But the puzzle was too difficult for him, and he finally abandoned it to

dismount and practice the things the agent had taught him
But the puzzle was too difficult for him, and he finally abandoned it to
dismount and practice the things the agent had taught him.

As the acceptance of the police official"s theory would save them the

necessity of investigating the story further, the reporters agreed to
accept his version, and to accord with it they wrote their stories
As the acceptance of the police official"s theory would save them the
necessity of investigating the story further, the reporters agreed to
accept his version, and to accord with it they wrote their stories.

Prior to his having been addressed, the boy who had given his name as

Bob Chester had noticed the difference between the three men as they
stood in earnest conversation on the sidewalk, and instinctively he had
been attracted by the frankness of the countryman"s face
Prior to his having been addressed, the boy who had given his name as
Bob Chester had noticed the difference between the three men as they
stood in earnest conversation on the sidewalk, and instinctively he had
been attracted by the frankness of the countryman"s face. He had been
wondering why the two New Yorkers were so interested in the other man,
but the unexpectedness of his being accosted had driven all thought from
his mind, and he had given his answers as though compelled by the
searching glance the younger of the two men had directed at him.

'He does not want to plead guilty, your honor

'He does not want to plead guilty, your honor. This whole business in
dragging this boy to court is an outrage. He had no more knowledge of
the fact that those men intended to, or were, swindling this man from
the country, than you have.'

'I"ll show them that a "tenderfoot" has some courage,' Bob said, as he

braced himself for the impact when the dog should leap upon him
'I"ll show them that a "tenderfoot" has some courage,' Bob said, as he
braced himself for the impact when the dog should leap upon him.

'Release nothing,' growled the official

'Release nothing,' growled the official. 'He"s on his way to court,' and
then, as he had read from the expression on Foster"s face that his
mission to interview Len Dardus had not been altogether satisfactory,
he continued: 'You found I was pretty near right about old Dardus,
didn"t you?'

Upon this Jocelyn succinctly related to the Ambassador all such

particulars of his history as have been laid before the reader
Upon this Jocelyn succinctly related to the Ambassador all such
particulars of his history as have been laid before the reader. De
Gondomar listened to him with attention, and put some questions to him
as he proceeded. At its close his countenance brightened.

'Tut! do his bidding, child, without more ado,' old Greenford

interposed
'Tut! do his bidding, child, without more ado,' old Greenford
interposed. 'I shall like to see what will come of it--ha! ha!'

'He is not sane enough to keep his neck from the halter,' rejoined

Archee
'He is not sane enough to keep his neck from the halter,' rejoined
Archee. 'Your Majesty should spare him, since you are indirectly the
cause of his malady.'

The tone in which the reporter spoke was one that could not fail to be

impressive, and after a moment"s hesitation, the magistrate, who knew
Foster as a reporter and admired him for his manly fearlessness, asked:

'Now that we have made this agreement, we will dismiss it from our minds

for the present
'Now that we have made this agreement, we will dismiss it from our minds
for the present. I want you to come to dinner and the theatre with me.'

'Now you look more as though you belonged in Fairfax,' declared one of

the loungers as Bob joined them
'Now you look more as though you belonged in Fairfax,' declared one of
the loungers as Bob joined them.

'He belongs to the order of Melchisedec,' said Archee

'He belongs to the order of Melchisedec,' said Archee. A reply that
occasioned some laughter among the nobles, in which the King joined
heartily.

And together the conductor and the boy hastened to the station, where

the full story was quickly flashed to headquarters at Omaha
And together the conductor and the boy hastened to the station, where
the full story was quickly flashed to headquarters at Omaha.

'No one has passed us, except Madame Bonaventure,' the promoter replied

'No one has passed us, except Madame Bonaventure,' the promoter replied.
'She was wholly unattended, and came in this direction. We were
stationed within yon anti-chamber, which appears to be the sole means of
communication with this passage, and we ought therefore to have
intercepted the young man when he came forth.'

'This only was wanting to fill up the measure of my scorn for thee,'

pursued the Puritan
'This only was wanting to fill up the measure of my scorn for thee,'
pursued the Puritan. 'Thou art worthy of thine office. But show me no
favour, for I will receive none at thy hands. I would rather wear these
fetters to my death, however much they may gall my limbs, than have them
struck off by thee. I would rather rot in this dungeon--ay, though it
were worse than it is--than owe my liberation to thee. The sole favour
thou canst show me is to rid me of thy presence, which is hateful to me,
and chases holy thoughts from my breast, putting evil in their place.'

'It"s no matther,' replied young Lamh Laudher gloomily, 'my character"s

gone
'It"s no matther,' replied young Lamh Laudher gloomily, 'my character"s
gone. I cannot be worse, an" I will tell no man how I spent it, till I
have an opportunity of clarin" myself.'

'For not treating this hyar gemmen wid de respec" Mr

'For not treating this hyar gemmen wid de respec" Mr. Perkins thought I
ought to when he set hisself down in my parlah cyar, when his ticket
done call for the chair cyar.'

Casting a contemptuous glance at the two ludicrous figures that

approached him, the policeman first listened to the excited explanation
of the boy indifferently, then with incredulity, and finally with
amusement
Casting a contemptuous glance at the two ludicrous figures that
approached him, the policeman first listened to the excited explanation
of the boy indifferently, then with incredulity, and finally with
amusement.

During this colloquy the dog had set up a furious barking and snarling,

leaping about in evident readiness to spring upon the horseman when he
should get well within the clearing
During this colloquy the dog had set up a furious barking and snarling,
leaping about in evident readiness to spring upon the horseman when he
should get well within the clearing.

Uncertain whether or not to obey, the dog looked from Bob to the horses

Uncertain whether or not to obey, the dog looked from Bob to the horses.
But the boy quickly repeated his commands, running toward the hound, and
the animal, with a parting snarl at the agent, turned and trotted to the
side of his new master, where he took his stand as though waiting to
defend him, should it be necessary.

'We"ll all protect you, Madame,' cried the assemblage with one

voice--'Let him lay hands upon you, and he shall see
'We"ll all protect you, Madame,' cried the assemblage with one
voice--'Let him lay hands upon you, and he shall see.'

Randolph, the city in which Bob was marooned, being a division

headquarters of the railway, there was a train despatcher"s office in
the station, and thither the agent led Bob
Randolph, the city in which Bob was marooned, being a division
headquarters of the railway, there was a train despatcher"s office in
the station, and thither the agent led Bob.

'How can I comply with it?' he rejoined

'How can I comply with it?' he rejoined. 'Nothing were done, if only
partly done. Know you the charge that Lady Roos means to bring against
you? Though alike false and improbable, it is one to find easy credence
with the King; and it has been framed with that view. You will
understand this, when I tell you what it is. In this letter,' he added,
picking up the paper he had thrown down, and unfolding it, 'she accuses
you of practising sorcery to enslave my affections. She declares you
have bewitched me; and that she has proof of the manner in which it was
done, and of the sinful compact you have entered into for the purpose.'

The mother shrieked aloud, and clapped her hands like a distressed

woman; the father"s brow changed from the flushed hue of indignation,
and became pale with apprehension
The mother shrieked aloud, and clapped her hands like a distressed
woman; the father"s brow changed from the flushed hue of indignation,
and became pale with apprehension.

'A black business, will you?' she exclaimed, repeating his words in

a soliloquy;--'do so--an" may all that"s black assist you in it! Dher
Chiernah, I"ll do it or lose a fall--I"ll make the Lamh Laudhers the
Lamh Lhugs afore I"ve done wid "em
'A black business, will you?' she exclaimed, repeating his words in
a soliloquy;--'do so--an" may all that"s black assist you in it! Dher
Chiernah, I"ll do it or lose a fall--I"ll make the Lamh Laudhers the
Lamh Lhugs afore I"ve done wid "em. I"ve put a thorn in their side this
many a year, that"ll never come out; I"ll now put one in their marrow,
an" let them see how they"ll bear that. I"ve left _one_ empty chair at
their hearth, an" it "ll go hard wid me but I"ll lave another.'

The foremost of the two was merely a yeoman of the guard, and would not

for a moment have attracted Sir Jocelyn"s attention, if it had not been
for a female who accompanied him, and whom he was evidently conducting
to Sir Thomas Lake"s rooms, as Sir Jocelyn not only saw the man point
towards them, but heard him mention the Secretary of State"s name
The foremost of the two was merely a yeoman of the guard, and would not
for a moment have attracted Sir Jocelyn"s attention, if it had not been
for a female who accompanied him, and whom he was evidently conducting
to Sir Thomas Lake"s rooms, as Sir Jocelyn not only saw the man point
towards them, but heard him mention the Secretary of State"s name.

'It must be the Fiend in person,' quoth the apprentice, contriving to

regain the saddle
'It must be the Fiend in person,' quoth the apprentice, contriving to
regain the saddle. 'I trust you have made no compact with him, Sir.'

'I find such grave fault with it,' replied the Secretary of State, still

without looking up, 'that I would amend it by casting it into the
flames
'I find such grave fault with it,' replied the Secretary of State, still
without looking up, 'that I would amend it by casting it into the
flames. Lady Lake, it is my duty to warn you. This is a fearful crime
you would commit, and severely punishable by the law. You may excuse it
to yourself, because you have an end in view which seems to justify the
means; but the excuse will not avail you with others. You have said that
in a conflict with one so cunning and unscrupulous as our noble
son-in-law, you are compelled to fight him with his own weapons--to meet
trick with trick, manoevre with manoeuvre; but take my word for it, you
would more easily defeat him by straight-forward means. Be ruled by me
in this one instance. Abandon a scheme which must inevitably lead to
consequences I shudder to contemplate; and let this fabricated
confession be destroyed.'

No arrangement had been attempted in the interim, though abundant

opportunities of doing so were afforded her, as Sir Francis Mitchell
visited the Three Cranes almost daily
No arrangement had been attempted in the interim, though abundant
opportunities of doing so were afforded her, as Sir Francis Mitchell
visited the Three Cranes almost daily. She appeared to treat the matter
very lightly, always putting it off when mentioned; and even towards the
last seemed quite unconcerned, as if entertaining no fear of the result.
Apparently, everything went on just as usual, and no one would have
supposed, from Madame Bonaventure"s manner, that she was aware of the
possibility of a mine being sprung beneath her feet. Perhaps she fancied
she had countermined her opponents, and so felt secure. Her indifference
puzzled Sir Francis, who knew not whether to attribute it to
insensibility or over-confidence. He was curious to see how she would
conduct herself when the crisis came; and for that purpose repaired to
the tavern, about dinner-time, on the appointed day.

It was no easy task to carry out the order; but the promoter managed to

accomplish it
It was no easy task to carry out the order; but the promoter managed to
accomplish it. Single-handed he drove back all who opposed his progress,
while the two prisoners were borne towards the door by the men having
them in custody.

But to prevent any possible miscarriage of their plans, Bob wrote his

discoveries to Mr
But to prevent any possible miscarriage of their plans, Bob wrote his
discoveries to Mr. Nichols, mailing the letter before he left Red Top.
These details attended to, Ford borrowed a horse for Bob, and they set
out for the home ranch, which they reached in due course.

Dearly did Bob love pork and beans, but only occasionally had his

guardian provided them, and then in such small quantities that the boy
had never been able to eat all he wanted, and oftentimes had he
promised himself that some day he would have his fill
Dearly did Bob love pork and beans, but only occasionally had his
guardian provided them, and then in such small quantities that the boy
had never been able to eat all he wanted, and oftentimes had he
promised himself that some day he would have his fill. Consequently, as
he read the sign, he determined to gratify his desire, and timidly
entered the restaurant, where there were stools in front of a high
counter and tables along the wall, upon which stood an array of food
that amazed him, accustomed, as he had been, to living on almost
nothing.

'"Sdeath! villain, but thou _shalt_, or thou shalt never taste wine

more
'"Sdeath! villain, but thou _shalt_, or thou shalt never taste wine
more. Down with it, man! And now your signature to this paper?'

The boy"s relief was so great at finding the savage beast did not

attempt to tear him limb from limb that he failed to notice the door of
the red-roofed cabin open and a grizzled head emerge
The boy"s relief was so great at finding the savage beast did not
attempt to tear him limb from limb that he failed to notice the door of
the red-roofed cabin open and a grizzled head emerge.

So hostile was the grocer"s manner becoming, and with such increasing

suspicion did he view his inquisitor, that Foster realized it would be
necessary to explain Bob"s predicament were he to be able to help him,
and briefly he told the story that had been repeated in the police
station
So hostile was the grocer"s manner becoming, and with such increasing
suspicion did he view his inquisitor, that Foster realized it would be
necessary to explain Bob"s predicament were he to be able to help him,
and briefly he told the story that had been repeated in the police
station.

Fearing that if he hurried too fast through the dismal corridors of the

court building he might arouse suspicion and get into more trouble, Bob
restrained his impulse to break into a run, and endeavored to walk as
unconcernedly as possible
Fearing that if he hurried too fast through the dismal corridors of the
court building he might arouse suspicion and get into more trouble, Bob
restrained his impulse to break into a run, and endeavored to walk as
unconcernedly as possible. But it was with a feeling of vast relief that
he stepped forth from the stone portal and again breathed the free air
of the street.

The magistrate immediately despatched two of the constables, with strict

injunctions! to secure her, if possible
The magistrate immediately despatched two of the constables, with strict
injunctions! to secure her, if possible.

Little was said by the two young persons, as they slowly paced the

terrace
Little was said by the two young persons, as they slowly paced the
terrace. Both felt embarrassed: Jocelyn longing to give utterance to his
feelings, but restrained by timidity--Aveline trembling lest more might
be said than she ought to hear, or if obliged to hear, than she could
rightly answer. Thus they walked on in silence. But it was a silence
more eloquent than words, since each comprehended what the other felt.
How much they would have said was proclaimed by the impossibility they
found of saying anything!

'Ay! but I won"t suppose that, till you lay your right hand on your

heart, and declare as an honest man, that--tut, man--this is nonsense
'Ay! but I won"t suppose that, till you lay your right hand on your
heart, and declare as an honest man, that--tut, man--this is nonsense.
Meehaul, go home--I would rather there was friendship between us.'

'Well, I suppose you know your own business, but taking it all in all,

if I was you, I think I"d stay East among people I knew, and whose ways
I was used to
'Well, I suppose you know your own business, but taking it all in all,
if I was you, I think I"d stay East among people I knew, and whose ways
I was used to.'

'Your rash vehemence will undo you, if you take not heed

'Your rash vehemence will undo you, if you take not heed. Beyond
question, Sir Giles hath the king"s sanction for what he does, and to
censure him as you have done is to censure the Crown, which is next to
treason. Be ruled by me, my good young Sir, and meddle no more in the
matter.'

'A dollar? What do you mean?' exclaimed one of the two men whom Bob

beheld standing outside the cell door, staring at him through the bars
'A dollar? What do you mean?' exclaimed one of the two men whom Bob
beheld standing outside the cell door, staring at him through the bars.
'You had seven hundred and fifty dollars of that countryman"s money,
didn"t you?'

'I now see the reason why her face has been covered with a "kerchief,'

cried Lady Lake
'I now see the reason why her face has been covered with a "kerchief,'
cried Lady Lake. 'But it shall not save her from our scrutiny.'

The sight of their stern, unemotional employer weeping like a woman over

Bob astounded the cowboys, and eagerly they closed around him, though
they were too impressed by the scene to speak
The sight of their stern, unemotional employer weeping like a woman over
Bob astounded the cowboys, and eagerly they closed around him, though
they were too impressed by the scene to speak.

'Something tells" me, sir,' replied the stranger, 'that this young man

is as innocent of the robbery as the child unborn
'Something tells" me, sir,' replied the stranger, 'that this young man
is as innocent of the robbery as the child unborn. It"s not my intention
ever to think of prosecuting him. What I have done in the matter was
against my own wishes.'

The countryman"s suggestion that he be intrusted with the money aroused

Bob"s suspicion, for he remembered that the others had placed five
hundred dollars in the envelope, and he thought it was a scheme on the
part of Simpkins to get possession of this money
The countryman"s suggestion that he be intrusted with the money aroused
Bob"s suspicion, for he remembered that the others had placed five
hundred dollars in the envelope, and he thought it was a scheme on the
part of Simpkins to get possession of this money. So that after this
interchange of words, both lapsed into silence.

'Good boy,' chorused the train crew, all of whom realized too well the

danger to which the boy had been subjected
'Good boy,' chorused the train crew, all of whom realized too well the
danger to which the boy had been subjected.

And as the command was given, he and his troop made a sudden dash upon

the "prentices, who, unable to stand against the bills levelled against
their breasts, gave way
And as the command was given, he and his troop made a sudden dash upon
the "prentices, who, unable to stand against the bills levelled against
their breasts, gave way. Still, the gallant youths were by no means
routed. Instantly closing upon their opponents, and being quite as
nimble of foot as they, they contrived to cut off their retreat from the
garden; and a sharp conflict took place between the parties, as they
came to close quarters near the entrance. Three of the myrmidons were
felled by Dick Taverner"s cudgel; and at last, watching his opportunity,
with both hands he launched a bowl which he had picked up at Sir Giles"s
head. If the missile had taken effect, the fight would have been over;
but the knight avoided the blow by stooping down, and the bowl, passing
over him, hit Lupo Vulp full in the stomach, and brought him to the
ground deprived of breath. Meanwhile, Sir Giles, springing quickly
forward, pinned the apprentice against the wall with his rapier"s point.

'Well, if you want to get a plain car, you want to go over to Weehawken

and buy your ticket over the West Shore railroad
'Well, if you want to get a plain car, you want to go over to Weehawken
and buy your ticket over the West Shore railroad.'

As the citizens saw Bob"s pursuers return captives they were amazed, and

when they learned the reason they expressed in no uncertain terms their
anger at having been made to chase an innocent boy
As the citizens saw Bob"s pursuers return captives they were amazed, and
when they learned the reason they expressed in no uncertain terms their
anger at having been made to chase an innocent boy.

When Nell passed away from Lamh Laudher, who would fain have flattered

himself that by turning back on the way, until she passed him, he had
avoided meeting her, he once more sought the place of appointment, at
the same slow pace as before
When Nell passed away from Lamh Laudher, who would fain have flattered
himself that by turning back on the way, until she passed him, he had
avoided meeting her, he once more sought the place of appointment, at
the same slow pace as before. On arriving behind the orchard, he found,
as the progress of the evening told him, that he had anticipated the
hour at which it had been agreed to meet. He accordingly descended the
Grassy Quarry, and sat on a mossy ledge of rock, over which the brow of
a little precipice jutted in such a manner as to render those who sat
beneath, visible only from a particular point. Here he had scarcely
seated himself when the tread of a foot was heard, and in a few minutes
Nanse M"Collum stood beside him.

With dismay and a feeling of foreboding, Bob watched the conductor go

from his car with the precious pass
With dismay and a feeling of foreboding, Bob watched the conductor go
from his car with the precious pass. He dared not protest; indeed, the
thought of the proper way to make an objection did not occur to him. In
fact, he did not know that he could do so, and his own temerity in
calling attention to the fact that it was made out had startled him. But
bitterly did he rue his suggestion that the conductor keep the
all-important paper until he was satisfied as to its genuineness.

The car in which Bob found himself was upholstered in dark green, and

the woodwork was of polished mahogany
The car in which Bob found himself was upholstered in dark green, and
the woodwork was of polished mahogany. Never had he seen anything so
magnificent, and as he sank into a high-back seat, he uttered a sigh of
contentment.

To one or two of his firm friends, the ranchman introduced Bob, and

sincere were their expressions of delight both at meeting him and in
knowing that he was to come into his own
To one or two of his firm friends, the ranchman introduced Bob, and
sincere were their expressions of delight both at meeting him and in
knowing that he was to come into his own. Ford, however, swore them to
silence, for there were some of the townsfolk who had supported Dardus
in his lawsuit, and neither the ranchman nor Bob wished a word of his
presence to leak out till they had perfected their plans for bringing
the dishonest guardian to book.

All of a tremble at his narrow escape from falling under the car, Bob

was trying to recover his self-control before getting down from his
precarious position, when he was startled to hear a voice exclaim:

While this was passing, Sir Giles was engaged in giving directions

respecting his partner, whose inebriate condition greatly scandalized
him; and it was in pursuance of his orders that Sir Francis was
transported to the wharf where the misadventure before related befel
him
While this was passing, Sir Giles was engaged in giving directions
respecting his partner, whose inebriate condition greatly scandalized
him; and it was in pursuance of his orders that Sir Francis was
transported to the wharf where the misadventure before related befel
him. Never for a moment did Sir Giles" watchful eye quit Jocelyn, upon
whom he was ready to pounce like a tiger, if the young man made any
movement to depart; and he only waited till the tavern should be clear
of company to effect the seizure.

'Your rash vehemence will undo you, if you take not heed

'Your rash vehemence will undo you, if you take not heed. Beyond
question, Sir Giles hath the king"s sanction for what he does, and to
censure him as you have done is to censure the Crown, which is next to
treason. Be ruled by me, my good young Sir, and meddle no more in the
matter.'