The Road to California
Jack Kingsley's escape from the jail at Hopeville caused a huge
sensation, and the hue and cry raised by the constable and by the
officials in charge of the case extended into the country on every side.
It was clear that he had been aided by some outside individual, and, as
was perfectly natural, suspicion fell upon James Orring.
"He's been the one all through that's stuck up for the prisoner,"
reported the constable, at his wits' end to provide a tale which would
clear himself from blame, "and I can't help thinking he's done it. But
he's too clever."
"How?" demanded the official who was interrogating him.
"Just this way. James has witnesses to swear he was at home from after
tea till I went round to inspect and search the premises. I went to his
house the instant I learned that the prisoner had escaped, and found
James fast asleep."
"Or kidding," suggested the official.
"No; right down fast asleep, and no mistake. And Mrs. Orring, whom I've
known all my life, declared he'd gone to bed with a baddish headache
soon after tea, and had been there ever since. He'd wakened once, and
had called her."
"Is there anyone else whom you suspect of complicity in the escape?" he
was asked.
"Nary one. Jack Kingsley was a stranger, so ter speak, and hadn't any
friends. That's why I'll stake my davy James was in it."
"Well? And have you any news as to the direction he took?"
"Down stream," answered the constable emphatically. "I searched James
Orring's yard thoroughly, yer bet, and then someone told me that a boat
was missing. Later on it was reported stranded on the far shore, with
the planks kicked in. So the prisoner is at large over thar."
"Where we shall lay our hands on him," said the official. "I will send
his description to all the stations."
But a week passed and still there was no trace of the prisoner.
"Yer must jest lie low and doggo a little longer," said James one early
morning, standing at the door of the smithy, and speaking apparently to
the air. "Find it comfortable in thar?"
"Been in a worse spot," sang out Jack cheerily, for he was still
ensconced behind James's scrap heap. "It's a little cramping to the
legs, that's all."
"And had enough to eat?"
"Heaps, thanks!"
"Then stick it out a bit longer. That 'ere Simpkins, the constable,
can't get it outer his mind that I war the one to free yer. He's got a
sorter idea you're here, and he comes slinking round most times of the
day. So don't yer show so much as a finger."
Jack, fortunately for him, obeyed these instructions to the letter,
never emerging from his retreat even at night-time. For one evening the
constable put in an unexpected appearance, coming from the back of the
houses. He found James Orring washing before a bucket placed in the yard
standing between the smithy and the house, and his wife holding a towel
in readiness for him.
"Why, it aer the constable!" said James in surprise, as his face emerged
from the pail and he stretched out for the towel. "What in thunder aer
he come along fer? Say, Simpkins, will yer come and have a bit of tea
with us? I knows ye've been a trifle put out over this affair, and have
got it stuck into yer head that I'm the man that's done it. Jest try to
get the idea put clean aside, and let bygones be bygones. Come and have
a bit of tea and a smoke afterwards."
But Simpkins was not to be beguiled. He strode into the smithy, and
afterwards carefully searched every corner of the yard, climbing on to
the top of the scrap heap. Evidently he disbelieved James, and thought
he was being hoaxed. His attitude vexed Mrs. Orring till her patience
gave out.
"Look ye here, young man," she called out at last, "ef yer want to come
searching round here most hours of the day and night, yer'd better by
half come and take up yer quarters here altogether, so as to save
trouble. Trade's not been that good that we'd sniff at a lodger, and
we'd make yer comfortable. Then yer could sit right at the smithy door,
and count the people what comes during the day. Or yer could sit right
thar in the parlour, and make sure as sure that we ain't feedin' young
Jack. More shame to yer to hound after him so! A wee, young chap such as
he."
James Orring laughed heartily, while Simpkins looked confused, and
reddened. He had a very great idea of his own importance, and banter
irritated him. Moreover, cases in Hopeville being few and far between,
he had made the utmost of this one of burglary and murder. He had been
so energetic, in fact, that he had won the commendation of the sheriff.
And now the escape of his prisoner at the eleventh hour had brought
ridicule down on his head. People joked him in the street, and his
wounded dignity was ready to blaze out at anything. If Mrs. Orring had
been alone he would have given her a piece of his mind. But James was
there, looking particularly formidable, and laughing heartily, thereby
showing he cared not a fig for the constable.
"If I was you I'd jest git," said James. "This here smithy ain't a
healthy place for sech as you. Don't yer take my missus serious. She
don't want you ter stop up here; not at all."
"I'm open to lay anything that you helped the prisoner to escape,"
blustered Simpkins; "and I believe that if I searched high and low I'd
find him."
"Then why not get to at it?" asked James with a bantering smile. "One
would have thought yer had already done it pretty thoroughly."
"Then I haven't. I'd like to pull the smithy down and see what's behind
those bellows, or up in the loft Besides, there's that heap of scrap.
Fer all I know you've hidden him there."
James Orring went off into a peal of gruff laughter while his wife
turned away to hide her dismay. As for Simpkins, he walked to the
tumbled heap of iron rusting against the smithy, and began to pull
portions of it away.
"Say, constable, you'll be the death of me," gasped James, doubling up
with laughing. "Why, if that ain't Seth and Piggy Harten! Say, boys,
what do yer think's the latest? This here Simpkins guesses as Jack
Kingsley's hidden up somewhars here, and he wants a man or two ter pull
the smithy about, tear down the bellows and sichlike, and cart away that
heap of scrap. He's jest took on that heap. He believes as Jack's lyin'
there at the bottom."
It happened that Seth was not on the best of terms with the constable,
and at James's words he giggled audibly, and turned a scornful face to
Simpkins.
"You're jest about right," he cried. "Jack's 'way down below that heap
o' iron scrap, and yer'd best get a horse or so to pull it about. Reckon
he'll be no use as a prisoner though."
Simpkins turned an enquiring look upon him. He was a stubborn fellow,
this constable, and all the banter only made him more determined.
"Why no use?" he asked.
"'Cos he'll jest be as flat as a pancake. Jest like a sheet, you bet.
There's three ton o' iron there, man, and it'd squeeze the life out of
even a constable."
Seth went off laughing, while the constable again reddened. Turning on
his heel, he gave James one quick, vindictive look, and then departed.
"He means mischief," said Mrs. Orring. "That man suspects something, and
he'll not be satisfied till he's rummaged the smithy and every corner.
Jack'll be found."
"Ef he's here," answered James cunningly; "ef he's here, missus. Jest
yer hop right in and tell Mrs. Kingsley as her son'll be at the back
door a bit after sevin. He'll be sayin' goodbye. Ef she's got a trifle
for him, she'd better have it ready."
It was already getting dusk, so that there was little fear of being
disturbed. James went promptly to Jack's hiding place and dragged away
the odds and ends of iron he had thrown against the heap so as to hide
the opening.
"Yer can hop out right now," he said. "Now, ye've got ter git, and
precious slippy, else Simpkins'll have yer. How aer yer off for brass?"
"I've saved fifty-eight dollars," answered Jack promptly.
"And here's another fifty. On loan, lad. Yer can pay me back some o'
these days when things have shaped a little differently. Now, what aer
yer going ter do?"
Jack had been thinking it over during his enforced idleness in his
retreat, and answered promptly. "I'll make west to California," he said.
"Once there I shall be perfectly safe. It's the getting there that will
be difficult. There's this red head of mine to tell tales everywhere."
"To be sure there is. But yer ain't no need ter fear. Mrs. Orring and me
thought of that. We've sent down river for a bottle of hair dye, and
guess it'll change yer nicely. Come along into the smithy, and we'll try
it right now. So you'll make for Californy? And how?"
"By road. If I tried the rail I should certainly be detected. I'll make
down by road somehow. Perhaps I'll get a job on the way. If not, I'll
walk at night and hide up during the day."
"That's a cute idea; and say, youngster, when you gets there jest send a
line. We've took your mother's address, and we can post on to her. Don't
give no proper address, and don't sign a name. Savvy? Now fer the hair."
An hour later our hero was well outside the township of Hopeville, on
the road to California, hundreds and hundreds of miles to the west. He
was glad now to have said farewell to his friends and to be alone; for
he felt that he could think better, that he could shape his actions for
the future, and decide what course to follow. Uppermost in his mind,
swamping all other considerations, was the overwhelming desire to prove
his innocence. That was a task which he would never neglect nor forget.
But for the moment he must get clear away from Hopeville, and be lost,
as it were.
"In a year or so I'll be able to grow a beard," he said to himself. "By
then this matter will have been forgotten, and so long as I do not come
to Hopeville I shall be secure. Yes, I must get away, and wait till my
appearance is changed. For the present I have a long walk before me."
All that night he trudged on in a westerly direction, traversing a road
which was hardly deserving of the name. It was little better than a cart
track. And the following night found him some thirty miles from his
starting-point. He had met no one, and so far as he knew no one had seen
him. As the evening of the third day from Hopeville closed in he ate
the remainder of his provisions and took the road again; for he had
slept during the day hidden in a small wood.
"To-morrow I shall have to show myself," he said. "I must buy food, or I
shall be unable to stand the walking. I'll try some farm. That will be
better than going to a town."
It was, indeed, the only sensible course to pursue under the
circumstances, for, had he but known of it, the constable at Hopeville
had supplied a description of the runaway to all towns within a hundred
miles, while so greatly had the trial preyed upon Jack that, in spite of
the change in his complexion, he felt nervous of discovery, as if the
first woman or child who met him would recognize him at once. It was a
horrible feeling, and not to be conquered till time had elapsed.
Jack had covered some five miles of his tramp that night when his ear
detected sounds in the distance. He moved forward cautiously, and
presently discovered a cart and horse halted in the roadway. A man was
walking to and fro beside the cart, talking to himself excitedly, and
kicking the ground as if he were in a temper. Our hero took as close a
look at him as possible, for now and again the stranger crossed before
the beam of light thrown out from a solitary lantern. He was
ridiculously short, and ludicrously dressed. On his head was a black
wideawake, from beneath the brim of which rolls of hair descended till
they trailed on to his shoulders. He wore a short frockcoat, the tails
of which came little lower than his waist, and served to accentuate his
lack of stature, while a massive chain flashed across a rather ample
waistcoat. The face was neither ugly nor handsome, while at the same
time, in spite of the temper in which this individual undoubtedly was,
it gave promise of kindliness. Jack took his courage in both hands.
"Goody!" he said, striding up. "Anything amiss?"
The stranger started back at first, and looked not a little frightened.
Then he took the lamp and inspected our hero carefully, while it was as
much as the latter could do to return his glances. That odious
accusation, the fact that he was an escaping criminal, had almost robbed
his youthful face of its refreshing frankness.
"My word! Thought you was that villain George at first," said the
stranger. "Jest see here. I hired him out to look after the hosses and
act the professional man. He took good wages too. And he's jest bolted.
Said as he'd follow, and hasn't. Met him on the road?"
Jack shook his head. "Seen no one," he said.
"Wall, that jest proves it. He's done a bolt, and my tin box has gone
with him. Guess it's lucky I cleared the cash last night. What might you
be doin'?"
"Travelling west," said Jack.
"Business?" asked the stranger.
"N-n-no. Just travelling west," answered Jack. "I'm making for the
diggings."
"Oh!" exclaimed the little man. "Likely enough you're goin' to meet
friends there."
"I haven't any," said Jack, shaking his head, and thinking rather
bitterly of his position.
"Then you ain't in a hurry, and you ain't fixed for a job. P'raps you've
no need fer one."
Again Jack shook his head. He was not going to be communicative to this
little man, and yet at the same time he could not afford to throw away
a chance of help. If this stranger needed a man, why should he, Jack,
not accept the post?
"I'm ready for a job when I find one," he said quietly. "But I'm bound
for the west."
"And so am I, and I need someone to accompany me. See here," cried the
little man, "you're a fair height, and would make up splendidly. I'll
tell you what I'll do. I'll give you ten dollars a week and your food to
come with me. You'll have to feed and mind the horses, and clean out the
van. Then, when we set up shop at the towns, you'll have to dress up
fine and come on the stage."
"Stage!" exclaimed Jack, somewhat bewildered.
"Jest so. I'll explain. I'm a travelling conjuror and mesmerist. I have
to have help. Wall, to be candid, there are tricks that can't be worked
without a second man. You'll have a beard and moustache, and will dress
in a frockcoat, and all that, to look professional, and you'll hang
about till I call for one of the audience to come on the stage. That'll
be your chance. You'll hop up, and the trick will go like fire. And for
the job, ten dollars a week, your grub, and lodging in the van. It's as
snug as any house."
It was a tempting offer, and Jack decided to accept it at once. But he
asked another question.
"How about California? I'm bound there, and must go. I warn you I could
not stay very long in your service."
"And no need. I'm makin' west, and you and me'll be strangers wherever
we go. Leastwise, you will, for I've been along the route before. Wall,
now, you'll get known, and ef on the return run the same man appears,
and walks up on the stage, the people would spot something wrong and
funny. You can leave at the end of the trip, and I'll pick up another
man."
"Then I accept," said Jack.
He had been thinking keenly all the while, and saw in the offer now made
him an excellent opportunity of obtaining work and a disguise at the
same time. One thing, however, he did not like entirely. He asked
himself whether he was to be a dupe, whether the post he had accepted
would entail behaviour likely to gull the public. If that were so, he
decided offhand that he would leave this little man promptly; for,
though his position was critical, and arrest stared him in the face at
any moment, Jack was not the one to lend himself to dishonesty.
"I'm innocent, Heaven knows," he thought, somewhat bitterly, "and I have
to clear myself of that crime for which I was about to be condemned. But
I will not begin the task I have set myself by acting dishonestly in any
way."
"What name, please?" he asked.
"Amos Shirley, at your service from right now."
In the feeble light given by the solitary lamp the little man pulled off
his huge hat with a theatrical gesture, and bobbed in Jack's direction.
Indeed, looking at him there, he was, without doubt, a comical little
man, full of his own importance, with plenty of humour and kindliness,
and, if the truth be told, given not a little to pomposity.
"Amos Shirley, conjuror, clairvoyant, mesmerist, known up and down the
country. And you?"
"Tom Starling," answered Jack, reddening under Amos's gaze, a fact which
the little man noted, for he coughed significantly.
"And I wish to say that I reserve the right of giving a week's notice at
any time, and also that while I will help you willingly, and to the best
of my ability, I will not lend myself to any underhand tricks, any sort
of subterfuge, likely to gull your public."
Amos Shirley gave vent to a shrill whistle.
"Then the job's off," he said promptly, watching our hero closely. For
this conjuring business was no easy one to manipulate, particularly with
the intelligent people to be met with in America. Amos had before now
discovered that an audience of miners, for instance, not wholly
convinced of the genuineness of a trick, were apt to insist on
embarrassing conditions, and were not above pelting the conjuror, or
even perforating the stage with their bullets. He had, indeed, found
before now that miners and cowboys required clever humouring; and while
they were ready to pay liberally, and, indeed, to throw dollar notes on
the stage if pleased in some particular, that they were at the same time
a merry, high-spirited lot, apt now and again to become playfully
reckless, and attempt a counter attraction, which chiefly took the form
of showing how easily they could shoot the front lights of the stage
away, or puncture the broad-brimmed hat of the conjuror with their
bullets without doing any real harm.
"I'm sorry," replied Jack. "Goody!"
"Hold on. Say now," said Amos, feeling that he was about to lose a
chance. "Who said there was any gulling?"
"No one," answered our hero. "At the same time I gathered there might be
some sort of wish on your part. I'll help in every way when it's a case
of conjuring, for we all know that sleight of hand is required, and
general smartness. But in mesmerism, or anything of that sort, I'll not
take a hand."
"Gee! That's straight. Say now," cried Amos, "I'll take you on those
terms. You're a queer fish, you are, sticking out about such a trifle.
But we won't quarrel. You will learn what's expected, and I've
sufficient good tricks to play without overstepping your decision. Let's
git along. Had any food?"
For five weeks in succession our hero travelled west with Amos, and the
two became excellent friends. He found the work to his liking, and the
post an excellent passport. No one, unless well acquainted with Jack,
could have detected in Amos's helper the escaped prisoner from
Hopeville. The hair die disguised him well, while the beard and
moustache he donned, as soon as the stage was erected before the
travelling wagon, made him even more secure. But it is always the
unforeseen that happens. One evening, when he had stepped on to the
stage, dressed in top hat, frockcoat, beard, and moustache, to help his
employer in some conjuring trick, his eyes, roaming over the faces of
the collected audience, met one which was familiar. It was Simpkins, the
constable from Hopeville, sharp and alert, closely inspecting his
neighbours in the audience, and every person within his vision.