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found at blazing star-第9章

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He would have given worlds to leave her at that moment。  He would

have jumped from the starting coach to save himself any explanation

of the embarrassment he was furiously conscious of showing;

without; as he believed; any adequate cause。  And yet; like all

inexperienced; sensitive men; he dashed blindly into that

explanation; worse; he even told his secret at once; then and

there; and then sat abashed and conscience stricken; with an added

sense of its utter futility。



〃And this;〃 summed up the young girl; with a slight shrug of her

pretty shoulders; 〃is YOUR MAY?〃



Cass would have recommenced his story。



〃No; don't; pray!  It isn't interesting; nor original。  Do YOU

believe it?〃



〃I do;〃 said Cass; indignantly。



〃How lucky!  Then let me go to sleep。〃



Cass; still furious; but uneasy; did not again address her。  When

the coach stopped at Blazing Star she asked him; indifferently:

〃When does this sentimental pilgrimage begin?〃



〃I return for her at one o'clock;〃 replied Cass; stiffly。



He kept his word。  He appeased his eager companions with a promise

of future fortune; and exhibited the present and tangible reward。

By a circuitous route known only to himself; he led Miss Mortimer

to the road before the cabin。  There was a pink flush of excitement

on her somewhat faded cheek。



〃And it was here?〃 she asked; eagerly。



〃I found it here。〃



〃And the body?〃



〃That was afterward。  Over in that direction; beyond the clump of

buckeyes; on the Red Chief turnpike。〃



〃And any one coming from the road we left just now and going to

tothat place; would have to cross just here?  Tell me;〃 she said;

with a strange laugh; laying her cold nervous hand on his;

〃wouldn't they?〃



〃They would。〃



〃Let us go to that place。〃



Cass stepped out briskly to avoid observation and gain the woods

beyond the highway。  〃You have crossed here before;〃 she said。

〃There seems to be a trail。〃



〃I may have made it: it's a short cut to the buckeyes。〃



〃You never found anything else on the trail?〃



〃You remember; I told you before; the ring was all I found。〃



〃Ah; true!〃 she smiled sweetly; 〃it was THAT which made it seem so

odd to you。  I forgot。〃



In half an hour they reached the buckeyes。  During the walk she had

taken rapid recognizance of everything in her path。  When they

crossed the road and Cass had pointed out the scene of the murder;

she looked anxiously around。  〃You are sure we are not seen?〃



〃Quite。〃



〃You will not think me foolish if I ask you to wait here while I go

in there〃she pointed to the ominous thicket near them〃alone?〃



She was quite white。



Cass's heart; which had grown somewhat cold since his interview

with Miss Porter; melted at once。



〃Go; I will stay here。〃



He waited five minutes。  She did not return。



What if the poor creature had determined upon suicide on the spot

where her faithless lover had fallen?  He was reassured in another

moment by the rustle of skirts in the undergrowth。



〃I was becoming quite alarmed;〃 he said; aloud。



〃You have reason to be;〃 returned a hurried voice。  He started。  It

was Miss Porter; who stepped swiftly out of the cover。  〃Look;〃 she

said; 〃look at that man down the road。  He has been tracking you

two ever since you left the cabin。  Do you know who he is?〃



〃No!〃



〃Then listen。  It is three…fingered Dick; one of the escaped road

agents。  I know him!〃



〃Let us go and warn her;〃 said Cass; eagerly。



Miss Porter laid her hand upon his shoulder。



〃I don't think she'll thank you;〃 she said; dryly。  〃Perhaps you'd

better see what she's doing; first。〃



Utterly bewildered; yet with a strong sense of the masterfulness of

his companion; he followed her。  She crept like a cat through the

thicket。  Suddenly she paused。  〃Look!〃 she whispered; viciously;

〃look at the tender vigils of your heart…broken May!〃



Cass saw the woman who had left him a moment before on her knees on

the grass; with long thin fingers digging like a ghoul in the

earth。  He had scarce time to notice her eager face and eyes; cast

now and then back toward the spot where she had left him; before

there was a crash in the bushes; and a man;the stranger of the

road;leaped to her side。  〃Run;〃 he said; 〃run for it now。

You're watched!〃



〃Oh! that man; Beard!〃 she said; contemptuously。



〃No; another in a wagon。  Quick。  Fool; you know the place now;

you can come later; run!〃  And half…dragging; half…lifting her; he

bore her through the bushes。  Scarcely had they closed behind the

pair than Miss Porter ran to the spot vacated by the woman。

〃Look!〃 she cried; triumphantly; 〃look!〃



Cass looked; and sank on his knees beside her。



〃It WAS worth a thousand dollars; wasn't it?〃 she repeated;

maliciously; 〃wasn't it?  But you ought to return it!  REALLY you

ought。〃



Cass could scarcely articulate。  〃But how did YOU know it?〃 he

finally gasped。



〃Oh; I suspected something; there was a woman; and you know you're

SUCH a fool!〃



Cass rose; stiffly。



〃Don't be a greater fool now; but go and bring my horse and wagon

from the hill; and don't say anything to the driver。〃



〃Then you did not come alone?〃



〃No; it would have been bold and improper。〃



〃Please!〃



〃And to think it WAS the ring; after all; that pointed to this;〃

she said。



〃The ring that YOU returned to me。〃



〃What did you say?〃



〃Nothing。〃



〃Don't; please; the wagon is coming。〃



        。        。        。        。        。        。



In the next morning's edition of the 〃Red Chief Chronicle〃 appeared

the following startling intelligence:





EXTRAORDINARY DISCOVERY



FINDING OF THE STOLEN TREASURE OF WELLS; FARGO & CO。  OVER 800;000

RECOVERED



Our readers will remember the notorious robbery of Wells; Fargo &

Co。's treasure from the Sacramento and Red Chief Pioneer Coach on

the night of September 1。  Although most of the gang were arrested;

it is known that two escaped; who; it was presumed; cached the

treasure; amounting to nearly 500;000 in gold; drafts; and

jewelry; as no trace of the property was found。  Yesterday our

esteemed fellow citizen; Mr。 Cass Beard; long and favorably known

in this county; succeeded in exhuming the treasure in a copse of

hazel near the Red Chief turnpike;adjacent to the spot where an

unknown body was lately discovered。  This body is now strongly

suspected to be that of one Henry Cass; a disreputable character;

who has since been ascertained to have been one of the road agents

who escaped。  The matter is now under legal investigation。  The

successful result of the search is due to a systematic plan evolved

from the genius of Mr。 Beard; who has devoted over a year to this

labor。  It was first suggested to him by the finding of a ring; now

definitely identified as part of the treasure which was supposed to

have been dropped from Wells; Fargo & Co's boxes by the robbers in

their midnight flight through Blazing Star。





In the same journal appeared the no less important intelligence;

which explains; while it completes this veracious chronicle:



〃It is rumored that a marriage is shortly to take place between the

hero of the late treasure discovery and a young lady of Red Chief;

whose devoted aid and assistance to this important work is well

known to this community。〃











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