Part 14 (1/2)
”I know better than that. You have plenty more, but I will be satisfied with this. Remember, I am your sister's son.”
”I don't care if you are,” said the old man, doggedly.
”And you owe me some help. You'll never miss it. Now make up your mind to give me this money, and I'll go away and leave you in peace.”
”Never!” exclaimed Paul, struggling hard to free himself.
”You won't!”
His uncle repeated the emphatic refusal.
”Then I shall have to put it out of your power to carry out your threat.”
He took his uncle up in his strong arms, and moved toward the stairs.
”Are you going to murder me?” asked Paul, in mortal fear.
”You will find out what I am going to do,” said Ben, grimly.
He carried his uncle upstairs, and, possessing himself of a clothesline in one corner of the kitchen, proceeded to tie him hand and foot, despite his feeble opposition.
”There,” said he, when his uncle lay before him utterly helpless, ”I think that disposes of you for a while. Now for the gold.”
Leaving him on the floor, he again descended the cellar stairs, and began to gather up the gold coins, which had been scattered about the floor at the time of Paul's unexpected attack.
The old man groaned in spirit as he found himself about to be robbed, and utterly helpless to resist the outrage. But help was near at hand, though he knew it not. Robert Rushton had thought more than once of his unknown pa.s.senger of the day before, and the particular inquiries he made concerning Paul Nichols and his money. Ben Haley had impressed him far from favorably, and the more he called to mind his appearance, the more he feared that he meditated some dishonest designs upon Paul. So the next morning, in order to satisfy his mind that all was right, he rowed across to the same place where he had landed Ben, and fastening his boat, went up to the farmhouse. He reached it just as Ben, having secured the old man, had gone back into the cellar to gather up the gold.
Robert looked into the window, and, to his surprise, saw the old farmer lying bound hand and foot. He quickly leaped in, and asked:
”What is the matter? Who has done this?”
”Hus.h.!.+” said the old man, ”he'll hear you.”
”Who do you mean?”
”My nephew.”
”Where is he?”
”Down cellar. He's tied me here, and is stealing all my gold.”
”What shall I do? Can I help you?”
”Cut the ropes first.”
Robert drew a jackknife from his pocket, and did as he was bidden.
”Now,” said Paul, rising with a sigh of relief from his constrained position, ”while I bolt the cellar door, you go upstairs, and in the closet of the room over this you will find a gun. It is loaded. Bring it down.”
Robert hurried upstairs, and quickly returned with the weapon.