His movements must have been automatic,for when,two hours later,he found himself at the "Pioneer"coach office,with his carpet-bag and blankets by his side,he could not recall how or why he had come!He had a dumb impression that he had barely escaped some dire calamity,--rather that he had only temporarily averted it,--and that he was still in the shadow of some impending catastrophe of destiny.He must go somewhere,he must do something to be saved!He had no money,he had no friends;even Yuba Bill had been transferred to another route,miles away.Yet,in the midst of this stupefaction,it was a part of his strange mental condition that trivial details of Miss Mayfield's face and figure,and even apparel,were constantly before him,to the exclusion of consecutive thought.A collar she used to wear,a ribbon she had once tied around her waist,a blue vein in her dropped eyelid,a curve in her soft,full,bird-like throat,the arch of her in-step in her small boots--all these were plainer to him than the future,or even the present.But a voice in his ear,a figure before his abstracted eyes,at last broke upon his reverie.
"Jeff Briggs!"
Jeff mechanically took the outstretched hand of a young clerk of the Pioneer Coach Company,who had once accompanied Yuba Bill and stopped at the "Half-way House."He endeavored to collect his thoughts;here seemed to be an opportunity to go somewhere!
"What are you doing now?"said the young man briskly.
"Nothing,"said Jeff simply.
"Oh,I see--going home!"
Home!the word stung sharply through Jeff's benumbed consciousness.
"No,"he stammered,"that is--"
"Look here,Jeff,"broke in the young man,"I've got a chance for you that don't fall in a man's way every day.Wells,Fargo &Co.'s treasure messenger from Robinson's Ferry to Mempheys has slipped out.The place is vacant.I reckon I can get it for you.""When?"
"Now--to-night."
"I'm ready."
"Come,then."
In ten minutes they were in the company's office,where its manager,a man famous in those days for his boldness and shrewdness,still lingered in the dispatch of business.
The young clerk briefly but deferentially stated certain facts.
A few questions and answers followed,of which Jeff heard only the words "Tuolumne"and "Yuba Bill.""Sit down,Mr.Briggs.Good-night,Roberts."The young clerk,with an encouraging smile at Jeff,bowed himself out as the manager seated himself at his desk and began to write.
"You know the country pretty well between the Fork and the Summit,Mr.Briggs?"he said,without looking up.
"I lived there,"said Jeff.
"That was some months ago,wasn't it?"
"Six months,"said Jeff,with a sigh.
"It's changed for the worse since your house was shut up.There's a long stretch of unsettled country infested by bad characters."Jeff sat silent."Briggs."
"Sir?"
"The last man but one who preceded you was shot by road agents."Highway robbers.
"Yes,sir."
"We lost sixty thousand dollars up there."
"Yes?"
"Your father was Briggs of Tuolumne?"
"Yes,sir."Jeff's head dropped,but,glancing shyly up,he saw a pleasant smile on his questioner's face.He was still writing rapidly,but was apparently enjoying at the same time some pleasant recollection.
"Your father and I lost nearly sixty thousand dollars together one night,ten years ago,when we were both younger.""Yes,sir,"said Jeff dubiously.
"But it was OUR OWN MONEY,Jeff."
"Yes,sir."
"Here's your appointment,"he said briefly,throwing away his pen,folding what he had written,and handing it to Jeff.It was the first time that he had looked at him since he entered.He now held out his hand,grasped Jeff's,and said,"Good-night!"
