"Then you will have robbed me."
"Walter," said the professor nervously, "perhaps you had better give him back his weapon. He has promised not to molest us further."
"That"s where you talk sense, old man," said the robber approvingly.
"You"re a gentleman, you are."
"You hear, Walter?"
"Yes, youngster, you hear? Give me back my weapon and we"ll part friends."
"And I trust, my friend, you will see the error of your ways and adopt some honest business."
"I will, old man, believe me!" said the robber, in a melodramatic tone. "I was not always thus."
"You will have my best wishes for your prosperity, and if you are in need I will give you five dollars."
"No, I will not take advantage of your liberal offer. Only give me the revolver and I will ride away."
"Come, Walter, give the man his revolver."
"Professor," said Walter, quietly, "you must excuse me, I can"t comply with your request. This man is humbugging you. If I give him back the revolver you will have to give him your wallet too."
"Didn"t I promise to ride away?" demanded the outlaw, angrily.
"Yes; but I have no confidence in your promise. Now, go at once, or I fire!"
Walter pointed the revolver full at the robber"s head. He met the unflinching gaze of Walter"s resolute eyes and saw that our hero was in earnest.
"Do you mean to keep my property?" he demanded hoa.r.s.ely.
"No; come round to the hotel in Fremont to-morrow morning and you shall have your weapon."
With an execration the outlaw turned his horse and dashed off at full speed.
"There, he is gone!" said Walter, sinking back in his seat with an air of relief. His nerves had been at high tension, though he was outwardly calm, for he knew that he had to deal with a desperate man, and feared a sudden attack, which might have resulted disastrously for him.
"I don"t know whether you have done right, Walter," said the professor, in a tone of mild deprecation.
"Surely, professor, you would not have had me give back the revolver?"
"He promised to ride off and leave us to ourselves."
"What is the word of such a man worth? He would have ridden off, but he would have carried with him your wallet and mine. Was there much money in yours?"
"Two hundred and fifty dollars."
"That"s too much to lose. Take my advice, professor, and put the greater part of the money in one of your pockets. That is what I have done, for I suspected that this gentleman would lie in wait for us."
"What put it into your head to seize the pistol, Walter? If your attempt had miscarried he might have shot you."
"I don"t propose to give up my money without a struggle. When the time came to act I moved suddenly upon the enemy. I did not propose to fail."
"You were very quick. You were like a flash of lightning."
"I meant to be," said Walter, smiling. "I haven"t attended a gymnasium for nothing."
"Do you think he will attack us again?" asked the professor timidly.
"No; he has no revolver and I have. Besides, I don"t mean to be taken at a disadvantage. If yon will drive, I will hold the revolver ready for instant use."
There was no further interruption during their ride, and about ten o"clock they drew up in front of the hotel in Fremont. Rooms were secured, and both Walter and the professor retired to rest.
About seven o"clock the next morning there was a knock at Walter"s door. He opened it, half dressed, and found a boy of sixteen with a note in his hand.
"A gentleman gave me this for you," he said.
Walter opened the note and read these lines, which had been hastily scribbled:
"Give the bearer my revolver. I have a long journey before me and shall need it.
"YOU KNOW WHO."
"Where is the gentleman who gave you the note?" asked Walter.
"Down the road a piece. He asked me to be quick."
"Tell him," said Walter, putting the note in his vest pocket, "that he will have to come here himself."
He finished his toilet and went down to breakfast, but the robber did not put in an appearance. He probably thought that Walter was laying a trap for him.
CHAPTER XXIV
AN ATTEMPT TO RECOVER THE REVOLVER
As Walter had been brought up with a strict sense of honesty, he was somewhat in doubt whether he ought to keep the revolver, which was a handsome one, silver-mounted. He decided, however, that it would be quixotic to disarm himself and put the outlaw in a position to renew his attack, as he undoubtedly would, if only because he would wish to get even with the boy who had humiliated him. Walter had, to be sure, promised to give it up if the owner called for it, but he meant at the same time to secure his arrest.
He did not mention to the professor that he had received a letter from the owner of the weapon, as his employer would have insisted upon his giving it up. Professor Robinson was a timid man, and, though he was of stout build and possessed a fair measure of strength, he had not as much spirit as some boys of ten.
"What are you going to do with the revolver, Walter?" he asked uneasily, as they set out on their way from Fremont to Stilwell.
"I am going to carry it with me, professor."
"Then you had better withdraw the charges."