“And will you promise that you’ll never come back and make any more demands upon me?”
“Not much! I’ve struck a bonanza, and I’m going to work it as long as the lead holds out. I know what you are thinking of, young man; but you’ll find that I’m nobody’s fool. Now, remember, I shall be on hand to-morrow morning, and I want to find you here with that money.”
Sam disappeared, and Arthur resumed his wanderings about the grove. He was frightened almost out of his senses, and wished from the bottom of his heart that he had never seen or heard of his companion in guilt. He even went further than that, and wished that his uncle had given his property into the keeping of somebody else, and that he and his father were back in Bolton, where they came from. What in the world could he say that would induce his cousin’s guardian to give him the five thousand dollars that Sam demanded as hush-money? He knew very well that he couldn’t get it; and even if he did, what good would it do him?
There was evil coming upon him; he was sure of it. And this money would only postpone it for a little while. It would not avert it, for Sam had said very plainly that he was not going to be satisfied with the amount he had named—that he intended to make demands as often as he felt like it.
Arthur grew almost wild when he recalled the man’s words. He wrung his hands, and even quickened his steps to a run, as if he hoped to leave his haunting fears behind him.
“There is only one thing I can do,” said he to himself, after he had bestowed as much thought upon the situation as the perturbed state of his mind would permit. “I must get away from here. Father must give me money enough to take me back to Bolton. I say must do it, or I shall help myself to what I need. There goes Mr. Evans, and father is probably alone in the office. If he is, I will settle this matter with him before I am an hour older.”
So saying, Arthur wiped the big drops of perspiration from his face, put on as bold a front as he could, and started toward the ranch. A few of the herdsmen had dispersed to their work, but those who remained scowled at him so savagely as he passed that Arthur made all haste to get into the hall out of their sight.
CHAPTER XXVI.
ARTHUR TRIES TO HELP HIMSELF.
Arthur found his father alone in the office, pacing the floor, with his hands in his pockets, and a look of triumph and exultation on his face; but, when his son entered, he sank into the nearest chair, and tried to appear very sorrowful, indeed.
“That was a sad event, Arthur,” said he, with a long-drawn sigh—“a very sad event. I don’t wonder that you look frightened. I was frightened myself, and so was everybody else; but we have the satisfaction of knowing that we used our utmost endeavors to save him.”