The White Crystals: Being an Account of the Adventures of Two Boys

by Howard Roger Garis

  CHAPTER XXII

  A QUESTION OF LAW

  The sudden entrance of Roger, his words and manner, and his earnestness,created no small excitement in the Kimball household. Adrian and Clara,who had been in the sitting-room, discussing the situation, andrejoicing over the sale of the land, by means of which the mortgagecould be paid, came hurrying into the kitchen as they heard their cousinspeak.

  "Hello, Roger!" exclaimed Adrian. "I was just going out to hunt you up.Where were you?"

  "Out to Syracuse," answered Roger, briefly.

  Mr. Kimball folded up the agreement of sale he had been reading, andcame over to where his nephew stood.

  "Roger, my boy," he began, "what do ye mean? What is all this about,anyhow? Ain't I got a right t' sell my land ef I want t'? 'N' ain't twothousand dollars a good price fer th' spring-glade?"

  "No, sir! It is not!" burst out the boy. "That's just it. You've goneand bargained away land worth probably twenty times what you have agreedto sell it for."

  "What's that? I guess ye don't know what ye're talkin' about, Roger."

  "I guess I do," said Roger, stoutly, but not forgetting the deferencedue his uncle. "Look here!" and he held out a few of the white crystals.

  "What's them?" asked Mr. Kimball.

  "Rock salt."

  "Rock salt. Wa'al, what of it? There's lots of it, out t' Syracuse."

  "And there's lots of it on that land you've agreed to sell," exclaimedRoger. "That's what I went to the city for. That's what I've beenfollowing Mr. Ranquist and Mr. Dudley for. Uncle Bert, your farm, orpart of it, anyhow, is right over a salt mine. I know this, though Ican't say how big the mine is. But a man who knows something about suchthings believes it will be worth lots of money. That's why I tried tohurry home, to prevent you from signing the property away."

  "Oh! Why didn't ye wait, Bert?" said Mrs. Kimball, in a sorrowful voice.

  "Wa'al," spoke Mr. Kimball, in rather a husky tone, "I s'pose I ought t'hev, but how'd I know there was salt on my land? There ain't never beenno evidences of it. How d'ye know there is?" turning suddenly to Roger.

  "Because," answered the boy, earnestly, "I saw Mr. Ranquist and Mr.Dudley drilling a hole near the spring. I saw them pull up something onthe end of a rod, from deep down under the earth. This morning I lowereda weight on a string down the hole, and these white crystals stuck tothe wax on the end of the lead. Mr. Ranquist saw me, and he chased me,but I beat him running. Then I went to a man in Syracuse. Enberry Tookgave me a ride out. The man told me what this stuff was, and wanted meto warn you not to agree to sell."

  Then Roger related the whole story to his uncle and the rest of thefamily, just as he had told Mr. Vanter. When he had finished a silencefell on the little group in the farmhouse kitchen.

  "Humph!" ejaculated Mr. Kimball, at length. "I guess th' boy's right. Iwonder I didn't smell a rat when this feller Ranquist come so hot artermy land, when there's plenty other t' be hed in Cardiff. I neversuspicioned nothin'. He offered me one thousand dollars, 'n' I says makeit two thousand, so's I could pay off th' mortgage."

  "Did he do it?" asked Roger.

  "Never hesitated a minute," went on Mr. Kimball. "Agreed to it rightaway. 'N' then he hed me go up t' Squire Bimmer's office, 'n' sign th'agreement. Paid me five hundred dollars down," and Mr. Kimball drew outa crisp bank-note, and gazed rather sorrowfully at it. "He said he'd payth' balance 's soon 's we could draw th' deed, t'-morrow er next day,but he said th' agreement were's bindin' 's ef he hed a deed."

  "I guess it is," said Roger, remembering what Mr. Vanter had told him.

  "Plowshares 'n' hoe handles, but why didn't I wait!" lamented Mr.Kimball. "Though how in th' name a' th' sacred cat was I t' know therewere salt on th' land. My! My! But I guess I've made a bad mistake."

  So, instead of being glad because the land was sold, Mr. Kimball, andall the family, were greatly downcast after they had listened to Roger'sstory. And he, too, took very much to heart the disappointment of hisuncle. If he had only acted a day sooner, all this trouble would havebeen avoided. But it was too late for regrets now, and the only thing todo, was to make the best of it, the boy thought. Yet it was very hard tosee valuable land sold for such a small sum, particularly when his uncleneeded money so badly. There was just a faint hope in Roger's heart,that perhaps Mr. Vanter might be able to suggest a way out of thedifficulty. But the hope was so faint that he hardly dared speak of it.He could only wait until the promised arrival of the surveyor, and seewhat would come of it.

  Troubled dreams disturbed the usually quiet slumbers of more than onemember of the Kimball home that night. Roger's uncle was so restless,tossing to and fro on the bed, and thinking of his lost opportunity,that he was glad when morning came, so he could get up and go to work.The others, also, thought too much of what had happened to sleep well.

  After the chores were done up Mr. Kimball paid a visit to the springglade. To his eyes, not experienced in looking for signs of mineralwealth, there were no indications of a salt mine beneath the surface,and he felt himself almost wishing such a thing could not be true. Buthe could scarcely doubt it, after what had occurred. With a heavy hearthe took up the duties of the day.

  "Come on, Roger," called Adrian, as soon as he had done his part of themorning's work about the farm, "let's go up by the spring, and see wherethe salt mine is. Cracky! I wish I'd been along when you went fishing ondry land. I'll bet I'd fired a stone at Ranquist."

  "I wish you had been along," said Roger. "Your father would not havesigned then. But I thought I was acting for the best."

  "Of course you did. It isn't your fault," replied Adrian.

  The two boys walked up the hill, and were soon at the place. On the wayRoger was wondering whether Mr. Vanter had come out. He remembered hisinstructions, to pretend not to recognize the surveyor. As the ladsapproached the spring they could hear through the trees, the noise ofmen digging, and voices in conversation. The click of spades and shovelswas plainly audible.

  "They're at it already!" exclaimed Adrian. "Hurry up, and let's see 'emget the salt out."

  "I guess they won't reach it very soon," said Roger. "It's abouttwenty-five feet under the surface."

  The boys quickened their steps, and soon came to the open glade. Threemen were busy at work, two of them laborers, while the third was afamiliar figure to Roger, who gave a start of surprise as he recognizedMr. Vanter directing operations. But even in the intense excitement ofthe moment, Roger did not forget his promise, and he was prepared toshow by no sign that he had ever seen the surveyor before.

  "Why, there's a new man," said Adrian, as he caught sight of Mr. Vanter."I thought, at first, it was Mr. Dudley or Mr. Ranquist, but it isn't. Iwonder who he is. Anyhow, let's see what they are doing."

  The cousins watched the laborers with great interest. Mr. Vanter glancedup and saw Roger, but, though he gave just the faintest smile, to showhe knew his young friend, he made no motion to indicate that the orderof last night was not to be obeyed, so Roger kept silent.

  The two laborers were digging a sort of inclined shaft, sinking it aboutthe place where Mr. Ranquist had drilled the small hole. Their picks andshovels made the brown dirt fly, and Mr. Vanter urged them on, as thoughthey were working against time. The boys watched for perhaps tenminutes, when there came a sound, as if some one was approaching. Thenext instant Mr. Dudley and Mr. Ranquist appeared on the scene. Rogerstarted in surprise, wondering what would happen now, but Mr. Vantergave no indication that he saw the engineers, and the laborers kept ondigging.

  "Well," said Mr. Ranquist, at length, "I must say I consider this arather high-handed proceeding. By what right, sir, are you working on myproperty? Do you know," addressing Mr. Vanter, "that you and your menare trespassing, and are liable to arrest?"

  "Since when have you owned this land?" asked the surveyor, coolly. "Thisbelongs to Bert Kimball, a friend of mine, and--"

  "It doesn't belong to him any more," broke in Mr. Ranquist.

  "Since when has he ce
ased to own it?"

  "Well, I don't know as that is any of your affair, but I'll tell you.Since yesterday afternoon Mr. Kimball ceased to be the owner, when hesigned an agreement to sell this piece to the Universal Salt Company."

  Mr. Vanter started, and looked at Roger, who sorrowfully nodded inconfirmation of what the engineer had said.

  "There's his son; ask him," went on Mr. Ranquist, pointing to Adrian.

  "I guess it's true," said the boy, in response to Mr. Vanter's look."But," he added, "my father would never have agreed to sell it if he hadknown there was salt on it."

  "I would imagine not," said Mr. Vanter, softly, to himself.

  "That was his lookout, not mine," came from Mr. Ranquist. Turning to Mr.Vanter, he added: "I advise you to leave here, my friend. I'll overlookthe trespass for once, but don't let it happen again," and he frowned ina significant manner.

  "Suppose I refuse to go until you prove to me that you own this land, orhave a legal right, by virtue of an agreement, to order me off," askedMr. Vanter.

  "Then I'm afraid there'll be an unpleasant scene," exclaimed Mr.Ranquist, in a harsh voice, and with a sudden motion he drew a revolver,and aimed it full at the surveyor. "I don't want to resort to forcefulmeasures," he went on, "but I'll have no hesitation in using this if youremain here three minutes longer." He drew out his watch.

  "You needn't worry," spoke up Mr. Vanter, calmly. "I'm not afraid ofthat popgun, for I've faced bigger ones than that, but at present youseem to have the law on your side. However, Mr. Ranquist, we may meetagain, when perhaps the shoe will be on the other foot. I'll bid yougood-morning," and, bowing politely, with not a trace of anger in hisface, Mr. Vanter walked slowly down the hill, followed by the twolaborers. Roger and Adrian remained behind for a minute or so.

  "I guess I can get along without you two boys," remarked Mr. Ranquist,in strange contrast to his pleasant tones of a few days before. "And asfor you, Master Roger, if I catch you on this land after to-day, itwon't be well for you. Mind what I say, and keep off. I'll see yourfather, Adrian, and have him keep you away also."

  "You needn't trouble yourself," said Adrian, quickly. He was as angry asever a boy could be. "We don't have any great hankering to get on yourland, which you had to cheat to get control of," and with this partingshot Adrian and Roger made their way in the direction taken by Mr.Vanter. They caught up to him before he had gone very far, and thoughRoger, in obedience to his instructions, was not going to speak, thesurveyor addressed him.

  "Well, Roger," he said, "I see you were too late. Your uncle must havesigned before you got home last night."

  "He had," answered the boy. "He was reading the agreement when I got in.I think he said he is to sign the deed to-morrow."

  "Too bad," remarked Mr. Vanter, sympathetically, "but I suppose itcouldn't be helped. I think I'll go down and see Mr. Kimball, anyhow. Heused to know me when I was a Cardiff boy. I suppose," turning to Adrian,"this is his son?"

  Adrian nodded pleasantly, and while the party advanced Roger told hiscousin in a low tone who Mr. Vanter was, and how he had met him. At thefoot of the hill the surveyor dismissed his laborers and went on withthe boys.

  "I didn't have a chance to do much in the way of examining the land,"said Mr. Vanter to Roger. "I would have dug deeper if I hadn't beeninterrupted. But from what I saw, and the way Ranquist acted, I ampretty sure the salt deposit is a large one, and valuable. I wish, forMr. Kimball's sake, I had known this two days ago."

  When the three reached the house, they found Mr. Kimball reading aletter. Roger introduced Mr. Vanter, and the farmer at once recalled theman who, as a youngster, used to play about the village streets.

  "I ain't forgot ye," he said, clapping Mr. Vanter heartily on the back."I remember onct when I ketched ye in my melon patch," and he laughedat the recollection, Mr. Vanter joining in.

  "I have even better cause than you have not to forget that littleincident," responded the surveyor, as he rubbed the back of his legsreflectively.

  "I reckon I switched ye good 'n' proper," commented Mr. Kimball, a smileplaying about the corners of his mouth.

  "I hear you have been selling a salt mine just as if it was ordinarypasture land," said Mr. Vanter, to change the subject.

  "Why, how'd ye know thet?" asked Mr. Kimball, in a wondering tone. "Icalalated nobody--Oh! You're th' feller Roger went to see in Syracuse,"he cried suddenly. "I understand now. Wa'al, it ain't th' boy's fault.He made a noble try. I took up Ranquist's offer too quick, thet's th'hull trouble. But I needed th' money bad. In fact, here's a letter now,tellin' me thet onless I raise th' cash by th' end a' th' week, th'mortgage'll be foreclosed, 'n' I'll lose th' farm. By sellin' th'spring-glade when I did, I've got nuff t' make th' payment. Ha'f aloaf's better'n' no bread, ye know. But I s'pose I ought t' hev waited."

  "When do you sign the deed?" asked Mr. Vanter. "I understand you havegiven a binding agreement to sell, so it's no use trying to get out ofthat."

  "Why, me 'n' Mrs. Kimball are t' put our signatures on th' deedt'-morrow," replied the farmer, "'n' I git th' balance a' th' twothousand dollars then. Handy 'nuff it'll be, too, but I wish now itwere more. I'll be pretty heavily in debt, even arter I pay off th'mortgage. Yes, sir, me 'n' mother here signs t'-morrow," and he motionedto his wife who had come to the door.

  At the mention of Mrs. Kimball's name in connection with signing thedeed, Mr. Vanter gave a start of surprise. He seemed to have an ideathat proved a pleasant thought, for he rubbed his hands together, andbegan pacing up and down the room, as he had done when Roger saw him thefirst time, in the Syracuse office.

  "Tell me," said Mr. Vanter, coming toward Mr. Kimball, and speaking veryearnestly, "did Mrs. Kimball sign the agreement?"

  "Why, no, she didn't, come t' think on 't," replied the farmer,scratching his head. "She were out when Mr. Ranquist brought th' paper.I guess she'd gone over t' Mrs. Took's. It were only a matter a' form,havin' her sign, Ranquist said, 'n' he mentioned she could sign th'deed. 'N' so, he bein' in a hurry, he left 'fore she got back. So th'agreement's got only my name on 't."

  "If you don't mind, I'd like to take a look at that agreement," said Mr.Vanter, smiling as though something pleased him.

  "Wa'al, I guess ye kin hev it," remarked Mr. Kimball. "'Tain't much uset' me, seein' 's how Ranquist has a copy. But what in th' name a' th'Cardiff giant d'ye want it fer?"

  "To keep Mrs. Kimball from signing it by mistake," replied Mr. Vanter.

  "How's thet? Is there any hope thet I won't hev t' deed away thet land?"asked Mr. Kimball, in great excitement.

  "Oh, no; I guess you'll have t' sign the deed, as you have agreed to,"was the answer.

  "What then?"

  "Well," said the surveyor slowly, "I may think of a plan to outwit Mr.Ranquist yet. Put on your hat and coat, and we'll go to Squire Bimmer'soffice."

  "Hurrah!" shouted Roger, gaily, as he saw his uncle and Mr. Vanter leavethe house. "Hurrah! Maybe it will come out right after all!"

  But Mrs. Kimball, who had heard the talk, did not see how, and she wasin no happy frame of mind, over the prospect of selling the valuableland for such a small sum.