Part 31 (1/2)

”Is this Lane a large man?” asked George Melville.

”Not larger than myself,” continued the colonel.

”Where does he live--in some secret haunt in the forest, I suppose?”

”Oh, no, he doesn't confine himself to one place. He travels a good deal. Sometimes he goes to St. Louis. I have heard that he sometimes even visits New York.”

”And is he not recognized?”

”No; he looks like anything but an outlaw. If you should see him you might think him a prosperous merchant, or banker.”

”That's curious!” said Herbert.

”The fact is,” said the colonel, ”when you travel by stage-coaches in these solitudes you have to take the chances. Now I carry my money concealed in an inner pocket, where it isn't very likely to be found. Of course I have another wallet, just for show, and I give that up when I have to.”

There was a stout, florid gentleman present, who listened to the above conversation with ill-disguised nervousness. He was a New York capitalist, of German birth, going out to inspect a mine in which he proposed purchasing an interest. His name was Conrad Stiefel.

”Good gracious!” said he, ”I had no idea a man ran such a risk, or I would have stayed at home. I decidedly object to being robbed.”

”Men are robbed in a different way in New York,” said George Melville.

”How do you mean, Mr. Melville?”

”By defaulting clerks, absconding cas.h.i.+ers, swindlers of excellent social position.”

”Oh, we don't mind those things,” said Mr. Stiefel. ”We can look out for ourselves. But when a man points at you with a revolver, that is terrible!”

”I hope, my dear sir, you take good care of your money.”

”That I do,” said Stiefel, complacently. ”I carry it in a belt around my waist. That's a good place, hey?”

”I commend your prudence, sir,” said the colonel. ”You are evidently a wise and judicious man.”

”They won't think of looking there, hey?” laughed Stiefel.

”I should say not.”

”You may think what you like, Mr. Stiefel,” said a tall, thin pa.s.senger, who looked like a book peddler, ”but I contend that my money is in a safer place than yours.”

”Indeed, Mr. Parker, I should like to know where you keep it,” said Col.

Warner, pleasantly.

”You can't get at it without taking off my stockings,” said the tall man, looking about him in a self-satisfied manner.

”Very good, 'pon my soul!” said the colonel. ”I really don't know but I shall adopt your hiding place. I am an old traveler, but not too old to adopt new ideas when I meet with good ones.”

”I think you would find it to your interest, Colonel,” said Parker, looking flattered.