A Cousin's Conspiracy Part 26

"Are you going to get up, Frank?" asked his father.

"Yes," answered the young boy briskly. "I got sleepy because I was alone.

Where did papa find you, Ernest?"

"Oh, I met him outside and he took me to ride."

James Fox looked approval of this answer.

"I am glad you came with him."

By this time Frank had slid from the bed and put his hand in Ernest's.

"Come here," he said, "and I will show you my books."

Led by his small companion Ernest went up to a bookcase which he had not before observed in the main room. About thirty books stood on the shelves.

"Where did you get your books?" he asked.

"Papa bought them for me in Minneapolis. Were you ever in Minneapolis?"

"No."

"It is a nice place. Sometimes I think I would like to live there instead of here."

"You are not getting tired of home, are you, Frank?" asked his father half reproachfully.

"No, papa, but it is lonely here sometimes. Am I to live here always?"

"No, Frank. Some time I will send you to school. But you won't see me every day then."

"Then I don't want to go."

The outlaw stooped over and kissed the boy.

"Now, Frank, I have something to do, so you may amuse yourself with Ernest."

"Can you play dominoes?" asked Frank.

"Yes; have you a set?"

"Yes."

The boy opened a drawer in a bureau and drew out a box of dominoes. He poured them out on the table and they began to play the ordinary game.

When they tired of that Ernest taught him a new one.

After they grew tired of playing Ernest read aloud to the boy from one of his favorite books.

They were sitting together in the armchair when James Fox, who had left the room, returned. He smiled approvingly at the picture. He was pleased to think that he had found a companion whom his boy liked.

"What have you been doing, Frank?" he asked.

"He has been reading to me, papa. He reads nicely and I liked it very much."

"I am sorry to interrupt you, but are not you young people hungry?"

"I think I could eat something," answered Ernest.

"Frank, you may bring him into the dining-room."

The drapery was lifted and they pa.s.sed into a room as large as the one they were in. On a table in the center a substantial meal, consisting princ.i.p.ally of roast beef, was set forth. An old colored woman hovered near, evidently the cook.

"Juba," said the outlaw, "this is a new boarder. His name is Ernest."

"Glad to see you, Ma.s.sa Ernest," rejoined the old woman, nodding her turban. "Sit down here next to Ma.s.sa Frank."

It seemed very strange to Ernest to reflect that he was the guest of one of the famous outlaws of whom he had heard so much. He was half inclined to doubt whether it was real. If he had been alone he would have pinched himself to see whether he was awake or dreaming. Here he was in the bowels of the earth on intimate terms with an outlaw and his family. How long was he to stay in the cavern? That was a question impossible to answer.

Meanwhile he was hungry and the dinner was well cooked.

"Where is Uncle John, papa?" asked Frank suddenly.

Ernest remembered that one of the Fox brothers was named John, and he awaited the answer with interest.

James Fox seemed busily thinking and Frank had to repeat the question.

"Your Uncle John?" repeated the outlaw. "He went away on business."

"What kind of business, papa?"

It was a natural question, but it startled James Fox. He saw that as his son became older it might not be easy to evade embarra.s.sing questions.

"You seem curious, Frank," he answered after a pause. "You wouldn't understand if I were to tell you."

"Will you teach me your business some day, papa?"

It was on the tip of the outlaw's tongue to say, "Heaven forbid!" but he only answered: "Wait till you are older, Frank. Then we will talk about it."

At length they rose from the table.

They went back to the main room and Ernest read a little more to the young boy. But Frank's eyes grew heavy and he finally dropped off to sleep.

"Shall I lay him on the bed, Mr. Fox?" asked Ernest.

"No, I will do so."

He took the boy tenderly in his arms.

"If I had known he would fall asleep I would have undressed him," he said.

After placing the boy on the bed he resumed his seat in the armchair and began to smoke. Finally he looked over at Ernest.