Wunpost

by Dane Coolidge

  CHAPTER XXVII

  A COME-BACK

  It takes an iron nerve to come back for more punishment right after asolar plexus blow, but Judson Eells had that kind. Phillip F. Laphamwent to pieces and began to beg, but Eells reached out for the papers.

  "Just give me that contract," he suggested amiably; "there must be somemistake."

  "Yes, you bet there's a mistake," came back Wunpost triumphantly, "butwe'll show these papers to the judge. This ain't the first time you'vetried to put one over, but you robbed us once before."

  He turned to Wilhelmina, whose eyes were dark with rage, and she noddedand stood close beside him.

  "Yes," she said, "and I was selling it for almost nothing, just to getthat miserable grubstake. Oh, I think you just ought to be--hung!"

  She took one of the contracts and ran through it to make sure, and Eellscoughed and sent Lapham away.

  "Now let's sit down," he said, "and talk this matter over. And if,through an oversight, the clause has been left out perhaps we can makeother arrangements."

  "Nothing doing," declared Wunpost. "You're a crook and you know it; andI don't want that grubstake contract, nohow. And there's a feller intown that I know for a certainty will give five hundred thousanddollars, cash."

  "Oh, no!" protested Eells, but his glance was uneasy and he smiled whenWilhelmina spoke up.

  "Well, I _do_!" she said. "I want that grubstake contractcancelled. But forty thousand dollars----"

  "I'll give you more," put in Eells, suddenly coming to life. "I'll bondyour mine for a hundred thousand dollars if you'll give me a little moretime."

  "And will you bring out that grubstake contract and have it cancelled inmy presence?" demanded Wilhelmina peremptorily, and Eells bowed beforethe storm.

  "Yes, I'll do that," he agreed, "although a hundred thousanddollars----"

  "There's a hundred thousand in sight!" broke in Wunpost intolerantly."But what do you want to trade with a crook like that for?" he demandedof Wilhelmina, "when I can get you a certified check? Is he the only manin town that can buy your mine? I'll bet you I can find you twenty. Andif you don't get an offer of five hundred thousand cash----"

  "I'll make it two hundred," interposed Judson Eells hastily, "andsurrender the cancelled grubstake!"

  "I don't _want_ the danged grubstake!" burst out Wunpostimpatiently. "What good is it now, when my claim has been jumped and Iain't got a prospect in sight? No, it ain't worth a cent, now that theSockdolager is located, and I don't want it counted for anything."

  "But _I_ want it," objected Wilhelmina, "and I'm willing to let itcount. But if others will pay me more----"

  "I'll bond your mine," began Judson Eells desperately, "for four hundredthousand dollars----"

  "Don't you do it," came back Wunpost, "because under a bond and lease hecan take possession of your property. And if he ever gits a-hold ofit----"

  "I'm talking to Miss Campbell," blustered Eells indignantly, but hisguns were spiked again. Wilhelmina knew his record too well, for he haddriven her from the Willie Meena, and yet she lingered on.

  "Suppose," she said at last, "I should sell my mine elsewhere; how muchwould you take for that grubstake?"

  "I wouldn't sell it at any price!" returned Judson Eells instantly. "I'mconvinced that he has other claims."

  "Well, then, how much will you give me in cash for my mine and throw thegrubstake in?"

  "I'll give you four hundred thousand dollars in four yearlypayments----"

  "Don't you do it," butted in Wunpost, but Wilhelmina turned upon him andhe read the decision in her eye.

  "I'll take it," she said. "But this time the papers will be drawn up bya lawyer that I will hire. And I must say, Mr. Eells, I think the wayyou changed those papers----"

  "It ought to put him in the Pen," observed Wunpost vindictively. "You'reeasy--and you're compounding a felony."

  "Well, I don't know what that is," answered Wilhelmina recklessly, "butanyway, I'll get that grubstake."

  "Well, I know one thing," stated Wunpost. "I'm going to keep thesepapers until he makes the last of those payments. Because if he don'tdig that gold out inside of four years it won't be because he don't_try_."

  "No, you give them to me," she demanded, pouting, and Wunpost handedthem over. This was a new one on him--Wilhelmina turning pouty! But thebig fight was over, and when Eells went away she dismissed John C.Calhoun and cried.

  It takes time to draw up an ironclad contract that will hold a man asslippery as Eells, but two outside lawyers who had come in with the rushdid their best to make it air-tight. And even after that Wunpost took itto Los Angeles to show a lawyer who was his _friend_. When it cameback from the friend there was a proviso against everything, includingdeath and acts of God. But Judson Eells signed it and made a firstpayment of twenty-five thousand dollars down, after which John C.Calhoun suddenly dropped out of sight before Wilhelmina could thank him.She heard of him later as being in Los Angeles, and then he came backthrough Blackwater; but before she could see him he was gone again, onsome mysterious errand into the hills. Then she returned to the ranchand missed him again, for he went by without making a stop. A month hadgone by before she met him on the street, and then she _knew_ hewas avoiding her.

  "Why, good morning, Miss Campbell," he exclaimed, bowing gallantly;"how's the mine and every little thing? You're looking fine, there'snothing to it; but say, I've got to be going!"

  He started to rush on, but Wilhelmina stopped him and looked himreproachfully in the eye.

  "Where have you been all the time?" she chided. "I've got something Iwant to give you."

  "Well, keep it," he said, "and I'll drop in and get it. See you later."And he started to go.

  "No, wait!" she implored, tagging resolutely after him, and Wunposthalted reluctantly. "Now I _know_ you're mad at me," she charged;"that's the first time you ever called me Miss Campbell."

  "Is that so?" he replied. "Well, it must have been the clothes. When youwore overalls you was Billy, and that white dress made it Wilhelmina;and now it's Miss Campbell, and then some."

  He stopped and mopped the sweat from his perspiring brow, but he refusedto meet her eye.

  "Won't you come up to my office?" she asked very meekly. "I've gotsomething important to tell you."

  "Is that feller Eells trying to beat you out of your money?" he demandedwith sudden heat, but she declined to discuss business on the street. Inher office she sat him down and closed the door behind them, then drewout a contract from her desk.

  "Here's that grubstake agreement, all cancelled," she said, and he tookit and grunted ungraciously.

  "All right," he rumbled; "now what's the important business? Is the bankgoing broke, or what?"

  "Why, no," she answered, beginning to blink back the tears, "what makesyou talk like that?"

  "Well, I was just into Los Angeles, trying to round up that bankexaminer, and I thought maybe he'd made his report."

  "What--really?" she cried, "don't you think the bank is safe? Why, allmy money is there!"

  "How much you got?" he asked, and when she told him he snorted."Twenty-five thousand, eh?" he said. "How'd he pay you--with a check?Well, he might not have had a cent. A man that will rob a girl will robhis depositors--you'd better draw out a few hundred."

  She rose up in alarm, but something in his smile made her sit down andeye him accusingly.

  "I know what you're doing," she said at last; "you're trying to breakhis bank. You always said you would."

  "Oh, that stuff!" he jeered, "that was nothing but hot air. I'm ablow-hard--everybody knows that."

  She looked at him again, and her face became very grave, for she knewwhat was gnawing at his heart. And she was far from being convinced.

  "You didn't thank me," she said, "for returning your grubstake. Doesthat mean you really don't care? Or are you just mad because I took awayyour mine? Of course I know you are."

  "Sure, I'm mad," he admitted. "Wouldn't you be mad? Well, why should Ithank you for th
is? You take away my mine, that was worth millions ofdollars, and gimme back a piece of paper."

  He slapped the contract against his leg and thrust it roughly into hisshirt, at which Wilhelmina burst into tears.

  "I--I'm sorry I stole it," she confessed between sobs, "and now Fatherand everybody is against me. But I did it for you--so you wouldn't getkilled--and so Father could have his road. And now he won't take it,because the money isn't ours. He says I'm to return it to you."

  "Well, you tell your old man," burst out Wunpost brutally, "that he'scrazy and I won't touch a cent. I guess I know how to get my rightswithout any help from him."

  "Why, what do you mean?" she queried tremulously, but he shut his mouthdown grimly.

  "Never mind," he said, "you just hold your breath, and listen forsomething to drop. I ain't through, by no manner of means."

  "Oh, you're going to fight Eells!" she cried out reproachfully. "I justknow something dreadful will happen."

  "You bet your life it will--but not to me. I'm after that old boy'shide."

  "And won't you take the money?" she asked regretfully, and when he shookhis head she wept. It was not easy weeping, for Wilhelmina was not thekind that practises before a mirror, and the agony of it touched hisheart.

  "Aw, say, kid," he protested, "don't take on like that--the world hasn'tcome to an end. You ain't cut out for this rough stuff, even if you didsteal me blind, but I'm not so sore as all that. You tell your old manthat I'll accept ten thousand dollars if he'll let me rebuild thatroad--because ever since it washed out I've felt conscience-stricken ashell over starting that cloudburst down his canyon."

  He rose up gaily, but she refused to be comforted until he laid his bighand on her head, and then she sprang up and threw both arms around hisneck and made him give her a kiss. But she did not ask him to forgiveher.