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Having replaced them, and cast a quick glance at Meschines, he withdrew. The Southern Pacific Railway passes, today, not far from the site of General Trednoke's ranch. But the events now to be narrated occurred some years before the era of transcontinental railroads: they were in the air, but not yet bolted down to the earth.
"In a few minutes, general," the other replied. "Pablo has just come in sight over the hill. There were several errands." "Muy buen! I was going to say, Meschines, her father and mother left the girl poor, and she, being, apparently, clever and energetic, took to " "I know!" the professor interrupted. "They all do it, when they are clever and energetic, and that's the end of them!
We shall meet again at night. I have other business on hand now. Meschines," he added to one of his attendants, "go with Sir Thomas to the skiff."
Meanwhile, the mysterious figure continued its onward career; and Freeman once more levelled his weapon, when a voice, which gave him such a start of surprise as well-nigh caused him to pull the trigger for sheer lack of self-command, called out, "Why, you abominable young villain! What the mischief do you mean? Do you want to be hanged?" "Professor Meschines!" faltered Freeman.
You look so natural, sitting there, Meschines, that I forget it's thirty years since we met, and that all the significant events of my life have happened in that time, the Mexican war, my marriage, and the rest of it! I have been a widower ten years." "And I've been a bachelor for over sixty!" said Meschines, with a queer expression. "Your wife was Spanish, was she not?"
"Mamma has often told me the story, and that the Trednoke boy went to West Point, and distinguished himself in the Mexican war, and married a Mexican woman, and the Meschines boy became a professor in Yale College. And now I am going to see one of them, and you to see the other. Isn't that a coincidence?" "The first of a long series, I trust. Is this West-Pointer a permanent settler here?"
"There's Kamaiakan, who's dead; and Miriam Trednoke, who has been out of her mind, but she's got over it now, I guess; and I, Harvey Freeman." "My daughter!" exclaimed General Trednoke. "My boy!" cried Professor Meschines. "Well, thank God we've found you, and that some of you are alive, at any rate!"
"I meant to tell you on my return. I know I don't appear desirable as a son-in-law. But I came here on a commission " "Meschines and I have talked it all over," the general said. "When an old West-Pointer and a professor of physics get together, they are sometimes able to put two and two together.
But such of the gold-work as remained showed the jewels to be of ancient Aztecan origin. There was value enough in the box to buy and stock a dozen ranches as big as the general's, and leave heirlooms enough to decorate a family larger than that of the most fruitful of the ancient patriarchs. "I call that quite a respectable dowry," remarked Meschines.
Now, I don't know how you gentlemen feel, but it occurred to me that it might be interesting to make up a little party of exploration to-morrow. Would you like to try it, Meschines?" "To be sure I should!" the professor replied. "I imagine I can stand as much of the desert as you can! And I want to catch a sidewinder." "Good! And you, Mr. Freeman?" "It would suit me exactly," said the latter.
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