But if THEY are treacherous, that is no reason why I should be so, protested Brice stoutly.
Youve no right to say they were treacherous when they knew nothing of your plans, said the girl sharply. Your company would have more call to say YOU were treacherous to it for making a plan without consultin them. Brice winced, for he had never thought of that before. You can offer that reward AFTER you get away from here with the greenbacks. But, she added proudly, with a toss of her head, go back if you want to! Tell him all! Tell him where you found ittell him I did not take you through the canyon, but was showin you a new trail I had never shown to THEM! Tell him that I am a traitor, for I have given them and him away to you, a stranger, and that you consider yourself the only straight and honest one about here!
Brice flushed with shame. Forgive me, he said hurriedly; you are right and I am wrong again. I will do just what you say. I will first place these greenbacks in a secure placeand then
Get away firstthats your only holt, she interrupted him quickly, her eyes still flashing through indignant tears. Come quick, for I must put you on the trail before they miss me.
She darted forward; he followed, but she kept the lead, as much, he fancied, to evade his observation as to expedite his going. Presently they stopped before the sloping trunk of a huge pine that had long since fallen from the height above, but, although splintered where it had broken ground, had preserved some fifty feet of its straight trunk erect and leaning like a ladder against the mountain wall. There, she said, hurriedly pointing to its decaying but still projecting lateral branches, you climb itI have. At the top youll find its stuck in a cleft among the brush. Theres a little hollow and an old waterway from a spring above which makes a trail through the brush. Its as good as the trail you took from the stage road this mornin, but its not as safe comin down. Keep along it to the spring, and it will land ye jest the other side of uncle Hirams cabin. Go quick! Ill wait here until yeve reached the cleft.
But you, he said, turning toward her, how can I ever thank you?
As if anticipating a leave-taking, the girl had already withdrawn herself a few yards away, and simply made an upward gesture with her hand. Quick! Up with you! Every minute now is a risk to me.
Thus appealed to, Brice could only comply. Perhaps he was a little hurt at the girls evident desire to avoid a gentler parting. Securing his prized envelope within his breast, he began to ascend the tree. Its inclination, and the aid offered by the broken stumps of branches, made this comparatively easy, and in a few moments he reached its top, and stood upon a little ledge in the wall. A swift glance around him revealed the whole waterway or fissure slanting upward along the mountain face. Then he turned quickly to look down the dizzy height. At first he could distinguish nothing but the top of the buckeyes and their white clustering blossoms. Then something fluttered,the torn white handkerchief of his that she had kept. And then he caught a single glimpse of the flower-plumed hat receding rapidly among the trees, and Flora Dimwood was gone.
IIIIn twenty-four hours Edward Brice was in San Francisco. But although successful and the bearer of the treasure, it is doubtful if he approached this end of his journey with the temerity he had shown on entering the robbers valley. A consciousness that the methods he had employed might excite the ridicule, if not the censure, of his principals, or that he might have compromised them in his meeting with Snapshot Harry, considerably modified his youthful exultation. It is possible that Floras reproach, which still rankled in his mind, may have quickened his sensitiveness on that point. However, he had resolved to tell the whole truth, except his episode with Flora, and to place the conduct of Snapshot Harry and the Tarboxes in as favorable a light as possible. But first he had recourse to the manager, a man of shrewd worldly experience, who had recommended him to his place. When he had finished and handed him the treasured envelope, the man looked at him with a critical and yet not unkindly expression. Perhaps its just as well, Brice, that you did come to me at first, and did not make your report to the president and directors.
I suppose, said Brice diffidently, that they wouldnt have liked my communicating with the highwayman without their knowledge?
More than thatthey wouldnt have believed your story.
Not believe it? cried Brice, flushing quickly. Do you think
The manager checked him with a laugh. Hold on! I believe every word of it, and why? Because youve added nothing to it to make yourself the regular hero. Why, with your opportunity, and no one able to contradict you, you might have told me you had a hand-to-hand fight with the thief, and had to kill him to recover the money, and even brought your handkerchief and hat back with the bullet holes to prove it. Brice winked as he thought of the fair possessor of those articles. But as a story for general circulation, it wont do. Have you told it to any one else? Does any one know what happened but yourself?
Brice thought of Flora, but he had resolved not to compromise her, and he had a consciousness that she would be equally loyal to him. No one, he answered boldly.
Very good. And I suppose you wouldnt mind if it were kept out of the newspapers? Youre not hankering after a reputation as a hero?
Certainly not, said Brice indignantly.
Well, then, well keep it where it is. You will say nothing. I will hand over the greenbacks to the company, but only as much of your story as I think theyll stand. Youre all right as it is. Yuba Bill has already set you up in his report to the company, and the recovery of this money will put you higher! Only, the PUBLIC need know nothing about it.
But, asked Brice amazedly, how can it be prevented? The shippers who lost the money will have to know that it has been recovered.
Why should they? The company will assume the risk, and repay them just the same. Its a great deal better to have the reputation for accepting the responsibility than for the shippers to think that they only get their money through the accident of its recovery.
Brice gasped at this large business truth. Besides, it occurred to him that it kept the secret, and Floras participation in it, from Snapshot Harry and the gang. He had not thought of that before.
Come, continued the manager, with official curtness. What do you say? Are you willing to leave it to me?
Brice hesitated a moment. It was not what his impulsive truthful nature had suggested. It was not what his youthful fancy had imagined. He had not worked upon the sympathies of the company on behalf of Snapshot Harry as he believed he would do. He had not even impressed the manager. His story, far from exciting a chivalrous sentiment, had been pronounced improbable. Yet he reflected he had so far protected HER, and he consented with a sigh.
Nevertheless, the result ought to have satisfied him. A dazzling check, inclosed in a letter of thanks from the company the next day, and his promotion from the road to the San Francisco office, would have been quite enough for any one but Edward Brice. Yet he was grateful, albeit a little frightened and remorseful over his luck. He could not help thinking of the kindly tolerance of the highwayman, the miserable death of the actual thief, which had proved his own salvation, and above all the generous, high-spirited girl who had aided his escape. While on his way to San Francisco, and yet in the first glow of his success, he had written her a few lines from Marysville, inclosed in a letter to Mr. Tarbox. He had received no reply.