Produced by Al Haines
JESS OF THE REBEL TRAIL
BY
H. A. CODY
AUTHOR OF "THE FRONTIERSMAN," "THE LONG PATROL," "THE CHIEF OF THE
RANGES," "THE FOURTH WATCH," "GLEN OF THE HIGH NORTH," ETC.
McCLELLAND AND STEWART
PUBLISHERS : : TORONTO
1921,
BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
To
MY UNCLE AND NAMESAKE
HIRAM CODY
Long Since Passed Within the Vail
This Book is Dedicated
In Grateful and Loving Remembrance
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I THE HOLD-UP
II REBELLION
III THE "EB AN' FLO"
IV UNDER COVER
V CAPTAIN SAMUEL GOES SHOPPING
VI EBEN MAKES A DISCOVERY
VII GIVING MARTHA THE GO-BY
VIII WHAT THE COW DID
IX MARTHA TAKES A HAND
X UNWELCOME VISITORS
XI IN PERIL OF DEATH
XII CORNERED
XIII A TRICKY PASSENGER
XIV ANOTHER VICTIM
XV TWO WOMEN'S TROUBLES
XVI MORE THAN A DREAM
XVII CAPTAIN SAM'L GOES HOME
XVIII HARD LUCK
XIX THE CAPTAIN GIVES ADVICE
XX MRS. GRIMSBY'S MISSION
XXI EBEN COMES ASHORE
XXII ON THE REBEL TRAIL
XXIII STRAIGHT TALK
XXIV EBEN ATTENDS TO GRIMSBY
XXV THE FOREST FIRE
XXVI IN THE RING OF DEATH
XXVII IN THE NICK OF TIME
XXVIII IN URGENT NEED
XXIX CONFESSION
XXX JOY AT EVENTIDE
"I have no other but a woman's reason;
I think him so, because I think him so."
SHAKESPEARE
"When all other rights are taken away,
the right of rebellion is made perfect."
THOMAS PAINE
"Women are never stronger than when they
arm themselves with their weakness."
MADAME DU DEFFAND
JESS OF THE REBEL TRAIL
CHAPTER I
THE HOLD-UP
The glowing coals in the spacious grate seemed to fascinate the woman
as she sat huddled in a big luxurious chair. The book she had been
reading was lying open and unheeded on her lap. Her surroundings were
by no means in keeping with her dejected manner. The room was cosy and
lavishly furnished, while the shaded electric reading-lamp cast its
gentle radiance upon the woman's white hair and soft evening-gown. It
was a rough night, and the wind howling outside beat furiously against
the closely-blinded windows.
It was a night such as this, nearly twenty years before, of which the
woman was thinking. She was once again in a room in a private
hospital, lying weak and helpless from the ordeal through which she had
passed. It all came back to her now with a stinging intensity, causing
her white hands to clench hard, and her eyes to widen with a nameless
fear.
A maid entered and announced a visitor.
"I can't see anyone to-night," the woman before the fire declared,
without even turning her head.
"But----" the maid began.
"That is all, Maggie. You need not say anything more. I wish to be
left entirely alone."
The maid hesitated a few seconds before obeying the imperious command.
Then she slowly turned, and had almost reached the door when it was
suddenly pushed open and a man entered. Without a word, he stepped
past her and glided across the room toward the fire. His unexpected
appearance startled the woman crouching there. She straightened
quickly up and stared at the intruder in amazement.
"Who are you?" she demanded. "How dare you come here? Maggie, put
this man out."
But Maggie had disappeared, so the woman was left to face the man alone.
"I won't harm you, madame," he smilingly informed her, as he moved
closer to the fire and stretched put his hands. "I'm as harmless as a
kitten."
"Keep back," the woman ordered. "Don't come so close."
"Oh, I'm all right. Don't you worry about me."
Again the man smiled as he rubbed his hands together.
"I wasn't worrying about you," the woman retorted. "I would like to
see you burn yourself for your impudence."
Her fear had now vanished, and she was angry. She carefully noted the
man's slight figure, and threadbare clothes. But his face was what
attracted her most of all. It was somewhat chubby, and when the mouth
was expanded by the almost incessant smile the cheeks were wrinkled
like corrugated iron. His head was bald, save for a few tufts of hair
above the ears. His bulging eyes twinkled with good humour, causing an
observer to feel that their owner was well satisfied with himself and
the entire world.
"Who are you?" the woman again demanded. "How dare you come uninvited
into my room?"
The man straightened, himself up, and standing with his back to the
fire brought forth a package of cigarettes, selected one, and
deliberately lighted it.
"You don't mind if I have a smoke, do you?" he asked. "It's good for
the nerves."
"Indeed I do," the woman replied. "I hate smoking. I never allow it
in this room."
"I'm sorry, madame, but you'll soon forget all about it. I have come
to see you to-night on very important business, and when I tell you
what it is you won't think any more about the smoke."
"Important business! With me? Why, I never saw you before, and I have
not the slightest idea who you are. What do you want, anyway?"
"Yes, it's important business, as I have just said, and when I learned
that you would see no one to-night I was compelled to force myself upon
your presence."
"How did you know that I would see no one to-night? Were you listening
at the door?"
"Madame, when you get to know me better you will learn that I am able
to read people's thoughts, though doors may intervene. Words are
unnecessary to me. I know all."
The man blew a cloud of smoke into the air, and smiled. "Yes," he
continued, "I even read your thoughts to-night as you sat before this
fire."
"You did!" The woman's eyes grew wide with fear and amazement. "Who
are you, anyway?"
"I am merely a stand-between; that has been my business for years."
"A stand-between?"
"Yes, I stand between people and ignorance. I supply them with mental
food, books of the first-water. They all know me, and look upon me as
a public benefactor."
"So you are a book-agent, then? And you want to sell me some books, I
suppose? Is that your business here to-night?"
The man waved his hand haughtily, and flicked the ashes from his
cigarette into the fire.
"No, madame, it is not. Business is somewhat dull these days, I must
confess. People are not as anxious as formerly for pure literature.
There are too many counter attractions. This being so, I find it is
becoming more difficult to stand between my family and poverty.
Therefore, I am here to-night."
"So you want me to give you some money; is that it?"
"Ah, now I see you understand," and the man's face beamed. "But
remember, I come not as a beggar, neither as a suppliant, but merely to
receive payment for a favor."
"Payment for a favor!" the woman exclaimed. "What do you mean? I owe
you nothing. I never saw you before. What favor?"
"The favor of silence. I know what you were thinking about to-night as
you sat here. Your thoughts were in the past, to another night such as
this. You were in a private hospital, and----"
He was interrupted by a startled cry from the woman. She was sitting
bolt upright, her hands gripping hard the arms of the chair, and her
face ghastly white.
"W-what do you know?" she gasped.
"Calm yourself, madame. Although I know all, you have no need to fear."
For a few seconds the woman stared at the man before her. Then she
gave an hysterical laugh and sank back in her chair. What did this
stranger know? she wondered. Perhaps nothing, and she had made a fool
of herself by showing her agitation.
"My nerves are somewhat shaken to-night," she confessed. "I have not
been well of late, so your sudden appearance and strange words have
rather unsettled me. What do you mean by referring to another night
such as this, and to a private hospital? What have they to do with me?"
"A great deal, I should say, madame. If you doubt my knowledge, it is
only necessary to mention the name of Hettie Rawlins, now my wife, Mrs.
Gabriel Grimsby."
"Hettie Rawlins!" the woman's face showed her perplexity.
"Yes, Hettie Rawlins, the girl who exchanged the babies. Don't you
remember her?"
But the woman did not reply. She sat staring at the man before her.
"There is no doubt now about my knowledge is there?" the stranger asked
with a smile.
"Heavens, no!" the unhappy woman groaned. "And to think that after all
these years I should be thus confronted in my own house, and by a
complete stranger. And so your wife told you all?"
"Everything, although she kept the secret for a long time. She told me
how you bribed her to exchange your little baby boy for a girl which
was born in the hospital on the same day, and the amount you gave the
baby's mother for making the exchange."
"Stop, stop," the woman pleaded. "You will kill me."
"But you know it all, madame. You were thinking about it to-night,
were you not?"
"I was, I was," and the woman buried her face in her hands.
Presently she lifted her head.
"Where is the boy?" she asked in a hoarse whisper. "Is he alive?"
"And so you are interested in him, madame?"
"Interested? Why, he is with me night and day. Though he must be a
young man now, yet I always see him as the little babe I held to my
breast. If you know where he is, tell me. I must see him somehow,
though he must never know who I am."
"What about the girl, your daughter?" the man questioned. "She must be
a comfort to you now, and well takes the place of--of your son."
"Nothing can ever take his place," the woman vehemently declared. I
thought so once, fool that I was. But I know better now when it is too
late. Where is he? For God's sake, tell me!"
"And you have had no word from him?" the man asked.
"Nothing. I do not even know the woman's name who took him. I thought
I would never want to know."
"Then, madame, it is better for you to remain in ignorance. It would
do you no good now to learn anything about him. I, at any rate, shall
not enlighten you."
"You won't?"
"No, not now."
"Then why have you come here to-night to inflict this torture upon me?
What good can it do to increase the agony of my tormented soul? Surely
I have endured enough already."
"I come, madame, merely as a stand-between. Business with me has been
dull of late, as I have just told you. Therefore, when one door closes
another opens. I am not a man to let a good opportunity of earning a
few honest dollars slip. I know your story, and, accordingly, am here
to receive payment."
"Payment! For what?" the woman asked in amazement.
"For silence. I suppose you don't want this matter known?"
"Good heavens, no! What would my husband and daughter think? Why, I
could never face the world again."
"Very well, madame. I am pleased to know that you realise the
situation," and the man smiled blandly upon his victim. He was
succeeding much better than he had expected. "I shall see that this
matter is kept a profound secret."
"Oh, will you?" and the woman looked her relief.
"Indeed I will, providing you make it worth while. I am always open
for business."
The woman looked keenly at the man.
"Do I understand that you want to be paid for keeping silent?" she at
length found voice to ask.
"Certainly. That's what I'm here for. Business is business, remember,
and if I cannot make a living at my regular profession, I must turn to
the next best thing that offers."
"But this is a hold-up. Are you not afraid to do such a thing?"
"Afraid! Of what?"
The sudden flush that mantled the woman's face plainly showed that she
understood. The man noted it, and smiled.
"You realise the situation, madame, I see. That is very fortunate. I
have nothing to fear, as you would do almost anything rather than let
your secret be known."
"But suppose I do not accede to your demand, what then?"
"That would remain for you to find out, madame. Are you willing to run
the risk?"
"Heavens, no! It must not be. What is your price? Tell me quick, and
let us get through with this painful interview."
"Willingly, madame. I am as anxious to get through as you are. My
price is very moderate, considering the favor I am bestowing upon you.
I want five hundred dollars."
"Five hundred dollars!" The woman gasped as she stared at her visitor.
"Why, you are a scoundrel, and nothing less."
Grimsby smiled, and rubbed his hands. He felt sure of his quarry, and
it mattered little to him what he was called. It was all in the way of
business, so he told himself. Then he picked up his hat from the floor
where he had deposited it, and made as though he was about to leave.
"Very well, then," he casually remarked. "If you think it is too much
I am sorry. Next week, perhaps, you will consider it very cheap, and
would be willing to give far more. But it may be too late then.
However, if you are unwilling to meet my moderate demand, it is no use
for me to remain longer."
He started to leave the fire-place, but the woman detained him.
"Don't go just yet," she ordered. "I realise that I must give you
something. But isn't your price exorbitant?"
"It might be for some, but not for you, Mrs. Randall. I understand
that you are one of the largest tax-payers in this city, and in your
own name at that. Why, I am astonished at myself for my moderation in
asking for so little from such a rich woman. I might have made it a
thousand at least."
For a few minutes the woman remained in deep thought. Grimsby never
took his eyes from her face. He was quite elated with himself, for he
felt sure of success.
At length the woman gave a weary sigh, rose slowly from her chair, and
crossing the room, sat down before a handsome writing-table. When she
at last came back to the fire-place she was holding a cheque in her
hand. Eagerly the man reached out to receive it. But the woman waved
him back.
"Just a minute," she told him. "Before I give you this I want you to
promise upon your word of honour that you will never ask me for any
more money."
"I promise, madame," Grimsby replied, bowing, and placing his right
hand upon his heart in a dramatic manner. "I shall make myself as
scarce as I always do when my creditors are after me. What more can I
say?"
"And you will never breathe a word of this to anyone?"
"Trust me to keep the secret, madame, I shall not even tell my wife."
The woman was about to say something more, but a startled look came
into her eyes, as she turned apprehensively toward the door. Nervously
she thrust the cheque into the man's hand.
"Here, take this," she ordered, "and leave the house at once. Somebody
is coming."
Without a word Grimsby seized his hat, sped across the room, opened the
door and disappeared. Trembling violently, the woman sank down in the
chair and buried her face in her hands, a veritable picture of abject
misery and despair.