STARTLING SURPRISES.
"Bravo!"
Sheriff Brady stopped suddenly in his movement to put the handcuffs on
his prisoner, and every person in the crowd of spectators uttered an
exclamation of surprise at the unexpected word spoken so sharply and
with the ring of admiration in it.
Turning abruptly around, the spectators were amazed to see a horseman
nearby, he having ridden upon the scene unobserved by all.
"Bravo for you, Dix Lewis!" cried the newcomer. "Upon second thought I
concluded that I did not give you the answer I ought, so I have come up
to see you, and help settle your trouble. What's up here, anyway?"
"Marion Calvert, as I live!" exclaimed Jason Warfield.
Little Snap had already seen the horseman, and his countenance had taken
on a brighter look.
"I am glad to see you, Mr. Calvert. They have accused me of doing that
of which I am innocent, and there don't seem to be any one able to help
me out."
"Don't, eh? Well, let me see what I can do," urging his horse forward
through the crowd to the post office door as he spoke. "Mr. Brady, what
do you think you are doing?"
"I—the fact is, Mr. Calvert, there has been a little irregularity in the
boy's business, and we thought it was time to look into it. We didn't
mean him any harm, only we did it as a matter of self-protection."
"I see," replied the mail contractor, in a tone which puzzled his
hearers. "The boy was down to see me about it, but I answered him rather
hastily at the time. Luckily I saw my duty before it was too late, and
at the sacrifice of some business obligations I am here. I think I came
at a good time, too.
"I learned at Greenbrier that the road had not been fully cleared at
Kanawha Narrows yet. The bridge across the Greenbrier is not in passable
shape. But I have left word that if the post road is not passable
to-morrow morning I will have every official indicted. I should like to
know what you have been doing."
"Attending to our own business," retorted Claverton, showing his
displeasure.
"I should think you had been doing little else than to make war upon
this boy. You seem to forget that if there is any fault to be found I am
the one to complain to. I am under bonds to the United States Government
to see that the mail is carried on the Kanawha route in a proper
manner."
"You can't stand between us and justice," replied Claverton. "My court
has found the youngster guilty of high misdemeanors, and if you wish to
father them, all right. Otherwise he goes to jail inside of——"
"Go to jail yourself and take your court along with you!" cried the
imperturbable Calvert. "I will see the boy through now."
"Defy the law, do you?" demanded Claverton, sharply.
"Your law, yes! I forgot more last night than you ever knew. I want to
see you at your home, Mr. Lewis."
"I give you warning, sir," said Claverton, as a last desperate resort,
"that the boy's bondsmen have thrown him over. He stands without any
backing."
"Is that so? How is it, Mr. Warfield? I believe your name was first on
his paper."
"Yes, sir, I—I——"
"That's all right. How is it with the others?"
"I have asked to have my name taken off," said Meiggs. "But I am on Mr.
Shag's bond."
"I am off young Lewis' paper, but on Mr. Shag's," said Clevis Claverton.
"Very well. I don't care a picayune about you two, or this Shag. You
will sign a new bond for the boy, Mr. Warfield?"
To the surprise of Mr. Rimmon and Little Snap, the politician replied,
after a moment's hesitation:
"Certainly, Mr. Calvert; anything I can do for him I will. I hope I may
have a little talk with you before you leave the town."
"Yes. Now, Mr. Lewis, I would like to see you alone a little while. I
will see that that bond is fixed up all satisfactory, Mr. Claverton."
"You can come right into my office," said Mr. Rimmon. "I will send my
man to take care of your horse, Mr. Calvert."
Notwithstanding the bold utterances of Marion Calvert, the majority of
the spectators looked with favor upon him, and there were many outspoken
words in admiration of him. The crowd generally falls in with him who
shows a fearless attitude, even if he slightly oversteps the line drawn
for him, rather than the one who is weak and vacillating, though he
represents the cause they intended to espouse. Mr. Warfield had recently
acted in a manner disliked by several, and not understood by any.
While the outsiders were discussing the situation _pro_ and _con_,
Little Snap and his two friends were trying to decide upon the best
course of action. Finally, when he had been made acquainted with the
true state of affairs, Mr. Calvert said:
"I will look after the bonds on your mail contract, Lewis, and to give
Claverton and his backers no opportunity to make a fuss, I will see that
the proper bail is secured for you. To-morrow I will go to Salt Works
with you, and stay there to come home with you. I do not believe you
will have any farther trouble. I must go to Washington on the next day.
Be sure and keep your eyes and ears open, and at the least suspicion of
interference let me know. Mr. Rimmon will also be on the watch for you."
"You needn't be afraid but Warfield will stand by you after this, for he
knows his chances of getting into Congress depend too much on what I do
for him to act differently."
Having reached this decision, the plan was carried out as rapidly as
possible, and with complete success, so the following morning Little
Snap was promptly on hand for the mail pouch.
So was Dan Shag, and in his disappointment, he exclaimed:
"The day o' reckonin' ain't fur off, Dix Lewis, so carry a high hand
while ye can."
As he had promised, Mr. Calvert accompanied the postboy on his trip as
far as Salt Works and return, though nothing occurred to hint of any
further trouble.
The following day the contractor left for Washington, while Little Snap
started on his daily route alone.
Naturally, he never rode through the Wash Bowl and along the Narrows
without recalling his startling experiences there and looking sharply
about him.
Thus an uneventful week passed, until one afternoon, after having met
and passed Old Solitaire at his lonely vigil, he was suddenly made aware
that his battle was not over.
Descending into the Bowl with his usual caution, he was passing a
particularly lonely place in the road, where an overhanging rock nearly
touched his head as he rode along, when his attention was attracted by a
shrill cry off to his right and lower down the basin.
Turning for a moment to look in that direction, he was just in season to
catch a glimpse of the mail pouch as it was being whisked out of sight
over his head!
Stopping Jack with a sudden jerk of the rein, it was fully a minute
before the surprised postboy could comprehend what had taken place.