Yes, the hiding-place beneath the floor was empty. The deputy-sheriff found it empty. Even Luke Watt’s hungry fingers failed to find anything in it.
“An’ if there was a dollar in it there was twenty thousand,” whispered Watt, in a stunned voice.
“There don’t live another woman in the world would play a trick like that on her man,” said Mr. Wallace. “No matter how bad he was, she wouldn’t play him down like that. It beats anything I ever heard of.”
“Reckon yer right,” replied the storekeeper, listlessly. “Eliza ain’t no ordinary woman. You hadn’t ought to told her yer business with me.”
He sounded like a man talking in his sleep.
“I guess you’re in trouble enough, Luke Watt,” said Young Dan. “Well, as far as I’m concerned, you’re no worse off than if you hadn’t tried to stop me with a gun. That’s forgotten.”
The dazed storekeeper went back to bed; and Archie Wallace supplied a cook and a muscular constable to feed him and hold him until he was in fit health to be removed to the county jail.
On their way through to Dan’l Evans’s farm behind the long-gaited strawberry mare, the deputy-sheriff and Young Dan bought as much food as two good men could pack a day’s journey from Amos Bissing at the Bend. Mr. Bissing was deeply impressed by Young Dan’s company and appearance. He asked a great many questions and received a good many answers—but not a single answer to his questions as to the deputy-sheriff’s reasons for touring the country in Young Dan’s company. He could see easily enough by the manners of the two that their relations were entirely friendly.
When the strawberry mare passed the kitchen windows of the Evans farm, and Young Dan was recognized by every member of the family and Mr. Wallace was recognized by the father, amazement and apprehension flamed in every heart.
“He’s a policeman, I tell ye!” exclaimed Dan’l for the third time in quick succession, flattered by the panicky effect of his words. “He’s the sheriff from Harlow. Young Dan’s been too smart for his own good at last, I cal’late. Them fool books an’ his Tangler brains has tripped him by the heels at last. Wonder what he done?”