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The Award of Justice; Told in the Rockies, a novel by A. Maynard Barbour |
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Chapter 34 |
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_ CHAPTER XXXIV For the next ensuing days there were no more visits to the cabin. According to Lyle's suggestion, a few notes were quietly exchanged between Houston and Jack; thus their plans were maturing, while there was nothing which outsiders could detect. Meanwhile, Haight had bestowed considerable attention upon Miss Araminta Bixby, to the unspeakable delight of that individual, and had so ingratiated himself into her favor that she only too gladly consented to play the part of spy on the movements of Houston and Van Dorn. The two Maverick boys had also agreed to report to him whatever they were able to learn concerning these two. Houston and Van Dorn, however, did not seem quite so intimate of late. They were apparently as good friends as ever, but were not so frequently seen together. Nearly every evening, Van Dorn started out for a stroll, sometimes with Lyle, sometimes alone, often sauntering in the direction of the cabin, but never seen to enter; while Houston, after spending an hour or two with Miss Gladden, would walk down to the mines, and entering the various tunnels, or descending the shafts of one mine and another, would watch the night shift at their work, or inspect the workings, occasionally taking measurements here and there. On one of these trips Jack accompanied him, and on their return, they completed the arrangements for the visit to the Lucky Chance mine, the following night. On the afternoon of the next day, Houston returned to the house a little earlier than usual, having finished his work for the day at the mines and mills, and as he with Miss Gladden and Lyle, sat in the little porch, they were joined a few moments later by Van Dorn. In low tones the plans for the evening were discussed. "Of course," said Houston, "we shall go prepared for trouble, but I do not anticipate that we shall meet with any. Even if we are watched, our course of procedure will differ so slightly from what we have followed for a week past, I think it will not excite suspicion." "They have watched me so many evenings to no purpose, they may be off guard to-night," said Van Dorn. "Don't flatter yourself that you will escape 'Minty's' espionage for a single night," replied Lyle, "she would remain out all night watching you to gain a smile from Haight in the morning." Van Dorn laughed. "So it is the charming Miss Bixby whose watchful eye is upon me!" he exclaimed, "I think I will have to enter the lists as Haight's rival, and see if I cannot win such faithful devotion upon the right side." "After you are gone," said Lyle, "I will soon be able to tell whether there will be men sent out to watch you to-night; and I shall act accordingly," she added, with a smile at Miss Gladden. "Why, Miss Maverick, what will you do?" inquired Van Dorn, "you must not expose yourself in any way." "I will be in no danger," she answered smiling. "I have no idea what Lyle intends to do," said Houston, "but I have great confidence in her plans, for she knows this class of people better than we, and I have found her judgment to be relied upon, on every occasion so far." Lyle's beautiful eyes spoke her thanks for his words of appreciation, as she asked: "At what hour will you have completed the examination, and be ready to leave the mine?" "Probably very near twelve o'clock," Houston replied, "we cannot accomplish our work much before that time, and I do not wish to be out much later." "Well," said Lyle, merrily, but with a slightly mysterious air, "if you are out at that hour, you may see the phantom horse and his rider." "Why, how is that?" inquired Van Dorn wonderingly, while Houston remarked: "If we see nothing more than phantoms, we shall be very happily disappointed." "All right," she responded, "if the ghost walks to-night, don't be surprised," and hearing some one enter the dining room to make preparations for the evening meal, she left them, and the subject of conversation changed immediately. A few hours later, Houston started as usual for the mines. There was nothing out of the ordinary course of affairs in this, except that the leave-taking between him and Leslie was unusually tender, but of this no one knew but themselves. A little earlier, Van Dorn had left for his customary stroll, giving Lyle an invitation to accompany him, which she declined on the plea of being very busy. She immediately withdrew to the kitchen, and smiled to herself presently, as she saw Minty, with an air of great importance, starting out in the same direction. She had been gone about half an hour, when Lyle, who was again seated in the porch, caught sight of her moon-shaped face peering around the corner of the house in frantic endeavors to attract Haight's attention. As he was facing in almost an opposite direction, her efforts were unavailing, and Lyle, who could with difficulty restrain a smile, added to her embarrassment by inquiring in the blandest tones: "What is it, Araminta? do you wish to see me?" At the mention of her name, Haight turned suddenly, just as the blushing Miss Bixby was stammering out his name, and catching his eye, she began nodding vigorously, to signify the importance of her errand. For once, Haight's punctilious suavity upon which he prided himself, deserted him, and exclaiming, partly in anger, and partly as a blind, "Confound it! what does the fool want of me?" he disappeared around the house, while Lyle exchanged glances with Miss Gladden, and the inoffensive young bookkeeper, recently imported from Silver City, looked on in mute astonishment. At the kitchen door, Haight found his agent and spy, her face shining with delight that she at last had some news to impart. "He's went in there to-night, Mr. Haight," she cried breathlessly, "I seen him; I've watched him every night, but he's never went in till to-night." "You fool!" exclaimed Haight, angrily, "why couldn't you come around and give me the tip on the quiet, instead of standing there grimacing like an idiot, making a fool of yourself and me, too? Where are the boys?" Such a greeting was too much for Minty, after her faithfulness; her anger was too great even for words, she was speechless and without deigning even a look at Haight, she went into the house, and rushing to her room, burst into a storm of tears, vowing then and there, between her sobs, that she would tell Mr. Van Dorn every word that Haight had said about him. Meanwhile, Lyle, from her post of observation in the kitchen, saw Haight call Jim Maverick out from among a group of miners who had congregated for an evening's visit, and after a few words, Maverick signaled to one of the miners, who, with his two companions, came over and joined them. A few moments later the three started down the road, and Lyle heard Haight's final instructions to them: "Get onto what those fellows are about, if you have to stay till morning, and if you want any help, send Jake back." She knew the men; they were cruel and treacherous, and she was confident that they were well armed, but they were at the same time, cowards, and returning to Miss Gladden, she whispered: "I shall try my little experiment to-night, and I do not believe there will be any trouble." It was quite dark when the men who had been sent to watch for Van Dorn reached the little cabin. A lamp was burning within, as could be told by the lines of light around the edge of the dark shade at the window, but beyond this, there was neither sign nor sound. Having assured themselves that there was no way by which they could ascertain what was going on within, the men sat down behind a little clump of evergreens, and filling their pipes, prepared to await developments. Scarcely had they done so, however, when the light suddenly went out. "What the divil do they think they're givin' us?" said one of the men, with an oath. "They seen us mos' likely, and they're tryin' to fool us that there's nobody there." "They can't play no such trick on us as that, damn 'em," said the first speaker, but at that instant the cabin door opened, and two figures came out. The men sprang quickly to their feet, making no sound, and listening intently. They heard the lock click in the door, and Jack's voice bidding Rex take care of the house, to which he barked in reply; and then came Mike's broad voice: "The saints presarve us! but the baste knows more than mony a mon, I'm afther thinkin'." "That he does," replied Jack, "and he is far more faithful." The men, astonished, slunk back into the brush, their keen eyes watching every movement of the two as they passed; there was no mistaking those figures, or the rough clothes which they wore; it was Jack and Mike, and their powerful muscle was too well known throughout the camp, for any man, even the most brutal, to have the slightest wish to tackle either of them. As Jack and his companion passed out of hearing, the men dropped to the ground, and for a moment the air resounded with their profanity, while they held a brief consultation. "They've tricked us, and that feller's hidin' 'round here," said the leader, "or else he went on ahead to the mines; he hadn't no time to go back to the house, for we'd 'a met 'im. There's somethin' in the wind to-night," he added with an oath, "and I'm goin' to find out what 'tis. You fellers git after them two and keep 'em in sight; the boss is down there, and mebbe the other feller, too; if ye see 'im, send Jake to me, and I'll come 'round there and we'll lay for 'em. If he ain't there, he's here, hidin' somewhere, and I'll watch and settle his hash for 'im all right when he does show up." "We'd better git some more of the boys," said Jake, "if we're goin' to tackle them fellers with Jack and Mike along; that ain't no kind of a job I'm hankerin' after." "You damned fool!" said the first speaker, "who's said anything 'bout Jack and Mike? They'll come back the way they've went, and them others will start up the canyon for the house, and if we three can't hold 'em up, my name ain't Pete Brody; now git!" Jack and his partner had met Houston in the Yankee Boy mine. As they emerged from the shaft a little later, the piercing eyes of Jack and Houston caught a glimpse of two figures skulking among the rocks at a distance. Van Dorn was at a slight disadvantage, being somewhat near-sighted, and having been obliged to take off his glasses when donning Mike's costume. "I know them," said Jack, "they are two of the three that were outside the cabin, and one of them is about the biggest coward that breathes; we could dispose of a regiment of such men, but I prefer to get along without trouble if we can." They started for the other mine, Houston taking the lead and Van Dorn following, while Jack brought up the rear. "They are following us," said Jack, after two or three quick glances behind him, "but at a distance; we will probably have a nearer view of them later, when we leave the mine." As they proceeded through the tunnel of the Lucky Chance mine, they met very few of the miners; they touched their caps to Houston with a sort of sullen civility, and greeted his companions with rough jests, which Jack received with his usual taciturn manner, but to which Van Dorn, from underneath his disguise, responded with bits of Irish blarney and wit, which greatly amused his associates. Meanwhile, Pete Brody, as he kept his solitary watch before the cabin, was surprised by the sudden return of Jake. "Have ye found 'im?" he inquired eagerly, "Is he down there with the boss?" "No, he's not there." "Then, what in hell are you back here for?" "Bud sent me," answered Jake; "he said to tell ye they've gone into the Lucky Chance, and what do ye be thinkin' o' that?" "The Lucky Chance!" exclaimed Pete, "then there's some diviltry a goin' sure, for the old man, he don't let nobody into that mine 'thout he's along; and if that Van-what's-his-name ain't down there he's right here, that's all, and here I stays." "And me and Bud, we're to watch out for the boss?" "Yes, lay for 'im and overhaul 'im, and find out what the divil is goin' on." "I guess he's a pretty tough feller to handle, from all I've heerd," remarked Jake reflectively. Pete responded with an oath. "Knock 'im silly, he'll be easy 'nough handlin' then." "Ye don't mean for to do 'im up, do ye Pete?" "Well, I guess nobody'd feel very bad if ye did." Jake went down the road, and Pete was alone once more. After waiting a while, he determined to ascertain, if possible, whether there was any one within the cabin. As he approached the door, there was a low savage growl from the faithful watcher within. Very stealthily he tried to open the door, but it was locked, and in response there was such a furious onset upon the other side, accompanied by such fierce growls, that he started back involuntarily. It was nearly twelve o'clock, and Pete was growing desperate, and anxious to put an end to his long watch. He retreated to the road, and stood looking at the cabin, trying to decide whether he should break in the window and shoot the dog, and run the risk of being shot in return by whoever might be concealed within, when his attention was suddenly arrested by a strange sound, as of heavily muffled footsteps close behind him. He turned quickly, and in the starlight beheld a sight that seemed to chill the blood in his veins. Not more than fifty feet distant, and slowly approaching him, were the spotted horse and his ghostly rider. Every detail was perfect, like the description he had often heard given by others who had seen the frightful apparition: the man dressed in his miner's clothes, carrying the empty bag from which the gold had been stolen; his face ghastly white, and the blood streaming from his breast, while horse and rider were partially shrouded by a white covering which floated from behind them. Nearer and nearer came those strange footsteps, closer and closer the fearful sight, and still Pete stood, as if turned to stone, his eyes starting from their sockets, his hair rising, but unable to move or speak. Suddenly a long, low groan issuing from the ghastly lips seemed to break the spell, and with one terrible shriek, Pete gave two or three bounds out of the road, and ran for his life, jumping and leaping over the rocks and through the brush, like a wild man. The ghost gave a low, rippling laugh of satisfaction, and turning the horse, rode rapidly back in the direction from which it had come, until striking the road from the house to the mines, where the horse trotted briskly for some distance, but on nearing the mines, once more resumed his funereal pace. The two men concealed in the brush along the road had no warning of the approaching phantom, until they caught the sound of the strange footsteps, and peered cautiously out, only to see the fearful sight that Pete beheld shortly before. "Holy Moses!" exclaimed Jake, with a yell, "it's the ghost!" The men jumped simultaneously into the road, and started for the miners' quarters, screaming like maniacs. The ghost followed in swift pursuit until they were some distance past the mines; the men then being safely disposed of with no danger of their return, it turned slowly in the direction of the Lucky Chance mine. Houston and his friends, having accomplished their task, stepped forth from the tunnel into the starlight, looking carefully and searchingly in every direction. "There is no one to be seen at present," said Houston in low tones, "they may be concealed about here, or we may meet them on the road to the house." "Very probably," Jack replied, "we must now proceed with the utmost caution. Mr. Van Dorn and I will accompany you to the house, and he had better then go with me to the cabin, in case there should be spies watching for our return, and it will be safer for him to remain there until nearly daylight, as none of the men will be out at that time, and he can return to the house unobserved." They had gone but a short distance, however, when, passing around a curve in the road, they beheld a sight that filled them with astonishment. "Shades of the departed!" exclaimed Houston, "what kind of an apparition is this?" Jack studied the approaching figures for an instant, a smile of amusement lighting up his usually stern features, while Van Dorn hastily slipped on his glasses for a better view. "That," said Jack, "is evidently the famous phantom of Spotted Horse gulch, but who has originated the idea?" "It must be Lyle," said Houston, "she said the ghost would walk to-night." "Well, by George!" exclaimed Van Dorn, "that is pretty good anyway." Slowly the ghost approached, giving the interested observers an opportunity to note the details of the make-up; the ghastly face, the heavy beard of dark colored wool, the narrow strips of red flannel streaming from breast and side, and even the heavy woolen socks upon the horse's feet, muffling the sound of his steps. Suddenly the slouch hat was raised, and the shining eyes of Lyle looked out from the strange disguise, as she announced in triumphant tones: "The road is clear, and you are safe!" "Lyle," said Houston, "how did you ever think of this? Did you devise this masquerade?" "The idea was mine," she answered, "it occurred to me the other night while listening to their talk, but Miss Gladden helped me to carry it out." "And was it a success?" asked Van Dorn wonderingly, having more practical knowledge of mines than of miners, "Were the men frightened?" "You would have thought so, could you have seen Pete Brody," Lyle replied, with a low laugh, "I believe he is running yet, and I wouldn't be surprised if Jake has lost what few wits he ever possessed." "It was one of the best schemes that could have been devised," said Jack, gravely, adding, "We probably owe you more than we know." Quietly and safely the little party proceeded up the winding road, and having reached their several destinations, all were soon at rest. Even the spotted horse, securely stabled in his accustomed place, gravely munched his wisp of hay without a thought of the ghostly escapade in which he had borne so prominent a part. But in the miners' quarters consternation reigned, as Pete and Bud related their experiences, Jake being utterly incapacitated for speech. Even to Jack and Van Dorn, Mike had a fearful tale to tell of the sight he had witnessed, while alone with Rex in the cabin, and it was some time before his perturbed Irish fancies could be soothed; and "the night that the ghost walked," was one long remembered and frequently recalled by many of the denizens of the little mining camp. _ |
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