Down the Slope

by James Otis

  CHAPTER XXVII

  AN UNLOOKED-FOR DENIAL

  "You've done a big thing, my boy," Brace said, approvingly, when Fred'sstory was concluded, "an' it won't be long before we can bring Sam backto Farley's with not so much as a suspicion against him. Besides that,we own the land that'll make all hands rich."

  "How did you do it?"

  Joe gave him all the details, and concluding with the interview betweenhimself and Mr. Wright, said:

  "I didn't leave that night as I decided on; but went back to see poorBill, an' your mother insisted I stay till mornin'. The sun wasn't upwhen I started out, an' a mighty blind hunt it proved to be till thefirst camp was struck. That kinder livened me a bit; but I couldn't getonto the trail, an' from then till Gus yelled I hadn't any idea whichway to go."

  "How far do you suppose we are from Farley's?"

  "I reckon it'll take smart walkin' for the rest of this day, an' thebest part of to-morrow before we see the works."

  "And the provisions I took from Tim and Gus are all gone."

  "I've got enough for supper, if we don't eat too hearty, and the balanceof the time we can suck our thumbs."

  "Then we'd better make another start. It must be three o'clock."

  "Do you know the straight cut?"

  "I'm not even certain we're heading right."

  "By keeping on the high land we are bound to come out somewhere nearFarley's or Blacktown."

  When the journey was continued Gus took good care to give his captors notrouble, for he understood that Joe would show but little mercy, ifthere was any attempt to cause delay.

  At a reasonably rapid pace the three marched until darkness forced ahalt, and then the small amount of provisions Brace had brought wasconsumed without satisfying the hunger of either member of the party.

  Gus was tied between his captors, where he could stretch himself at fulllength, and the night passed quietly. There was no longer any fear Timcould effect a rescue, even though he might be near at hand, and Fredenjoyed a most refreshing rest.

  What all hoped would prove to be the last day's journey was begunwithout breakfast, and the advance was by no means rapid.

  At ten o'clock Fred declared he could go no farther without a rest, andthe party sought shelter from the sun under a wide spreading tree, wherea view could be had of a depression in the land for some distance ahead.

  Joe and Fred were facing this open stretch, and had but just begun todiscuss the subject which was ever uppermost in their minds--the coalvein--when a figure carrying a heavy burden emerged from the thicket onthe lower side, evidently bent on ascending the mountain.

  "Now, what can that fellow be doing?" Joe asked, as he arose to hisfeet. "It's a boy, an' we'd be in big luck if it should turn out to bethat precious Tim."

  "But it isn't; he wears a cap, and this one has a hat. It lookssomething like----Why it is! It's Skip!"

  "Skip?" Joe repeated in amazement. "What's he doin' out here, an' withsuch a load?"

  "In order to answer that question I shall have to ask him," and Fredshouted the boy's name.

  Skip started as if alarmed at being summoned, and then, waving his hatin triumph, he came toward the party at his best pace.

  "I knew I'd find you if I hunted long enough," he exclaimed as he camewithin speaking distance, and added when he finally reached the treeand threw down the burden. "It's mighty heavy, an' I thought one spellyesterday I'd have to give up the job. Reckon you're glad to get it,eh?"

  "What have you there?"

  "Grub, of course. When Joe didn't turn up, an' there was no sign ofFred, I figured that you'd both want somethin' to eat, so took out mywages in what was handiest to eat. Mrs. Byram said I'd never find you,but it wouldn't do any harm to try, so here we are."

  "Did you spend your money to buy us food?" Fred asked.

  "Why not? It'll take a good deal more'n that to straighten thingsbetween us, an' I'd like to get the 'count squared some time."

  "You've done it already, Skip. It was you who first put us on the trackof the thieves, and now you've helped the cause along wonderfully, forit has been a good while since I had all I could eat."

  "Well, fill yourself up right now. There's no need to hurry, for youcan't get to Farley's to-night, an'----Hello, Gus! Got through with yourtrip so soon?"

  "You'll wish I hadn't before this thing is ended," was the surly reply,and then the prisoner turned his back on the ex-chief of the regulators.

  Quite naturally Skip was eager to hear the result of the chase, andwhile Joe and Fred were eating they gave him the full particulars.

  "Do you know the way home?" Brace asked when the story was told.

  "Of course. I've been out here half a dozen times. Was you calculatin'to keep straight ahead?"

  "Yes."

  "Then you'd gone six miles the other side of Farley's."

  "If that is the case, it's lucky you found us. Let's make another start;now I've filled up it seems possible to travel without stopping againuntil we are at mother's door."

  With a guide and provisions in plenty, the long tramp yet to be enduredseemed but a trifling affair, and the party, with the single exceptionof Gus, were in the best of spirits.

  The night was spent near a small water course in the valley, and atthree o'clock all hands entered the company's store at Farley's.

  Both Mr. Wright and the cashier were in the building, and they listenedin undisguised astonishment as Joe told the story of the capture.

  "Here is the money, except what they have spent," Fred said when Joeconcluded the recital, and he handed the package to the superintendent.

  An examination showed that but fifty-three dollars were missing, andthen Mr. Wright turned to Gus, who was wearing a look of mingledindignation and innocence.

  "How did you get this money from Thorpe?"

  "Who is he, sir?"

  "The boy who was bringing it from the bank."

  "I never saw him."

  "Then how did you get these notes?"

  "I never had 'em sir."

  "Why, I took them out of his pocket," Fred cried, in surprise.

  "Explain yourself," Mr. Wright said to the prisoner.

  "Me an' Tim Sanger was goin' to camp out on the mountains while work wasslack," Gus began with an air of truthfulness. "We had a shanty built,an' Tim went off fishin' when this feller," here he pointed to theastonished Fred, "jumped in on me. I'd seen him in Blacktown, so didn'tthink anything was out of the way till he knocked me down."

  "Why did he strike you?"

  "That's jest what I don't know. He tied me all up like this, an' I hadto do as he said till we met Joe Brace. Then I heard one of 'em say tothe other: 'This will get Sam out of the scrape, for we can say GusDobson had the money what was stole, in his pocket.' That's all I knowabout it, an' I never saw them bills till this very minute."

  "It was a good scheme for Sam to give up the money in this way when hefound the case was so dead against him," the cashier said in a low tone,as if speaking to himself; but he took care that Mr. Wright should heardistinctly.

  "What do you mean?" Joe cried fiercely.

  "Nothing, nothing, I must have been thinking aloud."

  "You intended we should hear every word," the miner added, excitedly.

  "Be quiet, Brace, while we get the facts of this strange story," Mr.Wright said, sharply.

  "You have got the facts already sir. I told you before I left town thatthis fellow was one of the thieves."

  "That doesn't prove anything," the cashier replied, with a malicioussmile.

  "I'll prove more than that to you, if you dare show your nose outdoors."

  "Either leave the office, Brace, or hold your tongue," and now thesuperintendent spoke in an angry tone.

  "Fred, what have you got to say in answer to this boy's story?"

  "Not a word, sir. What Joe has told you is true, and if it ain'tbelieved you can serve the warrant which was issued for me, as soon asyou please."

  "He can't say anything,"
Gus added, triumphantly. "If Tim was here hecould tell you jest why we left Blacktown; but, of course, he don't knowabout the job this feller is try in' to put up on me."

  "Where is Tim?"

  "I dunno. He'll likely come home when he can't find me."

  "Are you willing to stay here until he returns?"

  "Sure; there ain't any reason why I'd want to run off, if you tell myfolks where I am."

  Joe could contain himself no longer.

  "Do you mean to put his word agin ours?" he cried fiercely.

  "Why not?" the cashier asked, softly. "It looks to me very much as ifhis having been brought here was an outrage."

  "If you speak to me agin I'll spoil the whole of your face, you cur!After arestin' a boy for meetin' with an accident in doin' what yououghter done, an' gettin' out warrants for others what couldn't have hada hand in the matter, it's easy to see why you want to believe thislittle villain's story. When the truth is known you understand blessedwell that the town will be too hot to hold you."

  "That will do," Mr. Wright cried, sternly. "I shall have no suchlanguage used here. Leave this moment, Brace, and when you are more calmwe'll discuss the matter."

  Joe looked in silence first at the cashier, and then at thesuperintendent, after which he said to Fred and Skip:

  "Come, lads, this is no place for us. We've saved the company's money,an' now are likely to be treated as we were for standin' by 'em at thetime of the riot."

  With this reminder he walked out of the building followed by both theboys.