SALLIE
Amos was taken aback when he saw the girl standing there in the doorway
of the old cabin in the pine woods.
He had supposed that when he set that greasy old ruffian, Crawley, down
as a vagabond, without a single good quality in his make-up, he was
only doing him justice and to discover that he actually had a decent
trait in his miserable character, was quite enough to shake Amos’s
faith in his own ability to read men.
This was when he saw Crawley actually bend down and kiss the girl.
It made Amos shudder, too, somehow, when he thought of those tobacco
stained lips coming in contact with the red ones of the frail girl.
At any rate, Amos thought, if this were his child, she surely could
not have any of Crawley’s nature in her; for he looked the drinking
scoundrel the boy knew him to be, while somehow Amos thought of angels
he had seen in dreams when he saw her yellow hair and big blue eyes.
So this was Sallie! She seemed somewhat surprised to see a boy with the
two men and turned those big eyes reproachfully upon Crawley, which
action somehow caused him to squirm uneasily, and say hastily:
“Oh! we ain’t a-goin’ to kill the little fool, Sallie. All we wants
is ter keep him close here a few days, so he can’t meddle in other
people’s bizness. Ye see, it ain’t safe for greenies ter be aroamin’
the woods, when fellers is ahuntin’. They don’t know how ter handle
highfalutin’ guns, an’ are apt to do damage ter pore hard workin’ root
gatherers like Gabe ’n me. Set that meat down in a corner, ye gump, an’
don’t stant thar astarin’ at my Gal. Sallie, sense ye got sech a fine
fire, I reckon we might’s well cut off some o’ this fresh mutton, and
make a meal o’ it. Gabe, spose ye keep one eye on our new friend hyar,
an’ if he tries ter vamose, wing him.”
The girl said nothing, but she evidently understood that these two evil
men had some wicked game in prospect. Amos saw her shoot a pitying
glance toward him, and somehow he was not sorry that he had been
brought to that cabin.
Of course, the presence of that splendid repeating rifle made her think
the young owner must be well to do, and she knew from experience that
such people always had a certain stamp of value in the eyes of her
unscrupulous parent, who was forever trying to collect the living he
said the world owed him.
Amos had by this time recovered from his great surprise and was
beginning to wonder whether he might not sooner or later reap some
benefit from this new situation.
The girl looked as though she could not possibly enter into any of
the wicked plans of her father and his equally unprincipled partner;
perhaps Amos might prevail upon her to even set him free, once the
chance presented itself.
And the more the boy looked upon the slender little figure, almost
pitiful in comparison with the bulky frames of the men, or even his own
stocky form, the less he found to regret in his apparently desperate
situation.
Why, he had never imagined that such a sweet child existed; for in all
his experience he could not remember having looked upon a face that
appealed so to the best that was in him as Sallie’s seemed to do.
Boy-like, he wondered what she thought of him. He knew that his
appearance could not be very prepossessing, especially after carrying
that meat so long.
Now and then he saw her glance curiously at him. When she was not
looking Amos ran his fingers through his hair. He even stepped over to
a tin basin that held some water, and washed his hands. The sight of
spots of dried blood on them disturbed him. Somehow, he thought she
might not like to see it.
Sallie went about her task of cooking the fresh venison with the air of
one who knew all about the little wrinkles connected with such work;
no doubt she had prepared her father’s meals for a considerable time,
perhaps since her mother died.
The man she called father was an ugly citizen when aroused, or
drinking; and Amos found himself wondering whether he ever descended so
low as to actually strike this child, when the brute nature was on top.
Somehow the very thought of such a thing gave the boy a cold chill.
He found himself shutting his teeth hard together, and muttering to
himself what he would do in case he ever happened to see that heavy
fist raised to strike that patient face, in which the eyes shone as
Amos had seen them in an innocent fawn; only hers were blue like the
skies, instead of hazel.
At least he could see no sign of any mark or bruise about her face, and
the man really seemed to entertain some sort of affection for the girl,
the more remarkable because no one would ever suspect him of being
capable of any such feeling.
When early supper was ready, they sat down at a rude table, a couple of
benches supplying seats for all.
Amos found himself opposite the girl, and of course he could not help
keeping his eyes upon her a good deal of the time. She was the only
object worth attention; and the two rough featured poachers looked like
beings from another world beside Sallie.
The men talked little, and then it was of ordinary subjects. Evidently
they did not mean to discuss any secrets while the other two were
alongside.
From time to time, though, Gabe would ask him something in connection
with his camp mate, Dolph Bradley. While the woods boy might have felt
like declining to supply them with the information they wished, a
glance into the red eyes, and the scowling face of his questioner, was
enough to convince him that such defiance would only be the height of
folly. So he answered as best he could.
Sallie seemed to be taking more interest in him as the rude meal
progressed. She even spoke to him once, asking if he would like to have
some more of the meat, or some stew from the big iron pot.
If Amos missed the splendid “Kababs,” which Dolph knew so well how to
prepare, as he had eaten it in canoeists’ camps, he at least had no
reason to complain on the score of hunger; for he ate most heartily;
showing that it takes something more than the shadow of possible coming
trouble to seriously affect the appetite of a healthy boy.
After the meal Gabe stood in the doorway of the cabin smoking his pipe,
and apparently listening, as though he half expected to hear something.
While he stood there he laughed as though pleased. Amos, too, had
been keeping his keen ears on the alert, and he also caught the three
gunshots fired by Dolph at the suggestion of Teddy.
Amos was a little surprised that they could hear the shots, which
seemed to come from the quarter where the men had shot the doe, and
captured him. It gave him additional reason to believe that in coming
to the cabin they had for some reason or other followed a more or less
circuitous route.
Pretty soon, then, these wretches would be setting their trap to catch
one or both of his friends.
Would he be helpless to prevent the springing of the same?
Amos, filled with a new zeal, began to observe everything about him,
with the idea of utilizing the knowledge later on, when perhaps it
might prove valuable. He marked the position of the open window; saw
where the men placed their guns; figured in his mind just how many
steps it was to the door; noted how this same barrier seemed to be
secured with a stout bar; and in numerous other ways fortified himself
for action, with a view to outwitting his enemies, should so much as
half a chance arise.
And whenever he thought of Teddy, somehow he could not despair; for
in this time of trouble the lumberman’s wide awake son seemed to be a
tower of strength. Why, Amos even begun to pluck up hope that he might
even be able to outwit these plotters at their own game.
He felt that the two boys must have started out to look for him; those
three shots told that much. Remembering the ability of Teddy especially
as a woodsman, Amos believed they would experience little difficulty
in following his trail up to the place of his encounter with the
poachers.
From that point Hackett had made sure that the job would be easy. He
meant to “toll” the other boys into a trap, just as a little barking
dog is used by gunners along the Chesapeake Bay, to gambol on the sand,
and so excite the curiosity of beds of ducks that they keep pushing in
a little further to observe, until within reach of the death dealing
guns.
Would his chums wait until morning before taking action?
Amos knew better.
If they headed toward the cabin, following the trail by the aid of
torchlight, or using the lantern, why they might arrive inside of a few
hours.
It was dark outside now.
The girl had lighted a candle, and this, with the fire, dimly
illuminated the interior of the cabin.
The two men were huddled over by the door, talking in low tones. Amos
would have been glad to have caught a part of what they were saying,
and even did incline his ear that way; but their voices only sounded
like a rumble, and he soon gave up all hope of hearing anything worth
while.
Then he became aware of the fact that the girl, washing her few dishes
at the table near by, was observing him with something like a glance of
amusement in her blue eyes.
Amos forgot his own troubles for the time being. He only wished Sallie
might take a notion to come a little closer, so he could talk with her.
It would seem as though his desire must have impressed itself upon his
face in some way, for sure enough, Sallie did edge in his direction,
still busy with her dish pan, and the suspicious looking crockery that
had served them at supper.
She cast a quick glance toward her father, as if to see whether either
of the men were paying the slightest attention. But they seemed to be
“head over ears” interested in what they were discussing.
“Won’t you take pity on me, Sallie and talk a little?” said Amos, in a
low tone. “Who are you, anyway?”
She smiled back at Amos as she replied swiftly:
“Why, Sallie Crawley, don’t you know?”
“Is Crawley your real, true dad?” the boy went on to ask.
“Why, yes, of course; don’t you know that?” she answered.
“I never heard he ever had a wife or child, when he used to work in the
lumber camp; and least of all, a girl like you,” Amos went on, growing
a little bolder.
“Well, he has,” she replied. “I’m like my mother used to be, because
she had yellow hair and blue eyes, dad says. He often looks at me
kinder queer, and shakes his head. I guess I make him think he sees her
again.”
“Does he take you around everywhere with him?” Amos next asked.
“Oh! no. Sometimes now I stay with my grandmother at the Soo. But dad,
he gets lonely once in a while, and comes after me. I always go, ’cause
I promised _her_ I’d never, never give him up. And then, dad, he hates
to cook for himself—all men do, I guess.”
“But Crawley has a pretty hard reputation—excuse me for saying it,
Sallie—he’s an awful rough man, at best. Are you happy with him?”
She hesitated before replying to this. Amos could see a shadow cross
her thin face; but evidently pride must have come to the rescue, for
presently she tossed her yellow mane back and said:
“Why, I s’pose so—least ways as happy as I ought to expect. There
is just heaps of trouble in this world, anyhow, whichever way you
take it, and everybody must just grin and bear it. Dad is good to
me—sometimes. Then he’s ugly too; but that’s only when he’s been
having too much whiskey. That’s an awful thing to change a man. I hope
you don’t drink it, boy.”
“Not a drop for me, as long as I live,” declared Amos. “But see here,
Sallie, it ain’t fair for me to know your name, and you to just call me
‘boy’. I’m Amos Simmons, and I’ve been in the lumber camps of Northern
Michigan, cookin’, and doing all what-not, for just years. Now, I’ve
got a couple of mighty fine chums not far away, one of them named Teddy
Overton, and the other Dolph Bradley.”
She uttered a little exclamation.
“I’ve met Teddy Overton once; he’s a splendid boy,” she said, hastily.
“Well, I guess that’s just right,” remarked Amos. “Now, you see the
other, Dolph, he’s from Cincinnati. Everybody knows that his father’s
rich. Why, they’ve got oodles of money. I kind o’ think your dad and
Gabe, there, know it; and right now they’re a hatching some measly plan
expectin’ to separate Dolph’s folks from a lot of that spare cash. And
that’s the reason they pulled me in like they did.”
He kept one eye on the men while saying this.
The girl looked surprised.
“Oh! then it ain’t _you_ they’re meaning to hold up?” she asked.
Amos chuckled, as though amused at the idea.
“Precious little good I’d do them,” he said. “They might keep me till
their hair turned white, and nobody’d pay a nickel for lettin’ me go
free. But they’re sharp, I tell you, Sallie. They know them boys are
bound to look for me. Don’t you see, it’s going to be a trap, and I’m
the bait. And unless you or me warn the boys, they’re just bound to
tumble right into it!”
Amos watched her thin face closely when he advanced this “feeler,” as
he chose to call it. Sallie started, and looked very serious.
“Me?” she said, slowly.
“Why, yes,” Amos went on, “you wouldn’t want to see a nice feller like
my friend Dolph, kept here like he was a dog, would you, Sallie; till
somebody sent on some money? If he could be warned, I guess, with
Teddy’s help, he might manage to keep clear of the trap.”
“But—what are you saying, boy—you want me to stand up agin dad, and
upset his game? My! but he’d be awful mad,” she said, reflectively; and
her face looked as careworn as that of a grown woman, Amos thought.
“Well, it might save him from going to prison, that’s all,” he said,
“and I guess you wouldn’t like that to happen to him.”
“Oh! no, of course not. You see, boy, I promised mother to stand by
dad right along, and try to get him to quit drinkin’ and being tough.
He could be decent if he just let that stuff alone, and kept away
from that Gabe Hackett. When him and me are alone, and he ain’t got
no drink, he’s good. I keep hopin’ and hopin’; but it’s terrible hard
work. I sure don’t know how it’s goin’ to end. Sometimes I’m afraid of
what he does.”
There was a almost whimper in her voice, that cut the boy cruelly.
“He don’t hit you, I hope, Sallie?” he said, glancing in the direction
of the two men.
“Oh! no,” she answered, quickly, “not that. He started to do it a few
times, but I just stood there and looked at him, like my poor mother
did that last time he struck her; and he just can’t do it, you see. But
now you won’t want me to go agin him. Do you think it’s right to ask a
girl to do that, when it’s her own father?”
“Yes,” said Amos boldly, “if he was sick and the doctor told you to
give him some bitter medicine that’d make him well, you’d sure do it,
no matter what your dad said. Well, you’re goin’ to save him this way,
you know.”
“Yes, yes,” she breathed, putting a hand to her breast, as if the
conflict of emotions almost overpowered her, “_she_ did the same more’n
once, broke his bottle to save him; and that was why he hit her.”
“Was she sorry that she done it?” asked Amos, craftily.
“I know she said, when she came to again, after lyin’ there a whole
hour, with me a cryin’ my eyes out, believin’ her dead—she said she’d
do it again whenever she had the chance, if he killed her for it. She
believed she’d been sent to try and _save_ dad—poor little mother, she
never lived to see the day.”
Amos was feeling somewhat remorseful about thus working upon her
feelings; but he really believed he was doing the best thing for
everybody.
“Then her duty has come down to you, Sallie,” he went on to say. “If
this crazy scheme goes through, you can just bet your dad will end his
days locked up in jail. Now, by playing a little trick on Gabe Hackett
you can upset his plan and save your father. Anyhow, you know it’s
Gabe’s idea, and he’s just dragging your weak dad into it.”
Amos winced a little when saying this but he felt that the end
justified the means. Crawley had the word “rascal” written all over his
face, and apparently it required very little persuading to “drag” him
into any scheme that promised easy money.
Sallie seemed to ponder over what the boy had suggested.
“Yes, it’s sure my duty to save him, even if I has to seem agin him.
That was what my mother said to me. Amos Simmons, I guess you’re right.
I’d die if my dad was sent to jail. He ain’t never been there yet, you
know. What do you want me to do, boy?” and she shivered, as if her
resolution was made.
“Wait and see,” whispered Amos, “two of us ought to be able to beat a
pair like that. They’re only bunglers, anyway. I’m dependin’ on you,
girl, remember. When Teddy Overton comes, you’ll be right glad you
promised to help. You’ve heard of his dad, the head of the big lumber
company, ain’t you? But laugh a little, Sallie, ’cause Gabe, he’s
watchin’ us like a hawk, right now. It wouldn’t be good for us if he
thought we was hatchin’ up a way to pull the wool over his eyes. Laugh,
and make out as how I was sayin’ something funny like.”
Sallie understood, and played her part so well that Hackett, who had
been growing suspicious at seeing them with their heads together as if
in confidential conversation, seemed satisfied that all was well, for
he went on with his argument.
And so the minutes crept on. An hour had passed since they heard those
three shots. The boys must be on the trail, and presently Gabe and
Crawley would be considering it high time they set their trap. And yet
Amos had not been able to figure out just how he was going to prevent
the capture from taking place.