_ CHAPTER XXXI. DOCTOR DICK TELLS THE NEWS
When the coach had got well away from the Dead Line, Harding gave a deep sigh of relief, for the first time feeling that Celeste was safe, and would not be retaken by the outlaws.
"Well, Doc, she's safe now, and we didn't lose our scalps," he said.
"It is a cause of congratulation all round, Harding."
"Now, Doctor Dick,
you have got to tell the young lady about the poor crazy fellow."
"Did you not tell her?"
"That his wound had crazed him, yes; but that is not the worst of it."
"Ah, yes, you mean that he has been captured?"
"I cannot say that, Doc; but he has mysteriously disappeared."
"Well, you wish me to break the news to her?"
"I do, for I can't tell her what I know will hurt her, and it won't do for her to hear it from the men when she arrives in Last Chance."
"I guess you are right, pard, so draw up, and I'll take a seat inside the coach, and tell her the news."
"Be very gentle, Doc, for I have an idea she loves that young man."
"I'll break it to her as gently as I can," was the response, and as Harding drew rein a moment after, Doctor Dick sprang down from the box, and said:
"May I ride with you, Miss Seldon?"
"Certainly, sir, if you desire."
"I have something to talk to you about," said Doctor Dick, as he entered the coach and took the front seat.
"I shall be glad to hear what you have to say, sir, and I desire now to thank you for your very great kindness toward me, while you risked your life in coming out here to serve me."
"Do not speak of it, Miss Seldon, for the miners all chipped in and made up a purse for your ransom, while they are now anxiously awaiting your coming to give you a right royal welcome, for you will be the first lady who ever came to our camp."
"Indeed! this will be an honor; but do you mean that there are none of my sex there?"
"Not one, only rough men, but with noble hearts many of them, so that you will be made to feel at once at home."
"How odd it will be, yet I have no hesitancy in going there, I assure you," and Celeste gazed into the face of the man before her with both interest and admiration.
"He is strangely handsome, a manly fellow, brave, intelligent, yet a dangerous foe, and I wonder what has brought such a man as he to this far-away land?" ran her thoughts.
"Miss Seldon, what I most wished to say to you I fear will deeply pain you," said Doctor Dick, after a pause.
"Let me hear it, sir, for I am becoming accustomed to being pained of late," and Celeste was perfectly calm.
"I was told by Harding, the driver, that you were on your way to Last Chance, to look up a friend who had come here on a mission for you, and who you had feared was in trouble?"
"Yes, and my fears were realized when I learned that the coach in which he was a passenger had been held up, I believe that is what you call it, by road-agents, and Mr. Brandon was so severely wounded in the head that his brain was turned."
"Yes, but that is not all, Miss Seldon."
"Ah! what else is there to tell?"
"He was under my care for a long while, and I did all that I could to restore his reason, except to perform an operation for his relief, which I feared to risk."
"So Mr. Harding told me."
"When his bodily health was restored he left my cabin and roamed about the camps up to a week ago, when he most mysteriously disappeared. We had all the miners out upon a search for him, did all in our power to find him, but in vain, and what his fate has been is only conjecture."
"And what is that conjecture, Doctor Dick, for I believe you are so called?"
"Yes, I am known to all solely as Doctor Dick; but let me answer your question by replying that we believe the poor fellow has lost his life by falling over a cliff."
"Such is not the case, sir," was the reply that startled the doctor. "Mr. Brandon is now a captive of the road-agents."
Doctor Dick gazed at Celeste Seldon in amazement.
"Do you know this, Miss Seldon, or is it only conjecture on your part?" he asked, when he had recovered from his surprise.
He had come prepared to console, but, instead, had found the young girl cool and with apparently knowledge which he did not possess regarding the man whom Harding had said he believed was her lover.
"I know it, Doctor Dick."
"May I ask how?"
"I have just been a captive of the outlaws myself, and in coming here from their secret retreat we met two of the road-agents with a prisoner. The leader had some talk with them, but though I at once recognized Mr. Brandon, I was not allowed to speak with him."
"Did you request it?"
"Naturally."
"But were refused?"
"Yes."
"Was any reason given?"
"Simply that I would not be allowed to, and, if I did, Mr. Brandon would not know me, as he was crazy, while they did not care to have me do so."
"Where was this, Miss Seldon?"
"A short distance after we left their retreat."
"Could you lead the way to their retreat?"
"No, for I was blindfolded and bound miles before reaching there."
"The outlaw chief did this?"
"He was not along, but it was done by his orders."
"Did you not speak to him of it?"
"I have not seen him since."
"Why, was not that the chief who gave you over to me to-day?"
"No, sir."
"I certainly thought so."
"It was his lieutenant, who took me to the retreat and back under his orders."
"And where is the chief?"
"At his other hiding-place, his men said."
"You were well treated, I hope, Miss Seldon?"
"With perfect respect and consideration, sir, I am happy to say, the only indignity being that I was blindfolded and had my hands bound in approaching and leaving the outlaw retreat; but I suppose that was necessary for the safety of the band."
"You certainly take it most coolly."
"Why do otherwise, sir?"
"Do you know the motive of the road-agents in making that poor crazy fellow a prisoner?"
"Money."
"How do you mean?"
"They doubtless captured his baggage, and discovered by it papers that went to show that a big ransom would be paid for his release."
"Ah! they will demand a ransom for him, then?"
"Assuredly."
"The miners will hardly pay it if it is a large sum."
"I do not ask them to do so."
"You do not?"
"No."
"Who will pay it, then?"
"I will."
"You?"
"Certainly."
"Pardon me, but you are a young girl, and----"
"A rich one, nevertheless, Doctor Dick. I sent Mr. Brandon to the West on this mission, and he has met with misfortune. I will pay the ransom demanded, take him East, and place him in the care of the most eminent surgeons, that they may aid him if it is possible. You, as a skilled surgeon, for such I have heard you were, might tell me what you deem the chances are for his recovery?"
"Miss Seldon, the blow of that bullet caused an indenture of the skull, which might be operated upon and successfully raised so as to restore his reason. The chances are ninety-nine to a hundred against success, and only the most skilful surgeon and nervy one could accomplish it, if done."
"Thank you; the one chance in favor shall be taken, for without reason one might as well be dead--yes, far better."
"And you will stand all this expense?"
"Certainly, for it is my intention to pay back to the miners every dollar they subscribed for my ransom, for, as I said, I have the means to do it, and far more."
"You are a plucky woman, Miss Seldon; but see, we are approaching the valley now, and you must prepare for a welcome," and Doctor Dick called to Harding to come to a halt. _