Jess of the Rebel Trail

A. Cody H.

Description

Hiram Alfred Cody was a Canadian clergyman who turned to writing in his spare time, eventually completing dozens of novels over the course of his career. Jess of the Rebel Trail is something of a departure from many of Cody's works. It follows the fortunes of Jess, a rebellious, independent-minded young woman who suddenly finds herself at the center of a family scandal.

Sujets

• Westerns
• Western (genre)
• Western

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 décembre 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776595471
• Langue: English

Extrait

JESS OF THE REBEL TRAIL
* * *
H. A. CODY
 
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Jess of the Rebel Trail First published in 1921 Epub ISBN 978-1-77659-547-1 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77659-548-8 © 2014 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Chapter I - The Hold-Up Chapter II - Rebellion Chapter III - The "Eb an' Flo" Chapter IV - Under Cover Chapter V - Captain Samuel Goes Shopping Chapter VI - Eben Makes a Discovery Chapter VII - Giving Martha the Go-By Chapter VIII - What the Cow Did Chapter IX - Martha Takes a Hand Chapter X - Unwelcome Visitors Chapter XI - In Peril of Death Chapter XII - Cornered Chapter XIII - A Tricky Passenger Chapter XIV - Another Victim Chapter XV - Two Women's Troubles Chapter XVI - Moke than a Dream Chapter XVII - Captain Sam'l Goes Home Chapter XVIII - Hard Luck Chapter XIX - The Captain Gives Advice Chapter XX - Mrs. Grimsby's Mission Chapter XXI - Eben Comes Ashore Chapter XXII - On the Rebel Trail Chapter XXIII - Straight Talk Chapter XXIV - Eben Attends to Grimsby Chapter XXV - The Forest Fire Chapter XXVI - In the Ring of Death Chapter XXVII - In the Nick of Time Chapter XXVIII - In Urgent Need Chapter XXIX - Confession Chapter XXX - Joy at Eventide
*
To
MY UNCLE AND NAMESAKE
HIRAM CODY
Long Since Passed Within the Vail
This Book is Dedicated
In Grateful and Loving Remembrance
*
"I have no other but a woman's reason; I think him so, because I think him so."
SHAKESPEARE
"When all other rights are taken away, the right of rebellion is made perfect."
THOMAS PAINE
"Women are never stronger than when they arm themselves with their weakness."
MADAME DU DEFFAND
Chapter I - The Hold-Up
*
The glowing coals in the spacious grate seemed to fascinate the womanas she sat huddled in a big luxurious chair. The book she had beenreading was lying open and unheeded on her lap. Her surroundings wereby no means in keeping with her dejected manner. The room was cosy andlavishly furnished, while the shaded electric reading-lamp cast itsgentle radiance upon the woman's white hair and soft evening-gown. Itwas a rough night, and the wind howling outside beat furiously againstthe closely-blinded windows.
It was a night such as this, nearly twenty years before, of which thewoman was thinking. She was once again in a room in a privatehospital, lying weak and helpless from the ordeal through which she hadpassed. It all came back to her now with a stinging intensity, causingher white hands to clench hard, and her eyes to widen with a namelessfear.
A maid entered and announced a visitor.
"I can't see anyone to-night," the woman before the fire declared,without even turning her head.
"But—" the maid began.
"That is all, Maggie. You need not say anything more. I wish to beleft entirely alone."
The maid hesitated a few seconds before obeying the imperious command.Then she slowly turned, and had almost reached the door when it wassuddenly pushed open and a man entered. Without a word, he steppedpast her and glided across the room toward the fire. His unexpectedappearance startled the woman crouching there. She straightenedquickly up and stared at the intruder in amazement.
"Who are you?" she demanded. "How dare you come here? Maggie, putthis man out."
But Maggie had disappeared, so the woman was left to face the man alone.
"I won't harm you, madame," he smilingly informed her, as he movedcloser to the fire and stretched put his hands. "I'm as harmless as akitten."
"Keep back," the woman ordered. "Don't come so close."
"Oh, I'm all right. Don't you worry about me."
Again the man smiled as he rubbed his hands together.
"I wasn't worrying about you," the woman retorted. "I would like tosee you burn yourself for your impudence."
Her fear had now vanished, and she was angry. She carefully noted theman's slight figure, and threadbare clothes. But his face was whatattracted her most of all. It was somewhat chubby, and when the mouthwas expanded by the almost incessant smile the cheeks were wrinkledlike corrugated iron. His head was bald, save for a few tufts of hairabove the ears. His bulging eyes twinkled with good humour, causing anobserver to feel that their owner was well satisfied with himself andthe entire world.
"Who are you?" the woman again demanded. "How dare you come uninvitedinto my room?"
The man straightened, himself up, and standing with his back to thefire brought forth a package of cigarettes, selected one, anddeliberately lighted it.
"You don't mind if I have a smoke, do you?" he asked. "It's good forthe nerves."
"Indeed I do," the woman replied. "I hate smoking. I never allow itin this room."
"I'm sorry, madame, but you'll soon forget all about it. I have cometo see you to-night on very important business, and when I tell youwhat it is you won't think any more about the smoke."
"Important business! With me? Why, I never saw you before, and I havenot the slightest idea who you are. What do you want, anyway?"
"Yes, it's important business, as I have just said, and when I learnedthat you would see no one to-night I was compelled to force myself uponyour presence."
"How did you know that I would see no one to-night? Were you listeningat the door?"
"Madame, when you get to know me better you will learn that I am ableto read people's thoughts, though doors may intervene. Words areunnecessary to me. I know all."
The man blew a cloud of smoke into the air, and smiled. "Yes," hecontinued, "I even read your thoughts to-night as you sat before thisfire."
"You did!" The woman's eyes grew wide with fear and amazement. "Whoare you, anyway?"
"I am merely a stand-between; that has been my business for years."
"A stand-between?"
"Yes, I stand between people and ignorance. I supply them with mentalfood, books of the first-water. They all know me, and look upon me asa public benefactor."
"So you are a book-agent, then? And you want to sell me some books, Isuppose? Is that your business here to-night?"
The man waved his hand haughtily, and flicked the ashes from hiscigarette into the fire.
"No, madame, it is not. Business is somewhat dull these days, I mustconfess. People are not as anxious as formerly for pure literature.There are too many counter attractions. This being so, I find it isbecoming more difficult to stand between my family and poverty.Therefore, I am here to-night."
"So you want me to give you some money; is that it?"
"Ah, now I see you understand," and the man's face beamed. "Butremember, I come not as a beggar, neither as a suppliant, but merely toreceive payment for a favor."
"Payment for a favor!" the woman exclaimed. "What do you mean? I oweyou nothing. I never saw you before. What favor?"
"The favor of silence. I know what you were thinking about to-night asyou sat here. Your thoughts were in the past, to another night such asthis. You were in a private hospital, and—"
He was interrupted by a startled cry from the woman. She was sittingbolt upright, her hands gripping hard the arms of the chair, and herface ghastly white.
"W-what do you know?" she gasped.
"Calm yourself, madame. Although I know all, you have no need to fear."
For a few seconds the woman stared at the man before her. Then shegave an hysterical laugh and sank back in her chair. What did thisstranger know? she wondered. Perhaps nothing, and she had made a foolof herself by showing her agitation.
"My nerves are somewhat shaken to-night," she confessed. "I have notbeen well of late, so your sudden appearance and strange words haverather unsettled me. What do you mean by referring to another nightsuch as this, and to a private hospital? What have they to do with me?"
"A great deal, I should say, madame. If you doubt my knowledge, it isonly necessary to mention the name of Hettie Rawlins, now my wife, Mrs.Gabriel Grimsby."
"Hettie Rawlins!" the woman's face showed her perplexity.
"Yes, Hettie Rawlins, the girl who exchanged the babies. Don't youremember her?"
But the woman did not reply. She sat staring at the man before her.
"There is no doubt now about my knowledge is there?" the stranger askedwith a smile.
"Heavens, no!" the unhappy woman groaned. "And to think that after allthese years I should be thus confronted in my own house, and by acomplete stranger. And so your wife told you all?"
"Everything, although she kept the secret for a long time. She told mehow you bribed her to exchange your little baby boy for a girl whichwas born in the hospital on the same day, and the amount you gave thebaby's mother for making the exchange."
"Stop, stop," the woman pleaded. "You will kill me."
"But you know it all, madame. You were thinking about it to-night,were you not?"
"I was, I was," and the woman buried her face in her hands.
Presently she lifted her head.
"Where is the boy?" she asked in a hoarse whisper. "Is he alive?"
"And so you are interested in him, madame?"
"Interested? Why, he is with me night and day. Though he must be ayoung man now, yet I always see him as the little babe I held to mybreast. If you know where he is, tell me. I must see him somehow,though he must never know who I am."
"What about the girl, your daughter?" the man questioned. "She must bea comfort to you now, and well takes the place of—of your son."
"Nothing can ever take his place," the woman vehemently declared. Ithought so once, fool that I was. But I know better now when it is toolate. Where is he? For God's sake, tell me!"
"And you have had no word fro