“My name is one you’ve heard before, Mr. Jasper. I’m Thad Brewster!”
That was almost like a thunderclap to the rascal. It must have brought up before his mind’s eye many things connected with his wretched past. When he had succeeded in digesting it better no doubt he would show signs of anger; he might even think of raising his hand to do the lad injury; because when one has bitterly wronged another he is apt to hate him in the bargain. But just then Jasper was too utterly astonished to even show rage.
“You Thad Brewster?” he cried out, his hand falling to his side from weakness, as he stared into the face of the boy who stood there, and calmly confronted him.
“Yes, and I have come to find my little sister, Pauline, the girl you stole away from my mother many years ago. There’s no use in saying that you didn’t, because I have plenty of proof. Why, anybody could tell from her looks alone that she was a Brewster. And of course you’ll let her go back with me, Mr. Jasper. You must have long ago repented having been so cruel to my poor mother, who died, mostly from grieving after her lost baby. You can go your way, and let Pauline be with me. You will, won’t you?”
Of course Thad was talking in this way for the simple reason that he must say something to hold the attention of the man, because the critical moment was close at hand. And he had really taken the strongest measures possible for riveting the mind of Jasper upon what he was saying. A dozen seconds more, and it would all be over; so the scoutmaster was determined that he would continue to grip Jasper’s mind for that length of time.
The man laughed, now, a little hoarsely.
“Of all the nerve I ever met up with, you take the premium!” he remarked, with a vein of sarcasm in his voice. “I guess you are a Brewster, all right, and a chip of the old block in the bargain. But you’re off your reckoning if you think I’m going to let that little girl get away from me. Why, I’m just beginning to care for her; and in some distant country she’ll make me a fine, dutiful daughter for my old age. And it’ll be a sweet morsel for me to roll under my tongue, having a child of Henry Brewster to wait on me!”
“Then she is my sister; you don’t try to deny that, do you?” demanded the boy, like a flash.
“Why should I, when it adds to my pleasure to see you hate to lose her?” answered the other; and then beginning to scowl savagely he went on to say while he waved his deadly weapon to and fro: “however you came over here, you’re not going back again in a hurry, to betray me to my enemies. I’ll just tie you up, neck and crop, and perhaps leave you here, monarch of all you survey, when Polly and myself make up our minds to skip out. Don’t move a finger now, boy, or it will be the worse for you!”
“Oh! I’ve got both hands held up, as you see; and as there’s all of twenty feet between us, why I couldn’t do anything even if I wanted to. But would money induce you to let me take my sister away with me? You always liked money, Mr. Jasper; and if you saw a chance to make twenty thousand dollars perhaps you’d change your mind, and go off without Polly. Huh! I guess you will, anyway. Whoop! hold him tight, Tom Smith; and here’s helping you if you need it!”