FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106  
107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   >>  
elation. Disguise it as he might, he was clearly disconcerted. "Is this true, colonel?" asked Benson. "Yes, it is," answered Col. Warner, with some hesitation. "I was robbed, with the rest. I had four hundred dollars in my wallet, and the road agent made off with it." "And yet you just now pooh-poohed the idea of a robbery, and said such things were gone by." "I say so now," returned the colonel, sullenly. "I have a good deal of money with me, but I am willing to take my chances." "Doubtless. Your money would be returned to you, in all probability, if, as we have reason to believe, you have a secret understanding with the thieves who infest this part of the country." "Your words are insulting. Let go my arm, sir, or it will be the worse for you." "Softly, softly, my good friend," said the German. "Have you any proposal to make, Mr. Melville?" "Only this. Let us proceed on our journey, but let each man draw his revolver, and be ready to use it, if need be." "What about the colonel?" "He must go along with us. We cannot have him communicating with our enemies outside." "Suppose I refuse, sir?" "Then, my very good friend, I think we shall use a little force," said the German, carelessly pointing his weapon at the captive. "I will go upon compulsion," said the colonel, "but I protest against this outrage. I am a wealthy capitalist from Chicago, who knows no more about road agents than you do. You have been deceived by this unsophisticated young man, who knows about as much of the world as a four-year-old child. It's a fine mare's nest he has found." This sneer did not disturb the equanimity of George Melville. "I should be glad to believe the colonel were as innocent as he claims," he said, "but his own words, overheard last night, contradict what he is now saying. When we have passed the spot indicated for the attack, we will release him, and give him the opportunity he seeks of leaving our company." The passengers resumed their places in the stage, with the exception of Herbert, who again took his seat beside the driver. George Melville had not mentioned that it was Herbert, not himself, who had overheard the conversation between the colonel and the land lord, fearing to expose the boy to future risk. Col. Warner sat sullenly between the German and Benson. He was evidently ill at ease and his restless glances showed that he was intent upon some plan of escape. Of this, however, such
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106  
107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   >>  



Top keywords:

colonel

 

Melville

 

German

 
Herbert
 
returned
 

sullenly

 
overheard
 

George

 

friend

 

Benson


Warner
 

equanimity

 

agents

 

capitalist

 

Chicago

 
claims
 

disturb

 

innocent

 

deceived

 
unsophisticated

company

 
fearing
 

expose

 

future

 

conversation

 

driver

 

mentioned

 
intent
 

escape

 

showed


glances

 

evidently

 

restless

 

attack

 

release

 

passed

 

contradict

 

opportunity

 

places

 

exception


resumed

 

leaving

 

wealthy

 

passengers

 

poohed

 

robbery

 
things
 

chances

 

understanding

 

thieves