MORTON’S SECRET.
THEY walked for about a mile, threading the intricacies of the forest.
Tom did not particularly mind the walk. In fact, though the idea of
being a captive in the hands of robbers was not particularly agreeable,
there was a spice of adventure and romance about it which he liked.
Gates, too, was a man who took things philosophically, and did not allow
himself to be disturbed overmuch by any contretemps like the present.
But the other two, namely, Morton and our Teutonic friend, took it more
to heart. Morton had a great deal to lose, and he was in terror lest the
papers and certificates of stock should be found upon his person. For
them he had staked reputation and liberty. For them he was an exile and
a fugitive, and he felt that if they were lost he should have little
left to live for.
As for Herr Schmidt, he was troubled in more than one way. First, with
his portly figure and superfluous load of flesh, he found locomotion,
especially in the forest, quite difficult. Then again he had with him
three hundred dollars in gold, which he was very reluctant to part with.
He felt that they would all be taken from him, and what to do then he
did not know. It would take money to go on, it would take money to go
back. On the whole the prospect of his seeing again the fair Katrine,
who, good woman, was physically a very good match for her Johann, was
indeed small. So he kept groaning as he walked, and indulged, from time
to time, in little ejaculations expressive of his unhappy frame of mind.
Tom and Gates walked on together.
“I wonder if it’s much farther,” said Gates. “Our German friend doesn’t
look happy.”
Tom laughed.
“Perhaps I shouldn’t be, if I had such a load to carry.”
“And if you had a Katrine and kinder at home.”
“Just so. But I haven’t. How is it with you?”
“Oh, I’m an independent bachelor, roaming the world for a living. I’m
like a cat. However I’m tossed up, I’m sure to land on my feet.”
“Then I hope I shall be like a cat, too.”
“You don’t seem very much disturbed.”
“No. It’s my first adventure, and I haven’t much to lose.”
“So with me. Well, Morton, how goes it? You look as if you were
attending a funeral.”
“Will there be a funeral?” interrupted the terrified Dutchman. “Oh, Gott
in Himmel! they will not kill us?”
“No, mein herr, I think not. They’ll only take all our money.”
Mr. Schmidt groaned piteously, and for the fiftieth time execrated his
folly in selling out a lager bier saloon, in which he was making money,
to start in quest of the mines. Ah, little did the plump Katrine and the
children, waiting eagerly to hear of his success, dream that he was even
now in the clutches of robbers.
But the longest journey has an ending, and this was not a very long
journey.
They reached a rude wooden building, backed by a precipitous elevation.
There was nothing peculiar in its appearance, except that it had no
windows. In fact, the main wonder was, that in this lonely place there
should be any building at all.
“Halt, gentlemen,” said the captain, “it is here that we stop.”
“Is this our hotel?” asked Tom lightly.
“Yes,” said the captain, relaxing his stern features with a smile.
“Shall I announce to you the rules of this house?”
“What are they?”
“Payment in advance.”
Morton’s face changed, and the Dutchman looked unhappy.
“I hope your bill won’t be unreasonable,” said Gates.
“Not at all. We shall not ask more than you have.”
“Thank you; you are very considerate.”
“We’ll begin with you, then,” said the captain, addressing Gates.
“Oh, I’m a poor devil. I haven’t much.”
“Produce what you have.”
Gates took out his purse, which proved to contain a hundred and fifty
dollars in gold.
“Is that all?”
“Every cent.”
“Search him.”
Two members of the band advanced and searched him, but nothing more was
to be found.
“You are an honest fellow. I won’t take all. Here!” and the robber
returned twenty dollars of the sum taken.
“Thank you!” said Gates, with a little surprise. “Really, for a robber,
you are very polite and honorable.”
“Now it’s your turn, young bantam,” was addressed to Tom.
Our hero produced all his money, as was shown by the subsequent search.
“Good!” said the captain. “Here are twenty for you. It will take you to
the mines. Now, old man, it’s your turn.”
Herr Schmidt would have done well to profit by the example of his
companions, and surrendered what he could not retain. But it was too
much for his equanimity. He brought out twenty-five dollars, and stoutly
asseverated that it was all he had. But the captain was too sharp for
him. A skillful examination disclosed eleven times as much more.
“You were richer than you thought,” said the captain, in a sarcastic
tone.
“It is all I had. I am ruined!” exclaimed Johann piteously. “Good
robber, give me back half.”
“Not one penny!” returned the chief emphatically. “You tried to defraud
me, and you merit no consideration at my hands. You were not like these
gentlemen,” and he nodded approvingly in the direction of Gates and Tom.
Herr Schmidt wrung his hands and protested that he was ruined, and that
his Katrine and children would all starve.
“Let them cook you, then,” said the captain. “That will keep them alive
for a month.”
But even this suggestion did not mitigate the grief of the unhappy
Teuton, who sunk down on a stump near by and bewailed his fate.
Morton was reserved to the last. He was wise enough to give up all his
gold, though he had considerably more than either of his companions. But
he also was compelled to submit to a search. No money was found, but the
belt was discovered.
“What is that?” demanded the captain.
“A belt,” faltered Morton.
“What is in it?”
“Papers—no money, I assure you,” hurriedly answered Morton.
“If they are papers, we must see them,” said the captain.
“They would be of no value to you,” said Morton quickly. “They are
business papers.”
“I must see them,” said the captain suspiciously.
Tom had pricked up his ears when he first heard the papers mentioned.
His heart beat quick. Were these the securities of which he was in
search? He believed so, and waited anxiously to ascertain. Yet, even if
they should prove to be so, how would he be the better off?
He bent his eyes eagerly upon the robber-captain as he opened the belt
and revealed the contents.
------------------------------------------------------------------------