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but this yer is suthin' outside the old woman's regular gait。〃 He
paused； and then drawing the master's head down towards him； he
added in his ear； 〃When I get to hev a look at the size and shape
o' this yer ball that's in my hip； I'llI'llI'llbealittle
more kam！〃 A gleam of dull significance struggled into his eye。
The master evidently understood him； for he rose quickly； ran to
the horse； mounted him and dashed off for medical assistance； while
McKinstry； closing his heavy lids； anticipated this looked…for calm
by fainting gently away。
CHAPTER XIII。
Of the various sentimental fallacies entertained by adult humanity
in regard to childhood； none are more ingeniously inaccurate and
gratuitously idiotic than a comfortable belief in its profound
ignorance of the events in which it daily moves； and the motives
and characters of the people who surround it。 Yet even the
occasional revelations of an enfant terrible are as nothing
compared to the perilous secrets which a discreet infant daily
buttons up； or secures with a hook…and…eye； or even fastens with a
safety…pin across its gentle bosom。 Society can never cease to be
grateful for that tact and considerationqualities more often
joined with childish intuition and perception than with matured
observationthat they owe to it； and the most accomplished man or
woman of the great world might take a lesson from this little
audience who receive from their lips the lie they feel too
palpable； with round…eyed complacency； or outwardly accept as moral
and genuine the hollow sentiment they have overheard rehearsed in
private for their benefit。
It was not strange therefore that the little people of the Indian
Spring school knew perhaps more of the real relations of Cressy
McKinstry to her admirers than the admirers themselves。 Not that
this knowledge was outspokenfor children rarely gossip in the
grown…up senseor even communicable by words intelligent to the
matured intellect。 A whisper； a laugh that often seemed vague and
unmeaning； conveyed to each other a world of secret significance；
and an apparently senseless burst of merriment in which the whole
class joined and that the adult critic set down to 〃animal
spirits〃a quality much more rare with children than generally
supposedwas only a sympathetic expression of some discovery
happily oblivious to older preoccupation。 The childish simplicity
of Uncle Ben perhaps appealed more strongly to their sympathy； and
although； for that very reason； they regarded him with no more
respect than they did each other； he was at times carelessly
admitted to their confidence。 It was especially Rupert Filgee who
extended a kind of patronizing protectorate over himnot unmixed
with doubts of his sanity； in spite of the promised confidential
clerkship he was to receive from his hands。
On the day of the events chronicled in the preceding chapter；
Rupert on returning from school was somewhat surprised to find
Uncle Ben perched upon the rail…fence before the humble door of the
Filgee mansion and evidently awaiting him。 Slowly dismounting as
Rupert and Johnny approached； he beamed upon the former for some
moments with arch and yet affable mystery。
〃Roopy； old man； I s'pose ye've got yer duds all ready in yer pack；
eh？〃
A flush of pleasure passed over the boy's handsome face。 He cast；
however； a hurried look down on the all…pervading Johnny。
〃'Cause ye see we kalkilate to take the down stage to Sacramento
at four o'clock；〃 continued Uncle Ben； enjoying Rupert's half
sceptical surprise。 〃Ye enter into office； so to speak； with me
at that hour； when the sellery； seventy…five dollars a month and
board； ez private and confidential clerk； beginseh？〃
Rupert's dimples deepened in charming； almost feminine；
embarrassment。 〃But dad？〃 he stammered。
〃Et's all right with HIM。 He's agreeable。〃
〃But？〃
Uncle Ben followed Rupert's glance at Johnny； who however appeared
to be absorbed in the pattern of Uncle Ben's new trousers。
〃That's fixed；〃 he said with a meaning smile。 〃There's a sort o'
bonus we pays down； you knowfor a Chinyman to do the odd jobs。〃
〃And teacherMr。 Forddid ye tell him？〃 said Rupert brightening。
Uncle Ben coughed slightly。 〃He's agreeable； too； I reckon。 That
is；〃 he wiped his mouth meditatively； 〃he ez good ez allowed it in
gin'ral conversation a week ago； Roop。〃
A swift shadow of suspicion darkened the boy's brown eyes。 〃Is
anybody else goin' with us？〃 he said quickly。
〃Not this yer trip；〃 replied Uncle Ben complacently。 〃Ye see；
Roop；〃 he continued； drawing him aside with an air of comfortable
mystery； 〃this yer biz'ness b'longs to the private and confidential
branch of the office。 From informashun we've received〃
〃WE？〃 interrupted Rupert。
〃'We；' that's the OFFICE； you know；〃 continued Uncle Ben with a
heavy assumption of business formality； 〃wot we've received per
several hands and consigneewethat's YOU and ME； Roopwe goes
down to Sacramento to inquire into the standin' of a certing party；
as per invoice； and ter seeter seeter negotiate you know； ter
find out if she's married or di…vorced；〃 he concluded quickly； as
if abandoning for the moment his business manner in consideration
of Rupert's inexperience。 〃We're to find out her standin'； Roop；〃
he began again with a more judicious blending of ease and
technicality； 〃and her contracts； if any； and where she lives and
her way o' life； and examine her books and papers ez to marriages
and sich； and arbitrate with her gin'rally in conversationyou
inside the house and me out on the pavement； ready to be called in
if an interview with business principals is desired。〃
Observing Rupert somewhat perplexed and confused with these
technicalities； he tactfully abandoned them for the present； and
consulting a pocket…book said； 〃I've made a memorandum of some
pints that we'll talk over on the journey；〃 again charged Rupert
to be punctually at the stage office with his carpetbag； and
cheerfully departed。
When he had disappeared Johnny Filgee； without a single word of
explanation； fell upon his brother； and at once began a violent
attack of kicks and blows upon his legs and other easily accessible
parts of his person； accompanying his assault with unintelligible
gasps and actions； finally culminating in a flood of tears and the
casting of himself on his back in the dust with the copper…fastened
toes of his small boots turning imaginary wheels in the air。
Rupert received these characteristic marks of despairing and
outraged affection with great forbearance； only saying； 〃There；
now； Johnny； quit that；〃 and eventually bearing him still
struggling into the house。 Here Johnny； declaring that he would
kill any 〃Chinyman〃 that offered to dress him； and burn down the
house after his brother's infamous desertion of it； Rupert was
constrained to mingle a few nervous； excited tears with his
brother's outbreak。 Whereat Johnny； admitting the alleviation of
an orange； a four…bladed knife； and the reversionary interest in
much of Rupert's personal property； became more subdued。 Sitting
there with their arms entwined about each other； the sunlight
searching the shiftless desolation of their motherless home； the
few cheap playthings they had known lying around them； they
beguiled themselves with those charming illusions of their future
intentions common to their yearsillusions they only half believed
themselves and half accepted of each other。 Rupert was quite
certain that he would return in a few days with a gold watch and a
present for Johnny； and Johnny； with a baleful vision of never
seeing him again； and a catching breath； magnificently undertook to
bring in the wood and build the fire and wash the dishes 〃all of
himself。〃 And then there were a few childish confidences regarding
their absent fatherthen ingenuously playing poker in the Magnolia
Saloonthat might have made that public…spirited； genial companion
somewhat uncomfortable； and more tears that were half smiling and
some brave silences that were wholly pathetic； and then the hour
for Rupert's departure all too suddenly arrived。 They separated
with ostentatious whooping； and then Johnny； suddenly overcome with
the dreadfulness of all earthly things； and the hollowness of life
generally； instantly resolved to run away！
To do this he prepared himself with a purposeless hatchet； an
inconsistent but long…treasured lump of putty and all the sugar
that was left in the cracked sugar…bowl。 Thus accoutred he sallied
forth； first to remove all traces of his hated existence that might
be left in his desk at school。 If the master were there he would
say Rupert had sent him； if he wasn't； he would climb in at the
window。 The sun was already sinking when he reached the clearing
and found a cavalcade of armed men around the building。
Johnny's first conviction