Part 29 (1/2)
Niven said the place was not insured. They were unable to do anything. I see no need to describe the fire. The house was past saving; but the ranchers, with the prisoner among them, broke into the burning stable to bring out the horses, which had been overlooked, and found the hired man, Wilkins, partly suffocated in a stall. He was badly injured, but bore out the owner's statement that lamps and stove were safe when they retired.
”I proceeded to question the spectators. Knew them all as men of good character, and as they had newly ridden in, saw no reason to suspect more than one in case the fire was not accidental. Asked Niven whom he first met, and he said it was the prisoner, shortly after the fire broke out. Stated he met him slipping through the shadow of a shed, and the prisoner refused to a.s.sist him. Was not surprised at this, knowing the prisoner bore Niven little goodwill since the latter bought his property. Had heard him threaten him and another man supposed to be connected with him in the purchase of Gaspard's Trail.”
”What reason have you to infer that any other man was concerned in the purchase of Gaspard's Trail?” asked the prosecutor; and Mackay answered indifferently:
”It was just popular opinion that he was finding Niven the money.”
”We need not trouble about popular opinion,” said the lawyer somewhat hurriedly. ”We will now proceed to the testimony of the hired man, Thomas Wilkins.”
Thomas Wilkins was called for several times, but failed to present himself, and a trooper who hurried out of court came back with the tidings that he had borrowed a horse at the hotel and ridden out on the prairie an hour ago. Since then n.o.body had seen him.
The Crown prosecutor fidgeted, the judge frowned, and there was a whispering in the court, until the former rose up: ”As Wilkins is one of my princ.i.p.al witnesses, I must suggest an adjournment.”
It cost me an effort to repress an exclamation. I had already been kept long enough in suspense, and suspecting that Wilkins did not mean to return, knew that a lengthened adjournment would be almost equally as disastrous as a sentence.
”Have you no information whatever as to why he has absented himself?”
asked the judge. Receiving a negative answer, he turned towards the trooper: ”Exactly what did you hear at the hotel?”
”Very little, sir,” was the answer. ”He didn't tell anybody where he was going, but just rode out. The hotelkeeper said he guessed Wilkins had something on his mind by the way he kicked things about last night.”
”It will be the business of the police to find him as speedily as possible. In the meantime, I can only adjourn the case until they do, unless the prisoner's representative proceeds with the examination of witnesses,” said the judge.
Dixon was on his feet in a moment. ”With the exception of Sergeant Mackay and the witness Niven, who will be further required by my legal friend, I do not purpose to trouble the witnesses,” he said. ”While I can urge no reasonable objection to the adjournment, it is necessary to point out that it will inflict a grievous injury on one whom I have every hope of showing is a wholly innocent man. It is well known that this is the one time of the year when the prairie rancher's energies are taxed to the utmost, and the loss of even a few days now may entail the loss of the harvest or the ruin of the stock. My client has also suffered considerably from being brought here to answer what I cannot help describing as an unwarranted charge, and it is only reasonable that bail should be allowed.”
”Is anyone willing to offer security?” asked the judge.
There was a few moments' silence, and then a hum of subdued voices as a man rose up; while I could scarcely believe my eyes when I saw it was Boone. In spite of the slight change in his appearance, he must have been aware that he was running a serious risk, for his former holding lay almost within a day's journey. I could also see that some of the spectators started as they recognized him.
”I shall be glad to offer security for the prisoner's reappearance, so far as my means will serve,” he said.
”You are a citizen of this place, or have some local standing?” asked the judge.
Boone answered carelessly: ”I can hardly claim so much; but a good many people know me further west, and I am prepared to submit my bank-book as a guarantee.”
He had scarcely finished, when another man I had not noticed earlier stood up in turn. ”I am authorized by Carson Haldane, of Bonaventure, to offer bail to any extent desired.”
The judge beckoned both of them to sit down again, and called up a commissioned police officer and Sergeant Mackay. Then I felt slightly hopeful, guessing that a good deal depended on Mackay's opinion. The others drew aside, and my heart throbbed fast with the suspense until the judge announced his decision.
”As the charge is a serious one, and the police hope to find the missing witness very shortly, I must, in the meantime, refuse to allow bail.”
I had grown used to the crus.h.i.+ng disappointment which follows short-lived hope; but the shock was hard to meet. It seemed only too probable that Lane or his emissaries had spirited Wilkins away, and would not produce him until it was too late to save my crop. Still, there was no help for it, and I followed the officer who led me back to my quarters with the best air of stolidity I could a.s.sume.
”What did you think of it?” asked Dixon, who came in presently with a smile on his face; and I answered ruefully: ”The less said the better.
It strikes me as the beginning of the final catastrophe, and if Wilkins substantiates the finding of the match-box, conviction must follow. What is the usual term of detention for such offenses?”
”You needn't worry about that,” was the cheerful answer. ”Things are going just about as well as they could. There'll be a second adjournment, and then perhaps another.”
”And I must lie here indefinitely while my crops and cattle go to ruin!