Buffalo Roost: A Story of a Young Men's Christian Association Boys' DepartmentCheley, Frank H. (Frank Howbert)
Religion
Buffalo Roost: A Story of a Young Men's Christian Association Boys' Department
Cheley, Frank H. (Frank Howbert)
Christian fiction; Young men's Christian associations -- Fiction
"You haven't a very good opinion of that uncle of yours, have you?" said
Mr. Dean. "I don't see why he should be so vitally interested in keeping
you away from an old cabin. I think you imagine things, boy."
"You know some things are true that you can't see," tersely replied
Willis. "You can't see a pain in your stomach, but you can feel it and it
tells you something is wrong. It's just the same in this case. I can't
see it, but I know something is wrong, and the next thing for us to do is
to get our heads together and find out the causes. We're interested in
the causes."
Mr. Beverly H. Pembroke sat idly in his office. His feet were hoisted up
on the window sill, his straw hat tipped far back on his head, while a
long, slender cigar was held between his teeth. He was decidedly an
Englishman, and a very nervous, fidgety one at that. As the three entered
he got to his feet and inquired concerning their wants.
"Log cabin--Buffalo Park--Lode claim located August 22d." He puffed
meditatively at his cigar, endeavoring to focus his thoughts on the
matter before him. A frown clouded his face, then suddenly disappeared.
"Why-a, yes, ba Jove, this 'ot weather 'as nearly set me crazy. My brains
'ave been bemuddled all day, don't you know. Ba Jove, I most forgot that
new claim. Yes, yes, and you want 'ow many shares?"
Mr. Allen looked at Mr. Dean and smiled. "You do the talking," he said.
"Well, it's like this," said Mr. Dean. Then he laid his proposition
before the Englishman, who puffed away on his cigar and listened in
silence. "Sorry, very sorry, gentlemen," he began, "but I 'ave just
arranged with a party to 'old that site for a summer 'otel or a fruit
farm, or some such a thing, don't you know. Sorry, beastly sorry, though,
because I 'ave to refuse you."
Mr. Allen looked at Mr. Dean, a great disappointment showing on his face.
He turned to Willis, who was standing in the background. The boy was
squinting out between half-closed eyelids and his fists were clenched
hard at his sides. He was gazing steadfastly at the floor. Suddenly he
looked up at Mr. Allen, then shoved himself behind the railing that
separated them from the Englishman and spoke in clearcut tones.
"Mr. Pembroke--" The little Englishman batted his eyes nervously and
straightened noticeably. He was all attention in a second. Willis looked
him straight in the eye and continued: "I don't suppose you know who I
am, at least you don't appear to. I hate to ask favors of any man, or
take undue advantage of any one, but in this instance I feel that I have
just a little claim upon your attention and your consideration." Mr.
Allen looked at Mr. Dean in utter astonishment.
"Very early this spring you and I were fellow passengers on a D. & P.W.
train coming to Colorado Springs. Do you remember? That train was wrecked
on a stormy afternoon by the splintering of the rails, which caused a
collision with a heavy freight. It was my pleasure at that time to save
the life of your little son."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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