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BURGIN AUXHOU OF " TUXTEll'S LITTLE MAID," ETC., ETC. "... nequc severus esse (potest") in judicaudo, ([ui alios in so scveros esse judices non vult."— CtCERO, De Imp. Pomp. No. aeo. MACMILLAN AND CO. AND NEW YOirC 1896 The right 0/ translation and reproduction isjeserved !! CHAl'l a 1 1 it I TI III IV \ VI VII VI J] IX X" XI] XII XI\ X> XV XVI XVII CONTENTS. -♦<>♦- CHAPTF.R rA<;i; Piiologue: Departure • . • 1 I. TwEsrv Years After • • f iti 18 TI. The JurxiE suspects ... ... 37 III. "WILKS" ••• • «• 57 IV. Mrs. Vankleek • • • ... 79 V. LO(;-ROLLING ••• • • t 91 VI. Tollevents's Ball ... ... ... 108 VII. Miss Wilks's Lovers • • • • • » 125 VIII. The KiNu ... ... 144 IX. The MEFTiH(i ... • • • • tt ICl X. In the Bush • • • ... 17G XI. The Last Poem • • • • 1 1 192 XII. The End of " Skeeter Joe " ... 209 XIII. Sadie joins her Father »• 1 228 XIV. Miss Wilks wanders • • • ... 240 XV. "Nemesis" • • • • at 271 XVI. A Duel ix the Dark • 1 ... 300 XVII. The Return of Ulysses tfl 31G XVII r. David and Jonathan t • • 331 I T H E JUDGE OF THE FOUR CORNERS. PROLOGUE. DEPARTURE. It was very dark. At ** The Judge's " not a light could be seen, even from the upper windows, although the old oak clock in the hall gave forth only nine wheezily asth- matic notes, and, with a sudden internal grumbling at having broken the stillness, once more settled down to its reposeful *' Forever — never. Never — forever." As the last stroke died away, a door opened sud- denly on the floor above; there was the soft pad-pad-pad of stockinged feet down the staircase, and some one cautiously crept into the hall. For a moment, this intruder on the clock's privacy fumbled with the bar across B TF WDGE OF THE FOUR CORNERS. 11 the door, laid it softly aside, lit a lantern (which he muffled under his cloak), and pulled on a pair of soft doeskin mocassins. "Better not wear riding-boots,'* he mut- tered somewhat grimly. *' If it should come to a fight, and Yankleek goes under, I don't want to be traced. Ikey Marston and Old Man Evans are as keen as sleuth- hounds when they once get hold of a trail. Mocassin tracks will soon fill up when the storm breaks; boot-heels stand out for months." ** The Judge " — for so Ducaine was gene- rally known in the little Canadian village of Four Corners, this year of Grace, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine — slipped through the open door and slunk towards the stables, feeling his way along the house- wall, and stumbling over various unforeseen obstacles in the path — obstacles which seemed to have moved from familiar places in order to strike against his shins at every turn. When he reached the western corner of the house, Ducaine held up the lantern for a moment and looked hastily round. Reassured by the silence, although he J) E PAR TURK could not see more t^an six feet through the surrounding darkness, Ducaine opened the stable door and put the light upon the ground. A low whinny from the nearest compartment broke on his ear; the stolid beasts in the neighbouring stalls raised their heads for a moment, then continued dreamily to munch the sweet-smelling hay hanging from their racks. As Ducaine entered the stall, a delicate nibble of caressing teeth met his hair and ear, and a soft muzzle rubbed against one cheek. He loosened the halter knot, led out his beautiful black mare, and saddled her hastily. '* I'd better swim the Creek," he said, shutting the stable door. "If anything should happen, water doesn't leave traces." Ducaine mounted, and turned the mare's head in the direction of the Creek. "Tchick! Gently, my beauty!" he cried when they came to the margin. The mare appeared to understand, for she slipped into the water as noiselessly as an otter. The waters of the Creek, recently rein- forced by heavy spring rains, were un- pleasantly cold. A stray log struck the Judge on the right thigh and nearly I i THE JUDGE OF TEE FOUR CORNERS. unhorsed him. He set his teeth together with an oath of pain, and reeled from the force of the blow. ** I'd forgotten the floods," he said, as the mare felt her feet and walked quiveringly up the opposite bank. " Another log or two would have made a vacancy in the County Judgeship." He bent down to whisper a word in the mare's ear. As he did so, her mighty quarters gathered beneath her, and she flew through the darkness at frightful speed, the reckless rider crouching low in the saddle to avoid dashing out his brains against a tree. Once, the overhanging branch of a pine tore the coat along Ducaine's back, with a rasping wrench which sent a shiver down his spine. A little ominous murmur high up the tall tree-trunks told of the gathering storm; there was a frightened patter and rustle of woodland things seeking shelter amid the thick undergrowth. The fierce fusillade of rain-drops, falling on the branches at irregular intervals, ceased for a while ; only to descend with louder iteration as the wind, in forceful glee, threshed swaying boughs and trunks together. It was with an affrighted snort I DEPAttTURE, ^ether n the 1 the ir feet posite have ;hip." n the lighty e flew i, the die to b tree. 1 piue nth. a down high lering r and belter fierce the id for ouder glee, runks snort that the mare cleared the narrow Bush- path a little helow Four Corners and drew up with heaving flanks ; her glossy coat sweating and discoloured by the muddy waters of the Creek. Ducaine tied the animal to a tree, shook the raindrops from his hat, and strode cautiously towards the village wharf — a long, low, wooden structure on piles which ran across the Ottawa river for a couple of furlongs. He turned off sharply towards the right, where it began to debouch upon the river, and came to a gate let into a rough stone wall. After some trouble, Ducaine forced open the gate and stole towards a two-storied stone house which faced the river. The storm had now ceased, and a watery moon shone faintly out from the sullen sky, only to be overwhelmed from time to time by dark masses of cloud. Safely concealed among the bushes, Ducaine waited patiently for its reappearance. Suddenly a light shone in one of the upper windows; the door opened below ; there was a confused murmur of voices, and a man walked down the rough path to the main gate. 6 TEE JUDGE OF THE FOUR COB NEB 8. m a { V : 1 When the man had gone, Ducaine crept into the verandah, climbed up a post at the corner, and made his way towards the window containing the light. " 'Tisn't a very dignified position," he muttered, **for a Judge to be found in. However, I must learn the truth before I see Van- kleek." Although he drew himself along the verandah with the sinuous ease of a snake, a rotten shingle gave way beneath his foot and fell into the verandah below. Some one heard it, and opened the window with a frightened *' What's that ? '' *^ Oh, it's nothing. I reckon, Miss Wilks," said a feminine voice, ** a little fresh air won't hurt neither of us." The person addressed as Miss Wilks came to the window, carrying something in her arms. The watcher, a couple of feet below, lay perfectly still. **I wonder," she began. " I won — n A thin, wailing cry broke upon the hstener's ear, the cry of an infant facing the light — that protesting cry which is the first un- conscious effort of every human being on its entrance into the world, " Hush-h, my lie. R8. DEPARTURE. 5 crept )ost at owards 'Tisn't ttered, ever, I s Van- g the snake, ill his helow. window Miss , little Wilks \m^ iu of feet •nder," bener's ight— st u li- ng on •h, my pretty one ! Hush, my pretty one ! " said Miss Wilks's rough voice, its curious Cockney accent modified by a slight nasal twang picked up in Canaaa. " My ! nurse, ain't she a daisy! '' The Judge started as the shadow of a small bundle crossed the blind. "It is a girl after all, confound it,'' he said. *' Vankleek was right. Now for a thumping lie. They've got Miss Wilks in to help the nurse. Ugh ! how beastly wet and cold I am." He retraced his steps, and crept cautiously up to an apparently deserted hut on the outskirts of the village. In answer to his knock, however, the rickety door was flung open, and a young fellow of about twenty, whose flushed face showed that he had been drinking heavily, appeared on the threshold. " Come in," he said rpietly. " You seem wet. Judge." Ducaine seized the bottle of whisky which stood on the pine table, and poured himself out a stiff half-tumbler. " So would you be, Vankleek, if you'd had my ride. I'm only thirty, but it nearly turned my hair white." 8 THE JUDGE OF TEE FOUR CORNERS, The other motioned him to sit down. "Have a cigar?" he asked languidly, although his fingers twitched. " Wonder whether you have found out anything ? If I'm right, and it's a girl, I can go back to Sadie and laugh about the whole affair. She'll have to give in." The obstinate brows contracted ominously. " I say she'll have to give in." The Judge slowly lit the proffered cigar. ** It's none of my business, Vankleek, to interfere now. I only do it because I loved the girl myself, though you won her. If I bore any malice towards either of you, I'd lie about the thing and make trouble. Yes, sir." The other seized the bottle and drank heavily. " Yes, yes, that's all right, Ducaine. There never would have been any trouble between Sadie and myself if it hadn't been for this infernal baby. We began it in joke. However, if it's a girl, it's all right, and the laugh's on my side." ''If it is a sen, you won't humble your- self and make it up ? " "No, sir," shouted Vankleek, his hand- some face flushing. '' The Vankleeks aren't (( ; oath, ■ still. nighi Di u RS. DEPARTUltE. 9 down, ^uidly, /"onder g? If ack to affair. stinate ^ she'll cigar. lek, to loved If I I'd lie n 3, Sir. drank icaine. rouble 3 been it in right, your- hand- aren't built that way. One of us has to knock under, but it's not going to be me. If Sadie has a son, I'll clear out for the States this very night." "I suppose," said the Judge, quietly, ** you'd shoot me if I told you what an infernal fool you are. To be sure, Sadie has rather an aggravating knack of wanting her own way. You Vankleeks, too, seem to think yourselves the uncrowned kings of Canada. Take my advice, put on your hat, and go home. It will be good enough if your son " Vankleek sprang to his feet with an oath, his handsome face flushing darker still. ** That's enough, Ducaine ; I'm off to- night." Ducaine looked at him commiseratingly. ** I've said about as much as you'll take," he remarked. ** However, it's no affair of mine. You'll look a mighty fool when you do come back, tail between legs, if the affair gets wind." ** When I do come back," said the other, significantly, *' people round here won't laugh." He drew a ring from his finger. i 10 TEE JUDGE OF THE FOUR CORNERS, " You're about the only mau who has stuck to me. Suppose we exchange rings. If I find out some day that you have played me false, I'll send you yours back again. Then look out for yourself." Ducaine laughed, drew a plain, thick gold ring from his finger, and handed it to Vankleek. '' Sadie's ring," he exclaimed, looking at the one which Vankleek had drawn from his own finger. ** Yes," said Vankleek, picking up a valise from the corner; ** Sadie's ring. Any more whisky?" Ducaine hesitated a moment, then slipped the ring into his pocket. *' To our next meeting," he cried, thrusting the neck of the bottle between his lips. Vankleek drained the bottle after him and flung it into a corner. " My horse is up in the village," he said, striding resolutely through the night. Ducaine watched the retreating figure with a cynical smile. Hurried on by his thirst for revenge against the woman who had slighted him, the wily Judge suddenly bethought him of a still more malignant method of procedure than this carefully DEPARTURE. 11 figure )y his 1 who Idenly gnant L'efully <^ fostered diflference between husband and wife. If the quarrelsome Vankleek did go to the States, he would probably be shot in a week ; no one in such a rough-and-ready country could, by any possibility, endure him for a longer period than that. But when the wife realized that she wa*^ deserted she would seek comfort in her baby, trace Vankleek's likeness in its eyes, carefully cherish each little infant trait which re- called that overbearing young fellow to her heart, and, as time went on, deem this runagate husband a saint from whom she had become estranged by her own obstinate pride. The girl would grow up the image of her father and prove a perpetual source of constraint between Mrs. Vankleek and himself. No, this would never do ; the child must be removed, and at once. Thus hastily committed to a melo- dramatic series of crimes, Ducaine — he was essentially a man of action — returned to the wharf, and cautiously re-entered the garden. From his former post among the bushes, he could see a light burning faintly in the same window as before. For more than an hour he remained, benumbed with I •HI m 12 THE JUDGE OF THE FOUR CORNERS. cold, cursing the necessity which impelled him to such a course of conduct. At length the Ught died away from the window ; he stole cautiously forward, cliinbed the verandah, and entered the room. As Ducaine somewhat awkwardly came down from the verandah, he carried a bundle in one arm — a bundle at which the mare sniffed jealously. It contained some- thing alive — something which came between her and her master. But when Ducaine patted and caressed her, she set off at a foot pace as if conscious of her frail burden. Ducaine was struck by her magnanimity. ** I almost wonder she didn't want to savage it," he said, riding slowly on. ** Poor little devil, it's beginning to travel early." The ^^poor little devil," having made its vigorous protest at being introduced into the world, peacefully went to sleep, its tiny red fingers curling round the Judge's hand. It was an hour later than usual the next day when Ducaine opened his court. He moved stiffly, and did not recover his customary judicial imperturbability until he had sentenced a horse-thief with the utmost rigour of the law. It was only i when exprei eloqu ten n His Ikey] during child << moth( Hono and d Call t court scruti the cc **I about when too di Ikey. mixed Old *'Nev Ikey? 18. DEPARTURE. 13 ipelled length ndow ; id the came ied a Dh the some- itween iicaine f at a iirden. imity. nt to Poor larly/* de its i into s tiny hand. 3 next He ^r his until ih the only % i when the prisonex had been removed, after expressing with all the rough, untutored eloquence of a child of nature a desire for ten minutes' confidential intercourse with His Honour, that the Judge learned from Ikey Marston how Vankleek had disappeared during the night and taken his new-born child with him. ** Looks as if he'd quarrelled with the mother for good and all," suggested His Honour. ** Vankleek' s probably gone crazy, and drowned the child as well as himself. Call the next case, and don't interrupt the court when it is in session." **01d Man" Evans meantime carefully scrutinized His Honour from the back of the court. ^*I ruther thought he knew somethin' about it himself," he said to Ikey Marston, when that worthy rejoined him. ** He was too dum quiet about it to please me." **Thar might be a little fun," suggested Ikey. ** S'posin' we was to find out he's mixed up in it, what 'ud happen ? " Old Man dubiously shook his head. ** Never was a phrenerologist, was ye, Ikey?" i I 14 THE JUDGE OF THE FOUR COliNEIiS, ^ ^i: [It mi ** Never." Ikey was "visibly pained. ** I may have lifted a boss or two—jest for fun — but T never was as bad as all that." Old Man waxed angry. ** Phrenerolergy tells you people's characters from their eyes. Now, look at the Judge's eye. Did you ever see one like it ? " ** No." Ikey was full of admiration at Old Man's scientific attainments. ** I never did. What's it mean ? " " It means " — Old Man's whisper became very impressive — *^it means if you git in his way he'll down you for sure ; that's what his eye means." "D'you think ?" ** I mean he's most likely got a bullet in his thigh from Vankleek's pistol, an' I'm jest agoin' to file the dockerments in this yer case for future reference. He's had that eye on me for some time. I reckon we'll git out of its range for a bit ; it's unlucky, that eye is, for you an' me." **I don't want to leave jest now, Old Man." ^* Why not?" *'It's Miss Wilks. She's so real high- toned since they give her the choice of 111* DKPARTURE, 15 doin' time or bein' shipped out of England, people think she must be somebody. Now she won*t have nothin' to say to me.*' *^ I've prederlickshuns in that quarter myself," said Old Man, whose real age was only thirty-five, ** though it does go agin the grain to think she takes in washin' for a livin'." Their whispered confidences were put an end to by His Honour adjourning the court and striding past them with a darkly sus- picious glance. It was with an unaccount- able feeling of relief that Ducaine heard later in the day of their projected ^*pro- spectin' tour." They were the last persons in the world he wanted about him just then. Cold and callous as he was, Ducaine shrank from picturing to himself Mrs. Vankleek's grief at the mysterious disap- pearance of both husband and child, and for many months carefully avoided the stone house by the wharf. But, somehow, as time went on, he could not help awaken- ing at that dark moment of the night which precedes dawn, and feeling conscious of a certain thrill. Baby fingers of n uttle child 16 THE JUDGE OF TEE FOUR CORNERS. ■i i i (jfi ^ili clung round his own and held him back from sleep. His own wife had died in giving birth to a girl a few months ago, and the hapless infant had been handed over to an Irish wet-nurse in a distant village. People noticed that the Judge frequently left Four Corners for a week at a time, and surmised that he had gone to visit his own child ; but that look in his eye which exercised so restraining an influence on Old Man and Ikey Marston prevented them from asking inconvenient questions. After a year or two, every one gave up inquiring into the mystery of Yankleek's fate — every one, that is, with the exception 01 Old Man. '^ I've got a sort of idea," he confidentially declared to Ikey, as they sat smoking their corncob pipes at sundown outside the little cabin they shared in common, '' as thar's somethin' hidin' behind that eye of the Judge's — somethin' as wants gittin' at, — an* I shouldn't be surprised if you an' me, Ikey, was the humble instruments of Pro- vidence predestinatered to git it." *' Maybe," said the stolid Ikey — '^ maybe. I ain't agoin' to w^orry ovei' it. Noc much. DEPARTURE. 17 Vankleek '11 come back, some day, an' bring the child with him. I'm jest agoin' to lie low an' watch the Judge's little game." '' You don't feel sorter called on to git behind that eye? " ** Not a feel ! When I got thar, I might find a revolver waitin' for me. I ain't no Doxologist, as you call it, but I know enuff to keep low for a bit. Don't you ? " Old Man snorted a disgusted dissent, but prudently held his tongue. He was not yet ready for action. ill !| ! 18 TBE JUDGE OF TBE FOUR CORNERS. CHAPTEK I. Jl; lllii ^i m TWENTY YEARS AFTER. The *' Invalid Season" at the ** Springs " had scarcely begun ; consequently those pioneers of fashion whose systems were supposed to require the tonic yet chasten- ing influences of the mineral springs, did not consider themselves bound to that simplicity of diet and restraint, in the matter of cocktails, popularly supposed to be necessary to give full effect to the curative properties of the waters which gushed out of the primitive Bush, half a mile above the hotel, and flowed impatiently down into rude wells excavated for their re- ception. The waters themselves obstinately refused to be taken in conjunction with cocktails or any other inspiriting beverages ; they knew their work, and declined to be hampered by alcoholic hindrances. TWENTY YEARS AFTER, 19 The pioneers of the season, having speedily discovered this important fact, did not trouble further in the matter of treatment, but contented themselves with an occasional stroll up to the source of the springs as a mere matter of courtesy. They could support an existence bereft of sulphur water, but not one devoid of cocktails. Without being aware of it, however, they were steadily going through a curative course of the waters ; for the landlord of the hotel, indignant at the slight put upon the springs, served up to his guests a peculiarly delicious chicken-broth every day, which was nothing more nor less than hot water from one of the springs thickened with oatmeal. In old days, a particular spring had been well known to the Iroquois medicine-men, as possessing this peculiar property when the waters were heated. After an unsuccessful hunt, the braves of the tribe had been wont to solace their stomachs and relieve the preosing pangs of hunger without regard to ulterior conse- quences. Dwellers in the hotel, however, not having the benefit of local tradition, wondered at their own sudden joyousness ; 20 THE JUDGE OF THE FOUR CORNERS. i % 11!' innocently attributing it to the peaceful nature of days spent on the borders of the Bush, and the balsamic odours of cedar and pine which skirted the rude roadway. At eight o'clock one evening in early summer, the Springs coach loomed up against the white background of the hotel buildings, as half-a-dozen spectators lounged leisurely out from the bar, and proceeded to expectorate with graceful fluency and precision on the verandah floor. On this particular evening, the guests were not inclined to take active measures of any sort. They lounged about the verandah, threw themselves back in favourite chairs, tilted up their heels on others, and prepared to criticize the driver of the coach when he should condescend to appear from the bar, obsequiously attended by the land- lord still pressing eleemosynary strong waters upon his acceptance. The leaders, fretful and eager to be oif, threw up their heads impatiently at the caressing touch of the driver's hand. As Lajeunesse climbed slowly to his seat, ignoring the concourse on the verandah with the stoicism of a Huron, he turned to TWENTY TEARS AFTER. 21 a young fellow, who had been admitted to the proud privilege of drinking with him all the way down. *' Haven't seen such a night for years," he said, gathering the rug round him. ** It's always black when there's a lawyer about. Lives down at Four Corners. Judge Ducaine. No wonder I've only one passenger left when there's a lawyer inside." The young fellow turned up his coat collar. " 'Tisn't a nice night," he said light- heartedly. ** Hadn't we better stop over ? " He cast a boyish glance in the direction of the saloon, whence issued sounds of revelry, mingled with snatches of song. It was warm in there, the cuisine was good, and Beauty kept the bar, impartially distri- buting smiles in proportion to the status of customers. "Why renounce this un- expected accumulation of good things for a cold seat on the coach, and a chance of being ** held up " in the darkness ? He somewhat apprehensively felt for the belt containing his scanty stock of money, laughed Avith youthful inconsequence, and 22 THE JUDGE OF THE FOUR CORNERS. 16 ■i III 'A repeated his question, ** Hadn't we better stop over? " ** Young man," said the autocratic La- jeunesse, impressively gathering up his reins, '^ air you runnin' this concern or me ? " ** Wiph I were," replied the young fellow, with unqualified admiration. *' I haven't the sand. You don't suppose I'm man enough to drive like you ? " " Prezakerley," said the immollified Lajeunesse ; though a grim smile at the corners of his mouth showed that he was not insensible to this whole-hearted admira- tion. "Prezakerley. That bein' the case, p'r'aps you'll sit tight. I reckon you'll have to sit extremely tight to-night ; I ain't goin' to be publicly disgraced by drivin' this yer coach into Four Corners with only a lawyer in it. No, sir. Sit tight, for all you're worth." As he spoke, the ungainly vehicle went swaying into the darkness, whilst certain unjudicial utterances were heard to proceed from the interior of the coach, when Judge Ducaine's hoad thumped against the side. *' Serve him right," said Lajeunesse, TWENTY YEARS AFTER. 23 flicking his off-leader. *' That'll knock some of the stuffin' out of him." *' You don't seem to love him?" said the young Englishman, astonished by the unwonted fervour of Lajeunesse's speech. '* Love ain't exactly the correct word," dryly rejoined Lajeunesse, his taciturnity overcome by the exhilarating sound of the Judge's protests from within the coach. ** He diddled me once over a hoss-trade. You bet, my son, I haven't forgotten it." The young Englishman apprehensively sat tight as the leaders raced down an incline and galloped up the opposite slope. ** Sure you know the way ? " he asked. " Seems to me we've just run over a tree, or a cow, or something." ** My son," said Lajeunesse, *^ we'll run over more'n a tree before I've done with His Honour. I've got him landed in the dock, so to speak, with me for judge and jury, and he'll have to stay there till he's let out. He's all them Vankleek deeds with him. Says he's a mortgage on the place. He's bringing down the deeds now before takin' possession, the skunk," 24 TEE JUDGE OF THE FOUR CORNERS, uiVl M ti ■in The passenger scented a story. " But what does Vankleek say to it all?'' he asked tentatively. '* That's what people would like to know ; only, you see, Vankleek ain't been heard of for twenty years." ^' Oh," cried the passenger, forgetting his desire to know more about Vankleek in the immediate necessities of the moment, ** there goes my hat ! " *' As you're afeared, sittin' up here, you'd better git inside and hold the Judge's head for him. If the coach was to go over — if it was, I say, and such things have been known — then you'd make sure of breakin* every bone in your body ; whiles here " He paused appreciatively, and again flicked the off-leader, causing that long-suffering animal to retaliate with a frightful plunge, which threatened to upset the coach altogether. ** While here ? " queried the young Englishman, in the tone o^ one for whom the bitterness of death has no terrors. *' You'll break your neck right off, and git it over," said Lajeunesse, cheerfully. ''No patchin' you up with ornamental TWENTY YEABS AFTER, 25 wooden legs or any of that stuff. You'd just break your neck straight off. Oh, thar's a style in fallin' off a box-seat. Real style when you know how to do it. Steady, my lads ; steady there ! " The young Englishman relapsed into saddened silence. He would much rather have been inside the coach with Ducaine for a companion, but feared to encounter Lajeunesse's ill-concealed derision. Besides, he was an Englishman. In spite of this consoling fact, all the coach accidents he had ever heard of floated through his brain as the horses hurried on, their rattling harness making a somewhat superfluously cheerful accompaniment to cheerless thoughts. ^^ Is there — is there any need for all this hurry?" he asked Lajeunesse, although apprehensive of receiving another rebuff from that irascible worthy. *' Hurry ? You bet there's need to hurry, my son," responded Lajeunesse. **The waybill books you to be landed at Four Corners in time for the night-boat, and you'll be hustled down there if you come to pieces while I'm doing it." 26 THE JUDGE OF THE FOUR CORNERS. The Englishman scarcely appreciated Lajeunesse*s delicate consideration. *' Oh no," he said, with an elaborate affectation of carelessness; ** I'm in no hurry. If this is your way of travelling, I'll get used to it, or — break my neck ! " They were now galloping at breakneck speed through a patch of Bush leading to the L'Ange Guardienne dip. There was barely room for the coach along the narrow, rutty way, but Lajeunesse never for one instant relaxed his reckless haste. He did not get a chance of scaring an Englishman every day. His companion's remark had put him on his mettle, and he was resolved to show what a Canadian driver could do. The coach dashed on beneath the brushing branches of overhanging pines, a faint glow-w^orm light from the lamps making two red patches on the ground, which kept pace with its headlong speed. All was dark- ness and silence save for the occasional cry of some unclean night-bird. The young Englishman at last realized that it mattered little whether he dashed out his brains against an overhanging tree, broke his neck in falling, or smashed every limb when the TWENTY TEARS AFTER. 27 M I ".'ft.: coach upset. Something unpleasant seemed inevitahle. In the mean time, he enjoyed the rush of the cool night- air on his fore- head, the tingling of the wind against his outstretched palms. There was no need to hold on now. He hobbed up and down like a cork, knowing that he was securely fastened in by the driver's heavy wraps. ** Got a gun? " asked Lajeunesse, suddenly, as they emerged from the Bush ; and his leaders, a little spent by their fiery outburst, slowed down on the level bit of road pre- ceding the dip. ^*N— no. Why? I couldn't hit any- thing from here." ** Oh, nothin', nothin' ! A little ahead's the usual place for road-agents. They got me here year afore last. You bet, the Judge's loaded up to his eye-teeth. I don't want to lose the pull of gallopin' up the dip, so here goes. We must chance it." The young Englishman clenched his teeth as the groaning coach rattled into the dip. Suddenly Lajeunesse's practised eye detected a dark obstacle ahead of him in the gloom. Before he could pull up, the coach was into it. The next moment there I ■'■•111. 28 THE JUDGE OF THE FOUR CORNERS. was a crash. Lajeunesse, still holding tho reins, went one way, tho apprehensive passenger another. When the Englishman recovered consciousness, the leaders had kicked themselves free, and stood quietly by the coach as it lay on one side in the darkness. He made a motion to get up, but could only faintly wonder what was about to happen next. In the midst of his own pain, he was not wholly grief-stricken that the horn of Lajeunesse had been lowered in the dust. **If I was 3^ou, stranger," said a per- suasive voice in his ear, *' I'd make up my mind to stop here an' not take a hand in this yer game." The icy barrel of a pistol as it touched the young fellow's neck sent a cold chill through him. lie collapsed with a groan. '* You not bein' hurt, for I've felt all over you," continued the gentle voice of the unknown — ** might just as well know nothin' about this yer business. You won't know nothin'. Swear ! '* Again the insinuating pistol barrel touched the nape of his neck. I^!!li'i|l TWENTY YEA US AFTER, on *' I swear," said tlie youug mau, faintly. '' I thought it wasn't an accident." A low chuckle came through the darkness. "It's a sort of accident," the voice said confidentially. " A sort of accident. I've hin leadin' up to it for the last twenty years. But as you've given your word never to know nothin' about it, I reckon you can sit up. Have a drink ? " A nip of fiery whisky put new life into the young mau. ** I give you my word," he said grate- fully, ** I'll never know anything about this anair, even if we come face to face to-morrow. I'm a stranger here, and have nothing to do with — with local incidents." He sat up, ruefully rubbing his head as the stranger tied him to a tree. " Now," said the same insinuating voice, '' you'll be all right and comfortable till mornin'. If you'd like a chaw of baccy, stranger, jest say so." " Englishmen don't chaw,'* said the young man, disgustedly. '' Is that so ? It'll help you to think over local incidents," said the voice in & 30 TEE JUDGE OF TSE I'OUR CORNEBS. tones of sympathetic commiseration. *'I s'posed Englishmen was always chawin' up everything and everybody. To think of it now ; all that money in the country an' not one chaw ! You all orter be shot for such darned meanness." The young fellow perceived the futility of arguing against this primeval simplicity. His hands were tied. *' I don't chaw," he repeated; **and, what's more, I don't want to." ^* Wal, wal," continued the same persua- sive voice, **thar's worse things than a chaw a night like this, when you've been upset by a local incident. But if your principles is agin it, I don't want to argify. You jest keep quiet ; you'll be all right when we've fixed up the Judge." ** All right ; I've sworn." A horny hand felt for his through the darkness, and shook it with friendly force. *' It's a local incident, an' you, bein' an Englishman an' a tenderfoot, don't know nothin' about it. That's what it is — a local incident." He seemed highly delighted at the words, repeating them with a quiet chuckle of chastened enjoyment. TWEN'jrr YEARS AFTEB. 31 A moment later, Lajeunesse's cries, raised in violent objurgation, broke upon the air. '' We had to tie him up first," said the voice, apologetically, *'he bein' sorter free with his weppings an' quicker to come round. Ain't it real nice to hear him cover the ground in that high-toned way, hittin' the mark plum-centre every time, so to speak ! Young man, Lajeunesse don't offen let himself loose like that, but when he does, it's an opportunity an' a privilege." When the moon began to rise through the pitchy blackness of the night, the young Englishman could dimly discern Lajeimesse and another man tied against a couple of trees on the other side of the road. Some one was feeling in the upturned coach and brought up a box. As it was hurriedly opened, the Englishman heard an exclama- tion of satisfaction and the creaking of parchment. When he looked up again, the road-agents had disappeared. In spite of his uncomfortable position, and a nasjy cut on the back of his head, the young Englishman fell into a troubled sleep from which he was awakened at day- break by a chipmunk running over him. The 32 THE JUDGE OF TEE FOUR CORNERS. Judge and Lajeuuesse still remained tied to their respective trees. By dint of hitching himself up sideways, the passenger con- trived to get out a knife and cut his bonds. Then he limped across the road in order to free the others. The near wheeler lay dead with a broken leg, caused by the trees which had been rolled across the roadway. The off-wheeler and leaders, tied to a cedar, stamped occasionally for their morning feed. One had received a slight cut, but the others were without a scratch. Lajeunesse sorrowfully regarded his dead w^heeler. '* If it hadn't been for your fool questions last night," lie said to the young English- man, **rd have seen what was goin' on. Beckon you've lost your deeds. Judge." *' Yes," said the latter, stiffly ; ** they were evidently the object of this attack." He gloomily hobbled up to a horse, mounted it, and set off ?X a foot pace for Four Corners. Lajeunesse, his foot in a stirrup, hastily improvised out of a trace, slowly prepared to follow the Judge. The Englishman was about to start after Lajeunesse when, in trying to get on TWENTY YEARS AFTER. 33 the horse, lie felt his belt press against the harness. Hastily dismounting, he opened it and began to count a roll of notes and gold. No, there was nothing missing ; his money had not been touched. Evi- dently the object of the *' local incident" was not mere robbery. More bewildered than ever, he stiffly remounted his steed, which was anxiously trying to follow the others, and set off at a trot. The motion of the horse caused him acute pain. The back of his head ached violently ; he w^as sore all over from the effects of the fall. At the top of the hill overlooking the little village he pulled up for a moment, osten- sibly to admire the scenery, but in reality to ease his limbs, through which the blood now began to course freely . The young man inhaled the pure air wdth increasing delight. '* I feel like Moses in sight of the Promised Land," he said with unconscious irreverence. *^ Better go down and take possession. There ought to be good farms in that lovely valley. Why, I've had more adventures since I left our little Hertfordshire home than in all the rest of my life put togetlier. I'd like to :U THE JUDGE OF THE FOUR COllNERS. breed horses as good as tliis. Geutl}' ! Whoa, lad ! Stop, I say ! " But the impatient horse set off at a gallop, and declined to stop until he reached the open space in front of the Four Corners Hotel, where a curious crowd had already surrounded Lajeunesse and the Judge. ** Who's that?" asked the landlord as the young Englishman rode into their midst and feebly slid to the ground. ** That," echoed Lajeunesse, pausing in the eloquent recital of his wrongs — ^' That's the durned tenderfoot whose fool talk let me in for all this everlastin' trouble." But the ** tenderfoot " almost fainted, for the rapid motion of the horse had increased the pain in his head to a frightful extent. He was not in a condition to explain matters to an angry crowd of men, all talk- ing at once and wildly anxious to kill some one as a necessary preliminary to finding out who had attacked the coaoh. ** Take him to the gaol," said Ducaine sternly; '^his evidence may be wanted. They'll make him comfortable there." '* Guess I'll look after him. Judge," said a meek, quiet voice, which sent a thrill TWENTY YEARS AFTER. tliroLigli the young Englishmau, as Old Man Evans came through the crowd and Hfted him up. ** 'Tain't the way to treat a harmless young Britisher with his head burst open. Here, Ikey, you take his head an' I'll look after them long legs. Now then, we'll jest tote him over to the shanty. A square meal '11 do him most good." Thus it was that Harry Davenport came to the village of Four Corners and took possession of it in a state of semi-uncon- sciousness. When he opened his eyes again it was to find himself in a pleasant shanty by the riverside, whilst through the open door came the soothing, rhythmical buzz of a distant saw-mill cutting up spring lumber. Old Man was busily bandaging a huge cut afc the back of Davenport's head, whilst Ikey of the ginger locks fried something on a stove in a shed outside. ** Where am I ? " faintly asked Davenport. ** To hum," answered Old Man, with modest pride. ** To hum," he repeated. ''You've bin asleep all day, so I let you alone. Guess you're powerfully hungry. AVhat '11 you take when I've finished this yer bandage ? " 36 THE JUDGE OF THE FOVB CORNERS, *^ Plungry ! Tm starving." '' Ikey, bring in the tenderfoot a couple of pounds of meat to begin with," said Old Man, conscious that heroic remedies were needed for such a case as this. *' You kin do yer fancy cookin' arterwards." *' But how did I get here?" persisted the young man, raising himself on one elbow. Old Man regarded his guest with a bene- volent yet searching optic. Apparently Davenport's frank open face satisfied him, for he reached down a huge tin plate from the wall and carefully polished it with his elbow. ** Jest a sort of local incident," he re- marked blandly. *' Ikey, whar's the corn- cake ? " ( 37 ) CHAPTER II. THE JUDGE SUSPECTS. Davenport sat up, soul in nostrils, eyes starting out of his head with impatience, as the appetizing smell of Ikey's cooking was wafted into the hut. That talented chef cast a gratified glance at his guest, and gave the frying-pan a twist which evoked so ravishing an odour that, weak though he was, it pulled the young fellow to his feet. Satisfied with this involuntary tribute to his culinary powers, Ikey came in, washed the tin plate in a pail of water, and proceeded to warm it at the fire. *'01d Man,*'he said reproachfully, ^'you've no more manners 'n a hog. Baar meat's wasted on you. When we has comp'ny, you did orter put on a little more style. You bein' a marryin' kind of man " — Old Man started guiltily — '* oughtn't to go a 38 THE JUDGE OF THE FOUR CORNERS. gormin* our Lest plate like that. Whar's the green corn? '* *' Thar ain't no green corn," feebly pro- tested Old Man, whilst Davenport suffered agonies of impatience. *' Young man," said Ikey, sternly, '^ you kin safely take it as a gin'ral rule as I fires when Old Man fires ; but he's that powerful set on marryin', is Old Man, he ain't respon- serable half the time for what he's doin', an' tother half" — the speaker transferred a delicate mass of meat to Davenport's plate — ** he's pawin' wild flowers an* stuff that woman lures him on with. Did Miss Wilks give you any green corn yesterday, Old Man?" Old Man turned a coppery hue, which in any other countenance would have been a blush. *' I clean forgot it." *' You see. Stranger" — IkeyhandedDaven- port the savoury food — *'he's runnin' arter what he calls ^ the gentler sex ' all the time, whiles I'm fattenin' of him up for the sacrifice an' holdin' of him in. He ain't respon- serable — that's what's the matter with him — he ain't respomerable." THE JUDGE SUSPECTS, 39 01(1 Man held out another plate for his share of the banquet, somewhat sheepishly attempting to turn the conversation. ^^He's that dum foolish, Old Man is," continued Ikey, sitting down on a three- legged stool, his portion of meat on a hunk of corn-bread, there not being enough plates to go round — "He's that dum foolish, is Old Man, he won't let me cut his hair any more. Must go down to the barber at Hawkinsville an' come back stinkin' like a rose-bush. Oh, you should jest have smelt it 1 I had to sleep outside till it wore off." Old Man's coppery substitute for a blush again became visible. "I wouldn't be givin' away the fam'ly secrets all at once," he said gently. ** You bein' a sort of mahogynist, Ikey, don't understand the softenin' inflooences of female sassiety. Your great talent's cookin' ; that's what it is. Cookin' ! I'd ruther eat a hind leg of mule transmogerified by you than a dinner at the Judge's." Ikey flushed with gratified pride. He had not the slightest idea of what Old Man meant by calling him a " mahogynist," but concluded it had something to do with 40 THE JUDGE OF THE FOUR CORNEBS. liis general antipathy to ^vomen. Old Man, in moments of embarrassment, was apt to tbrow out words of this kind, so that he might effect a cuttle-fish sort of retreat under cover of their incomprehensibility. Ikej^ visibly mollified, continued to eat. *' Never you git to runnin' arter wimmen," he said in fatherly tones to Davenport, at the same time replenishing his plate. *' Wimmen is — wimmen ! Poor critturs, they cant help it. Specially when Old Man's had his hair cut. He didn't orter do it, but when Old Man makes up his mind, 3'ou'd think he was a kind of human airthquake. Thar ain't no holdin' of him. I'm not deny in'," he added, wdth judicial impartiality, '' as I sorter encourage him to trade posies for vegetables with her" — he jerked his thumb in the direction of the open doorway — *^ but he allers gits that mixed up he forgits to bring 'em away with him, 'sides compromisin' of himself till I has to chip in an' draw her on to my trail. She'll get one of us some day, sure as you're born." *^ She can't make up her mind," declared Old Man, witli a grin, referring to the THE JUDGE SUSPECTS. 41 unknown fair one. ** I've got more style in me than Ikey, but he's handier for cleanin' up an' (loin' chores gin'rally. You wouldn't know him o' Sundays. Hair greased, claw- liammer, boots you could see your face in. He's a terrible man, is Ikey, when he's dressed. Quite a diff'rent skin." ''Thar ain't no tellin' what colour yours is any day," said Ikey, visibly roused by this last remark. '''Sides, I done it all for your good. 'Tain't no pleasure to me to talk pretty to Miss Wilks." Though Old Man continued to eat with placid enjoyment, no one but his familiar friend would have dared to gird at him before a stranger. Davenport began to feel better with every mouthful. His long sleep had banished the effects of shock and exposure. As he sat in the hut, looking through the open doorway at the purpling patches of shadow on the grass, it seemed to him that he had fallen among fnends, iihat it would be useless to continue his journey to the Far West. Surely, by dint of hard work, a decent living might be picked up in this uncouth communit}^ The inhabi- tants — most of them were sitting before i'l THE JUDGE UF THE FOUR COUNERS. their doors — did not seem to suffer from over-exertion ; if they managed to exist, why shouldn't ho ? Besides, his liosts were indubitably friendly. Would that friendli- ness continue when Old Man knew of his resolve to become a citizen of Four Corners ? There was the mystery of last night still impending. It was impossible to believe that the dulcet-toned, harmless individual whose magnificent teeth were now masti- cating more bear's meat, should have put that exceedingly cold pistol barrel to his ear the night before without having some good motive for doing so. A glance at Old Man's hip-pocket — Old Man's visible cos- tume consisted of boots, pants tucked into them, flannel shirt, and a hat which his friends declared he slept in — showed the slightly protruding butt of a revolver, which was evidently not intended for merely ornamental purposes. Ikey, too, carried a similar w^eapon in a precisely identical pocket. '^ I has to be that careful of Old Man," he declared, noticing Davenport's glance, ** when he's foolin' round, that I dussent go about 'ithout a wepping." THE JUDGE SUSPECTS. 4a Davenport noticed the liumorous twinkle in Old Man's eyes at this remark. It was a transparent fiction between the two that Old Man required protection, that his childish impetuosity would eventually land him into a gaol unless Ikey's restraining hand were stretched forth to moderate his unreasonableness. When Davenport re- membered the scene the night before, and the part Old Man had taken in it, there seemed to be something wrong about this theory. Could the horseman with the box have been Ikey ? And if so, what had be- come of it ? Then he remembered his oath, and leaned back against the wall with a sigh compounded of reflection and content. *' Old Man wantin to treat you like one of the fam'ly. Stranger," said Ikey, noticing this action on Davenport's part, **we reckoned not to discommerdate you with fancy fixins. Consequently, thar ain't nothin' else ; no puttin' on frills with pies or suchlike foolishness." But, quietly triumphant, Old Man reached up to the shelf above his head, and jiro- duced a pie — a solid, indisputable pie, with a crust of metamorphic massiveness. 44 THE JUDGE OF THE FOUR CORNERS. *' She give it me more'n a month ago ; I forgot that too," he said gently. *' Maybe it'll do if it's warmed." Ikey caught up the pie and hurled it through the open doorway. '* It's a deep-laid plot of that woman to git one of us out of the way," he said darkly. *' If you wants pamperin' with pie, I'll make somethin' human ; but you don't touch that. I shouldx^'t wonder if thar was apples in it too," he added, with a dim recollection of the temptation of Eve. Olc' Man resignedly reached down a tin cup. ** I guess. Stranger, "he said, *^ you'd better not look upon the wine cup when it's red, or any other colour, till your head's left off achin' a bit. Me an' Ikey bein' given over to destruction, so to speak, it don't matter what we drink. 'Sides, the whisky's nearly ^ all gone." Davenport nodded. *' It's still buzzing about a bit." He felt his head rather rue- fully. *' Canada's a pretty hard country to | strike." Old Man nodded affirmatively, and reached down from the same shelf which had con^ 111- THE JUDGE SUSPJSCTS. 45 tained the pie a gorgeous Indian calumet with feather-ornamented stem and bowl carved out of soapstone. '' 'Twas give me by an' old Injun chief whose ponies I got back for him," he ex- plained. '* How ? '* asked Davenport. '* A mean white stole 'em, after smokiu' the peace-pipe. He had to die then. The world hadn't no use for him. 'Twas a fair fight ; Kickin* Horse would tuck in a bit of t'other chap's hair among the feathers for a momentum," Old Man reminiscently remarked, searching for the lock in question. ^' I guess it's rubbed off." '' And you got aw^ay all right ? " ^* I've bin a good deal among Injuns n my time," Old Man said thoughtfully; ** most of 'em ^vants killin', whether meat for missionaries or bad Injuns ; but they're allers fair an' square arter smokin' the peace-pipe. Now% Ikey, if you ain't no moral scruples agin it, we'll smoke the peace-pipe with " '* Davenport, my name is — Harry Daven- port." Davenport noticed the delicacy witli vrhich 46 TUK JUDGE OF THE FOVR CORNEBS. jiis hosts had refrained from asking any questions about himself. Gentlemen who came to Four Corners were not, as a rule, in the habit of giving high-sounding names. Indeed, some simple physical characteristic or infirmity usually determined the imme- diate selection of an appropriate nom clc guerre, which was found to be far more satisfactory for purposes of identification than the multisyllabic patronymics of alien climes. '' Couldn't you make it ' Bill ' ? " Ikey inquired. *' Thar was a one-eyed chap from Hawkinsville, * Blazin' Bill,' but he's doin' time now for blazin' away once too off en. Jest for a little playfulness too." '* Eode through the window of iviiller's store," supplemented Old Man, by way of explanation. " Winged Miller, and the Judge give him six months to pursue his ge-erlogical studies in. He won't be out for another month." ** Geological studies ! '' echoed Davenport. ^' I don't understand." *^ It's this yer way," continued Old Man, carefully loading his peace-pipe, after slicing off tobacco from a cake which dwelt in some I ' THE JUDGE SUSPECTS. 47 mysterious recess about his person. *' When a man's bin sorter goin' free, we takes away his weppings an' hands him over a hammer an' a heap of stones. The gaoler puts him in stiipc^d britches so's he shan't spoil his own, and makes him crack specimens till the stones give out. If thar ain't no thin' valooable in these yer specimens, he mends roads with 'em to git an appetite." '' Oh— h ! I see." Old Man nodded, raked out an ember from the fire, and lit the peace-pipe. Solemnly drawing a long whiff, he handed it to Daven- port, who did likewise, and hesitatingly regarded Ikey. ** I smokes when Old Man smokes," said Ikey, stretching out a huge fist. He also took a whiff, and the pipe continued to circulate from hand to hand until the tobacco was exhausted. "Davey'd be better'n Bill," suddenly suggested Old Man, after sitting in silence for some time. ** If Miller was to plug Blazin' Bill when he comes out, he'd feel sorter bound to finish off all the other Bills in the place jest to keep his hand in." Tliis argument seemed sufficiently sound 48 THE JUDGE OF THE FOUH OOBNEItS. to settle the matter at once. Davenport had not the slightest inclmation to be butchered for the mere sake of the associa- tion of names. Miller was probably a man with fixed ideas, who shot first and listened to explanations when they were too late to affect the accuracy of an aim which was alike his neighbours' terror and delight. *' It's only losenin' off the front part of your name," urged Old Man, quick to see the impression which he had made on Davenport. " * Davey Davenport ' folk'll cotton to. Shake, Davey ; Ikey, shake." They all shook hands with grave cordiality, only one quick glance from beneath Old Man's shaggy brows assuring Davenport that Ikey knew nothing of the inner history of the previous night. "You have eaten my bread and salt," the look seemed to say; "you have smoked the peace-pipe with me ; for good or ill, you are one of us." In spite of his diplomacy, there was a trans- parent honesty about Old Man which won Davenport's heart. The trio sat in silence for some time, watching the spirals of smoke as they THE JUDGE SUSPECTS. 49 wreathed themselves upward and disap- peared. Davenport was the first to speak. *'I've made up my mind to stay here and farm," he said suddenly to Old Man. ^' I hope you'll both help me ? '* Old Man brightened up visibly. ^' Thar's Ikey now," he drawled, ''jest a spilin' to show off his muscle. Was you reokonin' to go in for uncleared land ? " " Ye-es," Davenport hesitated. " Do Ikey a world of good," rejoined Old Man, meaningly. " He's been a-waxin' fat an' kickin', accordin' to the Scriptures, for weeks past. You wouldn't think, now, he's got some Bush-land of his own; the trouble is, he can't make up his mind which end to begin at ; he's bin thinkin' it over for the last two years. When Ikey begins to think, it takes time." "I'll buy it from him," said Davenport, eagerly. Ikey laid a restraining hand on his arm. " 'Ithout me an' Old Man to look arter you, you'd lose your skin in a week. I'll give it you, or you kin go shares." Old Man regarded Ikey with increased respect. J": 50 TEE JUDGE OF THE FOUR CORNERS, ** Makes me think I'm a little sinless crittur a-playin' marbles in the Garden of Eden agin," he said approvingly. **If I don't take keer of you babes, you'll give yourselves away next. We'll go over to La'yer Pike to-morrow an' look into things." Davenport was about to return thanks to his new friends for their considerate kindness, when a shadow darkened the doorway. Old Man's face immediately became a mask with two piercing eyes which surveyed Ducaine angrily. He did not attempt to get up to receive the Judge. Neither did Ikey. ''I sit when Old Man sits," seemed to flash through the latter's mind. Davenport noticed that the two friends understood one another by a kind of telepathic communication. The Judge nodded stiffly, as he leant against the doorway. Ikey had returned to the corncob of domestic life, but Old Man still smoked the peace-pipe. The J*udge knew that pipe. On previous oc- casions, when it had been smoked with some friend of Old Man's, the after-results of their council together had not been THE JUDGE SUSPECTS. 51 particularly pleasant for Ducaine. Know- ing the kind of men with whom he had to deal, the Judge did not beat about the bush. His tone was as quietly indifferent as if he were saying good evening to a casual stranger. ^' Oh, Evans, how much will you take to restore those deeds ? " he inquired. Ikey sprang up, but Old Man restrained him with a wave of the gaudily feathered pipe-stem. '' You're jest a little too late. Judge. We've been doin' a deal with our young friend here." ** Pshaw ! You know what I mean." ** You speak sorter legal English, Judge ; 'tain't so easy as you think. I don't know but what if you was wishful for more land, we might let you have that bit of Bush of Ikey's arter all. We could git some more lower down the Creek. Davey'll sell it agin at a good price." The Judge frowned angrily. '*It's a valooable bit of Bush," 6b- served Ikey, joining in the conversation for the first time. *^A valooable bit of land, now I come to think of it. Full of 52 THE Ji:i)OE OF THE FOUR CORSERS. 4 tamarack, an' cedar, au' skeeters, an' hoss flies." The Judge frowned again at this trans- parent irrelevance. '' I'll give you two thousand dollars for it, with " —ho paused for a moment — " the missiug Vankleek deeds thrown in." Ikey again leaped to his feet. ''Look here, JudgO; if you mean '' Old Man smiled at Ikey, admiringly. '' JJ)on't get riled, Ikey. The Judge's only askin' you to cornpound a felony, that's all. He wants them deeds back to make a present of 'em to the widder Vankleek. Next time you take to lioldin' up the mail, Ikey, yon needn't skin an old friend like the Judge." Ikey was speechless with wrath, but the Judge paid no attention to him. "If 1 get those deeds back in a week," lie said with freezing severity, "I'll pay two tliousand dollars for them aijd ask no questions ; if I don't get them back in that time, both of you had better beware," Old Man nodded iiuperturbably. " I'li reason with Ikey, Judge, but you know the "|)articklor sort oi mule he i^ ; 't ain't easy to :''-' -r^, ' \. *^; THE 'JUDGE SUSPECTS. 53 make him let go anythiii' ; I'll wrastle with liim, Judge — wrastle with him powerfully. You couldn't make it another thousand ? Ikey's allers wantin' to sling on style an' marry." The Judge gazed at Old Man's leathery countenance as if to pierce his very soul. Tlie fire in Old Man's eyes had died away ; his placid drawl was that of conscious inno- cence ; he looked with wondering pity at the Judge. *' You're workin' too hard at them books of yourn, Judge ; you want a rest." The Judge shrugged his shoulders with a disgusted air. " Of course you saw the man wdio tied you up ? " he asked, turning to Daven- port. Old Man also shrugged his shoulders. '* I'm s'prised at you, Judge. S'prised ! You, a La'yer, an' puttin' us all in the dock, so to speak, jest acause you lost somebody's else's deeds. Y''oung man " — turning to Davenport — ^' did you see any one tyin' you up last night ? " ^' Certainly not," said Davenport, with an enthusiasm which caused the Judge to 54 THE JUDGE OF THE FOUR CORNEnS. recognize that Old Man had found an ally. Their looks crossed. Auger gleamed from the Judge's eyes, from Davenport's a quiet assurance that he was not to be intimidated. The Judge lost his temper. ^* I've a good mind to issue warrants for the three of you," he cried. Ikey sprang to his feet for the third time, but Old Man checked him with a w^ave of the hand. ** You not bein' born in tliese yer parts, Judge," he said with elaborate politeness, ** nat'rally don't realize ev'ry man as is born here likes to view his own scenery t'other side of the way 'ithout the intervention of any obstructin' or furrin substance atween him an' it." Ducai'^9 glared at him. " I don't follow you." *'Git," said Old Man, quietly ; '' that's my meanin'inplain an' unornamental langwidge, Judge. Git ! Next time I feel to need your interestin' conversation I'll clean up and come round. These yer humble surroundin's — not but what Ikey's gifts orter be took into account — ain't high-toned enough for you, Judge. Till me an' Ikey can sling THE JUDGE SUSPECTS. 55 on a little more style, we'll struggle along 'ithout the honour of your comp'ny." ^*I warn you, young man, to continue your journey," said Ducaine, sternly, address- ing Davenport, *^ or to disassociate yourself from these lawless men. In a little while you may not have the chance." Davenport felt that a decisive moment had come in which he must make a stand if he wished to remain at Four Corners. Besides, his head throbhed with pain. He yearned to lie down and sleep, to dream of the old English home with its blossoming orchards, its sweet May flowers and green beauty, its ordered richness and majestic peace. But Old Man looked at him curi- ously ; Ikey, too, regarded him with doubtful eyes. A happy inspiration occurred to Davenport. " Thank you," he said quietly to the Judge, who was lighting a cigar preparatory to departure. *' I'm much obliged to you for your warning ; but I should have placed more belief in it had you bound up my head and fed me like my friends here. * I fires when Old Man fires.' " Ducaine leisurely lit his cigar, indifferently 5(3 THE JUDOT: of the four COJiNEIiS. throw down tho inatcli, aud went away with- out a word. It cannot be denied that Ohl Man was a little less impassive than usual. Ho stretched out to Davenport a hand as horny as the hide of an alligator. Ikey's appreciation of the quotation led to a supreme effort on his part to produce a supper which should be worthy of his renown . To his great disappointment, how- ever, Davenport fell asleep before it was ready, and Old Man had no appetite, which, considering his recent performance with knife and fork, was not altogether surprising. But Ikey felt disgusted, and showed his disgust pretty plainly. ** Wouldn't you be wore out if youM pitched on your head ? " Old Man inquired. '^Not but what," he added, *^it 'ud take more'n that to make a hole in your skull. You let me alone; I've got some hard thinkin' to do about which end of the horn we're comin' out." \Yheu Davenport awoke at early dawn, roused by the twittering of a bluebird in a lilac bush by the doorway, Old Man still sat by the fire, head in hands, with the look of one mentally revolving momentous issues. y ( 57 ) CHAPTER III. *' WILKS." DAVENroRT got up witli an amused conviction that bis wanderings in search of fortune or competence were about to terminate. Life in an Eughsh vilhage bad not been par- ticularly enlivening, for there was a stolidity about people who worked on his father's land which scorned all disturbance save by local events. Kingdoms might rise and fall, emperors be born or die, but provided Leer and bacon and *' baccy " and wheaten bread were forthcoming at stated times, the English rustic remained sublimely indifferent to the march of events in the outer world. This bovine stolidity had appalled Daven- port. He was tired of beer; the wine of life seemed a far more tempting beverage. For nearly a year he had wandered about quafliing this nectar, always good-humouredly, "^^^3 58 THE JUDGE OF TEE FOVB CORNERS. and with the conviction that its liavou' would never pall upon him. After all, money was not everything ; true, it meant power, but muscle meant power also, and he was undoubtedly very muscular. Old Man and Ikey did not appear to suiier from any undue anxiety to become wealthy ; in fact, there was a certain ordered leisure about their existeiice which proved that, so long as they had sufficient money for mere material w^anj.s, they preferred to pass phi- losophic lives rather than spend anxious nights and laborious days in the accumula- tion of wealth. Why Old Man should have assisted in the '' holding up " of the Springs coach was a mystery. Doubtless he would give his reasons when the time came for so doing. Meanwhile, however. Old Man appeared to bo puzzled. His brows con- tracted, he chew^ed the ragged ends of his moustache ferociously, as if making an un- successful effort to eradicate them. Gradually becoming conscious of Daven- port's scrutiny. Old Man relaxed the rigour of his wrinkled brow. '' I kin gin'rally tell when any one's a-lookin' at me," he observed cheerfully. " WILKS:' 59 '' It used to be handy when I was diggiii'. I shoot jest as well under one arm as if t'otlier feller stood in front of me." ''Wish you'd teach me how to do it," Davenport said, getting up and looking longingly out at the sweet morning. '"Tain't a matter of teachin'," declared Old Man; "its predesternation. That's what it is — predesternation ! If you're predesternated to hit t'other chap, you'll do it ; if t'other chap's predesternated to hit you, he'll do it ; an' the Coroner's Jury gin'rally brings it in accidental death." Davenport looked round the cabin, but failed to see any of the toilet appurtenances of civilization. "Can I have a wash?" he asked some- what diffidently. " Sartinly," said Old Man, with a magni- ficent wave of the hand, implying that the laws of hospitality forbade his noticing the squeamishness involved in such a request. "But I don't see any place," remarked Davenport. Old Man led him to the back door, flung it open, and pointed in the direction of the Ottawa shore. 60 TEE JUDGE OF TEE FOUR CORNERS. '*Tliar's the river; that*s big enough, ain't it ? " he asked, and went back to his cabin. *'But soap and — and towels?" urged Davenport, following him to the door. Old Man was genuinely amazed. *' Soap ! Towels ! Ain't the sun a-shinin' ? " ''Ye-es." " That'll dry yer, won't it ? What more do yer want ? You kin git plenty of sand for soap." '' Ah, I hadn't thought of that.'' Davenport nodded gaily to Old Man, but that worthy, feeling that he had been un- necessarily harsh to a stranger unacquainted with the personal etiquette of the Ottawa Valley, dived into a cupboard and produced a piece of stuff, rough enough to have scraped the hide off an elephant. ** You kin try this," he said, doubtfully. ^' Me an' Ikey don't like it, but you kin try it. 'Tain't my fun'ral." He resignedly reL:n'ned to the cabin as Davenport caught up the towel, threw it over his arm, and started towards tlic wharf. Dropping down underneath the wharf, " WILKS:* 61 Davenport walked in the direction of a sandy cove, with a soft shelving beach, which melted into the hrown flood. Above liim was a high bank, apparently leading up into an orchard. To the left, the little town, with its glittering tin-roofed Catholic cliiirch, lost itself in dense masses of Bush. On the opposite shore, the Laurentian Mountains uprose to heaven in sombre majesty, their numberless pine branches — " With palms upturned to the air. Breathing a myriad prayer." Green willows lapped the river as it flowed against the mountain side, or eddied round multitudinous little islands in mid-stream. At this early hour not a soul w^as to be seen, and the young man committed his clothes to the sympathizing care of a pair of Canadian robins, which had built their nest in a bush some three feet up the bank. Though the sun beat down upon Daven- port's head, the water was intensely cold ; its chill embrace speedily dissipated the ill- effects of his fall from the coach, and after a ten minutes' swim, he emerged from the Avater, feeling as if the misery of that event- ful night must have happened ages ago. U| 62 THE JUDGE OF THE FOUR COENEJRS. The friction produced by Old Man's ossified ^ towel nearly took the skin off his bones. A much pie as ant er way of getting dry, he reflected, would be to bury himself in the warm sand for a few minutes. Then he rubbed olf the sand with the towxl, let the sun soak into him, and reluctantly donned his clothes. The morning was so fresh and sweet, the birds sang so blithely, that he felt a strong disinclination to return to a cabin still redolent of Ikey's cookery. Why should he not find out what was at the top of the overhanging bank ? Catching hold of a bush, Davenport gradually pulled himself up to the top of the bank ; to the great dismay of the robins, who fluttered about him with little distress- ful cries, until reassured as to tlie amicablc- ness of his intentions. Once on the top, Davenport drew a long breath, and flung himself down on the lush green grass beneath a brilliantly flowering shrub, into which little yellow- winged birds, laden with wool and horsehair, flitted every few minutes. Then he began to count the time the birds took to bring each hair, and so fell asleep. "When Davenport's consciousness again " WILKS:* 63 floated up from the dim underworld of dreams, he raised himself somewhat stiffly on one elbow as the hot sun pierced through the spreading leaves with an ardour which freed spicy odours from the adjoining plants and shrubs. Looking be- hind him, and away from the river, he could see that another bank dropped some four feet ; he w^as on the top of a little plateau devoted to the growth of .^i uit trees of various kinds. Below him, a pleasant garden sloped away towards a house built of stone, and surrounded by the inevitable verandah. Great spreading fuchsias in green tubs stood on either side of the door ; their red and purple blossoms offering seductive allurements to numberless little green humming-birds, emerald flashes of flame, whose quickly winnowing wings sup- ported them as they hovered in mid air, their beaks thrust deep down into the hearts of the flowers. A fat cur basked on the verandah with that offensive air of proprietorship w^hich only self-satisfied mongrels can assume. It seemed to Davenport that so beautiful a garden should not lack inhabi- tants, but he was scarcely prepared for the 64 THE JUDGE OF THE FOUR COBNEliS. interesting fact that two of them sat im- mediately beneath him, leaning negligently back against the bank. They were both feminine, to judge from their voices, which afforded the pleasure of contrast; for one was sweet, full, and clear, evidently that of a young w^oman, v^hilst the other had the shrill, rasping, raucous emphasis of middle age with, here and there, an occasional lapse into almost masculine decision. Davenport was about to withdraw unnoticed, when his name, exquisitely and richly pro- nounced, brought the blood to his cheek with sudden pleasure. He lay still, scarcely daring to breathe. If he attempted to move they would be sure to hear him, take him for a snake or some absurdity of that sort, and scream for assistance. Perhaps the owner of the harsh voice might possess a revolver and empty it at him for practice, with all the unreasoning promptness so characteristic of the inhabitants of this earthly paradise. The district seemed to be one in which the revolver was lord of all, a diminutive autocrat against whose fretful little bark there was no possibility of appeal. For his own part, Davenport " WILKS.*" 65 much preferred to use the fist as a weapon : the after effects were not so serious. But just as he was about to crawl away, his name was again musically pronounced by the younger voice of the two. ^* Davenport! Davenport! He must be a couniryman of yours, Wilks. Wasn't he wdth the Judge when the coach up- set ? " The person addressed as " Wilks " uttered a sound between snort and bark. " I'd judge him if I got the chance," she said. ** He'd look well in his own gaol a-wearin' striped trousers and breakin' stones." '^ Hush-h ! Never mind the Judge. What about the young Englishman ? Will he stay here ? An Englishman would make things lively, for the simple reason that all Englishmen are so serious." Davenport felt that it was time to answer the query himself and end this involuntary eavesdropping. *'I beg your pardon," he began politely, putting his head over the bank. *^ I " But he had not reckoned on the appalling promptitude displayed by '* Wilks" under F GG THE JUDGE OF THE FOUlt CORNERS. any circumstances. Before he realized what was happening, she reached out a huge hand, brown, large, rugged as a man's, grasped him by the neck of his flannel shirt, and flung him forward with a force which threatened o hr ak every bone in hid body. When Davv report recovered his breath, he found himsell ;jpny iing on the grass at the feet of a very beautiful girl. *' It's one of those loafing Four Corner fellers," said Miss Wilks, looking unutter- able things and barely permitting her victim to breathe. ^' I'll learn him to come spyin' round here." After which emphatic decla- ration of her intentions, she began to complete Davenport's education in this respect with an assiduity which threatened very speedily to end his career altogether. But the girl laid a restraining hand on the arm of this brawny virago. " Don't you see, Wilks, that this isn't one of your admirers after all ? It is the stranger. You are always so hasty." With a reluctant growl, Miss Wilks released her victim. *' What did he come here for, then. Miss Sadie ? Mayn't I chuck him in the " WJLKSr 67 liver ? " she inquired ferociously. *' Mayn't I C'uck him in the river ? " i'avenport sat up on the grass, indigna- tion- giving way to amuseir jut. 'I should be delighted," he said, "only I ^chucked' myself in a little while ago. I must apologize for going to sleep up there. Some one mentioned my name, and I — I came down to see about it," he added lamely. The recollection of this involunta.v ' descent caused a slight blush to colour ^n^. -^heek of the girl. Her eyes danced vith sympathetic mirth. ** I am so sorry," she said. " Mr. Daven- port, you must excuse our — our hastiness. Wilks has so many admirers that she is sometimes obliged to resort to strong measures to discourage them. It was fortunate for you that she hadn't a chopper with her." Miss Wilks blushed at this allusion to an incident which had happened many years ago, soon after her arrival in Canada, as cook to Four Corners gaol. The long and rough voyage from England had only in- creased her original timidity and lack of 08 TJIK JUDQK OF TTIK FOUR COUNFRS. charm. Hence she was glad to accept the situation procured for her at Four Corners, although filled with a lurking horror of prisons and prison life. When a country- man of hers died suddenly, on a somewhat rough scaffold in the gaol-yard, she began to wish that she had never left her native land; for, hearing that Miss Wilks was a countrywoman of his, and that it was she who prepared the delicate meals which softened his captivity, the murderer had requested the pleasure of her company at his obsequies. Miss Wilks, not daring to refuse this delicate mark of appreciation, but trembling with terror, stood beside the freshly dug grave in a corner of the gaol- yard, holding a dog -eared prayer-book (borrowed for the occasion) in one hand, and a black-bordered handkerchief in the other, thus adequately evincing her respect for ** the deceased," as she ever afterwards called her defunct countryman. Up to the time of that memorable experi- ence, Miss Wilks, slab-footed, angular, #itli watery grey eyes, sloping shoulders, and scanty wisps of hay-coloured hair, had never Known an element of romance in the sixteen I " WILKS:' 69 tlie fiers, fr of itry- legan (ativo years duriug which she had afflicted the officials of her native workhouse. She had been picked up by a philanthropic society and shipped to Canada, in the hope that there would be a place for her in that gene- rous, ample-bosomed country. On her reachi^ig Four CorDors, however, the general opinion was that Canada had no room for so *' witless a crittur." Miss Wilks sat on her box at the end of the wharf. *^ Oh, if you please, take me to gaol," was all she answered in reply to the questioning crowd. But when it was found that she had arrived at Four Corners in a semi-public capacity, as it were, i,e. factotum and 'Miired girl," to cook for the gaol-staff and prisoners, general commiseration was felt for the gaoler and his charges. *' It's sorter playin' it low down on the pris'ners. Why, the sight of that scrawny, tallow-faced, ungainly female oughter take away what httle appetite they've got left," said Abe Millar, as he watched Miss Wilks disappear within the frowning gates. Miss Wilks 's apparent insensibility at the funeral of her erring countryman (in reality she had been almost beside herself with .M»5Sb 70 THE JUDQK OF THE FOUR CORNERS. fright) tended still less to win for her the liking of Four Corners folk. She was not sociable; she kept herself to herself; and, crowning sin of all, dressed too plainly for a local taste which liad absorbed its elemen- tary ideas of colour from the prismatic hues of Indian bead-work. During her brief holidays Miss Wilks always strolled away into the Bush rather than mingle with the giddy crowd, although it was popularly rumoured that no mosquito would touch her, no horse-fly cast a passing glance in her direction. She had no friends, no aims, no ambitions, no desires, save to do her work and to be left alone. Folk from the back settlements had a lurking idea that she was an English lady of high degree, who had been banished to Canada by the English Government on account of her *' homely" appearance. Miss Wilks generally kept her temper. She lost it once, however, when a denizen of the Bush had proposed to her to share his frame-house and generally desirable, if some- w^hat primitive, lot. After a brief cyclonic interval of impassioned reproaches from the lady, he found himself fleeing for dear life, all ■ " WJLKSr 71 hotly pursued by Miss Wilks with a chopper. Wlien called upon for an explanation of this J3erserker fury, Miss Wilks had no explana- tion to offer. A blush of virgin modesty suffused her thin, sallow cheeks, and she continued chopping suet with the weapon which had so affrighted her simple wooer. The general opinion was that Zeke Fergus- son had been too precipitate, and that Miss Wilks had upheld the honour of her adopted country in a highly becoming, if some- what eccentric, manner. For the brief space of a week there was a revulsion of public opinion in her favour ; and it was during that sunny interval of popular esteem that the Four Corners News alluded to her as the '* fair denizen of a sunless clime, who now dwelt in unobtrusive perennial useful- ness within our walls." Miss Wilks, indif- ferent to this delicate compliment, refused to subscribe to the paper; and public opinion once more veered round, leaving her as before, '' remote, unfriended, melan- choly, slow." To the astonishment of everybody, a few years' residence in Canada entirely altered Miss Wilks's mental and physical 72 THE JUDGE OF TEE FOrU COB NEBS. r: :• cLaracteristics. Perhaps it was that, wheu Mrs. Vankleek kindly took her away from the gaol, her delight at escaping so frigid an atmosphere lent a new impulse to her development. She was no longer the shy, sallow, quiet, shrinking slip of a girl. Her ^' slab-sidedness " rapidly disappeared under the regenerating influences of good food, and a generous climate. It was ^een that she was full of latent possibilities, of a dog-like devotion to her friends. Hence it was that she had become Mrs. Vankleek's right hand since Colonel Vankleek's dis- appearance. She was devoted also to Sadie Vankleek, Mrs. Vankleek's only daughter, and considered it a duty to repulse all admirers who wished to tempt away sucli a guardian angel as herself from the stone house by the river. When Davenporii looked up at Sadie Vankleek, it seemed to him that he had never seen a lovelier girl. She was ex- quisitely shaped — tall, with hne, lustrous dark hair and deep blue eye^;, the long lashes of which curled upwards, as if reluctant to conceal so much beauty from the wo a ligh doublj of fin< girl's of hei pallor dimpb into n the 01 [dity, CO mm greatl liuessj awak after ^Yas learn infinf of p finell upp( out\1 swe< a tal loni bro^ 'I [from frigid iier %, girl. jared good 'Sen |es, of eiice eek's dis- to only fcy to ;empt from Sadie ! had ! ex- (irous long LS if from ) " WILKS:-' 73 the world. There was an innocent radiance, a light-hearted gaiety in her glance, made douhly piquant by the restraining influence of finely arched and sombre brows. The girl's oval face, the purity and regularity of her features, combined with the creamy pallor of a complexion which occasionally dimpled to rose-red, charmed the beholder into a belief that her personal beauty was the outward expression of a certain spiritu- ality, developed and fostered by intimate communion with one who had suffered greatly. And amid all this radiant love- liness lurked the suggestion of newly awakened womanhood, of a virginal quest after the inner meaning of life itself. It was the face of r Diana who had never learned oo flee — a lace with sufr^Tfestions of 'OC5' infinite tenderness in its lovely innocence, of power and proper pride of place, with finely moulded chin and short, curved upper lip, the while the nether one curled outward at the corners with the dainty sweetness of fresldy opened petals. For a tall girl she was singularly graceful, with long, sensitive fingers, and shapely hands browned by tlie sun. 74 THE JUDGE OF THE FOUR CORNERS. \ As ho lay on the ground, Davenport instinctively realized that it was an exas- perating thing to appear at so great a disadvantage before this beautiful girl. Had she been plain he would not have felt the situation so acutely. If he lived to be a hundred years old, he could never undo the infelicitous effect of those few fateful seconds in which he had been made so ridiculous by the brawny Amazon who accompanied Miss Vankleek. ^' Have I your permission to get up?" he asked at last, feeling that he had been on the ground for an eternity instead of a few seconds. '' This adventure will be a warning to me never to go eavesdropping again. First I tumble from a coach, thou I am pulled off a bank, and now I am a prisoner." Miss Wilks reluctantly relinquished her prey. As slie did so, Davenport suddenly became conscious that the wound in his head had broken out afresh. There must liavo been a sharp stone lurking beneath the carpet of tlowers, where he had laiu awaiting Miss Wilks's pleasure. Sadie VankUn^v also saw tlie wound, and was I full of Daven] paying He als( veracit have h manne Canadj Sad] protes urp< AVilks, of wai letting have 1 Da stanc to fai panie (low] ness shar the flowl out haul wa^ « WILKS:' 75 port txas- it a girl. felt Id to lever few Lade who up?" been ad of ill be pping , thou I aiji 1 her denly a his must laeath [ laiu Sadie was full of musically expressed pity, although Davenport vainly protested against her paying so much attention to such a trifle. He also added, with more enthusiasm than veracity, that it was a pleasure to him to liave his head broken in the unpremeditated manner which seemed so natural to most Canadians. Sadie Vankleek at once cut i^hort his protestations with a wave of her hand. '' Take my arm, Mr. Davenport. Now, Wilks, run on to the house, and get a basin of water and sponge. We can't think of letting you go, Mr. Davenport, until we liave stopped the bleeding." Davenport felt that under the circum- htancos it would be almost inexcusable not to faint. Mute and bewildered, he accom- panied his fair guide to the house and sank down on the verandah, with a dim conscious- ness that his head must have struck very sharply on the stones in the grass. Presently the verandah-posts swam giddily round and flow into the river. Just as he pulled them out again, they slipped from his extended liands, and all was blank. Once more he was enfolded m Miss Wilks's brawny arms. 76 THE JUDGE OF THE FOUR COBNEIiS. carried to a bedroom, and undressed by her with characteristic energy. It was not until she had applied smarting balsam to the wound that Davenport revived sufficiently to realize what had happened. He v/anted to get up and return to Old Man; but Miss Wilks eagerly undertook to inform that individual of his whereabouts, and grimly motioned him to sleep. When Davenport awoke, he fancied that he was back in Old Man's cabin; for that worthy sat by the bedside, with chin on hands, and the same inscrutable air of having known all the mysteries of tho universe since the beginning of time. ** How long have I been here ? " he asked somewhat feebly. ^' Jest about a week," answered Old Man, in matter-of-fact tones, but with a kindly glance — ^* Jest about a week. I told Ikcy that cookery of his 'ud upset any one as warn't used to it." '^It wasn't the cookery upset me," said Davenport, weakly, trying to smile. ^' It must have been either the coach, or that disgui-ed grenadier they call Miss Wilks." Old Man nodded emphatically. '' Ah, she's t' approvi with h< You gc for a to try ^ what . but M he's cc to do i way. raised lield fashio: said 3 you ti of bl Now to lei mint or f( lone D tioiJ aud inn « WILKS:' 77 her that that [m oil f th e I \ asked i [ Man, kindly [ Ikey >ne jih 1 ' said ■ that ks." she's thorough, Miss Wilks is," he said approvingly — *' Thorough. No half-measures with her, when she takes hold of things. You go to sleep agin, an' Ikey'll come on for a spell. He's bin wimderful anxious to try some of his soups on you — thinks it's ^yhat he calls a heaven-born oppertunity ; but Miss Wilks threatened to brain him, so he's contented himself with tellin' her how to do it. They're both great cooks in their way. You jest taste this, sonny." He raised Davenport to a sitting posture, and lield some broth to his lips in an old- fashioned silver spoon. '^ Doc Higginson said you was to have it by degrees, afore you tried anything solid. You've lost a lot of blood one way'n another. That's it. Now go to sleep agin. You wouldn't like to learn to chaw now you've nothin' on your mind, I s'pose ? Y^ou might begin with thre 3 or four plags a day, jest to prevent feeli i lonely in a furrin land, so io speak." Davenport forcibly disclaimed any it n- tion of adopting so disgusting a pr; uce, and fell asleep again. ''Wal, wal, to be sure," said Old j^Ean, iinperturbably. " P'r'aps 'twould be a little 78 THE JUDGE OF THE FOUR COliNERS. sudden to begin . You'll learn a heap of things you don't know nothin' about now afore me an' Ikey's done eddicatiu' you." And with this significant vaticination, lie once more resumed his favourite attitude until relieved by Ikey. 1 m T*B.T'«,nm?? 5ap of |t now Lcatiu' ( 70 ) on, he titiule CHAPTER IV. MRS. VANKLEEK. Miss Wilks, professedly distrustful of Old Man's and Ikey's capacity to nurse Davenport properly, kept a sharp eye on the somewhat erratic though well-inten- tioned proceedings of these worthie ; ; and finally, being dissatisfied, took matters mto her own hands, with a stern determination characteristic of one whose well-known prowess with choppers had a tendency to discourage carping criticism. There was also a delicacy about the situation, owing to the amorous relations supposed to exist between herself. Old Man, and Ikey. The inhabitants of Four Corners were greatly interested in this slowly developing love- story — a story which had been unfolding with epical slowness for the last twenty years. The betting was even that Ikey 80 THE JUDQE OF THE FOUR COIiNEJiS. would siioot Old Man, Old Man carve Tkey to pieces wiMi a bowie knife, or Miss Wilks, in a fit of desperation at being unable to come to an impartial decision, decapitate them both with her chopper — that weapon of offence which, in the minds of her neighbours, bore as potent a reputa- tion as the far-famed Excalibur of Arthurian legend. But Miss Wilks had a conscience, and that conscience smote her when she thought of the way in which she had added to Davenport's sufferings by her unpreme- ditated assault. Her atonement took the somewhat material shape of jellies, orna- mentally emblematic of their commou fatherland, and of luscious fruits and deh- cate ^akes calculated to appeal to all the higher instincts of a man's stomach — the only god to whom the majority of men, iu Miss Wilks 's opinion, were capable of offer- ing continued worship. She was filled with poignant remorse that hers should have been the hand to deal Davenport so much pain ; although, it is true, this remorse usually manifested itself in a desire to make things as unpleasant as possible for Ike} and Old Man, at wliom she tleered ami flouted to writ produc as if he Miss ^ indiffei oratori Ikey's caused loyalt} lieve t passio] ^vith c Pro had b head ; a glo^ who ] inaus] acqua take . wliicl tion ( his n( sight takei. ?>S'. MBS. VANKLEEK. 81 Ikey Miss being vision, )per-" Iminds [eputa- uriaii lence, >n slio added pre me - k the oma- mmou i deli- l11 tJio I — the en, iu ' offei"- l with have mucli morse make Ike}- [ and i fioiited in a way which caused the former to writhe with anguish, although her gibes produced about as much effect on Old Man as if ho liad been a brick wall. Whereupon Miss Wilks, affecting to regard Old Man's indifference as wholly feigned, indulged in oratorial remarks of a nature which filled Ikey's cup of anguish to the brim, but never caused him to swerve for a moment from loyalty to his friend, who appeared to be- lieve that Miss Wilks cloaked a consuming passion for tliem both which filled her days v;ith care, her sleepless nights with woe. Providence, fortunately for Davenport, had blessed him with a remarkably thick head ; and he was soon able to write home a glowing account of the strange people who had received him among them in so inauspicious a fashion, but who, on closer accjuaintance, proved to be equally ready to take him to their hearts. The only thing wliich puzzled him was the paltry estima- tion of human life which prevailed among his new friends. ^' What's the good of shooting a man on sight and then finding out you are mis- taken ?" he asked Old Man one afternoon G 82 rilE JUDQE OF Tllli FOUlt CORNEltS. I l\ li when that Machiavellian gentlomau looked iu to inquire how ho was getting on. *^ Saves argifyinV' <^i'yly replied Old Man ; . . '^ an' anythin' as saves argifyin's a blessin'." fl He looked at the pretty furniture, the thick ^ carpet beneath his feet, the dainty pictures on the walls. *^ Ain't it about time for Miss Sadie to have her room agin ? " **What? Havel ?" *' Yes. But I reckon you didn't know it." Davenport asked for his hat. '^ Hadn't the Hlig'htest idea of it. I won't trespass on her hospitality any longer." Old Man nodded. ^* Ikey an' me 'lowed you was sorter losin' time, you bein' wishful ■ to get in crops this year. We've fixed on a section of land down thar by the Crick, with a hit of Ikey's Bush runnin' across the bottom. The deeds is all ready to sign ou Monda}^, an' we'll have the neighbours iu > for log-rollin' 's soon as you're well enough. They'll knock up a house for yer." Davenport was overwhelmed by this deli- cately disinterested kindness. *'If so be as you're short of cash," * continued Old Man, his face as expression- less as a balk of timber, '*me an' Ikey 11 plan the cof tied yc ueighb crawl ( the sit cuougl the B 11 ei gill mill." Bef thank tlio w to avc "IV parloi ^rctfi Man, with Tl liieni port. the on cute layi thrn ■ » ■*'! \ tko.| ■Man; t Ksin'." 1 thick ■ctiires lio for 1 K 3 wit." iadu't ;* •espass 'lowed wishful ' r xed on Crick, )ss the igu on 'iirs in > lOllgll. MBS. VANKLKEK. 83 is deli^ cash," 3ssion- ' Ikey '11 plank down the rest. The chap as upset the coach " — ho hroke into a chuckle — '* an' tied you up, didn't reckon on gittin' a new iioiglibour out of that business. We'll jest crawl down to the Crick to-morrow, to see the site. It's iiiore'n a hundred acres ; thar's enough timber ready felled an' seasoned in the Bush to build the house, once the neighbours rolls down the logs to the saw- mill." Before Davenport could express his tlianks. Old Man stepped lightly through the window, and disappeared just in time to avoid Miss Wilks. '' Mrs. Vankleek wants to see you in the l)ajiour," said that pugnacious Amazon, re- ,L;i'otfully surveying the flying figure of Old Man, as if anxious to break a parting lance with him. *' Miss Sadie's there, too." The latter part of Miss Wilks' s announce- ment was not wholly unpleasing to Daven- port. In all the novels he had ever read, the picturesque heroine invariably Misisted on binding up the wounds of the perse- cuted hero ; but in this case, instead of laying cool hands upon his burning brow through the night-watches, the picturesque ^, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 Ik lii^ 1 2.? yo 12.0 III U ill 1.6 III ^ V] ^^A '/ Hiotographic Sciences CorporatioR 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. I4S80 (716) 872-4503 ^ ^.V \\ rv 6^ .^\^^ >\^ 84 THE JUDGE OF THE FOUR COBNERS. heroine had simply confined her attentions to sending him cool, cand very occasional, messages of inquiry. Davenport had long since admitted to himself that Sadie Van- kleek fulfilled all the necessary qualifications for a heroine. Whether she would regard him as a hero was an altogether different thing ; it seemed to him that under no circumstances could she possibly do so when she recalled the ludicrous figure ho had cut in the masculine hands of Miss Wilks, who preceded him down the passage, and glared back with what she meant to be an encouraging glance. *'I've got him," she announced, flinging the door wide open, and almost dragging Davenport into the room, as if he w^erc some rare animal which she had picked up in the Bush. Having thus introduced Davenport to Mrs. Yankleek, she thrust her arms akimbo, and prepared to take part in any discussion as to what ought to be done with her captive. '' That will do, Wilks. You can leave the room," said the elder lady's peremptory voice; and Wilks, with an indignant toss of the head, departed. MliS. VANKLEEK. 85 Whilst this short conversation was going ou between Wilks and her mistress, Daven- port noticed with pleased surprise that there was not the slightest resemblance between Sadie and her mother. In the present state of his feelings he would have resented any apparent likeness between the two. He wished to think that there was nothing in earth, or sky, or sea that betrayed a personal affinity with Miss Vankleek ; she was com- plete in herself — so rare and beautiful a being that he wished to place her on a pedestal of his own, where all comparison should be impossible. He was conscious of shaking hands with her before the elder lady crossed the room. Then, having intro- duced him to her mother, Sadie departed and left them alone together. It was some consolation to Davenport to think that, in passing by his chair, Sadie had insisted on placing a peculiarly soft cushion beneath his wounded head. After a few polite expressions of regret at the mischances which had befallen him, Mrs. Vankleek almost insensibly turned the conversation into another channel. It struck Davenport that she was particularly 80 Tim JUDGE OF THE FOUJi COIINEJIS. eager to learn every detail of the accident to the Springs coach ; she even smiled slightly with humorous appreciation as he described the woebegone expression on the Judge's countenance in the early dawu. **It is not often that a judge himself is judged. You are quite sure that the deeds were all taken away?" she asked presently. ^' There can be no mistake about that ? " ** I don't think there could be any mis- take. It is impossible not to k?iow the crackling of parchment. The robber, who- ever he was, took one or two deeds out of the box, as if to identify them. Then ho went off with the wdiole lot." '*And what was he like?" Mrs. Vaii- kleek eagerly inquired. Davenport declared his inability, owing to the darkness of the night, to describe the road-agent. *'I had a vague impression that he was tall ; but I was so confused that I couldn't be certain about anything. Now^ I must thank you for your kindness, Mrs. Vankleek, and return to my friends." Mrs. Vankleek smiled. She was still an extremely handsome woman, and the smile MRS. VANKLKKK. 87 \v