Part 56 (1/2)

”Miss Kent!” he said. ”You--you're making a very serious----”

”Oh, I know!” she interrupted. ”I expect you to deny it. But a great deal of money--my money--has been used, and Mr. Pratt has run the line--with myself and my brother--yesterday--so we know that you've either been fooled or you've cheated.”

Lawrence had risen. His face was scarlet.

”Upon my word!” he said. ”Pratt, you and your friend I can order from the office! The lady----”

”You can't order anything!--not a thing!” said Beth. ”Glen! Mr.

Pratt!--you've got to stay and help! I know the truth--and it's got to be confessed! Mr. Van Buren----”

”I can leave myself, since you insist upon remaining,” interrupted Lawrence, taking his hat and striding towards the door, in a panic to get to McCoppet for much-needed aid. ”Such an utterly unheard of affront as this----”

”Glen! run and find Mr. Van Buren!” Beth broke in excitedly. ”Don't let him go, Mr. Pratt!”

Lawrence had reached his outer office and was almost at the door. Beth was hastening after, with Glen at her heels. All were abruptly halted.

Van and the sheriff appeared in the door, before which idlers were pa.s.sing. Beth was wild with joy.

”Van,” she cried, ”Oh, Mr. Van Buren, I'm sure this man has cheated you out of your claim! We ran the line ourselves--my brother, Mr. Pratt, and I--yesterday--we finished yesterday! We found the claim is not inside the reservation! My money was used--I'm sure for bribery! But they've got to give you back your claim, if it takes every penny I've got! I was sending Glen to let you know. I asked Mr. Lawrence to confess! You won't let him go! You mustn't let him go! I am sure there's something dreadful going on!”

It was a swift, impa.s.sioned speech, clear, ringing, honest in every word. It thrilled Van wondrously, despite the things that had been--her letter, and subsequent events. He all but lost track of the business in hand, in the light of her sudden revelations. He did not answer readily, and Lawrence broke out in protestation.

”It's infamous!” he cried. ”If anyone here except a woman had charged--had been guilty of all these outrageous lies----”

Half a dozen loiterers had halted at the door, attracted by the shrill high tones of his voice.

”That's enough of that, Lawrence,” Van interrupted quietly. ”Every word of this is true. You accepted twenty thousand dollars to falsify that line. Your chief was murdered to get him out of the way, because it was _known_ you could be bribed. I came here to get you, and I'll get all the crowd, if it kills half the town in the fight.” With one quick movement he seized his man by the collar. ”Here, Bill, hustle him out,” he said to Christler. ”We've got no time to waste.”

Lawrence, the sheriff, and himself were projected out upon the sidewalk by one of his quick maneuvers. A crowd of men came running to the place. Above the rising murmur of their voices, raised in excitement, came a shrill and strident cry.

”Van! Van!” was the call from someone in the crowd.

It was lean old Gettysburg. Dave and Napoleon were pantingly chasing where he ran.

”Van!” yelled Gettysburg again. ”It's Barger!--Barger!--dead in the tent--it's Barger--up there--dead!”

Barger! The name acted as swiftly on the crowd as oil upon a flame.

It seemed as if the wave of news swept like a tide across the street, down the thoroughfare, and into every shop.

Two automobiles were halted in the road, their engines purring as they stood. Their drivers dismounted to join the gathering throng. One of the men was Bostwick, down from the hills. He had searched for Beth at Mrs. d.i.c.k's, and then had followed here.

”Barger! Barger's dead in camp and the 'Laughing Water' claim was stolen--and Culver killed!” One man bawled it to the crowd--and it sped to Bostwick's ears.

One being only departed from the scene--Trimmer, the lumberman, swiftly seeking McCoppet.

Van, in his heat, had told too much, accusing the prisoner in hand. He silenced Gettysburg abruptly and started to force aside the crowd.

”Gentlemen, gentlemen, move aside,” he said. ”I've got--by Jupe!

there's Bostwick!”

It was Bostwick fleeing to his car that Van had discovered. Searle had seen enough in the briefest of glances. He had heard too much. He realized that only in flight could the temper of the mob be avoided.