The Argosy, November 1908 — page 63: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AN ELUSIVE LEGACY, that she had just been to the station and heard of the finding of Behan’s note, with its natural inference that all was well with him. ‘“Such a relief as it is,” she was saying at that very moment to Jones. “For I felt in a way responsible, don’t you know, and if he had fallen into the hands of those awful train-robbers I should never have forgiven myself.” “Those awful train-robbers will prob- ably never forgive themselves that he didn’t fall into their hands when they had such an easy chance at him,” retorted her cavalier sententiously. “On the whole, although it doesn’t seem a highly valiant action, I guess he has done the wisest thing in heading back East. That gang would have got even with him sure, if he had lingered long around these diggings.” “But that is just what I cannot under- stand,”’ she said, with a touch of per- plexity. ‘‘ Mr. Behave never struck me at all as the kind of a man who could be easily frightened off from any purpose he had in view. I cannot believe but that he had some stronger reason to turn back than merely because he was afraid of these bandits.” Young Jones bent his brows upon her in sudden inquiry. “You have known him a long time, I believe you said?” She had the grace to falter a second. “Ves. Oh, yes; we were childhood playmates,” with a slightly heightened color. “At Ravenswood ?”’ She gave a little startled gasp, for the abrupt question had cleared up for her that puzzling familiarity of Behave’s ap- pearance which had struck her more than once during the westward journey. As with a flash of recollection, she re- membered now that this was the man she had seen with Weatherby on the morning that she took the train from home. Her momentary flutter she disguised admirably, however, under pretense of having some trouble with her stirrup, and this adjusted, she turned again to her companion. , “You were asking if it were at Ra- venswood that I knew Mr. Behave?” she said collectedly enough. “ No, although I have seen him there upon occasion ; but it was at quite another place that I met bl 629 him,” and an involuntary smile rippled over her lips at the thought of the ficti- tious “ Anyoldtown.” Jones rode on in silence for a second or two; then he asked sharply: “You spoke of him just now as a man not apt to be easily turned aside from his purpose. What was the purpose which was bringing him to Verdee?”’ “Why, I don’t know. What gener- ally brings men out here? To look at mines, I suppose, or else for sport.” “Just so. But this Behave isn’t a sportsman, is he?” “No, I think not. At least, he had no guns or any of that sort of paraphernalia with him—that is, unless you count his camera.” But the superintendent impatiently brushed this last suggestion aside. “Then it was mines which brought him,’’ he muttered half to himself. He turned to the girl again. ‘Is he a stock- holder in Verdee?”’ he demanded. search- ingly. ‘How should I know?” drawing her- self back a little haughtily. She was beginning to be resentful of this continued cross-examination. “But you are such old friends. I should have thought he might have mentioned it, knowing that your father was also interested in the property.” ‘Even old friends may have certain reticences. If he didn’t care to speak of it, there is no reason why he should have done so.” “Ah, then you believe that he is in- terested in Verdee, but for some reason didn’t want you to know it?” “I believe nothing of the sort, nor did I intend to give any such impression. How can you twist my words around SOx. “TIT am not twisting your words,” the other growled, with a surly attempt at apology. “‘I am simply trying to find out what was this fellow’s errand; and, if I am not mistaken, it’s what I sus- pected from the first. He’s a spy.” “A spy?” she repeated, her eyes widening. “But how could that be? Isn’t the mine open to inspection to those interested in it?” It was Jones’s turn now to redden and show confusion. “ Yes,” he stammered, “‘ provided they conmicloooks.conn