TWO KINDS OF SORROW.
But as June wore away, one day when Jack visited the office of his
step-father, he found Stetson there, and was informed by him that some
evil-disposed persons were 'bearing' the stock of the Wedge of Gold
Company, which was most unfortunate, as it interfered with the
arrangements in progress for building the mill.
Browning did not know enough about stocks to see through the deception,
but bluntly asked what could be done to stop the injury. "The true way,"
said Stetson, "would be to go on the market and take all the stock
offered until the bear movement should be broken."
Browning had heard about Captain Kelly "bearing" the bonanza stocks, and
how the bonanza firm had taken all he offered, so he said: "Why do you
not go out and put a stopper on the beggars?" Stetson explained that he
had not the money. "Why, we can fix that," said Jack. So he wrote a note
to the ---- Bank to honor the orders of Jenvie & Hamlin until further
instructions, turned the check over to Hamlin and told him to manage it.
The days went by. There was an excursion of the young people to Wales,
and another to Scotland, and besides Jack had gone down to Devonshire,
bonded the place he liked, paid £1,000 down, and was to meet the
remainder of the obligation--£9,000--when the titles were all looked up
and transferred to him. Meanwhile, June and the better part of July were
gone when one morning Jack went to the bank and drew a check for a few
pounds which he needed for spending money. The cashier as he paid the
check, informed Browning that the directors would be glad to see him in
the private office of the bank. A messenger showed him the way, and he
was there informed that the house of Jenvie & Hamlin had been drawing so
heavily upon his order that only some £12,000 remained to his credit. The
news was a paralyzer, but Jack was a game man and said: "That is all
right," talked pleasantly for a few minutes, then withdrew, and going
directly to his step-father's office, demanded an explanation.
The old men informed him that they had tried to hold up the stock of the
"Wedge of Gold," but their efforts had proved of no use. The shares had
run down to almost nothing. They had even used the reserve fund intended
for the building of the mill, and it looked, they said, as though they
could never realize enough to get even.
"Has the stock recently bought been placed to my credit?" asked Jack. He
was told that it had been. "And how much is it?" he demanded. They
informed him that it amounted to 83,000 shares, which, with the 50,000
shares first bought by him, gave him 133,000 shares, or the entire stock
except 17,000 shares.
Jack was lost in thought a few minutes, then said: "I want all the papers
except the 17,000 shares, and I want with them your own and Stetson's
resignation as officers of the company."
The papers were given him, and taking the bundle he carried it to his own
bank and deposited it, then went home.
He repaired directly to Jim's apartment, found him, and said: "Jim, my
heart is broken. You have stood by me so far, help me now to arrange
things so that I can say good-bye to Rose"--here he broke down and
sobbed--"and then go back to America."
"Why, old friend," said Sedgwick, "if you and Rose are all right, what
can so upset you?"
"Why, bless my soul, Jim, I'm ruined; my fortune is nearly all gone," he
answered.
Then Sedgwick drew from him all the dismal story.
When he had finished, Sedgwick said: "Get me that prospectus, Jack: I
want to see it before I make up my mind." Jack complied, and Sedgwick
read it carefully through. The statement of the mine, the description
of its development, and of the value of the ore, had been prepared by an
expert so eminent that he could not afford to sell his name to bolster up
a fraud.
When Sedgwick had finished reading he sat in thought for a few minutes,
and then said: "Jack, go and find the man from whom this property was
purchased, get all the facts that you can, even if you have to get him
drunk; then come to me to-morrow, and by that time we will think
something out. By the way, first run over to Rose, tell her you have been
called away on business and may not be home until late, so that she will
not expect you."
Jack left his friend and met Rose in the hall. She had just come in to
visit Grace. He caught her up as men sometimes do children, kissed her
and said gaily: "Don't look for me to-night, sweetheart. I'm going to be
engaged until late."
She twined both her arms around one of his arms and said teasingly: "Are
not you and I engaged, and is not ours a prior engagement?"
"O, yes," he said, "but this other engagement is with a man."
"So is mine," she said.
"And sometimes I think he is not much of a man, either," said Jack.
"Don't you dare to slander him," said Rose. "I know him better than he
knows himself, and I will not permit one word to be breathed against
him."
"He ought to be most proud of so lovely a champion. He must be the most
blessed man of all the earth," said Jack, looking fondly down upon her.
Then he added: "Are you very sure that nothing could ever come between
his love and you?"
"Why, Jack, how serious you are," the fair girl said. "Nothing, nothing,
can ever come to break my admiration for him. Death itself can but
suspend life for a little while. My Jack and myself will be loving each
other when this world shall be worn out and be floating in space, as does
a dead swan upon a lake."
Browning bent and kissed her again, said softly
"Amen," and went out.
The day wore away, and when dinner was announced, Browning had not
returned. Sedgwick went with Grace to the sitting room and remained
for a few minutes. Grace chided him upon being moody, and with all her
caressing ways tried to exorcise the evil spirit that was upon him, but
with poor success. Finally he asked her to excuse him, telling her he was
absorbed in a little matter not strictly his own, which he would tell her
all about after awhile.
She listened, and when he had finished, she put her arms around his neck,
and said:
"You see when confidence is withheld from me, I become violently angry,
and punish the culprit by going away." Then she kissed him, arose, backed
to the door, reached behind her, opened it, passed out, then kissing her
hand to him, closed the door.
Sedgwick went out, and at once repaired to the hotel where Jordan stopped
when in the city. He had been out of town following some whim, and
Sedgwick had not seen him since Derby Day.
Reaching the hotel, he learned that Jordan had returned, and soon found
him.
Jordan met him joyfully, explained why he had been away, that he was
thinking all the way home from the Derby that if he remained he might be
a burden to Sedgwick and his new friends; that the best thing to do was
to take no chances, and so he had been making the tour of Ireland.
Of that country he had much to say. "Yo' oughter go thar, Jim," he said.
"Thar's a people wot ken look poverty in ther face 'nd laff it ter scorn;
whar three squar meals a day ken be made on hope; whar wit grows on ther
bushes; whar ther air ez filled with songs 'nd full hearts fill ther
vacancy made by empty stomachs. It's ther most pathetic spot on earth,
Jim. A race lives ther filled with energy and hope, a race as is generous
and brave, 'nd warm-hearted, holdin' within 'em vitality enough ter found
a dozen empires, but chained by poverty 'nd superstition, 'nd hate of the
bruiser on this side of ther channel; nussin' impossible dreams 'ev a
nationality which ther kentry couldn't support ef once obtained; proud ez
Lucifer of a past which hez little in it 'cept wrong 'nd tyranny 'nd
sufferin'; all ther exertions confined in a narrer groove, all ther work
of no avail because uv indirection; clingin' ter homes which keeps 'em
helpless 'nd only accomplishin' somethin' when transplanted to other
fields, 'nd then carryin' on ther world's work, fiten' ther world's
battles, sailin' ther world's ships, workin' ther world's mines, subduen'
ther world's wildernesses, runnin' ther world's primaries, 'nd bein' ther
world's perlicemen. I tell yo', Jim, it war pitiful.
"When I told 'em I war an American, they opened ther arms ter me ter
once, 'nd took me in. What questions they asked! And when I told 'em
about ther broad acres in Texas, how they cud go thar and each in a few
months or years own his own farm half a mile squar, how ther eyes flashed
'nd ther faces glowed! It teched my heart, Jim, ter see 'em, 'nd made a
old fool uv me in one place, shore.
"I stopped in a house one night whar ther war ther old man 'nd woman, a
grown-up son 'nd a girl who war, maybe, eighteen year old. Thet girl,
Jim, war fine. Blue eyes 'nd har that war the color which ware 'twixt a
brown and a flaxen, with er blush rose shadin'; a clear-cut face like
that of a Greek stater; dainty form 'nd limbs; the roundest arms yo' ever
seen 'nd a hand like Aferdites. I noticed, too--axidentally in course,
that ther thick brogans on her feet were little 'nd shapely ef ther war
thick brogans. But, finest of all war her complexion. Ther warm air as
blows over the Gulf Stream are good ter all complexions in Ireland, but
it had done extra fur thet girl. It war perfect.
"Then, over all, she hed a proud, shy, dainty way 'bout her which war
exquisite.
"We had a jolly evenin' together. I told 'em 'bout America; they told me
all 'bout Ireland from ther time of ther Irish kings. They fired jokes at
each other that would sell for forty dollars apiece in Texas, and they
war ez thick ez though jokes growed on trees.
"At last ther boy wanted his sister to sing, but she got rosy red, 'nd
told him ter be quiet. I told her ef she'd sing I'd make her a present,
'nd finally she giv in. Her brother played ther flute, 'nd she sung
'Tara's Harp,' not scientific, but jest nateral 'nd sweet as iver a
bobolink sang.
"When she finished I gin her a new guinea. She didn't want ter take it,
but I flung it inter her lap, 'nd then it war passed from hand ter hand
ez a curiosity. Ther mother war last. She looked it over and then sed:
'It's a beauty, shore, 'nd now, Nora, give it back ter ther gentleman.' I
sed: 'I don't want it. I want Nora ter have it.'
"'Shore nuff?' sed ther mother.
"'Shore,' sed I.
"'Then, Nora,' sed ther mother, 'kiss the gentleman for the gift.' Would
yer believe it, Jim, thet shy girl come and put her arms around my neck
and kissed me.
"Blast me, but it took me back, but I rallied 'nd said:
"'Nora, I'd give another guinea for another kiss like thet,' 'nd then she
come back agin a-sayin': 'Yo ken hev another without any mo' guinea,' 'nd
kissed me agin, 'nd ther whole family laffed.
"Next mornin' when I come outer my room I found Nora alone. Ther father
and brother hed gone ter ther field, and ther mother war cookin' my
breakfast.
"Nora greeted me cordial like, 'nd I sed: 'Nora, ef I war young agin I'd
camp right here 'nd make love ter yo'.'
"'Out wid yer,' she answered. 'It's a cousin I hev in America, 'nd she
writes me how foine the land war, but says ivery American is a mortal
liar when he talks ter ther girls.'
"'The cousin slanders us,' said I.
"'She does not,' said Nora.
"'And how can I prove it?' said I.
"'Yez might make love ter me,' she said
"'I'm too old, Nora,' I answered.
"'Couldn't yez wait and let me tell yez thet?' she asked.
"'I'd rether own it then ter hev yo' tell me,' I answered.
"'O, it's makin' fun of me yez are,' said she. 'I know how far away yez
are from the loikes of me and will forgit me to-morry, but I'm glad yez
come, for it gave me a breath of the joy of the great world outside. Here
hearts be breaking continually, for our lives are narrowed down to a mere
fight for food. It's jist slavery from the cradle ter ther grave, and
slavery over which there shines no star of hope.'
"Jest then ther mother called us to breakfast. After breakfast I went ter
my room and put ten £10 notes in a envelope, wrote a line thet it war to
take the whole family ter America; told 'em ter go ter Texas, and find
the old neighbors, given' 'em a lot 'o names; told 'em not ter stay a
minit in ther cities; then went out and handin' Nora the letter ez I bid
her good-bye, told her it war a real love letter, shore nuff, which she
must not read till I war out o' sight; thet she might give me ther answer
when I cum back, and then I started straight for England.
"I kep thinkin' all thet day, it war sich a girl as thet who after awhile
become the mother of Pat Cleburne or may be Phil Sheridan."
A moment later he looked up and said:
"But I wanted ter see yo', Jim, to tell yo' all the boys remember yo',
and all allow yo' were the dol-durndest tenderfoot thet ever crossed a
hoss or fired a rope or a gun."
"Where can we find a quiet place, Jordan?" Sedgwick asked.
"I know a boss ranch," said Jordan, "whar we can have a private room and
talk all we wanter, only a few steps away."
They found it a drinking house with private rooms in the rear.
When seated there, Sedgwick soon learned that Jordan had sold everything
in Texas--stock and land--and had converted all into money in bank--some
$35,000--and was, to use his own words, "makin' a tower."
"But how came yo' here, Jim?" asked Jordan.
Then Sedgwick told him of his life since the day he left Texas; how he
formed a friendship for Browning; how the deal in stocks originated, and
how it resulted.
The Texan went into raptures. "Yo' don't tell me?" he said: "Half a
milliun! dod rot it, but thet's good; thet's immense! how it would
tickle ther boys out thar to know it! And yo' give the ole man a cool
$100,000? What did they think of yo' then? Har, waiter, give us a quart
of y'r--whatyer call it? O, yes, Widder Clicko (Cliquot); durned if
we don't sellerbrate."
They drank their wine, lighted their cigars, and settled down for a talk.
All the old times in Texas had been discussed when Sedgwick said:
"Jordan, I thought you were prosperous and happy, and much loved by all
who knew you in Texas. What possessed you to sell out and leave?"
"I war prosperous," said Jordan, "doin' fust-class; war contented, and I
don't believe I hed a enemy in the hull State.
"I hed ther ranch, ther cattle, ther mustangs; didn't owe a dollar, and
hed money in ther bank. I hed been doin' right pert, and the property war
a-raisin' every day. Do yo' know the blamed igiots was a-talkin' o'
sendin' me to ther Legislature. But after awhile something happened. A
lot o' ther boys cum in one day and said: 'Jordan, it's a blasted shame
the way the childer is growin' up yere. We orter 'av a school.' 'All
right,' says I, 'school goes.' So they agreed ter build a school house
and ter hire a teacher for six months. I flung in more'n my shere, and
then ther question was whar to build ther school house. I spoke up and
I says: 'Why not put it down in the angle of my best section?' Yo' know
whar ther section lines cross thar. It leaves a corner in ther field
which is a sharp pint in ther road, and broadens as it runs back. 'Well,'
they said, 'but whar'll the teacher board?'
"Well, yo' know it's only six hundred yards up ter my place; so I says:
'I han't chick or child, but I'm bound ter stay by ther school; send ther
teacher up yere. He can do chores enough for his board, if he is techy at
all on that pint.'
"The school house went up in short order, and one of the Kinsley boys
came by on a Saturday, and he says, says he: 'Jordan, ther school'll be
open Monday mornin,' and the teacher'll be down for supper on Monday
night.' 'Send him 'long,' says I. I thought he gin a queer kind o' a
igiotic laugh, but he said, 'All right,' and rid along. I went in
through ther kitchen and told Aunt Sue--yo' remember our old unbleached
cook--that ther school master war a-comin' to board on Monday night, and
she must spread herself.
"Her nose went up inter ther air, and she said: 'H'm, guess what we gets
every day's good 'nuff for one o' doze poor white trash teachurs.'
"Well, 'long 'bout five o'clock Monday evenin' I war readin' ther paper,
when I hearn a knock at ther door, and same time I hearn Bolus--thet's
the big collie, yo' remember--kinder whinin' as though he war glad,
and bangin the door with his tail. I thought maybe some of ther boys is
cum back; maybe it's Jim Sedgwick, and I gets up and goes and throws ther
door open, and was jest openin' my mouth to say 'Hello!' when I got
paralyzed.
"Thar war standin thar a little woman in a black frock thet fitted her
like a prayer on a nun's lips. She had on a white collar, and when she
looked up at me yo' never seen sich a majestical pair o' eyes, and I said
ter myself, 'Blast my broad horns, but I never seen so takin' a face in
all my life.'
"Jest pale sorter, barrin' a little flush that creeped up over her face,
as yo' might expect would cum ter thet stater--whatyer call it in ther
play?--Gal--, O, yes, Galerteer, thet's it--when weakenen' to thet
feller's pleadin', she shakes ther stone and begins ter warm up ter his
prayer. She had sorrerful eyes ter look inter, 'cept when she smiled, and
then, Jim, hed yer seen thet smile once you'd never sarched fur no more
bernanzers.
"Her nose was straight ez a blood hoss's fore-arm, teeth perfect, and
white as ther starlight; her har war between yaller and tawny, and lots
of it. Jest then ther sun shone agin it, and my thot war, 'A smoked topaz
ez big ez a dinner bucket war fused and then spun inter threads ter make
thet har.'
"And when she looked up and said, inquirin' like, 'Mr. Jordan?' her voice
war sweeter'n yo' ever hearn a turtle dove when callin' her mate ter
breakfast.
"'Thet's me,' sez I.
"She held out her hand thet war soft an' white an' shapely, an' warm, and
sed:
"'I am Mrs. Margaret Hazleton, ther teacher in ther school, and I was
directed here.'
"I thot I should o' drop through ther floo', but I braced up--waiter,
another bottle--ez I war sayin', I braced up and said, 'Bless me, madam,
I war expectin' ther teacher'd be a man; but walk right in, we'll do ther
best we ken for yer.'
"I called Aunt Sue, and told her to show ther lady whar ter dump her
fixins,' and der yo' believe it, thet dog Bolus, thet war generally
mighty questionin' 'bout strangers, set down 'nd thumped ther floo' like
he war tickled ter death.
"Aunt Sue had cooked prairie chickens, pertaters, hed made hot bread 'n
coffee, 'n fried bernanners, and opened can fruit, and brot out ther
honey 'nd two kinds o' pickles, an' ther supper war fine.
"Ther little woman praised it, gentle like, jest enough an' not o'erdoin'
it, till Aunt Sue's face war bigger'n a full mune, and filled with
satisfaction ter ther very corners.
"All ther time ther lady kep talkin' 'bout Texas, askin' questions, 'bout
ther sile, ther climate, and ther productions, and in course I talked and
did my best a-entertainin' o' her till nine o'clock, when she got up and
sed she'd bid me good-night.
"Aunt Sue give her the best room, in course--thet one beyond ther parlor.
Yo' know I hed it furnished up kinder gorgus with a carpet from
Shreveport, and spring bed and wash-stand and picters from Galveston,
and I felt more satisfaction thinkin' mout be she'd be comfortable, than
I ever hed before since I'd fixed it up.
"When she war gone, I sed: 'Boys, but we is in fur it,' but Aunt Sue
spoke up, and says she: 'Der am white folks and white folks; but dis
one's a born lady, sho.'
"And the cowboys said, 'Shore,' and I was shore myself.
"She war up and out d'rectly in the mornin', fixed her own lunchen,
talked clever a few words to Aunt Sue, petted ther dog a little, and
asked him questions as though he'd been a kid; stopped on the way out ter
tie up a rose bush, 'nd so she came and went ev'ry day, and though I
didn't realize it then, ther house war brighter when she war ther, and
darker when she war gone.
"Once Aunt Sue hed fever from Friday ter Sunday night, and without any
fuss thet thar woman did the cookin', and doctored Sue as tho' cookin'
'nd doctorin' war her regular perfession.
"We found out after a little thet she war a widder, husband dead two
year.
"After 'bout a week Aunt Sue says ter me one day: 'Mr. Jordan, yo' jest
cum har!' I followed her ter the woman's room. Der yer believe it, she'd
downed all ther flash picters that ther impenitent thief at Galveston
hed coaxed me inter buyin', and in place hed hung up some small
engravins, not gaudy-like, but jest catchin'; hed taken' off all the
sassy trimmin's from ther curtains, and the hull room war changed,
just ez tho' er benediction had been pernounced thar. It war all kinder
toned down, ez tho' a woman hed slipped a gray ulster over a red frock.
"It made me feel kinder cheap like, and I sed ter myself, says I: 'Thet's
good taste!' I knowed it in er minit, tho' I'd never seen it afore.
"Next Sunday in church we found out she could sing, and after thet she
sung for us o' nites, playing a gitaw same time. Then arter awhile she
got ter readin' ter us. Yo' remember how yo' read, Jim? Well, yer readin'
war like a grand organ, hern were like ther blendin' o' flutes and harps.
"Well, ther weeks went by, and sech a feelin' cum over me ez I'd never
'sperienced afore. I thot first 'twar hay fever comin' on. I couldn't
eat, couldn't sleep. I war restless when thet woman war gone. I war
skeery like when she war round; and war given to havin' little hot spells
and then chills, and I said, 'I know it's ther blasted malarier.'
"So I took k'neen and juniper tea, and fancied I hed night sweats--jest
the cussedest time, Jim, thet yo' ever seen.
"One day when I war a-sittin' in ther house and a-mopin', Aunt Sue cum in
and looked hard at me, and says she: 'Mr. Jordan, does yo' know what's
der matter wid ye?'
"I told her I didn't; thet I'd give a band o' cattle ter find out.
"'Laws,' says she, 'I'd tell cheaper'n dat, only yo'd think I is sassy.'
"I said: 'Aunty, yo' goahead. If yo's sassy, I's too sick to care.'
"'Why, bless yo' soul, honey,' says she, 'yo's jest ded in lub wid the
schoolma'm, Mrs. Margaret. I noze. I's been dar myself.'
"'O, git out,' says I.
"She went out laffin', but at ther door she stopped a second and says:
"'Dat's it, sho, Mr. Jordan,' and after ther door closed I hearn her
ha-hain'.
"Then I did some thinkin' for the next half hour, and I said ter myself,
'It's thet, sho nuff.'
"The school term war ter close next day, and ther teacher had made her
'rangements ter leave right away for her home up No'th--Ierway, I
b'lieve. The contract war for $100 er month, but when we met ter fix up
ther money I told ther trustees that some o' ther neighbors hed been thet
pleased with ther school thet they had put up a little extry puss o'
money, enough ter pay ther teacher's board and give her $150 extry. It
war a bald-headed pervarication, Jim, but I thot it jestifiable under the
sarcumstances, inasmuch as I put up ther hull money myself.
"I war fur gone. She closed ther school next evenin'; cum up ter ther
house; wus goin' ter remain till the train cum by fur ther No'th at 11:15
next day. We hed supper and breakfast as usual. After breakfast ther boys
all went off ter ther wo'k, and Aunt Sue went ter a neighbor's to borrer
some bakin' powder. I was sittin' on ther verandy when the schoolma'm
cum out, and walkin' close up, says she: 'Mr. Jordan'--waiter, bring me
a brandy smash--'Mr. Jordan,' says she, 'I want to thank you for all
your gentle and generous kindness to me. Except for your thoughtful
consideration I should have had a much harder time here. I thank you
with all my heart.'"
Sedgwick noticed that he had repeated the exact words without a mistake
in pronunciation. They had evidently been burned into his very soul.
He drank the brandy, and then with a husky voice went on:
"'Yo' break me all up, Mrs. Hazelton,' says I. 'We is such rough folks
down har. Yo' have been er providence ter ther place.'
"She blushed a little at that, and said: 'You are too kind.'
"'Not a blamed bit,' says I, and then realizin' it war my only chance, I
blurted out: 'I'll be mighty sorrerful when yo' is gone. I don't know how
others as knows how does it, but I want ter tell yer thet because of yer
the flowers is brighter, the birds sing sweeter, the sunshine is clearer,
the sky more smilin', and I cud get down and crawl on the ground yo' has
walked over, that bad do I worship yer. And if yo' cud stay and marry me
and civilize me, I'd try to brush up and be a decenter man than I ever
war; leastways, I'd clar ev'ry rock and thorn outer yer path.'
"Do yo' b'lieve it, Jim, I wus perspirin' wus'n ther buckskin stallion
did when yo'got thro' with him that fust mornin', and was tremblin' like
a sick gal.
"She looked down compassionate like, got white about ther lips, 'nd her
voice shook er little as she sed:
"'I can't do that, Mr. Jordan; there's much that I cannot tell, why I
cannot, no matter; but I thank you with all my heart and soul, not only
for your kindness to me, but for this last most generous offer.'
"Then she went on and talked, and cud yo' 'av hearn her, it would ha'
made yo' think she war the prettiest and sweetest, and most compassionate
woman as ever a-come ter bless ther world. She seemed ter me like a fur
off priestess ministerin' to a sinner.
"After awhile I said:
"'Mrs. Hazelton, o' course yo' is pore, or yo' wouldn't a-come down yere
a-teachin' school among these barbarians; thet is, pore ez fur ez money
goes. I've been lucky. I've $4,000 in ther bank which I've no need of. If
you'll let me give you thet, no one'd ever know it, and the reckerlection
uv it, 'nd ther thot thet it may be doin' yo' some good'll give me heaps
more pleasure than keepin' of it would.'
"You see, Jim, I war fur gone. But she wouldn't hev it, tho' ther tears
jumped ter her eyes when I offered it, and she remarked she b'lieved I
war the best man in ther world. I told her if she ever needed a friend
and didn't send fer me, I should feel slighted.
"Then I hitched up and druv her down ter the station. She sat side o' me,
Jim--waiter, more brandy--in course. Lookin' down, I cud see her smooth
cheek and clear-cut profile, and thinkin' I war takin' my last looks,
thar was sich a feelin' of all-goneativeness cum over me thet, do yo'
know, if I cud ha' got outer one side, I b'lieve I would a-bawled like er
hungry calf.
"We shook hands at ther station, and, not mindin' ther crowd, she reached
up both her arms, put 'em around my neck, drew my head down 'nd kissed me
squar on the mouth.
"It perty nigh smothered me, and I said in a low voice: 'Mrs. Hazleton,
let me give yer ther money. I positively has no use in the world fur it.'
"She give me a sad smile, shook her head and jumped on ther train. As it
pulled out uv ther station she nodded, wavin' her hankerchiv 'nd dropped
it axidently. I picked it up. I've got it till yet. I'll allers hev it.
"Thet war ther end. Bolus wouldn't eat fur three days, then he cut me
dead and went off ter a neighbor's whar ther war a white woman, and would
niver cum back.
"I stood it three months. I thot I should die uv the blues.
"One day a man from ther No'th stopped off at ther ranch fur the night.
After supper he said he war a-lookin fur a stock ranch fur his son. I
said, 'Why not buy mine?'
"Then he asked all 'er 'bout it; how many acres; how much stock; 'bout
the water, and what my price war.
"I told him $30,000. In the mornin' he gits a hoss, rode round with ther
boys, and when he cum back, went down inter his pocket, drew out er
wallet, and counted out thirty $1,000 gold notes, saying: 'I will take
ther place.'
"'It's a go,' says I.
"We went ter town and hed ther papers fixed up. That war last February.
Then I started out, went slow round ter New York, then over here; I've
been up to Scotland, over to Wales; been to France once; jest cum over
from Ireland, and ev'ry day I ride 'bout twenty miles in this 'ere town,
and I've never found any end to it yet, 'cept when I went on ther keers'
'nd thet day I went ter ther races. I believe it's bigger'n all Texas,
and its very size worries me."
"What have you marked out for the future?" asked Sedgwick.
"Not a blamed thing," was the response.
"How would you like to take a trip with me?" asked Sedgwick.
"I'll go ter any place yo' say, Jim; I don't keer how fur," said the
candid man.
"Do not promise too quickly," said Sedgwick. "I am thinking of starting
for South Africa in two or three days."
"South Africa goes, if yo' say so," said Jordan; "I'm yours truly, blast
my broad-horned heart if I ain't."
"Well, old friend, it is growing late. If you will be here to-morrow
morning at eight I will tell you all that is on my mind," said Sedgwick,
rising.
"I'll be har," said Jordan.
Sedgwick stopped to settle the bill, but Jordan pushed him aside, saying,
"Not to any particular extent, if we knows ourself." He tossed a tip to
the waiter, paid the bill, and was going to add a shilling for the young
woman who was the cashier, when, glancing up at her, he changed his mind
and made it a guinea, because, as he explained, "Her hand war sunthin'
like Maggie's."
The friends separated at the door.
It was eleven p.m. when Sedgwick reached the Hamlin house. He would not
have gone at that hour, except that he had been given a pass-key on the
first day he was there, with a request never to fail to come in, no
matter how late he might be detained. Moreover, he wanted to see Jack.
Before he could open the door, it was swung back by Grace. She explained
that she was on the watch so that she might form an idea of what hours
Sedgwick was in the habit of keeping, and to tell him how very angry she
still was. Then she gave him a smile such as an angel might, and was
gone.
Sedgwick went at once to Browning's room, but he was still out. He
crossed over to his own, threw off his coat, put on a smoking-jacket and
slippers, and lighting a cigar, sat down to think.
Before very long Browning came in. "I found him," he said. "He was shy
about giving me the facts, but I ginned him up to the confessional point.
He told me all the truth at last.
"He received but £2,000 for the mine, and he does not believe that a
share of it was ever sold to any one but me. He was paid the £2,000 on
the day I bought the first 50,000 shares. My money paid for the mine;
then I bought it over again. I furnished the purchase money, and then I
bought it again, paying an advance of 500 per cent. And the job was put
up by the old duffers; Stetson was only let in to clear the old chaps
when the truth should be known. And then Stetson wants to marry my Rose.
"But the man told me that the mine was just as described, only a nasty
road would have to be built to it that would probably cost £80,000 or
£100,000, and the mill would have to be built. It looks to me like a
total loss, Jim; but the swindle is so manifest that I believe we can
make the conspirators disgorge at least the last half that they robbed me
of."
The room was still for many minutes. Then Sedgwick said: "Jack, I thought
those old men meant mischief to you when I first saw them. It was because
of that--at least, in part that--that I remained. But one is your
step-father--another the step-father of your affianced bride, and the
other a mere stool-pigeon. There must be no scandal if we can help it. I
believe the object on the part of Jenvie was to keep you from marrying
Rose; what your step-father means I cannot understand. But anyway, if we
can help it, there must be no scandal. We shared alike in Nevada. I have
as much money left as both of us need. We share alike still. But no
matter about that."
"But I have been a hopeless idiot to let these men rob me," said Jack,
"and except for Rose, I would pull out for America to-morrow. I would, by
Jove!"
"Your mistake was entirely natural," said Sedgwick. "Had my father wanted
all my money, he could have got it for the asking. Do not talk about
going to America; that would be 'conduct unbecoming an officer and a
gentleman'; it would be a cowardly desertion in the face of the enemy.
Then, you have never been very well since your ducking down on the Sussex
coast; and, besides, you have entered into obligations here so sacred
that you must not permit a little whim, or even a great disappointment,
to lead you to think about trying to break them. Let us go to sleep now.
To-morrow we will talk over this matter more fully. I want a few more
hours to think and to make up my mind what is best to do." Jack returned
to his room, and the lights were put out.