Part 19 (1/2)
”A led horse. Why, he must have forgotten, if he ever knew, that I've my own Nimrod here, that Mrs. Trent insisted upon my accepting, when I left Sobrante before. The horse must go with me, of course, and I flatter myself I can pick up a bit of instruction on riding among those fine 'boys' of the little captain's. I'll send a return message--no, I won't, either. I'll trust to luck and surprise them.
Now to get ready.”
A feeling that he was going ”home” possessed the young man, and all his simple preparations strengthened rather than weakened him.
Activity was his habit, and an hour before the train left the city he had completed his personal arrangements with his office, his bank and his landlord. He had paid his nurse the same salary she would have received had he required her services for the fortnight, as expected, and was ready for what came next.
”I feel as if I were entering upon a new life, instead of taking a rest cure,” he remarked to Mr. Hale, when that gentleman met him at the station, and explained that a Christmas invitation had come for himself, also. ”And I say we'll make it the jolliest holiday those people down there ever knew. I sent a letter to your address, after I 'phoned, and made out a list of things I'd like you to see to.
Presents and so on; and I'll write as soon as I get there and let you know what's up with the sharpshooter. Some trouble, of course, but reckon it can't be much. Ha! we're off. Good-by. Forget nothing, add as much as you please to my list and send the bills to me. Good-by.”
The train rolled noiselessly away from the long platform, and the reporter for the Lancet stowed himself comfortably away on his cus.h.i.+ons and slept as he had not slept before since this nervous illness attacked him. Not once did he awake, till the conductor touched him on the shoulder, and stated:
”End of the line, sir. Time to leave.”
Ninian sat up and shook himself, still feeling a bit dazed from his heavy slumber, and had scarcely realized the fact of his arrival before a man limped into the car and slapped him on the shoulder.
”Well done, lad. Welcome to Sobrante!”
”h.e.l.lo, Mr. Mars.h.!.+ You here? Sobrante? I thought----”
”Same thing. This is Marion; as near as we can get to our place on the rails. Remember, don't you? Been sick, eh? You look rather peaked and I 'low I'd ought----”
”No apologies. Here I am, and am not ill now. Only been a little overworked; and your telegram, as well as Miss Jessica's letter, came in the nick of time. Not an hour after the doctor had ordered this very medicine of change and recreation.”
Ephraim looked sharply at his guest and reflected:
”What our business needs is a clear head and a strong body, not an overtaxed man, as this 'pears to be. Well, sick or well, I hope he can see through some of our muddles, if not all; and half a loaf is better than no bread.” Then he gathered the traveler's belongings, and remarked: ”I told Aleck to have a good supper ready. It's a fine night and I thought we'd ride home afterwards. Unless----”
They left the car and Ninian answered the other's unspoken suggestion:
”No, I don't want to stay all night, good as Janet's beds are. I've had a delicious sleep and feel like another man from this morning.
h.e.l.lo! they've taken Nimrod out already, and evidently are waiting for orders. I declare, the handsome beast looks as if he recognized this place and was as glad to get back to it as I am.”
Old ”Forty-niner” left his guest's side and hurried to the spot where a trainman held the spirited animal, stroking its neck and speaking soothingly to it, to calm its excitement; and no sooner had the ranchman's hand supplanted the trainman's than Nimrod ceased to prance, and with a little final s.h.i.+ver, stood stock-still, uttering a low whinny of delight.
”That's the talk, you beauty! Welcome home, old boy! Well, well, well!
if you ain't a sight to cure the headache! Yes, yes; it's all right.
This is Marion. We've got to stop at Aleck's first. Remember Aleck?
Remember Janet and her sugar? Well, well, well!”
Ninian approached, amazed and incredulous, inquiring:
”Think that creature knows what you're saying?”
”Forty-niner” turned upon the questioner indignantly.
”That's a fool sort of question for a smart man to ask! 'Think' he knows? No. There isn't any 'thinking' in this. I know he knows, and I know he's just as glad to set foot on his mother earth, here in Marion, as I was t'other day when I stepped off this same train--or its mate of the morning. I wish all the men in the world were half as brainy as he is. And I tell you what, stranger, you couldn't have done a thing would make your own welcome so sure as fetching Nimrod with you. If you'd left him behind some of us would have had our own opinion. Though I, for one, didn't know he was yours till this very morning.”
”And the led horse you spoke about?”