ACQUITTED
If Skip had been an actor in a pantomime, and rehearsed the scene every
day for a week, he could not have arrived more precisely, than when he
made his appearance at the very moment Mr. Hunter was about to declare
the defense closed.
Sam and Fred sprang to their feet as he entered the door, and Joe
actually shouted, so great was his joy and relief; but he was speedily
made to understand by the officers that another breach of decorum as
flagrant would result in his expulsion from the court-room.
Following Skip came the constable leading Tim, who looked frightened and
pale. Mr. Hunter at once called the prisoner to the witness stand.
Not knowing that Gus had denied having seen the money, Tim soon said
enough to convict himself, and in a few moments was ready to confess
his share in the matter.
"I didn't take it," he said, whiningly. "Gus showed me the money here in
town an' told as how he'd sneaked it out of the pocket of a feller what
he found asleep on the mountain. He agreed that I could have half if I'd
go off somewhere with him."
"Where is he now?" Mr. Hunter asked.
"I don't know. When I went for some grub he was watchin' Fred Byram what
we caught followin' us."
"What had been done with the money?"
"He had all that was left but ten dollars, an' I was goin' to spend
that."
"What had Fred Byram done to you?"
"Tried to get the stuff, so's his chum wouldn't be sent to jail."
"How did he know you had the bills?"
"That's what puzzles me, 'less Gus give himself away to Skip Miller."
"Have you seen your friend since you left him to go in search of
provisions?"
"If I had he'd been used up pretty bad for runnin' off with the cash
after coaxin' me to leave town with him."
Very little more in the way of evidence was needed, and in a short time
Sam was told by the judge that there was nothing to show he was at fault
in the matter, except so far as being careless in lying down to sleep,
while having such an amount of money in his pocket.
With this slight reprimand he was discharged from custody, and Tim sent
to jail.
When the partners were in the street once more Joe found it almost
impossible to keep his joy within bounds. He acted in the most
extravagant manner until Fred reminded him that the people might think
he was intoxicated.
"We'll telegraph to Bill, anyhow," he cried, and straightway the
following message was sent:
"WILLIAM THOMAS, Farley's, Pa.:
"Skip Miller has fixed everything. Sam is free. Hurrah for
Skip.
JOE."
"There," he said, after writing the telegram, a task of no mean
magnitude for him, "that puts the credit jest where it belongs. I ain't
sayin' the lawyer didn't do his share; but he'd been snowed under if Tim
hadn't been brought in the nick of time."
Skip was radiant with delight, as he had every reason to be, since now
he felt certain his past misdeeds were atoned for, and the partners
repeated over and over again that they owed him a debt which could never
be repaid.
Mr. Hunter insisted that the owners of the mine should remain in
Blacktown until he learned whether sufficient money could be raised with
which to defend the suit brought against them; but Joe was bent on going
to the depot for the purpose of witnessing Mr. Wright's departure.
"I want to see how he an' and his precious cashier look after failin' in
convictin' an innocent boy of stealin' what never oughter been put in
his charge."
Fred did not care to indulge in such questionable triumph; but the miner
was so persistent that he could not well refuse, and the three stood on
the platform when their accusers boarded the cars.
Neither of the men glanced toward the little group; but a bystander who
had been present at the trial, said loud enough to be heard by both:
"It looks like pretty poor business for a big corporation to try to send
a boy to jail in order that he may be robbed of his property."
"You're a sensible man," Joe cried, approvingly, as he insisted on
shaking hands with the stranger, "an' if the time ever comes when me or
my mate can do you a good turn we'll be glad."
After this the four walked to the hotel, for Skip was sadly in need of
food, and Joe said, in a tone of satisfaction:
"I'm willin' to bet considerable that when we get back to Farley's we'll
find as how Wright has gone somewhere on business, an' the cashier is
takin' a vacation. Bill will show my telegram to everybody what comes
in, and the whole town will be agin 'em."
"If the company wins the suit, Mr. Wright won't care very much about
what is said, for with two mines he will be the boss of this section,"
Sam replied. "I don't bother with anything at Farley's jest now; the
company can run matters to please themselves, if they fail to cheat us
out of our property."
Now that one cause for anxiety was removed the partners devoted more
time to discussing the question of title, and before night-fall had
succeeded in making themselves feel decidedly uncomfortable.
During the evening Mr. Hunter called with cheering news.
"Among the subscribers I have found four gentlemen of means, who will
advance the funds necessary for defending the suit, provided they are
allowed a certain additional amount of stock in case of success. The
four owners of the property must sign an agreement to that effect, and
the business is settled."
"How will that affect our interest?" Fred asked.
"I think an equitable arrangement would be to give you jointly one-half
the amount of stock issued, and with the remainder there will be no
difficulty in raising sufficient to open and operate the mine."
"Is that a fair division? We know very little about such things."
"If there had been no trouble your share would be larger; but, under the
circumstances, I think the proposition a generous one."
"Then we are satisfied," Joe replied. "Bring on your documents so we can
sign 'em, for I want to get back to-morrow."
"I will write the agreement, and go to Farley's with you on the first
train. Money for your personal expenses is to be advanced, and here is
an installment. When it is gone come to me for more."
"A hundred dollars!" Joe exclaimed, as he counted the bills. "We can't
complain but that your subscribers are doing the thing in good style."
"So they should since a large amount of money is to be made, if we are
successful with the suit."
Then Mr. Hunter left the partners, and Skip, who was already looked upon
as a member of the new company, and they found ample material for
conversation until it was time to retire.
Next morning the party started for Farley's in company with the lawyer
and one of the gentlemen who proposed to advance the capital.
There were only a few people at the depot; but from them Sam received a
most cordial welcome. Men whom he had never spoken to before
congratulated him upon the happy result of the trial, and many were the
harsh words spoken against the superintendent and cashier.
After he ran home to see his mother for a moment the four partners
assembled in Bill's chamber, and there the necessary documents were
drawn up.
"I have already applied for a charter," Mr. Hunter said, when all had
signed, "and it only remains to win the case before opening the mine."
"You'll keep us posted about what is goin' on?" Bill asked, and the
lawyer replied in the affirmative, when he and the prospective
stockholder took their departure, leaving the boys and Joe to gratify
the invalid's curiosity concerning the happenings at Blacktown.
On this day Fred saw Chunky for the first time since the discovery of
the vein, and the breaker boy expressed his satisfaction at the result
of the trial.
"I knowed Sam wouldn't steal money," he said, emphatically; "but it
looked one spell as if they'd prove it on him."
"If it hadn't been for Skip matters never would have been made so plain,
and even if he was acquitted, some folks might have thought him guilty."
"Yes, Skip did a good job there," Chunky said, reflectively. "It's funny
he made such great friends with you fellers after bein' so wild to
serve you out. He's left the regulators, too, an' now I can be captain,
if I want to."
"Why, I thought that foolish business had all been done away with."
"Not much it ain't. We can get along without Skip, an' not half try."
"Don't have anything to do with such fellows, Chunky. You'll only get
into trouble, and the time is sure to come when, like Skip, you'll be
sorry for ever having had any connection with them."
"He didn't run the concern same's I'm goin' to do, if I get to be
captain," Chunky replied, with a mysterious gesture, and then he hurried
away in the direction of the breaker.
During the week which followed Sam's acquittal nothing of especial
interest occurred. Bill was getting along as well as could have been
expected; but both he and his partners were decidedly dejected as to the
result of Mr. Wright's claim.
As the days passed they grew more despondent, until Mrs. Byram insisted
that nothing more be said about the suit in the presence of the invalid,
because his extreme nervousness tended to excite fever.
Then came the day on which a telegram was received from Mr. Hunter,
requesting one or more of the partners to call at his office, and Joe
and Fred made ready to answer the summons.
"Don't keep me waiting for the news," Bill said sharply. "I can't help
thinkin' Wright will spring some kind of a game on us, if he thinks
there's any chance this scheme might fail."
"If we're wanted on that business you shall hear the minute we know
about it," Joe replied, and then he and Fred started, preferring to walk
rather than wait for the train.
Contrary to Brace's belief, both Mr. Wright and the cashier had remained
at Farley's after the trial. It is possible they heard a few unwelcome
truths; but, as a rule, those who were forced to work under them did not
dare to speak too plainly.
Neither Joe nor Fred had seen the gentlemen since they stepped on board
the cars at Blacktown, but now they were met face to face when the
travelers arrived at the out-cropping vein.
The superintendent nodded carelessly, much as he would have done toward
a stranger, while his companion deliberately turned his back upon the
new-comers.
Joe whistled as he passed on, to show how little concern he felt at
meeting the two whom he considered enemies, but he whispered to Fred
when they were farther down the mountain:
"I want to know what them fellers are doin' out here. It looks as if
some crooked work was goin' on."
"They can't run away with the vein," Fred replied laughingly, "and I
don't see how their being in this vicinity can hurt us."
"Nor I; but it won't do any harm to watch 'em. They're none too honest
to play any kind of a mean trick."
"It's too late to turn now, for they'd surely know what we were up to."
"We can keep on a little farther, an' then double back under cover of
the trees."
"All right. I don't suppose it will make much difference if we loaf a
bit."
Joe walked straight ahead until they were within shelter of a line of
foliage, and then turning sharply to the left, circled around the side
of the mountain to a point just above the vein, where the two men could
be plainly seen, while the watchers were hidden among the bushes.
Mr. Wright and the cashier at first sight appeared to be walking
aimlessly to and fro, as if calculating the width of the coal mine, and
now and then the former stooped to pull up a stake, which he placed in
another position.
"It looks as if they was figgerin' how wide the slope would have to be,"
Joe whispered. "I reckon we've wasted our time sneakin' over here."
"They are moving the stakes driven by the surveyors!" Fred exclaimed,
after a brief pause.
"But what good will that do 'em?"
"I don't know; of course, the lines can be run again by any one; but
there must be a scheme in it, for Mr. Wright wouldn't be out here unless
something could be gained by it."
"They've got no right on our land, an' I'll warn them off," Joe said, as
he arose excitedly to his feet.
"Don't so much as show yourself. We'll hurry on to see Mr. Hunter; he'll
know what is up."
"Come on, then, an' be quick about it, for there's no tellin' when these
tricks are dangerous."
The miner and the boy literally ran down the hill, slackening not the
pace until forced to do so, and both were nearly breathless when they
neared the lawyer's office.
Before Mr. Hunter could speak Joe told what had been seen, and that
gentleman grew quite as excited as were the others.
"I learned yesterday that Wright had bought a strip of land near yours,
regardless of the fact that he claims to own this side of the mountain,
and has ordered a force of workmen there immediately. We now know he is
changing the surveyor's stakes in order to erect buildings on our tract,
and thus force us to become plaintiffs instead of defendants.
"How would that benefit him?"
"In several ways which I have not time to explain. Wait here until I
return."
Then Mr. Hunter left the office in great haste, and Fred and Joe looked
at each other in dismay.