I am Henry Dimwood, alias Snapshot Harry, and this is my house.
I came to speak with you about the robbery of greenbacks from the coach last night, began Brice hurriedly, with a sudden access of hope at his reception. I mean, of course,he stopped and hesitated,the actual robbery before YOU stopped us.
What! said Harry, springing to his feet, do you mean to say YOU knew it?
Brices heart sank, but he remained steadfast and truthful. Yes, he said, I knew it when I handed down the box. I saw that the lock had been forced, but I snapped it together again. It was my fault. Perhaps I should have warned you, but I am solely to blame.
Did Yuba Bill know of it? asked the highwayman, with singular excitement.
Not at the time, I give you my word! replied Brice quickly, thinking only of loyalty to his old comrade. I never told him till we reached the station.
And he knew it then? repeated Harry eagerly.
Yes.
Did he say anything? Did he do anything? Did he look astonished?
Brice remembered Bills uncontrollable merriment, but replied vaguely and diplomatically, He was certainly astonished.
A laugh gathered in Snapshot Harrys eyes which at last overspread his whole face, and finally shook his frame as he sat helplessly down again. Then, wiping his eyes, he said in a shaky voice:
It would have been sure death to have trusted myself near that station, but I think Id have risked it just to have seen Bills face when you told him! Just think of it! Bill, who was a match for anybody! Bill, who was never caught napping! Bill, who only wanted supreme control of things to wipe me off the face of the earth! Bill, who knew how everything was done, and could stop it if he chose, and then to have been ROBBED TWICE IN ONE EVENING BY MY GANG! Yes, sir! Yuba Bill and his rotten old coach were GONE THROUGH TWICE INSIDE HALF AN HOUR by the gang!
Then you knew of it too? said Brice, in uneasy astonishment.
Afterwards, my young friendlike Yuba Billafterwards. He stopped; his whole expression changed. It was done by two sneaking hounds, he said sharply; one whom I suspected before, and one, a new hand, a pal of his. They were detached to watch the coach and be satisfied that the greenbacks were aboard, for it isnt my style to hold up except for something special. They were to take seats on the coach as far as Ringwood Station, three miles below where we held you up, and to get out there and pass the word to us that it was all right. They didnt; that made us a little extra careful, seeing something was wrong, but never suspecting THEM. We found out afterwards that they got one of my scouts to cut down that tree, saying it was my orders and a part of our game, calculating in the stoppage and confusion to collar the swag and get off with it. Without knowing it, YOU played into their hands by going into Tarboxs cabin.
But how did you know this? interrupted Brice, in wonder.
They forgot one thing, continued Snapshot Harry grimly. They forgot that half an hour before and half an hour after a stage is stopped we have that road patrolled, every foot of it. While I was opening the box in the brush, the two fools, sneaking along the road, came slap upon one of my patrols, and then tried to run for it. One was dropped, but before he was plugged full of holes and hung up on a tree, he confessed, and said the other man who escaped had the greenbacks.
Brices face fell. Then they are lost, he said bitterly.
Not unless he eats themas he may want to do before Im done on him, for he must either starve or come out. That road is still watched by my men from Tarboxs cabin to the bridge. Hes there somewhere, and cant get forward or backward. Look! he said, rising and going to the door. That road, he pointed to the stage road,a narrow ledge flanked on one side by a precipitous mountain wall, and on the other by an equally precipitate descent,is his limit and tether, and he cant escape on either side.
But the trail?
There is but one entrance to it,the way you came, and that is guarded too. From the time you entered it until you reached the bottom, you were signaled here from point to point! HE would have been dropped! I merely gave YOU a hint of what might have happened to you, if you were up to any little game! You took it like a white man. Come, now! What is your business?
Thus challenged, Brice plunged with youthful hopefulness into his plan; if, as he voiced it, it seemed to him a little extravagant, he was buoyed up by the frankness of the highwayman, who also had treated the double robbery with a levity that seemed almost as extravagant. He suggested that they should work together to recover the money; that the express company should know that the unprecedented stealthy introduction of robbers in the guise of passengers was not Snapshot Harrys method, and he repudiated it as unmanly and unsportsmanlike; and that, by using his superior skill and knowledge of the locality to recover the money and deliver the culprit into the companys hands, he would not only earn the reward that they should offer, but that he would evoke a sentiment that all Californians would understand and respect. The highwayman listened with a tolerant smile, but, to Brices surprise, this appeal to his vanity touched him less than the prospective punishment of the thief.
It would serve the dd hound right, he muttered, if, instead of being shot like a man, he was made to do time in prison, like the ordinary sneak thief that he is. When Brice had concluded, he said briefly, The only trouble with your plans, my young friend, is that about twenty-five men have got to consider them, and have THEIR say about it. Every man in my gang is a shareholder in these greenbacks, for I work on the square; and its for him to say whether hell give them up for a reward and the good opinion of the express company. Perhaps, he went on, with a peculiar smile, its just as well that you tried it on me first! However, Ill sound the boys, and see what comes of it, but not until youre safe off the premises.
And youll let me assist you? said Brice eagerly.
Snapshot Harry smiled again. Well, if you come across the dd thief, and you recognize him and can get the greenbacks from him, Ill pass over the game to you. He rose and added, apparently by way of farewell, Perhaps its just as well that I should give you a guide part of the way to prevent accidents. He went to a door leading to an adjoining room, and called Flo!
Brices heart leaped! If he had forgotten her in the excitement of his interview, he atoned for it by a vivid blush. Her own color was a little heightened as she slipped into the room, but the two managed to look demurely at each other, without a word of recognition.
This is my niece, Flora, said Snapshot Harry, with a slight wave of the hand that was by no means uncourtly, and her company will keep you from any impertinent questioning as well as if I were with you. This is Mr. Brice, Flo, who came to see me on business, and has quite forgotten my practical joking.
The girl acknowledged Brices bow with a shyness very different from her manner of the evening before. Brice felt embarrassed and evidently showed it, for his host, with a smile, put an end to the constraint by shaking the young mans hand heartily, bidding him good-by, and accompanying him to the door.
Once on their way, Mr. Brices spirits returned. I told you last night, he said, that I hoped to meet you the next time with a better introduction. You suggested your uncles. Well, are you satisfied?
Once on their way, Mr. Brices spirits returned. I told you last night, he said, that I hoped to meet you the next time with a better introduction. You suggested your uncles. Well, are you satisfied?
But you didnt come to see ME, said the girl mischievously.
How do you know what my intentions were? returned the young man gayly, gazing at the girls charming face with a serious doubt as to the singleness of his own intentions.
Oh, because I know, she answered, with a toss of her brown head. I heard what you said to uncle Harry.
Mr. Brices brow contracted. Perhaps you saw me, too, when I came, he said, with a slight touch of bitterness as he thought of his reception.
Miss Flo laughed. Brice walked on silently; the girl was heartless and worthy of her education. After a pause she said demurely, I knew he wouldnt hurt youbut YOU didnt. Thats where you showed your grit in walking straight on.
And I suppose you were greatly amused, he replied scornfully.
The girl lifted her arms a little wearily, as with a half sigh she readjusted her brown braids under her uncles gray slouch hat, which she had caught up as she passed out. Thar aint much to laugh at here! she said. But it was mighty funny when you tried to put your hat straight, and then found thur was that bullet hole right through the brim! And the way you stared at itLordy!
Her musical laugh was infectious, and swept away his outraged dignity. He laughed too. At last she said, gazing at his hat, It wont do for you to go back to your folks wearin that sort o thing. Here! Take mine! With a saucy movement she audaciously lifted his hat from his head, and placed her own upon it.
But this is your uncles hat, he remonstrated.
All the same; he spoiled yours, she laughed, adjusting his hat upon her own head. But Ill keep yours to remember you by. Ill loop it up by this hole, and itll look mighty purty. Jes see! She plucked a wild rose from a bush by the wayside, and, passing the stalk through the bullet hole, pinned the brim against the crown by a thorn. There, she said, putting on the hat again with a little affectation of coquetry, hows that?
Mr. Brice thought it very picturesque and becoming to the graceful head and laughing eyes beneath it, and said so. Then, becoming in his turn audacious, he drew nearer to her side.
I suppose you know the forfeit of putting on a gentlemans hat?
Apparently she did, for she suddenly made a warning gesture, and said, Not here! It would be a bigger forfeit than youd keer fo. Before he could reply she turned aside as if quite innocently, and passed into the shade of a fringe of buckeyes. He followed quickly. I didnt mean that, she said; but in the mean time he had kissed the pink tip of her ear under its brown coils. He was, nevertheless, somewhat discomfited by her undisturbed manner and serene face. Ye dont seem to mind bein shot at, she said, with an odd smile, but it wont do for you to kalkilate that EVERYBODY shoots as keerfully as uncle Harry.
I dont understand, he replied, struck by her manner.
Ye aint very complimentary, or youd allow that other folks might be wantin what you took just now, and might consider you was poachin, she returned gravely. My best and strongest holt among those men is that uncle Harry would kill the first one who tried anything like that onand they know it. Thats how I get all the liberty I want here, and can come and go alone as I like.
Brices face flushed quickly with genuine shame and remorse. Do forgive me, he said hurriedly. I didnt thinkIm a brute and a fool!
Uncle Harry allowed you was either drunk or a born idiot when you was promenadin into the valley just now, she said, with a smile.
And what did you think? he asked a little uneasily.
I thought you didnt look like a drinkin man, she answered audaciously.
Brice bit his lip and walked on silently, at which she cast a sidelong glance under her widely spaced heavy lashes and said demurely, I thought last night it was mighty good for you to stand up for your frien Yuba Bill, and then, after ye knew who I was, to let the folks see you kinder cottoned to me too. Not in the style o that land-grabber Heckshill, nor that peart newspaper man, neither. Of course I gave them as good as they sent, she went on, with a little laugh, but Brice could see that her sensitive lip in profile had the tremulous and resentful curve of one who was accustomed to slight and annoyance. Was it possible that this reckless, self-contained girl felt her position keenly?
I am proud to have your good opinion, he said, with a certain respect mingled with his admiring glance, even if I have not your uncles.
Oh, he likes you well enough, or he wouldnt have hearkened to you a minute, she said quickly. When you opened out about them greenbacks, I jes clutched my cheer SO, she illustrated her words with a gesture of her hands, and her face actually seemed to grow pale at the recollection,and I nigh started up to stop ye; but that idea of Yuba Bill bein robbed TWICE I think tickled him awful. But it was lucky none o the gang heard ye or suspected anything. I reckon thats why he sent me with you,to keep them from doggin you and askin questions that a straight man like you would be sure to answer. But they darent come nigh ye as long as Im with you! She threw back her head and rose-crested hat with a mock air of protection that, however, had a certain real pride in it.
I am very glad of that, if it gives me the chance of having your company alone, returned Brice, smiling, and very grateful to your uncle, whatever were his reasons for making you my guide. But you have already been that to me, and he told her of the footprints. But for you, he added, with gentle significance, I should not have been here.
She was silent for a moment, and he could only see the back of her head and its heavy brown coils. After a pause she asked abruptly, Wheres your handkerchief?
He took it from his pocket; her ingenious uncles bullet had torn rather than pierced the cambric.
I thought so, she said, gravely examining it, but I kin mend it as good as new. I reckon you allow I cant sew, she continued, but I do heaps of mendin, as the digger squaw and Chinamen we have here do only the coarser work. Ill send it back to you, and meanwhiles you keep mine.
She drew a handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to him. To his great surprise it was a delicate one, beautifully embroidered, and utterly incongruous to her station. The idea that flashed upon him, it is to be feared, showed itself momentarily in his hesitation and embarrassment.
She gave a quick laugh. Dont be frightened. Its bought and paid for. Uncle Harry dont touch passengers fixins; that aint his style. You oughter know that. Yet in spite of her laugh, he could see the sensitive pout of her lower lip.
I was only thinking, he said hurriedly and sympathetically, that it was too fine for me. But I will be proud to keep it as a souvenir of you. Its not too pretty for THAT!
Uncle gets me these things. He dont keer what they cost, she went on, ignoring the compliment. Why, Ive got awfully fine gowns up there that I only wear when I go to Marysville oncet in a while.
Does he take you there? asked Brice.
No! she answered quietly. Nota little defiantlythat hes afeard, for they cant prove anything against him; no man kin swear to him, and thar aint an officer that keers to go for him. But hes that shy for ME he dont keer to have me mixed with him.