recalled to mind the dark clever face of the young
man alluded to: a plausible, well-mannered person,
who had been sub-editor of a San Francisco
newspaper.

"Yes, Doctor, or Colonel, Heckler," responded
Mr. Spalding, with a bitter smile, "for it appears
that he has assumed a military title on the
journey back to the north. He possessed great
influence over the mind of my misguided son;
he was the tempter in this accursed robbery; and
I doubt not that he intends to appropriate the
entire spoil to himself."

I now asked Mr. Spalding, as delicately as I
could, how he had obtained his information.

It appeared that Adolphus, whose feeble
frame, exhausted by hard living, was ill fitted
to sustain the fierce excitement of the felonious
act he had committed, had sickened of a fever,
immediately after the departure of his
accomplice.

"The wretched boy lies on his bed up-stairs,
quivering betwixt life and death," said the
father, with a faltering voice, "and in his
delirium he has betrayed his guilt. His sister,
who has watched at his bedside like an angel as
she is, dear girl, she was frightened at his
ravings of self-accusation. She called me, and
with my own ears I heard the son I was so
proud of—my petted boy—tell how he had
cheated and plundered me."

The old merchant staggered to a chair, and I
saw the tears trickle between the fingers with
which he tried to hide the workings of his
wrinkled face.

After a time he grew more calm. Then he
developed his plan, in which broke out his
habitual decision and force of character. Before
all things, the honour of the house must be
saved. The value of the money at stake (though
a large sum) was trifling, compared to the
disgrace, the loss of credit, the blot upon the name
of Spalding. Yes, at any cost, the young
man's shameful act must be hidden in darkness.
The cheque must not be presented, the bills
must not be negotiated. But how to prevent
he tempter from realising the benefits of his
ill-gotten booty? He was off—he was speeding
towards New York by the quick Panama route;
in a few weeks he would be there. No pursuit
seemed possible. The delay till the start of the
next mail would be fatal. I remembered the
Pony Express, the swift overland mail whereby
we Californian residents can most rapidly
communicate with the civilised world, and I
suggested this resource.

Mr. Spalding shook his head. "No, that
would never do; I might send a despatch, no
doubt, to stop the payment of the cheque. I
might perhaps procure Heckler's arrest on his
arrival in New York, but thence would spring
inquiry, doubt, suspicion, and the whole black
affair would creep into the journals before a week
was out. No. I have but one hope, one chance:
I must send a trustworthy person—I am too old
to go myself—a trustworthy person to hasten to
New York by the perilous route across the Rocky
Mountains, and he must arrive before Heckler,
and must get the papers from him by violence or
stratagem. George Walford, you are the man I
have selected."

"I, sir?"

I was stupified. Before my fancy rose, like a
panorama, the long route, then but lately
explored, that traversed the enormous continent
from sea to sea: a route teeming with dangers.
All I had ever heard or read of prairie travel, of
famine, fire, the assaults of wild beasts, and of
human foes more pitiless still, crowded on my
memory at once. I thought of the vast
distance, of the almost herculean fatigues to be
undergone, of the icy barrier which the Rocky
Mountains stretched across the track, as if to
bar the progress of presumptuous man; and
though I am no fainter of heart than my
neighbours, I dare say my countenance expressed
dismay and repugnance. Indeed, I am sure it
did, for Mr. Hausermann groaned, and said,
"Donner! what shall we to now?"

"Walford," said Mr. Spalding, "I don't
wish to dissemble with you. I am asking you
to incur the certainty of very great fatigue,
hardship, and danger. I am asking you to risk
life itself to save the honour of the house and
that of my own family. I do not make such a
request without proposing a proportionate
reward.—There, hear me out! I don't offer you
money for such a service. Come back successful,
and you shall be a partner in the house of
Spalding and Hausermann ; and if you and
Emma are still of the same mind three months
hence—"

I trembled with joy as I interrupted my
employer. "I'll go, sir, gladly and most
willingly."

"That's a prave poy. I knew he would!"
ejaculated the German; and the cashier rubbed
his hands joyfully.

"When can you be ready to start?" asked
Mr. Spalding.

"Directly. In half an hour, if you please."

"An hour will do," said Mr. Spalding,
with a smile at my eagerness. "Bodesson shall be
at the door by that time, with his carriage and
his best horses. You must save your strength
as much as you can for the prairie. You have
a six-shooter, I know. Get ready what requisites
for the journey will go into small compass.
You shall have an ample supply of money—
spend it freely, lavishly, and don't spare horse-
flesh or gold upon the way. I would give half
my fortune to place you speedily on the pavement
of New York. You are an ambassador
with full powers, George, and your own wit and
courage must carry you through. Now, you
had better prepare for the road."

I lingered.

"Anything more to say?" asked the
merchant, good humouredly.

"If I could speak tor a moment—just an
instant—to Miss Spalding?"

"She is at her brother's bedside," replied the
old man, hurriedly. " But—yes, you are right.
You shall see her before you start."

I seemed to make but one step to the house