My "Pardner" and I

CHAPTER IX. – THE STAGE DRIVER

FROM Gold Bluff Vance sent to the Banner one of his strongest descriptive letters. The inspiration of the new west, with its gorges, mountains, beautiful valleys and gurgling streams abounding with trout, tinged its every sentence.

His vivacious style, which had won for him the place he occupied on the Banner, was reinforced with the new and intoxicating sights of the picturesque. For two weeks he did little else than tramp through valleys, following up mountain streams on fishing jaunts, and felt that he was “roughing it” in a most delightful fashion. One night, coming in from a long tramp far up in the mountains, he found a large bundle of mail awaiting him that had been forwarded from Butte Citv. Among his letters was one from the chief, which read as follows:

Banner Office,

New York City, July

Dear Sir:

Your letters to the Banner, in one sense of the word, are all and even more than I expected. They are giving excellent satisfaction. As yet you have expressed no decided opinion in regard to the desirability of Western investments.

My ideas are to educate our readers against unstable investments. Nine out of every ten of the mining shafts in Montana, in my judgment, have had more money put into them than ever has or ever will be taken out. You will also find many Western towns where they are selling lots at from one to two hundred dollars each, which, in reality, would be expensive property to own at the government price of $1.25 per acre. Of course, there are, perhaps, a few honorable exceptions.

To Vance Gilder, Esq.

Respectfully,

J. R. S., Chief.

When one is seeking an excuse for his convictions, especially if they are as strong as Vance’s had become in regard to Butte City and Waterville, the one little sentence, “Of course, there are, perhaps, a few honorable exceptions,” in the chief’s letter saves him a great deal of worry. Vance was too light hearted to be cast down by the half-criticism of the class of correspondence he was sending in.

He had an engagement that evening with Louise Bonifield and her father; indeed, his was a standing invitation at the Bonifields’, and almost every afternoon since his arrival at Gold Bluff found him at their mountain home.

As he started from the hotel he was accosted by a familiar voice: “Hello, pard; how d’ ye do?” and Steve Gibbons thrust out his long arm to shake Vance’s hand in western fashion. He still wore his sombrero and high-topped boots.

Vance assured Gibbons that he was delighted to see him.

“I knew you would be,” said Gibbons, “You see, I have given up the real estate t business clown at Waterville, and am turned stage driver. Of course, every man in this ‘ere country is lookin’ for promotion. I don’t reckon I’m any smarter than other people, but I’ve had my eye on this job for several months; but you can bet your life them other real estate agents didn’t know nothin’ about it. I tell you, pardner, it’s a mighty elevatin’ position to drive a six-horse team through these deep mountain gorges in all kinds of wind and weather. Had to give a mighty stout bond, too, for we handle all the express matter, and there’s a good deal of gold dust hauled down from this ‘ere camp.”

Vance was glad to meet anyone, however slight the acquaintance had been, and in the course of their conversation Steve Gibbons confessed to him that he was “givin’ it to him just a leetle” in regard to the town lots which Vance had purchased of the Town Company.

“You see,” said he, “the facts are, the Town Company of Waterville has made that ‘ere town, and are still makin’ it. It’s a mighty pert place, and is growin’ perter all the time.”

Vance mentally wondered if all the “honest intentioned” fellows of Waterville would talk in the same way about the Town Company if they were occupying positions where their interests were no longer adverse to the Company’s.

“Then you don’t think I paid too much for my lots?” asked Vance, looking up with a quizzical expression.

“No,” said Steve Gibbons, “them lots are all right, pardner, and will make you a barrel if you hold on to ‘em. They sold ‘em to you cheap enough. That was just a leetle competition talk I was givin’ you that night down at Waterville. Business is business, you know, when you are sellin’ town lots, and a man has got to talk for hisself. I really did want to sell you some lots, that’s a fact, ‘cause I wanted to rake in the commission; but it’s all over with now. I have throwed up the whole darned business of sellin’ lots since I was promoted. Old Dick Ballard,” said he, “is jest as prima facie as ever, and says his company is the finest drilled militia in the state. By the way,” he continued, “the Town Company has had a meetin’, and the people are feelin’ mighty good jess now’.”

“How’s that?” asked Vance.

“Oh,” replied Gibbons, “about once a month the Town Company have a meetin’, and pass resolutions, declar’ dividends and get up a new’ prospectus of different manufacturin’ enterprises that’s goin’ to be built thar; also, of colleges and state institutions that will be located at Waterville this comin’ year, and that always makes the people feel high-spirited for the next week or ten days, anyhow. Most of the people go on a spree after one o’ them encouragin’ meetin’s.”

“I presume,” said Vance, “that Homer Winthrop is one of the leading spirits of the Company.”

“He is one of the Company,” said Gibbons, as he filled his pipe and lit it, “but he lacks a good deal, I can tell you, of bein’ the biggest toad in the puddle. There’s old Colonel Alexander, he’s the fellow that lays out the plans on a gigantic scale. Then there’s General Ira House. I ‘spect he has the biggest reputation of any town boomer on the western half of the continent – I allow as what he has. And when you’re talkin’ about smart ones, you don’t want to forget B. Webster Legal; he’s the corporation attorney, and you can bet your last half dollar the company will never run agin’ any shoals as long as he stands at the wheel and writes up contracts. Oh, he’s a hummer, and no mistake.”

“It’s reported down thar’ that half a dozen different railroad companies are tryin’ mighty hard to get him for their attorney, but he saws, ‘Not much; I have cast my fortune with my friends and with Waterville, and I’ll stick by the enterprise as long as a town lot can be sold.’.rdquo;

“The Town Company is mighty cute,” he went on, “they never have any law suits, ‘cause their contracts are drawn up with knots tied knee deep all over the fellow they’re dealin’ with.”

It is probable that Steve Gibbons would have gone on indefinitely had not Vance begged to be excused, pleading a previous engagement. They bade each other good night, Gibbons starting for the stables to look after his horses, and Vance walked leisurely along toward the Bonifield’s home.

That afternoon Louise had accepted his invitation to go on a fishing jaunt some day during the week to a place called Silver Point Lake, some two miles away.

Her simplicity of manner and frankness, though possessing, withal, a demure humor, which was one of her charming characteristics, had greatly fascinated him.

They were standing on the cottage porch in the soft summer twilight, while a mountain breeze was tossing the ringlets of Louise’s hair about, as if coquetting with them. Vance was studying her face while she was looking far away toward the western mountains, where the sun had left a reddened glow on the sky, which, he said, was a promise of fair weather for the fishing excursion the next day. Presently, a creaky voice commenced calling:

“Louise! Louise! where is your par?” and before Vance’s fair companion could explain, a woman well advanced in years came out on the porch, and seemed surprised at seeing Vance, and eyed him critically.

“Aunt Sally,” said Louise, “this is Mr. Gilder, papa’s friend. Mr. Gilder, this is my Aunt Sally, father’s sister.”

Aunt Sally acknowledged the introduction with a stately bow. Her apparel was of the fashion of a quarter of a century ago.

“Am very glad to see you, suh,” she said, addressing Vance. “I understand you are interested with my brother in his mine. I can give you, Mr. Gilder, some very excellent advice; I can, indeed, suh, but I will defer it until some other time.” Then turning to Louise, she said, “Do you know where your par’s gone?”

“I do not,” replied Louise, sweetly, “I think he will be here in a few moments.”

“I just allow he’s grub-stakin’ some of them pesky prospectin’ miners again,” cried Aunt Sally. “Mr. Gilder,” she continued, “I have to watch over my brother very closely, I do, indeed, suh. He’s been plantin’ money all over these mountains for many years, but there’s no crop ever been harvested. I allow I’ll give him a piece of my mind when he comes home.” Saying this, she turned and disappeared into the house. Louise was evidently confused, and regretted her aunt’s words, while Vance was at a loss to understand the import of the spinster s remarks.

"I am very sorry, Mr. Gilder,” said Louise – and he noticed she was trembling like a frightened bird – “sorry that Aunt Sally should so far forget herself as to speak so before a stranger.”

Vance declared there was no reason for being disturbed, but Louise was not wholly reassured by his words. “I know papa will be very angry with Aunt Sally.”

“There surely is no cause for that,” replied Vance.

"You see,” said Louise, “mamma died when Virginia and I were little girls, and Aunt Sally has been a mother to us. Ever since papa commenced work on Gray Rocks she has continually opposed him. She says he will never find a dollar s worth of gold if he sinks his shaft a thousand feet. I sometimes think she has influenced sister Virgie. Sister is away from home now, teaching school at Waterville. I do not know whether papa is wrong or not, but if he is, then I am also, for I believe with all my heart that some time papa will find the wealth he has so persistently labored for so many years. And I sincerely hope,” she continued, laying her hand on Vance’s arm and looking pleadingly up into his face, “that you will not be influenced by anything that Aunt Sally may have said, will you?”

Vance was only human; he could not withstand such an appeal, If doubts had ever come to him, the trembling girl at his side, by her looks and words, had put them to flight. “No,” he replied, “my faith is as firm as the rocks in your father’s mine.”

CHAPTER X. – PROPERTY HAS GONE UP

IMMEDIATELY after breakfast the following morning, Vance was waited upon by Col. Bonifield. The old miner bore a troubled expression on his face. Vance invited him to his room.

“Mr. Gilder,” said the old miner, as he raised himself to his full height, and with the dignity of a general addressed Vance: “I assure yo’, suh, I am greatly pained at the uncalled fo’ remarks which my sister made in yo’r presence last evening; I am indeed, suh.

“I assure you,” replied Vance, “there is no occasion to refer to the matter at all. I assured your daughter, and I now assure you, that I have every confidence in the mine, and will continue to have until you yourself have sufficient reason to shake your faith. I certainly cannot say more, and under the circumstances could not say less.”

“Mr. Gilder,” said the old miner, “yo’, suh, are a very honorable gentleman, and I am very proud of my partnership with yo’. I am indeed, suh. In regard to my sister – in her younger days, I assure yo’, she was one of the most rema’kable women of Virginia; yes, suh, a vehy rema’kable woman. She certainly has been a true sister to me, suh, and a faithful mother to my daughters, but in some way she disbelieves in Gray Rocks, and would yo’ believe it, suh, she has gone so far at times as to intimate that I am crazy as a March hare in regard to ever ‘strikin’ it rich’ on our minin’ property; yes, suh, she certainly has said some vehy bitter things against Gray Rocks, but fo’ all that, she is a vehy rema’kable woman, even to this day. Yes, suh, quite rema’kable.”

“I now have a matter, Mr. Gilder,” he continued, “of vehy great importance to discuss with yo.” Vance offered the old miner a cigar, which he accepted, and soon they were discussing the “important matter,” which of course referred to Gray Rocks.

“We are not far away, Mr. Gilder, from the 300 foot level. Our machinery and pumps, suh, have been workin’ rema’kably well. Two weeks mo’ and our shaft will be finished; yes, suh, finished. Then we will cross-cut, and my opinion is, it will be well fo’ yo’ to remain in Gold Bluff and be ready to send in yo’r resignation as cor’spondent of that New York paper; yes, suh that is my advice. It is only proper, suh, that yo’ should enjoy the riches that await yo’.”

“But supposing, Col. Bonifield,” said Vance, “supposing that you do not find any pay ore when you crosscut into the vein, as you say; in that event, I suppose you agree with me that it would be a pretty good idea for me to hold my position on the Banner?”

“Of cou’se, suh,” replied the old miner, “but there is but one chance in ten thousand that we won’t strike it. I admit of this one chance against us, suh, fo’ the sake of argument alone. Mr. Grim is now takin’ out of the Peacock some of the richest ore I ever saw in my life, he is indeed, suh – and his mine joins ours, as yo’ know, directly on the nawth.”

Vance was silent for a few moments, and then said: “In the event, Col. Bonifield, we do not strike it; what then? Will you be discouraged?”

“No, suh; if we fail at the 300 foot level, suh, and yo’ can furnish the money, we will start the next mornin’ fo’ the 400 foot level; but I assure yo’, suh, I have no idea yo ‘ll have to furnish any mo’ money. Gray Rocks is a sure winner; it is indeed, suh. The oldest miners in the camp say that if we stick to Gray Rocks it will be worth mo’ in five years than Rufus Grim’s Peacock mine. When I was yo’r age, Mr. Gilder,” he continued, blowing a cloud of smoke away out of the window toward Gray Rocks, “I could not have stuck to that property year after year as I have been doin’. Why suh, it took a quarter of a century’s experience fo’ me to learn that a rollin’ stone gathers no moss’. it did indeed, suh. Now I have observed the fellows that strike it, in nine cases out of ten, are the ones who follow up and hold on after they once strike a trail. Why, suh, if yo’ had seen the float rock that I found befo’ stakin’ out Gray Rocks, yo’ would know why I believe there is an entire hill full of wealth over yonder.”

While they were talking there came a gentle rap on the door. Vance called out for them to “come in. The door opened, and a boy sidled into the room with a letter in his hand and asked for Col. Bonifield.

“At yo’r service, suh,” said the old miner’ rising with much dignity. “Thank yo’, suh,” said he, taking the letter. The boy took himself off, closing the door behind him, while the colonel, adjusting his glasses, read aloud the address, “Miss Louise Bonifield.”

Dropping his glasses from his eyes, he placed the letter in his pocket and said: “Mr. Boast has evidently returned to Gold Bluff.”

“Mr. Boast, did you say?” asked Vance.

“Yes, suh, Mr. Boast – a young man in whom I have only the slightest confidence. His full name is J. Arthur Boast. His father, Colonel Boast, lives on a ranch about three miles from here.”

Vance could never explain why, but the unfavorable opinion he had formed of J. Arthur Boast while at Waterville was in the twinkling of an eye changed to hatred. Soon after, Colonel Bonifield took his departure, and Vance commenced preparing for his next day’s fishing-jaunt. His door had been left ajar, and presently he heard a squeaky, ill-omened voice that he well remembered.

“How do you do, Mr. Gilder?”

Vance turned and saw J. Arthur Boast standing at his door. “How do you do,” said Vance, rather abruptly.

“I did not expect to find you at Gold Bluff,” said Boast in an insinuating tone of voice.

“Why not?” said Vance; without deigning to look up.

“Oh, you eastern fellows, and newspaper men in particular, never stay very long in one place. So you’ve met my old mining friend, Colonel Bonifield?”

“Yes,” replied Vance.

“I presume you’ve met his daughter, Miss Louise?” As he made this remark he looked out of the corners of his restless eyes in a manner that was intended to be cunning Vance was full of resentment, and dared not trust himself to make and immediate reply. Presently Boast continued: “They are old friends, of mine; a most respectable family. I used to live in Gold Bluff; may live here again. One can’t say what may happen, you know.”

“I thought,” said Vance, “you were in love with Waterville.”

“One’s in love where one’s possessions are, don’t you see?”

Vance did not reply to the question, but busied himself with his fishing tackle. Presently Boast took a bottle from his pocket, and said:

“Will you have a drink of red liquor Vance replied in the negative.

“Well, I suppose,” said Boast, “I ought not to drink so much. The truth is, I am a pretty devilish hard citizen. I am drinking entirely too much of the stuff, but no one takes interest enough in me to tell me so; yet I know I’m going to the bad. The habit is formed and what is a fellow going to do about it?”

He waited some time for a reply, but as Vance made none, he proceeded to pour out a small portion of the contents of the bottle into a glass, and then added some water to it and stood looking out of the window.

“Won’t you be seated?” asked Vance.

“Thank you, I believe I will,” replied Boast, and sat down with the glass of liquor in his hand, and said nothing for several minutes. He acted as if he dreaded the ordeal of swallowing the portion, but felt it would not do to set it aside after all he had said in regard to being a hard drinker. Finally he gulped it down at a single swallow, and then drank a great quantity of water immediately afterward. He strangled considerably and his eyes became very red, and evidently was glad the trial was over. Presently he said:

“Mr. Gilder, there are things going to happen down at Waterville in the next ninety days that will surprise everyone. Some very large manufacturing enterprises wall soon be located there.”

“That certainly is very welcome news,” replied Vance, “as a property owner in the new city, I am naturally interested in its development.”

"Property has gone up ten per cent since you were there.”

“Is that so?” said Vance, looking up in some surprise. “Of course,” Boast continued, “I am selling my special bargain list at the same old prices, but the Company and other real estate agents who have desk room here and there over the town, are trying very hard to inflate prices. I am holding them level, however, and intend to keep on doing so. I don’t propose having Waterville killed by a lot of town boomers, who are trying to get prices away above intrinsic values.”

“It is very fortunate,” replied Vance, “that Waterville has such a conservative citizen as yourself.”

“It’s very complimentary for you to say so, I am sure,” replied Boast. “Of course. Mr. Gilder, I would not say anything detrimental about anyone.”

“Certainly not,” replied Vance. The tenor of his conversation was decidedly wicked in its insinuations; indeed, one to hear him talk would naturally think the destiny of Waterville rested entirely with J. Arthur Boast. Presently, in a high, creaking voice, he said:

“How do you like Miss Louise?”

“Miss Louise?” repeated Vance, with a perplexed look on his face.

“Yes, Miss Louise Bonifield. How do you like her? Pretty fair specimen for the west, ain’t she?”

“My likes and dislikes,” said Vance, “are hardly to be taken into consideration. One seldom forms an opinion until he is acquainted. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. I have known people for a very short time, and yet instinctively taken a great dislike to them. Miss Bonifield,” continued Vance, without looking up, "has the appearance of a lady of refinement and culture, but as my observations have been limited, I can hardly say more than that I am well pleased with both the young lady and her father.” At this Vance prepared to leave the room.