The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

THE GOLD Drawing nearer the table, Amy placed upon it the crucible which she was holding. Her eyes were keen and unwavering and her hands steady. Whipple marveled at the control of herself which was to be detected in every movement. Could this be the same young woman whom he had seen lifting the glass of poison in her shaking hand? The one who had wept before him and humbled herself so far as to beg that her brother might come to the mine? “The wallet which you took from my brother! ” A second time she repeated the words; then she tossed her fair head and straightened herself as she went on: “How sagacious, how inscrutably wise in every little thing, you are, Mr. Whipple! You knew that Tom was my brother even when he gave you the name of Henderson, did you not?” “IT was sure of it.” “ And you were also sure, I suppose, that I had bidden Tom come here, in spite of you, and tell the he that might possibly keep him at my side? ” “YT was sure that you had not done that.” “Indeed! You draw your distinc- tions very fine, Mr. Whipple. Yet you knew I tolerated the lie even while so sure I was not the author of it. But let us pass that. “Tom is here, working to show you that he is a man and worthy of any confidence you might repose in him, notwithstanding his past. What con- cerns me just now is this: the worthy Mr. Whipple, for some purpose—as in- scrutable as all his other ways and means—is himself the thief who set upon my brother and stole his pocket- hook! Why did you do that? Answer me! It is my right to know.” Her hot words, implying so much in him that was dishonorable, could not tempt the manager out of the kindness of tone or sympathy of manner which he had first assumed. “TI fancied that I remembered that pocketbook yesterday morning, when I saw it in your brother’s hands.” “ Pray, when had you ever seen it be- fore? ”’ GLEANERS. 99 “ At the time the Cache d’Oro stage was robbed. It was the wallet taken from Mr. Cassidy, the man who came here with the sheriff this morning.” Even this thrust did not pierce the armor of her loyalty to Tom. “Then,” she proceeded, “instead of facing my brother then and thcre and accusing him of robbing the stage, thus giving him the opportunity to explain, you cunningly hired him and set the trap into which he fell last night. Why the need of all this underhand dealing, and secrecy, and violence? ” “On your account, Miss Travis, I wished to be absolutely sure of every step before the final one was taken. Your brother came here. I told you that if you had him come duty would compel me to arrest both him and Jeff- ries. But you had nothing to do with his coming, and I thought best to let him stay until there was no doubt of his guilt in my own mind. He gave a fictitious name, and in allowing him to think that I was deceived, it was nec- essary for me to go forward somewhat differently than I should have done otherwise.” “You took Mr. Cassidy away to the power-house in order to give him the opportunity to identify his pocket- book? ” 6¢ Yes. a3 “ And he identified it’ 7” “ He did.” “Then you are positive that Tom robbed the Cache d’Oro stage? ” “TI am positive that he helped. He had two assistants—Chombo and Jeff- ries.” Not a tremor shook the slender form of the girl. She met his words as she met his eyes, unflinchingly. “There is no doubt in your mind that Tom and Jeffries and Chombo also stole the bullion? ” she asked. <4 No.” “Why do you not include me in your comprehensive list of criminals? ” The irony in her voice was tinged with an earnestness that made it the more biting. “ Because you had nothing to do with either crime. It is not in you to do the slightest thing unwomanly or dishonor- able.” COMRRIC LOO YN S COL