"When a man acts as you do, Ralph, any girl would find it hard to keep free. I shall follow you night and day with my thoughts and prayers."
"Well, I"m superst.i.tious enough to believe that I shall be safer and more successful on account of them. Clara, look me in the eyes before I go."
She looked up to his clear gray eyes as requested.
"I don"t ask you to forget one who is dead; but don"t you see how much you are to one who is living? Don"t you see that in spite of all your sorrow you can still give happiness? Now, be as generous and kind as you can. Don"t grieve hopelessly while I"m gone. That"s what is killing you; and the thought of it fills me with dread. Try to think that you still have something and some one to live for. Perhaps you can learn to love me a little if you try, and then everything won"t look so black.
If you find you can"t love me, I won"t blame you--, and if I lose you as my wife, you won"t lose a true, honest friend."
For the first time the girl became vaguely conscious of, the possibility of an affection, a tie superseding all others; she began to see how it was possible to give herself to this man, not from an impulse of grat.i.tude or because she liked him better than any one else, but because of a feeling, new, mysterious, which gave him a sort of divine right in her. Something in the expression of his eyes had been more potent than his words; something subtle, swift as an electric spark had pa.s.sed from him to her, awakening a faint, strange tumult in the heart she thought so utterly crushed. A few moments before, she could have promised resolutely to be his wife; she could have permitted his embrace with unresponsive apathy. Now she felt a sudden shyness. A faint color stole into her pale face, and she longed to be alone.
"Ralph," she faltered, "you are so generous, I--I don"t know what to say."
"You needn"t say anything till I come back. If possible, I will be here by Christmas, for you shouldn"t be alone that day with your grief.
Good-by."
The hand she gave him trembled, and her face was averted now.
"You will try to love me a little, won"t you?"
"Yes," she whispered.
CHAPTER II
A VISITOR AT THE MINE
Ralph Brandt was admirably fitted for the task he had undertaken. With fearlessness he united imperturbable coolness and unwearied patience in pursuit of an object. Few knew him in his character of detective, and no one would have singled him out as an expert in his calling. The more difficult and dangerous the work, the more careless and indifferent his manner, giving the impression to superficial observers of being the very last person to be intrusted with responsible duty. But his chief and others on the force well knew that beneath Brandt"s careless demeanor was concealed the relentless pertinacity of a bloodhound on track of its victim. With the trait of dogged pursuit all resemblance to the bloodthirsty animal ceased, and even the worst of criminals found him kind-hearted and good-natured AFTER they were within his power. Failure was an idea not to be entertained. If the man to be caught existed, he could certainly be found, was the principle on which our officer acted.
He readily obtained permission to attempt the capture of the escaped prisoner, Bute; but the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clew.
Brandt learned that the slums of large cities and several mining camps had been searched in vain, also that the trains running east had been carefully watched. We need not try to follow his processes of thought, nor seek to learn how he soon came to the conclusion that his man was at some distant mining station working under an a.s.sumed name. By a kind of instinct his mind kept reverting to one of these stations with increasing frequency. It was not so remote in respect to mere distance; but it was isolated, off the lines of travel, with a gap of seventy miles between it and what might be termed civilization, and was suspected of being a sort of refuge for hard characters and fugitives from justice. Bute, when last seen, was making for the mountains in the direction of this mine. Invested with ample authority to bring in the outlaw dead or alive, Brandt followed this vague clew.
One afternoon, Mr. Alford, the superintendent of the mine, was informed that a man wished to see him. There was ushered into his private office an elderly gentleman who appeared as if he might be a prospecting capitalist or one of the owners of the mine. The superintendent was kept in doubt as to the character of the visitor for a few moments while Brandt sought by general remarks and leading questions to learn the disposition of the man who must, from the necessities of the case, become to some extent his ally in securing the ends of justice.
Apparently the detective was satisfied, for he asked, suddenly:
"By the way, have you a man in your employ by the name of Bute?"
"No, sir," replied Mr. Alford, with a little surprise.
"Have you a man, then, who answers to the following description?" He gave a brief word photograph of the criminal.
"You want this man?" Mr. Alford asked in a low voice.
"Yes."
"Well, really, sir, I would like to know your motive, indeed, I may add, your authority, for--"
"There it is," Brand smilingly remarked, handing the superintendent a paper.
"Oh, certainly, certainly," said Mr. Alford, after a moment. "This is all right; and I am bound to do nothing to obstruct you in the performance of your duty." He now carefully closed the door and added, "What do you want this man for?"
"It"s a case of murder."
"Phew! Apparently he is one of the best men on the force."
"Only apparently; I know him well."
Mr. Alford"s brow clouded with anxiety, and after a moment he said, "Mr.--how shall I address you?"
"You had better continue to call me by the name under which I was introduced--Brown."
"Well, Mr. Brown, you have a very difficult and hazardous task, and you must be careful how you involve me in your actions. I shall not lay a straw in your way, but I cannot openly help you. It is difficult for me to get labor here at best; and it is understood that I ask no questions and deal with men on the basis simply of their relations to me. As long as I act on this understanding, I can keep public sentiment with me and enforce some degree of discipline. If it were known that I was aiding or abetting you in the enterprise you have in hand, my life would not be worth a rush. There are plenty in camp who would shoot me, just as they would you, should they learn of your design. I fear you do not realize what you are attempting. A man like yourself, elderly and alone, has no better chance of taking such a fellow as you describe Bute to be than of carrying a ton of ore on his back down the mountain.
In all sincerity, sir, I must advise you to depart quietly and expeditiously, and give no one besides myself a hint of your errand."
"Will you please step into the outer office and make sure that no one is within earshot?" said Brandt, quietly.
When Mr. Alford returned, the elderly man apparently had disappeared, and a smiling smooth-faced young fellow with short brown hair sat in his place. His host stared, the transformation was so great.
"Mr. Alford," said the detective, "I understand my business and the risks it involves. All I ask of you is that I may not be interfered with so far as you are concerned; and my chief object in calling is to prevent you being surprised by anything you may see or hear. About three miles or thereabouts from here, on the road running east, there is a fellow who keeps a tavern. Do you know him?"
"I know no good of him. He"s the worst nuisance I have to contend with, for he keeps some of my men disabled much of the time."
"Well, I knew Bute years ago, and I can make him think I am now what I was then, only worse; and I will induce him to go with me to raid that tavern. If this plan fails, I shall try another, for I am either going to take Bute alive or else get ample proof that he is dead. There may be some queer goings-on before I leave, and all I ask is that you will neither interfere nor investigate. You may be as ignorant and non-committal as you please. I shall report progress to you, however, and may need your testimony, but will see to it that it is given by you as one who had nothing to do with the affair. Now please show me your quarters, so that I can find you at night if need be; also Bute"s sleeping-place and the lay of the land to some extent. You"ll find that I can take everything in mighty quick. See, I"m the elderly gentleman again," and he resumed his disguise with marvellous celerity.
Mr. Alford led the way through the outer office; and the two clerks writing there saw nothing to awaken the slightest suspicion. The superintendent"s cottage stood on the road leading to the mine and somewhat apart from the other buildings. On the opposite side of the highway was a thicket of pines which promised cover until one plunged into the unbroken forest that covered the mountain-side.
Brandt observed this, and remarked, "I"ve studied the approaches to your place a little at I came along; but I suppose I shall have to give a day or two more to the work before making my attempt."
"Well," rejoined Mr. Alford, who was of rather a social turn and felt the isolation of his life, "why not be my guest for a time? I"ll take the risk if you will remain incog., and keep aloof from the men."
"That I should do in any event till ready to act. Thank you for your kindness, for it may simplify my task very much. I will see to it that I do not compromise you. When I"m ready to snare my bird, you can dismiss me a little ostentatiously for New York."
Brandt"s horse was now ordered to the stable. The two men entered the cottage, and soon afterward visited the different points of interest, Mr. Alford giving the natural impression that he was showing an interested stranger the appliances for working the mine. At one point he remarked in a low tone, "That"s Bute"s lodging-place. A half-breed, named Apache Jack, who speaks little English lives with him."
Brandt"s seemingly careless and transitory glance rested on a little shanty and noted that it was separated from others of its cla.s.s by a considerable interval.
"Bute, you say, is on the day-shift."
"Yes, he won"t be up till six o"clock."
"I"ll manage to see him then without his knowing it."
"Be careful. I take my risk on the ground of your good faith and prudence."
"Don"t fear."