A SECRET CONFERENCE.
The affairs of Florence Douglas are so interwoven with the fortunes of
my young hero that I find myself obliged to devote a part of my space to
their record. I confess that I have no pleasure in detailing the schemes
of Orton Campbell, who seems to me a very disagreeable character, but it
seems necessary.
After leaving the presence of Miss Douglas he took a walk, to consider
the situation and decide what it was most expedient to do. He was
spending considerable time and money in the effort to recover his
father's ward, and he did not like to fail. Yet it was not easy to
decide upon any plan which would bring success. It was not a matter in
which he could invoke the assistance of the law. The young lady's manner
convinced him that she would not of her own free will consent to
accompany him back. What, then, was to be done?
On the principle that two heads are better than one, he resolved to take
his companion, Jones, into his confidence and ask him to make a
suggestion.
"How did you find the young lady, Mr. Orton?" asked his follower on his
return to the hotel.
"Very offish, Jones."
"Then she wasn't glad to see you?" said Jones, with a grin.
"By no means. She hardly treated me with civility."
"That's because of the other man," said Jones, sagaciously.
"You are right. Mr. Dewey, as I learned, is in California."
"Then maybe they have an understanding together."
"No; she doesn't know where he is."
Jones was puzzled, and showed it in a way common to men of his class. He
scratched his head and looked perplexed.
"Then, what good is it for her to stay here?" he asked, after a pause.
"She is taking steps to find this Dewey, who is somewhere at the mines,
though she would not tell me what they were. He may turn up any time,
and then good-bye to all my hopes."
"You want to marry her yourself, Mr. Orton?"
"Of course. Otherwise I wouldn't have come so far in search of her."
"The young lady is very rich, isn't she?" asked Jones, shrewdly.
"She has a moderate fortune," replied Orton, guardedly; "but that
doesn't influence me."
"Of course not," said Jones; but there was something in his tone which
made Campbell eye him sharply.
"I am no fortune-hunter," said he, stiffly.
"You'd want to marry her just the same if she hadn't a cent?"
"Of course I would," snapped Orton.
"Now, that's what I call real love," said Jones. "To be sure, you're
rich yourself, and needn't mind."
"Precisely so. I may not be rich, but I can support a wife."
"As the young lady prefers some one else, I suppose we may as well go
home?"
"That's what I want to talk to you about, Jones. Very likely this Dewey
is dead; at any rate, he's a mere fortune-hunter. Now, although Florence
doesn't care to marry me now, if our marriage could be brought about she
would no doubt be reconciled to it after a while. Now, Jones, have you
anything to suggest?"
Orton Campbell threw himself back in his chair and eyed Jones. He had
formed a plan, but, if possible, he wanted the proposal to come from
Jones.
Jones was not over-scrupulous; he had never been so, and the months he
had spent in the mines in the company of adventurers of all kinds had
not improved him. Even law-abiding citizens often lost their regard for
law in California, and Jones had fewer scruples to overcome than most.
He suggested a plan which met with the approval of his employer, and
promised his co-operation on the understanding that if successful
Campbell should properly reward him.
It may be added that of the thousand dollars which he was to receive for
his information he had actually received but three hundred, Orton
Campbell having on various pretexts put off paying him. He received the
assurance that this also should be paid him without further delay as
soon as the plan referred to was successfully carried out.