BOB BURTON;
OR,
THE YOUNG RANCHMAN OF THE MISSOURI
BY
HORATIO ALGER, JR.,
AUTHOR OF "RAGGED DICK SERIES," "LUCK AND
PLUCK SERIES," "ATLANTIC SERIES," ETC.
[Illustration: Logo]
PHILADELPHIA:
PORTER & COATES.
COPYRIGHT, 1888,
BY
PORTER & COATES.
TO
J. HENRY PLUMMER,
NOW OF TALLAPOOSA, GA.
FROM WHOM I HAVE RECEIVED VALUABLE ASSISTANCE IN
THE PREPARATION OF THIS VOLUME,
IT IS DEDICATED WITH FRIENDLY REGARD.
[Illustration: AARON WOLVERTON STEALS THE RECEIPT.]
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
I. MR. BURTON'S RANCH, 5
II. AARON WOLVERTON, 15
III. A LITTLE RETROSPECT, 23
IV. THE SUDDEN SUMMONS, 33
V. WOLVERTON'S FIRST MOVE, 42
VI. THE LOST RECEIPT, 51
VII. WOLVERTON'S ADVENTURE WITH CLIP, 60
VIII. WOLVERTON'S DISMAY, 69
IX. SAM'S GIFT, 77
X. SAM IN A TIGHT PLACE, 85
XI. AN ANGRY CONFERENCE, 94
XII. WOLVERTON'S WATERLOO, 104
XIII. WHAT BOB FOUND IN THE CREEK, 111
XIV. THE BOAT AND ITS OWNER, 120
XV. BOB BUYS THE FERRY-BOAT, 128
XVI. WOLVERTON'S BAFFLED SCHEME, 137
XVII. WOLVERTON'S POOR TENANT, 146
XVIII. WOLVERTON'S WICKED PLAN, 154
XIX. MR. WOLVERTON MEETS TWO CONGENIAL SPIRITS, 163
XX. AN UNEXPECTED PASSENGER, 172
XXI. HOW WOLVERTON WAS FOOLED, 180
XXII. THE FIRST DAY, 189
XXIII. A SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER, 198
XXIV. CLIP MAKES A LITTLE MONEY FOR HIMSELF, 207
XXV. CLIP'S SECRET MISSION, 215
XXVI. WAS IT THE CAT? 224
XXVII. THE PASSENGER DISCOVERED, 233
XXVIII. SAM FINDS A RELATION, 243
XXIX. ROCKY CREEK LANDING, 251
XXX. AN UNLUCKY EVENING, 261
XXXI. HOW CLIP WAS CAPTURED, 269
XXXII. THE BOYS IMPRISONED, 277
XXXIII. A LUCKY ESCAPE, 289
XXXIV. MR. WOLVERTON'S LETTER, 297
XXXV. BOB'S ARRIVAL IN ST. LOUIS, 303
XXXVI. A THOUSAND DOLLARS REWARD, 308
XXXVII. BROWN AND MINTON WALK INTO A TRAP, 312
XXXVIII. WHAT BOB BROUGHT HOME, 318
XXXIX. CONCLUSION, 324
BOB BURTON;
OR,
THE YOUNG RANCHMAN OF THE MISSOURI.
CHAPTER I.
MR. BURTON'S RANCH.
"Harness up the colt, Clip; I'm going to the village."
"All right, massa!"
"What makes you call me massa? One would think I were a slave-owner."
"Can't help it, massa. There I done forgot it agin," said Clip, showing
his white teeth--preturnaturally white they showed in contrast with his
coal-black skin. "You see I used to say that to my old massa, down in
Arkansaw."
"What's my name, Clip?"
"Mister Burton."
"Then call me Mr. Burton. Now go, and don't waste any time."
"All right, massa."
"That boy's incorrigible," said Richard Burton to himself. "He hasn't
got cut of his early ways yet; careless and shiftless as he is, I
believe he is devoted to me and my family."
Clip, as may be inferred, was a negro boy, now turned of fourteen, who
for four years had been attached to the service of Richard Burton, a
ranchman, whose farm lay on a small stream tributary to the Missouri, in
the fertile State of Iowa. He had fled from his master in the northern
part of Arkansas, and, traveling by night, and secreting himself by day,
had finally reached Iowa; where he found a safe refuge in the family of
Mr. Burton. Indeed he had been picked up by Bob Burton, a boy a year
older than himself, who had brought him home and insisted on his father
taking charge of the young fugitive. On a large ranch there was always
something to do, and Clip was soon made useful in taking care of the
horses, in doing errands and in many odd ways.
While waiting for the wagon, Mr. Burton went into the house, and sought
his wife.
"Mamy," he said, "I am going to the village to pay Wolverton his
interest."
"I wish he didn't hold the mortgage, Richard," said Mrs. Burton, looking
up from her work.
"So do I, but why is it any the worse for him to hold it than for any
one else?"
"Richard, you may think me foolish and fanciful, but I distrust that
man. It is impressed upon my mind that he will some day do us harm."
"That is foolish and fanciful in good truth, Mamy. Now Wolverton seems
to me a--well, not exactly an attractive man, but good natured and
friendly. When I needed three thousand dollars last spring, on account
of a poor crop and some extra expenses, he seemed not only willing, but
really glad to lend it to me."
"He took a mortgage on the ranch," said Mary Burton dryly.
"Why, of course. He is a man of business, you know. You wouldn't expect
him to lend the money without security, would you?"
"And you pay him a large interest?"
"Ten per cent."
"There isn't much friendship in lending money on good security at ten
per cent., Richard."
"Oh, you put things in a wrong way, Mary. Money is worth ten per cent.
out here, and of course I didn't want Wolverton to lose money by me. He
could get that interest elsewhere."
"You are very unsuspecting, Richard. You credit everybody with your own
true, unselfish nature."
"Why, that's a compliment, Mary," laughed the husband, "and deserves a
kiss."
He bent over and touched his wife's cheek with his lips.
Mary Burton had reached the age of thirty-six, and was no longer in her
first youth, but her face seemed even more lovelier than when he married
her, so Richard Burton thought. He too was a man of fine presence, with
a frank, open face, that invariably won the favor of those who met him
for the first time. He was in the full vigor of manhood, and when he and
his wife attended the Methodist church on Sundays, many eyes were
attracted by the handsome couple. They had one son, Bob, who will soon
receive attention.
"I have a great mind, Richard, to tell you why I distrust and fear Aaron
Wolverton," said his wife after a slight pause.
"I wish you would, Mary. Perhaps, when I know, I can talk you out of
your apprehension."
"Did you ever know that Aaron Wolverton was once a suitor for my hand?"
Richard Burton burst into an explosive laugh.
"What! That dried-up old mummy had the presumption to offer you his
hand!"
"He actually did, Richard," said Mrs. Burton, smiling.
"I wonder you did not laugh in his face. Why, the man is fifteen years
older than I am, twenty years older than you."
"That difference is not unprecedented. I did not reject him because he
was older than myself. If you had been as old as he when you offered
yourself, I think I would have accepted you."
"Poor old fellow! Did he take it hard?" asked Burton, half jocosely.
"If you mean did he show any traces of a broken heart, I answer no. But
when, after pressing his suit persistently, he found my resolution to be
inflexible, his face became distorted with passion. He swore that he
would be revenged upon me some day, and that if I dared to marry any one
else he would never rest till he had brought harm to the husband of my
choice."
"I wish I had been there. I would have made him take back those words,
or I would have horsewhipped him."
"Don't take any notice of them, Richard," said Mary Burton, hastily. "It
will be much better."
"I agree with you," said her husband, his quick anger melting. "After
all, the old fellow's disappointment was so great that I can excuse a
little impetuosity, and even rudeness. You see, Mary, Wolverton isn't a
gentleman."
"No; and never will be."
"He acted as his nature prompted. But it was all over years ago. Why,
Mary, he is always friendly with me, even if I am your husband."
"That is on the outside, Richard; but I fear he is crafty. He is like
an Indian; his thirst for vengeance keeps alive."
"Admitting all that, though I don't, what harm can he do, Mary, while I
am here to protect you?" and the husband expanded his breast in
conscious strength, and looked down proudly on his fair wife. "Why, I
could wring his neck with only one hand."
"Well, perhaps I am foolish, Richard," the wife admitted.
"Of course you are, Mary."
Just then Clip put his head inside the door.
"De hoss is ready, massa!" he said.
"All right, Clip! I'll come right out."
Richard Burton kissed his wife hastily, and went out.
As he closed the door, a bright, handsome boy, strongly made, and
bearing a resemblance to both father and mother, entered.
"Hallo, mother! Are you all right?" he asked.
"I hope so, Robert."
"You look serious, as if you were worrying over something."
"I was thinking of Mr. Wolverton. Your father has gone to pay him
interest on the mortgage."
"Wolverton is a mean old hunks. He's got a nephew living with him, a boy
about my age. He works him nearly to death, and I am sure the poor boy
doesn't get half enough to eat."
"I was wishing your father didn't owe money to such a man."
"Oh, well, mother, there's no use in worrying. It's only three thousand
dollars, and if we have a good crop next year, father will be able to
pay off at least half of it. You can see we've got a splendid ranch,
mother. There isn't another within twenty miles where the land is as
rich."
"I shall be glad to see the day when the mortgage is wholly paid off,
and we are out of debt."
"So shall I, mother."
"Does Mr. Wolverton ever take any notice of you, Robert?"
"He took some notice of me this morning," laughed Bob. "That reminds me.
I just left three prairie chickens with Rachel in the kitchen."
"Did you shoot them this morning, Robert?"
"Yes, mother; you see I have my hunting dress on. But I shot two more. I
was bringing them home across a field of Wolverton's, when the old
fellow suddenly made his appearance, and, charging me with shooting them
on his land, laid claim to them. I denied the charge and told him I
proposed to keep them. With that he seized me by the collar, and we had
a rough-and-tumble fight for five minutes."
"Oh, Robert, how imprudent!"
"Well, mother, it was more than flesh and blood could stand. The upshot
of it was that I left him lying on his back trembling with rage. I threw
down two of the chickens to appease him. I hope he'll have them for
dinner, and Sam'll get a share of them. The poor fellow is half starved.
I don't believe he gets a square meal once a week."
"I am afraid you have made an enemy of Mr. Wolverton, Robert."
"I can't help it, mother. Would you have me bow down to him, and meekly
yield up my rights?"
"But, Robert, to get into a fight with a man so much older?"
"I don't want to get into any difficulty, mother. It was forced upon me.
Besides, I left him two of the chickens."
"Was Clip with you?"
"I reckon I was, missis," said Clip, displaying his ivories. "I laughed
like to split when Massa Bob laid de old man down on his back. Wasn't he
jest ravin'? Wouldn't have lost dat sight, missis, for de biggest
watermillion I ever seed."
Mrs. Burton smiled, but her smile was a faint one. She knew Aaron
Wolverton, and she feared that some time or other he would try to be
revenged on Bob.