Part 53 (1/2)
”My friend,” said Mr. Grey, ”I will stay with you, and send the boy home.”
”I won't trust him,” said Hugh, who had learned his lesson well.
”Besides, he cannot get the money as well as you.”
”There seems no help for it, Gilbert,” said James Grey, turning to his nephew. ”He insists upon retaining you, but it shall not be for long. I will at once obtain the money, and come back and release you. He is armed, and we are not. We cannot resist him.”
”If you think it best,” said Gilbert.
”I am afraid there is no other way. My friend, suppose I give you my promise to come back, will you excuse this young man from stopping?”
”No!” said Hugh, shortly.
”Say no more,” said Gilbert. ”I will remain.”
He jumped lightly from the chaise, and Hugh released his hold of the bridle.
”When shall you be back?” he asked.
”At three o'clock this afternoon.”
”I will be on hand with the boy.”
”Keep up your courage, Gilbert,” said Mr. Grey, as he drove away.
Out of sight, a smile of triumph overspread his face.
”I didn't think Hugh would do his part so well,” he soliloquized.
”Really he is quite an actor. So I am rid of my troublesome responsibility at last. I hope never again to set eyes upon him.”
On reaching home he stated that Gilbert had suddenly received a telegram summoning him to St. Louis; that he had carried him to a landing-place for the river boats, and agreed to dispatch his luggage to the Planters' House in that city by express. To keep up appearances he did so dispose of Gilbert's carpet-bag, directing it to
”GILBERT GREY, Planters' House, St. Louis, Mo.”
”'Pears like he left mighty suddint,” said Pompey.
”Yes; he has a friend very sick in St. Louis,” explained Mr. Grey.
”I'm sorry he's gone,” said John, who suspected nothing. ”He was a right fine lad, and he managed Bucephalus beautiful.”
Jasper said nothing, but wondered whether Gilbert had suffered violence at his father's hands.
CHAPTER x.x.xVI.
HUGH BETRAYS HIS PRINc.i.p.aL.
”Follow me!” said Hugh Trimble to Gilbert.