She brought out a yellow envelope. It was directed to Ernest.
The contents ran thus:
Now that misfortune has come upon me, my chief thought is for my boy.
Whatever befalls me, I want him cared for. You are scarcely more than a stranger to me, but when you were in the cave you seemed to love Frank. Poor boy, he will stand in need of some friend who loves him.
So far as you can, will you be his friend and guardian? He has some property--a few thousand dollars--which you will hold in trust for him. It is not stolen property. It was left him by his mother.
Call upon Mr. Samuel Hardy, a lawyer in Lee"s Falls, and he will make over to you the custody of the money, and look upon you as the authorized guardian of Frank. You know my wish that he should be sent to a good school and properly educated. Will you carry out my wishes in that respect? I do not wish to tie you down, but wherever you may go, keep up an active interest in my boy, and from time to time write to him.
I do not know what my fate may be. I am not a coward, and shall not complain or beg for mercy.
When you speak of me to Frank in after years, always paint me at my best, and let him understand that at least I loved him.
JAMES FOX.
P.S. Should Frank die before maturity, I desire that his property should go to you.
Ernest read the foregoing with mingled feelings. He knew that the writer was an outlaw, deeply stained with crime; but this letter showed him at his best. Paternal love softened the harsh outlines of his character, and spoke of a nature that might have made him a blessing instead of a curse to his kind.
Ernest lost no time in communicating with Mr. Hardy.
The lawyer read the letter in some surprise.
"Mr. Fox seems to have appointed a young guardian for his son," he remarked.
"Yes, sir; but he appeared to have no choice. It would have been better had he appointed you."
"No; I do not care to a.s.sume that responsibility. I am ready to a.s.sist you, however."
"I will depend upon you, then, for I shall start for California as soon as possible. Can you recommend a satisfactory boarding-school?"
"I have a son at school in Lincoln. The school is under the charge of a clergyman, who is an efficient teacher, yet is popular with his pupils."
"Can you arrange to enter Frank at his school?"
"I will do so, if you authorize me."
"I don"t think we can do any better. Were you aware that Mr. Fox was the notorious outlaw?" asked Ernest, after a pause.
"I did not know, but latterly I have suspected it. You may be surprised that under the circ.u.mstances I should have consented to serve him. But I felt that I might be of a.s.sistance to the boy, and that my refusal would occasion him embarra.s.sment. Your letter is satisfactory, as showing that the fortune of your ward is not made up of ill-gotten gains. Were it otherwise, he would hardly be allowed to keep it. Does Frank know his father"s character and reputation?"
"I don"t think so."
"It had best be kept from him. I will see that it does not become known at school. It would wound the boy to be twitted with it by his schoolmates."
Thanks to Mr. Hardy, Ernest found that the new charge imposed upon him would not materially interfere with his plans. A week later than he had originally intended he and Luke Robbins left Emmonsville by a Western-bound train.
As they rushed rapidly over the prairies, Luke Robbins turned to his young companion and said, "Our journey thus far has been adventurous.
I wonder what lies before us?"
"We won"t trouble ourselves on that score, Luke. I feel hopeful."
"So do I; and yet we have less than two hundred dollars between us."
"That"s true."
"Still, I have captured an outlaw, and you, at the age of sixteen, are the guardian of an outlaw"s son."
"I don"t think we shall meet with anything stranger than that."
Two days later, in a newspaper bought at an important station, there was an article that deeply interested both travellers. It related to the Fox brothers, recounting their daring attempt to escape from the jail where they were confined. John Fox got away, but James was shot dead by one of the prison guards.
So Frank was an orphan, and Ernest felt that his responsibility was increased.
CHAPTER XXIV.
STEPHEN RAY AND HIS SON.
Leaving Ernest and Luke Robbins on their way to California, our attention is called to other characters who must play a part in the drama of the boy from Oak Forks.
A few miles from Elmira, upon an eminence from which there was a fine view of the surrounding country, stood the handsome country mansion of Stephen Ray, already referred to as the cousin of Ernest"s father. It pa.s.sed into his possession by inheritance from poor Ernest"s grandfather, the will under which the bequest was made cutting off his son for no worse a crime than marrying a girl thoroughly respectable but of humble birth.
Stephen Ray, since he came into possession of his uncle"s estate, had improved it considerably. He had torn down the old stable and built an imposing new one. The plain carriage which had satisfied his uncle had been succeeded by an elegant coach, and the sober but rather slow horse by a pair of spirited steeds.
Mr. Ray had become pompous, and by his manner made it clear that he considered him self a man of great consequence. He was a local magistrate, and had for years endeavored to obtain a nomination for Congress.
Had he been of popular manners he would probably have succeeded, but he was not a favorite among the poorer cla.s.ses, and their vote must be considered.
There is an old saying, "Like father, like son," and Clarence, now turned sixteen, the only child of the country magnate, was like his father in all objectionable qualities. He was quite as much impressed with ideas of his own consequence.
It was about three o"clock in the afternoon. Mr. Ray sat on the piazza, the day being unusually warm, reading a newspaper. In the street, near by, his son Clarence was moving swiftly on a new bicycle which his father had just purchased for him.
"Out of the way, there!" he called out, as a shabbily-dressed stranger with a weary step plodded along the pathway.
Whether because he was hard of hearing or because his mind was preoccupied, the stranger did not heed the warning, and Clarence, who might easily have avoided the collision, ran into him recklessly. Had the bicycle been moving at a greater rate of speed, he might have been seriously hurt. As it was, he was nearly thrown down.
But he rallied, and seizing the offending rider with no gentle grasp, dragged him from the wheel and shook him vigorously.
"Let me alone, you tramp!" exclaimed Clarence, furiously.
But the stranger did not release his hold.
"Not till you apologize for running into me," he answered sternly.
"Apologize to a man like you!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Clarence, struggling furiously for his freedom. "What do you take me for?"