He felt that
he had justified the confidence which Mr. Armstrong had reposed
in him, and that the outlay would prove not to have been wasted.
"May I copy them?" he asked.
"Certainly, since you are the agent of Mr. Armstrong--or you may
have the original paper."
"I will copy them, so that if that paper is lost, I may still have
the numbers. And now, what can I do for you?"
The resources of Fenton's Gulch were limited, but Luke succeeded in
getting together materials for a breakfast for the sick man. The
latter brightened up when he had eaten a sparing meal. It cheered
him, also, to find that there was someone to whom he could look
for friendly services.
To make my story short, on the second day he felt able to start
with Luke for Deadwood, which he reached without any serious
effect, except a considerable degree of fatigue.
Arrived at Deadwood, where there were postal facilities, Luke lost
no time in writing a letter to Mr. Armstrong, enclosing a list of
the stolen bonds. He gave a brief account of the circumstances under
which he had found Mr. Harding, and promised to return as soon as he
could get the sick man back to his farm in Minnesota.
When this letter was received, Roland Reed was in the merchant's
office.
"Look at that, Mr. Reed," said Armstrong, triumphantly. "That boy
is as smart as lightning. Some people might have thought me a fool
for trusting so young a boy, but the result has justified me.
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