章节正文
decidedly.
"Mind you, I don't say that this Bill Bodley is the man you are
after, Joe. I don't want to raise any false hopes."
"Did you ever hear where the man came from?"
"I think he told somebody that he once owned a farm in Kansas or
Iowa."
"This William A. Bodley once owned a farm at Millville, Iowa."
"Is that so! Then he may be the same man after all. To tell the
truth, he looked a little bit like you."
"Was he a good man?" asked Joe, eagerly.
"Yes, indeed. But some of the men poked fun at him because he
was so silent and strange at times. I liked him and so did
father. He left us to go prospecting in the mountains."
Thus the talk ran on for half an hour, when the train came to a
sudden halt.
"Are we at a station?" asked Bill Badger.
"I don't know," said Joe.
Both looked out of the window but could see nothing except hills
and forests.
"We are in the foothills," said the young westerner. "Something
must be wrong on the tracks."
"More fallen trees perhaps."
"Or a landslide. They have them sometimes, when it rains as hard
as it did to-day."
They left the car with some others and soon learned that there
had been a freightcollision ahead and that half a dozen freight
cars had been smashed to splinters.
"Do you think it can be the freight that Caven and Malone
boarded?" came from our hero, on hearing this news.
"It might be," answered Bill Badger. "Let us take a look. Our
train won't move for hours now."
They walked to the scene of the wreck. One of the cars had been
burnt up but the conflagration was now under control and a
wrecking crew was already at work clearing the tracks so that
they might be used.
"Anybody hurt?" asked Joe of a train hand.
"Yes, two men killed. They were riding between the cars."
"Tramps?"
"They didn't look like tramps. But they hadn't any right to ride
on the freight."
"Where are they?"
"Over in the shanty yonder."
With a queer sensation in his heart Joe walked to the little
building, accompanied by Bill Badger. A curious crowd was around
and they had to force their way to the front.
One look was enough. Gaff Caven and Pat Malone lay there, cold
in death. They had paid the penalty of their crimes on earth and
gone to the final judgment.
CHAPTER XXX.
CONCLUSION.
"Let us go away!" whispered Joe, and moved out of the gathering
without delay.
"It was sure rough on 'em," was Bill Badger's comment.
"Oh, it was awful!" cried our hero. "I--I didn't expect this, did
you?"
"Nobody did. It must have come sudden like on to 'em."
"It makes me sick at heart to think of it. I--I hope it wasn't
our fault."
"Not at all. If they hadn't broke away they'd be alive this
minute. They'll never bother you or your friend again, Joe."
Our hero felt weak at the knees and was glad enough to go back to
the train, where he sank into his seat. He scarcely said another
word until the wreck was cleared away and they were once more on
their journey.
"I reckon you are glad you got the satchel before this happened,"
remarked Bill Badger, when they were preparing to retire.
"Yes. But I--I wish they had gotten away. It's awful to think
they are dead--and with such bad doings to their credit."
Joe did not sleep very well and he was up early in the morning
and out on the rear platform, drinking in the fresh air. He felt
as if he had passed through some fearful nightmare.
"How do you like this climate?" asked Bill Badger, as he came
out. "Ain't it just glorious?"
"It certainly is," said Joe, and he remembered what Ned had told
him. "I don't wonder some folks like it better than the East."
"Oh, the East can't compare to it," answered Bill Badger. "Why I
was once down to New York and Boston, and the crowd and confusion
and smoke and smells made me sick for a week! Give me the pure
mountain air every time!"
The day proved a pleasant one and when he did not remember the
tragedy that had occurred our hero enjoyed the ride and the wild
scenery.
At last Golden Pass was reached, late at night, and they got off
in a crowd of people.
"Joe!"
"Mr. Vane!" was the answering cry, and soon the two were shaking
hands. "Let me introduce a new friend, Mr. Bill Badger."
"Glad to know you."
"Mr. Badger helped me get back your satchel," went on our hero.
"Then I am deeply indebted to him."
"In that case, just drop the mister from my name," drawled the
young westerner. "Joe tells me you have a mine up here. My
father has one, too--the Mary Jennie, next to the Royal Flush."
"Oh, yes, I know the mine, and I have met your father," said
Maurice Vane.
They walked to a hotel, and there Joe and his young western
friend told their stories, to which Maurice Vane listened with
keen interest. The gentleman was shocked to learn of the sudden
death of Caven and Malone.
"It was certainly a sad ending for them," said he. "But, as
Badger says, they had nobody but themselves to blame for it."
Maurice Vane was extremely glad to get back his mining shares and
thanked Bill Badger warmly for what he had done.
"Don't you mention it," said the young westerner. "I'm going to
hunt up dad now. When you get time, call and see us."
"I'm coming up soon, to find out about that Bill Bodley," said
Joe.
As late as it was Joe listened to what Maurice Vane had to tell.
"Now that Caven and Malone are gone I do not anticipate further
trouble at the mine," said the gentleman. "I am in practical
possession of all the shares, and shall have a clear title to the
whole property inside of a few weeks."
When Joe told him what Bill Badger had had to say about a certain
man called Bill Bodley he was much interested.
"Yes, you must find out about this man at once," said he. "I
will help you, as soon as certain matters are settled."
The next morning proved a busy one and Joe got no time to call
upon Bill Badger's father. He visited the mine and looked over
it with interest.
During the middle of the afternoon he went back to town on an
errand for Mr. Vane. He was passing a cabin on the outskirts
when he heard loud words and a struggle.
"Let me go, you ruffian!" cried a weak voice. "Leave that money
alone!"
"You shut up, old man!" was the answer. "The money is all right."
"You are trying to rob me!"
Then there was another struggle, and suddenly a door burst open
and a man leaped into the roadway. At sight of him Joe came to a
halt. The fellow was Bill Butts, the man who had tried to
swindle Josiah Bean.
"Stop him!" came from the cabin. "He has my gold!"
"Stop!" cried Joe, and ran up to Butts. The next moment man and
boy tripped and fell, but, luckily, our hero was on top.
"Let me go!" growled the man.
"So we meet again, Butts!" cried Joe.
The man stared in amazement and then began to struggle. Seeing
this, Joe doubled up his fists and gave him a blow in the nose
and in the right eye, which caused him to roar with pain.
"That's right!" came from the doorway of the cabin. "Give it to
him! Make him give me my gold!"
"Give up the gold," ordered Joe.
"There it is!" growled Bill Butts, and threw a buckskin bag
towards the cabin. The man from within caught it up and stowed
it away in his pocket.
"Shall I call a policeman?" asked Joe.
"I don't know," said the man from the cabin. He wore a troubled
face and had white hair and a white beard. "It may be--Wha--
where did you come from?" he gasped.
"Where did I come from?" asked Joe.
"Yes! yes! Answer me quickly! You are --you must be a ghost! I
saw you in my dreams last week!"
"I don't understand you," said Joe, and arose slowly to his feet,
at which Bill Butts did likewise and began to retreat. "I never
met you before."
"No? It's queer." The man brushed his hand over his forehead.
"Yes, I must be dreaming. But I am glad I got my gold back."
"So am I, but the rascal has run away."
"Never mind, let him go."
"What makes you think you've seen me before?" questioned Joe, and
his breath came thick and fast.
"I--er--I don't know. You mustn't mind me--I have queer spells
at times. You see, I had a whole lot of trouble once, and when I
get to thinking about it--" The man did not finish.
"May I ask your name?" asked Joe, and his voice trembled in spite
of his efforts at self-control.
"Sure you can. It's Bill Bodley."
"William A. Bodley?"
"Yes. But how do you happen to know my full name?"
"Did you once own a farm in Millville, Iowa?"
"I had a farm in Iowa, yes. It was Millville Center in those
days."
Joe drew closer and looked at the man with care and emotion.
"Did you ever have a brother named Hiram Bodley?"
"I did--but he has been dead for years."
"No, Hiram Bodley died only a short time ago," answered Joe. "I
used to live with him. My name is Joe Bodley. He told me I was
his nephew."
"You his nephew! Hiram Bodley's nephew! We didn't have any
brothers or sisters, and he was a bachelor!"
"I know he was a bachelor. But I don't know--" Joe paused.
"He told me Joe died, at least I got a letter from somebody to
that effect. But I was near crazy just then, and I can't
remember exactly how it was. I lost my wife and two children and
then I guess I about lost my mind for a spell. I sold out, and
the next thing I knew I was roving around the mountains and in
rags. Then I took to mining, and now I've got a mine of my own,
up yonder in the mountains. Come in and talk this over."
Joe entered the cabin and sat down, and William Bodley plied him
with questions, all of which he answered to the best of his
ability.
"There was a blue tin box I had," said he, presently, "that
contained some documents that were mine."
"A blue tin box!" ejaculated Joe. "Hiram Bodley had it and it
got lost. I found it a long time afterwards and some parts of
the documents were destroyed. I have the rest in my suit case at
the hotel."
"Can I see those papers?"
"Certainly."
"Perhaps you are my son, Joe?"
"Perhaps I am, sir."
They went to the hotel, and the documents were produced. Then
"Mind you, I don't say that this Bill Bodley is the man you are
after, Joe. I don't want to raise any false hopes."
"Did you ever hear where the man came from?"
"I think he told somebody that he once owned a farm in Kansas or
Iowa."
"This William A. Bodley once owned a farm at Millville, Iowa."
"Is that so! Then he may be the same man after all. To tell the
truth, he looked a little bit like you."
"Was he a good man?" asked Joe, eagerly.
"Yes, indeed. But some of the men poked fun at him because he
was so silent and strange at times. I liked him and so did
father. He left us to go prospecting in the mountains."
Thus the talk ran on for half an hour, when the train came to a
sudden halt.
"Are we at a station?" asked Bill Badger.
"I don't know," said Joe.
Both looked out of the window but could see nothing except hills
and forests.
"We are in the foothills," said the young westerner. "Something
must be wrong on the tracks."
"More fallen trees perhaps."
"Or a landslide. They have them sometimes, when it rains as hard
as it did to-day."
They left the car with some others and soon learned that there
had been a freightcollision ahead and that half a dozen freight
cars had been smashed to splinters.
"Do you think it can be the freight that Caven and Malone
boarded?" came from our hero, on hearing this news.
"It might be," answered Bill Badger. "Let us take a look. Our
train won't move for hours now."
They walked to the scene of the wreck. One of the cars had been
burnt up but the conflagration was now under control and a
wrecking crew was already at work clearing the tracks so that
they might be used.
"Anybody hurt?" asked Joe of a train hand.
"Yes, two men killed. They were riding between the cars."
"Tramps?"
"They didn't look like tramps. But they hadn't any right to ride
on the freight."
"Where are they?"
"Over in the shanty yonder."
With a queer sensation in his heart Joe walked to the little
building, accompanied by Bill Badger. A curious crowd was around
and they had to force their way to the front.
One look was enough. Gaff Caven and Pat Malone lay there, cold
in death. They had paid the penalty of their crimes on earth and
gone to the final judgment.
CHAPTER XXX.
CONCLUSION.
"Let us go away!" whispered Joe, and moved out of the gathering
without delay.
"It was sure rough on 'em," was Bill Badger's comment.
"Oh, it was awful!" cried our hero. "I--I didn't expect this, did
you?"
"Nobody did. It must have come sudden like on to 'em."
"It makes me sick at heart to think of it. I--I hope it wasn't
our fault."
"Not at all. If they hadn't broke away they'd be alive this
minute. They'll never bother you or your friend again, Joe."
Our hero felt weak at the knees and was glad enough to go back to
the train, where he sank into his seat. He scarcely said another
word until the wreck was cleared away and they were once more on
their journey.
"I reckon you are glad you got the satchel before this happened,"
remarked Bill Badger, when they were preparing to retire.
"Yes. But I--I wish they had gotten away. It's awful to think
they are dead--and with such bad doings to their credit."
Joe did not sleep very well and he was up early in the morning
and out on the rear platform, drinking in the fresh air. He felt
as if he had passed through some fearful nightmare.
"How do you like this climate?" asked Bill Badger, as he came
out. "Ain't it just glorious?"
"It certainly is," said Joe, and he remembered what Ned had told
him. "I don't wonder some folks like it better than the East."
"Oh, the East can't compare to it," answered Bill Badger. "Why I
was once down to New York and Boston, and the crowd and confusion
and smoke and smells made me sick for a week! Give me the pure
mountain air every time!"
The day proved a pleasant one and when he did not remember the
tragedy that had occurred our hero enjoyed the ride and the wild
scenery.
At last Golden Pass was reached, late at night, and they got off
in a crowd of people.
"Joe!"
"Mr. Vane!" was the answering cry, and soon the two were shaking
hands. "Let me introduce a new friend, Mr. Bill Badger."
"Glad to know you."
"Mr. Badger helped me get back your satchel," went on our hero.
"Then I am deeply indebted to him."
"In that case, just drop the mister from my name," drawled the
young westerner. "Joe tells me you have a mine up here. My
father has one, too--the Mary Jennie, next to the Royal Flush."
"Oh, yes, I know the mine, and I have met your father," said
Maurice Vane.
They walked to a hotel, and there Joe and his young western
friend told their stories, to which Maurice Vane listened with
keen interest. The gentleman was shocked to learn of the sudden
death of Caven and Malone.
"It was certainly a sad ending for them," said he. "But, as
Badger says, they had nobody but themselves to blame for it."
Maurice Vane was extremely glad to get back his mining shares and
thanked Bill Badger warmly for what he had done.
"Don't you mention it," said the young westerner. "I'm going to
hunt up dad now. When you get time, call and see us."
"I'm coming up soon, to find out about that Bill Bodley," said
Joe.
As late as it was Joe listened to what Maurice Vane had to tell.
"Now that Caven and Malone are gone I do not anticipate further
trouble at the mine," said the gentleman. "I am in practical
possession of all the shares, and shall have a clear title to the
whole property inside of a few weeks."
When Joe told him what Bill Badger had had to say about a certain
man called Bill Bodley he was much interested.
"Yes, you must find out about this man at once," said he. "I
will help you, as soon as certain matters are settled."
The next morning proved a busy one and Joe got no time to call
upon Bill Badger's father. He visited the mine and looked over
it with interest.
During the middle of the afternoon he went back to town on an
errand for Mr. Vane. He was passing a cabin on the outskirts
when he heard loud words and a struggle.
"Let me go, you ruffian!" cried a weak voice. "Leave that money
alone!"
"You shut up, old man!" was the answer. "The money is all right."
"You are trying to rob me!"
Then there was another struggle, and suddenly a door burst open
and a man leaped into the roadway. At sight of him Joe came to a
halt. The fellow was Bill Butts, the man who had tried to
swindle Josiah Bean.
"Stop him!" came from the cabin. "He has my gold!"
"Stop!" cried Joe, and ran up to Butts. The next moment man and
boy tripped and fell, but, luckily, our hero was on top.
"Let me go!" growled the man.
"So we meet again, Butts!" cried Joe.
The man stared in amazement and then began to struggle. Seeing
this, Joe doubled up his fists and gave him a blow in the nose
and in the right eye, which caused him to roar with pain.
"That's right!" came from the doorway of the cabin. "Give it to
him! Make him give me my gold!"
"Give up the gold," ordered Joe.
"There it is!" growled Bill Butts, and threw a buckskin bag
towards the cabin. The man from within caught it up and stowed
it away in his pocket.
"Shall I call a policeman?" asked Joe.
"I don't know," said the man from the cabin. He wore a troubled
face and had white hair and a white beard. "It may be--Wha--
where did you come from?" he gasped.
"Where did I come from?" asked Joe.
"Yes! yes! Answer me quickly! You are --you must be a ghost! I
saw you in my dreams last week!"
"I don't understand you," said Joe, and arose slowly to his feet,
at which Bill Butts did likewise and began to retreat. "I never
met you before."
"No? It's queer." The man brushed his hand over his forehead.
"Yes, I must be dreaming. But I am glad I got my gold back."
"So am I, but the rascal has run away."
"Never mind, let him go."
"What makes you think you've seen me before?" questioned Joe, and
his breath came thick and fast.
"I--er--I don't know. You mustn't mind me--I have queer spells
at times. You see, I had a whole lot of trouble once, and when I
get to thinking about it--" The man did not finish.
"May I ask your name?" asked Joe, and his voice trembled in spite
of his efforts at self-control.
"Sure you can. It's Bill Bodley."
"William A. Bodley?"
"Yes. But how do you happen to know my full name?"
"Did you once own a farm in Millville, Iowa?"
"I had a farm in Iowa, yes. It was Millville Center in those
days."
Joe drew closer and looked at the man with care and emotion.
"Did you ever have a brother named Hiram Bodley?"
"I did--but he has been dead for years."
"No, Hiram Bodley died only a short time ago," answered Joe. "I
used to live with him. My name is Joe Bodley. He told me I was
his nephew."
"You his nephew! Hiram Bodley's nephew! We didn't have any
brothers or sisters, and he was a bachelor!"
"I know he was a bachelor. But I don't know--" Joe paused.
"He told me Joe died, at least I got a letter from somebody to
that effect. But I was near crazy just then, and I can't
remember exactly how it was. I lost my wife and two children and
then I guess I about lost my mind for a spell. I sold out, and
the next thing I knew I was roving around the mountains and in
rags. Then I took to mining, and now I've got a mine of my own,
up yonder in the mountains. Come in and talk this over."
Joe entered the cabin and sat down, and William Bodley plied him
with questions, all of which he answered to the best of his
ability.
"There was a blue tin box I had," said he, presently, "that
contained some documents that were mine."
"A blue tin box!" ejaculated Joe. "Hiram Bodley had it and it
got lost. I found it a long time afterwards and some parts of
the documents were destroyed. I have the rest in my suit case at
the hotel."
"Can I see those papers?"
"Certainly."
"Perhaps you are my son, Joe?"
"Perhaps I am, sir."
They went to the hotel, and the documents were produced. Then
- freight [freit]
n.运货 vt.运送；充满 (初中英语单词) - sensation [sen´seiʃən] n.感觉；轰动；轰动一时 (初中英语单词)
- bother [´bɔðə] v.打扰 n.麻烦(事) (初中英语单词)
- reckon [´rekən] v.计算；认为；估计 (初中英语单词)
- doings [´du:iŋz] n.行动；所作的事 (初中英语单词)
- platform [´plætfɔ:m] n.(平)台；讲台；站台 (初中英语单词)
- fearful [´fiəfəl] a.可怕的；担心的 (初中英语单词)
- extremely [ik´stri:mli] ad.极端地；非常地 (初中英语单词)
- amazement [ə´meizmənt] n.惊愕；惊奇 (初中英语单词)
- doorway [´dɔ:wei] n.门口 (初中英语单词)
- likewise [´laikwaiz] ad.同样地；也，又 (初中英语单词)
- retreat [ri´tri:t] v.&n.退却；撤退；放弃 (初中英语单词)
- breath [breθ] n.呼吸；气息 (初中英语单词)
- presently [´prezəntli] ad.不久；目前 (初中英语单词)
- kansas [´kænzəs] n.堪萨斯(州) (高中英语单词)
- learned [´lə:nid] a.有学问的，博学的 (高中英语单词)
- hearing [´hiəriŋ] n.听力；听证会；审讯 (高中英语单词)
- badger [´bædʒə] n.獾；獾皮(毛) (高中英语单词)
- penalty [´penlti] n.刑罚；惩罚；障碍 (高中英语单词)
- ending [´endiŋ] n.结尾，结局 (高中英语单词)
- mining [´mainiŋ] n.采矿；矿业 (高中英语单词)
- anticipate [æn´tisipeit] vt.预期；指望；期待 (高中英语单词)
- rascal [´rɑ:skəl] n.流氓 (高中英语单词)
- bachelor [´bætʃələ] n.未婚男子；学士 (高中英语单词)
- clearing [´kliəriŋ] n.(森林中的)空旷地 (英语四级单词)
- gotten [´gɔtn] get的过去分词 (英语四级单词)
- mister [´mistə] n.先生 vt.称...先生 (英语四级单词)
- trying [´traiiŋ] a.难堪的；费劲的 (英语四级单词)
- collision [kə´liʒən] n.碰幢；冲突；互撞事件 (英语六级单词)
- indebted [in´detid] a.负债的；感恩的 (英语六级单词)
- roadway [´rəudwei] n.车行道；路面 (英语六级单词)
文章标签:名著
章节正文
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