Do and Dare — a Brave Boy's Fight for Fortune, Jr. Horatio Alger [free ebook reader .txt] 📗
- Author: Jr. Horatio Alger
Book online «Do and Dare — a Brave Boy's Fight for Fortune, Jr. Horatio Alger [free ebook reader .txt] 📗». Author Jr. Horatio Alger
“Where shall I say you have gone if I am asked?” she said.
“You may say that you don't know,” answered Brown, brusquely.
“I don't think much of a man who keeps secrets from his wife,” said Mrs. Brown, coldly.
“And I don't think much of a man who tells everything to his wife,” retorted Brown. “It's all right, Kitty, You needn't concern yourself. But the captain and I are on an expedition, which, to be successful, needs to be kept secret.”
Mrs. Brown was not more than half convinced, but she was compelled to accept this statement, for her husband would vouchsafe no other.
That part of the State into which they journeyed was not new ground to either. They were familiar with all the settled portion of Colorado, and had no difficulty in finding the cabin occupied by George Melville.
Now it happened that they reached the modest dwelling in the woods about three o'clock in the afternoon. Herbert had ridden over to Deer Creek to look after his mining property, and it was not yet time to expect him back. George Melville was therefore left alone.
Knowing, as my young readers do, his literary tastes, they will understand that, though left alone, he was not lonely. The stock of books which he had bought from his predecessor was to him an unfailing resource. Moreover, he had taken up Italian, of which he knew a little, and was reading in the original the “Divina Comedia” of Dante, a work which consumed many hours, and was not likely soon to be over. To-day, however, for some reason Melville found it more difficult than usual to fix his mind upon his pleasant study. Was it a presentiment of coming evil that made him so unusually restless? At all events, the hours, which were wont to be fleet-footed, passed with unusual slowness, and he found himself longing for the return of his young friend.
“I don't know what has got into me to-day,” said Melville to himself. “It's only three o'clock, yet the day seems very long. I wish Herbert would return. I feel uneasy. I don't know why. I hope it is not a presage of misfortune. I shall not be sure that something has not happened to Herbert till I see him again.”
As he spoke George Melville rose from his chair, and was about to put on his hat and take a short walk in the neighboring woods, when he heard the tramp of approaching horses. Looking out from the window, he saw two horsemen close at hand.
He started in dismay, for in the two men he was at no loss in recognizing his stagecoach companion, Col. Warner, and the landlord who had essayed the part of a road agent.
CHAPTER XXXV. MELVILLE IN PERIL.
Col. Warner and his companion enjoyed the effect of their presence upon their intended victim, and smiled in a manner that boded little good to Melville, as they dismounted from their steeds and advanced to the door of the cabin.
“How are you, Melville?” said Warner, ironically. “I see you have not forgotten me.”
“No, I have not forgotten you,” answered Melville, regarding his visitor uneasily.
“This is my friend, Mr. Brown. Perhaps you remember him?”
“I do remember him, and the circumstances under which I last saw him,” replied Melville, rather imprudently.
Brown frowned, but he did not speak. He generally left his companion to do the talking.
“Being in the neighborhood, we thought we'd call upon you,” continued Col. Warner.
“Walk in, gentlemen, if you see fit,” said Melville. “I suppose it would be only polite to say that I am glad to see you, but I have some regard for truth, and cannot say it.”
“I admire your candor, Mr. Melville. Walk in, Brown. Ha! upon my word, you have a nice home here. Didn't expect to see anything of the kind in this wilderness. Books and pictures! Really, now, Brown, I am quite tempted to ask our friend, Melville, to entertain us for a few days.”
“I don't think it would suit you,” said Melville, dryly. “You are probably more fond of exciting adventure than of books.”
“Does the boy live with you?” asked Warner, dropping his bantering tone, and looking about his searchingly.
“Yes, he is still with me.”
“I don't see him.”
“Because he has gone to Deer Creek on business.”
When Melville saw the rapid glance of satisfaction interchanged by the two visitors he realized that he had made an imprudent admission. He suspected that their design was to rob him, and he had voluntarily assured them that he was alone, and that they could proceed without interruption.
“Sorry not to see him,” said Warner. “I'd like to renew our pleasant acquaintance.”
Melville was about to reply that Herbert would be back directly, when it occurred to him that this would be a fresh piece of imprudence. It would doubtless lead them to proceed at once to the object of their visit, while if he could only keep them till his boy companion did actually return, they would at least be two to two. Even then they would be by no means equally matched, but something might occur to help them.
“I suppose Herbert will return by evening,” he replied. “You can see him if you remain till then.”
Another expression of satisfaction appeared upon the faces of his two visitors, but for this he was prepared.
“Sorry we can't stay till then,” said Warner, “but business of importance will limit our stay. Eh, Brown?”
“I don't see the use of delaying at all!” growled Brown, who was not as partial as his companion to the feline amusement of playing with his intended victim. With him, on the contrary, it was a word, and a blow, and sometimes the blow came first.
“Come to business!” continued Brown, impatiently, addressing his associate.
“That is my purpose, friend Brown.”
“Mr. Melville, it is not solely the pleasure of seeing you that has led my friend and myself to call this afternoon.”
Melville nodded.
“So I supposed,” he said.
“There is a little unfinished business between us, as you will remember. I owe you a return for the manner in which you saw fit to throw suspicion upon me some time since, when we were traveling together.”
Comments (0)