“I am Arthur Howard,” said the youth, as soon as they were out of earshot of the man in the kitchen.
“So I supposed. You and your father have come here to take charge of the ranch, haven’t you? Well, I will tell you, for your satisfaction, that you are not wanted here.”
“I know it! It has been made very plain to me since my arrival, about three hours ago. But I don’t see how these men are going to help themselves. The estate is willed to my father, to be held in trust until my cousin Bob is twenty-one years of age, and we are going to stay and run things to suit ourselves—that’s all there is about that! You are not wanted here, either, if you only knew it. Bob says you shan’t have employment on the ranch.”
“He does, does he?” said Sam, his eyes flashing with anger. “He wants to be careful. If he knows when he is well off, he will have little to say about me. I’ll pitch him into the river and let the current take him down to the Lost Canyon, the first thing he knows.”
“He told Mr. Jacobs, in my hearing, that he wouldn’t have any such man as you on the place,” declared Arthur. “He said that the fact that his father wasn’t here to drive you away, wouldn’t make any difference. He doesn’t want you around.”
Sam looked mad, but said nothing.
“But neither Bob nor Mr. Jacobs has a word to say in regard to the way this ranch shall be conducted,” added Arthur. “My father is the head man, now, and they will find that he knows how to assert his authority, too. You look like a good fellow, and I don’t see why you shouldn’t stay here if you want to.”
“I am good enough to those who treat me well,” answered Sam. “I stand by those who use me right, and serve them in any way I can, but anybody who riles me wants to give me plenty of elbow-room. Your father would step into quite a nice little property if Bob was only out of the way, wouldn’t he?” added Sam, abruptly.
This was the beginning of a long conversation between these two worthies; but we need not stop to repeat it, for the results of it will speedily be developed. It will be enough to say that when the conference was ended, Sam walked off with the assurance that he should have employment on the ranch as long as he cared to stay there, while Arthur went into the house and made his way to his room, taking with him a face that was pale with excitement and alarm.
“I didn’t suggest it,” thought he, laying his hand on his heart, which thumped loudly against his ribs. “Sam proposed it himself. He takes all the risk. But if it should ever be found out—great Scott! I wish I hadn’t given my consent to it.”