SECTION 10.
Hal went on to question Keating about the apple-blossom girl. "Maybe I
could guess who she is. What colour was her hair?"
"The colour of molasses taffy when you've pulled it," said Billy; "but
all fluffy and wonderful, with star-dust in it. Her eyes were brown, and
her cheeks pink and cream."
"She had two rows of pearly white teeth, that flashed at you when she
smiled?"
"She didn't smile, unfortunately."
"Then her brown eyes gazed at you, wide open, full of wonder?"
"Yes, they did--only it was into the drug-store window."
"Did she wear a white hat of soft straw, with a green and white flower
garden on it, and an olive green veil, and maybe cream white ribbons?"
"By George, I believe you've seen her!" exclaimed the reporter.
"Maybe," said Hal. "Or maybe I'm describing the girl on the cover of one
of the current magazines!" He smiled; but then, seeing the other's
curiosity, "Seriously, I think I do know your young lady. If you
announce that Miss Jessie Arthur is a member of the Harrigan party, you
won't be taking a long chance."
"I can't afford to take any chance at all," said the reporter. "You mean
Robert Arthur's daughter?"
"Heiress-apparent of the banking business of Arthur and Sons," said Hal.
"It happens I know her by sight."
"How's that?"
"I worked in a grocery-store where she used to come."
"Whereabouts?"
"Peterson and Company, in Western City."
"Oho! And you used to sell her candy."
"Stuffed dates."
"And your little heart used to go pit-a-pat, so that you could hardly
count the change?"
"Gave her too much, several times!"
"And you wondered if she was as good as she was beautiful! One day you
were thrilled with hope, the next you were cynical and bitter--till at
last you gave up in despair, and ran away to work in a coal-mine!"
They laughed, and MacKellar and Edstrom joined in. But suddenly Keating
became serious again. "I ought to be away on that story!" he exclaimed.
"I've got to get something out of that crowd about the disaster. Think
what copy it would make!"
"But how can you do it?"
"I don't know; I only know I ought to be trying. I'll hang round the
train, and maybe I can get one of the porters to talk."
"Interview with the Coal King's porter!" chuckled Hal. "How it feels to
make up a multi-millionaire's bed!"
"How it feels to sell stuffed dates to a banker's daughter!" countered
the other.
But suddenly it was Hal's turn to become serious. "Listen, Mr. Keating,"
said he, "why not let _me_ interview young Harrigan?"
"_You?_"
"Yes! I'm the proper person--one of his miners! I help to make his money
for him, don't I? I'm the one to tell him about North Valley."
Hal saw the reporter staring at him in sudden excitement; he continued:
"I've been to the District Attorney, the Justice of the Peace, the
District Judge, the Mayor and the Chief of Police. Now, why shouldn't I
go to the Owner?"
"By thunder!" cried Billy. "I believe you'd have the nerve!"
"I believe I would," replied Hal, quietly.
The other scrambled out of his chair, wild with delight. "I dare you!"
he exclaimed.
"I'm ready," said Hal.
"You mean it?"
"Of course I mean it."
"In that costume?"
"Certainly. I'm one of his miners."
"But it won't go," cried the reporter. "You'll stand no chance to get
near him unless you're well dressed."
"Are you sure of that? What I've got on might be the garb of a
railroad-hand. Suppose there was something out of order in one of the
cars--the plumbing, for example?"
"But you couldn't fool the conductor or the porter."
"I might be able to. Let's try it."
There was a pause, while Keating thought. "The truth is," he said, "it
doesn't matter whether you succeed or not--it's a story if you even make
the attempt. The Coal King's son appealed to by one of his serfs! The
hard heart of Plutocracy rejects the cry of Labour!"
"Yes," said Hal, "but I really mean to get to him. Do you suppose he's
got back to the train yet?"
"They were starting to it when I left."
"And where _is_ the train?"
"Two or three hundred yards east of the station, I was told."
MacKellar and Edstrom had been listening enthralled to this exciting
conversation. "That ought to be just back of my house," said the former.
"It's a short train--four parlour-cars and a baggage-car," added
Keating. "It ought to be easy to recognise."
The old Scotchman put in an objection. "The difficulty may be to get out
of this house. I don't believe they mean to let you get away to-night."
"By Jove, that's so!" exclaimed Keating. "We're talking too much--let's
get busy. Are they watching the back door, do you suppose?"
"They've been watching it all day," said MacKellar.
"Listen," broke in Hal--"I've an idea. They haven't tried to interfere
with your going out, have they, Mr. Keating?"
"No, not yet."
"Nor with you, Mr. MacKellar?"
"No, not yet," said the Scotchman.
"Well," Hal suggested, "suppose you lend me your crutches?"
Whereat Keating gave an exclamation of delight. "The very thing!"
"I'll take your over-coat and hat," Hal added. "I've watched you get
about, and I think I can give an imitation. As for Mr. Keating, he's not
easy to mistake."
"Billy, the fat boy!" laughed the other. "Come, let's get on the job!"
"I'll go out by the front door at the same time," put in Edstrom, his
old voice trembling with excitement. "Maybe that'll help to throw them
off the track."
