John’s face, realizing that he had laid a trap +for her and caught her in it.</p> +<p>But the mistress confronted her, saying:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span></div> +<p>“Never mind that, Elsa. I do not blame you for +refusing to try experiments with what you have +so hardly earned and so nearly lost. These are +certainly your own little money bags, as I judge +from their knitted covers; but it is just possible +there may have been other money added to that +was taken from you. So, tell me as nearly as you +can, what you had, and we will examine them all +together.”</p> +<p>This was wise, and commended itself even to the +eager Elsa, who stated promptly and proudly:</p> +<p>“Three t’ousand of the dollars it was. All gold. +Big gold and littles ones. In them bags was lost +entirely. In the others––I don’t know. Oh! I don’t +know. It was much, much!”</p> +<p>It was Wolfgang’s turn to interpose, and he did +so, sternly:</p> +<p>“Elsa, wife! Three thousand dollars, and I not +know it! How dare you?”</p> +<p>“Ach! how not dare I? It was the new pick, or +the new pushcart, or the new everything, is it not +so? Well, then, if one would save one need not +tell.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Trent’s face saddened, and, seeing this, +Jessica impatiently exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Oh, I hate money! It’s always that which +makes the trouble. It was about money that those +New York folks made such wicked charges against +my father. It was for a little money that you ‘boys’ +were so quick to ruin ‘Forty-niner’s’ character. It +was money, and the greed for it, that changed +Antonio from a good to a bad man.”</p> +<p>“Hold on, captain. There wasn’t ever any ‘change’ +in him. He was born that way.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span></div> +<p>“He was born a baby, wasn’t he, John? All +babies are good, I s’pose. It’s loving money has +made Ferd do such dreadful things; and now, over +a little money, Wolfgang and Elsa are quarreling, +though I never heard them speak crossly to each +other before. Oh, I hate it! Give it all back to +her, mother dear, and let us forget all that Pedro +said. I, for my part, hope his old copper mine will +never be dug out.”</p> +<p>Some who heard her laughed, but the mother +grew even graver than at first, and looked searchingly +into her daughter’s face. Again there came +to her mind the consciousness that the little girl +was growing up in a strange fashion; seeming both +too wise and too simple for her years. It could +never be any different at Sobrante, where one and +all conspired to spoil her, though innocently enough, +and from pure affection. How could she, single-handed, +combat these hurtful influences?</p> +<p>The answer came swiftly enough in a second +thought: “Money.”</p> +<p>If there were but a little more of that power for +good as well as evil in her possession she could send +the child to some fine school and have her educated +properly. The separation would be like death in +life to herself, but what true mother ever thought +of self where her child was concerned? Certainly, +not Gabriella Trent. It was with a little sigh that +she put her arm about Lady Jess and drew her to +her side, saying:</p> +<p>“Here, daughter, you and John examine these +bags together, while the rest of us look on and tally +for you. I want Elsa to have her own, at once.”</p> +<p>They moved the books and papers from the table, +and Jessica emptied the contents of the bags into +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span> +one gleaming heap near the big lamp, whose light +gave an added radiance to the coins, making more +than one pair of eyes sparkle and stare. None +could remember ever to have seen so large an +amount displayed outside a bank window.</p> +<p>Even John’s hands trembled slightly as he began +to count the double eagles first, pushing each five +of these toward his small co-laborer and reckoning:</p> +<p>“One hundred. Two hundred. Three hundred––one +thousand!”</p> +<p>“One thousand!” echoed Jessica, in turn handing +the pile to her mother, while the others watched, +counting each for himself in silence, ready to check +any blunder that might be made.</p> +<p>That is, the men were silent, but Elsa and Aunt +Sally rather disturbed the proceedings; the former, +by eagerly reaching out for the piles as each was +arranged before the mistress, and being as regularly +rebuked by the latter.</p> +<p>“There you go again, woman! How can they +count right if you don’t have patience? Keep your +hands still, do,” said Mrs. Benton.</p> +<p>“Keep your tongue, mother, too. Two thousand!” +rejoined John.</p> +<p>“Two––thousand!” cried Jessica, tallying. But +her voice had now lost its impatience, and she began +to have a very different feeling in regard to this +“money,” which looked so real, and was so much +needed at Sobrante. If Pedro’s “copper” could be +transmuted into shining golden eagles, why, after +all, she guessed she didn’t hate it quite so much.</p> +<p>“Three––thousand––and––ain’t half––touched +yet!” gasped Samson, throwing up his great hands +in a gesture of astonishment.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span></div> +<p>Elsa was also gasping then, and the expression +of her face was changing into one from which Mrs. +Trent involuntarily turned her eyes. Cunning and +avarice predominated, and in the woman’s throat +was a curious clicking sound, as if she had lost and +were trying to find her voice. Which, when +found, seemed not to belong to the good-natured +Elsa, so changed it was:</p> +<p>“Ach, me! But I forgot already. I guess––it was +not three t’ousand; it was two times so much. That +was seven t’ousand, is it not? The money of this +America––it so confuse, yes,” and she tapped her +forehead with one fat finger, while her eyes grew +beady, and seemed to shrink in size as they gazed +upon the wealth she coveted.</p> +<p>But Wolfgang would have none of this. He was +as honest as the sun, and, till that moment, had +supposed his wife to be of one mind with him. +Indeed, honest she had been, in thought and deed, +until that terrible temptation was spread before +her.</p> +<p>“Elsa! Elsa Winkler! Is it my wife you was and +would lie––lie––for a bit of that rubbish!”</p> +<p>“‘Rubbish’ is good,” commented “Marty,” under +his breath, but nobody smiled.</p> +<p>The woman cowered. Accustomed as she was to +domineer over the seemingly weak-willed man, +there had been times, within her memory, when +he had thrown off her rule and asserted himself to +a degree that terrified her. She had stumbled upon +one of those times now, and sank back in her place +with a deprecating gesture, advancing the flimsy +protest:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span></div> +<p>“Are they not my bags, so? Sewed I them not +with my own hands out of the skin of the little kid +was killed? The covers I knitted with–––”</p> +<p>The miner raised his hand, and she dropped her +eyes before him.</p> +<p>“Give her what belongs, if you will, good lady, +and let us be gone,” he said, pulling his forelock +respectfully to Mrs. Trent.</p> +<p>“Gone! Why no, Wolfgang, not to-night. It’s +a long way, and you should wait till morning. Indeed, +you should,” she replied, at the same time +sending a questioning glance toward John Benton, +and pushing toward Elsa all the empty bags and +three of the thousand dollar piles.</p> +<p>For the carpenter nodded swift acquiescence, on +his part longing to be rid of “them miserly Dutchmen, +barring the man.”</p> +<p>Elsa rapidly recounted, and bestowed the eagles +within their receptacles, and these again, wrapped +in a handkerchief, within her bosom. Then, as +coolly as if she had not made an unpleasant exhibition +of herself, she turned to her hostess and smiled:</p> +<p>“I go now, mistress. I thank you already for one +good time I have. It is to buy the mine, one day, +for my child. I must be going. Yes, I must. The +stew! Ach! how I forgot! The cat––it was a good +stew, no? And the cat has eat the stew!”</p> +<p>“Then you’d better stew the cat!” suggested +Marty, with a facetiousness to which she paid no +heed.</p> +<p>Holding out her hand for Otto to take it, she +commanded:</p> +<p>“Little heart, but come. It is in bed you should +be, yes. Good-by, all,” adding in German, “May +you sleep well!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span></div> +<p>Wolfgang followed the retreating pair, but turned +on the threshold to make his obeisance to the ranch +mistress, and to say, “At your service, good lady. +My pick and my head.” Then, bowing again toward +all the company, he disappeared.</p> +<p>Everybody felt the relief of their departure, and +Aunt Sally humorously threw a kiss after them, remarking, +with a sniff:</p> +<p>“Blessed be nothing, if somethin’ is going to make +a hog out of a decent woman. That there Elsy’d +been content with half she got if she hadn’t seen +the rest that heap. I’m a good deal like Jessie, here. +I think money’s the root of all evil.”</p> +<p>“That ain’t an original observation, mother, +though you do speak as if it was. Money’s the +root of a pretty consid’able comfort, too; and I’d +like to know, for one, where in creation all this +that’s left came from,” returned John.</p> +<p>“There’s no doubt in my mind, that it came out +of the Trent pocketbook, every dollar of it!” said +Samson. “But how it came into Ferd’s fist is more’n +I can guess. Seems if even a half-wit would steal +from his own brother, and it must have passed +through Antonio’s hands first.”</p> +<p>“Antonio’s brother!” cried Marty, incredulously.</p> +<p>“That’s the true word. Pedro knew it, and the +master knew it. The ‘admiral’ heard it, first, to-day; +along with that other secret about the copper. Ain’t +any harm in mentioning it, is there?” said Samson.</p> +<p>The lady laughed, and answered:</p> +<p>“Even if there were the harm is done, herder. +But that’s right. I wish no secrets at Sobrante. +I like to feel that we are all one family in interests +and affection, as my husband wished. And now +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +remains this gold. What is to be done with it? +Where shall we bestow it that it may be both safe +and ready when needed?”</p> +<p>Aunt Sally immediately went and closed the door +and locked it; then fastened the windows and pulled +the shades over them. At which a shout arose that +the old lady heeded not a whit. She clasped her +hands over her breast and her round face turned +pale, as she whispered shrilly enough for all to hear:</p> +<p>“We’re undone! We’re all undone! We’re a +passel of fools––and––and––– Oh, suz!”</p> +<p>Down she dropped into a chair, and there was no +more laughter. She was not a timid woman, and +her fright was evident. Her son stepped to her +side and laid his hand on her shaking shoulder, demanding:</p> +<p>“What ails you, mother? What did you see? +Why did you lock the doors?”</p> +<p>“I––I–––”</p> +<p>“Quit chattering your teeth together. What did +you see?”</p> +<p>“Oh, son! I seen a––a––ghost!”</p> +<p>“Trash!”</p> +<p>Her courage began to return, and her anger to +rise. She retorted promptly:</p> +<p>“No trash! A ghost. A spirit! As sure as I’m +a-settin’ here this minute; the spirit of––of–––”</p> +<p>It aggravated John that she should pause and +peep behind her, to be sure the windows were still +covered.</p> +<p>“The spirit of what tomfoolery has possessed +you, mother, I’d like to know? What’s the use of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +scarin’ folks half to death? As if we hadn’t had +enough things happen without your cuttin’ up, too!”</p> +<p>“Hold your tongue, John Benton, you sassy boy. +As sure as I’m alive, I saw the ghost of Antonio +Bernal peeking in at that open window afore I +shut it. He was so white I couldn’t tell him from +paper, and so thin I ’peared to see clean through +him.”</p> +<p>“Pshaw, mother! You’re overtired, and for once +in your life really nervous. I reckon it’s the sight +of more money than ever come your way before. +Well, forget it. ’Tisn’t yours nor mine. We’ve no +cause to worry. I’ll step and get you a drink of +water and then you’ll feel all right, and would better +go to bed.”</p> +<p>“I don’t want water, and I shan’t go to bed. I +shan’t close my eyes this night, John Benton, and +you needn’t touch to tell me so.”</p> +<p>“All right. Stay awake if you like. It’s nothing +to me,” answered the exasperated man, who, in +spite of his strong common sense, had been more +startled than he cared to admit, even to himself. +But, glancing at Mrs. Trent and Jessica, he now +felt that it would be wiser to express his own fear, +which was of nothing supernatural.</p> +<p>“Mother’s upset, ‘admiral,’ and don’t you let her +upset you, too. The fact is, we’re a very careless +set at Sobrante, where everything is––or used to +be––all open and above board. It’s a new thing for +keys to be turned on this ranch, and it’s a new +thing for us to go suspecting one another of sneak +notions. I, for one, am ashamed enough of the +way I’ve felt about old Ephraim Marsh, and if he +don’t show up pretty soon, I’ll make a special trip +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +to Los Angeles to tell him so. Even if I have to +foot it the heft of the way.</p> +<p>“Howsomever, all the world ain’t as honest as +them that had the honor of knowin’ Cassius Trent. +There’s been a power of strangers on these premises +durin’ these last days; and it stands to reason that +among ’em one villain might have crept in. I ain’t +sayin’ there was. I’ll never accuse nobody again––’cept––’cept–––”</p> +<p>Here the honest fellow interrupted himself with +a laugh; remembering his ingrained suspicion of the +two Bernals, which he would never even try to +overcome. But he went on again:</p> +<p>“Mother thinks she’s seen somethin’, and like +enough she has. There might be some scamp +hangin’ around; and if there was, and he looked +through that window and saw all this gold, I don’t +wonder his face was ghosty-lookin’, nor––Somebody +stop me talking and answer this: Where’s +the safest place to stow that pile?”</p> +<p>For a moment nobody replied. Mrs. Trent was +wishing, most heartily, that the money had never +come into her possession, since she did not know to +whom she should restore it; and beginning to feel, +with Jessica, that “money” did carry discord and +danger with it.</p> +<p>But the little captain was now all eagerness, and +exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Oh! how I wish I’d seen it! Aunt Sally, I never +saw a ghost in all my life, never! I thought they +were just make-believes, but if you saw one, of +course they’re true. Do you s’pose we could see +it again if we went out to look? Will you go with +me?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span></div> +<p>“I? I! Well, I guess not. Not a step will I +step–––”</p> +<p>“But several steps I’ll step, Mrs. Benton. I advise +the money going into the office safe, that old +Ephraim uses when he’s at home. One of us better +camp out on the lounge in the room there till we +get rid of whoever’s cash that is. I’ll bunk there +myself, if you like, Mrs. Trent, after I step outside +and see if all’s serene with my prisoner,” said Samson, +cheerfully.</p> +<p>“May I go with you, Samson? May I, mother?” +asked Jessica.</p> +<p>The mother’s consent was somewhat reluctant, for +now she could not bear to have her darling out of +sight. Yet if anybody on earth was to be trusted +with so precious a charge it was the herder. Besides, +she was annoyed at this talk of “ghosts,” and +knew that the shortest way to convince Jessica how +nonsensical it was, would be by allowing her to +go out and seek for them herself.</p> +<p>But Samson answered cordially:</p> +<p>“You do me proud, little one. Suppose you take +your rifle, and then, if we see any specter you can +pin it to the mission wall, and we’ll have a show, +charging ten pins’ admission.”</p> +<p>They went out, laughing and gay; the child clinging +to the giant’s hand, and hoping that she might +really see the phantom of Aunt Sally’s story, for +she had no fear concerning it. They came back, +five minutes later, looking grave and seriously +alarmed.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_IX_THE_PRISONER_DISAPPEARS' id='CHAPTER_IX_THE_PRISONER_DISAPPEARS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +<h3>THE PRISONER DISAPPEARS</h3> +</div> +<p>“What’s happened?” asked Mrs. Trent, foreboding +fresh trouble, since, of late, trouble had become +so familiar a visitor.</p> +<p>“Well, ma’am, the bird has flown.”</p> +<p>“Please explain, Samson,” she anxiously urged.</p> +<p>“That bird of dark plumage––Ferd, the dwarf. +He’s escaped, vamoosed, took wings and flew.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Samson! I’m so sorry. I hoped you would +look after him until I could find some suitable +institution in which to place him. It’s time he +should be helped, for if he’s so sharp to do evil, he +must have equal capacity for better things.”</p> +<p>“Yes, ma’am. So I allow; and I had them same +hopes myself, not ten minutes ago. I hadn’t said +a word to anybody, but after you gave him to me, +I remembered what the little captain had commanded, +for it sort of struck home, that did. I +ain’t overly saintlike, myself, but what of goodness +I’d catched from you all I meant to pass on to the +coyote––I mean, Ferdinand Bernal. I reckon it +was his face, ’stead of a ghost’s, that Aunt Sally +saw by the window.”</p> +<p>“I thought you locked him in some room?”</p> +<p>“Lock and double-locked. Bolted, besides. Worst +is, all bolts and locks are just as I left ’em. Had +the key in my pocket and went in, saluting, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +there wasn’t anybody to salute. Well, ma’am, if +he’s out, and ’twas him saw that money, there’d +better two of us sleep beside it, rather than one. +He’s the uncanniest creature ever I met, and I hope +never to meet his mate.”</p> +<p>“Very well. I do not see what harm he can do, +after all, except to himself, now. Jessica, dear, +please bring the key, and John can put this money +in the safe. If it weren’t for Elsa’s satisfaction, I +should regret that Pedro ever found it. Then we +must all to sleep. It’s been a most eventful day, +and we are tired.”</p> +<p>Before long the whole household was asleep; but +the last to seek her rest was Mrs. Benton; nor did +she do that until she had locked whatever locks +would fasten, peeped under every bed, and invaded +the sacredness of Wun Lung’s “heatheny den.” Then +she placed her Bible on one side her bed, a broom +and horsewhip on the other, and lay down to watch, +explaining:</p> +<p>“’Cause I’m goin’ to watch, even if I am resting +my body horizontal. I’m so tired I can’t set up +straight, nohow, and I shan’t wink a wink till daylight +comes and the rest are moving.”</p> +<p>Having called out this valiant resolution to Mrs. +Trent, in the adjoining room, she instantly closed +her heavy lids, and opened them no more till a +series of thumps upon her shoulders aroused her. +Then she realized that Ned and Luis were reminding +her of yesterday’s promise that, if they’d eat no +more plum cake overnight they should have some +for their breakfasts.</p> +<p>“Land of love! What you doing? Is it daylight? +Why, ’twas dark as Egypt when I lay down, and +I–––Can it be that I––I––have overslept?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span></div> +<p>“Plum cake, Aunt Sally,” reminded Ned.</p> +<p>“Plumsally!” cried Luis, with a forcible whack. +Which was instantly returned, and with such added +interest that he ran howling away, leaving the disturbed +matron to scold herself at leisure for her +lapse from duty, while she hurriedly dressed.</p> +<p>Naturally, she had to submit to some teasing on +account of her valiant resolution of the previous +night that she “wouldn’t wink a wink,” but Mrs. +Trent was delighted that the faithful woman had, +at last, enjoyed a needed rest. Besides, everything +was bright at the ranch on that happy morning. +Even Wun Lung had caught the infection of Christmas +preparations, and was intent upon providing +some dainties of his own, against the approaching +festival, which should so far outshine the homelier +pies and puddings of Mrs. Benton, as his own +revered country outshone, in his opinion, even this +pleasant one in which, at present, his lot was cast. +He had also felt good-natured enough to put aside +a plentiful breakfast for his mate––or foe––of the +kitchen; and since it was such a time of happiness, +Aunt Sally condescended not only to eat it, but to +pronounce it “good.”</p> +<p>Hearing this unexpected praise, the Chinaman +wound and unwound his precious queue, after a +fashion he had of expressing satisfaction; and smilingly +advised Mrs. Benton to “step black polch,” +where she would find things to do.</p> +<p>So to the back porch the good lady retreated, +carrying with her great dishes of fruit to prepare, +and not forgetting two enormous slices of the rich +plum cake she had promised the little boys, and +which would have made less active, hardily reared +children ill.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span></div> +<p>Mrs. Trent had moved her sewing machine to the +porch, and Jessica sat near, with a little table before +her, trying to write the Christmas invitations that +had been so delayed, and to express them after a +style which should not too painfully expose her own +ignorance. The result was not so bad, considering +the slight training the child had had, and her few +years, yet it did not satisfy the mother, who felt +that education was the one good thing, and who +longed to have her child’s bright intellect developed +as it should be.</p> +<p>Poor Jessica had written and rewritten the note +intended for Mr. Hale a number of times, and still +had it returned to her with many corrections, after +Mrs. Trent’s reading of it, and now laid it aside with +a sigh of discouragement.</p> +<p>“Can’t that wait a while, mother? If I may write +to my darling Ninian Sharp, I’ll get myself rested. +He doesn’t mind trifles like wrong capitals in the +right places––oh! dear, I mean––I don’t know what +I mean. But may I?”</p> +<p>“Certainly, dear. Though, first, come here and let +me try the length of this sleeve.”</p> +<p>Lady Jess obeyed readily, for new clothes were +rare events in her simple life. This natty little +“Christmas frock” was white, with scarlet trimmings, +and quite sufficiently in contrast with the +plain blue flannel ones of everyday use to captivate +her fancy and make her patient under the tedious +process of “fitting.” Yet she was glad to return +to her table and her letter to Ninian Sharp, which +she found no difficulty in composing, since she was +free to do as she chose.</p> +<p>And this was the epistle which, after some delay, +reached the newspaper man, at a time when he happened +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span> +to need cheering up, and brought new life +and interest into his overworked brain:</p> +<p>“MY VERY DEAR MISTER SHARP: My +mother and the children and aunt sally, and Me +and all the rest the Boys, are well and send Their +LUV. We are Now Inviteing you To come and +Spend the holidays at dear Sobrante. everybody +is Coming, most, and i Got lost and was found in a +Hole. The Hole is in the ground. there was +Money in It, that the Boys said my fortynineer +stole and He Didn’t. It was elsa winklers and +wolfgang was mad at her, and there was a Ghost, +but it got away, else samson and Me would have +shot it against the mission cordiror wall and had a +nexibition. and ferd that was lock up got away +two; and say, please my dear mister sharp, Will +you see if this stone that’s in the package is any +good? Pedro, thats a hundred years, says it’s copper +and copper is worth money. We need some +money bad, and i hope it is, and I don’t no anybody +as clever as you. so Please write write away and +tell us if you will come and tell ephraim Marsh, that +the Boys will be at marion railway station with a +buckborde and horses enough. i am Making something +to put in everybodys stocking. i Began to +make the things after last Christmas, that ever was, +and i Have more than twenty-five presunts to Make +and i Have got three done, one of Them is Yours. +your Loving friend,</p> +<p class='ralign'>“JESSICA TRENT.”</p> +<p>When the letters were completed, the little captain +felt that she needed recreation, and her mother +agreed with her; but, unlike her former habit, could +not consent to the child’s going anywhere alone. +The recent terrible experience had banished from +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span> +Mrs. Trent’s heart that comfortable sense of security +which had prevented life on the isolated ranch +from being a lonely one. She now felt, as Aunt +Sally phrased it:</p> +<p>“Afraid of your own shadder, ain’t you, Gabriell’, +and well you may be. In the midst of life we are +in the hands of them Bernals, and no knowin’. That +son John of mine may try to hoodwink me that +’twasn’t no ghost I saw last night, but ghost it was +if ever one walked this earth. It wasn’t, so to +speak, a spooky ghost, neither; it was an avaricious +one, and it wasn’t after no folks, but ’twas after +that money, sharp. Ain’t disappeared, for good, +neither. Liable to spring up and out anywhere +happens; and you do well, Gabriell’, not to trust our +girl off alone again. Not right to once. Where’s +she hankerin’ to travel now? She’d ought to be +learnt to sew patchwork, instead of riding all over +the country, hitherty-yender, a bareback on a +broncho or a burro. If she was my girl–––”</p> +<p>“If she was your girl, dear Aunt Sally, you +couldn’t have been more anxious than you were +while she was lost. And the life is good for her. +It’s right for all women to understand sewing and +household arts, but the captain isn’t a woman yet, +and I have faith she’ll acquire all fitting knowledge +in due time. She’s anxious to ride to Pedro’s. She +says there was something different in his manner, +last night, from ordinary, and, indeed, I fancied so +myself. She’s gone to find which one of the boys +can best leave his work to ride with her.”</p> +<p>“It’ll be John Benton, Gabriella Trent. You see +if it ain’t. That man just sees the world through +Jessica’s eyes, and he’s never got over being jealous +’at he wasn’t the one took her to Los Angeles +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span> +that time. If he had all the work in creation piled +up before him, and she happened to say ‘Come,’ +some other whither, whither, ’twould be, and not +a minute’s hesitation. Anyhow, it’s Marty’s day +for mailridin’, and there he lopes this instant.”</p> +<p>The ranchmen took turns in riding to the post, +each esteeming it a privilege, and finding nothing +but pleasure in the sixty miles’ gallop to Marion and +back. At that moment, indeed, Marty was swinging +out of sight on his own fine mount, the mailbag +before him on his heavy Mexican saddle, the wind +created by the swift motion of the beast raising +the brim of his broad hat and thrilling him with that +sense of abounding life and freedom which comes +so forcibly to men in the wide spaces of the earth.</p> +<p>He was the youngest of the “boys,” even though +past his first youth, and the “life” of the ranchmen’s +quarters, where all liked and some loved him.</p> +<p>The women on the porch watched him till he became +a mere speck in the distance, and Aunt Sally +sighed:</p> +<p>“That George Cromarty is as likely a youth as +ever I knew. He’s that good to his old mother, +back in the East, I tell my own son John, he ought +to profit by such an example. I should hate to have +anything happen to him. Yes, indeedy, I should hate +to have a single bad thing happen to poor George +Cromarty.”</p> +<p>A little nervous shiver ran through Mrs. Trent’s +slender frame, yet she turned upon her companion, +as she threaded her needle, with a laugh, exclaiming:</p> +<p>“Oh! you dear old croaker! Why can’t you let +well enough alone, without mentioning more evil? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span> +You know the old saying that to speak of trouble +is to invite its visitation. Surely, there was nothing +about to-day’s postman to suggest disaster. +George is a typical ranchman, and my husband used +to point him out to visitors as what a man might +be, who grew up, or old, where ‘there was room +enough.’ Big-hearted, full of fun, tender as a +woman, but intolerant of meanness and evil doing. +It would be a dark day for Sobrante if ill befell our +‘Marty.’”</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t know. Something’s going to go +wrong somewhere. I feel it in my bones, seems +if. There, I told you so! Yonder comes that lazy +boy of mine and Jessie. There’s more things needing +him here on this place than you could shake a +stick at, yet off he’ll go traipsing just at a nod +from his captain.”</p> +<p>“Don’t begrudge them their happiness, Aunt Sally. +Certainly, after grief, it is their due. Well, John, +will you act escort for the little lady of Sobrante?” +asked its mistress.</p> +<p>“Will I not? And do me proud. She ain’t to be +trusted with any of the flighty ones, Samson now, +or–––”</p> +<p>Mrs. Trent’s laughter––that morning as heart-whole +and free as a girl’s––interrupted the ranchman’s +disparaging comments on his fellows, sedate +grayheads as most of them were; for well she understood +the universal devotion of all to their darling +captain.</p> +<p>“Oh, John, I can scarcely associate the idea of +frivolity or carelessness with our big Samson; but +wait a moment, please, before you start. There’s +such a store of good things left, though in fragments, +that I’d like to pack a basket for Pedro. I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +wish he did not insist upon living so alone. He +is so old and I feel, as the native Californians used, +that the older a person grew the more precious. I +wish you’d try to persuade him to let somebody +else take his place with the sheep, and to arrange +his small affairs so that when he comes down for +his Navidad he will remain. There’s enough to keep +him busy and happy here.”</p> +<p>“I’ll try, mistress. But he’ll not be persuaded. +Old Pedro wouldn’t think he could breathe down +here in the valley, for long at a time. Well, good-by. +Ready, captain?”</p> +<p>“Ready, John, as soon as mother gets the basket. +Quiet, Buster. I believe you’re more eager for a +canter than I am, even.”</p> +<p>Then when the basket had been handed up to +John, the pair merrily saluted the women on the +porch and rode away; but Mrs. Benton called shrilly +after them:</p> +<p>“Turn back and start over again! Turn back, I +say! Both your horses set off left feet first. That +means bad luck as sure as you are born!”</p> +<p>But nobody paid any heed to Aunt Sally’s forecasts +of evil, save to laugh at them. Only Mrs. +Trent again felt that nervous shiver seize her, and +but for shame’s sake would have begged her daughter +to defer her ride until another day.</p> +<p>However, shame prevailed; or common sense, +which is far better; and well it was––or ill––that the +riders kept serenely on their way, indifferent to +“signs” and ignorant of what lay before them.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_X_ON_THE_ROAD_HOME' id='CHAPTER_X_ON_THE_ROAD_HOME'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> +<h3>ON THE ROAD HOME</h3> +</div> +<p>The train from Los Angeles rolled slowly up to +the little station at Marion and the asthmatic engine +seemed to wheeze its relief that its labor was +ended, as an old man stepped from the last car +and looked eagerly along the platform. Then a +certain degree of disappointment overspread his +fine face, and shouldering a heavy parcel, strapped +round with leather to give a holding place, he strode +rather unsteadily forward over the same sandy +road, or street, which had tried Ninian Sharp’s +patience on his first visit to the post town.</p> +<p>Yet, after a little, the man grew accustomed to +his own stiffness of limb and moved with a sort of +halting swiftness which soon brought him to the +little hostelry of one Aleck McLeod, where a group +of ranchmen were sunning themselves while they +waited the distribution of the mail.</p> +<p>It was noticeable that the porch was spotlessly +clean and that none of the idlers profaned its cleanliness +by so much as one expectoration of tobacco +juice, though all were either smoking or chewing +that weed. They had far too great respect for +Janet, Aleck’s wife, and for the labor that cleanliness +meant in that waterless region. They were all +deep in the discussion of the late events at Sobrante +and none heard the old traveler’s approach over the +soft ground, till he stood close beside them with +his foot on the lower step.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span></div> +<p>But he heard them and their eager talk; and, +pausing a bit, the more completely to surprise them +by an intended halloo, he forgot that and all else +save what they were saying.</p> +<p>“It was ten to one she was never found. ’Pears +like a miracle to me, that old Pedro was led to find +that very cave just when he did. My wife claims +it was a miracle, same as used to be in Bible days, +and you can’t talk her out of it. You know how +women are,” said one ranchman, who had aided in +the search for Jessica.</p> +<p>“Well, first and last, them Trents have done a +heap for this section of our ‘native.’ And they’re +square folks, every identical of them. Even the +little tacker, that boy Ned. There’s more in his +head than he gets credit for, and one these days he’ll +show there is. He’s a master hand with a gun, +baby as he is, and if he’d had one handy I wager +he’d have put some shot into the ugly carcass of +that Ferd––– But he hadn’t the iron and he didn’t,” +added another smoker.</p> +<p>“It was a prime spread Mis’ Trent gave us. Must +have took about all the provisions she had in store, +but nothing was too good for them that helped her +in her trouble. Or tried to help, same thing; since +it was her own man, Pedro, found the child. Away +down in the bottom of a pit in the depth of an unknown +cave! Think of it, somebody! It just makes +my hair rise on end, known’ there is such a fool and +scoundrel joined in one dwarf’s body––Hello! hel––lo!”</p> +<p>The last speaker’s words ended in a sort of +screech of astonishment and recognition, as a hard +hand was laid upon his shoulder, and Ephraim Marsh +demanded, fiercely:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span></div> +<p>“What’s that you say, neighbor?”</p> +<p>“Why, hello, Marsh! Where’d you drop from?” +cried one, rising and extending a hand in greeting.</p> +<p>“You’re a sight to cure sick folks!” shouted another, +pressing to “Forty-niner’s” side, and slapping +the veteran’s shoulder in high good will.</p> +<p>But Ephraim had no feeling at present, save anxiety +to know what their discussion had meant; and, +all talking, they laid a succinct history of the last +few days before him. He listened in increasing +alarm and amazement and his old limbs tottered +beneath him, so that he called out, hastily:</p> +<p>“Give me a seat, somebody, quick, before I fall. +I––I––to think of my little gell––my own sweet-faced, +lovin’ little gell–––Oh, I can’t believe it! +I can’t and I won’t. It’s some plaguey Californy +yarn’ you’re passin’ the time with. Atlantic! But +you might have chose a likelier subject to fool over, +you might.”</p> +<p>But Aleck himself had seen the arrival through +the window and came out to greet him with the +heartiness accorded all the Sobrante people, and to +assure him that the story was all true; and that, +after all, it were better that he had not been at +home when the trouble came; “for it would have +broke your heart, ‘Forty-niner,’ into more pieces +than old Stiffleg broke your bones, and it wouldn’t +have healed so soon, neither. But, come in, come in, +boy, and have a mouthful of dinner. Janet has as +fine a dish of haggis as ever I tasted in Aberdeen +at home, and it should relish to you, after all that +hospital fare and so on. Janet! Janet! Here’s +Ephraim Marsh! Come welcome him!”</p> +<p>And Janet came quickly, like her husband cordial +and sympathetic, and led the deeply moved frontiersman +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span> +into her own kitchen, where no uninvited +ranchman dared intrude, and there served him well +with good things, including the haggis. And as +she served she talked in a wise, womanly way that +soothed his agitation and turned his thoughts from +enmity against the dwarf into thanksgiving that +now all was well.</p> +<p>“For since it is over and done with we can reckon +the gain. The sweet bit bairnie has won for herself +fresh friends. In all the countryside there was +but one feeling, ‘The child must be found.’ No other +thing was of any moment, and found she was, by +a man so much older than any of the rest that nobody, +not even you, can grudge him the honor. +More hot milk? Oat cake? Nothing? Well, well; +for a man that’s traveling you’ve a small appetite. +Must be off already and pack your own bundle? +Why, friend, you would better leave that till one the +boys rides up for the mail. Due before this, indeed, +for Sobrante ranchers are ever keen for their post +stuff. No? A horse, then? Aleck was going to do +a bit of plowing with her, later on, but he’ll eagerly +give over that for you.”</p> +<p>But Ephraim felt that he could delay for nothing +more, not even for the arrival of a Sobrante messenger; +and as for Jean, the sorrel mare––he and +she were old acquaintances, and he declined her +services with a grim smile, saying:</p> +<p>“Thank you, Janet, it’s kindly offered, but I’m +in haste and I’d rather trust my own lame leg than +her four lagging ones. Besides, if Aleck has been +afield in this search he’ll be behindhand in his work, +and he’s a hand to keep things up to the level line. +Good-by, good-by. Oh! wait a bit, though. I’d +clean forgot that I put a scrap of white Scotch linen +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +and a yard or two of plaid bodice stuff in my pack +for you. This business of my captain getting lost +has shaken my wits.”</p> +<p>Though Janet protested against the trouble her +face glowed at prospect of her gifts, and as she +assisted him to unstrap and refasten his canvas sack, +and even begged to be shown the simple remembrances +he had procured for everybody he knew +“at home;” not least among them being calicoes +of brilliantly unwashable colors for Aunt Sally’s +patchwork. Then he set off alone, staff in hand, +stolidly yet swiftly covering the ground with that +halting stride of his that soon took him out of +sight.</p> +<p>The assembled ranchmen received their own mail +matter, mounted and rode away; and there settled +over the little town that monotonous quiet which +would not be broken again until the arrival of the +evening train, when, possibly, some chance passenger +might alight on the deserted platform.</p> +<p>Meanwhile, Ephraim was passing over the level +road toward “home,” feeling keener delight and +longing with each step’s advance, and when he came +to a little branch trail, where a rude signpost stated +the fact that he had come “Five miles from Marion,” +he made his first halt, sitting to rest for a few +moments under the eucalyptus trees bordering the +arroyo. The branch road led to and disappeared +among a group of buildings, some distance to the +north, on the ranch of one Miguel Solano, a friend +of Antonio Bernal, and a Mexican of ill-repute. The +ranch was comparatively new and was rich in olive +orchards and all the conveniences for producing a +fine quality of oil, and had been bought and arranged +by an easterner with all the accessories of profitable +farming. Death had put an end to the settler’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span> +industry, and the property had come, at a low figure, +into Solano’s hands; whereupon everything industrious +lapsed, neglect and discomfort usurping the +place of thrifty comfort.</p> +<p>Gazing toward this place, Ephraim reflected that; +“If that Greaser had half as much snap as he has +wickedness he’d be a rich man. As ’tis, honest +folks sort of give Solano’s a wide berth. I’m thirsty +as a dog and wouldn’t mind havin’ a drink out that +artesian well they have there, but––Atlantic! +There’s somebody already stoopin’ over it; looks +mighty familiar!”</p> +<p>Then the old man stood up and shielded his eyes +with his hand as he peered into the distance, ending +his scrutiny with a shake of his fist in the +direction he had gazed, and muttering aloud:</p> +<p>“No, I’m better off here. Queer how you can +recognize a snake, no matter how far off! That’s +Ferd, the dwarf; and if I was near enough to touch +him I couldn’t keep my fingers off his dirty throat, +nohow, till I’d choked the life out of him! Ugh! +When I think––– But I mustn’t think. I must +just get up and jog on till I see a prettier sight +than that. If I can spy the hunchback at one mile +off I can see my little captain’s bonny head at ten. +Home, old ‘Forty-niner’! Home’s the word!”</p> +<p>As if the thought of Jessica had put new strength +into his body Ephraim again shouldered his pack and +started forward; but he had proceeded a short +distance only when he again halted and this time +in consternation. On the road before him, where +it dipped slightly into a hollow, lay the prostrate +figure of a man, face downward in the dust; and +from the shrubbery near by came the helpless +floundering of some big animal and its occasional +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span> +cry of distress, than which there is no sound more +pitiful in all the world.</p> +<p>Away flew the pack, and Ephraim bent over the +man, gently turning him over, and crying in fresh +dismay:</p> +<p>“It’s Marty! George Cromarty, of all men, dead +as a doornail!”</p> +<p>Alas! Ephraim’s home-coming was proving anything +but the delight he had anticipated. To be +met first by the story of the trouble which had +visited Sobrante and now by this dreadful discovery +almost unnerved him; but he was a man of action +and his hand flew to Marty’s breast to feel if his +heart still beat. With the other hand he softly +brushed the dust from the rigid features and rubbed +the colorless temples. After a second or two +his face brightened, and he cried aloud, as if the +other might hear and be cheered:</p> +<p>“Well, you aren’t a dead man, after all, Marty, my +lad! But I’d give a heap, this minute, for a bit of +cold water to give you. And, Atlantic! I believe +I’m losing my wits. ’Course, he’s got it himself, +handy. All the boys carry a flask in their pockets, +even on the short ride to post, but Marty, being +teetotal, fills his with water and gets laughed at for +his notions. A mighty good notion it’ll prove for +him if it saves his life, and here goes!”</p> +<p>Raising Marty’s lean body so that his head rested +on the fallen bundle, Ephraim secured the flask, +found it full, and began to moisten the white lips; +then, cautiously, to force a few drops down the +stiffening throat. Success soon crowned his efforts +since, fortunately, the ranchman was merely +stunned, not killed, by the ugly fall he had taken +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span> +when his horse so suddenly pitched forward and +tossed him overhead against the pile of rocks.</p> +<p>For it was a horse in agony which sent that moving +appeal from the thicket near by, and as soon +as “Forty-niner” was sure that the man was recovering, +though he could not as yet speak, he +sought the poor beast and saw, to his distress, that +for it there was no respite save in death.</p> +<p>“Well, well, well! This is a bad job all round, +but better a horse than a man, and lucky for both +I came when I did. If I had a gun I’d end the +misery of one, straight off. And maybe Marty has. +I’ll look and see.”</p> +<p>Returning to the road he was greeted by a prolonged +stare from the dazed ranchman, who had, +indeed, been able to drag his body to a sitting posture, +but vainly sought to understand what had +happened.</p> +<p>Ephraim spoke to him, asking in a matter-of-fact +tone:</p> +<p>“Got a revolver with you, lad?”</p> +<p>“Eh? W-h-a-t?” returned Marty, wonder drawing +upon him at finding who his companion was. +“You––Eph?”</p> +<p>“Course. Who else! Been quite a spell since +we two met, but better late than never. Got a +pistol, I say?”</p> +<p>“What for?”</p> +<p>The sharpshooter hesitated, then gave an evasive +answer:</p> +<p>“Powerful long since I done any practicin’, and +feel like I better try my hand.”</p> +<p>At that instant there was another heavy floundering +behind the bushes and another brutish moan of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +pain. With this full consciousness came to the injured +ranchman and he tried to rise, crying in his +own distress:</p> +<p>“That’s Comanche!”</p> +<p>“Forty-niner” gravely nodded.</p> +<p>“He’s hurt?” demanded Marty, as if he defied the +answer to be affirmative.</p> +<p>Ephraim turned away his face. To them, horses +were almost as human beings, and the love of a +master for his beast was something fraternal.</p> +<p>“Help me to him,” said the ranchman, staggering +to his feet.</p> +<p>“Better not, lad. Best trust to me,” protested the +elder man.</p> +<p>“Trust––what?”</p> +<p>The look in Ephraim’s eyes was all the answer +needed to this fierce question, and Marty turned +away his own gaze as he faltered the next one:</p> +<p>“Yes, mate, but take it like a man. Better him +than you, and––give me the gun.”</p> +<p>Marty straightened and stiffened himself.</p> +<p>“Help me to him. Something’s wrong with my +legs. I’ll see for myself. If it must be, I’ll do it +for myself.”</p> +<p>The frontiersman understood the sentiment and +respected it. He had had to do a like hard duty +for his own horseflesh before that, and he had always +felt it a sort of murder. He did not look at +Marty’s face as he carefully guided his wavering +steps into the thicket and the presence of the suffering +Comanche, where one look sufficed his master.</p> +<p>“Oh, you poor fellow!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span></div> +<p>For an instant the tall head stooped to the level +of the struggling animal, and a strange, expressive +look passed between the great equine eyes and the +misty ones of the man. Then Marty’s hand went +swiftly around to his pocket, there was the click +of a weapon, a flash and report, and Comanche +moved no more.</p> +<p>More shaken and ill from this deed than from his +terrible fall, Marty sat long in silence by Ephraim’s +side beneath the eucalyptus trees; then suddenly +rousing, exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Now, to find out the cause!”</p> +<p>It was not far to seek, though difficult to understand. +Of all men in that countryside, gay, big-hearted +George Cromarty had most friends and +fewest enemies. He took life lightly, merrily, with +a good word for the virtues of others and silence +for their vices; yet there before them, unmistakably +plain, was the trap that had been set for his life. +A pit had been dug across the whole width of the +road, shallow, indeed, but sufficiently deep to throw +any horse passing over it. Its top had been screened +with interlacing twigs, over which had been scattered +soil and dust enough to hide them. One who +rode with his eyes on the ground, as Antonio used, +might easily, perhaps, have discovered the fiendish +work; but he who rode with head upraised and his +gaze on the distance would ride to his ruin as Marty +had done. To make the treachery more secure, +some sprays of wild grapes had been tightly +stretched beneath the whole, and this showed a deliberation +of evil that turned Ephraim sick, but the +other man furious.</p> +<p>“Who did that will pay the price! I swear it!” +he cried.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span></div> +<p>“It surely was meant for a Sobrante man, for +they’re few besides who ride this way,” answered +“Forty-niner,” thoughtfully. “And, Atlantic! Here’s +the mail pouch! Maybe ’twas robbery, pure and +simple. Was it a money day, for supplies or such?”</p> +<p>“Reckon it was. The mistress herself locked and +gave the bag to me, bidding me be careful. As if +I was ever careless; but there was one letter in +it I heard about, that the little captain wrote to +Ninian Sharp. Wrote herself, an invite to the +Christmas doings. Try it.”</p> +<p>Examination proved that the bag had been tampered +with, though the lock was a spring and now +securely fastened; but a small leather flap, intended +to cover the keyhole, had been torn from its fastenings +and lay on the ground. The pouch itself had +been flung slightly out of the way, under the bushes, +as if the trespasser had satisfied himself with and +concerning it and had no further use for it.</p> +<p>“Well, there used to be three keys to this concern. +One the mistress has; one the postmaster +keeps at the office; and the other was Antonio’s, +since he always was wanting to open and put something +extra in the bag after Mrs. Trent had done +with it. I never liked the look of that, and it’s my +opinion that it’s the very key has unlocked this +bag, if unlocked it’s been. Which is more’n likely.”</p> +<p>Cromarty’s head was again beginning to grow +dizzy, and he sat again upon the rock to recover +himself, making no answer to Ephraim’s words +than the exclamation:</p> +<p>“How am I going to get that bag to post in time?”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XI_THE_PASSING_OF_OLD_CENTURY' id='CHAPTER_XI_THE_PASSING_OF_OLD_CENTURY'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> +<h3>THE PASSING OF OLD CENTURY</h3> +</div> +<p>Jessica and her escort, John Benton, rode swiftly +up the canyon trail and over the brow of the mesa +toward the shepherd’s cabin; but they had not proceeded +far along the upland before a sense of the +strangeness of things oppressed them both.</p> +<p>John’s keen eye detected the neglect of the sheep, +which were still huddled in the corral, though long +past their hour for pasturage; while their bleating +expressed hunger as well as dislike of their unusual +imprisonment. But Jessica saw first the abject +attitude of the collie, Keno, who came reluctantly +to greet them with down-hanging head and +tail and a reproachful upward glance of his brown +eyes.</p> +<p>“Why, you poor doggie! What’s happened you? +You look as if you’d been beaten. Where’s your +master, good Keno? Keno, where’s Pedro?”</p> +<p>The Indian was nowhere visible, and as if he fully +understood the question, the collie answered by a +long, lugubrious whine.</p> +<p>“Something’s wrong. That’s as plain as preachin’!” +cried John, and hurried to the little house, +whose door stood open, but about which there was +no sign of life.</p> +<p>He had tossed his bridle to the captain, meaning +that if aught were amiss within she should be detained +for the present by holding the horses. However, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span> +she saw through this ruse, and, leaping from +Buster, swiftly hobbled both animals and ran after +the carpenter.</p> +<p>Keno kept close at her heels, the very presentment +of canine misery, and uttering at every few +steps that doleful whine which was so unusual to +him. But, arrived at the cabin, he left her and with +one bound had reached the Indian’s side, where he +still sat beside his window, his head against its casing +and his blanket––Jessica’s gift––closely wrapped +about him. He did not move when they entered, +nor respond even by objection to the collie’s frantic +blandishments, but John raised his hand for silence, +as she stood sorrowfully gazing downward upon +the face of death.</p> +<p>Yes, it was that. He had more than rounded his +century of years, he had lived uprightly, as the good +padres had taught; he had bestowed upon those he +loved the secret of great wealth, and he had gone to +keep his precious Navidad in the home of eternal +youth.</p> +<p>Jessica comprehended the truth at once, and her +eyes filled with the tears which, as yet, did not +overflow; for as she gazed upon the sleeper’s face +it filled her with amazement and something akin to +delight; and at last she exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Why, how young and glad he looks! He’s even +nobler than he was when he rode away from me +last night, and I’d never seen him so dignified and +grand as he was then. It’s––it’s as if he had done +with everything is hard, like worries, and evil, and +loneliness, and––all.”</p> +<p>“Ay, lassie; he has done with all––that you or I +know aught about; and every inch a man he seems +as he sits there in the majesty of death.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span></div> +<p>By then the child’s tears had begun to flow, and +she caught up Pedro’s hand with an outburst of +grief and love.</p> +<p>“Poor, poor Pedro! To have been here all alone +when it came! What shall I do without him who +was always so good, so good to me? Oh, I can’t +have it so, John! I can’t, I can’t!”</p> +<p>He was wise enough to attempt no consolation, +knowing well how small a part of her life the venerable +Indian had been and how easily youth accustoms +itself to such a loss. But, after he had allowed +her to sob for a time, he gently touched her shoulder, +and said:</p> +<p>“Come. Pedro has finished his work and has +passed it on to us. Those poor sheep must be cared +for, and somebody must ride home at once; or, +rather, should ride at once to Marion to make the +necessary arrangements. I wish–––” And he +paused in perplexity, regarding her as if in doubt +what was best to be done.</p> +<p>They left the cottage with that quiet tread which +seems natural in the presence of those whom no +sound can trouble, and, hand in hand, walked sadly +to the fold, where the penned sheep greeted them +with eager cries and restless movements.</p> +<p>“Pedro used to say they talked and he knew what +they said. I begin to believe he did, for, listen! +This sound isn’t like that other first one, which told +us they were hungry. This says: ‘I’m glad you’ve +come!’ Doesn’t it?”</p> +<p>“So it sounds to me, lassie; and I, too, am glad +we came. It’s queer, though, how set you were +on it, even against the mistress’ wish that you should +wait.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span></div> +<p>“Yes, John, I had to come. I just had to. And +this is what I think: When we’ve taken care of the +sheep, we’ll lay Pedro on his bed and lock the door. +Keno will keep guard, if we tell him; though whoever +comes here, anyway? Then you must ride to +Marion to see about––about”––here, for a moment, +grief interrupted her again, but she suppressed her +tears as soon as possible and went on quite calmly––“about +what always has to be at such a time. I +remember––I remember it all when my father–––No, +no, John, I’m not going to cry again. I won’t +make bad worse, never, if I can help it. But this +I say: You ride to Marion and send word to the +mission so that a priest may come; and do all the +rest. I will ride home and the boys will come up +and fetch him to Sobrante. It must be in the little +old chapel that we never use, because my father said +he would not put to a common service a room that +had once been given to God. Pedro always loved it. +It was there he used to say his ‘devotions’ and there +he must lie––in state––isn’t that what they call it +when great folks die? Pedro was great. He had +lived so very long and he had always been so devout. +What do you say?”</p> +<p>“What do I say, little captain, but that you’ve a +long head on your young shoulders, and I’m sorry +this load of grief had to rest on it so early. More +than that; I undertook to be your guardeen to-day, +and I’ve no notion of shirking the job––even now. +I passed my word to the ‘admiral’ that I’d fetch +you home safe, and so I will. It won’t take much +longer and it’s right. Home first, and Marion afterward.”</p> +<p>“Well, maybe, that is best; and surely it is pleasantest. +I didn’t want to be selfish, but I’d rather +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span> +you stayed with me. Are you ready? Shall we +leave him just as he is?”</p> +<p>“Just so. We’ll close the window and the door, +and then––home.”</p> +<p>But it was with widely different feelings that +they cantered down the canyon from those with +which they had ridden up it, and when she saw them +returning so soon and so swiftly, Mrs. Trent went +out to meet them, saying nothing, indeed, yet asking +the question with her eyes:</p> +<p>“What trouble now?”</p> +<p>Then John told their story speedily and suggested +that some of the men ride to the mesa and attend +to what was needful. Also, repeated Jessica’s opinion +about the chapel, with which the lady instantly +agreed; then, clasping her daughter’s hand very +close, returned with her to the porch and began to +fold away her sewing.</p> +<p>But both Aunt Sally, when she came and heard +the news, and the little girl asked:</p> +<p>“Why do you put it away, mother, dear? If +Pedro is happy now, as we believe, why shouldn’t +we be, too? All the rest must have their holiday, +and I think––I think he’d like to have me look nice. +He always did.”</p> +<p>“Jessie is right, Gabriell’. Things do happen terrible +upsettin’ lately, seems to me; but by the time +you and me get to be a hundred odd, I reckon we +shan’t care a mite whether folks wear red and white +dresses or horrid humbly ones. I’m goin’ on just the +same as ever, for that’s the only way I’ll ever keep +my common senses in this spooky place. I knew +when they two started off, left hoof foremost, they +was ridin’, to trouble; and this morning my hen +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span> +chicken crowed to beat any rooster I ever heard, and +that’s a sure sign of death.”</p> +<p>“Aunt Sally, don’t!” protested Mrs. Trent, glancing +anxiously at her daughter’s face. But she need +not have feared; for the child smiled back upon her, +serene and happy, despite the traces of tears that +still marked her bright eyes.</p> +<p>“It’s all right, mother, dear; and I’m thinking +how glad Pedro must be now, to have found all +those he’d so long outlived. He just went to sleep, +you see, alone, and waked up with them around +him. I think it was beautiful––beautiful; and his +last deed was to find me and to tell you how you +could grow rich if you want to. Where are the +little boys, I wonder?”</p> +<p>They presently appeared, in wild excitement, having +been at the men’s quarters when John rode +thither to impart his news and directions; yet in this +excitement was not a vestige of grief. They seemed +to feel relieved of some dread, and Ned more than +once punched Luis, whispering shrilly enough for +all to hear:</p> +<p>“We can do it now, and not get caught! Yes, +siree! We can do it now! Don’t you tell!”</p> +<p>And Luis responded by an ecstatic hug and the +customary echo:</p> +<p>“Do it now; don’t you tell! Yes, siree!”</p> +<p>John Benton had nearly covered the distance +to Marion, when he perceived two men slowly advancing +toward him along the level road. For a +moment, engrossed by thoughts of recent happenings, +he paid slight attention to the fact, though +idly wondering what strangers might be having +business, and on foot, with Sobrante, at which point +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span> +the road ended. But, as he drew nearer to them, +something familiar in the bearing of the taller man, +and startling in the appearance of the other, caused +him to shield his eyes from the sunshine and peer +critically into the distance. Then he slapped his +thigh so excitedly that his horse suddenly stopped, +reared and nearly unseated him.</p> +<p>“Oh, you idiot! Can’t a feller slap himself without +your takin’ it to heart? If I ain’t a blind man, +and maybe I am, that’s old ‘Forty-niner’ hoofing +himself home, and–––Whew! That’s Marty, +limpin’ and leanin’ alongside. Well, I ’low! More +trouble and plenty of it. Seems if all creation was +just a-happenin’ our way, blamed if it don’t. Giddap +there, Moses!”</p> +<p>In a few minutes he had reached the pedestrians +and saluted them with unfeigned astonishment, and +Ephraim with great friendliness of expression, but +also the question:</p> +<p>“What fresh calamities you two fetchin’, now?”</p> +<p>They told him, as briefly as possible, and he found +his own perplexity increased as he demanded:</p> +<p>“What in creation is to be done? Here’s Pedro +gone and died in the most unhandy place and time; +and here be you two, with not a decent leg between +you, twenty miles from home, and one horse for the +three of us!”</p> +<p>At the word “horse” poor Marty winced, as from +a personal blow, while both he and Ephraim were +greatly amazed at the news of the shepherd’s death. +They began to feel, as John had said, that “nothing +save disaster was meant for Sobrante folks;” yet, +after a moment, “Forty-niner” perceived another +side of the matter, and expressed himself thus:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span></div> +<p>“What’s got into the pack of us? Seems if we’d +lost our gumption. After all, couldn’t anything have +happened likelier, so far forth as I see. John Benton, +you light off Moses and help this man into your +saddle. He’ll ride home and I’ll walk alongside, +whilst you tramp on to Marion. There’s a mare +there, named Jean. She was offered to me, but I +was in a hurry and didn’t accept. However, the +offer is due to hold good for any of our folks. Light, +I tell you. Marty’s about played out.”</p> +<p>Indeed, the respite came none too soon. The +worst injury the gardener had sustained was, apparently, +of the head, and a terrible dizziness rendered +his progress on foot almost impossible. He +would not have been able to accomplish this much +of the journey, save for the continual help of +Ephraim, who was himself burdened with the heavy +pack and unwilling to relinquish it.</p> +<p>John stepped down and swung his fellow ranchman +up to Moses’ back; then placed the bundle before +the rider, turned the animal’s head toward +Sobrante, and chirruped:</p> +<p>“Giddap! Home’s the word!”</p> +<p>Moses needed no second urging, but was off at a +gallop, leaving the others to discuss the situation +a bit further, and Ephraim to follow at his leisure.</p> +<p>There was little more to be said, however, and +soon each was pursuing diverging routes and each +at his swiftest pace.</p> +<p>At Marion, John had the mail pouch unlocked and +examined, and was satisfied that some letters had +been tampered with. These contained orders for +house supplies and had been accompanied by checks, +as was evident from the wording of the orders. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span> +checks had been removed, and this fact proved to +the carpenter that the hand of Antonio Bernal was +in the matter, because the late manager might indorse +them without arousing the bank’s suspicion, +as nobody else could.</p> +<p>Yet there was one thing he did not mention, even +to the postmaster; and that was the package which +Jessica’s letter to Ninian Sharp had spoken of. This +had disappeared entirely. The fact troubled him +more than the loss of the checks, for he could +stop the payment of these, but whether the little +captain had sent the whole of their only specimen of +the copper to her city friend or not was a serious +question.</p> +<p>However, he did what he could; and almost for +the first time in his life used the telegraph as well +as the post. To pay for his long and rather ambiguous +messages he borrowed money of the mystified +Aleck McLeod; and the local operator found +himself busier than he had ever been since the +establishment of the office.</p> +<p>The other sad business that had brought him to +the town was also transacted; and by the time +all was arranged John was very glad to avail himself +of Jean’s services, slow though she was. Upon +her sedate back he arrived at Sobrante, just as the +sun was setting, and found that the household had +temporarily forgotten their grief for Pedro in their +rejoicing over Ephraim.</p> +<p>“It’s an up and a down in this world,” quoth +Aunt Sally, spreading and admiring the brilliant +bits of calico which “Forty-niner” had given her. +“Life ain’t all catnip anyway you stew it. Them +that laugh in the morning gen’ally cry before night, +and vicy-versy. But, Gabriella, do, for goodness’ +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span> +sake, just fetch out that queer kind of stick that old +Indian made a sort of graven image of and show it +to Mr. Ma’sh. It’s a curiosity, being so old, if it +ain’t no more. Worth cherishin’, anyhow, ’count of +him that give it. I always did admire keepsakes of +the departed.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Trent smiled, though sadly, and Jessica +asked:</p> +<p>“May I get it, mother?”</p> +<p>“Surely. For safety I put it on the top of the +tallest bookcase, behind the files of newspapers. +You’ll likely have to take the little library ladder +to reach it; and when you’ve shown it, put it back in +exactly the same spot. It’s doubly valuable now, +and could not be replaced.”</p> +<p>The little captain had scarcely once relinquished +the hand of her beloved sharpshooter, since he appeared +before them all, and now led him, as if he +were another happy playmate, to the designated +place. But when she had reached it, mounted the +ladder and carefully felt all over the top of the +case, even moving the files in order to examine it +the better, she could not find the metal-pointed staff.</p> +<p>Standing on the floor beneath, Ephraim watched +her face growing sober and disappointed, as she exclaimed:</p> +<p>“It’s gone! It’s completely gone!”</p> +<p>“It has, dearie? Well, maybe your mother forgot +and put it somewhere else. The likeliest thing in +the world to happen, with her mind so upset as it +has been. We’ll go back and ask her. Don’t fret. +Probably it wasn’t of much account, anyway.”</p> +<p>“Oh! but, dear Ephraim, it was! It could point +the way to our big fortune that’s to be dug out of +the ground!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span></div> +<p>“What? What is that you say, child? Nonsense. +We don’t live in the days of witchcraft, and that’s +what such a performance would mean.”</p> +<p>Yet when they had returned to Mrs. Trent and +related their misadventure he was startled by hearing +that sensible woman tragically exclaim, in contradiction +to his own assertion:</p> +<p>“Lost! Then Sobrante is certainly bewitched!”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XII_THE_REBELLION_OF_THE_LADS' id='CHAPTER_XII_THE_REBELLION_OF_THE_LADS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> +<h3>THE REBELLION OF THE LADS</h3> +</div> +<p>“Thank my stars, I haven’t lost my faculty of +doing two things to once, nor seein’ a dozen!” cried +Aunt Sally, as if in response to Mrs. Trent’s exclamation. +Then she rose so hastily that her beloved +“pieces” fell on the floor and her spectacles +slid from the end of her nose, their habitual resting +place. “There never was witches on this ranch +before, and I reckon I can deal with a few of them +that’s here now. Edward Trent, Luis Garcia! +Where you goin’ at? Hey? Hear me? Come +right straight back to me this minute, if you know +what’s good for yourselves!”</p> +<p>All were surprised by this outburst and awaited +its result with curiosity.</p> +<p>The two little boys had been suspiciously quiet +on the farther end of that long porch where the +household practically lived. Mrs. Trent had glanced +their way, occasionally, but supposed them to be +engrossed by the patent whistle and top which had +been found in Ephraim’s pack, neatly marked with +their respective names. Yet one could not eat tops +nor whistles, and their elbows had been seen, from +the rear, to move in a suggestive manner.</p> +<p>“They’re eatin’ somethin’ all this time. I wonder +what!” had been Mrs. Benton’s private reflection. +But when Jessica came back with her report of the +lost wand, the elbow action had suddenly ceased; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span> +and, after what appeared to be a brief whispered +consultation, they had slunk away down the path, +Ned trying to help Luis hide something within his +blouse, though not, apparently, succeeding.</p> +<p>At the sound of Aunt Sally’s voice, indeed, they +dropped the box they had been secreting and burst +into a paroxysm of giggling, as was their customary +receipt of her chiding. The giggle was always destined +to end in tears, but this never prevented its +recurrence.</p> +<p>“Neddy Trent! If that bad little Garcia boy is +doing wrong, it’s no need you should be naughty, +too. Come back here and show poor auntie what +you’ve got in your blouses.”</p> +<p>Wheedling had no more effect than scolding, for +with one hug of each other’s necks, the children +scampered onward, leaving their spoils behind +them.</p> +<p>Then Jessica followed to see what this might be, +and exclaimed, in some surprise:</p> +<p>“Candy! Where did it come from?”</p> +<p>Now, it happened that such sweets, except of +homemade manufacture and on rare occasions, +were forbidden the lads, because they were always +made ill by them. That is, Luis suffered and Ned +was not allowed anything his playmate could not +share. All the ranchmen knew Mrs. Trent’s wishes +on the subject and heretofore none had ever gone +against them. Who had done it now?</p> +<p>Of course, suspicion instantly pointed to “Forty-niner,” +who indignantly denied that he had brought, +or even thought of bringing, anything home which +his beloved mistress did not wish there.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span></div> +<p>“Doesn’t anybody trust me any more about anything?” +he concluded, wistfully.</p> +<p>The accusation had come from Mrs. Benton, but +Gabriella hastened to soothe the sharpshooter, +saying:</p> +<p>“We’re making mountains out of mole hills, I +fear. There, Aunt Sally, never mind. They have +left so much behind them on the path that they +can hardly have eaten enough to harm them, anyway. +Let them go, please.”</p> +<p>But the good woman would not drop the subject. +Her sharp eyes had not been given her for nothing, +and her son always asserted that if his mother had +been a man she would have made a first-class detective. +Panting and puffing in her haste and +curiosity, she hurried to the spilled confections and +carefully picked them up; then returned to the +porch, significantly holding forth, upon her palm, a +specimen of what she had discovered.</p> +<p>“Needn’t tell me I didn’t smell peppymint! Them’s +them peppymint rounds with chocolate outsides +that I never seen nobody eat, on this ranch, ’cept +Antonio Bernal. They ain’t kept in the store to +Marion, and the storekeeper used to send for ’em to +Los Angeles, ’specially for his one customer. I +know, Antonio offered me some, time and again, on +my other visits, but I always thanked him polite +and said no. I never did lay out to eat a snake’s +victuals, and that’s what his’n was.”</p> +<p>“Oh, what a woman you are, Aunt Sally!” laughed +Ephraim.</p> +<p>“Thank you. I hope I be; enough of one, anyhow, +to see through a millstone, when there’s a hole in +it. But you’ve come back so peart and sassy, sharpshooter, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span> +I reckon I best go steep you a fresh dose +of picra. After I’ve learnt all them tackers can tell.”</p> +<p>“Please, don’t be stern with them, Aunt Sally,” +protested the mother. “Whatever they’ve done is +but natural. It would be too much to expect them +to refuse such a treat if it were offered them, and, +maybe, John brought it to them.”</p> +<p>“John? My boy, John? After the raisin’ he had! +Well, you’re on the wrong track there and I’m on +the right one. Antonio Bernal, or some feller sneak +of his, has been here at Sobrante, and you needn’t +touch to tell me he hasn’t. Wait; I’ll find out now!” +she ended, in triumph, and again the others were +obliged to laugh, though Mrs. Trent’s brief mirth +closed with a sigh, which Jessica heard and understood.</p> +<p>“Oh! don’t you fear, mother, dear. Aunt Sally +wouldn’t hurt either of them, really; and, indeed, +I don’t know who would keep them in order if she +didn’t try. What mischief one can’t think of the +other does, and I’ll run after her and see the thing +out. Who knows but that they can tell us something +about the missing staff?”</p> +<p>The runaways had made a detour by way of the +kitchen, and adjoining the kitchen was the “cold +closet,” which was the refuge they sought, and +where already were stored some of the Christmas +goodies. This closet had but one door and a securely +shuttered window, and once the door was gained by +the pursuer she would have the small miscreants in +a trap. This she had seen and this it was which had +given her that triumphant expression.</p> +<p>The captain also gained the pantry door just after +it had closed behind Mrs. Benton and her prisoners, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span> +and to her repeated request to be admitted, received the +enigmatical answer:</p> +<p>“Time enough when I’ve pumped these little cisterns +dry.”</p> +<p>“Are the children in there with you?”</p> +<p>“Certain.”</p> +<p>“You won’t hurt them, will you? Please don’t punish +them to-day. I can’t bear it.”</p> +<p>To which the grim jailer responded:</p> +<p>“You go along back to ‘Forty-niner,’ Jessie darlin, +and be happy. We’re all mighty comfortable in here +and lots of good victuals, if so be we get hungry. +Plenty to drink, too, for I just brought in a crock of +fresh water to cool my eggs in. I’ve got my knittin’ +work and am as happy as an oyster. Go back, for +I ain’t ready to talk yet. When I am I’ll come out +and bring these naughty children with me.”</p> +<p>So Jessica returned to her old friend’s side; and +in listening to his talk about the hospital and the +friends she had made there for herself, as well as +about Mr. Ninian Sharp and the lawyer, Morris +Hale, the evening quickly passed and bedtime came.</p> +<p>When the ranch mistress rose to say good-night, +she went to the still closed door of the closet, and +asked:</p> +<p>“Aren’t you coming out now, Aunt Sally?”</p> +<p>The old lady opened the door and pointed complacently +to a distant corner of the roomy apartment +where, upon a pile of soft blankets that had +been stored within, lay the two little boys, sound +asleep and the picture of innocent comfort.</p> +<p>“There, Gabriella, you see they’re all right. I +wouldn’t hurt a hair of their bonny heads, not for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span> +another ranch as fine as this one. But here them +and me stay till I worm the truth out of ’em about +that candy and that magic staff. Where that candy +come from that there staff has gone. You hear me +and believe me. Oh, I know what I know! Good-night. +Don’t you worry. Me and them is all right, +as I said, and my head’s level. I went to sleep +a-watchin’ t’other time, but I shan’t this. There’s +more in my mind than nonsense. This chair is as +comfortable as a lounge. I slipped out and got it +from the settin’-room when you all was talkin’ so +lively, just now, and we’re fixed. I may come out +before daylight and I may stay till doomsday; but +come I shan’t a single step, not to please even you +for whom I’d do and dare a good deal, and don’t you +doubt it, but when my mind is sot it’s sot, and sot +it is this minute, an don’t you dast to let on to John +Benton, or that sassy boy’d plague the very life out +of me, and you go right along to your own bed and +take Jessie with you, and–––”</p> +<p>But Mrs. Trent stayed to hear no more. When +Aunt Sally got started on such a harangue as this, +exhaustion of breath was her only limit. The lady +did not anticipate more than an hour’s further imprisonment +of the children, if so long, and was sure +that they would be even tenderly cared for, no matter +what their misdemeanors, if she did not herself +interfere. Yet daylight came and found the odd +trio still behind that closed door, and it opened only +at breakfast time; when, leading two very penitent-looking +small boys and herself wearing the air of +a Roman conqueror, Mrs. Benton emerged from her +seclusion upon an expectant household.</p> +<p>“Well, Aunt Sally, haven’t you ‘wormed’ them, as +you promised? Poor little tackers! they’ve lost +their pride and spirit, and I love them. Come to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +sister, darlings, and get your morning hugs!” cried +Jessica, as they appeared. Ephraim, close at hand, +winked at them solemnly and held up behind Mrs. +Benton’s back two most alluring marbles. But they +did not wink in response, nor give more than a furtive +smile, as they reluctantly dragged along under +their guardian’s forcible guidance. Her route was +direct to the watering trough where, without ado, +she promptly stripped, bathed and rubbed dry, each +shivering little figure. Then she reclothed and led +them back to the kitchen, placing them in high +chairs beside the big deal table, while she proceeded +to cook their oatmeal and serve it to them, with a +bad-as-you-are-you-shan’t-starve sort of air which +would have amused Jessica, had she not so heartily +pitied her playmates.</p> +<p>After a time she could endure the sight no longer, +but sped to Ned’s chair and clasped him fondly in +her arms.</p> +<p>“What is the matter, brotherkin? Tell sister, do. +Is it nothing but that miserable candy? What else +have you done to make auntie so angry with you?”</p> +<p>Ned’s bosom heaved and a mighty sob burst forth. +But he instantly repressed this sign of weakness, +though unfortunately, not soon enough to prevent +Luis from echoing it with redoubled intensity.</p> +<p>Now nothing so quickly restores the self-possession, +even of grown-ups, as the sight of another’s +collapse; and no sooner had Luis given vent +to his emotion than Ned’s spirit returned to him. +Throwing back his pretty head, with an air of unconquerable +resolution, he reached forth and pounded +his mate smartly on the back.</p> +<p>“You, Luis Garcia, what you crying for? Isn’t +none of your staffs, anyway.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span></div> +<p>“Ain’t my old staffs, ain’t,” sobbed the “echo,” for +such he was often nicknamed.</p> +<p>“Then you needn’t cry, you needn’t. I ain’t crying, +I ain’t. Hate old Aunt Sally. Hate ’Tonio. Hate +Ferd. Hate everybody. Give me my breakfast, old +Aunt Sally Benton!”</p> +<p>“Hate Bentons!” agreed Luis, and flung his arms +about his little tyrant’s throat till he choked from +outward expression whatever more might have +issued thence.</p> +<p>“Ned! Why, Ned! I never, never knew you so +naughty! Do tell me; what has happened?”</p> +<p>Mrs. Benton glared at the culprit over her down-dropped +spectacles in a truly formidable manner, +but the result was only a settled stubbornness which +nothing moved.</p> +<p>Seeing that pleading was hopeless, at present, +and that Ned was in one of his dogged fits, Jessica +quietly walked away and began to help in the preparation +of the elder people’s meal, as her mother +liked to have her do.</p> +<p>Meanwhile, Aunt Sally waited upon the children, +piling their saucers with the tasty porridge, moistened +with Blandina’s yellow cream and plentifully +sprinkled with sugar. They were healthy and unused +to grief, and the palatable food soon restored +their good humor. They seemed to forgive their +venerable tormentor and fell to their accustomed +scrimmage with the utmost enjoyment; and this +was pleasanter for all concerned. However, even +when they had eaten all they could and were ready +for outdoors and their morning fun, their plans were +nipped in the bud. Aunt Sally had a spare hand for +each of them and conducted them firmly to the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span> +dining room and a place upon its lounge, while the +family took their own food in what comfort they +could.</p> +<p>This was not so great Mrs. Trent’s eyes would +wander to the unhappy pair––for they were once +more gloomy and unsubdued––and old Ephraim cast +many glances thither, entreating by silent signals +that they should repent of whatever sin they had +committed and be restored to favor.</p> +<p>The meal past the family rose and, from her +pocket, Mrs. Benton produced two long strips of +cloth, one of which she fastened about each child’s +wrist, leaving its other end to tie to her own apron +belt.</p> +<p>Then she turned to the mother, whose tears were +beginning to fall, and said, severely:</p> +<p>“Gabriella, if I didn’t love you as well as I love +myself and better, I’d let these children go and no +more said. But they’ve done that no punishin’ won’t +reach, though maybe they’ll give in after a spell. +I shan’t hurt ’em nor touch to; but I shall keep +’em tied to me till they tell me what I’m bound to +know. So that’s all. You’ve got enough on your +hands, with this funeral business and all that’ll +come, and however we’re goin’ to feed another lot +of visitors so soon after them others, I declare I +don’t see. And me with these tackers tied to my +apron strings, the way they be!”</p> +<p>Mrs. Trent rose and left the room and Jessica +slowly followed. Neither of them could quite understand +Aunt Sally’s present behavior, nor why she +should wish to bother herself with two such hindrances +to the labor which must be accomplished.</p> +<p>But Ephraim lingered. He simply could not endure +the sight of the little ones’ unhappiness, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span> +quietly slipping a knife from his pocket he coolly +cut their leading strings, caught them up in his +strong arms and limped away before their captor +had discovered her loss.</p> +<p>But he put his head back inside the doorway to +call out, reassuringly:</p> +<p>“Begging pardon, Mrs. Benton, I’ll ‘spell’ you on +the ‘worming out’ business and promise they shan’t +leave my care till I hand ’em back to you thoroughly +‘pumped.’ Come along, laddies. I’ve a mind to visit +every spot on this blessed ranch and––upon one +condition––I’ve a mind to take you with me. Want +to hear?”</p> +<p>“Yes. What is it?” demanded Ned, already very +happy at the exchange of jailers.</p> +<p>“Only that you must explain what all this row +and rumpus is about with Aunt Sally.”</p> +<p>Standing at the top of the steps, with one foot +outstretched, old “Forty-niner” paused and steadily +regarded the small face above his shoulder.</p> +<p>Ned returned the gaze with equal steadfastness, +as if he were pondering in his troubled mind the +best course to pursue. Then, because he might think +more clearly so, he lifted his serious gaze to the +distance; and, at once, there burst from his quivering +lips a cry of fear:</p> +<p>“Oh, I see him! I see him! He’s coming, like he +said––to kill me––to kill me! I dassent––I dassent!”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIII_NEDS_STORY' id='CHAPTER_XIII_NEDS_STORY'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> +<h3>NED’S STORY</h3> +</div> +<p>“Eels couldn’t have done that slicker!” commented +Ephraim, in surprise. For, behold! his arms +were empty and the flash of twinkling legs along +the garden path pointed whither his charges had +fled. “Here they were and here they aren’t, and +whatever scared them that way is more than I can +see.”</p> +<p>Indeed, though he shaded his eyes with his hand +and made a prolonged examination of the outlook, +nothing different from ordinary was visible; and, +after a moment’s reflection, he sought Aunt Sally +and reported:</p> +<p>“Well, Mrs. Benton, I ’low I’m doomed to that +dose of picra, for I––I––– You see–––”</p> +<p>“Ephraim Ma’sh, where’s them children?”</p> +<p>“That’s just exactly what I’d like to know myself, +neighbor.”</p> +<p>“Huh! You needn’t go ‘neighborin’’ me, if that’s +all you’re worth. Tryin’ fool capers like a boy, ain’t +you? Think it was terr’ble clever to cut strings that +I’d took the trouble to tie and then settin’ them +youngsters free. Well, all I have to say is that +you’ve done more harm than you can undo in a +hurry, and that’s the true word,” retorted the indignant +matron, beating a bowlful of eggs as she would +have enjoyed beating him just then.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span></div> +<p>Ephraim crossed the kitchen and laid one hand on +her shoulder, saying:</p> +<p>“Come, Sally, let’s quit chasing about the bush. +There’s something more in this nonsense than appears, +and if you’re a true and loyal friend to this +family I’m another as good. Two heads are better +than one, you know–––”</p> +<p>“Even if one belongs to a silly old feller like you? +H’m Ephraim, you’re right! There is somethin’ +more’n shows outside. That candy was a bait, a +trap, a lure, a––anything you choose; and I do hope +the little fellers are safer’n I fear they be. If I catch +’em again, for their good–––My suz! Here +they’re comin’ back of their own free will and wonder +ain’t ceased!”</p> +<p>Indeed, as swiftly as they had scampered away, +the lads were returning and burst into the kitchen, +crying with what little breath they had left:</p> +<p>“Aunt Sally, lock me up! Lock us up tight! +Quick––quick! I seen him! He’ll do it! My mother +says Antonio always does do things, he does! +Quick, quick!”</p> +<p>“Lock up, quick!”</p> +<p>Ned and the echo swung round behind the +matron’s capacious person and rolled themselves in +the folds of her full skirt, which performance hid +them from the view of anyone outside and as effectually +interfered with her movements.</p> +<p>But she had now caught something of their excitement, +and their appeal to her protection had +promptly banished her last trace of anger against +them.</p> +<p>“So I will, lambies, so I will. You just keep on a +steppin’ backwards and I’ll do it, too, and first we +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span> +know we’ll get to that nice pantry where we stayed +last night. I’ve got the key to that, even if ’tis +rusty from not bein’ often used, and I’ll defy anybody +to get it away from me.”</p> +<p>Still beating her eggs as if nothing uncommon +were happening, the housewife retreated toward +the door in question, and slipping one hand behind +her opened it without turning her head. She was instantly +relieved of the drag upon her skirts, and +quietly shut the door again upon her self-imprisoned +charges. Then she drew a long breath, and +exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Well, sharpshooter, what do you think of that?”</p> +<p>“Looks as if you couldn’t have been so very hard +on them, else they’d never come back.”</p> +<p>“I ain’t a-flatterin’ myself. That was a ‘Hobson’s +choice.’ But–––”</p> +<p>“But they must have been badly frightened to +have done it.”</p> +<p>“Yes, Ephraim, they are, and I am. I’m so stirred +up I don’t know whether I’ve beat these eggs all one +way, like I ought, or forty-’leven different ones, +like I ought not. I’m flustered. I’m completely +flustered, and that ain’t often my case.”</p> +<p>“Picra!” sympathetically suggested the old man.</p> +<p>Aunt Sally’s eyes snapped, and she smiled grimly, +as she retorted:</p> +<p>“Picra’s good for them ’at need it. That’s you, +not me. It ain’t a medicine for in’ards so much as +’tis for out’ards. I mean, it’s better for the body +than ’tis for the mind, and it’s my mind that’s ailin’ +me! Besides, doctors never take their own doses.”</p> +<p>“You know it yourself! I thought your mind was +failing you, but–––”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span></div> +<p>“No such thing. I said, or I meant to say, I was +troubled in it. That’s all; and if you’re a mite of a +man you’ll try and help me unravel this tangle and +quit foolin’. Just step into that closet with me and +maybe the tackers’ll tell you themselves. I’d rather +you heard it first hand, anyway.”</p> +<p>Wun Lung, sifting flour in one part of the kitchen, +and Pasqual scrubbing a kneading board at the sink, +both paused and eyed the strange proceedings with +curiosity if not displeasure; for not only had the +children been bestowed within the “cold closet,” but +Aunt Sally and Ephraim had, also, followed and +locked themselves out of sight and hearing.</p> +<p>The pantry was absolutely dark, until Mrs. Benton +found a candle and lighted it; then she pointed +to the chair she had occupied during the night, +mutely inviting “Forty-niner” to be seated. He +declined the proffered courtesy, so she sat down +herself, and it amused him that she had not once +stopped that monotonous whisking of the eggs, +though by this time the dish was heaped with their +frothy substance.</p> +<p>“The cake you make of them should be light +enough,” he remarked, with a smile.</p> +<p>“You’re right. There’s such a thing as overbeatin’––everything. +Well, laddies, we’re all back in here +together again, and auntie wants you to tell Mr. +Ma’sh where you got that candy; who give it to +you; what for; where you saw that sneaky snake, +Antonio Bernal; what you’ve done with the staff +wand; and all the rest of it? ‘Forty-niner’ is a man +and a gentleman–––”</p> +<p>“Here the sharpshooter bowed profoundly, acknowledging +the compliment with a humorous expression; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +but the matron continued as if she had not +observed him:</p> +<p>“You see, I know all about it, even if you wouldn’t +tell. I’m one has eyes on the back of my head and +on its top, too, I tell you, so you needn’t try to think +I don’t see what’s going on, for I do.”</p> +<p>The faces of her small listeners showed utter +amazement; then with one of his flashlike movements +Ned sprang to the back of her chair and +passed his hand rapidly all over her gray curls.</p> +<p>“Where are they, Aunt Sally? I can’t find ’em. I +never saw ’em in all my life, and do––do, please, +show them to me!” he implored.</p> +<p>Luis scrambled up the other side, and echoed:</p> +<p>“Never show ’em in m’life!”</p> +<p>“That’s all right. I don’t keep ’em in exhibition, +but they’re there all the same.”</p> +<p>“Sally Benton!” expostulated Ephraim. “Don’t +tell them wrong stories.”</p> +<p>“But it isn’t a wrong story; it’s a right one. If +they’re not real, actual eyes, there’s something in my +head takes their place. Might as well say ‘eyes’ +as ‘brains,’ I judge. But, be you going to answer, +Edward Trent? I’ve got a prime lot of cookin’ to +do again, and no time to waste. ’Cause if you ain’t +I’ll just take Mr. Ma’sh with me and lock you shavers +in here alone, where you’ll be safe, but sort of +homesick. I shan’t leave no candle burnin’, for you +to set the house afire with. So you best tell, right +away, and then be let out to have a good time.”</p> +<p>Luis began to whisper, and beg:</p> +<p>“Tell her, Ned. Tell her. I hate the dark––I do, +I do!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span></div> +<p>Ned hesitated but a moment longer. He loved his +playmate as his own soul, and it altered nothing of +this childish David-and-Jonathan friendship that it +was as full of fight as of affection. Patting Luis’ +shoulder, he cried:</p> +<p>“’Course I’ll tell, though if she knows it all +a’ready–––”</p> +<p>“But I don’t know it, Ned. She wants you to tell +me. I’m one of us, you see––just we four,” interposed +the sharpshooter, hastily.</p> +<p>“Well––well––well, ’tisn’t anyhow. Only I saw––I––saw–––”</p> +<p>Here the child paused and peered cautiously +about.</p> +<p>Mr. Marsh promptly sat down upon the boards +and motioned the lads to come to him, and when +they had done so, closed his arms around them, with +a comforting pressure, saying:</p> +<p>“There now! We’re as snug as bugs in a rug, and +nobody in the wide world dare harm you. Hurry up +and talk fast, or you and I will never get a taste of +that fine poundcake Aunt Sally wants to make.”</p> +<p>Another moment of hesitation, and then came +Ned’s triumphant statement:</p> +<p>“’Twasn’t no ghost, anyhow.”</p> +<p>“Of course it wasn’t,” answered “Forty-niner,” +promptly agreeing, but considerably puzzled. He +had not, as yet, heard from any of the others about +the “vision” which Mrs. Benton had seen beside the +window.</p> +<p>“’Twasn’t nobody but ’Tonio himself.”</p> +<p>“That’s exactly what I thought,” he again agreed, +and encouragingly patted the boy’s hand.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span></div> +<p>“And he come––and he come––and he gave us +one––two boxes of that nice, nice candy; and all +we gave him was Pedro’s old stick!”</p> +<p>Aunt Sally’s egg beater fell to the floor unheeded, +this time she really put her spectacles in their +proper place and stared through them at the +narrator.</p> +<p>Ned warmed to his task and Luis cuddled beside +him, complacently adding his affirmative “Yep,” at +fitting intervals.</p> +<p>“And so he said it wasn’t nothin’. And so––and +so––I fell offen the bookcase and made a noise; and +my mother didn’t hear it ’cause she was asleep. Me +and Luis was asleep, wasn’t we, Luis?”</p> +<p>“Yep. Sleep.”</p> +<p>“And he waked us up through the window–––”</p> +<p>“Waked froo winder, yep.”</p> +<p>“And said: ‘Go get that pointed stick, Ned Trent, +and I’ll give you a dollar.’ Didn’t he?”</p> +<p>“Gimme dollar. Didn’t gimme dollar. What’s a +dollar?” asked the echo.</p> +<p>Ned went on, unheeding:</p> +<p>“And I said no. ’Twasn’t my stick; ’twas my +mother’s.”</p> +<p>“Oh! Neddy, Neddy! if you’d only stuck to that!” +groaned Mrs. Benton, wiping her face with her +apron.</p> +<p>But being now fairly launched upon his narrative, +and also feeling wholly secure within the shelter of +“Forty-niner’s” arms, Ned paused no more till he +had completed it:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span></div> +<p>“And then he gave us the candy, ’cause I didn’t +want dollars. You can’t eat dollars, can you? And +the candy was like the kind my mother never gives, +and just for an old stick was older than Pedro. Huh! +And then he––he––he made me put my hand on the +top of my head–––”</p> +<p>“Hands on tops of heads!” cried the echo, dramatically.</p> +<p>“And swore a swore I’d never, never, honest +Injun, tell a single tell, else he’d––he’d kill me! Kill +me right straight down dead! And now I have and +he will, and I forgot and you made me! I hate you, +I hate you! And won’t you feel bad when I’m all +deaded and you you done it, ’stead of him––and––and–––”</p> +<p>The sense of security had fled instantly, and completely. +The memory of Antonio’s dark face as he +had stood threateningly before the little fellow, at +midnight by the window, returned with all its vivid, +terrorizing power. Springing to the farthest reach of +the room Ned crouched there, wide-eyed and trembling, +and, of course, Luis followed his example.</p> +<p>To “Forty-niner’s” reassuring words, and to Mrs. +Benton’s cajoling ones, neither child paid any +further heed. They had been trained to believe that +their promised word was the most sacred of all +things, and now they had not only been induced to +break that, but to break it in the face of Antonio +Bernal’s terrible threat.</p> +<p>The elders left them to themselves and regarded +one another with regretful eyes. Then Aunt Sally +repeated in detail all that there was to tell concerning +the curious wand which had pointed the way +to wealth; and now Ephraim listened in vast respect. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span> +On the first recital, so hurriedly given by +Jessica, and when she had run to get the staff, he +had thought of the matter as one of the shepherd’s +“pious mummeries.” It now assumed a graver +aspect. The lost staff might possess some magnetic +quality which was invaluable, as Old Century +believed; but beyond all that was the uncomfortable +reflection that Antonio Bernal was somewhere in +hiding about Sobrante, and that doubtless it had +been he, or his emissary, who had tampered with the +mail pouch and caused Marty’s disaster.</p> +<p>“Well, a man that hides must have somethin’ to +be ashamed of. And I believe every single word that +child has told,” said Aunt Sally, in conclusion of her +long harangue.</p> +<p>“H’m! I thought that ‘snake’ had had his fang extracted +down there at Los Angeles; but it seems he’s +the sort can grow a new one, when needed. Well, +I’m powerful glad I’m home again. It takes a lot of +honest men to keep watch of one thief, and I’ll +prove handy. I’m off. I leave the lads with you. I’m +going to find out three things: How Ferd, the +dwarf, managed to break jail that night and leave +no sign; who robbed that mail pouch; and where +Antonio Bernal is at this precious minute.”</p> +<p>“Here, at your service, amigo!” cried a mocking +voice, outside the shuttered window. A voice that +all recognized at once as belonging to the late manager; +yet, when Ephraim had hastily run out and +around to that side of the house, there was nobody +within sight; and nothing to be heard save the +series of terrified shrieks which issued from the +room he had left.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIV_TAKING_THE_DOCTORS_ADVICE' id='CHAPTER_XIV_TAKING_THE_DOCTORS_ADVICE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> +<h3>TAKING THE DOCTOR’S ADVICE</h3> +</div> +<p>For almost the first time in his life Ninian Sharp +was under the doctor’s hands; and that gentleman’s +verdict upon his patient’s case was simple and plain:</p> +<p>“Nothing the matter with you but breakdown. +The result of doing two men’s work instead of one. +What you need, and all you need, is a complete +change of thought and scene. Go off on some +ranch and take a vacation. That’s your medicine.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, doctor, but a prescription upon the +nearest drug store would be easier to fill. In the +first place I should worry all the time if I were idle, +for ‘hustling’ has become my second nature. In +the second––where shall I go?”</p> +<p>The physician shrugged his shoulders. He, also, +was a busy man and having finished his visit to his +patient did not prolong it. He picked up his hat, +remarked that he “didn’t doubt so clever a young +man could find a fitting place, if he gave what was +left of his mind to it,” and bowed himself out, leaving +the leaven of his sensible advice to accomplish +its legitimate result.</p> +<p>As the doctor left the room the nurse entered, +bearing with her a telegram which had been delayed +en route, and a letter. It was with some reluctance +that she delivered these to the man on the lounge, +yet realizing, at the same time, how much worse for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +him was absolute cessation of all his ordinary interests. +With a solicitous smile, she inquired:</p> +<p>“Would you not better let me read these first? +They are probably unimportant.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, no. I’m not yet reduced to imbecility +and prefer to examine my own correspondence,” +returned the invalid, fretfully. Then as if ashamed +of his petulance, and with a return to his ordinary +manner, added: “This telegram might as well have +walked. Would have saved time, judging by the +date of it; and as for this letter––that, certainly, has +seen better days.”</p> +<p>The nurse smiled again, indulgently, and busied +herself in tidying the apartment; an occupation +which would have incensed Ninian, since her idea +of neatness seemed to him to be but the “disarrangement” +of the heaps of papers and manuscript +sheets scattered everywhere about, had he not been +otherwise interested. A hasty examination of the +messages he had received evoked his exultant exclamation:</p> +<p>“Hurrah! The very thing!”</p> +<p>“Good news?” asked the attendant.</p> +<p>“The best in the world. The doctor’s prescription, +filled to the letter. A ranch and new business. +Say, would you mind going out for a bit? I’d like +to get into some other togs and in a hurry. If I +can, I’ll make the one o’clock train.”</p> +<p>“The––one o’clock train!” gasped the bewildered +nurse, believing that her charge’s brain had given +away, even as the physician had suggested it +might do.</p> +<p>“Exactly. Please don’t be alarmed. Some country +friends of mine have invited me to visit them, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span> +I judge they would be glad if I accepted at once. +Their invitation fits in excellently with my own +needs and, after I’ve dressed for the trip, I’d be +grateful to you for packing a few things, while I +write to the bank and telephone to some other +places. Just touch that messenger call, will you, +please?”</p> +<p>Certainly, he did not now look very like a sick +man, as he sprang up and looked about him; save +that he put his hand to his head because of a momentary +dizziness and seemed somewhat unsteady +on his feet. However, his eyes had lost their dullness +and a faint color had come into his cheeks; and +the attendant saw no reason for opposing his sudden +determination.</p> +<p>The letter was Jessica’s, and its envelope had been +mended by the postmaster after he had taken it, +torn, from the mail pouch. The telegram was from +Ephraim Marsh, and had been sent by the first +messenger to Marion after that scene in the pantry +with Aunt Sally and the little boys. It had been +delayed by the curiosity of the operator, but had +reached Mr. Sharp at last; and its import was that:</p> +<p>“If you’re willing to use your brains for Sobrante +folks, as you used them once before, now’s the time. +There’ll be a led horse at Marion till you come, and +the sooner the better. ‘Forty-niner.’”</p> +<p>“A led horse. Why, he must have forgotten, if +he ever knew, that I’ve my own Nimrod here, that +Mrs. Trent insisted upon my accepting, when I left +Sobrante before. The horse must go with me, of +course, and I flatter myself I can pick up a bit of +instruction on riding among those fine ‘boys’ of the +little captain’s. I’ll send a return message––no, I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span> +won’t, either. I’ll trust to luck and surprise them. +Now to get ready.”</p> +<p>A feeling that he was going “home” possessed +the young man, and all his simple preparations +strengthened rather than weakened him. Activity +was his habit, and an hour before the train left the +city he had completed his personal arrangements +with his office, his bank and his landlord. He had +paid his nurse the same salary she would have received +had he required her services for the fortnight, +as expected, and was ready for what came next.</p> +<p>“I feel as if I were entering upon a new life, instead +of taking a rest cure,” he remarked to Mr. Hale, +when that gentleman met him at the station, and +explained that a Christmas invitation had come for +himself, also. “And I say we’ll make it the jolliest +holiday those people down there ever knew. I sent +a letter to your address, after I ’phoned, and made +out a list of things I’d like you to see to. Presents +and so on; and I’ll write as soon as I get there and +let you know what’s up with the sharpshooter. +Some trouble, of course, but reckon it can’t be +much. Ha! we’re off. Good-by. Forget nothing, +add as much as you please to my list and send the +bills to me. Good-by.”</p> +<p>The train rolled noiselessly away from the long +platform, and the reporter for the Lancet stowed +himself comfortably away on his cushions and slept +as he had not slept before since this nervous illness +attacked him. Not once did he awake, till the conductor +touched him on the shoulder, and stated:</p> +<p>“End of the line, sir. Time to leave.”</p> +<p>Ninian sat up and shook himself, still feeling a +bit dazed from his heavy slumber, and had scarcely +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +realized the fact of his arrival before a man limped +into the car and slapped him on the shoulder.</p> +<p>“Well done, lad. Welcome to Sobrante!”</p> +<p>“Hello, Mr. Marsh! You here? Sobrante? I +thought–––”</p> +<p>“Same thing. This is Marion; as near as we can +get to our place on the rails. Remember, don’t you? +Been sick, eh? You look rather peaked and I ’low +I’d ought–––”</p> +<p>“No apologies. Here I am, and am not ill now. +Only been a little overworked; and your telegram, +as well as Miss Jessica’s letter, came in the nick of +time. Not an hour after the doctor had ordered this +very medicine of change and recreation.”</p> +<p>Ephraim looked sharply at his guest and reflected:</p> +<p>“What our business needs is a clear head and a +strong body, not an overtaxed man, as this ’pears +to be. Well, sick or well, I hope he can see through +some of our muddles, if not all; and half a loaf is +better than no bread.” Then he gathered the traveler’s +belongings, and remarked: “I told Aleck to +have a good supper ready. It’s a fine night and I +thought we’d ride home afterwards. Unless–––”</p> +<p>They left the car and Ninian answered the other’s +unspoken suggestion:</p> +<p>“No, I don’t want to stay all night, good as Janet’s +beds are. I’ve had a delicious sleep and feel like +another man from this morning. Hello! they’ve +taken Nimrod out already, and evidently are waiting +for orders. I declare, the handsome beast looks +as if he recognized this place and was as glad to +get back to it as I am.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span></div> +<p>Old “Forty-niner” left his guest’s side and hurried +to the spot where a trainman held the spirited animal, +stroking its neck and speaking soothingly to +it, to calm its excitement; and no sooner had the +ranchman’s hand supplanted the trainman’s than +Nimrod ceased to prance, and with a little final +shiver, stood stock-still, uttering a low whinny of +delight.</p> +<p>“That’s the talk, you beauty! Welcome home, +old boy! Well, well, well! if you ain’t a sight to cure +the headache! Yes, yes; it’s all right. This is +Marion. We’ve got to stop at Aleck’s first. Remember +Aleck? Remember Janet and her sugar? +Well, well, well!”</p> +<p>Ninian approached, amazed and incredulous, inquiring:</p> +<p>“Think that creature knows what you’re saying?”</p> +<p>“Forty-niner” turned upon the questioner indignantly.</p> +<p>“That’s a fool sort of question for a smart man to +ask! ‘Think’ he knows? No. There isn’t any ‘thinking’ +in this. I know he knows, and I know he’s just +as glad to set foot on his mother earth, here in +Marion, as I was t’other day when I stepped off this +same train––or its mate of the morning. I wish all +the men in the world were half as brainy as he is. +And I tell you what, stranger, you couldn’t have +done a thing would make your own welcome so sure +as fetching Nimrod with you. If you’d left him +behind some of us would have had our own opinion. +Though I, for one, didn’t know he was yours till this +very morning.”</p> +<p>“And the led horse you spoke about?”</p> +<p>Ephraim looked up, surprised, answering, rather +crisply:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span></div> +<p>“At home. Why not? When I heard about Nimrod +I wasn’t silly enough to bring another.”</p> +<p>“So if I hadn’t brought him we’d been short a +mount?” insisted the reporter, teasingly.</p> +<p>“One of us would had to foot it to the ranch, and +that one wouldn’t have been me. Huh! Does me +good to hear your nonsense gabble again. I declare +it does. When did you get my telegraph?”</p> +<p>“This morning.”</p> +<p>“This––morning! Why, I sent it day before yesterday, +no, the day before that. Let me see; to-day’s +one, yesterday––the funeral, two––the one––yes, +three days ago. John Benton himself gave it into +the telegraph man’s hands. Himself.”</p> +<p>They mounted and started toward McLeod’s Inn, +Ninian doing very well, considering the impatience +of his steed and his own limited experience of the +saddle, and the sharpshooter sitting as composedly +upon the back of as restless an animal as could readily +be found. It was a bay, and pranced and curveted +to the extent that Nimrod seemed a door-mouse +beside it, and Ninian finally observed:</p> +<p>“That’s an undecided sort of beast you have, yourself. +Seems to be as much inclined to go backward +as forward.”</p> +<p>“Hale’s. Name Prince. Was on the mesa with +Pedro till he died.”</p> +<p>“Pedro dead? I’m sorry. Was it his ‘funeral’ you +meant?”</p> +<p>“Yes. Terrible pity he couldn’t have held on till +Christmas, his Navidad, that always meant so much +to him. But he couldn’t. Things have changed at +Sobrante since you was here. I’m glad you’ve come. +I’m powerful glad you’ve come.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span></div> +<p>“Any new trouble, Ephraim?”</p> +<p>“H’m! I should say. Ghosts, the women think, +and scamps for certain. But it’s a long story, and +here we are at Aleck’s. We mustn’t spoil that good +supper of his and talk will keep. We’ve thirty miles +’twixt us and bed, ’less you change your mind and +stop here, and that should give time enough to turn +a man’s mind inside out.”</p> +<p>“Were you so certain of my coming that you +ordered a special supper, without hearing?”</p> +<p>“Sure. I took you to be a man and I put myself +in your place. In your place I should have come if +I could; and if I couldn’t I should have sent word. +Light.”</p> +<p>Aleck came out to meet them, and Janet followed, +of course. Where one of that worthy couple was +the other was sure to be; and both extended to the +city man such welcome as made him more impressed +than ever by that “home feeling” which had possessed +him all day. He returned their good wishes +with heartiness and did full justice to his supper, +adding as a thankful tribute to Janet’s fine cookery:</p> +<p>“That’s the first thing has passed my lips that +hadn’t the flavor of ashes, since many a day. The +doctor was right.”</p> +<p>“Glad to hear any doctor ever could be right,” +returned the innkeeper, who had never been ill, and +attributed his health to his distrust of physicians. +“Fresh air, wholesome food and a clear conscience––them’s +to long life what the three R’s are to +’rithmetic. Powerful sorry you can’t pass the night. +I’d admire to talk over the political situation with +an intelligent man.”</p> +<p>The side glance toward himself with which the +Scotchman said this sent Ephraim off into a mighty +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span> +guffaw, in which presently they all joined; and in +the midst of the merriment a stable boy led up the +horses, and the Sobrante-bound riders loped away. +Yet, just before they were out of hearing, Aleck’s +stentorian voice sent after them the warning +advice:</p> +<p>“Keep a sharp lookout, by, and your hands on +your guns. That spook’s hit the trail again! Watch +out!”</p> +<p>Ninian laughed, and “Forty-niner” tried to do so, +but the most he could accomplish was a feeble +cackle, which, his companion fancied, betrayed his +age as nothing heretofore had done. It was a nervous, +irritated laugh, and was matched by the +altered voice in which its owner presently remarked:</p> +<p>“If I can’t stop this fool business any other way, +I’ve a notion to ride round the country and shoot +right and left, everybody I see, promiscuous. That’s +the sure and certain way to hit the spook, too.”</p> +<p>“Heigho! This grows exciting! Spooks? Mysteries? +Mail robberies! What next?”</p> +<p>There was no answer from the sharpshooter, who +had gotten his horse into a steady trot and was putting +the road behind him in a manner that needed +all Ninian’s efforts to match. If Nimrod had been as +little used to the trail as his rider was to him the +space between the two animals would have widened +irretrievably; but he was the better bred of the two, +and though he didn’t waste his strength in a first +spurt, as Prince did, he fell into a steady, easy gait, +that soon told to his advantage.</p> +<p>It was one of the perfect moonlight nights which +come in that cloudless region, when one can easily +“read fine print,” if so inclined, or see across country +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span> +almost as well as in the day. The swift motion, the +exhilarating air, the sense of freedom from city +walls and cramped spaces, started the reporter into +singing, and later into the silence of wonder over +the astonishing power of his own voice.</p> +<p>“Hurrah! If that’s my warble I never heard it +before! It’s a marvelous atmosphere that makes a +rag time tune sound like a nightingale’s music. If +‘Forty-niner’ would join it–––Hello! what’s up? +What in––the name––of––all things!”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XV_NINIANS_GREETING' id='CHAPTER_XV_NINIANS_GREETING'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> +<h3>NINIAN’S GREETING</h3> +</div> +<p>Suddenly, out of the moonlit distance before +them, appeared a strange vision. A horse and his +rider, as spotlessly white and gleaming as the snow +on the distant mountaintops, moving toward them +as swift as the wind and in supernatural silence. The +eyes of the steed and its master glowed with a +wicked light that startled both the old frontiersman +and the modern scribe, and set Prince and Nimrod +into paroxysms of terror.</p> +<p>Rearing, plunging and backing, Ninian’s mount +had him soon on the ground; and though Ephraim +stuck to his saddle like a burr; he could not hold his +horse and get at his revolver in that one instant of +the appearance and disappearance of this strange +“specter.” It was coming––it was upon them––it +was gone; and the blast of cold air with which it +passed them set the horses shivering in an ague of +fear, and tied the men’s tongues.</p> +<p>It seemed an age that they halted there in the +open solitude, silently stroking and soothing their +frightened beasts, before either could speak. Then +“Forty-niner” found his voice and burst forth, +absurdly:</p> +<p>“Drat––that––pocket!”</p> +<p>Ninian laughed; nervously, almost hysterically at +first; then with honest merriment, exclaiming:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span></div> +<p>“Oh, what a chance was lost there, comrade!”</p> +<p>“Whoa, boy, whoa, I tell you! There, there, +steady now. Well, you needn’t throw it in my teeth +if it was!” retorted the sharpshooter, furiously. +“Hang new pants!”</p> +<p>Ninian rolled on the ground and laughed afresh; +then feebly observed: “That’s what I generally do +with mine. But pockets! What of them?”</p> +<p>“Huh! it’s all very well for you to lie there and +snicker. I lost the chance of my life that time. +What’s the use of a repertation for hittin’ a pin at +the distance I have if you can’t hit a fool when he’s +close alongside?”</p> +<p>“Referring to me?” asked the reporter, sweetly.</p> +<p>“Yes, if the coat fits. Drat that pocket!”</p> +<p>“Poor pocket! Who made it?”</p> +<p>“That pesky Sally Benton. The one was in burst +right through, and she sewed this one so tight at +the top–––Huh! I believe she done it a-purpose.”</p> +<p>“To be sure she did. If I remember correctly that +estimable woman was opposed to bloodshed and +preferred corporal punishment. I suppose she feared +you might do what you attempted to do and–––”</p> +<p>“Shut up your shallow talk, young man!” ordered +Ephraim, with so much venom that the other realized +his mirth was ill-timed and grew serious.</p> +<p>“What was the thing, anyway, Marsh?”</p> +<p>“That’s more than I know, but just what I would +have known if I’d hit it with a bullet. That’s the +‘spook’ Aleck warned us of. It’s been kitin’ round +the country ever since that first night after Pedro +died. Some say it’s the ghost. It ’pears to be +wrapped in a white blanket and wears it same as he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span> +did. He had a white horse once that had outlived all +the horses ever was, I reckon; and the Simple +Simons all about us claim that it’s the Indian’s spirit +on the Indian’s horse, a-ridin’ round ’count of some +trouble why he can’t rest. There was a letter thrown +into our settin’ room night before last, in poor +printing enough, too; and it said that Pedro had +been banished from the happy hunting grounds on +account of a secret he’d told; and a warning everybody +not to touch to try and find the place the secret +told about. It scared the mistress pretty bad, though +she didn’t let on much. The captain laughed, of +course. She always laughs at everything; and Mrs. +Benton––well, she just pinned the paper in her +bosom, and says she: ‘I’ll know where that is when +it’s needed.’ She’s some sense, Sally has, though +nothing to boast of, and she’s a mighty good sewer +of patchwork, though she’s no good at pistol pockets. +Well, shall we go on?”</p> +<p>Ninian had remounted his horse, which still was +restless and ill to manage, and Prince was capering +about in a fantastic fashion that, however, was not +greatly different from his behavior earlier in the +evening; and the reporter had satisfied himself that +there was nothing now to be seen of the apparition +which had flashed upon them and disappeared on +the road back to Marion.</p> +<p>“Yes, let’s go on. And I hope the least that will +happen will be the arrival of that ‘spook’ at Aleck +McLeod’s cheerful inn. I’d give much to see his +face if it did appear.”</p> +<p>“Oh! it’s been there already; last night. The +kitchen window was raised so softly none but Janet +could have heard it, and before she could get to it, +a white, skinny hand came through and snatched up +a quail pie she’d baked for breakfast and off sooner’n +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +she could catch it. She was so mad about the +pie that, for a minute, she forgot to be scared; then +it came over her that she’d been cookin’ ghost’s +victuals, and she shivered all the rest the night. +She wouldn’t ever let Aleck far out of sight, she’s so +fond of him, but now he can’t stir three foot away. +Every man I met has something fresh to tell of how +his women folks have been worried by the thing; +and if somebody doesn’t settle his spookship mighty +sudden, we’ll have all the females in hysterics; and +something we’ve never needed in this valley yet, +and that’s a doctor. There won’t be a nerve left +anywhere.”</p> +<p>Ninian laughed again; adding, a moment later: +“Not just the sort of place to send a nervous-prostration +patient, is it, after all? But what’s your +own speculation concerning the nuisance?”</p> +<p>“Let me tell you the whole business, so far forth +as I’ve heerd it since I came home. Then you can +form your own mind on it and see how best to help +my folks out their troubles; ’cause I ain’t trying to +hide that was my reason for wanting you to come. +You’d helped us so much with the title affair I knew +you’d unravel this skein. But I’m powerful glad +to see you, all the same, and I do hope you’ll get +as much good for yourself out the visit as I want +the mistress to get.”</p> +<p>The horses were now somewhat quieted by a +long stretch of the level road, over which they had +been allowed to travel at their own pace, and talking +was easier. Ephraim gave in detail the story +of Pedro’s visit and gift of the wand; of the many +strange incidents of the last few days; of Ned’s +serious illness, caused by fright, Aunt Sally declared, +but, as his mother thought, by too much rich +food and an overdose of candy; and how, though he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span> +had repeatedly been heard about the premises, nobody +had as yet actually seen Antonio Bernal. However, +at present, little was thought of but the suffering +children; for Luis had remained true to his character +of “echo” and had himself, that very day, been +put to bed with the same high fever which was tormenting +Ned.</p> +<p>“You see, though it’s getting Christmas time and +everything ought to be lovely, we’re about as badly +off as a family can be. All the same, if anybody in +this world can cheer the mistress it’ll be yourself, +Mr. Sharp, and I’m powerful glad you’ve come.”</p> +<p>For the rest of the ride they were mostly silent; +each man revolving in his mind the most plausible +explanation of Antonio’s behavior, in his would-be +mysterious hiding, and his terrorizing of the little +lads.</p> +<p>Finally, Ninian expressed his own opinion:</p> +<p>“It’s perfectly natural he should drift back to +Sobrante, even with all the opprobrium that would +attach to him there. It is his home. He believed +or pretended to believe, that it was also his birthright. +He knows nothing that would bring him a +livelihood in the city–––”</p> +<p>“Except gambling,” interrupted Ephraim, contemptuously.</p> +<p>“If he tried his hand at that even, he’d fail. He +hasn’t the head to plot deeply. His maneuvers are +all childishly transparent, and this last one––h’m! +Have you connected his ‘highness’ with this spook +business?”</p> +<p>“No, sir; and you needn’t. That Antonio Bernal +is the biggest coward above ground. Why, bless +me! even if he’d had gumption enough to concoct +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +such a scheme he wouldn’t have the nerve to carry +it out. He’d be afraid of himself! Fact! No, siree. +Top-lofty never had a hand in this,” answered the +elder man.</p> +<p>Ninian said no more but kept his suspicions revolving +in his own mind; yet was far more absorbed +in the possibility that “Forty-niner” had suggested, +of the copper vein in the canyon, than by anything +else he had heard. They had ridden on again, each +silent, till the lights of Sobrante came into view; +then Ephraim remarked:</p> +<p>“Reckon the little tackers ain’t much better. The +mistress don’t gen’ally keep lamps lit as late as this, +’less something’s wrong. Oh! I hope there’s no more +death and disappointment on our road. ’Twould +break Mrs. Trent’s heart, indeed, if she lost Ned.”</p> +<p>Ninian roused himself from his reverie, and answered, +lightly:</p> +<p>“For such a cheerful fellow as I remember you, +even when you were first laid up in hospital, you’re +degenerated sadly. What in the name of common +sense is the use of prognosticating evil, when good +is just as likely to come?”</p> +<p>“Huh! I’m consid’able older than you, young +man,” retorted the sharpshooter, perversely.</p> +<p>“All the more reason you should be more hopeful. +What’s happened to you besides these external troubles? +Something on your own account, eh? If so, +believe me you have my hearty sympathy and my +right hand to help you, if you need it.”</p> +<p>Ephraim checked Prince so shortly that the +animal reared on his haunches, and pushing his hat +from his brow regarded the visitor with a sad but +grateful countenance. Then he spoke, and his tones +were husky with subdued emotion:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span></div> +<p>“Thanks, friend. I took to you the first time my +old eyes lit on you and I’ve leaned on you, in my +mind, ever since. There is something ’at worries +me, but it’s so slight I shan’t put it into words––yet. +I’ve got work to do still for them I love and +that love me. Which I might maybe sum up in one +small person––my precious Lady Jess. God bless +her! Ay, God bless her! From the crown of her +sunny head to the tips of her dainty feet, she’s the +truest, squarest, tenderest creature the Lord ever +sent to lighten this dark world. They all love her, +every one of them rough, hard-handed sons of toil +whom she calls her ‘boys’; but there isn’t one, not +one, can begin to love her as I do. Not one. It is +she that makes me still keep a little faith–––There, +there! what an old fool I am! But, thanks, all the +same, and don’t you forget I’m your own to command +if need comes. Shake, neighbor, and may +your age be–––Giddap there, Prince! Let’son, +lad; let’s get on.”</p> +<p>Ninian did get on, but again silently pondering +that here again was something mysterious in this +honest octogenarian’s mood. There was an undercurrent +of sorrow which, he was sure, was wholly +distinct from the anxieties of his mistress and her +household, and he wondered what it might be. +Surely, for an old man, though wifeless and childless +he had much to make him happy. The devotion +of the family in which he had lived for so long, his +comfortable home, his freedom from care concerning +his future––to the young man struggling amidst +a crowd of competitors to make a place for himself +in the world, it seemed as if the venerable sharpshooter +had cause for nothing but rejoicing. However, +these might be mere imaginations, and best +banished for the present.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span></div> +<p>Ephraim made straight for the house, and the +sound of the horses’ footfalls brought figures flying +to the open doors; most welcome of these in the +eyes of the two men, the small one of Jessica herself, +her head stretched forth as she peered into the +night, and the lamplight behind her making a radiance +about her golden head and slender gracefulness. +But she poised there on the threshold only +for an instant, till she was sure what animals these +were, then darted toward them with uplifted hands +and a cry of delight:</p> +<p>“They’ve come! Oh, mother, they’ve come!––they’ve +come!”</p> +<p>Another moment and the reporter had slipped +from his saddle and had caught up the little girl, +more glad on his own part than he would have +once thought possible to have her once more beside +him.</p> +<p>“Yes, captain, here we are! But did you expect +us––or me? And how could you tell that we were +not strangers?”</p> +<p>“Why, don’t you suppose I’d know the step of any +horse for ours? And though Nimrod is yours now +I know him like––like a brother. Don’t I, dear +fellow?” and from Ninian’s clasp she ran to embrace +the down-bent head of the thoroughbred.</p> +<p>On his side, Nimrod was equally rejoiced. His +velvet nostrils caressed the little girl’s cheeks and +flowing hair, while his dainty forefoot gently pawed +the ground in expression of delight and not impatience. +Prince stood looking on, unmoved. He +was not Sobrante raised and seemed to feel it; or +so Jessica fancied, as she left off petting Nimrod +and passed to Prince’s side, to stroke his head also, +and to murmur words of praise for good behavior +in bringing Ephraim safely home.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span></div> +<p>Then “Forty-niner” led the beast away, while +Jessica sped after Ninian, who had been greeted––almost +grasped––by Aunt Sally. She had drawn +him indoors, laughing, crying, whispering, entreating, +all in a breath:</p> +<p>“Oh, oh, oh, land of Goshen! My suz! If you +ain’t the gladdest sight I’ve seen this dog’s age! +How are you, how are you? Slim? You certainly +do look slim,” she declared, as she led him into the +radiance of the lamp and critically peered into his +face, both through and above her spectacles.</p> +<p>“Well, my good friend, I never was anything but +slim, as I remember. And I have been just a bit +ailing, if that’s your meaning. However, I’m all +right now, most delighted to be here, and wholly at +your service or that of anybody else who needs me. +How are the children? Ephraim said that they +were ill. And Mrs. Trent?”</p> +<p>As if in answer to his questions, there was a patter +of bare feet on the stairs and in came Luis, his +great dark eyes looking twice their normal size +and his voice shrill with excitement, as he tried to +say:</p> +<p>“Ned––Ned’s gone and got––and got––Ned’s gone +got gone roof. Oh, oh!”</p> +<p>Mrs. Benton dropped Ninian’s hand which she had +continued to hold and shake up and down, much +in the manner of one pumping water, and caught +up the child to also shake him vigorously:</p> +<p>“Hi! What’s that you say? Don’t you dare to +tell auntie a story. What’s Neddy–––Oh, my land! +all the catnip’s gone out of my life, seems if!”</p> +<p>The reporter and Jessica looked at each other and +burst into laughter. It was impossible to help it, +Aunt Sally’s manner had been so droll and yet so +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span> +dramatic; and, oddly enough, over Ninian there +stole again the feeling that he had come home, and +that the griefs and perplexities of this household +had become his own. With that his merriment was +over, for the fear Mrs. Benton’s face had betrayed +was sincere.</p> +<p>Jessica, also, had sobered instantly, and catching +her guest’s hand hurried him impulsively upward, +crying:</p> +<p>“He’s done it again! Oh, if mother sees him it +will frighten her to death!”</p> +<p>They reached the upper floor and the end of the +hall which divided it into two sections, and from +whence a ladder ran upright to a trapdoor opening +on the sloping roof. The scuttle had been left open +for ventilation, and up this steep stairway Luis was +pointing with wild gestures.</p> +<p>Again Aunt Sally caught and shook the little +fellow, but he could make no better business of talking +than before. Jessica had not waited for more +than one glance into the empty chamber where the +sick children had been cared for, since it was more +quiet than the customary bed-room below; and +that glance, added to Luis’ gesticulations, told her +story.</p> +<p>“Oh, he’s walking in his sleep again! He’s gone +on the roof!”</p> +<p>The next the reporter realized she had climbed the +ladder and disappeared through the scuttle. He +forgot that he was, or had been, ill, and followed +her, only to pause at the sight which met him as +his head protruded through the opening. It was a +house of many gables, and upon the peak of the +farthest one poised Ned in his night-clothes, slowly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +swinging his arms in the circular fashion children +adopt preparatory to a leap or spring.</p> +<p>“One!” counted the childish voice. “Two!”</p> +<p>Ninian closed his eyes, as if by so doing he might +shut his ears to the final “Three!” which would +mark the fatal leap.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVI_JESSICA_GETS_HER_WISH' id='CHAPTER_XVI_JESSICA_GETS_HER_WISH'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> +<h3>JESSICA GETS HER WISH</h3> +</div> +<p>Ninian Sharp had closed his eyes against a catastrophe +which, seemingly, nothing less than a miracle +could prevent. When he opened them again +the miracle had been performed.</p> +<p>Love had lent to Jessica a strength and swiftness +almost incredible even to her active body, and she +had crossed the steep, slated roof just in time to +clasp Ned’s feet and to drag him backward with her +as she rolled down upon the broader portion. Yet +even here was imminent danger, for the lad was +struggling, in his sudden awakening, and the pair +were slipping hopelessly toward the eaves.</p> +<p>But now was the reporter’s chance and the test of +his athletic training. He threw himself prone upon +the slippery slates, worming his lean person over +them till he caught the girl’s frock, and bidding +her “hold fast!” drew both the children slowly +toward the scuttle. When his feet had found the +edge of this the danger was past; and they were +presently down upon the hall floor, laughing and +sobbing together in one excited group. That is, the +sister was sobbing and Ninian was laughing in a +nervous way that had grown upon him with his +illness, and that told to Aunt Sally’s keen ear how +really frail he still was.</p> +<p>But Master Ned, the cause of all this emotion, +looked calmly upon the stranger, and demanded:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span></div> +<p>“Where’s that printing press you promised, hey? +I can say five, ten letters now, and I can spell cat +backwards!”</p> +<p>“Is it possible? Before such erudition I bow my +humble head!” laughed the visitor, grateful for +any, even nonsensical, words that would relieve the +tension of the moment.</p> +<p>But here Aunt Sally caught up the boy and looked +him over anxiously; then joyfully declared:</p> +<p>“He’s got his senses back. Oh! Gabriella, where +are you? Neddy’s all right!”</p> +<p>“Oh, auntie, hush! There’s no need to tell +mother anything of this last danger, and if you’ll +only please put Ned back to bed she won’t have +to know.”</p> +<p>“Ain’t goin’ to bed. Been a-bed ’nough,” protested +the supposed invalid. “Want my clothes. +Want to go downstairs and get my supper.”</p> +<p>“Get my supper,” assented Luis, creeping forward +from the corner where he had hidden in fear of he +knew not what.</p> +<p>“Hello, echo! You on hand again? How’s business?” +demanded Ninian, drawing the child towards +him.</p> +<p>“First rate,” answered Ned, for his comrade, who +promptly echoed: “’Strate.”</p> +<p>But now came the mother, hurrying up the stairs, +with a bowl of gruel she had gone to prepare, and +interest in which had opportunely prevented her +knowing either of the reporter’s arrival or her son’s +peril. And the visitor sprang to his feet again, +while she welcomed him as cordially and gracefully +as if she had been sitting in state, expectant, +within her own pretty parlor.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span></div> +<p>One flash of her eyes toward her boy, safe in Mrs. +Benton’s arms again and carefully wrapped about +in her capacious apron, relieved any anxiety she +might have felt in coming upon this unexpected +group, and she asked, with a little burst of laughter:</p> +<p>“Is it possible that Ned was so quick to welcome +you? Well, son, it might have been more courteous +to have gone downstairs; but I’m sure our friend +will pardon a little lad who’s been ill. He’s really +better, isn’t he, Aunt Sally? He looks quite +natural.”</p> +<p>“Yes, honey, he’s better. I reckon he’s passed the +turnin’ point now, if nothin’ new sets in. You take +Mr. Sharp down into the settin’-room, ’cause he’s +seen the children and I’ll set with them a spell. +Wun Lung can get the supper well’s I can, if he’ll +put his heatheny mind to it. Eh? What is it, +sonny?”</p> +<p>Fortunately, Ned, like most sleepwalkers, was +wholly unconscious of his actions while in that abnormal +state, and made no comments on anything +save his own reluctance to go to bed while so interesting +a gentleman was in the house; but was +finally coaxed to do so by the promise of Luis +sharing his cot as well as his porridge; whereupon +Mrs. Trent kissed him good-night and invited the +guest below.</p> +<p>His protestations against another supper, after +the excellent one he had taken at Aleck McLeod’s, +met with nothing but the hospitable rejoinder:</p> +<p>“Oh! but you can surely manage a light refreshment, +since you’ve ridden thirty miles from Marion.”</p> +<p>To which the little captain added her entreaties, +saying:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span></div> +<p>“I’m hungry, anyway. I’m always so, I guess, +but I couldn’t think of breaking bread before you +unless you share it.”</p> +<p>Therefore sleepy Wun Lung came with the tray, +and was gratified by the friendly notice of the +stranger; and Mrs. Trent made tea in the little +swinging kettle over her alcohol lamp, her daughter +declaring that it always tasted better served in that +way. Ninian found that, in spite of his protestations, +the simple refreshments were very acceptable, +and the trio were quietly enjoying their reunion +when Jessica suddenly remembered Ephraim and +sprang up to go in search of him, exclaiming:</p> +<p>“Even if Mr. Sharp isn’t hungry, dear old ‘Forty-niner’ +is sure to be. He’ll be here soon, maybe, but +I won’t wait till the kettle is cold. He’s been sleeping +at the ‘house’ ever since he got back and might +go straight to his room, if I don’t prevent.”</p> +<p>When she had gone Ninian observed upon the +remarkable devotion between the old sharpshooter +and his small pupil, and the mother assented; yet +added, as an after-thought:</p> +<p>“I sometimes regret it. Jessica is a child of impulsive, +yet absorbing affections. She can see no +flaw in the character of anybody she loves; and––well, +none of us are perfect, and Ephraim grows +old.”</p> +<p>Still, when he entered, the lady greeted him with +cordiality, and served him promptly; and presently +they were all talking eagerly of the recent events at +Sobrante. Of course, Pedro came in for a brief +but loving mention; and to the guest’s inquiry as +to what had been done with the fine flock of sheep +which the old man had herded, the mistress replied:</p> +<p>“I have sent them up into the mountains, with +the herds of a neighbor, for the present. Ephraim, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +here, petitioned for the post of shepherd, but I +dared not give it to him,” and she looked deprecatingly +toward the sharpshooter.</p> +<p>“No, she didn’t,” assented he. “She could trust +that Old Century, but she couldn’t trust me.”</p> +<p>There was greater bitterness in the tone than +he had ever manifested before his small captain, +and she was quick to notice and resent it.</p> +<p>“Look here, you blessed old grumbler, you stop +that, please. If not ‘please,’ stop it anyway, because +I’m your commander. You know why, and only +why, my mother said ‘no’ to that bright scheme +of yours.” Then she explained to Ninian, who was +listening closely: “You must understand that shepherding +is the very loneliest thing that has to be +done on a ranch. The shepherd is alone from week +to week; on some ranches from month to month. +He hasn’t a soul to speak to save when somebody +chances to cross his field, which isn’t often. A lot +of men go crazy, living that way, and mother has +always been afraid for even Pedro. I never was for +him, though, ’cause he always liked it and had +lived so––well, forever. But naughty old ‘Forty-niner’ +felt it would be his ‘duty’ to go up there away +from all of us, and mother wouldn’t let him, and +so–––”</p> +<p>“And so, my honored captain, you’ll force me to +be a mere hanger-on and idler.”</p> +<p>Jessica held up her forefinger, warningly. “That’s +enough, Ephraim. I am ‘She that must be obeyed,’ +Samson says, sometimes. And one of the times is +now. If you and mother aren’t ashamed to disagree +before my dear Mr. Sharp, I’m ashamed to +have you!”</p> +<p>All laughed and none took offense at this plain +talk which, jesting though it seemed, covered a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span> +serious meaning, and soon “Forty-niner” remarked, +as if to close the subject:</p> +<p>“Well, all’s said and done; yet, still, I know if +I’d been let to have my way in this I’d have stopped +a deal of mischief. It would be better, seems to me, +to have an old frontiersman living in Pedro’s cabin +than a spook.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Trent started, and, the guest fancied, shivered +slightly. But she rejoined, impatiently:</p> +<p>“Oh, Mr. Marsh! that nonsense again, and from +you!”</p> +<p>“So they say, ma’am.”</p> +<p>Cried Jessica gayly:</p> +<p>“The only thing Sobrante needed to make it as +lovely as those old English places one reads about +in the story books was a ‘ghost’, and now we’ve +got it! Honest, and I do hope you’ll see it for yourself. +I want to so much, and one night Samson and +I chased it, but––it got away. The ‘boys’ say now +that it has even taken to horseback. Don’t you +wish you might be luckier than I, Mr. Ninian?”</p> +<p>A glance flashed between the reporter and the +sharpshooter, but not quite swiftly enough to escape +the girl’s observation; and, after a moment’s +pause, she exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Why, I believe you have already seen it!”</p> +<p>There was an awkward silence, which Mrs. Trent +broke by the stern reproof she managed to throw +into one word: “Jessica!”</p> +<p>“Yes, mother, I know. It’s silly, and I will be +careful not to mention the delightful subject before +the children.”</p> +<p>“What are you but a child yourself, my mature +little woman?” demanded the visitor, playfully.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span></div> +<p>“Why, I’m a little girl, of course; but one who +always wanted to see a fairy, till somebody told +me there was none. Now I’m longing for this +‘spook’––that really is, ’cause so many, many have +seen it––and I’m not even let to talk about him.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Trent shook her head regretfully.</p> +<p>“I’m afraid we’ve spoiled you among us, my +darling. But, leaving these unexplained things to +explain themselves at their proper time, suppose +you go and see that all is ready in Mr. Sharp’s room? +Wun Lung is still mooning by himself on the kitchen +stoop and will do what you ask him.”</p> +<p>“They all do that, I infer,” commented Ninian, +as the child hastened away, eager to serve all whom +she loved.</p> +<p>“Yes, they do. It’s a delightful, but not, maybe, +the wisest life for any girl to live. No playmates +except her two small brothers, and no schooling +that is at all regular or effective. I can’t imagine +what Sobrante would be without her, and yet–––”</p> +<p>She paused and “Forty-niner” took up her sentence:</p> +<p>“It wouldn’t be Sobrante, mistress. That’s all. +I, for one, couldn’t stay here and serve under any +other body now except my captain;” and so saying, +as if a shadow of the future fell upon him, the +old man rose and went out, quite forgetting to say +good-night.</p> +<p>Meanwhile, Jessica had found Wun Lung and +also found him more than willing to go with her +and perform even additional tasks, since by so doing +he might have the comfort and safety of human +presence. Fragments of talk had come to him in +his kitchen concerning the apparitions which had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +startled the whole countryside, during these past +few days, and had received the strongest confirmation +from his housemate, Pasqual. The latter believed, +indeed, all that he himself heard and invented +much more. He had grown to be afraid of his own +shadow and now resorted to the men’s quarters on +each and every occasion that presented, feeling a +safety among them he could not feel at the “house” +among a lot of women. Of course, his defection +from duty entailed endless conflicts between himself +and Aunt Sally, but since this resulted in nothing +worse to the delinquent than a loss of some +dainty food, he could put up with it. He was away +now, bunking in Marty’s room, and Wun Lung sat +alone, too afraid to go to bed, yet too uneasy to +enjoy the beauty of the night. His sharp, black eyes +peered here and there and everywhere, about the +place; and when Jessica came running to him, in +her noiseless moccasins, he jumped so high that +his queue flew out at a right angle from his head, +and he screeched:</p> +<p>“Oh, mly flathe’s, mly flathe’s!”</p> +<p>Lady Jess laughed aloud.</p> +<p>“No, good Wun Lung. Not your fathers, nor +even any of your relatives, but only me. Having +had supper, the next thing for our dear Mr. Sharp +is a bed and sleep. Come help me make it ready.”</p> +<p>The Chinaman rose with alacrity, and soon had +collected the bed linen, towels and bucket of water, +suggesting that Jessica should bring a lighted candle.</p> +<p>“Oh! we don’t need a light, Wun Lung. It’s as +bright as day with the shutters open, and we must +be quick, anyway, for the dear man has been ill and +is tired.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span></div> +<p>The room was the same that Mr. Hale had found +so delightful during his own visit to the ranch, and +the girl threw the shutters wide, to let in the fresh +air and moonlight while they arranged the place +for occupancy. She left the bed making to the +longer and stronger arms of her assistant, but herself +attended to the pitchers and toilet things; and +while so engaged, with her back toward the open +windows, was suddenly startled by an ear-piercing +shriek from the Chinaman.</p> +<p>Shriek? Not one, but many; prolonged, reiterated, +till the whole house seemed in an uproar; and +facing swiftly about, to learn the cause and still the +clamor, Jessica found her lately expressed desire +completely gratified. For there, clearly distinct in +the moonlight, not ten paces from the window +whence she gazed, was the phantom horse and +rider!</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVII_THE_CACTUS_HEDGE' id='CHAPTER_XVII_THE_CACTUS_HEDGE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> +<h3>THE CACTUS HEDGE</h3> +</div> +<p>The shrieks ended by Wun Lung’s throwing himself +face downward on the floor, but they had +roused the whole household, even the sleeping children. +Those in the room below had rushed to the +stairs, wondering what could possibly have happened +to the Chinaman, whose outcries these certainly +were. The little lads had sprang from their +cot, screaming on their own account, and Mrs. +Benton had awaked from the “fortywinks” she was +taking in her chair.</p> +<p>As a natural result of her sudden awakening she +grasped the two children who were clinging to her +skirts and shook them soundly, ordering them to +“shut up to once ’fore you scare folks to death.”</p> +<p>They were not easily pacified and she thus, fortunately, +had her hands full, for the moment, else +the fear-paralyzed Wun Lung might have fared +hardly. As it was, none but Jessica had a full, clear +view of the strange visitant, since the Chinaman +had closed his eyes against it and the others had +not thought to look out of doors; but she saw it, +and with critical distinctness.</p> +<p>For an instant, indeed, her own nerves had thrilled +and her heart seemed to stand still; the next her +overpowering desire to see the “spook” for herself +had conquered her terror and she gazed with all her +might.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span></div> +<p>“It certainly looks like Pedro, with his clothes +all white. And the horse––it may be his that died––but––but–––”</p> +<p>The ghostly steed and its rider remained utterly +motionless, as if scrutinizing the house on their own +part or waiting for somebody to appear; then, as +the little girl bounded to the open window the better +to gratify her curiosity, the animal––if such it was––slowly +wheeled about and loped away. There +was a sound of muffled footfalls on the hard drive, +and the vision had vanished.</p> +<p>Jessica still leaned from the casement watching +and thinking more rapidly than she had ever done +before; but when convinced that the apparition was +really gone, she slowly retreated below stairs, passing +her mother and Ninian on the way, yet not +pausing till she had gained the side of the sharpshooter. +Him she seized, exultantly exclaiming:</p> +<p>“Well, Ephraim, I’ve seen your spectre!”</p> +<p>“You––have!”</p> +<p>“And it’s no more a ‘ghost’ than I am.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean?” he demanded, hastily; +ashamed of himself for half regretting that the +supernatural view of the matter might not be the +right one. “It isn’t? Well, what is it, then?”</p> +<p>“It’s Antonio Bernal and his horse, Nero.”</p> +<p>“Huh! How do you fetch that? When both of +them are black as my hat.”</p> +<p>Her last, lingering uneasiness banished by his +presence and the sound of her own words, with +firmer conviction she declared to him and the others +who had now gathered about her:</p> +<p>“I ‘fetch it’ fast enough. This was the way dear +old Pedro used to ride; and this is the way your +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span> +‘spook’ sat his horse,” she announced, so vividly +mimicking both men that all who had known them +recognized the likeness, and Ephraim exclaimed:</p> +<p>“That’s them to a t-i-o-n-tion! Can seem to see +’em right here before me. Well––what next?”</p> +<p>“Pedro wore his blanket like a king. Antonio +has covered his head with that white thing, and even +so wasn’t half Pedro’s height. I shall not soon +forget that splendid Old Century, the last time I +saw him ride away, that night. A hundred years +old, yet as straight in his saddle as a rod.”</p> +<p>“Antonio Bernal was a magnificent horseman, +darling,” suggested Mrs. Trent, from the chair into +which she had sunk, as if weakened by the series +of startling events which had befallen her home.</p> +<p>“Even so, mother, dear, he couldn’t match old +Pedro. Antonio sat forward, so, with a careless +sort of slouch––just like the ‘spook’ had.”</p> +<p>“What could possibly be his motive for such foolishness, +daughter, granting you are right?”</p> +<p>The captain laughed.</p> +<p>“Upon my word, mother, even you, as well as +Ephraim, seem sorry it isn’t a truly ghost, after +all.”</p> +<p>“No, no, indeed. I’m sorry, rather, to think it +may be Antonio, as you fancy, and that he still persists +in troubling us, even by so silly a disguise.”</p> +<p>“It hasn’t been so silly, Mrs. Trent, if it has hoodwinked +a lot of sensible people, and you are right––there +must be a motive for it in the actor’s mind. I +hope Jessica’s judgment in the case is correct, for +back there in Los Angeles, we didn’t find the manager +a difficult person to deal with,” remarked Mr. +Sharp.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span></div> +<p>The girl went on:</p> +<p>“Then that horse. Don’t you remember, mother, +and you, Ephraim, the curious little switch Nero +used to give his tail whenever he was turned +around? Well, this ‘spook’ horse did just the same +thing. Oh, I know, I know I’m right!”</p> +<p>“But how could he turn a black horse snow white, +even if you are? As I remember Nero he wouldn’t +stand much nonsense, even from his own master,” +said “Forty-niner.”</p> +<p>“Pooh! If lack-wit Ferd could paint Prince, as +he did––another spirited horse, if you please––Antonio +could do what he liked with Nero. It’s paint, +of course, or something like it.”</p> +<p>“But the eyes? The eyes as we saw them on the +road, a few hours back, were all on fire. You could +see them almost before you could make out that it +was a man on horseback was coming. Isn’t that so, +Sharp?” demanded Ephraim, persistent to the last.</p> +<p>Jessica turned upon him, triumphantly:</p> +<p>“There! I knew from the way you two looked +when we were talking a little while ago that you’d +seen something out of common! Do tell me about +it, please. Do, do!”</p> +<p>Ninian laughed, glanced at his hostess’ face, and +replied:</p> +<p>“That’s a story will keep, and you should be in +bed. I don’t want to have my coming harm you +when I meant it to do you good. Even such a +courageous child as you ought to sleep a great deal.”</p> +<p>She had been courageous, indeed, and had astonished +him by a coolness and readiness of observation +which would have done credit to a much older +person. He began to realize how different she was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span> +from other children of her age, and how the hardihood +of her rearing had developed qualities that +were quite unchildlike. He wondered how she +would adapt herself to the habits and thoughts +of other girls of her own age, and was not surprised +that Mrs. Trent craved such society for her. He +wished that he might see her placed in some good +school, yet was doubtful if just the right one could +be selected for a pupil so different from ordinary. +However, that was not his affair, and to relieve the +family of his further presence at that late hour undoubtedly +was. So he bade them all good-night +and went to his room, and very shortly afterward +everybody under that roof was sound asleep.</p> +<p>“Oh, what a dreamless, delicious rest I’ve had!” +was the visitor’s waking thought. His next, that it +must be very late and that he had put his hostess +to unnecessary trouble. Then he turned over “for +just one more wink” and slumbered on for another +couple of hours. This time he had dreams in plenty; +and finally roused from one, of beautiful gardens +peopled by harmless “spooks,” to a sound of sweet +music. By his watch he saw that it was eleven +o’clock and remembered that it was Sunday. Also, +the music was that of a familiar hymn, played upon +a fine piano, which was taken up and sung by a +choir of mixed voices, from the childish treble of the +two little lads to the stentorian bass of Samson, +the mighty.</p> +<p>Hastily dressing, Ninian slipped quietly down the +stairs and entered the sunny parlor; where Jessica +motioned to a chair which had evidently been reserved +for him, and softly approached him with an +open hymn book.</p> +<p>It was Mrs. Trent at the piano and her rich +soprano voice faultlessly led her straggling chorus, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +filled for the most part by the men grouped outside +on the wide porch. He could see them through the +long, French windows, sitting or standing as each +felt inclined, but all with that earnest seriousness +of demeanor which befitted the day and the task. +For task it evidently was to some of them; John +Benton, for example. He stood alone, at the most +upright post attainable, his book at arm’s length, +and his head moving from side to side, following +the lines, with a little upward toss of it as he reached +the end of each, while from his throat issued most +startling tones.</p> +<p>Afterwards, Aunt Sally explained, for she had +seen Ninian’s amused survey of her “boy,” that:</p> +<p>“John can no more carry a tune than he can fly, +and I’d rather hear him sawin’ his boards than +tryin’ to sing. But he feels it’s his duty to help +the others along by singing at it and sort of keepin’ +Gabriell’ in countenance, seems if. Sweet, ain’t it?”</p> +<p>It had been “sweet” in the guest’s opinion––the +whole of the short service; conducted with such +simple dignity and reverence by the Madonna-like +ranch mistress; the music so well chosen, the few +prayers so feelingly offered, and the brief exhortation +read from the words of a famous divine who +had the rare gift of touching men’s hearts. And he +so expressed himself, as well as his surprise, over +the belated breakfast which Mrs. Benton served +him when the service was over and the household +dispersed.</p> +<p>“Yes, I think it’s the nicest thing there is about +this dear Sobrante. There’s always been the best +sort of inflooence here and that’s why I like my +boy, John, to belong. Cass’us, he used to hold the +meeting, and after he died I feared Gabriella +wouldn’t be equal to it. But bless your soul! if down +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span> +she didn’t come that first Sunday ’at ever was, and +her not havin’ left her bed sence it happened, and +sent Wun Lungy out to have the old mission bell +rung, a signal. I’ll ever forget it to my dyin’ day, +I shan’t. Her like a spirit all in white and a face +was both the saddest and the upliftedest ever I see; +and them rough men all crowdin’ up to their places, +so soft you’d thought they was barefoot ’stead of +heavy shod; and Jessie with her arms round the +two little ones, and her mother pitchin’ the tune, +same as usual, and––and––I declare I can’t keep +the tears back yet, rememberin’. Before she was +done the whole kerboodle of us was sobbin’ and +cryin’ like a passel of young ones, and there was +she, with her broken heart, as calm and serene as +an angel. Angel is what she is, mostly; with just +enough old human natur’ in her to keep her from +soarin’ right away. Gabriell’s one them scurce kind +makes you glad every time she does a wrong or +thoughtless thing, ’cause then you know she ain’t +quite perfected yet, and you’re surer of keepin’ her +’on earth. My! the good that woman does beats +all. This very day, when she’d lots rather stay to +home and visit with you, she’s give orders for +Ephraim to have the buck-board got ready to take +her twenty miles to see a neighbor who’s sick. She’s +fixing a basket of things now, and is in a hurry. +So that’s the reason she didn’t come to keep you +company herself. Have another piece of chicken––do.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, no. I’ve enjoyed my breakfast +hugely, and feel as if I’d never known a moment’s +illness.”</p> +<p>There was the sound of wheels just then and +Ninian strolled out to offer his service as escort to +the ranch mistress in case she might desire it. But +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span> +the offer was not made, though the lady greeted +him with evident pleasure, and even herself glanced +toward the vehicle, as if wishing he might ride with +her. But there was Ephraim Marsh, in the glory +of a white shirt and brilliant necktie, brushed and +speckless, and beaming benevolently upon all less +favored mortals. It was only upon such errands of +mercy that the mistress ever left her home, and +there was not a ranchman in her employ but esteemed +it an honor to drive for her whither she +would.</p> +<p>Ninian saw the state of affairs plainly enough, +and, possibly, so did “Forty-niner” himself; who +might, under some circumstances, have sacrificed +his pleasure for that of the young man. But not +now. Ever since he had returned from his long +stay in the city, the sensitive old fellow had felt a +difference in his surroundings. There was nobody +mean enough to tell him of the base suspicions that +his fellow workmen had harbored about him, and +they fancied that by treating him with more than +former friendliness they could offset the unknown +injury they had done him. It was this very effusiveness +that had roused his suspicions that something +was wrong, and he saw in this solitary drive +with his beloved mistress a chance to unburden +his mind and get her wise opinion on the matter.</p> +<p>So he merely “passed the time of day” with the +guest, helped the lady to her place, and stepped up +beside her; then chirruped to his horse and was +off.</p> +<p>But Ninian was not allowed much disappointment, +for there was Lady Jess, clasping his hand +and looking up into his face with the brightest of +smiles, as she exclaimed: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +“Just think of it, dear Mr. Sharp! We are to have +a long, delightful day together. Mother will not be +home before nightfall and I am to do everything +I can to make you happy. As if I wouldn’t, even +without being bidden! But what shall it be first? +Where would you like to walk or ride? Or would +you rather rest and read?”</p> +<p>“First, I would like to walk around to that curious +hedge yonder, that you told me before had +been planted by the old padres. Everything about +these ancient missions interests me.”</p> +<p>“Oh! I love them, too, and I’m so glad we live +on one, or the place where one used to be. That +hedge is prickly-pear and was meant to keep the +Indians out of the inclosure, if they were ugly. But +it’s a hundred years old, and Pedro could remember +when it was ever so much smaller than now.”</p> +<p>It was a weird stretch of the repellent cactus, +whose great gnarled branches locked and intertwined +themselves in a verdureless mass of thorns +and spikes which well might have daunted even an +Indian. The hedge was many feet in width and +higher than Ninian’s shoulder, still green on top, +but too unlovely to have been preserved for any +reason save its antiquity and history. One end of +it was close to the kitchen part of the house, and +the other reached beyond the fall of the farthest +old adobe.</p> +<p>“A formidable barrier, indeed! It reminds me of +some of Dore’s fantastic pictures,” said the reporter.</p> +<p>“Doesn’t it? My mother has books with his +drawings in, and I have thought that, too. It is a +trouble sometimes, because anybody coming across +the field from yonder must go either way around +the quarters or all along the back of the house, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +before he can get in here; when if it weren’t there at +all, it wouldn’t be two steps. But we will never +have it cut down because my father said so. He +wouldn’t have anybody break a single leaf, if he +could help it, and––oh, oh!”</p> +<p>Mr. Sharp lifted his head from his close examination +of a branch that had particularly interested +him and saw Jessica pointing in astonishment at +the very heart of the great hedge.</p> +<p>“What is it? Something especially curious?”</p> +<p>“Curious! It’s––it’s––dreadful! You can see +right through it! Somebody has ruined it!”</p> +<p>The reporter stooped and followed the direction +of her guiding finger and saw that a strange thing +had indeed been done. For a considerable length +the terrible barrier had been literally tunneled, +though the fact was not easily discernible. Walls +of the bare and twisted branches were still left unbroken +on either side, but a sufficient space had +been scooped out to admit the passage of a human +being should such desire a hiding place.</p> +<p>“Oh! isn’t that dreadful? Who could have done +it, and why?” cried the captain, in distress; and her +companion could only think of Aunt Sally’s declaration, +made to him at breakfast, that Sobrante was +“bewitched.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVIII_WHAT_THE_SABBATH_BROUGHT' id='CHAPTER_XVIII_WHAT_THE_SABBATH_BROUGHT'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> +<h3>WHAT THE SABBATH BROUGHT</h3> +</div> +<p>“Now I know how it was that Antonio disappeared +that time when Aunt Sally and Ephraim +heard him outside the pantry window!” cried +Jessica, exultingly; and seeing the gentleman’s puzzled +expression, told of the scene within the cold +closet and of the mocking answer “Forty-niner” +had received, when he said he was determined to +find out Antonio’s retreat. Then she bade her friend +stoop again and see for himself how easy it was +for one at the rear of the house, where the pantry +was, to slip into this cactus tunnel and be utterly +hidden from anybody who would search from that +side.</p> +<p>They saw, also, that the broken branches had +been thrown under the open foundation of the +kitchen, leaving no sign of the ruin that had been +done.</p> +<p>“A clever scamp, indeed! And any other sort of +plant would have withered at the top and led to +discovery. But not this; for the verdure has evidently +long been gone from this part of the hedge,” +observed Ninian.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes! This end has been dead for a great +while, yet my mother would not have it removed. +It would have lasted maybe forever in just that +way; and Antonio knew how we prized it. Oh, +dear! I do believe he is as wicked as the ‘boys’ +say, though I hate to think that of anybody.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +“Surely, you have had proof enough of his evil +doings, even without these later fantastic developments. +You must never trust that man, little girl, +should he again try to make you.”</p> +<p>“I think he won’t bother me. Why should he?” +asked she, in some surprise, for her friend’s tone +had been most impressive. “Why should you imagine +that?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know myself, exactly why. It just ‘happened’ +into my head. By the way, captain, did you +send me all of the specimen of copper that you +had?”</p> +<p>“Oh, no, indeed! My mother thought best not. +We sent you only a little bit, cut from the larger +one Pedro dug. Let’s go into the office and I’ll +open the safe and show you the rest. Do you know +anything about such mines and stuff?”</p> +<p>“I do know something about ores and minerals, +my dear, for before I was a newspaper man I was +a clerk in the office of an expert in such matters. +I should greatly like to see your sample,” he answered, +readily.</p> +<p>So she led the way at once and took the key +from a desk drawer, which anybody might have +opened, and Ninian remarked:</p> +<p>“What an insecure place for a safe key! Yours +is certainly a most confiding household.”</p> +<p>“Oh, it’s not a very safe safe, anyway,” she +answered, laughing; “and who would want to open +it? It’s Ephraim’s really, though I don’t think he’s +ever been near it since he came home. Isn’t it a +great, clumsy key? But my father told me that +there are safes much, much larger and stronger +than this which are opened by very small keys. Odd, +isn’t it?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span> +As she spoke she was down upon her knees in +front of the strong box and trying with all her small +strength to turn the lock; and after watching her +for a moment the reporter laughed, and suggested:</p> +<p>“Suppose you just merely pull at the knob. It +looks to me as if the thing were already opened, +for the door isn’t tight; or is that protruding edge +of it a part of the general crudeness?”</p> +<p>Jessica obeyed, pulling with such unnecessary +force that the safe flew open and he fell backward, +laughing.</p> +<p>But Mr. Sharp did not laugh. In view of what +had been told him he was afraid the thing had +been tampered with, and watched in silence while +the little girl thrust her hand into the safe and felt +all about, her face lengthening as she did so; but +again, suddenly brightening, when she exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Oh, my mother must have done that! There +was all the money in here that was left after Elsa +got her own share. The first nights two of the +‘boys’ slept in the house to watch, ’cause mother +was afraid we might lose it again. Then, since +‘Forty-niner’ got home only he has slept here, and +he generally ‘bunks’ on the lounge in this very office. +That’s what it is, what it must be. My mother +has worried about Antonio, and has taken the +money and the piece of copper away and put them +somewhere else. Well, never mind. She’ll show it +to you as soon as she comes back; and now, what +shall we do next? Would you like to ride?”</p> +<p>Ninian passed his hand across his brow in mild +perplexity. An instant conviction had seized him +that here was another feature of the mysteries pervading +this peaceful ranch; and though he as instantly +frowned upon his own suspicion, it would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span> +remain to torment him. However, he said nothing +further to disturb Jessica’s composure, and readily +agreed that a ride would be delightful, though he +added, grimly:</p> +<p>“I’m so lame and stiff already from yesterday’s +horseback exercise that I feel older than Ephraim. +I expect a ‘hair of the same dog’ is the best cure, +and wish now I had made time, back there in town, +to get used to a saddle. I never found it convenient, +though, and poor Nimrod missed his outings even +more than I did, I fancy. It certainly is a glorious +day for a canter, as almost all our days are.”</p> +<p>“It’s nice, too, when the rains come. We do +things indoors then that we never do all the rest +of the year. My mother plays and sings half the +time, ’cause then she can’t go poking around all +over the ranch, like she does now. In the evenings +the ‘boys’ all come in and tell stories or do their +best to amuse us. We were always happiest, too, +when Pedro came, and when my father was here +he coaxed him and he came often. Now––he’ll +never come again!” she finished, with an irrepressible +burst of grief, which she as quickly suppressed, +for she saw that it saddened her guest as well; and +she had been reared in the spirit of hospitality that +makes the stranger glad even at the cost of one’s +own impulses.</p> +<p>So she added, with a smile that seemed all the +brighter because of the tears still glistening on her +long lashes:</p> +<p>“I’ll bring you some books out here and you can +rest in the hammock while I run and have the horses +saddled. Buster isn’t as fast as Nimrod, but he’ll +go now and then as if he were a colt. I hope this +will be one of his fast times, don’t you? I love +to ride fast!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +Ninian smiled rather grimly, answering:</p> +<p>“Just at present, from the state of my poor +muscles, I fancy I’d prefer a gait as slow as Buster’s +ordinary one. But if I stay the week out, I mean to +learn a thing or two about that fine beast of mine.”</p> +<p>“A week or two! Why, you’re to be here till +after Christmas, anyway, and that’s a fortnight +off. I wish––oh, I wish you would live here always!”</p> +<p>From his delightful resting place in a hammock +that was “stretched just right,” and which commanded +one of the loveliest views in the world, he +looked afield and wished so too. Fond as he was +of his own active city life, this broad outlook appealed +to him most strongly; yet he shook off the +longing that assailed him to pass his days in the +country and opened the book Jessica had brought. +He was soon absorbed in its pages and forgot the +errand upon which the child had gone, till, after +a long time, as it proved, Ned stole bashfully up and +pushed a scrap of paper into his down-hanging +hand.</p> +<p>“Hello, youngster!” cried the gentleman, sitting +up. “What’s this?”</p> +<p>The child’s timidity banished at the first sound +of the visitor’s voice. Mr. Sharp reading, with his +spectacles on, and Mr. Sharp speaking in that hail-fellow-well-met +manner were two different people. +Besides that, Ned’s shyness was not his strongest +feature, though it cropped out now and then to the +astonishment of his family. Also, he was fresh +from the hands of Aunt Sally and his catechism +lesson, into which she had adroitly forced a hint +of the conduct due toward a “wise man, that can +write printin’.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span> +Supposing it to be a production of the little fellow’s +own, Mr. Sharp delayed the reading of the +crumpled epistle he had received and continued his +talk with its bearer; who presently forgot his Sunday +manners, and reproachfully demanded that +“printing press you promised.”</p> +<p>“’Cause if I had it I’d be just as smart as you, +you know.”</p> +<p>“Smartersyou!” cried the echo, clasping Ned’s +neck with that choking affection of his.</p> +<p>Ned turned upon his other self and pummeled him +well, declaring:</p> +<p>“No, you wouldn’t neither, Luis Garcia! +’Twouldn’t be your printing press, and you can’t +spell cat backwards! So, there!”</p> +<p>“Cat backwards, dogboycat,” gurgled Luis, in a +rapture of mere existence.</p> +<p>Ninian laughed at the comical pair, finding them +infinitely diverting; and was only brought back to +his immediate duty by the insistence of the small +messenger, who demanded:</p> +<p>“Why don’t you read your letter? I should +think anybody what makes newspapers could read a +little girl’s letter.”</p> +<p>“That’s a fact; I’ll see if I can;” and accordingly +spread out the scrap of wrapping paper, which had +not been very smooth to start with and had suffered +further ill treatment at Ned’s hand. The note required +a second reading before he could fully comprehend +its meaning, which he then found sufficiently +startling to send him stableward in hot +haste. The message was from the little captain, +and was worded thus:</p> +<p>“dear mister sharp please excuse me i must go +to a Dyeing man and i Mustnt Tell Who cause if +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span> +my mother was Home I Wood and she wood say +yes. She always helps dyeing folks and sick ones +one the boys will go and he can ride Moses or prince +Which he likes. I guess marty so i Cant right any +more the paper is so littul and i cant Stay.”</p> +<p>“JESSICA.”</p> +<p>This had been written with a coarse blue pencil, +evidently picked up in the stable or workroom; and +to the reporter’s inquiries, put to the first ranchman +he met, there seemed no satisfactory answer. The +man in question had not seen Jessica since service, +and the men’s quarters to which Ninian hurried, +were almost deserted. Sunday was their own, so +the “boys” spent much of it afield, hunting or visiting +on neighboring ranches. Yet a further search +revealed John Benton, in his own room, reading; +and to him the visitor again put the question of +Jessica’s probable whereabouts, and showed the +letter.</p> +<p>The carpenter was on his feet instantly, a look of +apprehension deepening the lines of his earnest +face; and running to the door he shouted to a stable +boy who was crossing the space before the old +adobes:</p> +<p>“Natan! Natan!”</p> +<p>The youth paused, hesitated, yet came no nearer; +and John repeated his summons, with an imperative +“Here!” Then muttered an explanation to the reporter: +“Another of those no-account Greasers; +same kind as the Bernals and hired by top-lofty +when, he was in charge. Works well enough +but–––”</p> +<p>By this time Natan had slouched forward and +stood stolidly awaiting an expected as well as +merited reproof, because of stalls imperfectly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span> +cleaned and harnesses left in other than their own +places; for John was orderly to the last degree and +a very martinet in disciplining his subordinates. +However, it was no neglect of duty that was now to +be scored, but a question was fairly hurled at the +young groom and in a voice sharp with anxiety:</p> +<p>“Natan, did you saddle Buster just now?”</p> +<p>“But yes,” answered the lad, greatly relieved.</p> +<p>“Where is he? And Nimrod?”</p> +<p>“Nimrod is at the ‘house’ horse block, is it not? +Si. Groomed to the highest, and a beauty we’re all +glad to see back where he belongs.”</p> +<p>“Your opinion wasn’t asked. Where is Buster?”</p> +<p>“Where the captain wills. I know not, I,” with +a shrug of his lean shoulders.</p> +<p>“Did she mount him?”</p> +<p>“Why else should he be saddled, no?” returned +the groom, with an insolent laugh.</p> +<p>John’s temper flamed and he turned away with +a disgusted snort, meaning to seek information +elsewhere on a case he felt permitted no delay. But +Ninian was cooler, if equally suspicious that Natan +was concealing something that should be known; +so, laying his hand not unkindly upon the youth’s +shoulder, he said:</p> +<p>“If you know anything of this, where Miss Jessica +has gone and with whom, or if alone, it will be +worth your while to tell me and at once. I’m pretty +good pay for seasonable articles,” he finished, in +his journalistic manner.</p> +<p>He had taken a dollar from his pocket and was +carelessly tossing it from hand to hand, nor was +he disappointed when Natan fixed his black eyes +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +greedily upon the coin. Still the lad said nothing, +only pondered in his own dull mind which of two +masters it would benefit him most to serve; and +annoyed by this hesitation, Ninian hazarded a guess:</p> +<p>“Oh, well, if you prefer to work for Antonio +Bernal, it’s all one to me.”</p> +<p>Natan’s mouth flew open and his eyes grew wild:</p> +<p>“You know it, then, already, you?”</p> +<p>“I know many things,” was the sententious answer.</p> +<p>“But it is a pity, yes. The so fine man and such +a rider. He will ride no more, poor Antonio, si.”</p> +<p>Ninian’s blood ran chill, yet he asked, still quietly, +though foreseeing evil he dared not contemplate:</p> +<p>“Who brought the word?”</p> +<p>“Ferd, the dwarf,” came the reply, as the dollar +exchanged owners.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIX_ANTONIOS_CONFESSION' id='CHAPTER_XIX_ANTONIOS_CONFESSION'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> +<h3>ANTONIO’S CONFESSION</h3> +</div> +<p>These were the facts: Natan had been grooming +the horses, Nimrod and Buster, when suddenly and +soundlessly there appeared before the window in the +stables’ rear, the misshapen head and shoulders of +typo Ferdinand Bernal. He was mounted on a snow-white +horse and seemed to the superstitious stable +boy to have risen out of the ground. Buster, also, +had appeared to be frightened for a few seconds, +though he speedily recovered his equine calmness +and merely whinnied his delight, while he attempted +to secure another mouthful of alfalfa before the +bridle slipped into place over his head.</p> +<p>“Natan, the little captain,” whispered Ferd, +through the narrow casement.</p> +<p>“Well, yes; the little captain,” returned the other, +in a louder tone, and grinning at his own astuteness +in discovering that this was a white horse so +very like the “spook horse” that it might be one +and the same. Some of Antonio’s schemes he had +fathomed, being himself a sort of schemer in his +own stupid way.</p> +<p>“I want her. She must come. Antonio dies.”</p> +<p>“Antonio––fiddles!” retorted the other, contemptuously. +Then saw, to his surprise, that Ferd’s head +had dropped upon that of his strange steed and that +he was whimpering and sobbing in a pitiful fashion, +well calculated to deceive the unwary. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span> +It was at this juncture that, fancying to see her +beloved Buster made ready for her ride, Jessica ran +singing into the stable, and paused amazed at sight +of Ferd, weeping, and so oddly mounted. Horses +there were galore in the Sobrante stables and pastures, +but never one like this; so white, so spirited, +and yet so marvelously marked. For even by the +daylight, there in the slight shadow of the wall, the +animal’s eyes glowed with an unearthly light, terrifying +to Natan and startling even to her fearless +self. Indeed it had not been until the moment of +her appearance and Buster’s whinnied welcome, +that Ferd’s horse had turned its face toward them +and revealed his curious visage.</p> +<p>“Why, Ferdinand Bernal!” she cried, giving him +his full title, and thereby mystifying still further +the wondering groom. “I do believe that’s the +very creature that’s been scaring such a lot of people +everywhere! How came you by it and what ails +its eyes?”</p> +<p>Ferd lifted a face that was grimy with dirt and +streaked with tears. His misery was evident and +needed no words to impress it upon the tenderhearted +girl, who ran to the window, begging:</p> +<p>“What is the matter, Ferd? Poor Ferd! are you +ill? In trouble? What?”</p> +<p>“The death. It is the accursed house. Where +death comes once––he is always there. He told me––you +must come. Come; now, right away, si. Before––too +late. He said it. Antonio, my brother.”</p> +<p>“You know that, then––about your relationship? +But what has happened to him?”</p> +<p>The dwarf glanced at Natan and motioned to her +to send him away. For reasons of his own, the +groom was glad enough to obey, because dire had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span> +been the threats of the mighty-fisted Samson, as +well as the stern John Benton, against any on that +ranch who should be caught “consorting with that +low-lived Ferd or the late manager.” Besides, in +spite of Jessica’s apparent indifference to the glowing +eyes of the white horse they infected him with +a horrible fear; so he made his escape at the first +chance; leading Nimrod around to the house and +tying him there to await Ninian’s pleasure, while he +himself resorted to the most distant and safest spot +he could find. This had seemed, in his mind, the +mission corridor; but he found it already occupied +by a party of the ranchmen who had no desire for +his society, and after a short delay frankly told him +so. It was in passing from this ancient structure +to his own room in another building that he had +been intercepted by John, and called to account.</p> +<p>Yet, sometime before this, Jessica had finished her +interview with the unhappy Ferd; had written her +note of explanation to Ninian, though keeping her +destination secret, as the hunchback implored, in +accordance with Antonio’s wish; had dispatched her +message by Ned and Luis; and, unknown to them, +had rapidly ridden away in company with the white +horse and her treacherous guide––to comfort the +dying.</p> +<p>That death should have come again to the cabin +on the mesa, whither she was led, seemed natural +enough to her; remembering with such keen sorrow +the passing of old Pedro.</p> +<p>And for once Antonio Bernal had told the truth. +Lying helpless, almost motionless, on the narrow +bed in the shepherd’s home, he greeted his visitor +with a pitiful smile on his white face, and a tone +from which the last vestige of his old bravado had +departed: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span> +“The Captain! si. You did well to come, my Lady +Jess. But you are not afraid?”</p> +<p>“Why should I be afraid, Antonio? You are ill, +I see that. What’s wrong? What can I do to +help you?”</p> +<p>“Nothing. There is nothing. I played my game +and I lost. I––I saw you last night at the window.”</p> +<p>“And I saw you; I knew you; but I did not know +why you were fixed like that and had painted your +poor horse all white.”</p> +<p>“Ha! You saw that? You, when nobody––older––well, +I lost.”</p> +<p>“Are you hurt? What can have happened to you +since then?”</p> +<p>“Shot. On the way here, fearing nothing, a passing +horseman, unknown, braver or quicker than +the rest, thought he could rid the country of its +ghost. Ah, yes! it was merry––for a time. It is +past.”</p> +<p>Jessica was crying softly, unable to endure the +sight of agony, even his who had tried to injure her +and hers. The sick man perceived this and something +of the affection he had once felt for his master’s +child, before he had betrayed that master’s +trust, stirred him to speak and thrilled him with +compunction. He felt himself to be doomed; he +had already sent Ferd away again to summon a +priest; and according to his faith he meant to make +his peace with the world; but these preparations +had been on his own account only. Now he began +to feel something for her also.</p> +<p>Suddenly she ceased crying and stood up to bend +over him and beg that she might be allowed to +help him. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span> +“A drink of water––some coffee? You were always +so fond of coffee, Antonio, and I know where +Pedro kept all his things. So many, many times +we drank it here together, he and I. And you––how +came you here, Antonio?”</p> +<p>“Where better or nearer could I be? Pedro, the +most obliging, yes. Just when I needed his house +he left it. Si. Why, but I am better still, is it +not, I?”</p> +<p>Indeed his color had improved and his voice +grown stronger since Jessica’s arrival; and he was +able to take the cup of coffee which she made +him. This was more palatable than anything Ferd +had prepared and stimulated him still further. For +a few moments after he had taken it he felt so improved +that he almost gave up the doing of that +for which he had summoned her. But a sudden return +of pain again alarmed him, and as soon as +that spasm was past, he motioned her to the bedside.</p> +<p>“In the cupboard––look, quick!” he whispered, +pointing to a set of shelves built upon the wall and +behind whose locked doors Pedro had been accustomed +to store his baskets.</p> +<p>Jessica tried the little door, which refused to open, +and to her inquiry for the key, Antonio pointed to +his own pillow. After a slight hesitation she approached +and secured the key from beneath it; +but when she had opened the cupboard found that +all the Indian’s exquisite weaving had been removed. +In its place was the metal-pointed staff, with its +shank broken in half, and she exclaimed, indignantly:</p> +<p>“Oh! how could you do that, Antonio? And how +could you be so mean as to take it from two children?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span></div> +<p>“Ha! Once it was all mine––this land. The +copper in the canyon, mine, also. Si. The padres’ +secret which the shepherd kept was mine–––No, +no; not yet!” he broke off, with a sudden, delirious +scream, fancying he saw the head of a man appearing +without the door.</p> +<p>His outcry set Jessica shivering with fear at +being alone in that isolated spot with a possible +madman; but a second glance into his pallid face +restored her natural courage and assured her that +he was powerless to injure her, even had he wished +to do so. Just then, too, Buster whinnied and she +felt that he was company. It sounded as if he had +seen some stable companion of his own and had +welcomed it; yet this could not be, of course, since +nobody knew of her whereabouts or would be likely +to come to the mesa now. Therefore, she did not +follow Antonio’s glance doorward, but sought at +once to relieve his distress.</p> +<p>“Won’t you drink another cup of coffee, Antonio? +Or shall I make you a bit of porridge? There’s hot +water still in the kettle and I know how. I’ve made +it for my mother, often, when she was ill; and the +little boys always have it. Oh, I can do it quite +well!”</p> +<p>She was so eager to serve him, and the pain had +once more so greatly lessened for the time being, +that the late manager graciously consented, and +with such an absurd assumption of his old “top-lofty” +manner that Jessica laughed even while she +hastened to put on the tiny porringer and seek the +meal. The little oil stove blazed merrily, and so +deft was she that, in a very few minutes more, she +had a dish of the steaming mush beside the cot +and had thinned a cup of condensed milk with which +to make it the more palatable. Sugar there was in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span> +plenty, for Pedro had loved sweets; so that nothing +was wanted, save appetite, to render the repast all +that was desirable; yet when it was quite ready +Antonio could not take it.</p> +<p>The pain had returned and with added intensity; +and it was due to that fact that he no longer delayed +the confession he had sent for her to hear.</p> +<p>“Hark! Behold! I talk.”</p> +<p>“Yes, Antonio, I’m listening.”</p> +<p>“Well, I––how begin? It is a story long, not +pleasant.”</p> +<p>“Wait. Open your mouth and I will feed you. +Yes, do.”</p> +<p>His black eyes stared at her, astonished. In her +place had anybody done him the ill that he had done +her, he would have let his enemy starve and have rejoiced +at a suffering well deserved. But this child––he +wished she would turn her face away, and not +look upon him with that innocent compassion. She +was too like her dead father, and his one best +friend; whom in life he had really loved and in death +had not scrupled to despoil.</p> +<p>“Come, Antonio, eat. Afterward you’ll be stronger +to talk,” she said, as coaxingly as if he had been +her little brother, Ned; and thus persuaded, he +opened his mouth and received the morsel she forced +upon him. Thus it continued; she feeding, he resting +and with halting eagerness relating the story +of his own misdeeds.</p> +<p>“For I must go to pay the price. Si. But the +poor lad, my half-wit brother Ferd, ugly, sinful, +desolate––he will be left alone. Is it not? For +him, if I restore all, there may still be kindness and +a home at Sobrante, that should all be his––if–––”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span></div> +<p>“No, Antonio; you know better. That is a poor, +foolish notion that has been put into your head. +You know; for Mr. Hale, who is a lawyer and +understands everything like that, told you and us +that you hadn’t a bit of right to a bit of land anywhere +in this world. Unless, indeed, you may have +bought it since that little while ago in Los Angeles. +And if you have, where did you get the money?”</p> +<p>“Lo dicho dicho,” he muttered the Spanish phrase: +“What I have said I have said,” and sighed profoundly, +as one hopelessly aggrieved.</p> +<p>Jessica lost her temper. She forgot that he was +ill and remembered only that he was imputing +treachery to her parents and to others whom she +loved, and retorted, warmly:</p> +<p>“What you have ‘said’ doesn’t make the truth, +Senor Bernal. And if you have anything to tell me +I wish you would tell it now. I ought to be at +home with Mr. Sharp, who’s come to make us a +visit. My mother is away, and it’s rude to leave +guests alone like that. I, who want to be a perfect +lady, do hate to be rude. So tell, please, and quick.”</p> +<p>“It was he, then, whom I saw on the road with +old Ephraim, yes?” cried Antonio, in a voice which +was certainly much stronger than it had been when +Lady Jess arrived.</p> +<p>“Yes, it was he. Now begin, please. What first?”</p> +<p>Neither the man on the bed nor the girl who listened +to him so intently suspected that other ears +were as eager to hear this dying confession. Yet so +it was, and Buster’s short whinny of welcome had +been a real one. For John, on Moses, and Ninian, +on Nimrod, had lost but little time in riding to the +mesa; though because of the reporter’s poor horsemanship, +the carpenter felt that they would really +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span> +save time by taking the longer level road around +by the north, and not the narrow canyon trail, which +was dangerous for the inexperienced. This had +consumed some time, but each felt a thrill of relief, +when they at last arrived, to see Buster calmly +nibbling at the dry herbage near the shepherd’s +cabin.</p> +<p>“Where Buster is Jessica is, this time,” said the +carpenter, softly. “And I was right. I’d heard of +this spook being seen up here, and fool folks layin’ +it to poor Old Century. That’s why I came. We +didn’t make any mistake, did we?”</p> +<p>Then as they approached nearer to the house +and quietly dismounted to hobble their horses, he +added:</p> +<p>“Let’s go up sly. Everything seems terrible still, +and I’d like to take a peek through that back window +’fore we let on we’ve come.”</p> +<p>Ninian was not so cautious; or, rather, he was +more anxious about the little captain, and protested:</p> +<p>“How do we know but that this silence means +mischief? If he has sent for her to harm her–––”</p> +<p>“Hark! She’s all right. Thank God for that. +I can hear her laughing, and he’s a coward. She +isn’t; and, anyway, he’d think twice ’fore he hurt +a hair of that child’s head. Why, man, his life +wouldn’t be worth a minute’s purchase if he dared! +He’d be hunted to his own destruction so quick you +couldn’t say ‘scat.’ Humph! He may be after mischief––’cause +he hasn’t been after anything else +since Cass’us died––but he’ll keep within bounds. +Now, this way. Lucky the grass is thick; but even +so, don’t tread too heavy. Right behind that rear +wall, close against the east, is the place to hear +all and not be seen.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span></div> +<p>Therefore, as noiselessly and hastily as possible, +they placed themselves within earshot of what +was said within the house; and the story they heard, +reduced to simplest facts, was to the effect, as +follows:</p> +<p>Upon receiving his discharge from legal detention +at Los Angeles, Antonio had felt a homesick longing +for his old haunts. He had returned without telling +anybody of his intention and had taken up his +abode at Solano’s ranch, where his unfortunate +brother and the only person for whom he still cared +was frequently to be found. There the dwarf had +joined him, though rambling away again, from time +to time, on errands of his own of which he neither +spoke nor was questioned.</p> +<p>“Money, money! That’s the one thing, the only +thing, no! Get money, Ferd whenever, however, +wherever you can and what you get you keep. Hear +me,” had been Antonio’s constant instruction during +all the years of the hunchback’s life; and to +the dwarf’s limited understanding, his adored +brother typified incarnate wisdom.</p> +<p>He had anticipated high praise when, one day, he +came back to Solano’s and reported his hiding of +the little captain in the canyon cave. The praise +was not so ready at first, for Antonio was astute +enough to see whither such a hazardous scheme +might lead; but the approbation came unstained +when, later, Ferd again appeared, describing Pedro’s +behavior at the time of the rescue and of the curious +action of the ancient staff. Sent back alone +to bring fresh specimens of the mineral Pedro had +unearthed, Ferd had suddenly turned stubborn and +refused to go more than halfway. Pedro had died +suddenly, and Pedro’s ghost would haunt the spot; +no, even Antonio should not compel him thither. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span> +He would do anything, everything else, but go to +the canyon cave again he would not.</p> +<p>Indeed Antonio now felt that it was hardly necessary +he should. The poor lad’s superstition had suggested +a better way. With Solano’s aid, the deluded +“top-lofty” hatched a notable scheme. He +would himself impersonate Old Century’s uneasy +spirit, which could not rest because he had betrayed +the secret of the ancient padres. Nero could be +made as white as any ghost horse by the application +of a little paint; and shod with rubber could +pass over the sandy roads with almost as little noise +as any spectral steed. It was easy to bribe and +terrify two small boys into securing and restoring +to him the pointed wand, even if by their effort to +obtain it they might happen to fall and break it. +That mattered little, however, since the point was +all that he wanted; but it was just as well to have +that money he had seen through the window, that +night of his first appearance on Sobrante grounds. +That, too, was easy to get if one watched his opportunity +in that cactus tunnel Ferd had scooped +for his brother’s convenience. An unsuspecting, +busy household left many chances for entering an +open-windowed room, and who had ever been so +familiar as he with the supposed safety secret place +in which the key was kept? With the money he +had found also the bit of copper Pedro had procured; +and he knew enough of mining matters to +rejoice, indeed. He had meant to do great things. +He would prosecute his land claim to the uttermost; +and there were plenty of unscrupulous men who +would undertake his cause for a share in the profits +of a copper mine. This very mesa would have been +the scene of their first operations. Here the mill +would have been built, and here–––</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span></div> +<p>“But what the use? The hand of punishment is +upon me, yes. The money, it is there. Ferd shall +tell of all the rest that he has put somewhere, I +know not. His poor brain cannot carry out the +plan, and to me it avails no more. Ay de mi! But +Solano––beware. Of some things he knows, and of +more he suspects, is it not? Ah! I weary, I languish, +I die, I, Antonio Bernal, heir to wealth so +boundless. It was so fine a plan––so most wonderful +and simple. The fools, how they feared! Oh! +the laughter I had! and the wild, rides on my so +splendid ghost horse, yes. But I die––I die; and the +great big plan for the copper turned to gold––I––who +else will have the so great intellect, you call +it, to make it real? Well, I have done. The staff +I return––useless, save to me. The money––I cannot +carry whither I must ride on the white horse of +death––whiter than––the pity! The pity! Poor Antonio! +Poor, poor Antonio!”</p> +<p>His long talk had, indeed, wearied him to faintness; +but while his own tears rained down his +cheeks in his self-pity, even as Jessica’s in sympathetic +sorrow, a cheerful and hearty voice cried +through the window:</p> +<p>“Don’t fret yourself, top-lofty! There’s one or +two other smart men left, my friend, to carry out +that noble scheme of yours, and my name ain’t +John Benton, if they don’t do it! More’n that, I’ll +promise you a few more years to spend in wickedness, +if you like. On one condition.”</p> +<p>Antonio’s eyes almost leaped from his head in +amaze at this interruption and greater amazement +at this astounding promise; and John was swift to +press his advantage:</p> +<p>“I’ll save your life––on one condition!”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XX_THE_VERDICT' id='CHAPTER_XX_THE_VERDICT'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> +<h3>THE VERDICT</h3> +</div> +<p>“Benton!” warned Ninian Sharp, aghast at the +audacity of a man who would trifle with the apparent +death-hour of any man.</p> +<p>“Oh! that’s all right. Come around and in with +me. I never yet heard a voice as lusty as that from +a dying man, and I’ve been acquainted with Senor +Bernal some little spell. He’s scared nigh to death––it’s +just possible––but he ain’t sick nor wounded +to death, or I’m mistook. Come in!”</p> +<p>Jessica met him at the door, and impulsively +threw her arms about them at her relief in their +presence. She had not been afraid of anything which +could harm herself, but she had believed the man’s +own statement that he was dying, and his suffering +had been evidently intense at times. She had been +saddened and awe-stricken, and she now shared +Ninian’s indignation at the carpenter’s apparently +heartless promise. How was it possible for him +to bestow life where death had set its seal?</p> +<p>Nothing abashed by the reproachful looks cast +upon him, John walked straight to the bed and demanded, +in the most ordinary tone:</p> +<p>“Where you hurt, neighbor?”</p> +<p>Antonio caught at the straw the ranchman seemed +to extend, and feebly pointed to the wound in his +back.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span></div> +<p>What followed astonished Ninian far more than +it did Jessica, who knew the carpenter’s ways. As +tenderly, perhaps, because of his greater strength, +the old man lifted the injured one and critically examined +his wound; his face growing graver as he +did so, yet not losing its expression of confidence +and decision. When the examination was over, he +replaced Antonio on the hard pillow, which had +been Pedro’s one luxury, and quietly replied to the +poor fellow’s unspoken question, burning in his +great dark eyes:</p> +<p>“It’s a bad job, my son. A mighty bad job, and +a sneaky one. I’ve seen such before in my time, +and they didn’t mean death. To some folks, though, +they meant what was worse.”</p> +<p>Nobody would now have recognized the voice +which uttered this dictum, it had become so infinitely +compassionate and gentle.</p> +<p>Antonio caught one meaning only: “I will not +die? I need not die? It is you who will save me, +yes? O’santos Dios!”</p> +<p>He had half risen from the bed, but now sank +back, exhausted by the shock of emotion as well +as by the physical effort; and Jessica sprang forward, +terrified by the sudden pallor of his swarthy +face. But John put her quietly aside and himself +placed a flask to Antonio’s lips, saying:</p> +<p>“You’ve done your part well, my noble little +captain, and you’ve done me proud. It’s my place +now.”</p> +<p>The senor soon rallied, and again fixed his eyes +imploringly on Benton’s face, as he sat on the +edge of the bed beside him.</p> +<p>“Yes, top-lofty, I promise to help you. But first +you must help yourself. You must pledge your +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span> +word, the word of a dying man, that he dare not +break. You will restore everything that you have +taken from the mistress of Sobrante––or anybody +else––so far as it will hereafter be in your power; +you shall compel your Brother Ferd to guide a party +of prospectors to that secret spot in the canyon +where that piece of copper came from; and you +shall do all that it is possible to do for the good, +and not the evil, of your neighbors. That all clear?”</p> +<p>“But, yes, yes!” whispered Antonio, frantically. +“Haste! Oh, haste!”</p> +<p>“I’m a-hasting, but I ain’t a-hurrin’. Which is a +good thing for you, ’cause so I can think this thing +over. That ball in your back will have to come +out. I’ve taken some from folks myself, once or +twice, but this one is in a ticklish place. A doctor +is what we want, and the nearest one is ten miles +away on Kimball’s ranch. He’d rather potter with +his roses than other folks’ bullets, and I’ll have a +tough piece of work to drag him up here, especially +to see––you.”</p> +<p>With an impressive emphasis on the word “you” +John paused, and waited some rejoinder. None +came, and though Jessica again exclaimed against +the carpenter’s contemptuous tone, Antonio neither +resented it, nor felt it undeserved. Then Benton +continued:</p> +<p>“Sharp, here, is a writin’ fellow, and knows what’s +what every time. In the jerk of a lamb’s tail he’ll +draw up a paper which’ll explain what you promise, +and you’ve got strength enough to sign your name +to it. The minute you do that I’m off for Kimball, +and I’ll fetch him up here fast as horses can travel––if +I have to carry him on my back!”</p> +<p>“Quick! The paper! I sign––I live!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span></div> +<p>“Quick” it was, and though Ninian was no lawyer, +he was always well provided with pads and fountain +pens. Also, he was clever enough to use the longest +and most impressive words wherever possible, and +thus convinced the senor that the document sounded +legally important. Indeed, the injured manager +could scarcely wait to affix his signature, so eager +was he that John should be off on his errand of +salvation.</p> +<p>An hour later the padre came, and Jessica led +Ninian away, that the pair might have the cottage +to themselves. Then, when this visitation was over, +the good man lingered, that he might hear for himself +the doctor’s opinion when he should arrive. He, +too, had listened to another confession from the +truly repentant Antonio; but there was still a sacred +office to perform if this awaited opinion should be +for death, not life. But he had ridden far, and was +tired, having come directly from his own church +service at the distant mission, and Jessica’s hospitality +could not endure to see the look of weariness +on the old man’s kindly face.</p> +<p>“Beg pardon, Fra Sebastian, but would you like +a cup of coffee?”</p> +<p>“Ah! my daughter, would I like the impossible? +But, yes, I am famished, indeed, for the good dinner +of Marta, my housekeeper,” he answered, with +a shrug of his plump shoulders.</p> +<p>“Well, father, I cannot give you a dinner, but +I can make you a pot of fresh coffee; and in Pedro’s +little storeroom are cans of meat, and beans and +biscuit. Oh! I tell you! I’ll bring the plates out +here––there are two whole ones––and dear Mr. +Sharp and you shall have a picnic.”</p> +<p>Already, with the light-heartedness of childhood, +she had almost forgotten the sorrowful errand upon +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span> +which she had come to the mesa. Besides, to her, +a thing that was possible was, also, probable, and +John would never have raised false hopes in Antonio’s +breast. She was sure of that, and already +the senor’s recovery a matter of but a little while. +Moreover, to serve others was her dearest happiness, +and though Fra Sebastian’s faith was different +from her parents’, she had been trained to know +all good people as the children of God. And he was +especially such, for his benefactions and self-sacrifices +were widespread, and he had been an honored +guest at her father’s table.</p> +<p>“Oh! I am so happy to do anything for so holy +a man, and I am so glad––so glad we came!” she +whispered to Ninian, tripping away to relight the +little stove and fill her kettle afresh.</p> +<p>“But I must be allowed to help, too, my captain,” +he returned, eagerly entering into the altered spirit +of things; and so merry were they over their +preparations, so gay and bright the reverend guest +became, that Antonio was helped over his own tedious +time of waiting, and scarce knew how the +time passed before John’s return.</p> +<p>This was sooner than could have been anticipated. +The physician was already halfway on the road, intending +a neighborly call at Sobrante, when the +carpenter met and literally collared him.</p> +<p>“Come you must, Dr. Kimball. I shan’t take ‘no’ +for an answer,” was the decisive retort to the rose-grower’s +prompt refusal.</p> +<p>“I shall do nothing of the sort. I’m not a practicing +physician now, and I never was a surgeon. +As for that scalawag, Bernal, if he’s got himself +shot, he’s met exactly what he deserved. Giddap!” +he cried, to his horse, and was dashing past, just as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span> +John’s long arm reached out and clutched the ranchman’s +coat.</p> +<p>“It isn’t so much for him as for our Lady Jess. +You’re not in such a tearin’ hurry, neighbor, and +if you are––well, just let your hurry wait.”</p> +<p>Whereupon, in a few brief, telling sentences, Dr. +Kimball was put in possession of the facts Antonio +had revealed, and had wheeled his horse about, with +a whimsical snarl:</p> +<p>“Well, forge ahead. For anybody named Trent +I’d break my own resolutions a dozen times a day.”</p> +<p>It is probable that the kind-hearted man would +have gone anyway, even if he had ridden some +miles still farther on an opposite road. The knowledge +that somebody was suffering and needing him +was an appeal to his professional instinct he would +scarcely have resisted, but he had to make a protest +first.</p> +<p>All merriment ceased when he entered the cabin +on the mesa, and Jessica instinctively sought the +reporter’s hand, needing his sympathy during the +anxious few minutes that ensued upon the doctor’s +arrival. Fra Sebastian and John had followed the +surgeon indoors, but Ferd, who had brought the +priest to the upland, still remained within the deserted +fold, whither he had retreated as soon as his +errand was accomplished. To him death of any +sort, even that of an animal brought a horrible fear, +and nothing would induce him to leave his shelter; +till, when the conference was over, Jessica ran to +him, exclaiming:</p> +<p>“Cheer up, Ferd! Oh, Ferd! He’s going to live, +though, maybe––maybe he will never walk again. +Come and see him, Ferd. He wants you. He needs +you.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span></div> +<p>The dwarf came reluctantly, still adoring his +brother and still shrinking from him and the sight +of his agony. The examination had been painful, of +course; and the condition upon which life might +still remain a bitter one. However, it was––life! +And to Antonio, at that present moment, that was +all he craved.</p> +<p>“We must make a litter or stretcher and take him +to the valley. He will need the closest care and +watching. He couldn’t stay up here, and have a +single chance of recovery. Let’s see, there are five +men of us, counting the dwarf. We’ll have to walk +with the stretcher, and he shall lead the horses, all +but Buster, whom Jessica can ride. One at a time +he’ll ‘spell’ us, and the one released will take his +place at the beasts,” was the doctor’s decision.</p> +<p>So it was done. A blanket was speedily fastened +about two poles drawn from the corral, and over +these Pedro’s hard mattress was laid; and thus, +placed as comfortably upon it as might be, Antonio +was once more conveyed to his old home at Sobrante.</p> +<p>And there, that Sunday night, was wild rejoicing +and much speculation concerning the outcome of +his confession.</p> +<p>“Sharp’s the man to put the thing in trim. He’s +the very chap! He knows all about minerals, and +he says that this copper we’ve struck is the very +purest article he ever saw! Hurray! Hurray! Three +cheers and a tiger for the Sobrante Copper Mine!” +shouted the hilarious Marty.</p> +<p>Meanwhile, there had been short but heated discussion +among her loyal henchmen as to whether +Mrs. Trent should be forced to receive and care for, +under her immediate roof, a man who had done +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span> +her so much injury; and the decision had been unanimous: +“No!”</p> +<p>Even John, who had helped to bring him thither, +joined his voice to this assertion; and to the next +question propounded, as to who would attend him +and where, had as loudly answered: “I don’t know.”</p> +<p>Temporarily, the senor was resting in the household +sitting-room, but it was evident should not +long remain there.</p> +<p>“Where then? Hate him as we may, we can’t +let him die on our hands,” said Samson, looking as +black as he could.</p> +<p>“Don’t you fret yourselves, ‘boys,’” said a cheerful +voice near the group. “Mr. Ma’sh and me, or +me and Mr. Ma’sh––for I had to put it to him pretty +plain, ’fore he’d seed it right––me and him will take +that misguided creatur’ into our hands, and–––”</p> +<p>“May the Lord have mercy on his soul!” ejaculated +Marty, fervently.</p> +<p>“Me and Ephraim will ’tend him, turn and turn +about,” continued Mrs. Benton, ignorant of Marty’s +irreverent remark. “He’s to be put into Mr. Ma’sh’s +room at the quarters, and I’ll take this first night’s +job. I shall begin it with a dose of picra, and the +first page of the Westminster catechism; and if that +don’t put him in good shape for the doctor and +Ephraim, in the morning, my name ain’t Sally Benton, +nor never was. The doctor, he’s rode home for +his instruments and such, and hopes to get the +bullet out in the course of time. But it’s my opinion, +and his, too, I reckon, ’cause he didn’t deny it +when I put the question plain, it’s our opinion that +Antonio Bernal will never walk another step in his +life. But he’ll live. He’ll live everlastin’. Them old +Californy folks always do. He’ll simply be paralyzed +from his waist down.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span></div> +<p>Despite their antipathy to him, a thrill of pity +ran through every one who heard her; and to most +of those stalwart men it seemed that this was a +punishment they could not have endured. Death +would have been far preferable to them.</p> +<p>So it befell that the late manager’s fate was in +the hands of his enemies, so to speak; and while +Mrs. Benton and “Forty-niner” would faithfully +perform their duty toward him, they elected to do +it along lines of their own.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXI_CONCLUSION' id='CHAPTER_XXI_CONCLUSION'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> +<h3>CONCLUSION</h3> +</div> +<p>Events crowded one another at Sobrante.</p> +<p>Under the compulsion of his brother’s will, so +soon as that brother was able to think of anything +beyond his own suffering, Ferd led a party of the +ranchmen, with Ninian Sharp at their head, to the +canyon cave and the pit where the little captain +had been imprisoned. They shuddered as they beheld +it; yet could but rejoice that Old Century had +sought her there, and had, so opportunely, revealed +its precious secret. They also took good care to +blaze their path as they went, for it was most intricate +and bewildering. They had the curiosity +to test the powers of the wonderful staff, which +John had carefully fitted with a new top, and were +amazed at its curious behavior, as it zigzagged over +the floor of the almost unsupported. Whatever the +metal, or compound of metals, on the point, it was +certainly attracted by, and indicated the presence of, +copper in the earth beneath.</p> +<p>Returning to the house after this trip of exploration, +Marty was promptly mounted upon the “ghost +horse” Nero, and sent to Marion with telegrams for +Ninian’s expert friends in Los Angeles, and to bring +back the mail. The unhappy animal had been +treated to a liberal bath of gasoline and soap suds, +and had come out of it a sort of mongrel; but with +the phosphorus gone from about his eyes and face, +and with a reasonable prospect that he might some +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span> +day be restored to his original ebony hue. Yet his +spirit seemed broken, as if he had felt the disgrace +of the part he had been forced to play in the late +escapades of Antonio and his fellow-conspirators.</p> +<p>“It’s what one might call the irony of fate that the +man who caused the death of Comanche should thus +be forced to supply Comanche’s place with his own +beloved Nero,” commented the reporter, as the messenger +rode away.</p> +<p>“Yes. Things generally do even up in this +world, if a body has patience to wait a spell,” answered +Samson. “And though I’ve no love for him, +and wouldn’t trust him across this plaza, without +watchin’, I can’t help pitying poor ‘top-lofty,’ and +thinking he was more fool than knave. The idee! +Them plans and performances of his savor more of +the ‘middle ages,’ that I’ve heard about, than of +these days. But it just takes my breath away to +think of what Sobrante will be, some time, if that +‘find’ in the canyon turns out what we imagine. +Why––but there! No use talking. Wait and see. +How long you think before you get an answer back +from the town, tellin’ what your friend’ll do?”</p> +<p>“Oh! I expect Marty will bring that answer. He’s +to wait an hour or two, you know, and give a chance. +If Cornell––that’s the expert’s name––is in the city, +he’ll probably come himself by the evening train. +In that case, you and I might drive over to meet +him.”</p> +<p>“Wh-e-w!” ejaculated the ex-sailor, astonished. +“You newspaper fellows beat the world for hustling, +don’t you? So quick as that? H’m! If you fly as +much sail as that so sudden, looks like we’d reach +port ahead of time.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span></div> +<p>“When a thing’s to be done––why, do it! If there’s +copper enough to pay for mining, why––mine it,” +answered the other, coolly.</p> +<p>“Young man, mining costs money. Talkin’ is +cheap,” retorted Samson, sententiously.</p> +<p>“Of course. One must put in a little capital if one +expects to get results, in any business. The money +will be found easily enough. Trust me to see to +that. Or my friends and me.”</p> +<p>Already the journalist was as eager as possible on +this new matter. His brief rest had restored his +overtaxed nerves, and he was more than ready to +push any enterprise that commended itself to his +keen judgment. Now, all depended upon the expert’s +arrival at the ranch. He would then be taken in +person to examine the discovered vein, and on his +opinion great affairs would depend. Yet Ninian felt +that even if Henry Cornell’s opinion was averse, he +should not let the subject rest there. He would +consult with others. Mrs. Trent’s interests must be +forwarded to the utmost, and no possible chance of +her realizing a fortune lost through any lukewarmness +of his own.</p> +<p>Marty duly returned. He brought the expected +message from the great expert, and that gentleman +would arrive at Marion by that very evening’s train. +He brought, as well, several letters for the ranch +mistress, and these Jessica joyously carried to her +as she sat quietly sewing. Most of them were business +communications, which were promptly read +and laid aside, to be answered at once; but there +was one which the mother dropped in her workbasket +unopened, though it was the thickest and +plumpest of the lot, and, also, bore the postmark +“New York.” In ordinary, all New York mail was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span> +the most eagerly read of all that came; and this +fact caused Jessica to exclaim:</p> +<p>“Why, mother, dear! Why don’t you read it? Or +are you like me when I have something extra nice +for dinner, leaving it to by and by?”</p> +<p>“Yes, darling, I’m leaving it––a while. It will +keep. I know what is in it, or nearly so. It’s not +the first of the sort has come lately, and I’ll have +courage soon.”</p> +<p>“Courage, mother? Do you need courage to read +your letters? What harm can come to us now, out +of that far away city? My father’s name is cleared, +we owe nobody, we––why, we may be going to be +very, very rich, if things turn out as Mr. Ninian +thinks they will turn out, and–––Oh, dear! I’m +not saying it very clear, only seems to me we ought +to be perfectly, perfectly happy now; and if there’s +anything bad in the letter, please give it to me, and +let me burn it up right away.”</p> +<p>For answer, the mother caught her daughter close +within her arms, kissed her passionately, and asked:</p> +<p>“Oh, little captain! If you go so far from me, +how shall I live?”</p> +<p>“I––go so far––from you!” repeated Lady Jess, +in utter astonishment. “Why, what can you mean?”</p> +<p>Mrs. Trent recovered her composure, even smiled––if +not very gayly––and answered, tenderly: +“Whatever come, my sunshine, remember that, of +all things, your mother desires your welfare before +her own. But more than that I cannot tell you now. +So, run to Aunt Sally, dear, and ask if she can be +spared from her nursing a few hours. I think one +of the other men will relieve Ephraim, if he is tired, +in waiting upon Antonio. I want she should help me +get up an extra fine supper for Mr. Ninian’s friend. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span> +Ah! my child, how much we owe to that young +man’s goodness and enterprise!”</p> +<p>“Indeed, indeed, we do. But seems to me we do +nothing but cook here, nowadays. It’s always company, +isn’t it?”</p> +<p>“And glad I am of that. So long as the larder has +anything in it, I love to share it with––friends. Not +strangers, who do not care, but with anybody else, +the best we have. If a luxury well; and if but a +crust, still well. Now––to Aunt Sally.”</p> +<p>Jessica guessed that as soon as she was out of +sight the disagreeable letter from the other side of the +continent would be promptly read, and wondered +not a little concerning its contents. And she was +right. Mrs. Trent had barely finished its perusal, +when Mrs. Benton appeared, but from her the +mother had nothing to hide. She looked up quietly, +and said:</p> +<p>“Another more urgent entreaty from old Cousin +Margaret. She puts the matter so strongly as my +duty that I’m compelled to acknowledge she is––may +be––right.”</p> +<p>“Humph! She’s been wrong enough, sometimes,” +returned Aunt Sally, peevishly. “That’s when she +got angry with you for marrying Cass’us.”</p> +<p>“That was mostly from indignation at losing me, +her one loved relative. There could never have +been a kinder guardian–––”</p> +<p>“Nor a queerer, as I’ve gathered from your own +talk. I never saw Margaret Dalrymple, and I never +want to. Anyhow, nothin’ can be done at present; +but I’ve brought one comfortin’ word across from +the quarters with me, Gabriella.”</p> +<p>“What’s that, Aunt Sally? Is Antonio better?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span></div> +<p>“Oh! bother Antonio. He’ll get well, of course. +That kind always does. Of that I never had a misdoubt. +The word is this, and I begin to think that +old Fra Sebastian may be a real Christian, after all. +He not only offers, but he says it must be this way: +As soon as ‘top-lofty’ can be safely moved, he wants +him to the sannytarium to his mission. Him and +Ferd, the dwarf, likewise. He says them old Californys +all belong to him, and he will look after them. +Antonio is to be in the sanny-house, and Ferd is to +be put into the mission school. Though he’s a man +in years, he’s a child in learning––’cept evil. So Fra +proposes to oust the evil if he can––I wager he’ll +find he’s got a job––and put in good. He’ll make +Antonio earn his keep a-writin’ up the books and +accounts, for, with all his silliness, he’s a master +hand at figurin’––for himself. So that settles them, +and don’t you dast say no to the arrangement when +it’s perposed to you, Gabriella Trent, or I’ll never +let you hear the last of it. It’s the Lord’s own way +of disposing things, and a better one than I could +cipher out, if I do say it.”</p> +<p>Certainly Mrs. Trent had no objection to make to +so comfortable a settlement of a perplexing question; +and in due time the Bernals left Sobrante forever; +and of their lives at the mission those whom +they had known so long were henceforth to hear +little, “and care less,” according to the satisfied +ranchmen.</p> +<p>Mr. Cornell, the expert, came, inspected, reserved +his opinion, and departed; but Ninian Sharp had +gathered enough from the visitor’s few sentences, +idly dropped, to feel quite convinced that the thing +was worth carrying farther. So he, too, left Sobrante; +but, after a brief sojourn in Los Angeles, +reappeared, in company with Morris Hale and a +trio of prospectors, representing much capital. All +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span> +this was very exciting to the simple household; and +Mrs. Trent, at least, felt infinite relief when, on the +eve of Navidad, there were left in it only those two +strangers, who had now become less strangers than +familiar friends.</p> +<p>Gathered about the fireside, which the first of the +rainy nights made doubly enticing, the New York +lawyer discussed at length the decision which the +prospectors had made. They considered the mine +well worth working. “In fact, I have reason to believe +it will turn out one of the richest in the whole +country. They are willing to advance all money +needed upon certain conditions,” and he named +them.</p> +<p>These seemed extremely liberal and just to both +sides, but Mrs. Trent did not greatly surprise her +listeners when she quietly interposed a clause to the +effect that:</p> +<p>“My husband believed in profit-sharing. It was +his ambition to put Sobrante and its various interests +into such an operation. I want all our ‘boys’ +to enjoy the benefits of that which God has given us. +They will contribute their labor and share in its +results; share richly if I can have my will.”</p> +<p>“Your will is doubtless law, madam,” answered +Mr. Hale, courteously.</p> +<p>“And if the mine is worked, I want our dear +friend, Ninian Sharp, to come here and act as its +manager, on behalf of the Sobrante side. He”––she +raised her hand gently, as he started to interrupt––“he +must be paid a much larger salary than he could +earn upon the staff of the Lancet, and would have, +I hope, sufficient leisure time to use his pen in +other literary work, such as he tells me he has never +had the chance to do.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span></div> +<p>For the first time in his life, maybe, the alert +reporter was taken off guard, and hadn’t a word to +say, except the very ordinary one of “Thank you”; +but he said it, bending over the lady’s hand, and with +such an expression of delight upon his thin, intellectual +face, that no greater eloquence was needed.</p> +<p>“And now,” said Aunt Sally, “it’s time to begin +that there decorating which Gabriell’ thinks is a +part of Christmas. Pasqually’s been real good. He’s +been up to the dreen, where you planted them calla +lilies, Jessie, and he’s fetched a good many bushels. +Seven hundred, I guess he said. And he’s cut poinsetty +enough to turn us blind with its redness; and +my boy, John, hitched up and went along under the +flume and druv his pushcart back full of the biggest +maidenhair ferns and sweet brakes I ever see. So +now, youngsters, set to and trim. Then we’ll hang +up our stockings, every one; and I’ll give you the +nicest Christmas dinner can be cooked, if I have to +cuff Wun Lungy into basting them turkeys as they +ought to be basted. Come, Neddy; come, little +Echo; I saw Santy Claus’ wife––that’s me, shove a +pan full of gingerbread men into the wall oven, and +if they’re done, I’ll give each of you a soldier of +dough to drive you to bed. Stockings first? Of +course, of course. Why, what would Christmas be +without its stockings? Here’s a brand-new pair +auntie’s knit for you, one a piece; and if you don’t +find ’em stuffed with rods in the morning, it won’t +be because you don’t deserve it, you precious, precious, +naughty little lambs!”</p> +<p>Off went the good creature, a boy on either arm, +her patchwork streaming behind her, her spectacles +on the top of her head, and her ruddy countenance +as beaming as if she were, indeed, that mythical +person––Santa Claus’ wife.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span></div> +<p>Oh! what a Christmas followed! With everybody +from far and near who had any claim upon Sobrante +hastening thither to share its open hospitalities; +Wolfgang and Elsa, with their “little” six-foot son; +the genial McLeods, Dr. Kimball and his sweet-faced +invalid sister, Louise, for whose benefit he +had left their fine Boston home to live in this lonely, +lovely southland. These, and many more, not only +came, but did such justice to Mrs. Benton’s and +Wan Lung’s cookery that, as she said, next morning:</p> +<p>“Land suz! There ain’t scraps enough left to +make a decent soup, even! But never mind, we had +a royal time, every single soul of us. Christmas is +over, and I’m glad it’s so well over. Now, we can +settle down and rest a spell.”</p> +<p>Indeed, there was rest for the household itself, +but for Ninian Sharp and his coadjutors. The mining +scheme was rapidly put into practical operation; +Mr. Hale lingering all that winter to further its +interests, and to enjoy what he had coveted early in +his acquaintance with it, a few months of ranch +life at ideal Sobrante.</p> +<p>Then came the glorious springtime, when the mesa +was alive with flowers; the canyon was fragrant +with perfume, and the whole countryside became +an earthly paradise. The springtime, when the +Easterner could no longer delay his homeward trip, +nor Mrs. Trent the revelation of what her New +York letters had contained, though Jessica had +almost forgotten them.</p> +<p>One week before the lawyer was to leave them, +mother and child sat, hand in hand, beside the +father’s grave, whither the widow had purposely +withdrawn, as if the precious dust within might +still support and counsel her. Taking the little captain’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span> +hand in hers, and speaking as calmly as if her +heart were not desperately sad, she said:</p> +<p>“My darling, when Mr. Hale goes home to New +York you will go with him.”</p> +<p>“Mother! Oh! Why?”</p> +<p>“Because it is right. My Cousin Margaret, whose +letters you have seen me read, sometimes with ungrateful +tears, offers you a home and an education. +She was a mother to me in my youth, and I owe +her much. Now that she is old and desolate, she +begs for you. It may be that I should still have +declined to please her at so much pain to––us, but +the discovery of this copper mine of ours, and the +fact that you will one day be one of America’s richest +daughters, forces me to comply.”</p> +<p>“But, why, mother? Why should that matter? +I’d rather give it up. Say no! Oh, please, say no!”</p> +<p>“I cannot now. I dare not. Upon your dear +shoulders will rest a great trust and responsibility. +You must be fitted to discharge that trust by the +best education possible. This education you cannot +gain here. You must seek it elsewhere. We must +not make it harder for each other, this bitter parting, +but we must bear it bravely for––father’s sake.”</p> +<p>Thus ended Jessica’s early childhood; and of what +befell her in that widely different life at school it +must be left to another volume to relate.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JESSICA, THE HEIRESS***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 30074-h.txt or 30074-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/0/0/7/30074">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/0/7/30074</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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