The Golden Magnet Part 33

"Not much hurt, I think," he gasped; "but it was a close touch--a sort of farewell keepsake," he said with a faint attempt to smile.

It was, indeed, a narrow escape, for the ball had ploughed one of his cheeks so that it bled profusely, and I could have freely returned the shot in the rage which I felt.

Perhaps it would have been better for all parties had I fired, for it would only have been disabling as black-hearted a scoundrel as ever breathed. But my plans were made, and by an effort I kept to them, just as the notary was about to flee in alarm.

"Loose him, Tom," I said; and Garcia started up, foaming almost at the mouth. "Keep back there," I cried, "and do not let me see one of those hands move towards breast or pocket. The instant I detect any such act I fire."

Garcia stood scowling for a few moments but not meeting my eye, and I continued addressing the notary:

"Give me full particulars of this amount, and I will pay it."

"You, Harry--you!" exclaimed my uncle.

"You!--you vile impostor! You beggar and vagabond! You do not possess an onza of gold," roared Garcia, bursting forth into a fit of vituperation. "Don't listen to him; don't heed him; it's a trick--a plan. I take possession. The money was to be paid this morning, and it is not paid, so I seize the plantation."

"You are the business man," I said coolly to the notary--with that coolness that the possession of money gives--"this is a mining country, and gold in ounces should be current."

"The best of currency, senor," said the notary with a smile and a bow.

"Tell me the amount, then, in ounces," I said, "and I will pay you."

"Don Xeres," gasped Garcia, almost beside himself with rage, "I will take no promises to pay."

The old notary shrugged his shoulders.

"But, Senor Garcia, there are no promises to pay. I understand the English senor to say that he will pay--at once! Am I not right, senor?"

"Quite," I said. "Uncle, I will lend you this amount."

"But, Harry, my dear boy, you are mad! You have no idea of the extent."

"Two hundred and five ounces would equal the amount in _pesos d'oro_ which Senor Landell is indebted," said the notary quietly.

"Good!" I said. "Then will you have proper balances brought? Uncle, see to the return of your papers."

"I am in the hands of Senor Xeres," said my uncle in a bewildered tone.

"He will see justice done."

The old notary bowed and smiled, while I crossed to where my leather case stood upon a side-table, brought it to my chair, and then seated myself, slowly unbuckling the straps and unlocking it while the balances were brought, when I drew out six of the little yellow bar ingots and pa.s.sed them over to the notary, who was the banker of the district as well.

He took them, turned them over, wiped his gla.s.ses, and replaced them; then examined each bar again.

"Pure metal, I think, senor?" I said, smiling.

"The purest, Senor Inglese," he replied with another bow.

Then, placing the ingots in the balances, he recorded each one's weight as he went on, to find them, with a few grains variation more or less, six ounces each.

Five times, to Garcia's astonishment and rage, did I bring from the case in my lap six of the golden bars, the notary the while testing and weighing them one by one in the coolest and most business-like way imaginable. Then his spectacles were directed inquiringly at me, and I brought out four more, which were duly weighed and placed with the others. Then again were the spectacles directed at me.

"Another ounce, less a quarter, senor," said the notary. "I have here two hundred and four ounces and a quarter."

"Fortunatus's purse wants aiding, Uncle," I said, unwilling to exhibit more of the golden spoil. "You can manage the three-quarters of an ounce?"

My uncle was speechless; but he rushed to a secretary, took out a little canvas bag, and counted out the difference in coin. When, coolly drawing out bags of his own, the notary made up a neat package of the bars, inclosing therewith his account of the weights, tied it up, lit-- with apparatus of his own--a wax taper, sealed the package, and handed it to Garcia, who took it with a fierce scowl, but only to dash it down the next instant upon the table.

"I will not take it," he exclaimed. "It is a trick--the gold is base!"

"Senor Don Pablo Garcia, I have--I, S. Xeres--have examined and proved that gold," said the old notary. "I say it is pure, and you cannot refuse it. Senor Landell, there are your bonds now. Senor Garcia is angry, but the business is terminated."

Rising and bowing to us with a courtly grace that could win nothing less than respect, the old notary handed some deeds to my uncle, and then, picking up the gold, he pa.s.sed his arm through Garcia's and led him away--the notary's attendant following with his master's writing-case and balances.

But the next moment a shadow darkened the door, and Garcia would have rushed in had not Tom blocked the way.

"Now, then, where are you shovin' to, eh?" grumbled Tom; and there was a scuffle, and the muttering of a score of Spanish oaths, with, I must say, a couple of English ones, that sounded to be in Tom's voice, when Garcia shouted, in a voice that we could all hear:

"Tell him there is another debt to pay yet, and it shall be paid in another coin!"

The door closed then, and it was evident that Tom was enjoying the act of seeing Garcia off the premises, while the next minute my uncle was holding me tightly by both hands and my aunt sobbing on my neck.

"And I was saying you were like the rest of the world--like the rest of the world, Harry, my dear boy," was all my uncle could say, in a choking voice, and there were tears in his eyes as he spoke.

"Say no more, Uncle--say no more," I exclaimed, shaking him warmly by the hands.

Then he took his wife to his heart, telling her in broken words that there was to be peace at the old place after all.

It must have been from joy at the happiness I was the means of bringing into that home, or else from the example that was set me, for the next moment I had Lilla in my arms, kissing her for response to the thanks looking from her bright eyes; and even when my uncle turned to me I could only get one hand at liberty to give him, the other would still clasp the little form that did not for an instant shrink.

"Too bad--too bad, Harry--too bad!" said my uncle, with a smile and a shake of the head. "I am no sooner free of one obligation than I am under another; and so now, on the strength of that money, you put in your claims."

"To be sure, Uncle," I said laughing; "and you see how poor Lilla suffers."

I repented saying those words the next moment, for Lilla shrank hastily away, blushing deeply.

My uncle and I were soon left alone, when, holding out his hand to me, he said, in a voice whose deep tones told how he was moved:

"Harry, my boy, I can never repay you the service you have done me; but if I live I will repay you the money."

"Look here, Uncle," I said, "once and for all--let that be buried.

There, light your cigar; and I can talk to you." Then, taking our places in a recess by one of the shaded windows, I spoke to him in a low tone. "You know how I have spent my time lately?"

He nodded.

"Treasure-seeking?"

He nodded again.

"Uncle, at times it almost seemed to me a madness; but I persevered and succeeded. Look here!"