Читать книгу The Copperhead Trail Mystery - Percy Keese Fitzhugh - Страница 8

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For a space they stood rooted to the spot. A thin, chilling echo murmured eerily along the cut before it spent itself. To Hal’s surprise, Mac jumped to his feet and ran, disappearing in the darkness after he had gone a few yards.

Suddenly he called, “Red, he’s gone! He’s gone, all right.”

“How do you know?” Hal shouted. “How can you tell?”

“Because I just found out where we are—Echo Trail. It runs up from the cut here and goes through the forest and around to Laidlaw. Slices off about a mile but it’s too dark for us to think of chasing him through there or to try and make it for our own benefit. I’ve not been through there in so many years I wouldn’t chance it without a light. Funny how that bird’s laugh brought it all back to me. I mean the trail.”

Hal reached his side at this juncture. “You mean the trail has a way of echoing?”

“Yes, that’s where it gets its name. That’s why he waited and gave us the laugh here. He knew we wouldn’t dare chase him around the trail at this time of a moonless night. Well, we might as well get on, Red. He won’t bother us again, I’m certain.”

“Gosh, Mac,” said Hal, puzzled, “you know this country, huh?”

“Rather,” Mac answered wistfully. “But let’s not talk about it any more, Red. I’d rather not and besides I came up here for gold if I can get it—nothing else. I wouldn’t have come if I hadn’t known this country so well, believe me. It helps a lot to know one’s mountains, when one’s object is gold,” he added with a rueful laugh.

Hal was mystified but followed him in silence the rest of the way. He had a keen sense of annoyance at knowing that he thoroughly liked his companion despite this shroud of mystery that had sprung suddenly about him. In point of fact, he had a strong premonition that danger would beset him in this friendship ... hadn’t danger already overtaken them? He laughed off the queer presentiment while it was still in the process of formation and clasped Mac’s arm.

“Almost there,” Mac observed quietly. “In a few minutes we’ll see the light of that dinky station. Wonder if your hostess will be waiting all this time—it must be after nine.”

“I wouldn’t blame her if she isn’t. Our train was due at six ten, wasn’t it?”

“Uh huh. Meggie, no doubt, is beginning to get worried by now. It would take him a couple of hours to get worried.”

“Meggie?”

“Yes, Mr. Meggie’s his name. He’s station agent at Laidlaw—has been ever since I can remember. That’s the way they do things up here, Red. A man sticks at his job till he dies. Ten years wouldn’t mean much. I guess Meggie’s still here. We’ll see anyway and if he is, he’s not to see me or know you had anybody with you. He’s an awful talker, but then he hasn’t much else to do.”

Hal shrugged his broad shoulders but managed a grin. “I’ll admit you’ve got me buffaloed, Mac,” he said thoughtfully, “but then you know your own business.”

“Righto, that’s why I’ve told you as much as I have, Red. Well there’s Meggie’s light—see it? He’s there all right. I can tell by that!”

“Mm,” Hal answered staring at the little beacon shining through the dark. “If he hasn’t seen you in ten years, Mac, I shouldn’t think he’d know you now. There’s a whale of a difference between a fellow at fourteen and a man at twenty-four.” They halted at a narrow trail running due west.

“I know it, but Meggie wouldn’t see the difference, because that’s the way he is. Now I’ll hide around somewhere until you finish with him. I don’t think your Miss Jean Wainwright is there—no, she isn’t,” he added, peering ahead at the cheerful little area of light surrounding the station.

“Then you want to leave me here, huh?” Hal asked.

“Yes, and tell Meggie that Number Four was derailed between Coffin’s Bend and the canyon. Tell him to get those wires humming as fast as he can so’s the fireman can have his leg fixed up before morning. Don’t let him get your ear too long, Red. I’m kind of tired.”

With that he retreated along the trail and soon Hal could no longer see him. Somewhere in that dense foliage he was effectually concealed from Meggie’s prying eyes and ears. Ten years would not make any difference to the inquisitive station agent, he had said. And why not?

Hal wondered and set his steps toward the cheerful light in the station window.