United States or San Marino ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
An' I reckon I've been here about six days, and another would have finished me." Barkhouse's "six days" estimate provoked a smile. "If you could get paid on your time reckoning," remarked Owens in a humorous tone, "you'd be well off, Bob. 'Twas night before last you got took in." Barkhouse looked incredulous, but I nodded my support of Owens' remarkable statement.
"Are any of them killed?" she asked in solicitous tones. "No. Porter is pretty badly hurt. We got him down from Livermore to- day. He was in the jail there, with Abrams and Brown. We gave bail for them, and all the men are back at the Montgomery Street place. Barkhouse is getting on all right, and there are a few bruises and cuts scattered around in my flock.
We had made the run from Niles without incident, and had left the engine on a siding at Brooklyn without being observed. If the railroad company still has curiosity, after all these years, to know how that engine got from Niles to Brooklyn, I trust that the words I have just written may be taken as an explanation and apology. "Where's Barkhouse?"
"It's all right," said Barkhouse. "There's a dozen men in the bar-room, and I'm not sure there ain't some of the hounds amongst them. But you're to go in the side door, and right up stairs." "Two of you may keep at the foot of the stairs, just inside the door," I said. "You may stand watch outside, Barkhouse."
Something I had seen or known before was vaguely suggested. I groped in the obscurity for a moment, vainly reaching for the phantom that danced just beyond the grasp of my mental fingers. There was no time to lose in speculating, and I turned to the work that pressed before us. But as I thrust the papers into my pocket to resume the search for Barkhouse, the elusive memory flashed on me.
Porter and Barkhouse ambled out, and Mother Borton gave her chair a hitch that brought us face to face. "You ain't so bad off here," she said, looking around critically. "Can any one git in them winders?" I explained that the west window might be entered from the rear stairway by the aid of the heavy shutter, if it were swung back and the window were open.
I had marveled at her calm amid the excited talk of those about her, but I saw now that it was forced by an effort of her will. She was sadly shaken. "Take my arm," I said. "Mr. Corson will lead the way." I signed to Porter to go ahead and to Barkhouse and Wainwright to follow me. "It's very close here."
Trent, who was still weak from his wound, I put in charge of the home-guard, with Owens, Phillips and Larson as his companions, and gave instructions to look for Barkhouse, in case he did not return. Wainright I took with me, and hailing a hack drove to the Palace Hotel. There was a rattle of wagons and a bustle of departing guests as we drove into the courtyard of the famous hostelry.
"That's right! you'll be yourself in a jiffy." Barkhouse was soon propped up on the lounge in the guard-room, and with a few sips of whisky and a fresh bandage began to look like a more hopeful case. "'Twas a nasty cut," said one of the men sympathetically. "How did you get it?" I asked. "I don't rightly know," said Barkhouse faintly. "'Twas the night you went to Mother Borton's last week.
But they thought I had told ye." "Then I have two reasons instead of one for holding to my task," I said solemnly. "I have two friends to avenge." "You'll make the third yourself," groaned Mother Borton, "unless they put a knife into Barkhouse, first, and then you'll be the fourth belike." "Barkhouse do you know where he is?" "He's in the Den on Davis Street, you know.
Word Of The Day