Bushy

When Bushy awoke the next morning, her father, Tom, and Shanks were busying themselves over the wounded brigand. “Do you know,” said the chief, as he lay stretched out full length on the stone floor, “do you know, Mr. Sukolt, that you have a very fine girl?”

“Well, we are all inclined to think so,” replied her father. “Had it not been for her last night you would have soon wiped us out.”

“I think that last bullet is going to end my career,” murmured the wounded man.

“I have nobody to leave my money to,” he added, turning seriously to Mr. Sukolt. “I became an outlaw first because I had murdered a man I hated. I am rich and came by my wealth, honestly enough, from the sale of lands left me by my people. I would like to will it to your girl, for she is the bravest little creature I ever met. I don’t suppose you are anxious to take things so ill-gotten as those we have in the cave, but Bushy knows the way, and you can do what you wish with everything there. My bank account goes to the little girl. Now give me paper, pen, and ink. Quick! for I feel I am sinking!”

Tom, thoroughly realizing the seriousness of the case, and filled with wild delight over the thought of Bushy coming in for perhaps a good round sum of money, made a dash over to the main cabin, snatched the required articles and hastened back again to lay them before the brigand, saying:

“There you are, sir; now is your chance to leave the child a mite of money, if you see fit.”

Mr. Sukolt was not altogether satisfied with the idea of such a legacy, but both Tom and Shanks insisted that the man be allowed to do as he wished, and the Padre at length yielded. The outcome of it all was that the wounded chief turned over all his honestly acquired property to Bushy. Shanks understood the law well enough to see that everything was done correctly. The wounded man died within an hour.

A month afterward Mr. Sukolt explained to Bushy that he had written and ascertained that the bandit’s real estate amounted to nearly $25,000, of which she thus became heiress in her own right.

“It is my duty to tell you,” said her father, “and to add that you are old enough to realize in a measure what that amount of money means.”

Bushy sat stunned, and was only aroused by Rover’s cold nose being poked into her closed hand.

Mr. Sukolt returned to his office near the mine. He was there confronted with a great surprise. A Mr. Richard Hamilton laid his card on the desk. He was the man whom Bushy had lariated when his frightened horse was rushing toward a precipice at Cross Roads. Mr. Sukolt hardly recognized him at first. When the visitor recalled the circumstances, the two men shook hands warmly. Mr. Hamilton had a proposition to make with reference to Bushy, and had come far out of his way to speak to Mr. Sukolt.

“I am going to New York,” he said, “and she can go East with me, remain with my people and attend school. I insist that you consider my suggestion.”

“Bushy’s action scarcely merits your exhibition of feeling; any one would have done the same in similar circumstances,” said Mr. Sukolt.

“Must I be deprived of showing my gratitude for the care you took of me? Can I forget how Bushy ran her horse to Cross Roads for Tom and the wagon, in order that I might be taken to your camp comfortably?”

“Your offer alone amply repays me for the little trouble we may have taken,” replied Mr. Sukolt. “Your proposition,” he added, looking the young man gravely in the face, “is to take Bushy with you and have her educated as a young lady should be?”

“Exactly; her talents might, perhaps, be cultivated in this solitude, where she never sees a child, seldom a woman, and rarely anybody outside the camp; but her character must be developed by coming in contact with the world itself. Let me take her. It’s the best thing you can do for the child.”

“She is the last link that binds me to life. You do not know what you ask of me; yet, I have been conscious lately of a guilty feeling in keeping her so long with me. The miners and myself have tried to think we could give her all the education necessary, but I find that while developing her rapidly in some ways, we are neglecting her in others, quite as essential, perhaps. I know she needs the companionship of her own sex.” His broad frame shook with emotion as he concluded, “You can take her if she is willing.”

“Thank you,” replied Mr. Hamilton; “you will not regret placing her in the care of my mother.”

“Your letters from home not only confirm that statement, but have revealed to me the fact that I have met your father. I remember your family well, and since I have decided to part with Bushy, I consider myself very fortunate in being able to place her in the home of Dick Hamilton, your father.”

“Hallo! Oh, Mr. Hamilton, is it really you?” cried the cheery voice of Bushy as she burst into the office. “How do you do?”

Something in her father’s face told Bushy that Mr. Hamilton’s visit had a serious meaning. She shook his hand, and then asked: “Anything happened, Padre?”