Part 45 (2/2)
”I can't tell you much, I guess. Only, you air wrong about me pa.s.sin'
the first coin. Jack did that himself--and brought back to camp a two gallon jug of liquor.”
”_Jack Besmith!_” gasped the school teacher, the light dawning in his mind.
”Yes,” said Narnay. ”Me and Trimmins has knowed it for a long time.
We wormed it out o' Jack when he was drunk. But he was putting up for the stuff right along, so we didn't tell. He's got most of the money hid away somewhere--we don't know where.
”He told us he saw the stuff up at Ma.s.sey's the night before he stole it. He went there to try to get his job back, and seen Ma.s.sey puttin'
the trays of coin into his safe. He knowed they was goin' down to the schoolhouse in the mornin'.
”He got drunk,” pursued Narnay. ”He didn't go home all night. Early in the mornin' he woke up in a shed, and went back to town. It was so early that little Benny Thread (that's Jack's brother-in-law) was just goin' into the bas.e.m.e.nt door of the schoolhouse to 'tend to his fire.
”Jack says he slipped in behind him and hid upstairs in a clothes closet. He thought he'd maybe break open the teacher's desk and see if there wasn't some money in it, if he didn't git a chance at them coins.
But that was too easy. The committee left the coins right out open in the committee room, and Jack grabbed up the trays, took 'em to the clothes room, and emptied them into the linin' of his coat, and into his pants' pockets. They was a load!
”So, after the teacher come into the buildin' and went out again, Jack put back the trays, slipped downstairs, dodged Benny and the four others, and went out at the bas.e.m.e.nt door. Benny's always swore that door was locked; but it's only a spring lock and easy enough opened from inside.
”That--that's all, I guess,” added Narnay, in a shamefaced way. ”Jack backed that load of gold coin clean out to our camp. And he hid 'em all b'fore we ever suspected he had money. We don't know now where his _cache_ is----”
”Oh, Nelson!” burst out Janice, seizing both the schoolmaster's hands.
”The truth at last!”
”Ye--ye've been so good to us, Miss Janice,” blubbered Narnay, ”I couldn't bear to see the young man in trouble no longer--and you thinkin' as much as you do of him----”
”If I have done anything at all for you or yours, Mr. Narnay,” sobbed Janice, ”you have more than repaid me--over and over again you have repaid me! Do stay here with your wife and the children. I am going to send Mr. Middler right down. Let's drive on, Nelson.”
The teacher started the car. ”And to think,” he said softly when the Kremlin had climbed the hill and struck smoother going, ”that I have been opposed to your doing anything for these Narnays all the time, Janice. Yet because _you_ were kind, _I_ am saved! It--it is wonderful!”
”Oh, no, Nelson. It is only what might have been expected,” said Janice, softly.
CHAPTER x.x.x
MARM PARRADAY DOES HER DUTY
It was on the day following the burial of the Narnay baby that the mystery surrounding Mr. Broxton Day's situation in Mexico was quite cleared up, and much to his daughter's satisfaction. Quite a packet of letters arrived for Janice--several delayed epistles, indeed, coming in a single wrapper.
With them was a letter in the exact script of Juan Dicampa--that mysterious brigand chief who was Mr. Day's friend--and couched in much the same flowery phraseology as the former note Janice had received.
It read:
”Senorita:--
”I fain would beg thy pardon--and that most humbly--for my seeming slight of thy appeal, which reached my headquarters when your humble servant was busily engaged elsewhere. Thy father, the Senior B. Day, is safe. He has never for a moment been in danger. The embargo is now lifted and he may write to thee, sweet senorita, as he may please. The enemy has been driven from this fair section of my troubled land, and the smile of peace rests upon us as it rests upon you, dear senorita.
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