Part 6 (2/2)
”Ah--so that's the answer.” The girl's eyes filled with tears.
”Four years--and for the last two, no word. I must find George Taylor.
Perhaps he--”
”Dearie, George Taylor is with d.i.c.k, and the Skinners and Cherokee Bob and Lame Jim Driscoll. They say, too, that at times d.i.c.k rides with Tom Bell's gang.”
”Ah, he tried with all a strong man's power to win a new name for himself--and for you--but Fate was too strong. His false record followed him up and down the state from every idle throat, casting a blight over all he sought to, do. Every sheriff hounded him on. Each unproven crime was laid at his door.”
”But why did he not come to me? Oh, he had my whole heart, and he knew it.”
”He did come to you two years ago, to ask if you would return to Canada with him, hoping that it was too far for tales from California to travel. As soon as he reached San Francisco he was recognized by one of the authorities and 'shown up' by the Vigilante Committee in the Plaza, as they put up all dangerous characters for the police and the people to see.
”And whilst he was there you pa.s.sed, walking with another man, and looked him in the eyes and knew him not. 'Twas that which broke his heart and made him the reckless and brilliant devil that he is today.”
”But--but,” cried the Singer-Lady, recovering from the daze these words had placed upon her, ”I did not pa.s.s. Oh, I should have fallen at his feet--lost to all maidenly reserve--there before the people. It must have been my sister, who had but lately come from Boston and so would not know him,” and she broke into uncontrollable weeping.
”There, child, dry your tears. Try to be brave. You care for him still?”
”Always. I have never ceased to pray for him. If I cannot become his, I shall go lonely to my grave. Tell me everything, kind Mrs. Miller.”
”He robs the stages of the Wells-Fargo box, but lets the pa.s.sengers go free, and he has never been known to take anything from a woman. He says that since all the world is against him, his hand is against the world.
”His den is now at Folsom, they say, but he ranges far afield. He robs the sluices, and the bullion trains, but he does not take horses or mules except to get away with his booty. No cell can hold him. He has escaped from every jail in the northern mines. He has been known to say, 'I shall never rot in a prison as long as a revolver can keep me out.”'
”Oh, would he--”
”He would, indeed, Dearie, for the sake of his family name and the love he bears you. His last big raid was upon George Barstow's Wells-Fargo train from Yreka. They held them up on Trinity Mountain. Eighty thousand dollars in bullion, they got, even with twenty men guarding it.”
Mrs. Miller tiptoed to the window and looked out. Coming back to the girl she whispered, ”The guards are tied to trees, and the gang is waiting for d.i.c.k and Cy Skinner to get back with new mules, as the Wells-Fargo mules all are branded and would give them away, but if he finds out that you are here he may--”
The Singer-Lady sprang to her feet! From the trees behind the house floated a s.n.a.t.c.h of song in a clear baritone.
”When coldness or deceit shall slight the beauty now they prize; When hollow hearts shall wear a mask, 'twill break your own to see. At such a moment I but ask that you'll remember me, you'll--”
By this time the girl was sobbing in d.i.c.k's arms, and the misunderstandings of four years were soon explained.
The Singer-Lady lifted her head at last to the sound of galloping horses. d.i.c.k was looking calmly in their direction. Terror seized her.
”What is that?”
”You must return to the house. They must not see you here.”
She clung to him with the wail of a breaking heart.
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