After Merriwell had left the golf links with Burke and Clancy, Professor Borrodaile had appeared excitedly and announced the robbery of the stage. Instantly, Colonel Hawtrey had thought of Lenning’s mysterious absence from the mine, and, almost as quickly, he had settled it to his own satisfaction that Lenning must have had a hand in the robbery.
So far from making the colonel contented on the score of turning a deaf ear to Merriwell’s plea for Lenning, the information about the robbery and the colonel’s deductions merely disquieted him the more.
In the afternoon Colonel Hawtrey went back to his home in Gold Hill. Here he came directly under the influence of his other nephew, Ellis Darrel.
Darrel, at one time, had occupied a position almost identical with Lenning’s at that moment. There was this difference, however, that Darrel’s hands were clean of any crooked work. He had been plotted against, and the colonel had cast him off unjustly.
Merriwell, believing in Darrel, had helped him to regain his place in his uncle’s regard. And now Darrel, perhaps influenced by Merriwell’s example, was trying to befriend his half brother, Lenning.
The colonel and Darrel had had many talks regarding Lenning. In these interviews Darrel had tried to patch up the differences between the colonel and Jode. In this he had no success whatever. The colonel had finally forbidden Darrel to mention Lenning’s name.
Back from his game with Mr. Bradlaugh, and thoroughly ill-humored because of his disturbing thoughts about Lenning, the colonel repaired to his study. Here Darrel met him and attempted to broach the forbidden subject of his half brother.
“That will do, Ellis!” cried the colonel sharply. “I want no more of your views on the subject of Jode. He has proved himself a crook and a coward—two classes of people I have no use for whatever.”
“I am only asking you to give him a chance, Uncle Alvah,” pleaded Darrel.
“Merriwell seems to be taking good care of Jode. As for a chance, why, the young scoundrel will have to make his own chances for himself. If he could only prove that he had a little courage, a little honesty. I might feel differently toward him. But he’s a coward, he has a yellow streak—and that makes him a disgrace to the family.”