CHAPTER XXVIII
ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL
They found Mr. Bell in much the same condition as before, though Mr.Snodgrass said the wounded man's breathing was a little easier, whichwas a good sign.
"And what about the mine?" asked the naturalist. Jerry told him thelawyer was coming.
"I'm afraid it will be of little use," said the professor. "Nestor saysthey had a big lawyer to represent the gang, and they also have a largeforce in charge of the mine, taking out gold."
"And it's our gold," exclaimed Jerry. "Oh, why didn't we get backsooner?"
"It wouldn't have done much good," spoke Nestor. "I did all I could, butthe law was on their side."
"Of course, I didn't mean that you failed," Jerry hastened to add, forfear of hurting the old miner's feelings. "It's too bad, that's all."
After a somewhat gloomy dinner, which the professor tried to liven up bytelling jokes and funny stories, Jerry oiled the machine, and, abouttwo o'clock started back to town for the lawyer. He found the attorneywaiting for him, with several big law books in a valise.
"Any luck?" asked Jerry.
"Not a great deal," was the answer.
"Well, don't tell us until we are all together," went on Jerry. "I don'twant to stand it all alone."
When, on arrival at Nestor's cabin, the lawyer proceeded to tell what hehad learned, there were six very attentive listeners.
The attorney went over the ground carefully, and told the boys, Nestorand Professor Snodgrass, much that they had already heard. How, becauseof a missing owner who held more than a half interest in the mine, thetitle was not good when the boys preempted it. In fact it was still theproperty of others, though about to lapse.
"I don't understand all them legal terms," put in Nestor, "but didn't wemake a good claim to the government for that mine?"
"You did, as far as it went," replied the lawyer. "Uncle Sam gave you atitle, but did not guarantee that some one did not have a better one,which it seems is the case."
"But that gang hasn't a good title either, not if the owner of overhalf the shares is missing," went on Nestor.
"No, but it seems, according to the records, that they have some sort ofan agreement from this missing man that they are empowered to work theclaim until he comes to demand his share."
"If that's the case I'm for going up there and driving them out with agun!" exclaimed Nestor. "They haven't any more right than we have, andwe can at least make them go shares with us until this missing man showsup. What's the matter with attacking them to-night."
"If you're going to resort to lawless means I'll have to throw up thecase," said the attorney. "That is no way to talk."
"Nestor doesn't mean it at all," put in Jerry. "Of course we will haveno battle with that gang."
"There are two ways we might proceed," the lawyer went on. "There may bemore, but they are the only ones that suggest themselves to me from whattime I was able to give to the case."
"What would you advise?" asked Mr. Snodgrass.
"You can apply to the courts for an injunction to prevent the working ofthe mine until the missing half-owner shows up."
"But that would bar us as well as them," put in Jerry.
"Yes, it would have that effect, if you secured the injunction, which isdoubtful. It would be a long and costly litigation, I fear."
"And what is the other plan?"
"You might try to find the missing man, and buy him out, or make somearrangement with him. From what I can learn he and the others havequarreled and are opposed to each other."
"Where is the missing man?" asked Bob.
"That is something on which I can not be of the least help to you," wasthe reply. "There is nothing to show where he is."
"Then it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack to search forhim, and as long and costly as the injunction means," commented Mr.Snodgrass.
"I'm afraid it would," was the lawyer's answer.
"What is the man's name?" asked Jerry.
"I have it here," proceeded the attorney. "It is Mr. Well, no, that'snot it. Oh yes! Here it is. Bell, that's it. Mr. Jackson Bell."
"What?" fairly shouted the three boys at once.
"What name?" inquired the professor, wondering if he had heard aright.
"Jackson Bell," repeated the lawyer. "Why, do you know him?"
"Know him?" went on Jerry, jumping up in his excitement. "Why he is inthe next room this very minute! Well of all the strange pieces of luck!"
Then they all tried to tell the lawyer at once the story of the hermitand his son, making such a jumble that the attorney had to beg them tostop, while he listened to one at a time. Finally the tale was related,and the boys and the professor as well, greatly excited, paused to seewhat the lawyer would say.
"Then I don't see any further trouble to your getting possession of themine," said the attorney. "If Mr. Bell is on your side, and you make ajoint application to the court or even to the government agent, I amsure you will be given instant charge of the claim."
"There is only one difficulty," said Mr. Snodgrass. "Mr. Bell iswounded. His mind was not strong before the shooting, and it may bealtogether gone when he recovers consciousness. In that case--?"
"In that case I'm afraid you are as badly off as before," finished thelawyer.
The door to the inner room, where Mr. Bell was in the bunk, opened, andTommy came out, looking worried.
"Is he worse, Tommy?" asked the professor.
"He's acting very queer," replied the boy. "He is sitting up in bed,and is trying to get something out from under his shirt. He's talkingsomething about a mine."
"He is probably delirious," said Mr. Snodgrass. "We must have a doctor.I'm afraid it looks bad for us, boys."
At that instant the form of Mr. Bell, weak and tottering, showed in thedoorway. He seemed greatly excited.
"There you are!" he cried tearing open his shirt and throwing a bundle,done up in oiled silk on the table. "There are the papers. There are theproofs to the mine. The gang did not get them after all!"
"Calm yourself," spoke Mr. Snodgrass, in a soothing tone that one usesto sick children or fever patients.
"I'm all right!" exclaimed Mr. Bell. "Don't think I'm crazy. I was alittle off my head, but the wound the bullet gave me, and the blood Ilost, accomplished just what was needed. There, I tell you, are thepapers proving my claim to the mine."
"What mine?" asked the professor, while the others waited in anxiety forthe answer.
"The mine we were going to," responded the old man. "From thedescription you boys gave of it I recognize it as the same one I havemore than a half share in. All the way up here I was trying to recallwhen I had been here before. I recognized the places, but my mind wouldnot serve me. I had suffered so much that I was almost crazy. Then camethe shot, and I did not know anything more, until I just woke up in thatroom, and remembered all about it. Now we will beat that gang."
"Hurrah!" cried Jerry, seizing Ned by the arms and starting to dance ahornpipe.
"Are you sure you can not be mistaken about the mine?" asked Mr.Snodgrass, for it seemed hardly possible that the old hermit, whom theyhad rescued, should turn out to be the much-wanted missing owner.
"There are the papers, you can see for yourself," replied Mr. Bell.
The lawyer, at a sign from the professor, made a careful examination ofthe documents.
"They seem to be all right," he said. "I have no doubt but that you canfully establish your claim, Mr. Bell."
"It isn't my claim, sir."
"Why I thought you said--"
"Everything I have or own is the property of these noble boys andProfessor Snodgrass," went on the former hermit. "They saved my life,and that of my son's. If I gave them a hundred mines I could not repaythem."
"But we do not want your share," said Mr. Snodgrass.
"It don't make any difference what you want, you've got to take it,"said Mr. Bell, firmly.
"We can settle that part later," put
in the lawyer. "The thing to do nowis to get possession of the mine. If you wish I will act for you."
"Of course we want you to," said Jerry.
"Very well. I will take these papers, and go to court with them. If I amsuccessful, as I have no doubt I shall be, I will apply to the sheriffto oust the crowd that is in charge of the mine. Then you and Mr. Bellcan take possession."
"That's the way to talk!" fairly yelled Nestor, who was anxious to getback to the "diggings."
The lawyer was hurried back to town in the auto. Nothing could be donethat afternoon, as the court was closed. He promised to be on hand earlyin the morning.
The boys could hardly sleep that night. Mr. Bell seemed to have fullyrecovered, and, beyond a slight pain where the bullet had hit him, hedid not suffer. It was late when they went to bed, and somewhat latewhen they arose.
"I'm going into town and see what's doing," said Jerry after breakfast.
"So am I," cried Ned and Bob.
"Better not," went on Jerry. "If I have to bring back the lawyer, andthe sheriff and some of his deputies to read the riot act to the gang,I'll need all the room there is."
So Jerry went off alone in the car. He did not find the lawyer in, butthe attorney's clerk said he was at court.
"I'll wait until he comes back," said Jerry, and he sat down in theoffice. Two hours later, the lawyer came in.
"What luck?" asked Jerry.
"The very best. I have a peremptory order commanding that crowd to turnthe mine over to your party and Mr. Bell. Come on, we'll get the sheriffand finish the thing right up."
The sheriff was only too glad of a chance for some activity. He andthree deputies, well armed, got into the car, and Jerry started off. Tothe boy the machine never seemed to move so slowly, but several timesone of the deputies threatened to jump out if the auto did not slackenup a bit.
Arriving at the cabin, Nestor, the two boys, and Professor Snodgrasswere found anxiously waiting.
"Now for the mine!" cried Jerry, as he rapidly explained the success ofthe mission.
"Wait till I get my gun," said Nestor.
"No shooting unless we have to," warned the sheriff.
Then they advanced on the mine. An eighth of a mile away they werehalted by a guard. But an order from the sheriff, and a sight of thecommand from the court, made the guard give in, and he was sent back tothe cabin, in custody of one of the deputies.
Then, without any warning, the party descended on the others of thegang, who were all gathered in the main cabin at dinner.
At first it looked as if there was going to be trouble. Several made anattempt to get their guns, but Nestor, the sheriff, and his man, hadcovered them, and they saw that the game was up.
"I'll read you this court order," said the sheriff.
"You needn't bother," spoke the leader, whom the boys recognized asone of the men who had held Tommy a captive. Others in the gang wererecognizable as men who had tried to capture Mr. Bell at Lost Lake.
"We played a bold game, but we lost," said the leader, as he and hiscompanions, gathering up their baggage, left the cabin, and made theirway toward town. They did not go there, however,--since they fearedfurther proceedings,--and were never heard of again.
"Hurrah, now we have our mine back again!" cried Jerry. "I wonder if itis paying?"
"Better than ever, by the looks of this stuff," answered Jim Nestor,picking up some newly-mined ore that lay on ground. "No wonder thatcrowd wanted to keep possession of the mine."
There followed a general jollification. The boys got up a finedinner, at which the sheriff, his men, and the lawyer were guests. Anarrangement was made whereby Mr. Bell should retain a large interestin the mine, while the other share was divided between our friends asbefore. The lawyer received a generous fee, and the sheriff and his menwere not forgotten.
"Well," said Jerry, a week later, "we came out all right, didn't we? Ipresume our adventures are all over now."
"Don't be too sure," put in Bob. "Something else may turn up soon." AndBob was right, as we shall learn in another volume, to be called, "TheMotor Boys Afloat; Or, The Stirring Cruise of the _Dartaway_," a tale ofland and sea.
The days to follow were busy ones for Jim Nestor and the boys. The minewas started up in better shape than ever before, new machinery put in,and extra workmen engaged. Letters were sent to the boys' folks, tellingof all that had happened.
"I want to say one thing," said Jerry, one day. "And that is, that itfeels mighty good to be back in the United States again."
"Exactly what I say," returned Ned.
"Right you are," came from Chunky. He rubbed his hands together. "And aswe are back, and all is well, why--er--let us have some dinner."
And then, with a merry laugh at the lad who never wanted to miss a meal,the others followed Chunky to the table; and here as they sit down to awell-earned repast, we will take our departure.
THE END.
_The Motor Boys Series_
(_Trade Mark, Reg. U. S. Pat. Of._)
_By Clarence Young_
=Cloth. 12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 60 cents, postpaid=
THE MOTOR BOYS _Or, Chums Through Thick and Thin_
In this volume is related how the three boys got together and planned toobtain a touring car and make a trip lasting through the summer.
THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND _Or, A Long Trip for Fun and Fortune_
With the money won at the great motorcycle race the three boys purchasetheir touring car and commence their travels.
THE MOTOR BOYS IN MEXICO _Or, The Secret of the Buried City_
From our own country the scene is shifted to Mexico, where the motorboys journey in quest of a city said to have been buried centuries agoby an earthquake.
THE MOTOR BOYS ACROSS THE PLAINS _Or, The Hermit of Lost Lake_
Unraveling the mystery surrounding an old hermit and a poor boy.
THE MOTOR BOYS AFLOAT _Or, The Stirring Cruise of the Dartaway_
In this volume the boys take to a motorboat, and have many adventures.
THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE ATLANTIC _Or, The Mystery of the Lighthouse_
How the lads foiled the bad men who wanted to wreck a steamer by meansof false lights is dramatically related.
THE MOTOR BOYS IN STRANGE WATERS _Or, Lost in a Floating Forest_
Telling of many adventures in the mysterious Everglades of Florida.
THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE PACIFIC _Or, The Young Derelict Hunters_
The derelict was of great value, and the hunt for it proved full ofperils.
THE MOTOR BOYS IN THE CLOUDS _Or, A Trip for Fame and Fortune_
The boys fall in with an inventor and invest in a flying machine. Aftera number of stirring adventures in the clouds they enter a big race.
CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK
* * * * * *
Transcriber's note:
--Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.
--Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.
--Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.
The Motor Boys Across the Plains; or, The Hermit of Lost Lake Page 30
