“Not without old P. D.’s head,” said Dick. “It is most valuable to me. I shall ship it to Washington at the earliest opportunity. I’ll carry it if it is too heavy for you.”
“Heavy! Nonsense! What am I here for?” replied Doctor Dan. He picked up the head, which, with the neck, must have weighed at least forty pounds, and walked off down the shore, leaving Dick and Clara to follow as they pleased.
“I’m afraid of that man,” said Clara. “Oh, Dick, it is terrible to hear my father spoken of so, and yet——”
Clara paused. Dick said nothing. He was beginning to think that Mr. Eglinton must be a pretty bad man.
“And yet,” continued Clara, after a moment, “I am afraid my father is not a very good man. Oh, Dick, I hate to say it, but after what you have done for me I ought to tell you—to warn you. Martin Mudd has had dealings with my father. On that very night when he tried to kill you in Washington he had just left our house and—and—Dick, do look out for yourself. Don’t go with me to the Gold Queen mine on any account.”
“I’m not afraid,” replied Dick, “but I am going to do just as you say, Clara.”
“If my father has robbed you of what rightfully belongs to you he shall make it good!” cried Clara, her eyes flashing. “Leave it to me, Dick. I am the only one in the world who has any influence with him.”
“If he had robbed me of a million and it was going to do you harm to try to get it back again I would not make a move,” whispered Dick.
Clara turned away, her face suffused with blushes.
Arm in arm they walked along the shore.