CHAPTER XXIII.
NEW RICHES PROMISED.
When a week had passed Frank and his friends began to feel that alltheir troubles were over, for the time being, at least. Old JoeCrowfoot, who had been scouting in the vicinity, reported that he foundno signs of probable marauders and himself settled down contentedly tosmoke and loaf in the warm sunshine of the valley. With Dick and Felicianear, where he could watch them occasionally or hear their voices, thepeaceful happiness of the old fellow seemed complete.
Cap'n Wiley likewise loafed to his heart's content And if ever a personcould make a whole-souled and hearty success of loafing it was thecap'n. He became so friendly with Crowfoot that old Joe even permittedhim sometimes to smoke his pipe.
One beautiful morning the entire party was gathered in front ofMerriwell's cabin talking things over.
"There seems nothing now, Frank, to prevent us from securing miners andopening up this new claim," said Hodge. "Macklyn Morgan seems to havedisappeared off the face of the earth."
"Perhaps he has learned that it is dangerous for a man like him toattempt dealing with the ruffians of this part of the country," put inDick. "It seems certain now that he was actually carried into captivityby the very gang he employed to seize these mines."
"But he will get free all right," declared Frank. "He will turn up againsometime."
"If they don't kill him any," said Buckhart.
"They won't do that," asserted Merriwell. "They can make nothing out ofhim in that fashion; but they might make a good thing by forcing him topay a large sum for his liberty."
"Well, now that everything seems all right here, Frank," said Dick, "Isuppose Brad and I will have to light out for the East and old Fardale."
"Waugh! That certain is right!" exclaimed the Texan. "We must be onhand, pard, when Fardale gets into gear for baseball this spring."
"Baseball!" cried Wiley, giving a great start. "Why, that word thrillsmy palpitating bosom. Baseball! Why, I will be in great shape for thegame this season! My arm is like iron. Never had such a fine arm on mebefore. Speed! Why, I will put 'um over the plate like peas! Curves!Why, my curves will paralyze 'um this year!"
"Ugh!" grunted old Joe. "Wind-in-the-head blow a heap. Him talk a lotwith him jaw. Mebbe him jaw git tired sometime."
"Look here, Joseph," expostulated Wiley, "I don't like sarcasm. If Ididn't love you as a brother, I might resent it."
"Great horn spoon!" cried Buckhart, scratching vigorously. "These fleasare the biggest and worst I ever saw. You hear me murmur!"
"What, these?" squealed Wiley, in derision. "Why, these little creaturesare nothing at all--nothing at all. They just tickle a fellow up a bit.Fleas! Say, mates, you should have seen the fleas I have beheld in mytempestuous career. You should have seen the fleas I met up with in theheart of darkest Africa. Those were the real thing. Don't 'spose I evertold you about those fleas?"
And he told them a long and wonderful story about African fleas.
"Ugh!" grunted the old Indian, when Wiley had finished."Wind-in-the-head biggest blame liar old Joe ebber see."
Some days later, with the exception of Hodge and Crowfoot, Frank and therest of his party arrived in Prescott. Hodge and the aged redskin wereleft, together with one of Pete Curry's men, to guard the valley after afashion. Besides going to Prescott for the purpose of seeing his brotherand Buckhart off, Frank had several other objects in view. With him hebrought considerable ore, taken from the quartz vein they had located inthe valley, and also a small leather pouch that was nearly filled withdull yellow grains and particles washed from the placer mine. With thesespecimens Frank proceeded direct to an assayer, who was instructed tomake an assay and give a report.
Following this, Frank set about picking up some genuine miners who knewtheir business and who could be relied on. It was his purpose to keep afew men at work on the claims while he completed the plans talked overby himself and Hodge and arrange for the transportation to the valley ofsuch machinery as they needed to work the mines. As far as the placerwas concerned, this was not such a difficult problem. With the quartzmine, however, it was quite a serious matter, as the valley was far fromany railroad and extremely difficult of access.
Frank knew very well that it would cost a big sum of money to beginpractical operations on the quartz claim, and already, for a young manof his years, he had his hands pretty full. Hodge, however, had beenenthusiastic, and Merry felt that Bart would, with the greatestreadiness and satisfaction, remain where he could oversee everything andcarry all plans out successfully.
Merry felt that he was greatly indebted to Wiley, and he saw that thesailor had one of the best rooms in the best hotel of Prescott and wasprovided with every comfort the house could afford. This was not theonly way in which Frank intended to reward the captain.
Wiley himself was somewhat "sore" because he had declined to accompanyFrank and Bart at the time they had returned to the valley andsuccessfully located Benson Clark's lost mines.
"'Tis ever thus," he sighed wearily, when the matter was spoken of. "Iwill bet eleventeen thousand dollars that I have lost more than a barrelof good opportunities to become rotten with wealth during my sinuouscareer. Not that I haven't felt the salubrious touch of real money to anextensive extent, for sometimes I have been so loaded down with it thatit rattled out of my clothes every step I took. When I saunteredcarelessly along the street in days past I have shed doubloons, andpicaroons, and silver shekels at every step, and I have often beenfollowed by a tumultuous throng, who fought among themselves over thecoin that rained from my radiant person. Still to-day here I am broke,busted, while the world jogs on just the same, and nobody seems to carea ripityrap. Excuse these few lamentations and wails of woe. By and by Iwill take a little medicine for my nerves and feel a great deal better."
"Don't worry over it, Wiley," said Frank, laughing. "It will all comeout in the wash. I don't think you will die in the poorhouse."
"Not on your tintype!" cried the sailor. "I propose to shuffle off thismortal coil in a palace."
"Wiley," cried Frank, "I believe you would joke in the face of old Deathhimself!"
"Why not? I regard life as a joke, and I don't propose to show the whitefeather when my time comes. I will have no mourning at my funeral. Ipropose to have my funeral the gayest one on record. Everybody shalldress in their best, and the band shall play quicksteps and ragtime onthe way to the silent tomb. And then I shall warn them in advance to becareful, if they want to finish the job, not to pass a baseball groundwhere a game is going on, for just as sure as such a thing happened I'llkick off the lid, rise up, and prance out onto the diamond and git intothe game."
"Don't you worry about what will become of you, cap'n," advised Merry."For all that you failed to stick by us in relocating those claims, Ifancy we shall be able to make some provisions for you."
"That's charity!" shouted Wiley. "I will have none of it! I want you tounderstand that little Walter is well able to hustle for himself andreap his daily bread. Not even my best friend can make me a pauper bygiving me alms."
"Oh, all right, my obstinate young tar," smiled Merry. "Have your ownway. Go your own course."
"Of course, of course," nodded Wiley. "I always have, and I always will.Now leave me to my brooding thoughts, and I will evolve some sort of ascheme to make a few million dollars before sundown."
Wiley's schemes, however, did not seem to pan out, although his brainwas full of them, and he had a new one every day, and sometimes a newone every hour of the day. Knowing they were soon to be separated again,Dick and Felicia spent much of their time together. It was Merriwell'splan, of which he had spoken, to take Felicia to Denver and find her ahome there where she could attend school.
The assay of the quartz Merry had brought to Prescott showed that themine was marvelously rich. Beyond question it would prove a good thing,for all of the great expense that must be entailed in working it. On theday following the report of the assayer, Merry was writing letters inthe little room
of the hotel provided for such use when a man entered,approached him, and addressed him.
"Excuse me," said this man, who was middle-aged and looked like abusiness man from the ground up. "I suppose you are Mr. FrankMerriwell?"
"That's my name."
"Well, my name is Kensington--Thomas Kensington. Perhaps you have notheard of me?"
"On the contrary, I have heard of you, Mr. Kensington. I believe youhave a mine in this vicinity?"
"Yes, and another in Colorado. I hear that you have lately located apromising quartz claim. I understand that the assay indicates it is avaluable find."
"Perhaps that's right," admitted Merry; "but I am at a loss just how youacquired the information."
"My eyes and ears are open for such things. I am in Prescott to have alittle assaying done myself, and I happened, by the merest chance, tohear Mr. Given, the assayist, speaking with an assistant about theresult of his investigation of your specimens. You understand that itwas barely a chance."
"I presume so," said Merry. "I don't suppose that Given would talk ofsuch matters publicly."
"And he did not, sir--he did not. I assure you of that. I have alsolearned, Mr. Merriwell, that you have other mines?"
"Yes, sir."
"And this new claim of yours is inconveniently located at a distancefrom any railway town?"
"That is correct."
"Now, I am a man of business, Mr. Merriwell, and if you care to have medo so, I would like to investigate your property with the possibility ofpurchasing this new mine of yours."
Frank was somewhat surprised.
"I am not at all certain, Mr. Kensington, that I wish to sell. Besidesthat, I have a partner who would have to be consulted in the matter."
"But we might talk it over, sir--we might talk it over. Are you willingto do so?"
"I have no objections to that."
Kensington then drew up a chair and sat down close by the desk at whichMerry had been writing.
"If I were to make you an offer for your property, on being satisfiedwith it as something I want," he said, "would you consider it?"
"It's not impossible. But you must remember that my partner is to beconsulted in the matter."
"Of course, of course."
"He might not care to sell. In that case I can do nothing."
"You might use your influence."
Frank shook his head.
"I wouldn't think of that, sir. I would leave the question entirely toHodge, and he could do as he pleased."
"Do you fancy that there is a possibility that he might be induced tosell in case the offer seemed an advantageous one?"
"Yes, I think it possible."
"Good!" nodded Kensington. "That being the case, we can discuss thematter further. Do you mind showing me the report of the assayer?"
"Not at all. Here it is."
Merry took the paper from his pocket and handed it to Kensington, whoglanced over the figures and statements, lifted his eyebrows slightly,puckered his lips, and whistled softly.
"Do you mean to tell me, Mr. Merriwell, that this assay was made from anaverage lot of quartz from your mine, or was it from specially chosenspecimens?"
"Mr. Kensington, I had this assay made for myself, and not for thepublic. I had it made in order that I might find out just how valuablethe mine is. That being the case, you can understand that I would not befoolish enough to pick what appeared to be the richest ore. On thecontrary, sir, I took it as it came."
Again Kensington whistled softly, his eyes once more surveying thefigures.
"How far is this mine from the nearest railroad point?"
"Just about one hundred miles."
"And in a difficult country as to access?"
"Decidedly so," was Merry's frank answer.
"It will cost a huge sum to open this mine and operate it."
"There is no question on that point."
"Still, this report shows it will be worth it, if the vein pans out tobe one-half as promising as this assay of your specimens."
Merry laughed.
"Mr. Kensington," he said, "it is my belief that we have not fullyuncovered the vein. It is my conviction that it will prove twice asvaluable as it now seems when we get into it in earnest."
For some moments Kensington continued to whistle softly to himself. Itseemed to be a habit of his when thinking.
"Are your other mines valuable, Mr. Merriwell?"
"Yes, sir."
"As valuable as this one?"
"I believe they are."
"And you have them in operation?"
"I have one of them in operation."
"That is the Queen Mystery, I believe?"
"Then you have heard of it, sir?"
"There is not much going on in mining matters in Arizona that I have notheard of. It's my business to keep posted. You have never thought ofselling the Queen Mystery?"
"Mr. Kensington, the Mystery is opened and is in operation. I have notcontemplated selling it, and I do not think I shall do so. If you wishto talk of this new mine, all right. I can listen. Nothing whatever maycome of it, but I see no harm in hearing whatever you have to say."
"Now we're getting at an understanding, Mr. Merriwell. Of course, Iwouldn't think of making you any sort of an offer for your mine unlessthoroughly satisfied as to its value. I should insist on having itinspected by men of my own choice, who are experts. Their report I canrely on, and from that I would figure."
"That would be business-like," Merry nodded.
"And you would have no objections to that, of course?"
"Certainly not, sir. Still, you must not forget that I have a partnerwho might object. It will be necessary to consult him before anything ofthe sort is done."
"All right, all right. Where is he?"
"He is at the mine."
Kensington seemed somewhat disappointed.
"I was in hopes he might be in Prescott."
"He is not."
"Another point, Mr. Merriwell. Are you certain your title to thisproperty is clear?"
"Absolutely certain, sir."
"I am glad to hear that. Of course, I should look into that matterlikewise. Unless the title was clear, I wouldn't care to becomeinvolved."
"In that case," said a voice behind them, which caused them both tostart slightly, "I advise you, Mr. Kensington, to let that propertyalone."
Merriwell turned quickly and found himself face to face with MacklynMorgan!
"Morgan!" exclaimed Frank.
To the ministerial face of the money king there came a smile of grimsatisfaction, for he knew he had startled Frank.
"Yes, Mr. Kensington," he said, "you had better be careful about thispiece of business. There are some doubts as to the validity of thisyoung man's claim to that mine."
Kensington did not seem pleased, and immediately he demanded:
"How do you happen to know so much about it, sir?"
"Because I am interested. My name is Macklyn Morgan. It is barelypossible you have heard of me?"
"Macklyn Morgan!" exclaimed Thomas Kensington. "Why, not--why, not----"
"Exactly," nodded Morgan. "I belong to the Consolidated MiningAssociation of America. You may know something of that association; it'squite probable that you do."
"I should say so!" exclaimed Kensington, rather warmly. "I know thatit's a trust and that it has been gobbling up some of the best mines inthe country."
"Very well. You know, then, that the C. M. A. of A. makes few mistakes.As a member of that association I warn you now that you may involveyourself in difficulty if you negotiate with this young man for thismine which he claims."
Frank rose to his feet, his eyes flashing with indignation.
"That will about do for you, Morgan!" he exclaimed. "I think I havestood about as much from you as I am in the mood to stand. Mr.Kensington, this man does belong to the Consolidated Mining Association.That association attempted to get possession of my Queen Mystery and SanPablo mines. I fought the whole bunch of
them to a standstill and madethem back water. They have given up the fight. But after they did sothis Mr. Morgan, in conjunction with another one of the trust, did hislevel best to wring the Queen Mystery from me.
"The matter was finally settled right here in the courts. They werebeaten. It was shown that their claims to my property were not worth apinch of snuff. Since then Sukes, this man's partner, met his justdeserts, being shot by one of his tools, a half-crazed fellow whom heled into an infamous piece of business. This Morgan is persistent andvengeful. He has trumped up some silly charge against me and tried tofrighten me into giving up to him my Queen Mystery or my new mine. It isa pure case of bluff on his part, and it has no further effect on methan to annoy me."
Both Kensington and Morgan had listened while Frank was speaking, thelatter with a hard smile on his face.
"You can judge, Mr. Kensington," said Morgan, "whether a man of myreputation would be the sort to take part in anything of that kind. Whenit comes to bluff, this young fellow here is the limit. I tell you oncemore that you will make a serious mistake if you have any dealings withhim. Any day he is likely to be arrested on the charge of murder, forthere is evidence that he conspired in the assassination of my partner.It even seems possible that he fired the fatal shot. That's the kind ofa chap he is."
"Mr. Kensington," said Frank, with grim calmness, "this man, Morgan, hasdone his level best in trying to blackmail me out of one of my mines.This murder charge he talks about he has trumped up in hopes to frightenme; but I fancy he has found by this time that I am not so easilyfrightened. I can prove that he employed ruffians to jump my claim--toseize these new mines. We were forced to defend it with firearms. Morganhimself tried to have me treacherously shot, but he was not the kind ofa man to deal with the ruffians he had employed, and he fell into atrap, from which he has now somehow escaped. He was captured and carriedoff by those same ruffians of his, whose object it was to hold him untilhe should pay a handsome sum for his liberty. Either he has managed toescape or he has paid the money demanded by those rascals."
Morgan laughed.
"It is not possible, Mr. Kensington, that you will believe such aridiculous story. I give you my word--the word of a gentleman and a manof business and honor--that the whole thing is a fabrication."
"Morgan," said Frank, "I propose to make this statement public just asyou have heard it from my lips. If it is not true, you can have mearrested immediately for criminal libel. I dare you to have me arrested!If you do, I shall prove every word of what I have just said and showyou up as the black-hearted rascal you really are. Instead of having mearrested, it is more than likely that you will employ some ruffian toshoot at my back. I'll guarantee you will never try it yourself. If Iwere to step out here now and make a similar charge against Mr.Kensington, what would be the result?"
"By thunder!" burst from Kensington, "I'd shoot you on sight!"
"Exactly," nodded Frank. "And so would Macklyn Morgan if the statementwere false and if he dared."
Morgan snapped his fingers.
"I consider you of too little consequence to resort to any such method.I am not a man who shoots; I'm a man who crushes. Frank Merriwell, youmay fancy you have the best of me, but I tell you now that I will crushyou like an eggshell."
As he said this his usually mild and benevolent face was transformeduntil it took on a fierce and vengeful look, which fully betrayed histrue character. Quickly lifting his hand, Merry pointed an accusingfinger straight at Morgan's face.
"Look at him, Mr. Kensington!" he directed. "Now you see him as he isbeneath the surface. This is the real Macklyn Morgan. Ordinarily he is awolf in sheep's clothing, and it is only the clothing he reveals tothose with whom he has dealings."
Instantly the look vanished from Morgan's face, and in its place therereturned the mild, hypocritical smile he sometimes wore.
"I acknowledge that my indignation was aroused," he said. "And I know itwas foolish of me. I have said all I care to. I think Mr. Kensingtonwill have a care about making any negotiations with you, Merriwell. Goodday, Mr. Kensington."
Bowing to Frank's companion, Morgan coolly walked away and left theroom.