There"ll be a nice little story fer the gossips before long, ha, ha."
At these words Jasper started, while his face went white and his hands clenched together. He had listened in silence to Jim"s tirade, and was only waiting an opportunity to explain how the old man and the girl happened to be at his place. But this pointed reference to him was more than he could endure.
"What do you mean by that statement?" he asked, taking a quick step forward. "Please explain yourself."
"There"s nothin" to explain," and Jim gave a coa.r.s.e laugh. "The neighbours will do all the explainin" that is necessary."
"No, that"s not the thing. You made an insinuation, and it"s up to you to explain before you leave. I have nothing to do with the neighbours; it"s you I am dealing with now. Yon have insulted this feeble old man, and uttered words in reference to me and this girl. I want to know what you mean."
"I don"t have to explain anything," Jim retorted. "You mind yer own business, and go to ----"
The oath had hardly left his lips ere Jasper with one lightning blow hit him squarely between the eyes. Jim reeled back, and then with a frightful oath leaped forward. But he was powerless before Jasper"s superior training and soon he was sprawling upon the ground while his opponent stood bending over him.
"Had enough, eh?" Jasper asked. "If you want some more, get up. I haven"t had half enough yet."
"Leave me alone," Jim mumbled. "You"ll pay up for this. I"ll fix ye."
"What"s that you say?" and Jasper stooped lower, "You"re going to pay me back? Well, then, I might as well fix you now, so you won"t be able to do anything in the future. I might as well have my satisfaction when I can get it. So get up, or I"ll knock the life out of your measley carca.s.s."
Seeing that Jasper was in earnest, Jim scrambled to his feet and barely dodged the blow rained at his head.
"Fer G.o.d"s sake, stop!" he yelled. "I won"t do anything to ye. I promise on me word of honour."
"And, you"ll be good to this old man?" Jasper demanded.
"Yes, yes," and Jim trembled in every limb. "I"ll be good to him if ye don"t hit me agin."
For a few seconds Jasper looked contemptuously upon the creature cowering before film. He felt that he was lying, and just as soon as he was out of his sight he would treat old David in a shameful manner, and he himself would be helpless to interfere. What could he do? he asked himself. A sudden idea came into his mind.
"What do you get for the keep of this old man?" he asked.
"Only a hundred," was the surly reply. "Not half enough."
"Well, look here, will you give him to me? I will take care of him for nothing."
Into Jim Goban"s eyes came a look of surprise mingled with doubt. The man must surely be making sport of him, he thought. Then his natural cupidity overcame him. Here was a chance to get clear of the pauper and at the same time receive money for his keep. But how would the overseers of the poor regard such a transaction?
"Will you let me have him?" Jasper again asked.
"Give me twenty-five dollars and he is yours," Jim replied.
"Twenty-five dollars! No, not a cent. You will make out of it as it is; far more than you deserve."
"I can"t do it, then," and Jim made as though to go. "Come on," he ordered David and Betty. "Let"s git away from here."
"Hold on," and Jasper stepped, up close to him; "if you do not let me have the old man, I"ll lay a charge against you for ill treating him, I saw enough this morning to satisfy any one. Let me have him, and you need have no more worry. Refuse, and you will regret it."
"But what will the overseers say if I give him up?" Jim whined.
"Oh, that can be easily settled. If they make a fuss, send them to me.
But I guess they won"t bother their heads."
Jim still hesitated. He longed to get more out of this bargain.
"Hurry up," Jasper demanded. "What do you say?"
"Oh, take the cuss, then. I wish ye joy of him. I"m off now. Come, girl, let"s git home."
During the whole of this affair Betty had been a most interested and excited witness. She was delighted at the thought of David"s freedom, and when Jim at last agreed to part with him she could hardly repress a cry of joy. It took her but a second to make up her mind, and she was ready when Jim spoke to her.
"I"m not going with you," she told him.
"Not goin"! Why, what d"ye mean?" and Jim looked his astonishment.
"I"m going to stay with Mr. David. He needs me more than you do. I"m going to take him to my own home. He will be happy there and treated like a gentleman."
"Ho, ho! so that"s the game, eh? Treat him like a gentleman! Well, do as ye like; it"s nothin" to me, so I"m off."
They watched him as he strode across the field, unhitched his horse and drove away.
"There, we"re rid of him at last," and Jasper gave a sigh of relief.
"Isn"t it great!" Betty exclaimed turning to David. "To think that you are going home with me!"
But the old man was looking at Jasper and did not hear the girl"s cry of delight. In his eyes was an expression of grat.i.tude. He tried to speak but words failed him, and tears flowed down his cheeks. Jasper was visibly moved, and turned suddenly to Betty.
"You are willing to keep him for awhile?" he asked.
"Yes. Mother will be so pleased to have him, and I will work hard to help her."
"Where will you work? At Jim Goban"s?"
"No, I am through there. But I will get work somewhere. I will talk it over with mother. I think we had better be going now."
Thrusting his hand into his pocket Jasper brought forth several bills.
"Take these," he said, "they are all I can give you now, but you shall have more later."
"But you need the money yourself," the girl replied.
"Not as much as you will need it. So say nothing more about it.
Good-bye. I hope to see you again."
Jasper watched the two as they moved slowly across the field and then disappeared down the road. He felt lonely when they were gone, and he sat for some time in front of the cabin lost in thought. At times he called himself a fool for what he had done. Why should he be burdened with that old man when he could hardly make his own living? And besides, he had no work to do, and had given away his last dollar. But notwithstanding all this, a secret feeling of satisfaction stole into his heart that he had helped old David and had taken him out of Jim Goban"s clutches.
As he sat there the bell of the nearby church rang forth, and he realised for the first time that it was Sunday morning. He did not feel in a mood for attending service. He needed a long walk to think, and shake off the spirit of depression that was stealing over him.
Entering the cabin, he prepared a small lunch, and then closing the door he struck out across the field in the direction of Break Neck Falls. He wished to go there to view the scene where David planned to erect his plant and do such wonderful things. He smiled grimly to himself as he thought of the old man"s delusion. Reaching the brow of the hill just where the trail started from the main road, he paused and looked down to his left. He could see clearly Peter Sinclair"s house with the tall trees surrounding it. Bitter feelings came into his heart as he stood there. Over yonder lived a man who had the power to do so much good in the world. He could help old David and give him a comfortable home for the rest of his life. Why should some men have so much of this world"s goods and others so little? he asked himself.
Then he thought of d.i.c.k, and a contemptuous smile curled his lips. He recalled his feelings the previous day when he had watched the car go by and listened to the salutation of "Spuds."