although lenning had been roughly treated, he had suffered no serious injury. the worst of his sufferings had come while lying in the big, empty tank, kicking his heels against the staves and hoping against hope that some one would hear him, in spite of the clamor from the mill.
“i thought no one would ever come,” said he, leaning back in a chair in the laboratory and speaking to hawkins, bradlaugh, burke, merriwell, clancy, and ballard. “i never knew a stamp mill made so much noise before,” he added whimsically.
“how did the thieves manage to get the best of you?” queried burke.
“they jumped on me from behind. i had come in here for a lantern, and had stepped out and was locking the door. that’s when they got me. before i knew what was going on, some one was on my back, and another fellow had clapped a hand over my mouth. i couldn’t yell, and i couldn’t get away. it was mighty tough, i tell you, when they got the ropes on me and i was lying on my back and looking up into the face of shoup. i knew right off what he was up to. i yelled for help, and i managed to get in a few more yells before they got me gagged. no one heard me, though.”
“you’re wrong there, lenning,” said merry. “i heard you. i was coming down the trail into the camp at the time, and it was hard for me to locate the place where the cry came from. i thought it was up the slope, in the chaparral.”
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“you were coming here?” asked lenning. “what for?”
“just to see you for a while. thought you wouldn’t mind a little chinning during your first night on duty.”
“well,” went on lenning, “those fellows got rid of me by dropping me into the big tank. then they skipped out. how did you get back the bullion? i can’t understand how you did that, and let shoup and the other fellow get away from you.”
so clancy and ballard had to tell again of their experiences while on the way from town to the mine.
“that was mighty lucky,” said lenning, when the story was finished. “i reckon i’m playing in good luck all around. it was tough, though, that this had to happen the first night i got to work here.”
“it was, lenning,” agreed mr. bradlaugh, “but still, all’s well that ends well, you know. you’d better go to the bunk house and turn in. i’ll have burke put some one else on in your place for the rest of the night.”
“i’d a heap rather stick it out. i’m feeling pretty good, and if i’m to do this work i’d better keep at it.”
merry could see that this remark of lenning’s pleased the general manager and the superintendent.
“it looks very much, lenning,” said mr. bradlaugh, “as though merriwell’s faith in you had been justified. i’m going to relieve merriwell from any further responsibility in your case, and from this on you’re to stay here on your own responsibility. get that? i hope you’ll make such a record, my lad, that your uncle will feel that he has made a mistake in your case.”
“colonel hawtrey is the least of my worries,” scowled lenning. “i’m not trying to be square because i expect anything from him. i’m much obliged to you, mr. bradlaugh, and you can bet i’ll do my best to hold this job.”
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“that’s as much as i could ask of any one on the work. eh, burke?”
the super nodded his full agreement.
“what did that companion of shoup’s look like, lenning?” hawkins asked.
“i can’t tell you anything about him,” was the reply. “he kept himself out of sight most of the time, and whenever i did see him he had a handkerchief tied over his face. he was a big fellow, though, and, from his talk, i reckon he was a pretty tough proposition.”
“he’s a yeggman, and no mistake. i’m going to do my best to get both of those fellows. going back to town, mr. bradlaugh?”
“at once,” answered the general manager.
“then i believe i’ll ride with you. there’s a little telegraphing and telephoning i’ve got to take care of.”
“we’ll go along, mr. bradlaugh,” spoke up merriwell, “if you’ve got room.”
“plenty of room, chip,” said the general manager.
burke remained with lenning, while frank and his chums and the deputy sheriff made for the car. they were soon on their way back to ophir.
“i’m stumped,” admitted hawkins, as they scurried on through the night.
“so am i,” said mr. bradlaugh.
“what’s got you on the hip?” inquired the deputy.
“lenning. i could have taken my oath that he was one of those who had tried to steal the bullion.”
“that’s what i was turnin’ over in my mind, mr. bradlaugh. merriwell had sized the fellow up a whole lot better than any of the rest of us.”
“he had faith in him all the time.”
“there was one spell,” laughed merry, “when you fellows came pretty near arguing me over to your way
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of thinking. but i’m glad i hung on. lenning hasn’t many friends—and he needs a lot of good ones.”
“he has one good one,” said hawkins, “and that’s a cinch.”
“and he has more friends now,” remarked mr. bradlaugh, “than he had a few hours ago.”
