The Argosy, November 1908 — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

AN ELUSIVE LEGACY. in tearing up the mysterious extension of the railroad and packing it off down into the ravine, and, finally, the young man in authority who— Behan gave a quick exclamation, and bent lower to scrutinize the pictured face. Yes, there could be no doubt about it. This was the fellow he had seen ride past the hotel that morning with Daffodil Prentice, and who, from the landlord’s chatter, he realized could be none other than Ralph Jones, the superintendent of the Verdee mines. But even as he stood there with the thing in his hand, he heard sounds out in the hall betokening the arrival of his be- lated trunk; so, hastily fastening down the picture with the last of the Daffodil films over a sheet of sensitized paper, he left it upon the window-sill, and-turned to fling open the door. - Grunting and sweating under their burden, Lank Rake and a companion bore in the trunk, and dumped it heavily on the floor. “Careful there! Careful!’ cautioned Dick, springing forward. ‘I have my big camera inside, and a lot of chem- icals |” “Might have a elephant from the heft of it,” growled the mountaineer, wiping the perspiration from his brow. | didn’t know when I made the dicker with Jack Avery that I was bargainin’ to move a house. Gosh, Mr. Behave, that’s a reg’lar Noah’s ark!”’ “Behave?” ejaculated Dick, prised at the use of his sobriquet. “Yep, that’s yer name, ain’t it? Nothin’ to be ashamed of in it, either, ef ' what they say you done last night is true.” Behan did not take the trouble to deny or explain. After all, what difference did it make now, since the purpose of his trip was practically accomplished? There was really no longer any reason for subterfuge. Therefore, merely supposing that his identity had become known through the recognition of some one who had been on the train, and desiring to get rid of the men as quickly as possible in order that he might open his trunk, and assume more respectable apparel, he let the state- ment pass unchallenged. Rake and his partner stumped out, and sur- 633 Dick- busied himself emptying his trunk and transferring its contents to the large closet at one side of the room. Then he selected fresh linen and a neat business suit from the stock at hand, and having donned these and taken a shave, began to feel once more like a civilized being. Meanwhile, the afternoon had waned ; far down in that valley, under the shadow of the towering mountains, sunset came early. Indeed, Dick’s toilet was hardly concluded when the last farewell ray was flashed over the western peaks, and dusk fell upon the little village. He stepped toward the door, intending to call for a light; but, even as he did so, there came a knock and the landlord ap- peared upon the threshold. ‘Mr. Behave,” he said with marked deference, ‘‘ thar’s a party of gents down in the barroom that would like to have the pleasure of yer comp’ny, ef you kin make it convenient.”’ CHAPTER X. ‘*DULL YOUR FREIGHT!” WONDERING at the summons, and not ° understanding what could possibly be wanted of him, Dick nevertheless fol- lowed the landlord down-stairs. His perplexity was relieved, however, when the door was thrown open into the bar ; for a crowd, which completely filled the low-ceiled, smoky room, raised a cry of greeting, and a big, red-shirted miner sprang forward to grasp him by the hand. “Gents,” said this self-constituted master of ceremonies, drawing Dick into the center of the floor, ‘‘ here’s the gamest thing that ever came down the pike. This is the boy we’ve all been talkin’ about, what stood off a gang of road-agents with nothin’ in his hands ’cept’n a dinky little pictur’ machine. Give him three cheers to let him know what- we think of him!” “ Yee-ow!”’ yelled the crowd with en- thusiasm, and ‘ Yee-ow!” and “ Yee- ow!” again, until it almost seemed as though the roof would be raised with the noisy outburst. A dozen hands were stretched out to seize Behan’s; he was almost staggered comiclooks.conn