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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3c6170c --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #53466 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53466) diff --git a/old/53466-8.txt b/old/53466-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d49a86c..0000000 --- a/old/53466-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4915 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Motor Matt's Mariner, by Stanley R. Matthews - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Motor Matt's Mariner - or, Filling the Bill for Bunce - -Author: Stanley R. Matthews - -Release Date: November 7, 2016 [EBook #53466] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOTOR MATT'S MARINER *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, Demian Katz and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (Images -courtesy of the Digital Library@Villanova University -(http://digital.library.villanova.edu/)) - - - - - - - - - - MOTOR STORIES - - THRILLING - ADVENTURE - - MOTOR - FICTION - - NO. 31 - SEPT. 25, 1909 - - FIVE - CENTS - - MOTOR MATT'S - MARINER - - OR FILLING THE - BILL FOR BUNCE - - _By - THE AUTHOR - OF MOTOR MATT_ - - _STREET & SMITH - PUBLISHERS - NEW YORK_ - -[Illustration: _The jolt was terrific. Motor Matt was thrown roughly -against the front seat and Bunce went into the air as though shot from -a gun._] - - - - -MOTOR STORIES - -THRILLING ADVENTURE MOTOR FICTION - -_Issued Weekly. By subscription $2.50 per year. Copyright, 1909, by_ -STREET & SMITH, _79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York, N. Y._ - - =No. 31.= NEW YORK, September 25, 1909. =Price Five Cents.= - - - - -MOTOR MATT'S MARINER; - -OR, - -Filling the Bill for Bunce. - -By the author of "MOTOR MATT." - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER I. "BUDDHA'S EYE." - CHAPTER II. THE GREEN PATCH. - CHAPTER III. MOTOR MATT--TRUSTEE. - CHAPTER IV. BUNCE HAS A PLAN. - CHAPTER V. BUNCE SPEAKS A GOOD WORD FOR HIMSELF. - CHAPTER VI. THE HOMEMADE SPEEDER. - CHAPTER VII. TRAPPED. - CHAPTER VIII. THE CUT-OUT UNDER THE LEDGE. - CHAPTER IX. BETWEEN THE EYES. - CHAPTER X. THE MAN FROM THE "IRIS." - CHAPTER XI. ABOARD THE STEAM YACHT. - CHAPTER XII. GRATTAN'S TRIUMPH. - CHAPTER XIII. FROM THE OPEN PORT! - CHAPTER XIV. LANDED--AND STUNG. - CHAPTER XV. A CRAFTY ORIENTAL. - CHAPTER XVI. THE MANDARIN WINS. - JERRY STEBBINS' HOSS TRADE. - THE PHANTOM ENGINEER. - - - - -CHARACTERS THAT APPEAR IN THIS STORY. - - - =Matt King=, otherwise Motor Matt. - - =Joe McGlory=, a young cowboy who proves himself a lad of worth and - character, and whose eccentricities are all on the humorous side. A - good chum to tie to--a point Motor Matt is quick to perceive. - - =Tsan Ti=, Mandarin of the Red Button, who proves adept in the ways - of Oriental craft, and shows how easy it is for a person to shift - his dangers and responsibilities to other shoulders--if only he goes - about it in the right way. - - =Philo Grattan=, a talented person who devotes himself to "tricks - that are dark and ways that are vain," and whose superb assurance - leads him to flaunt his most memorable crime in the face of the - authorities through the medium of moving pictures. A man fitted by - nature for a worthier part than he plays, and whose keen mind is not - able to save him from deception. - - =Bunce=, the mariner, and a pal of Grattan. - - =Pardo=, who charters a power-boat and uses it in forwarding a plot - of Grattan's. - - =Bronson=, a railroad superintendent, who appears briefly but - creditably. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -"BUDDHA'S EYE." - - -"It's three long and weary hours, pard, before the boat for New York -ties up at the landing. You don't want to cool your heels in the hotel, -do you, while we're waiting? How about doing something to fill in the -time?" - -It was about seven o'clock in the evening, and Motor Matt and his -cowboy chum, Joe McGlory, were sitting on the porch of their hotel in -Catskill-on-the-Hudson. The hotel was on an elevation, and the boys -could look out over the river and see the lights of steamers, tugs, -motor boats, and other craft gliding up and down in a glittering maze. - -Matt had been looking down at the river lights, and dreaming. He -aroused himself with a start at the sound of his chum's voice. - -"What would you suggest, Joe?" he asked. - -"Let's take in the moving-picture shows. Say, they're the greatest -thing for a nickel that I ever saw. Some yap gets into trouble, and -then ladies and gents, and workmen, and clerks, and nurses with baby -cabs take after the poor duffer, and there's a high old time for all -hands. I'm plumb hungry for excitement, Matt. This town has become -mighty tame since we parted company with Tsan Ti." - -"If you think the moving-picture shows will furnish what you need in -the excitement line, Joe, we'll go out and take them in." - -Matt got up with a laugh, and he and McGlory left the hotel, and laid -a course for the main street of the town. At the first nickel theatre -they came to, they gave up a dime, and moved into the darkened room. An -illustrated song was in the lantern, and a young man with a husky voice -was singing something about a "stingy moon." - -The motor boys stumbled around in the dark, and McGlory tried to slip -into a seat that was already occupied. A stifled scream made him aware -of his mistake, and he tumbled all over himself to get somewhere else. - -"Speak to me about that!" he whispered to Matt, with a choppy chuckle. -"That's the trouble with these moving-picture honkatonks when you come -in after the lights are out. Oh, bother that stingy moon! I wish the -chap with the raw voice would cut it out, and let the rest of the show -get to climbing over the screen." - -"Don't be so impatient, old chap," returned Matt. "You've got to have -something happening to you about once every fifteen minutes, or you get -so nervous you can't sit still. In that respect, you're a lot like Dick -Ferral, a sailor chum I cruised with a while ago. Now----" - -"Sh-h-h!" interrupted the cowboy. "The piano has had enough of the -moon, and now here comes the first moving picture." - -White letters quivered on the screen. "Buddha's Eye" was the title of -the series of pictures about to be shown. McGlory gulped excitedly, and -Matt stared. The motor boys had just finished a wild entanglement with -a great ruby called the "Eye of Buddha," and this, the first picture in -the first theatre that claimed them, reminded them, with something like -a shock, of recent experiences. - -"Sufferin' sparks!" muttered McGlory. "What's the difference between -'Buddha's Eye' and the 'Eye of Buddha,' Matt?" - -"No difference, Joe," answered Matt. "This is just a coincidence, -that's all." - -The interior of a Buddhist temple was thrown on the screen. The views -were colored, and priests in gray and yellow robes could be seen moving -back and forth and prostrating themselves before a huge gilt idol. The -idol was of a "sitting Buddha" and must have measured full twenty feet -from the temple floor to the top of the head. - -With a flash, the interior of the temple gave way to an enlarged view -of the idol's head. The head had but one eye, placed in the centre of -the forehead--a huge ruby, which glowed like a splash of warm blood. - -"The Honam joss house, in the suburbs of Canton!" whispered McGlory -excitedly. "If it ain't, I'm a Piute!" - -Motor Matt kept silence, wondering. - -The boys were next afforded a view of two men, plotting aboard a -sampan near the island of Honam. One was tall and had a dark face and -sinister eyes. He wore a solar hat with a pugree. The other had on -sailor clothes, had a fringe of mutton-chop whiskers about his jaws -and a green patch over his right eye. McGlory grabbed Matt's arm in a -convulsive grip. - -"What do you think of that?" demanded the cowboy, in a husky whisper. -"The tinhorn in the sun hat is Grattan, and the webfoot is Bunce. Am I -in a trance, or what?" - -"Watch!" returned Matt, fully as mystified as was his chum. - -The next picture was labeled, "The Egyptian Balls--view of excavations -at Karnak, on the Upper Nile." - -Ponderous ruins were brought into view, showing Egyptian fellahs -digging in a subterranean chamber. An urn was lifted up and uncovered. -From this urn the wondering workmen removed a number of crystalline -spheres. One of the spheres dropped from an awkward hand, crashed to -fragments on the floor of the chamber, and instantly all the workmen -staggered, flung their hands to their faces, and fell sprawling, lying -on the stones prone and silent. - -Two men stole in upon them, covered with flowing Arab robes, and their -faces masked in white. Swiftly they gathered up some of the balls, and -the camera followed them as they left the chamber and stood under the -broken columns of the ancient temple of Karnak. The robes were flung -away, and the masks removed. Grattan and Bunce, the sampan plotters, -stood revealed. - -"I've got the blind staggers, I reckon!" mumbled McGlory, rubbing his -eyes. "It was in Egypt Grattan got his dope balls--the glass spheres -filled with the knock-out fumes. This--this--sufferin' brain twisters! -It's more'n I can savvy." - -After Grattan and Bunce had gone through a pantomime expressive of -their wild delight on securing the balls, the films entered into -another series, entitled, "The Theft of the Great Ruby from the Honam -Joss House, near Canton, China." - -The walls outside the temple were shown, and an avenue bordered with -banyan trees, with rooks flapping among the branches. Grattan and Bunce -were seen making their way along the avenue, entering the temple court, -and coming into the chamber which had been flashed on the screen at the -beginning. - -Here was the huge idol again, and the yellow-robed priests moving -about. For a space, Grattan and Bunce stood and gazed; then, suddenly, -Grattan pulled a hand from his coat, held one of the glass balls over -his head for a space, then sent it crashing among the priests. The -priests started up in amazement, recovered their wits, and rushed -toward the foreign devils. But the priests were suddenly stricken -before Grattan and Bunce could be roughly dealt with. - -White masks had been pushed over the faces of the two plotters, and -the pair watched while the priests, overcome by the paralyzing, -sense-destroying fumes from the broken balls, reeled to the temple -floor, and lay there in inert heaps. The masks protected Grattan and -Bunce from the baneful influence of the balls. - -As soon as the priests were stretched silent upon the floor, Grattan -unwound a ladder of silk from about his waist. One end of the ladder -was weighted with a bit of lead, and this end was thrown over the -idol's head. Thereupon, Grattan mounted the ladder, and dug out the -ruby with a knife. Upon descending, he and Bunce went through another -pantomime, suggesting their joy over the success of their shameless -work, and then passed quickly from the court, stuffing their white -masks into their pockets as they went. - -The next scene was in the room of a house in the foreign quarter, on -the sea wall, called Shameen. Grattan was secreting the ruby in the -head of a buckthorn cane. Barely was the secreting done, when a fat -mandarin burst in on them with a number of armed coolies at his heels. - -The mandarin seemed to be accusing Grattan. Grattan could be seen to -shake his head protestingly. Then Grattan and Bunce were searched -thoroughly, and the room ransacked. In the utmost chagrin, the mandarin -and his coolies left, without having been able to discover anything. A -few minutes later, the thieves took their triumphant departure, Grattan -exultantly waving the buckthorn stick. - -Scarcely breathing, and with staring eyes, the motor boys continued to -watch the pictures as they raced over the white screen. What wonder -work was this? From Grattan's own lips Matt had heard of the robbery -at the Honam joss house, in which Grattan had played such an important -part. So far, the pictures had shown it substantially as the details -had come from Grattan; there were a few minor differences, but they -were insignificant. - -From this point, however, Grattan's story and the story as told by the -pictures were at variance. - -The thieves got into a couple of sedan chairs, each chair carried by -four coolies. Apparently, Grattan and Bunce were on their way to the -river to embark for other shores. When near the landing, one of the -poles supporting the chair in which Grattan was riding broke. The chair -fell, the bamboo door burst open, and Grattan tumbled out. One of the -coolies picked up the buckthorn cane, and another the sun hat with the -pugree. Grattan, in anger, knocked down the coolie who had picked up -his hat. The other, coming to his countryman's aid, struck at Grattan -with the head of the cane. Grattan dropped to his knees. The cane -passed over his head, and the force the coolie had put into the blow -carried the stick out of his hand, and sent it smashing against the -side of a "go-down." - -The head of the cane was broken, and the great ruby rolled over the -earth out of the débris, and lay gleaming in the sun under the eyes -of the astounded coolies. Then, with the inexplicable timeliness -so prevalent in motion pictures, the fat mandarin and his coolies -came upon the scene, the mandarin gathering in "Buddha's Eye" with -extravagant expressions of joy, and Grattan and Bunce writhing -desperately in the hands of the chair men and the mandarin's guard. - -That was all. The scenes to follow were of a humorous order, and -probably had to do with some unfortunate getting into trouble and -leading a varied assortment of people a gay chase, but McGlory had lost -interest in the show. So had Matt. - -As by a common impulse, the boys got up and groped their bewildered way -out of the room and into the street. They were dazed, thunderstruck, -and hardly knew what to think. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -THE GREEN PATCH. - - -Distracted by their mental speculations, the motor boys presently found -themselves back on the porch of their hotel, occupying the same chairs -they had left a little while before. Once more Matt was looking down on -the river lights, coming and going across the broad stream like so many -fireflies. - -"Am I locoed, I wonder?" inquired McGlory, as though speaking to -himself. "Did I see that moving picture, with Grattan and Bunce in it -and stealing the 'Eye of Buddha,' or didn't I?" - -"You saw the picture, Joe," returned Matt, "and so did I." - -"I reckon I did; and jumpin' tarantulas, how it got on my nerves! But -how does it happen that the picture is being shown like it is? Grattan -told you, Matt, just how the ruby was stolen from the Honam joss house -by himself and Bunce; he told you how he went to Egypt after the glass -balls that were more than two thousand years old, and had been dug up -at Karnak. He didn't get the balls from Karnak just exactly in the -way the picture shows it, but he did steal the ruby in exactly the -same fashion those films brought the tinhorn trick under our eyes. Not -only that, but Grattan hid the ruby in the head of his cane. Right up -to that point the whole game is a dead ringer for the yarn Grattan -batted up to you. The rest of the pictures are pure fake. It was you -who helped recover 'Buddha's Eye,' and it happened right here in the -Catskill Mountains, near the village of Purling, and not in China. But -it was the smashing of the head of the cane that revealed the ruby."[A] - -[A] The thrilling adventures of the motor boys in recovering the Eye of -Buddha were set forth in No. 30, Motor Stories. - -"We know," said Matt, his mind recovering from the shock occasioned by -the strange series of pictures so suddenly sprung upon him and McGlory, -"we know, pard, that Grattan was in the motion-picture business at the -time he conceived the idea of stealing the ruby. He was traveling all -over the world with his camera apparatus. Probably his line of work has -something to do with his putting the robbery into the form we have just -seen it." - -"But why should Grattan want to publish his criminal work all over -the country in moving pictures? And he put himself into the pictures, -too--and that old sea dog, Bunce." - -"That part of it is too many for me, Joe," answered Matt. "However, I -can't see as the moving pictures of the robbery cut much figure now. -The mandarin, Tsan Ti, has recovered the ruby, and is on his way to San -Francisco to take ship for China. Grattan and Bunce made their escape, -and are probably getting out of the country, or into parts unknown, -as rapidly as they can. So far as we are concerned, the incident is -closed. But it was certainly a startler to come face to face with a set -of pictures like those--and so unexpectedly." - -"First nickelodeon we struck, and the first picture shoved through the -lantern," muttered the cowboy. - -"Are you positive, Joe," went on Matt, "that the two thieves who -figured in the picture were really Grattan and Bunce?" - -"It's a cinch!" declared McGlory. "There can't be any mistake. I -never saw a clearer set of pictures, and I'd know Grattan and Bunce -anywhere--could pick 'em out of a thousand." - -"That's the way it looked to me, and yet there's one point I can't -understand. It's a point that doesn't agree with your assertion that -Bunce was really in the picture." - -"What point is that?" - -"Why, it has to do with the green patch Bunce wears over his eye." - -"The patch was in the picture, all right." - -"Sure it was! But which of Bunce's eyes did it cover?" - -"The right eye!" - -"Exactly! The green patch was over Bunce's right eye, in the picture of -the robbery, which we just saw; but when we had our several encounters -with Bunce, a few days ago, the patch was over the mariner's left eye." - -McGlory straightened up in his chair and stared at his chum through the -electric light that shone over them from the porch ceiling. - -"Glory to glory and all hands round!" he exclaimed. "You're right, -pard. When we were trotting that heat with Bunce, here in the -Catskills, it was his left eye that was gone. Now, in the picture, it's -his right eye. How do you explain that?" - -"The explanation seems easy enough," answered Matt. "Bunce must have -two good eyes, and he simply covers up one for the purpose of disguise. -Either that, or else some one represented him when the moving pictures -were taken, and got the patch over the wrong eye." - -"What good is a green patch as a disguise, anyway?" demanded McGlory. - -"Give it up. The difference in the position of the patch merely led me -to infer that Bunce might not have really been in that moving picture. -And if Bunce wasn't in it, then it's possible that Grattan wasn't -in it, either. Two men might have been made up to represent the two -thieves. I can't think it possible that Grattan and Bunce, as you said -a moment ago, should want to publish their crime throughout the country -by means of these moving pictures. The films are rented everywhere, and -travel from place to place." - -McGlory heaved a long breath. - -"Well, anyhow, I don't want to bother myself any more with the Eye of -Buddha," said he. "It's a hoodoo, and I never went through such a lot -of close shaves, or such a series of rapid-fire events, as when we were -helping Tsan Ti, the mandarin, recover the ruby. Let's forget about -it. We can't understand how those pictures came to be shown, and we're -completely at sea regarding the green patch. But it's nothing to us, -any more. We're for New York by the night boat, and then it'll be 'Up -the river or down the bay, over to Coney or Rockaway' for the motor -boys. Sufferin' cat naps! A spell of pleasure in the metro-polus is all -that brought me East with you, anyhow. It's us for the big town, and -with you along to see that no one sells me a gold brick, I reckon I'll -be able to pan out a good time." - -The prospect of a week or two in New York, with a little rest and a -little motoring, was also appealing powerfully to Matt. He had not been -in the big town for some time, and he longed to renew his acquaintance -with its many "sights" and experiences. - -"We'll be there in the morning, Joe," Matt answered. "As you say, -we need not bother our heads any longer about the Eye of Buddha, or -Grattan, or Bunce, or Tsan Ti. We'll take our toll of enjoyment out of -Manhattan Isle, and we'll forget there ever was such a thing as the big -ruby." - -"You don't intend to think of business at all while you're there, eh?" - -"No. We'll just knock around for a couple of weeks and enjoy ourselves. -Of course we'll be more or less among the motors--I couldn't be happy -myself if we weren't--and then, when we've had enough of that, I want -to take a run up to my old home in the Berkshire Hills." - -Great Barrington had been very much in Motor Matt's mind for several -weeks. He felt a desire to go back to the old place, and revisit the -scenes of his earlier life. There was a mystery concerning his parents -which had never been solved. He did not have any idea that a return to -Great Barrington would settle that problem, but, nevertheless, it had -something to do with luring him in the direction of the Berkshires. - -"Speak to me about that!" murmured McGlory. "You've always been a good -deal of a riddle to me, pard. You've never let out much about your -early life, and I come from a country where it's a signal for fireworks -if you press a man too closely about his past, so I've just taken you -as I picked you up in 'Frisco, and let it go at that. But there are a -few things I'd like to know, just the same." - -"I'll tell you about them sometime, Joe," Matt answered. "Just now, -though, I'm not in the mood. When we're ready to start for the -Berkshires----" - -He paused. The night clerk of the hotel had come out on the porch and -was standing at his elbow, a small package in his hand. - -"Motor Matt," said he, in a voice of concern, "here's something that -came for you by express, about five-thirty in the afternoon. It's been -lying in the safe ever since. The day clerk couldn't find you, when -the package came, so he receipted for it. He didn't tell me anything -about it, when I went on duty, and he just happened to remember and to -telephone down from his room. I'm sorry about the delay." - -"We're taking the ten-o'clock boat for New York," spoke up McGlory. "It -would have been a nice layout if we'd got away and left that package -behind." - -"I'm mighty sorry, but it's not my fault." - -"Well," answered Matt, taking the package, "no great harm has been -done. It's an hour and a half, yet, before the New York boat gets here, -and I have the package." - -The clerk went back into the hotel and Matt examined the package under -the light. - -"What do you reckon it is, pard?" queried McGlory curiously. - -"You can give as good a guess as I can, Joe," Matt answered. "I'm not -expecting anybody to send me anything. It's addressed plainly enough to -Motor Matt, Catskill, New York, in care of this hotel." - -"And covered with red sealing wax," added McGlory. "Rip off the cover -and let's see what's on the inside. Sufferin' tenterhooks! Haven't you -got any curiosity?" - -Matt cut the cord that bound the package and took off the wrapper. A -small wooden box was disclosed, bound with another cord. - -The box was opened, and seemed to be filled with cotton wadding. -Resting the box on his knees, Matt proceeded to remove the wadding. -Then he fell back in his chair with an astounded exclamation. - -A round object, glimmering in the rays of the electric light like a -splash of blood against the cotton, lay under the amazed eyes of the -motor boys. - -"Buddha's Eye!" whispered McGlory. - -Around the end of the veranda, in the wavering shadows, a face had -pushed itself above the veranda railing--a face topped with a sailor -cap and fringed with "mutton-chop" whiskers--a face with a green patch -over one eye. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -MOTOR MATT--TRUSTEE. - - -Matt and McGlory had seen the Eye of Buddha, and they were not slow in -recognizing it. But the bewildering events of the evening were crowned -by this arrival of the ruby, by express, consigned to Motor Matt. By -all the laws of reasoning and logic, the gem, worth a king's ransom, -should at that moment have been in the possession of Tsan Ti, en route -to the Flowery Kingdom. - -"Oh, tell--me--about this!" stuttered McGlory. - -Matt picked the ruby up in his fingers and held it in the palm of his -hand. Apparently he was loath to credit the evidence of his senses. -From every angle he surveyed the glittering gem. - -"Wouldn't this rattle you?" he murmured, peering at his chum. - -"Rattle me!" exploded McGlory. "Why, pard, it leaves me high and -dry--stranded--gasping like a fish. Tsan Ti must be locoed! At last -accounts, he was in a flutter to get that ruby back to the Honam joss -house and replace it in the idol's head, where it belongs. What came -over the mandarin to box it up and ship it to you? I'm fair dazed, and -no mistake. This cuts the ground right out from under me." - -Matt, with a hasty look around, dropped the ruby into his pocket; then -he pulled out some more of the wadding and discovered, in the bottom of -the box, a folded sheet of white paper. - -"Here's a letter," said he. "This will explain why the ruby was sent to -me, I guess." - -"What good's an explanation?" grunted the cowboy. "I wouldn't be -tangled up with that thing for a mint of money. Sufferin' centipedes! -It's a regular hoodoo, and hands a fellow a hard-luck knock every -time he turns around. What's in the letter, anyway? If it's from Tsan -Ti, I'll bet his paper talk is heavy with big words and all kinds of -Class A 'con' lingo. Read it, do. I can't tell how nervous you make me -hanging fire." - -"It's from Tsan Ti, all right," said Matt, "and is dated New York." - -"New York! Why, he was hitting nothing but high places in the direction -of 'Frisco, when he left here. How, in the name of all his ten thousand -demons of misfortune, does he happen to be in New York?" - -"Listen," answered Matt, and began to read. - - "'Esteemed and illustrious youth, whose never-to-be-forgotten - services to me shine like letters of gold on a tablet of silver: - Behold----'" - -"Oh, the gush!" growled McGlory. - - "'Behold,'" continued Matt, "'I send you the Eye of Buddha, the - priceless jewel which belongs in the temple of Hai-chwang-sze, in my - beloved Canton. You ask, of your perplexity, why is the jewel sent - to you? and I reply, for the security's sake. Upon my trail comes - Grattan, of the evil heart, weaving his plans for recovering the - costly gem. I fear to keep it about me, and so I send to you asking - that you remain with it in the Catskill Mountains until such time as - I may come to you and receive it from your hands. This will be when - the scoundrel Grattan is safely beheaded, or in prison, and clear of - my way for all time. I turn to you of my perfect trust, and I adjure - you, by the five hundred gods, not to let the ruby get for one moment - out of your possession. Leave it nowhere, keep it by you always, - either sleeping or walking, and deliver it to no one except to me, - who, at the right time, will come and request it of you in my own - person. Will it be an insult to offer you one thousand silver dollars - and expense money for consummating this task? I commend you to the - good graces of the supernal ones whose years are ten thousand times - ten thousand! - - "'TSAN TI, of the Red Button.'" - -The reading finished, McGlory eased himself of a sputtering groan. - -"Loaded up!" he exclaimed. "You and I, pard, just at the time we -thought we were rid of Tsan Ti and Buddha's Eye for good, find the -thing shouldered onto us again, and trouble staring us in the face! -Why didn't the mandarin deposit the ruby in some bank, or safe-deposit -vault? Better still, if Grattan was on his trail, why didn't he have -the express company take it to San Francisco for him instead of sending -it to you, at Catskill? He knows less, that Tsan Ti, than any other -heathen on top of earth. In order to keep himself out of trouble he -hands us the Eye of Buddha, and switches the responsibility to us. -Wouldn't that rattle your spurs?" - -McGlory was profoundly disgusted. - -"I reckon," he went on, "that this sidetracks us, eh? The big town -is cut out of our reckoning until the mandarin shows up and claims -the ruby. He may do that to-morrow, or next week, or next month--and, -meanwhile, here we are, kicking our heels in this humdrum, back-number, -two-by-twice town on the Hudson! Say, pard, I'd like to fight--and I'd -just as soon take a fall out of that pesky mandarin as any one else." - -"He offers us a thousand dollars and expenses," said Matt. "Tsan Ti -wants to do the right thing, Joe." - -"A million dollars and expenses won't pay us for hanging onto that -ruby. It's a hoodoo, and you know that as well as I do, pard. We can -expect things to happen right from this minute. Say, put it somewhere -where it'll be safe! Put it in the hotel safe, or in a bank, or any -place. Pass the risk along." - -"Tsan Ti expressly stipulates that I am to keep the ruby about me," -demurred Matt. - -"What of that?" snorted McGlory. "Are you working for Tsan Ti? Are you -bound to do what he tells you to? What business is it of his if we -choose to show a little sense and get some one else to take charge of -the ruby? The mandarin's an old mutton-head! If he wasn't he'd know -better than to send the Eye of Buddha to us. And in a common express -package, at that. What value did he put on it?" - -McGlory picked up the wrapper that had covered the box and looked over -the address side. - -"No value at all!" he exclaimed. "Either he didn't think of that, or -else he didn't want to pay for the extra valuation. If there had been -a railroad wreck, and the ruby had been lost, our excellent mandarin -would have collected just fifty plunks from the express company--and I -reckon the Eye of Buddha is worth fifty thousand if it's worth a cent." - -"Sometimes," said Matt reflectively, "it's safer to trust to luck than -to put such a terrific value on a package that's to be carried by -express." - -"Well," grunted McGlory, "I don't like his blooming Oriental way of -doing business, and that shot goes as it lays. I'll tell you what we -can do," he added, brightening. - -"What?" - -"We can jump aboard that New York boat and tote the ruby back to New -York; then we can hunt up Tsan Ti and return the thing to him and tell -him not any--that we have done as much for him as we're going to. -Where's his letter sent from? What's the name of the hotel?" - -In his eagerness, McGlory snatched the letter from Matt's knee and -began looking it over. - -"There's no address," said Matt. - -"Tsan Ti may be in Chinatown," went on McGlory. "Such a big high boy -couldn't get lost in the shuffle around Pell and Doyer Streets. Let's -go on by that boat and take our chances locating him!" - -"No," and Matt shook his head decidedly, "that's a move we can't make, -Joe. I'm no more in love with this piece of work than you are, but -we're in for it, and there's no way to dodge. Tsan Ti has unloaded the -ruby upon us and we've got to stand for it." - -"But we're responsible----" - -"Of course, up to a certain point. If the stone should be taken away -from us, though, Tsan Ti couldn't hold us responsible. We didn't ask -for the job of looking after it, and we don't want the job, but we're -doing what we can, you see, because there's no other way out of it." - -"You could stow it away in a safer place than your pocket," grumbled -McGlory. - -"In that event," returned Matt, "we might be responsible. The thing for -us to do is to follow out our instructions to the letter. If anything -happens to the Eye of Buddha then it's the mandarin himself who's -responsible." - -"And we're to hang out in the Catskill Mountains until Tsan Ti comes -for the ruby!" mused McGlory, in an angry undertone; "and he's not -going to come until Grattan is 'beheaded' or clapped into jail. We're -liable to have a long wait. Of all the tinhorns I ever saw, or heard -of, that Grattan is the sharpest of the lot. Fine job this red-button -heathen has put onto us!" - -Matt disliked the work of taking care of the valuable gem, and he would -have shirked the responsibility if he could have done so, but there -was no way in which this could be brought about. He and Joe would have -to stay in the Catskills, for a while anyway, and wait for Tsan Ti -to present himself. Meanwhile, the trip to New York would have to be -postponed. - -More to soothe his friend than as an expression of his own feelings, -the king of the motor boys began taking a pleasanter view of the -situation. - -"We know, pard," said he, "that Tsan Ti is a man of his word. When -he says he'll do anything, he does it. He'll come for the ruby, and -I think he's clever enough to fool Grattan, and we know he'll pay us -a thousand dollars. That money will come in handy while we're in New -York." - -"If we ever get there," growled the cowboy. "We may get into so much -trouble on account of that Eye of Buddha that we'll be laid up in the -hospital when Tsan Ti presents himself in these parts." - -Matt laughed. - -"You're so anxious to see the sights in the big town, Joe," he -observed, "that it's the delay, more than anything else, that's -bothering you." - -"When I get started for anywhere," answered McGlory, "a bee line and -the keen jump is my motto. But, so long as we have anything to do with -Tsan Ti, we never know what's going to happen. I wish the squinch-eyed -heathen would leave us alone." - -Just then a form rounded the front of the hotel, gained the steps -leading up to the porch, and climbed to a place in front of the motor -boys. - -McGlory lifted his eyes. The moment they rested on the form, and -realization of who it was had flashed through his brain, he jumped for -the man and grabbed him with both hands. - -"Bunce!" he whooped. "I told you things would begin to happen, pard, -and right here is where they start!" - -Then, with considerable violence, McGlory pushed the old sailor against -one of the porch posts, and held him there, squirming. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -BUNCE HAS A PLAN. - - -"Avast, there!" gurgled Bunce, half choked, trying to pull the cowboy's -hands from his throat. - -The green patch was over his left eye, and the right eye gleamed -glassily in the electric light. - -Matt was as much surprised at Bunce's appearance as was McGlory, but he -held his temper better in hand. The cowboy, profoundly disgusted with -the trend of recent events, showed a disposition to take it out of the -sailor. - -Had Bunce been even the half of an able seaman he would have given -McGlory a hard scramble, but he seemed a wizened, infirm old salt, -although he had proved active enough during the experiences the motor -boys had already had with him. - -"Don't strangle him, Joe!" called Matt. "Take your hands from his -throat and grab his arm. He came here openly, and he must have known -we were here. Judging from that, I should say that his intentions are -peaceable." - -"Ask him," gritted McGlory, "why he doesn't change eyes with the patch. -Let's get to the bottom of this moving-picture business, too. We can -have a little heart-to-heart talk, I reckon, and find out a few things -before we turn the old webfoot over to the police." - -"Right you are, my blood," gasped the half-suffocated Bunce, as the -cowboy dropped his hands to his arm and dragged him down into a chair, -"a heart-to-heart talk's the thing. Didn't I bear away for this place -for nothin' else than to fall afoul o' ye? Ay, ay, that was the way of -it, but split me through if I ever expected such treatment as this what -I'm a-gettin'. Motor Matt's the lad, says I to myself, to fill the bill -for Bunce, so I trips anchor an' slants away, only to be laid holt of -like I was a reg'lar skull-and-crossbones, walk-the-plank pirate, with -the Jolly Roger at the peak." - -"Oh, put a crimp on that sort of talk," growled McGlory. "Sufferin' -freebooters! If you're anything better than a pirate, I'd like to have -you tell me." - -"So, ho!" and Bunce's eye glittered wrathfully, "if I had a cutlass, my -fine buck, I'd slit ye like a herrin' for that. I'm a fair-weather sort -of man, an' I hates a squall, but stir up nasty weather an' then give -me somethin' to fight with, an' I'm a bit of a handful. Nigh Pangool, -on the south coast o' Java, I laid out a hull boat's crew with my fists -alone, once, not so many years back. That was when I was mate o' the -brig _Hottentot_, as fine a two-sticker as ever shoved nose into the -South Seas--reg'lar bucko mate, I was, an' a main hard man when roused." - -At the time the Eye of Buddha was recovered, Bunce had made his escape -with Grattan; and he had been equally guilty, with Grattan, in the -theft of the ruby from the Honam joss house. That the sailor should -have shown himself at all, in those parts, was a wonder; and that he -should have shown himself to Matt and McGlory, who knew of his evil -deeds, was a puzzle past working out. - -"You say you came here to see me?" inquired Matt. - -"Ay, ay, my hearty," answered Bunce. "Motor Matt, says I to myself, is -the lad to fill the bill for me, an' I luffed into the wind an' bore -down for Catskill. Here I am, an' here's you, an' if I blow the gaff -a bit that's my business, ain't it? But take me to the cabin; what I -has to say is between us an' the mainmast with no other ears to get a -sizing of it." - -McGlory glared at Bunce as though he would have liked to bore into him -with his eyes and see what he had at the back of his head. - -"If you're trying to play double with us, you gangle-legged old hide -rack," he threatened, "you'll live to wish you'd thought twice before -you did it." - -"Now, burn me," snorted Bunce, "d'ye take me for a dog fish? By the -seven holy spritsails, I'm as good a man as you, an' ye'll l'arn----" - -"Enough of that, Bunce," broke in Matt sharply, getting up from his -chair. "You want to say something to us in private, and I'm going to -give you the chance. Come after me; you trail along behind him, Joe," -and, with that, Matt went into the hotel and up the stairs to the room -jointly occupied by himself and McGlory. - -At the door, Matt pushed a button that turned on the lights. As soon as -McGlory and Bunce were in the room, the door was locked and Matt took -charge of the key. - -"That's the stuff, pard," approved McGlory, with great satisfaction. -"If the old tinhorn don't spout to please us, we can phone the office -for a policeman." - -"Ye're not sending me to the brig this trip, mates," spoke up Bunce. -"'Cos why? 'Cos in fillin' the bill for me, ye're givin' the mandarin a -leg up out of a purty bad hole." - -"What have you got to tell us?" inquired Matt curtly. "Out with it, -Bunce." - -"When ye last seen me, my lad," said Bunce, "I was sailin' in convoy -with Philo Grattan. But he's doin' things I don't approve of, not any -ways. It was all right to put our helm up an' bear down on a chink joss -house to lift the Eye o' Buddha, an' it was all right, too, when ye -helped the big high boy get the ruby back. That was all in the game, -an' we'd ought to've made the most of it. But not Philo Grattan. D'ye -know what he's layin' to do? Nothin' more, on my soul, than to strangle -Tsan Ti with a yellow cord an' take the ruby away from him. My eye, -mates, but Grattan's a clever hand at overhauling his locker for a game -like that. The boss of the Chinee Empire sends these yellow cords to -the chinks he don't like an' don't want around. When the cords come to -hand, then the chinks receivin' thereof uses them to choke out their -lives. Tsan Ti is found, dead as a mackerel, with the yellow cord -twisted into his fat neck. Eye o' Buddha is missin' from his clothes. -What's the answer? Why, that Tsan Ti lost the ruby, an' used the cord -sent him from the home country. That'll seem plain as a burgee flyin' -from the gaff o' one o' these fresh-water yachts. Won't it, now?" - -Matt knew that Tsan Ti had received the yellow cord from China, and -that he had been allowed two weeks in which either to find the stolen -ruby or to use the cord. Of course, the ruby had been recovered, and -there was no necessity for using the hideous cord; but, if he was found -strangled, it would have seemed as though he himself had committed the -deed in compliance with orders from the Chinese regent. - -Bunce may have been romancing, but there was a little plausibility back -of his words. - -"Where is Grattan?" demanded Matt. - -"In these here hills, shipmate," replied Bunce. - -"Tsan Ti isn't in the Catskills!" - -"No more he ain't, which I grant ye offhand an' freely, but supposin' -he's in Noo York, held a pris'ner in a beach comber's joint in Front -Street? An' supposin', furthermore, this same beach comber is a mate o' -Grattan's, an' waitin' only for Grattan to come afore he makes Tsan Ti -peg out? Put that in your pipe an' smoke it careful." - -"You mean to say that Tsan Ti is a prisoner in New York--a prisoner of -a confederate of Grattan's?" - -"That's gospel truth! It happened recent--no longer ago than early -mornin'. I bore the word to the beach comber in a letter of hand from -Philo, an' the beach comber met me in a snug harbor on the front where -sailormen are regularly hocused an' shipped for all parts. I don't know -where the beach comber's place is, not me, but I did get him topping -the boom an' he reported the whole matter entire. However Tsan Ti fell -into the net is a notch above my understandin', but there he is, hard -an' fast, an' when I'd done with the beach comber I took the train for -Catskill to find Grattan an' tell him what's been pulled off." - -Bunce was a trifle hard to follow. - -"Let's see if I've got this right," said Matt, "When you and Grattan -escaped from the officers, at the time the ruby was recovered, you hid -yourselves away among the Catskills?" - -"Ay, so we did!" - -"And then Grattan gave you a letter to some man in New York and you -carried it personally?" - -"Personally, that's the word. I carried it personally." - -"And this man in New York entrapped the mandarin and is holding him a -prisoner until he can hear what Grattan wants done?" - -"Ye've got the proper bearin's, an' no mistake." - -"And you came back on the train to tell Grattan?" - -Bunce nodded, and pulled at his fringe of whiskers. - -"Then, why didn't you go and tell Grattan," asked Matt, "instead of -coming and telling me?" - -"I'm no blessed cut-an'-slash pirate," protested Bunce. "So long as the -ruby was to be come by without any stranglin', I was willin' to bear -a bob an' do my share; an' while mebby there ain't anythin' morilly -wrong in chokin' the breath out of a heathen Chinee, yet they'll bowse -a man up to the yardarm for doin' the same. Mates, on the ride back to -the Catskills I overhauled the hull matter, an' I makes up my mind I'd -sailed in company with Grattan as long as 'twas safe. If I can save the -mandarin, I thinks to myself, mebby Motor Matt'll play square with me -an' let me off for what I done in helpin' lift the ruby. If so be he -thinks that way, says I to myself further, then he's the one to fill -the bill for Bunce. So, instid o' slantin' for the cove where the motor -car is hid away, I 'bouts ship an' lays a course for this hotel." - -"What's your plan, Bunce?" queried Matt. - -"Easy, does it; simple as a granny's knot. You kiss the Book that I'm -free as soon's I do my part, then I takes you to where Grattan is, -an' you lays him by the heels--just us three in it an' not a man Jack -else. The beach comber don't do a thing to Tsan Ti till he hears from -Grattan; an' how'll he ever hear from Grattan if he's safe in irons in -some jail in these hills? That's my plan, an' you take it or leave it. -If ye don't follow the course I've laid, then Grattan gets the ruby -back, an' the mandarin's life along with it. If ye think I'm talkin' -crooked, an' put the lashings on me an' hand me over to the police, -then not a soul'll ever know where Grattan's hid, an' he'll clear out -an' get to Noo York whether I see him or not--but Tsan Ti'll be for -Davy Jones' locker, no matter what ye try to do to prevent it. I've -said my say an' eased my mind; now it's you for it." - -With that, Bunce calmly drew a plug of tobacco from his pocket and -nibbled at one corner reflectively. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -BUNCE SPEAKS A GOOD WORD FOR HIMSELF. - - -Matt made a brief study of Bunce, leaning back in his seat and gazing -at the mariner through half-closed eyes. The sailorman's get-up -reminded Matt of _Dick Deadeye_ in "Pinafore." Whether Bunce was really -a deep-water humbug, and whether he was to be taken seriously, were -questions that gave Matt a good deal of bother. - -"He's stringing us, pard," averred McGlory bluntly. "That tongue of his -is hung in the middle and wags at both ends." - -"Avast, my man-o'-war!" came hotly from the mariner. "I'm no loafing -longshore scuttler to let go my mudhooks in these waters and then begin -splicing the main brace out of hand. You'll get your whack, my blood, -and get it hard, if you keep on in the style ye're goin'. Belay a bit, -can't you?" - -McGlory snorted contemptuously and put his tongue in his cheek. Bunce -began fingering his knife lanyard. - -"No more of that give-and-take," said Matt. - -"I'm a hard man," observed Bunce, "an' I've lived a hard life, winnin' -my mate's berth on the ole _Hottentot_ off Trincomalee by bashing in -the skull of a Kanaka. More things I've done as would make your blood -run cold just by listenin' to, but I'm straight as a forestay for all -that, d'ye mind, an' I've a clean bill from every master I ever sailed -with. 'He ain't much fer looks, Bunce ain't,' as Cap'n Banks, of the -ole _Hottentot_ used to say, 'but in a pinch you don't have to look -twice for Bunce.' An' there ye have it, all wrapped up, tied small, an' -ready for any swab as doubts me." - -"Bunce," said Matt dubiously, "I'm frank to say I don't know just how -to take you. By your own confession you're a thief----" - -"Only when chinks has the loot," cut in Bunce hastily, "an' when it -takes a bit of headwork an' a matchin' o' wits to beat 'em out." - -"You helped Grattan steal the Eye of Buddha. Plotted it on a sampan off -Canton, didn't you?" - -Bunce shoved in his chair and showed signs of consternation. - -"Scuttle me!" he gulped. "Wherever did you find that out? Grattan never -told you where we had our chin-chin in the river of Honam." - -"It's all pictured out," said Matt, "and you can drop into a theatre, -in this town of Catskill, and see yourself and Grattan committing the -robbery." - -Bunce fell limply back. - -"So, ho!" he mumbled. "Then them pictures are out, eh? They wasn't to -come out for a month yet--it was in the agreement." - -"Agreement?" - -"Ay, no more nor less. It was on the trip from 'Frisco, east, mate, -when Grattan an' me had the ruby but not a sou markee in our pockets. -We needed money. Grattan knew some of these moving-picture swabs in -Chicago, and he allowed he could turn a few reds by givin' 'em the -plan of the robbery an' helpin' act it out. 'Avast,' says I, feelin' a -warnin' twinge, 'don't touch it, Philo!' But he would--an' did, first -gettin' an' agreement from the swabs that they wouldn't put out the -pictures for two months. We got a couple of hundred yen for the work, -an' that's what brought us on to the Catskills. So it's out, so it's -out," and Bunce wagged his head forebodingly. - -"Did you play a part in the pictures, Bunce?" went on Matt. - -"Not I, mate! I may be lackin' in the head, once in a while, but -there's a few keen thoughts rollin' around in my locker. I wouldn't go -in for it, an' you can smoke my weather roll on that." - -"There's a one-eyed sailor in the picture," said Matt. - -"And he's a dead ringer for you," added McGlory. - -"Which it ain't me, d'ye see?" scowled the mariner. "It's a -counterfeit, got up to look like me--an' nothin' more." - -"Then it's a mighty good counterfeit," averred the cowboy. - -"I'm a man o' high principles, mate, even though I do say it as -shouldn't. I was brought up right, by a Marblehead fisherman who -hated rum, couldn't abide playin' cards, an' believed the-ay-ters was -milestones on the road to the hot place. Actin' in a play I wouldn't -think of, an' that's the flat of it. But what's the good word, -shipmate? Are you sailin' this cruise wi' me to save the life o' the -mandarin? I must know one way or t'other." - -"Where is Grattan?" - -"Five miles away, snug as a bug in a rug where he'll never be found -onless I con the course. We'll have to go to him soon, if he's -captured. I'm due at the meetin' place to-night." - -"You spoke of a motor car----" - -"Ay, that I did. It's hid in the woods beyond the railroad yards. We'll -use that." - -"You had a couple of motorcycles," said Matt. - -"Which you and Grattan stole from us," supplemented McGlory. "What's -become of them, Bunce?" - -"Wrecked an' sunk," answered Bunce. "Mine sprung a leak an' went over a -cliff in fifty fathoms of air; Grattan's bounced up on a reef an' went -to pieces. Then we lifted the motor car, usin' of it for night cruises." - -"You stole a motor car, eh?" said McGlory grimly. "And on top of -that you have the nerve to come along here and speak a good word for -yourself." - -"Stow it," growled Bunce, "or you an' I'll be at loggerheads for good. -What's the word?" and he turned his gleaming eye on Matt. "You can use -the telephone an' hand me over to the police, or you can do as I say -an' save the mandarin. What's the word?" - -"When will we have to start after Grattan?" asked Matt. - -"By early mornin', mate, just when it's light enough to see." - -"And where'll we meet you?" - -"In the woods beyond the railroad yards. Go there, stand on the track, -an' whistle. I'll whistle back, then we'll come together--an' fill the -bill." - -"You can expect us at six o'clock," said Motor Matt, unlocking the door -and pulling it open. - -"Brayvo, my bully!" enthused Bunce. "An' ye'll come armed? Grattan is a -hard man, an' sizable in a scrimmage." - -"We'll be prepared to take care of Grattan," answered Matt. "Good -night, Bunce." - -"Good night it is," and the mariner vanished into the hall. - -As soon as the door was again closed, Matt turned to find McGlory -staring at him as though he thought he was crazy. - -"Sufferin' tinhorns!" exclaimed the cowboy. "You can't mean it, pard?" - -"Yes, I do," was the answer. - -"Why, that old fore-and-after never told the truth in his life! He was -using his imagination overtime." - -"The chances are that he was, but there's a bare possibility he was -telling the truth. We know Tsan Ti is in New York, and we can't feel -absolutely sure that the Chinaman hasn't fallen into some trap laid by -Grattan. If that's the case, the mandarin may lose his life." - -"There's about as much chance of that, pard, as that you and I will get -struck by lightning." - -"We'll say the chance that Bunce is telling the truth is about one in -a hundred. Well, Joe, that hundredth chance is what we can't take. -Besides, Grattan is wanted. If he is really in the hills, and we can -capture him, that will clear the road for Tsan Ti." - -"But what will you do with the Eye of Buddha?" - -Matt was in a quandary about that. - -"Will you tote it along on a trip of this kind?" proceeded Joe, "or -will you leave it in the hotel safe? Maybe that's what Bunce is playing -for." - -"He don't know we have the ruby. How could he?" - -"I'm by. But he's up to something, and that's a cinch." - -"We'll have to give him the benefit of the doubt--on account of Tsan -Ti." - -"Consarn that bungling chink!" grunted the cowboy, venting his anger on -the mandarin as the original cause of their perplexing situation. "You -can't do a thing with that red stone but lug it along." - -"If the banks were open between now and the time we start, I might -leave it with one of them for safe-keeping." - -"And go dead against your letter of instructions! Then you would be -responsible." - -"I'll think it over to-night," said Matt, and began his preparations -for turning in. - -But sleeping over the question didn't answer it. Matt's quandary lasted -until far into the night. - -He had no faith in Bunce; he couldn't understand why Tsan Ti should -have sent the ruby to him for safe-keeping; he doubted the wisdom of -going into the hills with the mariner, and he understood well the risk -of carrying the priceless Eye of Buddha with him on the morning's -venture. - -When McGlory opened his eyes in the first gray of the morning, Matt was -tying up the box in which the ruby had come by express. - -"What are you going to do, pard?" inquired the cowboy, jumping out of -bed and beginning to scramble into his clothes. - -"I guess, after all," answered Matt, "that I'll leave this box with the -clerk." - -"Wish I knew whether that was the proper caper, or not, but I don't. -One thing's as good as another, I reckon." - -At five-thirty they had a hurried breakfast, and, a little before six, -Matt handed the small box to the hotel clerk and asked him to put it -away in the office safe. Then the motor boys started for the railroad -track and followed it away from the river and into the wooded ravine -beyond the yards. - -"This is far enough, I guess," said Matt, and began to whistle. - -The signal was promptly returned from a place on the left, and the head -of the mariner was pushed through a thicket of bushes. - -"Ahoy, my hearties!" came from Bunce. "Come up here and bear a fist -with the car, will ye?" - -Puzzled not a little at this request, Matt and McGlory climbed the bank -of the ravine and came alongside the mariner on a small, cleared shelf -on the bank side. The "motor car" was before them, and at sight of it -McGlory exploded a laugh. - -"Speak to me about this!" he exclaimed. "Had you any notion it was this -sort of a bubble, Matt?" - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE HOMEMADE SPEEDER. - - -What Matt saw was an ordinary hand car equipped with a two-cylinder -gasoline engine. Across one end of the car was a bench, tightly bolted -to the framework; back of this was a shorter bench for the driver of -the queer machine. The king of the motor boys examined the car with -a good deal of curiosity. Power was communicated to the rear axle by -chain and sprocket. The gasoline tank was under the driver's bench, and -he unscrewed the cap and tested the fuel supply by means of a clean -twig picked up from the shelf. - -"Oh, she's loaded full," wheezed Bunce. "I filled her myself, not -more'n ten minutes ago." - -"Do you know anything about motors, Bunce?" inquired Matt, giving the -mariner a sharp look. - -"Ay, that I do--in a way. I can turn on the oil and the spark when -I wants to start, an' I can cut 'em off an' jam on the brakes when -I wants to stop. That's all ye got to know in runnin' these benzine -machines." - -"Where does this belong?" - -"Track inspector owns it. Grattan an' me borried it." Bunce grinned. -"When we're done with the machine, we'll give it back." - -"We'll make a picture, pard," grumbled McGlory, "trailin' along with -this tinhorn on a stolen speeder." - -"Avast, I say!" growled Bunce. "Ye're too free with your jaw tackle. -Lend a hand, an' let's get her on the track an' make off. The section -gang'll be out purty soon, an' we want to be away afore they see us." - -"Sure you do," agreed McGlory sarcastically. "It'll be healthier for my -pard and me, too, I reckon, if we're absent when the section men come -along. That's why you wanted to make such an early start, eh?" - -Without more ado, the motor boys helped Bunce get the speeder down the -slope and upon the rails. - -"Any trains coming or going at this hour?" asked Matt, with sudden -thought. - -"Say," jeered McGlory, "it would be fine if we went head on into a -local passenger!" - -"No trains comin' or goin', mate," said Bunce. "That's another reason -for the early start. Want me to run the thing?" - -"I'll do the running," answered Matt. "You climb up in front with -McGlory." - -Bunce and McGlory got on the front bench. Matt "turned the engine over" -by running with the speeder for a few steps, then climbed to his seat, -and they began laboring up a stiff grade through the ravine. - -The road was full of curves, and when it couldn't go around a hill it -went over it. - -From his talk with Bunce, the night before, Matt had been under the -impression that the stolen car was an automobile, and he had made up -his mind to return the car to its owner--if the man's name could be -learned--after it had been used for running down Philo Grattan. Now, -that he had discovered that the car was a track speeder, he was no -less resolved to hand it over to the railroad company on the return to -Catskill. - -The speeder performed fairly well, considering that it must have been -knocked together in the company's shops by men whose knowledge of their -work was not extensive. A secondhand automobile engine had furnished -the motor. - -"This isn't so bad," remarked McGlory, as they ducked around the -shoulder of a hill, still on the up grade, with the motor fretting and -pounding. "A motor ride's a motor ride, whether you're on an aëroplane, -or rubber tires, or steel rails." - -"This is what they call a joy ride, Joe," called Matt, from the rear. -"The owner of the car doesn't know we're out with it. I'll return it to -the railroad company when we're through with our morning's work." - -"That's you. I hope the railroad company don't find out we've got it -before we give it back. Gee, man, how she's workin'!" - -"Fine day an' clear weather for fillin' the bill," remarked Bunce. "Did -ye come armed, mateys?" - -"Sufferin' hold-ups!" exclaimed McGlory. "Did you think for a minute, -Bunce, we'd jump into this without being heeled?" - -The cowboy, as he spoke, reached behind him and drew a short, -wicked-looking six-shooter from his hip pocket. - -Bunce recoiled. - -"Where'd you get that, Joe?" asked Matt. - -"Borrowed it from the hotel clerk." - -"Well, put it away. I don't think we're going to need it. If we find -Grattan there'll be three of us to take care of him. He's alone, I -suppose, Bunce?" - -"Sailin' by himself, mate," answered the mariner. "Better le' me take -the gun, my hearty," he added, to McGlory. - -"Speak to me about that!" scoffed the cowboy. "Why?" - -"I'll have to go for'ard when we come close to the place, an' if Philo -gets vi'lent, I'll look at him over the gun, an' it'll be soothin'." - -"I'm able to soothe him, I reckon, no matter whether you're ahead or -behind." - -The speeder was making a terrific clatter. Everything rattled--the -brake shoes barged against the wheel flanges, the engine rocked on its -bed, and the levers jarred in their guides. In order to talk, and make -themselves heard, those aboard had to lift their voices. - -"Sufferin' Bedlam!" cried McGlory. "It's a wonder Grattan and Bunce -were ever able to steal a rattletrap like this and get away with it. -We're making more noise than a limited express." - -Suddenly the motor gave a flash and a sputter and went out of business. -In a twinkling the car lost headway and began sliding back down the -grade toward Catskill. Matt threw on the brakes. The rear wheels -locked, but still the car continued to slide downward. Shutting off -the power, Matt dropped into the roadbed over the back of the bench, -cleared the rails at a leap, and wedged one of the wheels with a stone. -He had been obliged to work rapidly, for the car was on the move, and -going faster and faster, as its weight gathered headway. But the stone -sufficed, and the speeder was brought to a standstill. - -"What took us aback, like that?" demanded Bunce. - -"Too much gasoline," answered Matt, tinkering with the supply pipe, -"and I couldn't check it with the lever control." - -"This is a great old chug cart," laughed McGlory. "The railroad company -ought to have been willing to pay somebody for running away with it. -How'd you ever get over this road with it, Bunce?" - -"When I came over the road it was downhill," answered the mariner, "an' -all I had to do was to keep the craft on her course, an' scud along -under bare poles." - -"You had to climb a hill before you took the down grade, didn't you?" - -"Ay, so I did, but the car came up the hill easy enough." - -Matt soon had the valve in the supply pipe adjusted, and all hands had -to push in giving the car a start. When they were going, and the engine -had taken up its cycle, there followed a wild scramble to get aboard. -This was finally accomplished, and once more they were puffing up the -hill, but with less pounding than before. - -"Say, Bunce," demanded McGlory suddenly, "did you take the speeder off -the track and up the slope into those bushes alone?" - -"Ay, ay, mate," was the answer. "But I had a rope and tackle to help." - -McGlory was convinced that Bunce was wide of the truth, and Matt -inclined to the same opinion, although why the mariner wanted to -deceive them in such a small matter was difficult to understand. - -Presently, to the great relief of the motor boys, the top of the hill -was reached. The descent angled downward, around rocky uplifts and -through thick timber, so that it was impossible to watch the track in -advance for any considerable distance. - -The descent, on such a makeshift power car as the speeder, was fraught -with greater perils than the climb up the mountain. No power would be -necessary, for the car would go fast enough without any added impetus. -In order to keep it from going too fast, and jumping the track, the -brakes would have to be judiciously used. - -"We're off!" cried McGlory, as the speeder began coasting down the -grade. - -Matt tried out the brakes. They were capable of slackening the pace, -but as for stopping the car, no appliance could have done that. - -With rear wheels locked, the speeder hurled itself down the mountain, -acquiring greater and greater speed as it went. In and out of cuts -the car dashed, here and there rumbling over a trestle which gave the -passengers fearful glimpses of space below them. - -McGlory and Bunce hung to their bench with both hands. There was no -talking, now, for all three passengers were holding their breath. - -Finally the descent became less steep. As the grade flattened out -slowly into something approaching a level, Matt's work with the -brakes began to achieve results. By degrees the mad flight of the car -commenced to slacken. - -"Sharp curve ahead!" sang out McGlory, heaving a deep breath of relief -as the car continued to slow down. - -Matt saw the sharp turn in the track where it rounded a shoulder -of rock. Naturally he could not see around the turn, and he was -speculating as to whether their reduced speed would be sufficient to -throw the speeder off the rails at the bend, or whether the car would -make it safely. - -Before his calculations had been brought to an end, the problem was -working itself out. - -The speeder struck the curve, whirled around it with a shrieking of -flanges against the rails, and then there went up a wild yell from -McGlory and Bunce. - -Directly in front of the car was a tie across the track! - -A collision with the tie was inevitable. Matt foresaw it, and clung -desperately to his bench. - -"Brace yourselves!" he yelled. - -The next moment they struck the tie. - -The jolt was terrific. Motor Matt was thrown roughly against the seat -in front, and Bunce went into the air as though shot from a gun. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -TRAPPED. - - -Matt saw that McGlory had managed, like himself, to stay with the -car, then both motor boys had a flash-light glimpse of the mariner -ricochetting through the atmosphere and striking earth right side up by -the track. But Bunce did not remain in an upright position. The force -with which he had been thrown launched him into a series of eccentric -cartwheels, and when he finally stopped turning he was in a sitting -posture, with his back against a bowlder. - -Apparently he had escaped serious injury, which was a remarkable fact, -in view of the circumstances. A broken neck might easily have resulted, -or, at the least, a fractured arm or leg. - -"Shiver me!" gasped Bunce, dazed and bewildered by the suddenness of it -all. - -Then Motor Matt's and McGlory's shocked senses laid hold of another -detail of the situation which was most astounding. - -The green patch had been shaken from the mariner's head, and he was -peering around him with two good eyes! - -"Tell me about that!" roared McGlory, pointing. "Look at his lamps, -Matt! He's got two!" - -"I see," answered Matt grimly. "Suppose we approach closer, Joe, and -find out about this." - -Bunce watched the boys descend from the speeder and advance upon him, -but there was still a dazed gleam in his eyes which proved that he was -slow in recovering his wits. - -"Are you all right, Bunce?" asked Matt, reaching the mariner's side and -bending down. - -"That--that craft must have--have turned a handspring," mumbled Bunce. -"Purty tolerable blow we had, mates, an' I was snatched away from -the bench, an' tossed overboard. It was done so quick I--I hardly -knowed what was goin' on. By the seven holy spritsails! it's a wonder -I'm shipshape an' all together." He got up slowly and began feeling -gingerly of his arms and legs. "Nothin' busted, I guess," he added. - -The ground where he had landed was cushioned with sand. To this fact, -more than to anything else, he owed his escape from injury. - -McGlory picked up the green patch. - -"Here's an ornament you dropped during that ground-and-lofty tumbling, -you old tinhorn," said he. "What did you wear it for, anyhow?" - -"Blow me tight!" exclaimed Bunce, staring at the patch with falling -jaw. "Ain't that reedic'lous?" he added, with a feeble attempt to treat -the matter lightly. - -"It is rather ridiculous, Bunce, and that's a fact," answered Matt. -"You've a pair of very good eyes, it seems to me, and what's the good -of that patch?" - -The mariner grabbed the bit of green cloth and pulled the string over -his head. - -"I never said I'd lost one o' my lamps," he averred, settling the patch -in place. "Off Table Mountain, South Africy, a cable parted on the ole -_Hottentot_, an' I was hit in the eye with a loose rope's end. For a -while, I thought I was goin' blind. But I didn't, only the eye has been -weak ever sence, an' needs purtection. That's why I wear the patch." - -"You've got it over the wrong eye, Bunce," observed McGlory. "You've -been wearing it over the left eye, and now it's over the right. Have -you got any clear notion which eye was hit with that rope's end?" - -Bunce hastily changed the position of the patch. - -"I'm that rattled," said he, "that I'm all ahoo, an' don't rightly know -what I'm about. I----" - -For an instant he stared up the track, breaking off his words abruptly; -then, without any further explanation, he whirled and rushed for the -timber. - -With a yell of anger, McGlory started after him. - -"Come back, Joe!" shouted Matt. "Here come some men who seem to have -business with us." - -The cowboy whirled to an about face, and followed with his eyes the -direction of his chum's pointing finger. - -Four men in flannel shirts and overalls, and carrying spades, picks, -and tamping irons, were hurrying up the track in the direction of the -curve. - -"The section gang!" muttered McGlory. - -"A good guess," laughed Matt. "We've been trapped." - -"Trapped?" - -"That's the way it looks to me. We were seen coming down the mountain -and those men, recognizing the speeder, laid the tie across the rails -to catch the thieves." - -"Sufferin' kiboshes, but here's a go! This comes of trying to fill the -bill for an old tinhorn like Bunce." - -"Ketched!" yelled one of the approaching men, flourishing a tamping -iron; "we've ketched the robbers that run off with Mulvaney's speeder! -Don't you make no trouble," he added, slowing his pace and coming more -warily. - -The other three men spread out and then closed in, barring escape for -the motor boys in every direction. - -"You've made a mistake," said Matt. - -"Oh, sure!" jeered the section boss, "but I reckon we'll take ye to -Catskill, an' let ye tell the superintendent all about the mistake." - -"Don't be in a rush about taking us to Catskill," threatened McGlory. -"You listen to what Motor Matt says, and I reckon he'll make the layout -clear to you." - -"Motor Matt!" returned the boss ironically. "Why don't ye say ye're the -governor o' the State, or somethin' like that? Ye might jest as well. -Motor Matt ain't stealin' speeders an' runnin' off with 'em." - -The king of the motor boys had become pretty well known in the -Catskills through his previous work in recovering the ruby for Tsan -Ti. Even these section men had heard of his exploits. Matt, seeing the -impression his cowboy pard's words had made, resolved to prove his -identity in the hope of avoiding trouble. - -"What my chum says is true, men," he declared. "I am Motor Matt. We -didn't steal the railroad speeder. That was done by the man who was -with us--the fellow who ran away. You saw him, didn't you?" - -"Sure we saw him," answered the section boss, "but I wouldn't try to -put it all off onto him, if I was you." - -"Sufferin' blockheads!" rumbled McGlory. "Use your brains, if you've -got any, can't you? Do we look like thieves?" - -"Can't most always tell from a feller's looks what he is," returned the -boss skeptically. "And this other chap can't be Motor Matt, nuther, or -he wouldn't have stole the speeder. That there speeder has been missin' -for three days, an' orders has gone out, up an' down the line, for all -hands to watch out for it. When I seen it comin' down the grade, I -knowed we had ye. All we done was to throw that tie acrost the track, -an' the trick was done. Ye'll have to go to Catskill, that's all about -it." - -"Are you men from Catskill?" inquired Matt. - -"No, Tannersville, but Catskill's the place you're wanted. We'll put ye -on the passenger, when it comes along." - -"But we don't want to go back to Catskill just yet," Matt demurred. -"We've got business here, and it can't be put off." - -Matt believed that Bunce had run to get away from the section men, who, -he must have realized, had caused the speeder's mishap in the hope of -catching the ones who had stolen the car. There was yet a chance, Matt -thought, to overhaul Bunce and find Grattan. To go back to Catskill, -just then, would have been disastrous to the work he and McGlory were -trying to do under the mariner's leadership. - -"Sure ye don't want to go to Catskill," went on the section boss, -"right now, or any other time. But ye're goin', all the same. Grab 'em, -you men," and the boss shouted the order to the three who had grouped -themselves around Matt and McGlory. - -"Hands off!" shouted the cowboy. - -Matt saw him jerk the revolver from his pocket, and aim it at the man -who was reaching to lay hold of him. The man fell back with an oath of -consternation. - -"Don't do that, Joe!" cried Matt. - -"Oh, no," sneered the boss, "you fellers ain't thieves, I guess! -What're you pullin' a gun on us for, if ye ain't?" - -"I'm not going to argue the case with you any further," Matt answered -shortly. "We're going back to Catskill after a while, but not now. When -we get there we'll report to your superintendent and explain how we -happened to be aboard the stolen speeder. I was intending to return the -car to the railroad company as soon as we had got through with it, and -then----" - -"Sure ye was!" mocked the boss. "Ye wasn't intendin' to do anythin' but -what was right an' lawful--to hear ye tell it. We got ye trapped, an' -I ain't goin' to fool with ye any longer. Put down that gun, you!" and -he whirled savagely upon McGlory. "We're goin' to take ye, an' if you -do any shootin' ye'll find yerselves in a deeper hole than what ye are -now." - -"You keep away from me," scowled McGlory, still holding the weapon -leveled, "and keep your men away from me. Try to touch either of -us, and this gun will begin to talk. We're not thieves, but that's -something we can't pound into your thick head, so we're going to attend -to our business in spite of you." - -The section boss was a man of courage, and was resolute in his -intention to take the boys to Catskill. Certainly, so far as -appearances went, he had the right of the matter, and Matt didn't feel -that he could explain the exact situation with any chance of having his -words believed. - -"Here's where I'm comin' for ye," proceeded the section boss, "an' if -you shoot, you'll be tagged with more kinds o' trouble than you can -take care of. Now----" - -The section boss got no farther. Just at that moment the rumble of a -train coming up the grade could be heard. Instantly the attention of -the section boss was called to another matter. - -"The passenger!" he cried, jumping around and staring at the speeder -and the tie. "There'll be a wreck if we don't clear the track. Come on, -men! Hustle!" - -The peril threatening the passenger train banished from the minds of -the section men all thought of the boys. All four of the gang ran to -remove the obstructions from the rails. - -"Come on, pard!" said McGlory; "now's our chance." - -Matt, with a feeling of intense relief, bounded after his chum, and -they were soon well away in the timber. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -THE CUT-OUT UNDER THE LEDGE. - - -McGlory was inclined to view recent events in a humorous light. - -"Speak to me about that, pard!" he laughed, when he and Matt had halted -for breath, and to determine, if possible, which way Bunce had gone. "I -told you what was on the programme if you became trustee for the Eye of -Buddha. We never know when lightning's going to strike, or how." - -"I don't like episodes of that sort," muttered Matt. "It puts us in a -bad light, Joe." - -"Oh, hang that part of it! We can explain the whole thing to the -railroad superintendent as soon as we get back to Catskill. That -section boss was a saphead. You couldn't pound any reason into his -block with a sledge hammer. Forget it!" - -"But you drew a gun on the section men. That makes the business look -bad for us." - -McGlory chuckled. "See here, pard," said he. With that, he "broke" the -revolver and exposed the end of the cylinder. - -There were no cartridges in the weapon! - -"Now, what do you think?" laughed the cowboy. "I borrowed the gun in a -hurry, and didn't think to ask whether it was loaded--and I reckon the -hotel clerk didn't think to tell me. It's about as dangerous as a piece -of bologna sausage, but it looks ugly--and that's about all there is to -this revolver proposition, anyhow." - -Matt enjoyed the recent experience, in which the harmless revolver had -played its part, fully as much as his chum. - -"Well," said the king of the motor boys, "what's done can't be helped, -and we'd better be about our business with Bunce. But what's become of -the mariner? He ought to be around here, somewhere." - -"He's ducked," returned McGlory, "and I'll bet it's for good. We've -found out he had a pair of good eyes, and he's got shy of us." - -"If we don't find him," mused Matt, "it's a clear case that he was -playing double with us. If we do find him, then we can take a little -more stock in what he tells us about Tsan Ti. It will be worth -something to feel sure, either way." - -"Maybe you're right, but how are we going to pick up the webfoot's -trail?" - -Matt studied the ground. The earth was soft from a recent rain, and the -fact gave him an idea. - -"Track him, Joe. You're used to that sort of thing. Put your knowledge -to some account." - -"In order to track the mariner," said McGlory, "we'll have to go back -to the place where we saw him duck into the timber. It'll be a tough -job, but I'm willing to try if we can once pick up the trail." - -"That's the only thing for us to do. If Bunce was intending to deal -squarely with us, he'd have shown himself before this." - -"Let's see," mused the cowboy. "He said that Grattan was hiding out -about five miles from Catskill, didn't he?" - -"Yes." - -"Then I reckon the place is somewhere around here. We're about five -miles from the town, I should judge. Still," and disgust welled up in -the cowboy as he voiced the thought, "you can't tell whether Bunce was -giving that part of it straight, or not. He's about as crooked as they -make 'em, that tinhorn." - -The boys, during their talk, had been moving slowly back in the -direction of the railroad track. Cautiously they came to the edge of -the timber, close to the right of way, on the alert not only for the -tracks left by Bunce, but for the presence of the section men, as well. - -The section gang, they discovered, had left the vicinity of the sharp -curve, and were nowhere in sight. The speeder, badly shaken by the -jar of its collision with the tie, was off the rails, and the tie lay -beside it. - -"No sign of the section men," announced Matt, after a careful survey of -the track. - -"Mighty good thing for us, too, pard," said McGlory. "Here's Bunce's -trail, and he traveled so fast he only hit the ground with his toes. -Come on! I can run it out for a ways, anyhow." - -McGlory's life on the cattle ranges had made him particularly apt in -the lore of the plains. The trail was very dim in places, but even the -disturbed leaves under the trees, and the broken bushes told McGlory -where the mariner had passed. - -The course taken by Bunce led across a timbered "flat" and down into a -rocky ravine, then along the ravine to a ledge of rock which jutted out -from a side hill. The under side of the ledge was perhaps a dozen feet -over the bottom of the ravine, and under it was a sort of "pocket" in -the hill. - -Here there were evidences of a primitive camp. The soft earth under the -ledge was trampled by human feet, and there was a large, five-gallon -can that had once held gasoline, but which was now empty. A small mound -of dried leaves had been heaped up at the innermost recess of the -"pocket," and the bed still bore the faint impression of a man's body. - -"Bunce was right about Grattan being in hiding near Catskill," observed -Matt. "Here's the place, sure enough." - -"And Bunce came here, pard," went on McGlory; "he made tracks straight -for this hang-out as soon as he got clear of us. Judging from what we -see, I should say Bunce met Grattan, and that they both hurried off. -But what was that gasoline for?" - -"For the speeder, maybe," replied Matt. - -"They wouldn't keep the gasoline supply for the speeder so far from the -track, would they?" - -"I shouldn't think so; still, I can't imagine what else they'd want -gasoline for." - -"What sort of a game was Bunce up to? If Grattan was here, then -everything was going right, so far as the plan to capture Grattan was -concerned. Why didn't Bunce wait for us, back there in the timber, and -give us the chance to come on here and put the kibosh on the man we -want?" - -"It's a mystery, Joe," said the puzzled Matt. "Perhaps Bunce believed -that we'd be captured by the section men and that it wouldn't be -possible to get hold of Grattan. If he thought that, he might have come -on to this place, given his New York report to Grattan, and made up his -mind to see the rascally game through to a finish. Bunce couldn't have -any idea that we'd escape from the section gang." - -"Well," growled McGlory, "he might have waited and made certain of it." - -There was no accounting for the queer actions of the mariner. It seemed -as though, after the collision with the railroad tie and the coming of -the section men, he had changed his mind about helping the boys capture -Grattan. - -Matt and McGlory moved around under the ledge, trying to find something -else that would point positively to the presence of Grattan in the -"pocket." - -There was a strong odor of gasoline--much stronger than would have -come from the uncorked, empty can. Suddenly Matt found something, and -hurriedly called his chum. - -"What is it?" inquired McGlory, running to Matt's side. - -Matt pointed to two straight lines in the earth, leading out and up the -ravine. - -"Motorcycles," said he laconically, "two of them!" - -McGlory struck his fist against his open palm. - -"Well, what do you think of that!" he cried. "Motorcycles and speeders! -Say, those tinhorns were well fixed in the motor line. And Bunce told -us both motorcycles had been destroyed! Sufferin' Ananias, but he's a -tongue twister!" - -"There's no doubt but that Grattan was here," went on Matt, "and that -he had the two motorcycles with him. The gasoline was used to fill the -motorcycles' tanks. As soon as Bunce got to this place, the wheels were -made ready and Bunce and Grattan rode off." - -"They're headed for New York, I reckon, to 'fill the bill' for poor old -Tsan Ti!" - -"I don't believe it," declared Matt. "I didn't take much stock in the -story when Bunce told it, but on the chance that it might be true, I -felt as though we should give Tsan Ti the benefit of the doubt. But, -now, I'm fairly certain the yarn was all moonshine." - -"Bunce took a whole lot of trouble for nothing, pard," commented -McGlory. "What was the good of his coming to the hotel, running the -risk of our turning him over to the police, and then motoring out here -with us on that ramshackle speeder if he never intended to help us -capture Grattan?" - -"Maybe we'll discover that later. Suppose we follow the trail of the -motorcycles, Joe?" - -"Why? They're a dozen miles from here, by this time." - -"We can't overtake them, of course, but we can discover which way they -went." - -It was an easy matter to trail the heavy machines up the ravine. About -half a mile above the camp under the ledge, a wagon road crossed the -ravine, and the wheels had turned into it. To the surprise of the boys, -the wheels had turned in the direction of Catskill. - -"It can't be those two tinhorns would have the nerve to go to the -town," said McGlory. - -"I don't think they would," agreed Matt, "but they have gone in that -direction, at all events. It's up to us to walk back, so we may as well -follow the road and the motorcycle trail." - -"This is what I call tough luck," said the cowboy, when he and Matt -were swinging along the road. "I didn't think there was any sense -taking up with Bunce, in the first place. Nice way for that move to pan -out! We go gunning for Grattan on a speeder, and then hoof it back--to -face a charge of robbery preferred by the section men!" - -"We'll settle that robbery charge quick enough," returned Matt. - -"No doubt about that. I wouldn't feel so worked up over the thing if I -could make any sort of guess as to what it was all about." - -"Well," laughed Matt, repeating one of McGlory's favorite remarks, "we -can't know so much all the time as we do just some part of the time, -Joe." - -"No more we can't, pard," said the cowboy. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -BETWEEN THE EYES. - - -The wagon road which the boys were following led them into Catskill -near the railroad station. The motorcycle tracks, after holding a -straight course toward town for a long time, had finally vanished at an -elevated point from which the motor boys had secured their first view -of the river. - -"We might just as well call on the superintendent," suggested Matt, -when they were close to the station, "and explain about the speeder. By -doing this now, we may dodge trouble later." - -"Good idea," assented McGlory. - -They found the superintendent in his office, and he gave them an -immediate hearing. - -"We called to tell you about that speeder, Mr. Bronson," began Matt, -having caught the super's name off the painted window in the door. - -"You mean Mulvaney's speeder," returned Bronson, "the one that was -stolen two days ago?" - -"Yes. My name's King, Matt King, and I'm stopping at the----" - -"Motor Matt?" interrupted Bronson, whirling squarely around in his -swivel chair. He had suddenly developed a great interest in the -interview. - -"Yes," laughed Matt, "I'm called that more often than I'm called by -my last name. This is my chum, Joe McGlory," and he nodded toward the -cowboy. - -"I've heard of both of you," smiled Bronson. "That was great business -of yours, over near Purling. But what in the world have you got to tell -me about the stolen speeder?" - -"Then you haven't heard about what happened this morning?" - -"Haven't heard a thing about the speeder to-day. Why?" - -"Well, Joe and I and another fellow were chasing down a grade with it, -a few miles out of town, and a section gang from Tannersville saw us -coming and put a tie across the rails." - -"That stopped you, did it?" - -"Did it!" echoed McGlory. "Why, it stopped us so hard and quick that -one of the passengers was scattered all over the right of way." - -"We hadn't anything to do with stealing the machine," went on Matt, -"and we didn't----" - -"Of course not!" struck in Bronson. "But where did you get it, and what -were you doing with it?" - -"You heard how the great ruby was recovered, and how the thieves got -away?" - -The superintendent's eyes sparkled. - -"Everybody around here has heard about that," he answered. - -"We thought we had a chance to capture one of the thieves," proceeded -Matt. "The crook's pal came to us and offered to show us where Grattan -was, and when we joined the fellow this morning, he had the speeder -tucked away among the bushes. We knew the speeder had been stolen, and -were intending to bring it back as soon as we had finished our work; -but the section gang made things so warm for us we had to change our -plans." - -"And now you're fretting for fear the section men will send in word, -and that I'll have you pinched!" laughed the superintendent. "I guess -I'd think twice before I had Motor Matt arrested for stealing an old -speeder like that. Mulvaney, our track inspector, made it himself. He's -rather choice of it, and that's why I sent out word to have the thing -found, if possible. But, tell me, did you capture Grattan?" - -"No, sir. We found where he has been staying, but he had got away -before we reached the place." - -"Hard luck! By the way, they've got a moving picture in one of the -nickelodeons here, that tells the story of a ruby called 'Buddha's -Eye.' Everybody is going to see it. Is that the same story as the one -connected with the 'Eye of Buddha?'" - -"It's the same, Mr. Bronson, even down to the minor detail of the -identity of the thieves." - -Bronson whistled. - -"How in the dickens does that happen, eh?" he asked. - -Matt could see no harm in explaining that point, as Bunce had covered -it, and told how the thieves, needing money in Chicago, had suggested -the idea for the picture, and how at least one of them had volunteered -to play a leading part. - -The superintendent was astounded at the audacity of a thief who, after -perpetrating such a successful robbery, and with the ruby then in his -possession, could publish his crime through the medium of a moving -picture. - -"It merely goes to prove," said the superintendent, "what a clever and -daring scoundrel this fellow Grattan is. Too bad he escaped at the time -the ruby was so cleverly recovered. More than likely, Motor Matt, he'll -make trouble for you." - -"I guess he'll be too busy looking out for himself," laughed Matt, "to -pay any attention to me." - -"I hope so, certainly." - -Matt and McGlory got up to leave. - -"Don't bother your head about the speeder," the superintendent went -on. "I'm glad your report reached me ahead of the one from the section -gang. I'll know how to handle the matter, now, when I hear from the -section boss. Good-by, my lads, and good luck to you." - -"It didn't take long to fix that up," said McGlory, when he and Matt -were once more on their way to the hotel. - -"I knew it wouldn't," returned Matt, "just as soon as we could get to -some one who would be willing to take our word for what happened." - -"What the super said about Grattan trying to get back at you, Matt, for -what you did in the old sugar camp, near Purling, sounded to me like it -had a lot of good horse sense mixed up in it." - -"What I told the super had a little horse sense in it, too, didn't it, -Joe?" - -"You mean about Grattan having so much to do to keep out of the -clutches of the law that he won't find any time to hit up your trail?" - -"Yes." - -"I don't know about that. Grattan is a tinhorn who is in a class all by -himself. He seems to have all kinds of nerve, and to be willing to take -all sorts of chances. That moving-picture deal gives us a pretty good -line on him." - -When the boys got to the hotel, McGlory stumbled into a chair on the -veranda. - -"Gee, man, but I'm tired!" he exclaimed. "A cowboy is built for -riding, and not for this footwork. It sure gets me going. Sit down -here for a while, Matt, and let's palaver about New York, and what the -chances are for our getting there." - -"They're pretty slim, I guess," answered Matt, dropping into a seat at -his chum's side, "if we're to wait until Grattan is captured. Tsan Ti -says, in his letter, that he won't come on until Grattan is behind the -bars, or safely off his trail." - -"Which means to hang on here until--we don't know when. We're rid of -Bunce, but there'll be something else to hit us between the eyes before -we're many minutes older. You can bet your moccasins on that. As long -as we're tangled up with that ruby, we'll find hard luck flagging us -all along the pike." - -At that moment the clerk emerged from the hotel office and crossed the -veranda. He wore a troubled look, as though something had happened to -worry him. - -"That man came, Motor Matt," said he, "and I gave him the box." - -McGlory fell back as though some one had struck him. - -"What man? What box?" he roused up to inquire wildly. - -The clerk caught the alarm in the cowboy's voice and manner. - -"Why, don't you know?" he cried, appealing to Matt. "It was the small -box you left with me early this morning." - -"And--and you gave it up?" gasped McGlory huskily. - -"What else could I do?" protested the clerk. "I had the written order -from Motor Matt. The man brought it." - -McGlory was too dazed to answer. His jaw fell, and he stared at the -king of the motor boys. - -"Let me see the order," said Matt. - -The clerk pulled a letter from his pocket. - -"I hope there's nothing wrong?" he asked, handing the letter to Matt. -"I've been thinking there might be something wrong, but I didn't see -how there could be. The handwriting of that letter matches your fist on -the register--I was careful to look that up before I gave the man the -box." - -"Read it, pard," implored McGlory, in a mechanical tone. - -"'Please deliver to bearer the small box which I left with you for -safe-keeping, early this morning,'" Matt read. "'I need it at once, -and find that I can't come for it in person.' That's all of it, Joe," -said Matt, "and I must say that it's a pretty good imitation of my -handwriting. The name is a tremendously good forgery." - -The clerk nearly threw a fit; and McGlory nearly helped him. - -"Then the letter is a forgery?" cried the clerk. "The man didn't have -any right to the box?" - -"How could he have any right to the box," stormed McGlory, "when the -letter asking you to turn it over to him was never written by Motor -Matt? Corral your wits. Sufferin' hold-ups, it's come! We no sooner get -out of one raw deal, than we tumble headfirst into another. Now----" - -"Take it easy, Joe," cut in Matt. "Wait a minute." He turned to the -clerk. "Don't get worked up about this," said he; "you're not to blame. -When did the man call and deliver the forged letter?" - -"Not more than an hour ago," answered the clerk, wiping the -perspiration from his forehead. "Was there anything very valuable in -the box?" - -"What sort of looking man was he?" proceeded Matt. - -"Slim, and dark, and undersized. Fairly well dressed." - -"Well, never mind. Don't let it worry you." - -The clerk, visibly distressed, in spite of Matt's reassuring words, -went back into the office. As soon as he had vanished inside the hotel, -the king of the motor boys gave vent to a low laugh. - -McGlory peered at him. - -"Pard!" he murmured, leaning over to drop a hand on Matt's knee. "Have -you gone off the jump on account of that confounded ruby? It's a blow -between the eyes, all right, but, for heaven's sake, don't let it get -you locoed." - -"Locoed!" and Matt pulled himself together, reached inside his vest and -brought out a knotted handkerchief. Untying the knotted ends of the -handkerchief, he opened it out on his knee. "See here, Joe!" said he; -"that's how badly I am locoed." - -What McGlory saw was the ruby, glowing redly against the white linen. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -THE MAN FROM THE "IRIS." - - -Not many times in McGlory's life had he been so tremendously at a loss -for words as he was then. He stared at the ruby and he stared at Matt. - -"You see, pard," said Matt, "the ruby wasn't in the box when I gave -it to the clerk. I kept the Eye of Buddha safely about me, all the -time. It gouged me a little when the speeder stopped and I was slammed -against the forward bench." - -"Speak to me about this!" rumbled the cowboy. "It wasn't in the box--a -tinhorn blew in with a forged letter--he got the box, but he didn't -get the ruby. Matt's done something--and he never told me what he was -doing. What--how--why---- Look here, you blooming old maverick, how did -you ever come to think of such a dodge?" - -"It wasn't much of a dodge," answered Matt. "In the first place, I -didn't take any stock in that wild yarn told us by Bunce. At the same -time, while I didn't believe in it, I couldn't afford not to go with -Bunce on Tsan Ti's account. I tried to think why Bunce should want -to coax us into the hills, and the only idea that came to me had to -do with the ruby. Now, I reasoned, if the ruby _was_ back of Bunce's -little game, then it was clear he knew it had been sent to me for -safe-keeping. I wanted to find just how much Bunce knew, so I left the -box with the clerk. Bunce was watching, or else he had somebody else -watching. If he'd thought I had the ruby with me, an attempt would have -been made to get it while we were in the hills. But Bunce believed I -had left the ruby in the safe, so he dodged away, leaving you and me to -be nabbed by the section men, while he went on to that 'pocket' under -the ledge, found Grattan, told him where I had placed the box, and the -two got on their motorcycles and came close enough to town to get a man -to help them secure the box. - -"Grattan must have forged the letter. Then this third man took it. The -rascals had to work quick, for the game was played while we were taking -a look around at the camp in the ravine, and walking into town. Can't -you understand, Joe? By getting us into the hills, with that fairy -story about Tsan Ti, Grattan could play his hand either way. If we had -the ruby with us, he could get hold of it; if we had left it behind, he -could take advantage of our absence from Catskill to execute some ruse -in town while we were out in the country." - -"Clever?" breathed McGlory; "why, he's the cleverest crook that ever -happened. But I'd like to have a picture of him now!" The cowboy fell -back in his seat and roared with mirth. "Wouldn't I like to look in -on him while he and Bunce are opening that box?" he sputtered. "Oh, -but it's rich! Clever as he is, Grattan has found that he's butted up -against some one who can give him cards and spades, and then beat him -out. I've been proud of you, pard, more times than I can tell, but I'm -just a little prouder now than I ever was before. Shake!" - -Matt caught his chum's hand. - -"It was only a guess, Joe," he deprecated, "and it happened to work our -way. There was nothing clever about what I did. The result was entirely -a--an accident." - -"You had your head with you, all the same," insisted McGlory, "when you -put that empty box in the safe. But how in thunder did Bunce get next -to that? How did he know that Tsan Ti had sent you the ruby, in the -first place?" - -"Well, he did know, and that's enough. A third man has jumped into the -deal--another pal, who is helping Grattan and Bunce. Perhaps he had -something to do with keeping track of the ruby." - -"Perhaps. But that old two-eyed counterfeit with the green patch--I -wonder how much he'd sell out for, about now?" - -"Bunce is pretty clever, in his own way, too," averred Matt. "He must -have laughed in his sleeve when he saw how we had swallowed that fish -story of his about Tsan Ti." - -"He can laugh, now, on t'other side of his face. We're helping Tsan -Ti, all right. Grattan is on our trail instead of his. I'm not saying -it was the right thing for the mandarin to shift the responsibility -for that ruby onto you, but he was pretty long headed when he did it. -He understood that if any one could take care of the ruby it was Motor -Matt." - -"It will soon be dinner time, Joe," said Matt. "Suppose we go up to our -room, shake the dust out of our clothes, take a bath, and get ready to -eat?" - -"That reminds me how hungry I am!" exclaimed McGlory, springing up. - -By the time dinner was ready, the boys were ready for dinner. Their -experiences of the forenoon had put a keen edge on their appetite, and -the cowboy was in high good humor. - -He and Matt had put in a strenuous morning, and so long as McGlory -thought they had not accomplished anything, he was disgusted and "out -of sorts." But to learn that Grattan and Bunce had been beaten at their -own game, set twanging a most delightful chord in the cowboy's make-up. - -The motor boys had no plans for the afternoon, so they put in their -time idling about the veranda. It was about three o'clock when a tall -man, dressed in a natty white yachting costume with the name "Iris," in -gilt letters on the band of his cap, came briskly up the veranda steps, -passed Matt and McGlory and went on into the hotel. - -The man claimed only casual attention, on his first appearance, but, a -few seconds later, he captured the entire attention of the two boys. He -returned to the veranda, ushered by the clerk, and both stepped toward -Motor Matt. - -"Matt," said the clerk, "this is Mr. Pardo, of the yacht _Iris_. Mr. -Pardo, Mr. King. He wants to see you about some business matter," the -clerk added, as he vanished back into the hotel. - -The man from the _Iris_ smiled cordially as he clasped Matt's hand. - -"This is a pleasure, I assure you," said Pardo. "I have heard quite a -little about Motor Matt." - -"What can I do for you, Mr. Pardo?" asked Matt. - -"That's the business part of our interview," was the answer, as Pardo -helped himself to a chair, "and I'm going to get right down to it. You -are familiar with gasoline motors, I understand?" - -"Yes." - -"With marine motors?" - -"I reckon you never heard how he put an automobile engine in a launch, -at Madison, Wisconsin," struck in McGlory, "and won a big race. He's -right at home with every kind of an explosive engine, whether it drives -a craft in the air, on wheels, or in the water." - -"My chum is a trifle prejudiced, Mr. Pardo," smiled Matt. - -"Well, I guess you can do the work, all right. The question now is, can -I secure your services?" - -"What for?" - -"Of course," laughed Pardo, "that's what you naturally want to know. -I'm the owner of a power yacht, fifty feet over all, ten feet beam, -equipped with a fifty-horse-power motor. She's the _Iris_. I dropped -down from Albany, this afternoon, and when we tied up at Catskill my -engineer received a telegram from Buffalo saying that his father was -dangerously sick. He left at once, and here I am, anxious to make a -quick run to New York, but caught in the worst kind of a hole. Can't -I get you to help me out? As soon as I reach New York I can get any -number of reliable men to take charge of my engine room, but here in -Catskill help of that sort is scarce." - -McGlory's joy shone in his face. Here was a chance to get down the -river in style, and all that stood between Matt and the trip was the -ruby. - -"Can't you run the motor, Mr. Pardo?" asked Matt. - -"Don't know the first thing about it," was the answer. "You see, I -haven't had time to learn. This is my first trip in the _Iris_, and I -haven't had much chance to pick up a knowledge of her machinery. It's -my idea that every man ought to know how to run his own boat--and I'll -know it, too, before I'm many days older. But, just now, I've got to -have some one. What do you say?" - -Pardo noticed that Matt was not especially eager to help him out. - -"If you can just get me down to New York," he pleaded, "that's all I -will ask. If you have to come back to Catskill for anything, you can -come on the train in the morning. You won't be away very long, and it -will be a big accommodation to me. I'll pay you well for your trouble, -too, if that will be any inducement." - -"Better go, pard," urged McGlory. "I don't think your business will -suffer any. We can be back here by nine in the morning, if we want to." - -It was hardly likely, as Matt reasoned the matter out, that Tsan Ti -would present himself and ask for the ruby before he and McGlory could -get back from New York. The opportunity to make a little money in a -pleasant way was appealing, for the king of the motor boys had long -desired to have the run of the engine room on a big power boat. - -"What time do you want to start, Mr. Pardo?" Matt asked. - -"At nine, this evening," was the reply. "If you can help me out, you'd -better arrange to be aboard at, say, eight-thirty. The _Iris_ is close -to the day-line dock, and you can't help but find her." - -"How much are you willing to pay for the trip?" queried Matt. "It's -just as well, you know, to have all that settled beforehand." - -"I'll give you a hundred dollars--not so much for the work, you -understand, as for the time you are losing. Your time may be worth even -more than that. If it is----" - -"You are more than liberal," broke in Matt. "I and my chum will be -aboard the _Iris_ at eight-thirty." - -The man from the _Iris_ heaved a deep breath. - -"That's a big load off my mind," said he. "I could have telegraphed New -York and had an engineer come up on a late train--but that would have -delayed the start until close upon midnight. I shall expect you, Motor -Matt," and Pardo got up and went his way briskly. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -ABOARD THE STEAM YACHT. - - -"I don't know," said Matt, "whether this is the thing for us to do, or -not, Joe. Tsan Ti's letter asked us to stay in the Catskills." - -"Oh, bother the old heathen!" returned the cowboy. "He won't show up -here for quite a spell. Anyhow, if he does arrive to-morrow morning, -before we do, he can wait for us, can't he?" - -"He's paying us for our time." - -"What if he is, pard? The old boy won't find any fault if we take this -little run down the river. There's a point, too, that you don't seem to -have thought of." - -"What is it?" - -"Why, Grattan has quit trailing Tsan Ti and gone to trailing you. By -taking this trip down the river we may be able to throw Grattan off the -track." - -"That's so," answered Matt, struck with the idea. - -"If the tinhorn is laying any more of his plans," chuckled the cowboy, -"we'll fool him." - -"I'll leave word with the clerk," said Matt, "to tell Tsan Ti where -we've gone, and when we'll return; then, if he _does_ happen to get -here before we do, he'll know we're intending to come back and meet -him." - -"That's the talk!" - -Matt immediately went into the hotel and stepped to the clerk's desk. - -"Are you acquainted with Mr. Pardo?" he asked. - -"Never saw him before," answered the clerk. "He came in here, -introduced himself, and said he was looking for Motor Matt. I knew you -were on the porch, so I volunteered to take him out and introduce you. -Looks like a fine gentleman. Interview satisfactory?" - -"Yes. He has a power yacht at the landing, and wants an engineer to get -her to New York for him. I've taken the job, and Joe and I will be away -all night and not get back until sometime to-morrow forenoon. If any -one calls and asks for me, you need not tell them where I have gone, -but just let them know when I expect to return." - -"I'll do it, Matt. Didn't know you had an engineer's license?" - -"He's got everything," put in McGlory, "that goes with running a motor." - -The boys had no preparations to make, and as there were two hours to be -passed before supper they concluded to run down to the dock and take a -look at the _Iris_. There was no difficulty at all in locating her, and -the sight of her trim and graceful lines made Matt eager to have a look -at her interior plan. There was no one about her decks, however, whom -he and McGlory could hail, and he hesitated to go aboard and arouse any -one who might chance to be in the cabin. - -The cowboy, who was a wretched sailor, quite unaccountably was an -enthusiast about boats, and his doting eyes sparkled as they traveled -over the _Iris_. - -She had a very high freeboard forward, and this, with her perfect -lines, gave her an easy entrance and a guarantee that she would not -pound or ship seas in any sort of weather. There was no midship bridge, -or forward pilot house, but the boat was steered and the engine -controlled from a big and roomy after deck. - -"She's a fair daisy!" declared the cowboy, "as spick and span as a -freshly coined four-bit piece. Sufferin' bones, but I'd like to own a -boat like that!" - -"You'd find such a craft an expensive luxury, Joe," said Matt. "If you -did much cruising, it would keep you poor just buying gasoline. Let's -go back up the hill. We can't see inside the boat, and it don't take -long to get a pretty fair idea of the outside." - -Returning to the hotel, the boys idled away the time until the supper -call sounded. The meal over, there were still some two hours of waiting -before they were due aboard the _Iris_. - -McGlory suggested another visit to the theatre for a second look at the -"Buddha's Eye" pictures. Matt, thinking that as good a way as any for -passing the time, acquiesced, and they were soon at the moving-picture -place. - -There was standing room only--which proved how much of a hit the ruby -robbery had made. The hit, of course, was entirely because of Matt's -adventures while recovering the gem for Tsan Ti. If those attending the -show had known that Motor Matt was also present, and that he had the -very Eye of Buddha in his pocket, there would have followed a furore of -no small proportions. - -But the king of the motor boys, often in direct opposition to his best -interests, was reserved and diffident. - -"Gee!" exclaimed the cowboy, as he and Matt left the theatre and -wandered along the street, "if those people back there had only known -who you were, and what you had in your pocket, there'd have been -something of a stir." - -"I don't like that kind of a stir," said Matt. - -"That's you! Say, pard, you're altogether too modest and retiring. If -you wanted to splurge a little, you could make yourself talked about -from one end of the country to the other." - -"I'll leave that to those who like it. It's the quiet chap, who plugs -along and does things without blowing his own horn who makes the -biggest hit in the end." - -"I don't know but that's right, too." - -They dropped in at another show, promenaded the street, and finally -discovered that it was nearly eight-thirty. Turning their steps toward -the water front, they presently reached the wharf alongside the _Iris_. - -The craft had her "running" lights in position. There was a white light -in the bow, visible from straight ahead and for ten points on either -side, a green light to starboard and a red light to port, each screened -so that it could be seen from dead ahead to two points aft of the beam, -and a high white light aft and directly over the keel, showing all -around the horizon. - -But, notwithstanding all these lights on deck, there were none visible -through the cabin ports. - -"I wonder if Mr. Pardo has got here?" said Matt. - -"What's the odds, Matt?" returned McGlory. "It's eight-thirty, and -we're due." - -They got aboard, gaining the after deck. The elevated white light -cast a dim glow over polished mahogany and glittering brasswork, and -Matt bent down to examine the bulkhead controls. A door opened in -the bulkhead, on the right of the steering wheel, and a man showed -shadowily in the dark. - -"Is that Motor Matt?" he called. - -"Yes," was the reply. - -The man clambered up two or three steps, knocking his shins and -swearing because of the darkness. - -"You're expected," said he. "Go down into the saloon--a stateroom is -the first thing you come to, and the saloon is beyond that." - -"Why don't you light up?" asked Matt. - -"Mr. Pardo has a headache, and the light bothers him. Go on down--he's -waiting for you." - -Matt led the way, and McGlory followed. They left the door open, and a -faint radiance followed them, but they were in unfamiliar surroundings, -and had to grope their way along. - -"Is that you, Motor Matt?" called a voice, which they recognized as -Pardo's. - -"Yes," Matt answered. - -"Come on in here. I'm not feeling very well to-night, and the light -hurts my eyes. You can guide yourself by the sound of my voice, can't -you?" - -"We'll get there, all right." - -"Is your friend with you?" - -"Yes. I never travel without him." - -The next moment Matt gained the open door in another bulkhead. Before -he could pass through it, two sinewy arms went around him from behind -and a hand was clapped over his lips. He struggled, but he was caught -as in a vise, and his efforts to free himself were useless. From near -at hand, too, he heard sounds which indicated that McGlory, also, had -been seized. - -"Got them?" came the voice of Pardo. - -"Yes, sir," answered the man who was holding Matt, "but they're -fightin' like a pair o' young demons." - -"Then throw them down on the side seats and hold pillows over their -heads. We'll get under way at once." - -Matt felt himself borne down on a cushioned bench. The hand was jerked -from his lips, and the half-formed cry that escaped him was smothered -in the pillow that was immediately pushed over his head. - -A bell jingled, and steps could be heard on the deck above, moving -swiftly. - -"All right!" came a muffled voice. - -Matt, half suffocated, could hear no more. He was fighting fiercely for -his breath. - -Presently he was conscious that the _Iris_ was moving, and, as he lay -gasping and helpless under the strong hands of his captor, there came -faintly to his ears the hum of a motor and the lapping of waves against -the hull. - -How long he was held down on the seat, half smothered by the pillow, he -did not know. It seemed hours, but was probably no more than so many -minutes. - -Then, suddenly, the pillow was jerked away, and he lifted himself -on his elbow, a glare of light in his eyes. For a moment or two the -dazzling light blinded him. When his eyes became somewhat used to it, -he discovered a man standing near him, his flannel shirt parted at the -throat and his bronzed arms bare to the elbows. The man held a dirk in -one hand and a piece of rope in the other. - -From this frowning figure, Matt's gaze shifted across the narrow -aisle to a cushioned bench opposite. McGlory was there, and there was -likewise a ruffian keeping watch of him. - -"What--what does this mean?" demanded Matt. - -"You'll find out, quick enough. Are you goin' to make any trouble? If -you are, say so, now, and you'll save yourself a knife in the ribs." - -"I want to know about this!" declared Matt. - -"Then get up and go into the saloon." - -"You, too," said the man who had charge of McGlory. "Foller yer mate -inter the saloon, an' if either o' ye let out a yell ye'll never know -what struck you." - -Matt, fearing the worst, swung his feet down from the upholstered seat -and started forward. McGlory, who appeared to be in a trance, followed -him mechanically. - -The door of the saloon was open, and Matt passed through it, and -stopped. McGlory crowded in beside him. - -The saloon was the full width of the boat, with seats on each side, -and a table at one end. The small room was flooded with light, and -three figures were seen in an angle formed by one of the seats where -it partly crossed the forward bulkhead. The fixed table stood in the -angle, and the three figures were leaning upon it. - -One of the men was Grattan, another was Bunce, and the third was -Pardo. In front of Grattan, on the table top, lay two objects. One was -a revolver, and the other the small box in which the ruby had been -expressed to Matt from New York. - -All three of the men were smiling. - -"Speak to me about this!" muttered McGlory. "Nabbed! Nabbed as slick as -you please! And I never guessed a thing. Oh, sufferin' easy marks!" - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -GRATTAN'S TRIUMPH. - - -Motor Matt understood the situation. The full realization came to him -with something like a shock. In some way Grattan had secured the aid -of the owner and crew of the _Iris_ in carrying out his villainous -designs. He had triumphed, for he had only to have Matt searched in -order to secure the ruby. - -Philo Grattan was an educated fellow, and could be a man of pleasing -address when he so desired. In almost any honest line of work he could -have distinguished himself, for his ability was high above the average. -Yet, like so many others equally gifted, he had been drawn toward a -life of crime. - -"Motor Matt," said he, in a tone and with a manner that was friendly, -"we meet again. The pleasure, on your part, I presume, is unexpected, -and perhaps of a doubtful quality, but so far as I am concerned, I -assure you that this renewing of our acquaintance leaves nothing to be -desired." - -"Not a blessed thing," struck in Bunce, contorted with inward mirth, -"sink me, if it does!" - -Grattan dropped a heavy hand on the mariner's shoulder. - -"Keep a still tongue in your head," he ordered sternly. "I'm able to do -the talking." - -"Then," and Matt turned toward Pardo, "this is simply a plot you have -engineered to get me into the hands of Grattan?" - -"Simply and solely," was Pardo's cheerful answer. - -"Pardo is my friend," explained Grattan. "He lives in Albany, when he's -at home--but he's rarely at home. He has been fortunate, of late, in -sundry little ventures, and happened to be well supplied with money. -No sooner had I lost my buckthorn cane, there in the old sugar camp, -at Purling, and been made aware of the fact that the Eye of Buddha had -been found, than I communicated with friend Pardo. I had met him in -Albany on my way to the Catskills, so I knew he was at home. He met me -in my temporary camp, and agreed to charter the _Iris_ to help me down -the river and out of the country after I had got back the ruby. The -_Iris_, together with a crew of men on whom we can depend, has been -awaiting my convenience for the past two days. Of course," and Grattan -showed his teeth in a smile, "my friend's name is not Pardo, any more -than mine is Grattan, or than this salt-water bungler on my left is -named Bunce." - -Although Matt followed Grattan closely, he had, at the same time, been -covertly using his eyes. - -The door leading into the stateroom behind him was closed. On the other -side of it he knew there was one brawny ruffian, and perhaps two. -Beyond the saloon's forward bulkhead he could hear the purring motor. -There, he inferred, was the engine room and the galley, with another -man who could be "depended on." At the steering and engine controls on -the after deck was surely another man, and probably one on the deck -overhead. - -He and McGlory were hemmed in on all sides. There must have been, -counting those in the saloon, all of seven or eight men against them. -So far as Matt could see, the case was hopeless. - -Matt's covert looks had not escaped the keen eyes of Grattan. The -scoundrel seemed able to read even the young motorist's thoughts. - -"Don't think of escape, Motor Matt," said he. "That is entirely out of -the question. Neither you nor your friend are in any danger. I think -too highly of you to rob the world of so much talent and ingenuity. -Let us have another friendly and intimate chat such as we had in the -old sugar camp. I do not object to telling you things of great moment -to me, because I have already taken measures to make the knowledge -harmless. I escaped from the sugar camp, did I not? And all I told you -then did not in any way hamper me in proceeding with my plans. I am -willing to be equally frank now, in the hope that you, on your part, -will give me some of your confidence. - -"You thought Tsan Ti, the mandarin, had started for San Francisco with -the ruby. Orientals are crafty. He gave it out that he was going to San -Francisco, and immediately started for New York. I had him followed -from the Hotel Kaaterskill, and shadowed while in New York. The man -who served me was clever, but not clever enough to keep Tsan Ti from -learning that he was under espionage. The mandarin became nervous. He -did not appeal to the police, as his heathen mind counsels him to have -nothing to do with the peace officers who serve the foreign devils. But -he had his man, Sam Wing, and other Chinamen, continually guard him. -One of these Chinamen was faithless. Some of my money, expended by the -man I had set to watch Tsan Ti, bought him. This Chinaman was Charley -Foo, and he betrayed the mandarin's trust for the sum of ten silver -dollars. - -"Charley was in the room with Tsan Ti when the ruby was boxed, wrapped -and addressed to Motor Matt. Charley, also, went with Tsan Ti and Sam -Wing to the express office, and saw the package sent. Then, quite -naturally, Charley told my man, and my man telegraphed Pardo at -Hudson, and Pardo got the message to me, out there in that lonely -ravine. - -"Then I began rehearsing Bunce in his part. Bunce is a natural -blockhead, and I was three hours teaching him what he was to say and -do. As an example of his folly, I will say that it was Bunce who stole -the speeder. The owner of the machine was inspecting a bit of siding -that wound around a low hill. The speeder was on the main track. All -Bunce had to do was to get aboard, switch on the gasoline and the -spark--and there you are. But why did we need the speeder when we had -two good motorcycles? Bunce can't tell. He doesn't know. He has a low -mind, and the itch to steal unimportant things runs in his blood--and -has more than once proved embarrassing to me. - -"However, I saw a chance to use the speeder in beguiling you to my -ravine. The motorcycles would only have carried two, and there were -to be three of you, including Bunce. Besides, the machines might have -aroused your suspicions. So the speeder was used, and Pardo went over -the hill with Bunce and helped him hide the speeder within an arrow -flight of the Catskill railroad yards. - -"Bunce took a risk. He knew it. I impressed upon him the fact that, if -he did not carry out his programme with earnestness, you would make a -prisoner of him and turn him over to the police. We knew Tsan Ti had -written that you must keep the ruby about you, and leave it nowhere -for security. I flattered myself you would bring the gem with you, -concealed somewhere upon your person. But Pardo, wearing clothes which -made him look vastly different, saw you leave the little box with the -hotel clerk. Instantly Pardo ran ahead of you to the place where Bunce -was waiting, and told him. The seeming failure of our plans threw Bunce -into a panic--you can expect so little of Bunce in a pinch!--and he -would have thrown over the whole matter, then and there, had not Pardo -advised him. 'Take them out into the hills,' said Pardo, 'and leave -them stranded there while you get away to the ravine and tell Grattan. -Grattan will know what to do.' And Grattan did." - -An ironical smile crossed the face of the strange man, and he paused a -space. When he continued, his manner was again easy and vivacious. - -"Ah, those section men! They helped gain time for me, and afforded -Bunce his opportunity to get away from you. Bunce fled--you know how. -He came to me and told me about the box, the box Motor Matt had left -with the hotel clerk to be put in the safe. A fountain pen and a sheet -of letter paper sufficed for the letter. I have seen your written name, -Motor Matt, and when I have once seen a person's handwriting, I can -copy it from memory after a lapse of one year or ten. Some say it is a -gift. - -"We had sharp work ahead of us, Bunce and I. We rolled out of the -ravine on our motorcycles, gained the river bank below Catskill and -signaled the _Iris_. Pardo came ashore in the tender, and he loaned us -his motor-man for the work that claimed us. You know how he got the -box, and we know what it contained--cotton wadding, but no ruby. Motor -Matt, I could have shaken your hand and congratulated you--if you had -been near and I had had time. - -"A few rebuffs are what I need to bring out the best that is in me. -Quick as a flash I thought of the motor-man's sick father in Buffalo, -and Pardo's call at your hotel to get you to take the _Iris_ to New -York. Shall I call it an inspiration? I believe it amounted to that. - -"Bunce and I, snugged away in this saloon, slept and waited for the -issue of our scheming. Pardo came to report that you would be aboard -the _Iris_ at eight-thirty. I was almost sure of success, but not -certain. You have a way, Motor Matt, of disappointing people like me, -and I was not counting positively upon success until I had you in my -hands. - -"Well, here you are. I have only the kindliest feelings toward you, but -you know what I want, and what I want, in this instance, I am going to -have." - -Grattan got up and stood beside the table, a superb figure of a man -whose head just cleared the deck above. - -"I have devoted time, and study, and faced dangers innumerable," he -proceeded, betrayed into passionate vehemence, "to secure the Eye of -Buddha! I have beaten down every obstacle, and secured the stone only -to lose it; now it is mine again, mine. Motor Matt," and he stretched -out his hand, "I will trouble you for the Eye of Buddha!" - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -FROM THE OPEN PORT! - - -Motor Matt made no move to give the ruby into the possession of -Grattan. Thief though he was, yet Philo Grattan had a remarkable -personality. Matt had listened to him with deepest interest, but one -hand had been busy in his pocket. McGlory was so deeply absorbed in -what the master rogue was saying that his jaws gaped, and he hung -breathlessly upon his words. - -Near Matt's left hand, with only the width of the side seat between, -was an open port. - -"What!" exclaimed Grattan, as though intensely surprised, "you -hesitate? I dislike to treat you with any more roughness, Motor Matt. -It seems to me you might understand how hopeless it is for you to try -to keep the ruby. What is this Tsan Ti to you that you will risk so -much for him? Is it the money he pays you? I can't believe that. You -have made a good deal of money in your work, I have been told, and you -are not in need. - -"Is it because you desire to help an unfortunate Chinaman who must -use the yellow cord in case he cannot return to China with the Eye of -Buddha? Foolish sentiment! What would this fat mandarin of the red -button do for you if your positions were reversed? Take the present -case. What has Tsan Ti done? He is a coward. Instead of facing his -risks like a man, he turns the ruby over to you, thereby unloading -the danger and responsibility. After you have me safely jailed"--and -Grattan's voice throbbed with contempt and scorn--"then this mandarin -will hunt you up, take the ruby, which is worth a fortune, and pay you -a thousand dollars! Why are you the friend of such a coward? Tell me, -will you? Here is where I should like a frank expression of your views." - -"I don't think Tsan Ti is a coward," Matt answered. - -"You have the proof." - -"I have your side of the question, not his." - -"My side of the question! Is there any other side?" - -"There may be." - -"I am disappointed in you, Motor Matt. Such talk is foolish--almost -worthy of Bunce, here." - -"There is something else, too, Grattan," went on Matt, "something, I -suppose, you will appreciate even less than what I have just said." - -"I don't think there can be anything I would appreciate less. However, -let's hear what it is." - -"Being true to a trust," answered Matt sturdily. "Even if a Chinaman -trusts you, standing fast and not betraying his confidence." - -Bunce snickered, and Pardo laughed outright. Only Grattan kept a -serious face and peered steadily at Matt. - -"Yes," murmured Grattan, "there is something in that. It is not for -me--I have turned my back on such principles--but you are young and -quite likely you have started right. That, however, does not affect -our present situation. It is impossible for you to remain true to the -trust the cowardly Tsan Ti reposes in you. I have you in my power. It -is night, and the _Iris_ is in the middle of the Hudson River. The ruby -is tied up in a handkerchief in your coat pocket. I tell you I want it." - -The voice was imperious, compelling. Motor Matt still passively faced -Grattan. - -"Oh, shiver me!" grunted Bunce. "Let's lay hold of him an' take it." - -Pardo pushed a hand toward the revolver on the table. - -With one movement, Grattan, although still with his eyes on Matt, -dropped his own hand to the revolver and another hand on Bunce's -shoulder. - -"You'll speak when you're spoken to, Bunce," said he savagely, "and -Pardo, you'll leave the revolver alone. I've managed this matter with -fair success, up to now, and I believe I can wind it up. The ruby, -Motor Matt!" - -"There it is!" said Matt. - -His hand darted toward the open port. A knotted handkerchief, weighted -with some small object, flashed through the port and vanished downward. - -A yell escaped Bunce, and he flung himself across the table in a -frantic attempt to lay hold of Matt. Pardo leaped for him, and the door -leading into the stateroom opened and the man who was waiting stepped -into the room. - -McGlory had jumped to help Matt against Pardo. The man who had just -entered grabbed the cowboy and flung him roughly on the seat at the -side of the room; then he and Pardo hurled Matt to the floor. - -"Search him!" ordered Grattan calmly. - -"By the seven holy spritsails!" bellowed Bunce, "what's the use o' -searchin' him? Didn't he just throw the Eye o' Buddha into the river?" - -"He ought to be strangled for that!" cried Pardo, in a temper. - -"Search him, I tell you!" roared Grattan. "Are you all a pack of fools? -He didn't throw the ruby into the river." - -"But we saw him," insisted Pardo. - -"You saw his handkerchief go into the river, but it was only a trick. -Do you think he would sacrifice the ruby, even to prevent me from -getting it? Search him, I tell you." - -The search was made, and thoroughly. Motor Matt's pockets were turned -inside out, but without result. Garment by garment his clothes were -stripped away and crushed in eager hands, but still without result. - -The ruby was as large as a small hen's egg, and not easily to be hidden. - -McGlory had gone into a trance again. As he lay on the seat and stared, -he wondered if Matt had really tossed the priceless gem into the Hudson. - -"He hasn't got it, Grattan," announced Pardo. - -"Then his friend has it," answered Grattan confidently. "Search him." - -Thereupon the cowboy came in for his share of the rough handling. Matt -once more got into his clothes. Just as the search of McGlory was -finished, Motor Matt was reaching for his cap, which had tumbled off -in the scuffle in the other room, and had been thrown into the saloon -after the boys had entered it. - -"Nothing here," announced Pardo, as he turned from McGlory. - -"Nary, there ain't," fumed McGlory. "Motor Matt's not the lad to shift -his responsibilities like Tsan Ti. Sufferin' hornets! You're a fine -outfit of tinhorns, I must say." - -Stepping quickly out from behind the table, Grattan passed to Matt and -snatched off his cap. He weighed the cap for a moment in his hand, -felt of the crown with his fingers, and then, still holding the cap, -returned quietly to his seat. - -"Sit down, Bunce, you and Pardo," ordered Grattan. "Pierson, go out and -close the door." - -When the two men were seated, and after Pierson had left the saloon, -Grattan leaned his elbows on the table, Matt's cap between them. - -"This Motor Matt," said he, "is a lad whom I greatly admire. He takes -precautions. His first precaution was removing the ruby from the box -and depositing the box with the hotel clerk before he went out into the -hills with Bunce. In running away from the ravine with Bunce to carry -out my plan for securing the box, I ran directly away from Motor Matt -and the ruby. Motor Matt had the ruby tied up in his handkerchief, -then. He was seen, on the hotel veranda, to untie his handkerchief -and show the ruby to his friend. When he came aboard the _Iris_ he -had taken another precaution. Something else was tied up in the -handkerchief, and the ruby was in the lining of his cap." - -Swiftly Grattan's hands descended, tore at the cap lining, and brought -out the imperial stone. He laid it on the table, turning and turning it -so the light might catch its fiery flash. - -"Blow me tight!" mumbled Bunce. "Say, mates," he added, drawing a -sleeve across his forehead, "that was a scare I don't want ever to go -through ag'in. We've risked so much for that bloomin' Eye o' Buddha -that I near went wrong in the head with the thought that it was in the -bottom o' the river!" - -"It's comparatively easy for you to go wrong in the head, Bunce," -taunted Grattan. - -"So that's the thing!" murmured Pardo, his fascinated eyes on the -gleaming stone. - -"Did you ever see anything more beautiful?" asked Grattan. "It's a true -pigeon-blood ruby, and worth ten times the value of a diamond the same -size." - -Then, drawing out his own handkerchief, he wrapped the ruby carefully, -and as carefully stowed it away in his pocket. - -"So," said he, "after a number of startling adventures in the -Catskills, the ruby is finally where it ought to be." - -"It ought to be in the head of that idol, in Canton," said Matt. - -The king of the motor boys was calm, and, while he may have had -regrets, he had nothing to reproach himself for. He had done his best -to keep the ruby--and he had failed. - -"Motor Matt," returned Grattan, "a heathen temple is no place for such -a jewel as this. In the Honan joss house it benefits no one. When I -sell it, it will benefit me a great deal, and Bunce a little." - -"And me," put in Pardo. "Don't forget that I stand in on the divvy." - -"And Pardo," added Grattan. - -"And Tsan Ti must strangle himself with the yellow cord," said Matt. - -"If that is his will, yes. I have no patience with these pagan -superstitions. A heathen, who lives by them, cannot let them shuffle -him out of the world too quickly. As for you, Motor Matt, you have -nothing to be sorry for. You did your best to keep the ruby out of my -hands--no one else could have done so much." - -"It's not the ruby I care for so much as saving Tsan Ti," answered Matt. - -"Find out if there's a landing near this point, Pardo," said Grattan. - -Pardo stepped out of the room and could be heard talking with the man -at the steering wheel. - -"No," he reported, coming back, "there's no safe landing for the _Iris_ -anywhere near here." - -"Then put over the tender," ordered Grattan; "Motor Matt and his friend -are going ashore." - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -LANDED--AND STUNG. - - -Pardo left the saloon to give the necessary orders to the man outside. -There was a splash in the water as the tender was put over, and the -_Iris_ slowed until she had no more than steerage way. - -"Get into your clothes, McGlory," said Grattan to the cowboy. "I'm -about ready to send you ashore." - -"The quicker the better!" exclaimed McGlory wrathfully. "We don't want -to lose a minute getting to some place where we can send the officers -after you." - -Grattan laughed. - -"You will have your trouble for your pains," said he. "After you are -landed, the _Iris_ and those aboard her will vanish as completely as -though they had gone to the bottom. I have planned for this. Do what -you please, and as soon as you please. Philo Grattan and his friends -will never be captured." - -"Ten thousand demons of misfortune pester a man who has anything to do -with the Eye of Buddha," snarled McGlory, stamping into his shoes. "My -pard and I know that. Sufferin' hoodoos! Haven't we been tangled up -with all sorts of backsets since we met Tsan Ti? If it ain't one thing, -it's two. You never know what minute's going to be the next." - -"I'll risk the ten thousand demons," smiled Grattan. - -"Something'll hit you," declared McGlory. "You take that from me, and -spread your blankets on it." - -"You forget that I have carried the ruby for a good many thousands of -miles." - -"I'm gloomed up more to think we ever saw that Eye of Buddha," scowled -McGlory, getting up from the seat and jamming on his hat, "than to know -that we lost it." - -"Are you ready?" asked Grattan. - -"I've been ready to leave this boat ever since we came aboard! You're a -fine bunch of outlaws, the lot of you, and you'll all get hung, one of -these days. I'd like to be around when it happens." - -Matt left his wrathful chum to do the talking. So far as he was -concerned, he had nothing to say. - -"We're going to put you ashore near a place where you can catch a -train north, to Catskill," said Grattan, after a brief, whispered -conversation with Pardo. "There doesn't happen to be any telegraph -station at the place, but the train will stop on signal." - -"There are other telegraph stations," fumed McGlory. "I reckon we can -find 'em." - -"I hope, Motor Matt," went on Grattan, "that you don't cherish any hard -feelings?" - -"No matter how I feel, Grattan," returned Matt, "I think you've made a -big mistake." - -"How?" - -"Why, in your choice of a career. Half the energy you put into your -criminal work would make you a power in the world." - -"I used to talk like that," said Grattan, with a tinge of bitterness, -"when I was young. Good-by." - -Matt did not answer, but went out of the saloon and through the -stateroom to the steps leading to the after deck. McGlory came close -behind him. When they gained the deck, Pierson was in the tender, and -another man stood ready to help them over the side. - -Silently Pierson rowed them ashore through the moonlight. When the boys -had debarked, Pierson rowed swiftly back to the _Iris_, and the lads on -shore could hear the noise as the tender was taken aboard. - -"Landed," muttered Matt. - -"And stung," finished McGlory. "Wasn't it neat? Say, I take off my hat -to Grattan. He's the king bee of all the tinhorns. Let's watch and see -which way the _Iris_ goes." - -The boys watched, but under their staring eyes the lights vanished one -by one from forward and aft, and from starboard and port. The cabin -windows winked out in darkness, and the gloom of the river swallowed up -the motor yacht. Her disappearance was helped by a cloud which floated -across the face of the moon and threw the river into deepest shadow. - -"Speak to me about that, pard!" exclaimed McGlory. "I wonder if it -would do any good to send out telegrams?" - -"I don't think it would, Joe," Matt answered, "but if there was a -telegraph office handy, we'd try it." - -"Let's find the place where the trains stop. If a train comes along -pretty soon, we can get to a telegraph office." - -When the cloud had swept on, and the moon shone out again, a survey of -the place showed the boys a dark building at the top of the bank. They -climbed up to the structure and found that it was an open shed, with -benches. There was no light, and the cowboy struck a match and hunted -for a time card. He could find none. - -"Oh, hang such a place!" grumbled McGlory. "If we knew how far it was -to the next station, pard, we could set out and hoof it." - -"Haven't you done enough walking for one day, Joe?" asked Matt. "I -believe I have. I'm going to sit down here and wait for a train to come -along." - -Suiting his action to the word, Matt dropped down on one of the -benches. His chum took a place beside him. - -"You're as full of surprises, pard," remarked McGlory, "as a cocoanut -is of milk. There's no guessing what you're going to do next. You -didn't tell me anything about taking the Eye of Buddha from that empty -box when you left it with the clerk, and you never let out a yip about -removing the ruby from the handkerchief and putting it in your cap. -Regular greaser trick--carrying things in your hat." - -"I thought I had to do something, Joe. When I was at work in the engine -room, I had planned to take off the cap and put it in my pocket." - -"What did you have in that handkerchief?" - -"My pocketknife." - -"Great guns! Was the knife in the handkerchief when we left Catskill?" - -"No. The knife and the handkerchief were both in the same pocket. I -managed to tie the knife up in the handkerchief, after a fashion, while -we were facing Grattan, and he was talking." - -"Well, glory to glory and all sashay! And Grattan never saw you!" - -"I'm inclined to think he did, from the way the thing turned out." - -"You didn't think you could fool Grattan so he wouldn't search you, did -you?" - -"It was a desperate chance to keep him from looking into my cap. But I -might have known I couldn't fool him." - -Just at that moment a lantern could be seen coming from down the track. -A man reached the shed and began lighting a lamp at each end of it. - -"Hello, neighbor!" called McGlory. "Do you belong around here?" - -The man turned and looked toward the boys. Evidently he had not seen -them before, and the call startled him. - -"I live down the track a ways," he answered. - -"Do you take care of this palatial depot?" - -"I put out the lights," was the reply. - -"A little late getting them out to-night, aren't you?" - -"Well, no. There's no use putting them out before, 'cause the first -train to stop hasn't come along yet." - -"How far is it to Catskill?" - -"Twenty mile." - -"Where's the nearest telegraph office?" - -"Three miles below. You fellers waitin' to ketch a train for Catskill?" - -"Yes. When will it be along?" - -"It's due now." - -"Does it stop here?" - -"Yes, if it's signaled." - -"How'll we flag it?" - -"I'll do that for ye with the lantern. That's what I come up here -for--to put out the lights an' do the flaggin'." - -"Here's a piece of luck, anyhow, Matt," said McGlory. "We can go on to -Catskill and do our telegraphing from there." - -"We might just as well," said Matt. - -Matt's failure to keep the ruby was preying on his spirits. He couldn't -help what had happened, but the sting of failure, when he always prided -himself on "making good," was hard to bear. - -"Buck up, pardy!" cried McGlory. "Old Tsan Ti can't find any fault with -you." - -"I know that. I'm thinking, though, we weren't cautious enough in going -aboard that boat." - -"Cautious? Tell me about that! Who wouldn't have been fooled, when the -game was worked like Grattan worked it? I don't know how any one could -have helped what happened." - -"Anyhow," said Matt, "we fell down. It might have been just as well if -I had disobeyed Tsan Ti's instructions and placed the ruby in some bank -vault." - -"But the mandarin said no. You carried out orders to the letter, and -that's what lost us the ruby." - -"We were to stay in the Catskills, and we didn't. Because we broke over -our instructions, we fell into the hands of Grattan." - -"He'd have got at you somehow even if we'd stayed in Catskill. I never -saw such a man to keep after a thing he's set his mind on. Now, if -we----" - -"Train's comin'," called the man, stepping upon the track and waving -the lantern. - -The rumble of the passenger could be heard, growing rapidly in volume. - -"Well," remarked McGlory, as he and Matt got up, "we've shuffled off -the hoodoo and nothing more will go crossways with us. That's worth a -whole lot. And if Tsan Ti is fool enough to choke himself with that -yellow cord, well, let him do it. Grattan was more than half right in -what he said about that." - -The train, with its row of dimly lighted windows, came to a halt. Matt -and McGlory climbed aboard, and the train started on again. - -The boys walked from one car into another trying to find a vacant seat -which they could share together. At last Matt, who was in the lead, -came to a halt in the aisle at the rear of the second coach. - -"Move on, pard," said McGlory. "We'll try the next car. It can't be -that all the coaches are as full as this one." - -But Matt did not move on. He turned, amazement shining in his gray -eyes, and pointed to a seat ahead of him, and on the right. - -Two drowsy Chinamen occupied the seat. One of them was fleshy, and took -up two-thirds of the space. This man wore a black silk cap with a red -button. His chin was sunk on his breast and he was snoring loudly. - -"Tsan Ti!" murmured McGlory, wondering if his eyes were playing him a -trick. - -"And Sam Wing," added Matt. "The mandarin is going to Catskill to get -the ruby. Here's where I have to tell him the truth." - -With that, Motor Matt leaned over and touched Tsan Ti on the shoulder. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -A CRAFTY ORIENTAL. - - -Meeting Tsan Ti in this peculiar fashion was a seven-day wonder to the -motor boys. The workings of chance, in connection with various matters -appertaining to the stolen ruby, could not have been better exemplified. - -Tsan Ti roused himself under Matt's touch, and blinked up at him -through sleepy eyes. By degrees the lad's face took form before him, -and he gave an incredulous grunt and floundered to his feet. - -"Estimable, never-to-be-forgotten friend!" the mandarin wheezed, his -flabby face beaming as he reached for Motor Matt's hand. "Also the -notable McGlory, friend of my friend! This is a delight, all the more -joyful because not expected until Catskill. Why is it I have the great -honor to see you here?" - -"That's quite a yarn, Tsan Ti," replied Matt. - -"Let me hear it forthwith, I beseech!" and Tsan Ti ordered Sam Wing out -of the seat and motioned for Matt to take his place. - -The mandarin had been educated at one of the most famous colleges in -the United States, and seemed, as McGlory expressed it, to have spent -most of his time corralling adjectives. - -Sam Wing, apparently not in the least excited by the sudden appearance -of the motor boys, got a seat across the aisle and continued his doze. -McGlory managed to secure a place behind Matt. - -"I, most devoted youth," said Tsan Ti, as soon as Matt was seated, -"am on my way to Catskill of a purpose to talk with you. No longer am -I followed by the suspicious person whom I know to have been in the -service of Grattan. So soon as I discovered this, I started immediately -to find you. The five hundred gods of good luck must have decreed this -meeting." - -"Rather," answered Matt, "the ten thousand demons of misfortune. I -suppose, Tsan Ti, you are after the Eye of Buddha?" - -"Quite true, honorable youth." - -"Well," said Matt, "I haven't got it." - -Tsan Ti started, then slumped back into his seat. - -"It has escaped you, vigilant one?" he inquired, his puffy eyelids half -closing as he regarded Matt. - -"It has escaped me, all right." - -"And who has it now?" - -"Grattan." - -The mandarin turned his face away and looked out of the car window into -the night. Motor Matt felt miserable enough. His words, just uttered, -might have sealed the doom of the mandarin. - -"Converse with me at length upon the subject," said Tsan Ti, again -turning toward Matt. "What you say is of vast importance, excellent -friend." - -Matt had twenty miles of slow traveling in which to make his -disclosures, and he made them in detail, with now and then an -explanatory word from McGlory. - -He began at the point where he had received the ruby, and set forth -the manner in which Bunce had presented himself. Bunce's cock-and-bull -story was gone into, and Tsan Ti's eyes twinkled humorously--Matt -wondered at the humor--as he heard how he had been lured into a -basement by a beach comber and was being held a prisoner. The leaving -of the box with the hotel clerk, the flight into the hills, and the -disappearance of Bunce, all dropped into the recital in chronological -form; then came the tracking to the "pocket" under the ledge, and the -following of the motorcycle trails in the direction of Catskill, the -arrival of the boys in town, and the report of the clerk concerning the -forged letter and the removal of the box. - -"So there," put in the mandarin, "is where my ruby escaped from your -unfortunate hands." - -"Don't be so quick in your snap judgments, Tsan," spoke up McGlory. -"The ruby wasn't in the box, but in Motor Matt's pocket. My pard had -left the empty box with the clerk for a bluff." - -The mandarin chuckled, and his body shook with his suppressed mirth. - -"Remarkably well planned!" approved Tsan Ti. "Who could have done -better? You have a brain of great power, my renowned friend, and your -talk gives me much amusement and instruction. Grattan had the empty box -and you had the ruby. What then?" - -Then followed the call at the hotel of the man from the _Iris_, and -Matt's agreement to take charge of the yacht's motor on the down-river -trip, Matt to return to Catskill on the following morning. The -treachery aboard the boat was listened to by the mandarin with flashing -eyes. - -"Grattan is possessed of a demon," declared Tsan Ti. "His wits are as -keen as a sword's edge, and he knows how to use them. I do not wonder, -estimable friend, that you fell into his power. Even I, had I been in -your place, could not have saved the jewel." - -"What's to be done now, Tsan Ti?" asked Matt anxiously. - -"Nothing," was the answer. - -"But--but--the yellow cord!" - -"It shall not be used by me." - -Here was a mystery. If Tsan Ti could not bear the Eye of Buddha back -to the Canton temple, it was the august decree of the regent that he -should perish by the yellow cord. The ruby had been recovered, and lost -again, but Tsan Ti had no intention of strangling himself by invitation -of his ruler. - -Failing to understand this point, Matt shifted the subject. - -"Did you know, Tsan Ti," he queried, "that while you were in New York -you had a Chinese spy around with you? A man who was carrying news of -everything you did to an agent of Grattan's?" - -"You refer to Charley Foo, honorable one?" - -"Yes." - -"Grattan can plan, my son, and so can the mandarin. This agent of -Grattan paid Charley Foo ten silver dollars to betray me, and Charley -Foo told me of it, showed the money, and asked what it was I would have -him tell this hireling of Grattan's. Charley Foo was of much help to -me." - -Tsan Ti folded his hands complacently over his capacious stomach. - -"Well, sufferin' bluffs!" murmured McGlory. "Charley Foo was the kind -of a dark horse they were playing both ways. He told Grattan's man only -what Tsan Ti wanted him to know; then why, in the name of all that's -hard to figure out, did Tsan tell Charley to let it be known that the -ruby was being sent to Motor Matt?" - -"It was my wish that Grattan should know about the sending of the -ruby," said this most amazing Chinaman. - -"Then," went on McGlory, "you expected that Grattan would get on Motor -Matt's trail and make a dead set to get back the Eye of Buddha." - -"I thought it most likely, sagacious youth." - -"Then," averred McGlory warmly, "you can't blame Motor Matt for losing -the ruby." - -"Am I blaming him, inconsiderate one?" returned Tsan Ti. "Have I said -one scolding word, or emitted anything but praise? Motor Matt has done -excellently well, and I shall engrave his deeds on the tablets of my -memory." - -"But the ruby is gone!" said Matt. - -"Not so, highly esteemed but most deceived friend. Observe!" - -With that, Tsan Ti opened his yellow silk blouse and revealed a small -bag suspended by a chain from his neck. Opening the bag, he gave Matt -and McGlory a swift glimpse of a shining, blood-red jewel. - -"Behold the Eye of Buddha," smiled the mandarin. "Not Grattan, with all -his evil work, has it, but I." - -This, as might be expected, heaped up the measure of astonishing events -and topped off the motor boys' bewilderment. - -"But the ruby--the Eye of Buddha Grattan took from me----" - -"That, generous youth," answered the mandarin, dropping the bag on his -breast and rearranging his blouse, "was not a ruby, but a base replica -of the true gem. It is worth, possibly, five dollars. I secured it from -a stonecutter in New York." - -By degrees the mandarin's crafty performance dawned on the motor -boys. They were awed by the scope and audacious success of the -design--completely fooling Grattan as it had done. As a specimen of -Oriental craft, it was a revelation to Matt and McGlory. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -THE MANDARIN WINS. - - -"Listen, honorable friends," said Tsan Ti, "while I talk to you -instructively. In the words of the great Confucius, 'the cautious man -seldom errs.' When I departed from you, amiable ones, on recovering the -Eye of Buddha, I said that I was returning to my country by way of San -Francisco. Such was my intention, of the moment, but further reflection -dissuaded me. I decided to go to New York and proceed to China by the -longer, but perhaps the safer, way. - -"In the great city I discovered that I was being pursued and spied -upon, and a great fear overcame me. Immediately I thought of Motor -Matt. Should I visit him with possible dangers, I besought of myself, -in order that I might preserve the precious relic from the temple at -Honam? I thought of your bravery, never sufficiently to be praised, and -I decided to make the risk. The cutter of precious stones was sent for, -and I showed my ruby and asked that he make a counterfeit of it that -would deceive any but a dealer in jewels. This was done, and quickly. I -sent this comparatively valueless replica to you, Motor Matt, and told -Charley Foo to let Grattan's man know what I had done. Also, the man -was to be informed of my desire that Motor Matt should carry the stone -about with him continually. - -"What would happen? I inquired of myself. Most certainly, reflection -made answer. Grattan will be upon the brave youth's track, and he will -never rest until he secures the gem. This is as I desired, although I -dared not so express myself in my letter which accompanied the false -gem. - -"After the package had left me, my heart failed. I feared I had exposed -you to dangers which might cause your undoing. Hence, without lingering -further, Sam Wing and I took this train for Catskill, I being of the -intention to tell you what I had planned, and to let it be known, -through Charley Foo, that the real gem was in my hands and not yours. - -"And see, I have come too late. Grattan, the wise and unscrupulous, -has taken the counterfeit ruby and is pleased to think he has cheated -me, and that I shall pass by means of the yellow cord. All is well, -and my plans are maturing most successfully. The five hundred gods of -good fortune are smiling upon me. While Grattan goes his course, firmly -believing he has the Eye of Buddha, I travel mine, knowing he has been -justly deceived." - -There was a little resentment in Matt's heart as he listened to the -mandarin's explanation of his crafty ways and means for circumventing -Grattan. Tsan Ti had thrown upon Matt the weight of the whole -proceeding, and had not taken means to inform him of the true state of -affairs. The king of the motor boys, had he understood the nature of -the mandarin's scheme, could have worked out his part of it even more -successfully than he had done while being kept in ignorance. - -"You're a keen one, Tsan," grunted McGlory, "but I'm a Piute if I -admire the free-and-easy fashion you have of making dupes of your -friends." - -"It is that which has pained me," admitted the mandarin, "and it is my -regret which was carrying me speedily to Catskill to tell my widely -known friend the exact truth. Fate was quicker in the race than I. -Events have come swiftly to pass, and out of them rises Grattan with -the false ruby. I have been fortunate, and while he goes to parts -unknown, I shall hope to reach China before he discovers his error." - -"Queer that Grattan, who knows the great ruby so well," said Matt, -"could be fooled with a piece of glass of the same shape and size." - -"And likewise of the exact color," returned Tsan Ti. "The color was -most important of all. That Grattan was fooled shows how admirably the -cutter of precious stones has done his work." - -"You're really going to China this time, are you, Tsan Ti?" - -"Of a certainty," declared the mandarin. "Now that you have been met -most wonderfully on this train, I shall not get off at Catskill, but -will accompany the cars to Buffalo. From there, without delay, I shall -go on to Chicago, from there to Denver, and so to San Francisco, where -I will embark on the first ship that will carry me across the Pacific." - -Tsan Ti leaned over in front of Matt and called out something in -Chinese to Sam Wing. Sam Wing lifted his nodding head with a start, -and from his blouse produced a small sack of alligator skin, which he -handed to his master. - -The sack was stuffed with banknotes, and from the lot the mandarin -extracted three five-hundred-dollar bills. - -"Will you consider it of an insulting nature if I offer you these?" -inquired the mandarin of Matt. - -"I won't, if he does," chimed in McGlory. - -"I think I'm entitled to the money, Tsan Ti," said Matt. "The way you -Chinamen do business doesn't make much of a hit with me. Your little -plot wouldn't have been hurt in the least if you had just mentioned in -the letter you sent with that supposed ruby that the gem was false, and -that you sent it to me hoping Grattan would get it and keep off your -trail. I could have helped you even more in achieving your purpose." - -"It is to be regretted deeply that I did not," answered the mandarin -humbly. "In my own country I would not have given two thoughts to the -troubles I caused another, so long as my aim was just and wise; but -here, in America, different standards rule, and that I brought dangers -upon your head I shall never forget." - -The door of the coach opened and a brakeman thrust in his head to call -out the station of Catskill. - -"That means us, pard," said McGlory. "Grab your money and let's hike." - -Matt took the money and slowly placed it in his pocket. - -"You bear no ill will, worthy one, and friend whose memory will always -blossom in the gardens of my recollections?" asked Tsan Ti. - -"It's all right, Tsan Ti," returned Matt, getting up. "You win, and -are off for the Flowery Kingdom with the Eye of Buddha. Grattan loses, -and he'll find it out sooner or later. As for Joe and me, we'll call -accounts square. Good-by, and good luck to you." He took the mandarin's -hand cordially. - -"May the five hundred gods of good luck smile continually upon you," -said Tsan Ti. - -With that, Motor Matt and McGlory left the coach and dropped off the -train. - -"Back in Catskill!" said the cowboy, "and after being fooled by Bunce, -and Grattan, and Tsan Ti!" - -"We've fooled Grattan twice where he has fooled us once, Joe," returned -Matt. - -"Right you are, pard; and there's plenty of chance for Tsan Ti to run -into a snag between here and China." - -"I'm hoping he makes the trip without any trouble." - -"I don't know but I hope the same thing, although I get a trifle hot -under the collar every time I think of the way we fretted over a piece -of colored glass." - -They stood on the platform until the tail lights of the train had -vanished from sight up the track. - -"The mandarin is getting a good start on the home trail, anyhow," -remarked McGlory, as he and Matt turned away to climb the slope that -led to their hotel. "He's bound west by train, while Grattan is fooling -around, somewhere on the Hudson, with the _Iris_. I wouldn't turn over -my hand, after what Tsan Ti told us, to put the kibosh on Grattan, or -even Bunce." - -"Grattan and Bunce have got their deserts," asserted Matt. "They'll be -punished enough when they discover that they've had all their trouble -and taken so many chances for nothing more than a bogus ruby." - -"Fine business," chuckled McGlory; "and yet," he added, with a -perceptible change in his voice, "there's something about that Philo -Grattan that makes a hit with me. Maybe I've got a yellow streak in -my make-up, somewhere, and that it's wrong for me to own up to such a -notion, but it's the truth." - -"If Grattan was honest," said Matt, "he'd be a fellow any one could -like. But his ideas are all wrong. He can't see where the harm comes in -removing a valuable ruby from an idol in a heathen temple, but if he'd -step into Tiffany's, in New York, and extract a gem like that from the -show case and make off with it, his crime wouldn't be any the less." - -"A heathen has got property rights," agreed the cowboy, "just the same -as you or me--or Grattan, himself. Where do you suppose Grattan, and -that choice assortment of tinhorns he has with him on the _Iris_, are -going?" - -"I don't know, pard, and what happens to them now doesn't bother me -much. We're rid of them all, and I'm thankful for it. We've had too -much of Tsan Ti, as well as of Grattan and Bunce." - -"That's what you say now, but just let the mandarin write you one of -those embroidered letters of his, asking for help, and you'll head in -his direction just a-smoking." - -"Not again, Joe. I know what the Yellow Peril is, now, and I'm going to -fight shy of it." - -"Amen to that, pard, and I hope you stick to it." - -"I will." - -"And there's nothing more between us and a high old time in Manhattan?" - -"Nothing but a stretch of river--or of railroad track, Joe, if you'd -rather go by train." - -"Hooray!" jubilated McGlory. - - -THE END. - - - - -THE NEXT NUMBER (32) WILL CONTAIN - -Motor Matt's Double-trouble; - -OR, - -THE LAST OF THE HOODOO. - - - The Red Jewel--Another End of the Yarn--Shock Number - One--Shocks Two and Three--A Hot Starter--McGlory is Lost, and - Found--"Pocketed"--Springing a Coup--Motor Matt's Chase--The Chase - Concluded--A Double Capture--Another Surprise--Baiting a Trap--How - the Trap was Sprung--Back to the Farm--Conclusion. - - - - -MOTOR STORIES - -THRILLING ADVENTURE MOTOR FICTION - -NEW YORK, September 25, 1909. - - -TERMS TO MOTOR STORIES MAIL SUBSCRIBERS. - -(_Postage Free._) - -Single Copies or Back Numbers, 5c. Each. - - 3 months 65c. - 4 months 85c. - 6 months $1.25 - One year 2.50 - 2 copies one year 4.00 - 1 copy two years 4.00 - -=How to Send Money=--By post-office or express money-order, registered -letter, bank check or draft, at our risk. At your own risk if sent by -currency, coin, or postage-stamps in ordinary letter. - -=Receipts=--Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper change -of number on your label. If not correct you have not been properly -credited, and should let us know at once. - - ORMOND G. SMITH, } - GEORGE C. SMITH, } _Proprietors_. - - STREET & SMITH, Publishers, - 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York City. - - - - -JERRY STEBBINS' HOSS TRADE. - - -At a recent interview with one Jeremiah Stebbins, he freed his mind in -the following choice language: - -"Everybody I've saw lately has ben a-winking and a-smirking, and -a-laughing, and a-saying, 'How de dew, Jerry? how's the hoss trade?' -and sich like, and I've got tired on't; and I'm a going to tell the -hull story to you newspaper fellers, and let you print it and done with -it. - -"You see, the way on't was this. I live up in Bucks County, -Pennsylvania, and once in a while I takes a trip down to Philadelphia -to see the sights, do some dickering, buy some store things, and so on. - -"I've al'ays considered myself pooty cute, and have gi'n lots o' advice -to them that's around me, telling 'em about the city, and its big -shows, and its cheating scamps, and what to do when they goes there, -and how not to get took in, and all sich; and I 'spect it's jest -because I've done all this ere that the laugh comes in agin me pooty -rough-like. - -"You see there's a feller living right nigh me, named Jim Smithers, -who's been down to Philadelphia four times, and every time so'thing's -happened to him in the way o' getting fooled by some o' them confounded -scamps what don't 'pear to do nothing for a living but lay around, like -nasty spiders, watching for flies, to ketch some o' us country chaps -by some dirty trick or other, and git hold o' some o' our hard-earned -dollars to loaf around on. I ain't afeared to speak my mind about 'em, -and I don't keer a goll darn if you print it, nuther, and let 'em know -that I think they're just about as mean as mean kin be. - -"Waal, about Jim Smithers. He's pooty green yit; but the first time he -went down to the big city he was as raw as a new cabbage, and he got -took in fifteen dollars' worth on what you newspaper fellers calls the -drap game. - -"In course you know all about that ere. A feller comes up behind the -country chap, and, all unbeknown to him, drops a pocketbook, picks it -up, and tells him it's hisn. But it ain't, you know, and the country -feller says so. Then the city scamp opens it a lettle, and it 'pears to -be stuffed full o' bank bills; and he says it's a pity that some honest -man has got to lose it, 'cause he hisself's a stranger in town, and -is jest a-going out ag'in, and he can't stop to advertise it, and git -the big reward that's sartin to be offered for it; but if the country -feller's a mind to take it, give him fifteen or twenty dollars or so, -he'll let him have his chance, and so on. - -"Waal, Jim Smithers was ketched in this way, and he gin the other -feller fifteen dollars--nigh all the money he had--and when he went to -put so'thing into the _Public Ledger_ about it, and handed over one o' -the bills to pay for 't, the grinning clerk told him as how he'd ben -'sold,' and the money wa'n't wo'th as much as white paper. Wa'n't Jim -mad, then? and didn't us fellers plague him peskily about it arter he -got home? - -"Waal, the next time Jim went to the city he got ketched in some keerd -trick, and lost a twenty-dollar bill afore he knowed it. The third time -he spent five dollars, a-buying prize packages that didn't have no -prizes in 'em 'cept brass rings; and the last time some scamp ketched -him ag'in on a hoss affair. - -"'Jim Smithers,' says I, arter he'd told me all about it, 'if I's you I -wouldn't go down to Philadelphia ag'in alone--I swon I wouldn't. Jest -as like as not some critter, a-running loose in the streets, will take -you fer a green pumpkin, and eat you all right up, so's you won't never -git back to your mar any more,' says I. - -"'Oh, you think your darn smart, Jerry Stebbins, don't ye?' says Jim -back ag'in. 'Jest you look out that you don't git ketched some day your -own self.' - -"'They've all tried me, and found me too smart for 'em,' says I. - -"'We'll see in the end,' says Jim. - -"'Bout a week or so arter that, I went down ag'in to Philadelphia. -I had some arrants to do for some o' my neighbors; and I'd a notion -to tend a auction sale of hosses, and if I could see any going right -cheap, I thought mebbe I might buy one on a spec--for, though I says -it myself, I'm pooty cute in a hoss trade, and have made a good many -dollars afore now in fatting up some old critter and then swapping him -off and gitting boot. - -"Waal, I went to town, and, arter gitting through with my other -business, I started right over to the bazaar, where they sells -hosses--for I'd been there afore and knowed exactly where it was. - -"Jest as I was a-going in, I met a dressy-looking chap a-coming out; -and he says to me, says he: - -"'Mister, kin you tell me where I kin buy a right good hoss pooty -cheap?' - -"'I couldn't, less it's in here,' says I 'for that's jest what I wants -to do myself.' - -"'Waal, I shan't buy in this here cheating place,' says he, 'for I -done that once afore, and paid a hundred dollars for a critter that I -arterward had to sell for thirty-five; and right glad I was to git that -much, and only lose sixty-five on the trade. If I's you I wouldn't risk -no money in here.' - -"'I knows a hoss when I sees him,' says I, pooty proud, feeling my -oats, 'and if anybody makes anything off o' Jerry Stebbins in a hoss -trade, I hope they'll let me know.' - -"'S'pose you could pick out a good nice critter for me, Mr. Stebbins, -and not get cheated in the price?' says he. - -"'I s'pose I could if I'd try,' says I. - -"'And would five dollars make you try?' says he. - -"'I guess it would,' says I. - -"'Wal, then,' says he, 'I'll give you a five-dollar bill to do it,' -says he. - -"He rammed his hand into his pocket to git the money; but afore he'd -drawed it out, a slick-looking feller comes riding up on hossback, and -says to my chap, says he: - -"'Do you know anybody what wants to buy a right good hoss dirt cheap?' - -"'I dew,' says my man. - -"'How high be you willing to go?' says the hossback chap. - -"'I don't keer a darn, so's the critter's wo'th the money,' says -t'other, and he gin me a sly wink. - -"'Then I'll take you to a place where I know you'll be suited,' says -the hossback chap. - -"'Fur from here?' axes t'other. - -"'Not more'n a mile at the outside,' says him on the hoss. - -"'Will you jest go along, 'arn the five, and see that I ain't -cheated?' says the foot feller to me, in a tone so low that t'other -couldn't hear. - -"I said I would; and then my man axed the man on the hoss for his -keerd, which he gin him and rid away. - -"While we was a-going to the place, my feller told me that his name was -John Jenkins; that he'd got as much money as he keerd about having, and -if he could only git a hoss to suit him, and not pay more for't than -'twas wo'th, he'd be mighty pleased. - -"''Tain't 'cause I ker a darn for the money, Mr. Stebbins,' says he -to me, confiding-like; 'but it's 'cause I knows as how all these -racehoss-jockey fellers takes a pride in gitting the best of everybody -they deals with, and I hates to be beat in that are way. Now I sees by -your eyes, Mr. Stebbins, that you ain't a chap to be took in in a hoss -trade, and I wants you to use 'em for me; and if things comes out all -right, I won't stop to put another ten or twenty a-top of the five, you -know.' - -"'I'll do my best, Mr. Jenkins,' says I; 'and I guess you'll find my -best right up to the handle.' - -"When we got to the place we seen a stable, in a little, back, dirty -street, and in it was two men and three hosses. - -"Two of these 'ere hosses wan't o' no great account, but t'other one -was a pooty slick smart-looking critter. - -"'How much for this 'ere one?' says Mr. Jenkins, putting his hand onto -the beast. - -"Waal, really,' says the dealer, 'we don't keer about selling that are -critter.' - -"'I was recommended to come here for a place where I could buy a good -hoss cheap,' says Mr. Jenkins. - -"'We really hain't got nothing to sell 'cept the other two critters,' -says the jockey. 'We'll sell you them cheap.' - -"'I don't want 'em,' says Jenkins, 'but only this 'ere one. Hey, -Stebbins! what d'you say?' he says, speaking to me. - -"'Waal, the critter you've picked out is pooty likely,' says I, 'but I -don't think much of t'others.' - -"He called me out one side, and axed me what the best hoss was really -wo'th. - -"'A good hundred and twenty-five,' says I. - -"'How about a hundred and fifty?' says he. - -"'I wouldn't go a mite over a hundred and forty,' says I. - -"'I'll have him, though, at some price, for I've sot my mind on't,' -says he, in a determined way. - -"Then he went back to the jockey, and offered him a hundred dollars for -that critter. - -"The jockey chap laughed right in his face at fust, and then he 'peared -to get mad, and said, says he: - -"'You're either a dealer yourself, or else you wants to insult me; and -no matter which it are, I ain't a-going to trade with you at no price.' - -"'I'll give you a hundred and twenty-five,' says Jenkins. - -"'Pshaw!' says jockey. - -"'A hundred and fifty,' says Jenkins. - -"'No,' says t'other. - -"'A hundred and seventy-five, then.' - -"'No.' - -"'I'll give you two hundred.' - -"'You can't buy him at no price,' says the hoss dealer, looking awful -mad. - -"'Then let us go to a more decenter place, Mr. Stebbins,' says Jenkins -to me. - -"We started off together, and as soon as we'd got out of sight of the -stable, Jenkins says to me, says he: - -"'Friend Stebbins, I wants that are hoss right bad, 'cause he's jest -the critter to suit me. I wonder if you couldn't buy him for me?' - -"'I don't 'spect I could,' says I, 'for the feller that owns him has -got his Dutch up, and won't sell him to neither of us.' - -"'Would you mind going back by yourself and trying?' says he. - -"'To obleege you I'll dew it,' says I. 'But the hoss ain't wo'th what -you offered, and nothink like it.' - -"'I don't keer for that, Mr. Stebbins,' says he; 'it a'nt making a -spec' I'm arter; I wants the hoss for hisself, 'cause I've sot my mind -on't, and money ain't no object with me. I'll tell ye what I'll dew. If -you'll buy that are hoss and fetch him round to my stable, I'll jest -plank down two hundred and fifty dollars cash for him, and you may make -what profit you kin. I don't keer what you give for him, but I'll give -you two hundred and fifty dollars jest the minute he reaches my stable, -and I'll go right down there now and wait for you.' - -"I told him I'd try my luck, and he writ down the direction for me to -come to. - -"Waal, I went back and found the two hoss fellers talking with the chap -that had fust told us about the place. - -"The minute this chap seen me, he come for'ard and said he was right -down sorry that his pardners had got mad at my friend--and if he'd been -there it wouldn't have turned out so--though it was a insult for him -to offer only a hundred dollars for a hoss like that are, which nobody -could find his match nowhere for a cent less than three hundred dollars -in gold. - -"'Tell you what 'tis, mister,' he says, 'I know your friend, John -Jenkins--though he don't recollect me--and I know he's mighty rich, and -a right down good customer where he likes to deal, and I hate like fury -that he went away disapp'inted. Now if you'll find him, and fetch him -back, and git him to trade with us, I'll give you a five-dollar bill.' - -"I thought I'd got a good chance for a spec, so I says, says I: - -"'I don't think I could git him back; but if you folks here wants to -sell that are hoss, and will take what he's wo'th, I don't mind buying -him for my own self.' - -"'You kin have him for two hundred and twenty-five dollars, and not a -cent short,' says he. - -"'That's more'n I'd give my old daddy for him,' says I. - -"Then we began to talk, and palaver, and hile, and at last I got him -down to two hundred and ten, and him to give in a old saddle and -bridle, so's I could ride him off. - -"Waal, I paid down the money, and then rode off for Jenkins' stable -feeling pooty proud and happy that I'd made a clean forty dollars by my -barg'in. - -"But, somehow or other, I couldn't find Jenkins' stable, nor Jenkins -nuther, and I hain't found 'em since. - -"To git right down to the gist on't, I'd been awfully fooled, and -tricked into paying two hundred and ten dollars for a hoss that I -didn't want myself, and that I's glad to git rid on, arterwards for one -hundred and five, jest one-half the critter cost me. - -"Waal, mister, that's the story that all the folks round my way is -a-grinning and a-snickering over, and I s'pose I've got to grin and -bear it till the hull darned thing dies out and be darned to it. - -"It's l'arned me for one thing, that them slick-looking, slick-talking -city fellers kin lie and cheat like thunder; and for another thing, -that it don't dew for a country chap to butt his brains ag'in them city -scamps and al'ays 'spect to git the best on't." - - - - -THE PHANTOM ENGINEER. - - -"Whenever I tell the story," said Alf Whitney, throwing away his -half-smoked cigar, and putting his long legs on the top of the table, -in a way some men have when a story is to be forthcoming, "everybody -winks at everybody else, as much as to say, 'Alf had taken too much -whisky that time,' or 'Alf was asleep and dreamed the whole thing.' -But I tell you, comrades, though you are at liberty to disbelieve -what I tell you, it is true; and that's all I know about it. I'm no -long-headed metaphysician to reason it all out--I only know what -happened, and it's that I'm going to tell." - -We gathered closer around the red-hot stove in the bar-room of the -Anderson House, for it was a biting cold night, and the snow was too -much for our train, destitute as we were of a snowplow, and we had -given up the attempt to push through to C---- that night, and retaken -ourselves to the hospitalities of the Arlington. - -It had often been whispered among the railway employees that Alf -Whitney had once had something strange happen to him. He was a -young man yet, though the oldest and most skillful engineer on the -road--noted for his skill and judgment, no less than for his sturdy -endurance and his bravery, which nothing ever overcame. - -I suppose you people who ride in Pullman cars, rocked in velvet -cushions, and look at the scenery rushing past, through plate glass -windows, heavy with gilt and rosewood mouldings, never think much of -the man upon whom your safety depends--the man who, with his hand -upon the lever which controls the monster that is bearing you along, -stands tireless at his post, through cold and heat, through storm and -sunshine, smutty, grimy with smoke, greasy and weather-hardened, but -oftentimes the bravest and noblest man among you all. But this is a -digression. - -We all hastened to assure Alf that we were ready to believe whatever he -might say; and he, smiling a little, as if he doubted the sincerity of -our assurances, began his story. I give it in his own words, which are -much better than mine would be. - -"Six years ago, one dark stormy night, Jack Horton lost his life in a -smash-up at Rowley's Bend. Jack was an engineer, and as fine a fellow -as ever trod the ground. He was handsome, too, and notwithstanding his -dirty occupation, a great favorite with the ladies; for when he was -off the machine long enough to get the oil and cinders washed off, -and his other clothes on, he was the best-looking, as well as the -best-mannered, young man anywhere in this vicinity. - -"He was engaged to marry Esther Clay; and Esther was a beauty without -anything by way of art to help her--a sound-looking, wholesome, healthy -young girl--none of your die-away kind, fainting at the sight of a -spider, and going into tantrums over a cow a mile off. She was just the -kind of woman I could worship, and not put myself out any to do it, -either!" - -"Why didn't you go for her after Jack was dead?" asked Tom Barnard -carelessly. - -"Hush! she is dead!" said Alf, in a subdued voice; and the unwonted -pallor that settled round his mouth gave me a slight clue to the reason -he had never married. And afterward I knew that Esther Clay, dead, -and pledged through all eternity to another, was more to him than any -living woman! - -After a little he went on. - -"When Jack was killed, it was the breaking of an axle that caused the -mischief; and, of course, this axle broke on just the worst part of the -road. They always do. You all know Rowley's Bend? You all know just how -high the grade is there, and just how rough and jagged the rocks lie -all along the embankment, clear down to the river. No need to dwell -on this. The train pitched down into the dark, head first, and Jack, -true to his duty, never stirred from his post. It was a good while -before we could get to him, the broken timbers of the piled-up cars so -completely caged him in. She came there before we had taken his body -out, and I shall never forget how she went down into the ruins where -even the bravest of us hardly dared to venture, so insecure was the -footing, and worked with her white, slender hands, until the blood ran -from their wounds. She never minded it a particle, but worked on, with -a face as pale and rigid as marble. But I am making a long story, and -dwelling too much on details. Jack was dead when they found him, and -she lived just a month afterward. And, though everybody lamented at her -funeral, and said it was 'so sad,' I do not think it was sad, for when -two people love each other, truly and loyally, and one of them dies, it -seems to me Heaven's special mercy if the other is suffered to go along. - -"Jack and I had always been great friends; and once when we were -talking about the supernatural nonsense that so many believe in, Jack -said to me laughingly: - -"'If I die first, I'll keep a watch over you, old fellow; and when -I see you running into danger, I'll whistle the brakes down. Now -remember!' After he died these careless words of his kept coming back -to me, and try as I would not to remember them, the more they were -present to my mind. - -"It was nearly two years after Jack's death that I was taking the -ten-fifty accommodation out to L----. It was a dark, drizzly night, and -the headlight on the front of the engine pierced but a short distance -into the gloom and fog ahead of us. I was running carefully, as I -always run on such nights, and had nearly reached Carney's Ford when I -saw something on the track before us. I whistled to down brakes, and -reversed the lever. The train slackened, and I could see distinctly -ahead of us the tall figure of a man. But we got no nearer to him, for -though he seemed to be only walking, his speed was fully equal to ours. -We should never overtake him. A cold shiver ran through me as I noted -this fact. No mortal man could walk like that. - -"'Richards,' said I to the fireman, who, ghastly and trembling with -fear, was gazing at the strange apparition, 'it must be Old Nick -himself, with the seven-league boots on!' - -"As I spoke, the figure turned toward us, and then I saw that in his -hand he carried a red lantern, the well-known signal of danger. He -lifted it, swung it slowly round his head once, and, as he did so, the -blood-red light fell full on his face--the face of Jack Horton. For -a moment he stood motionless, then he was enveloped in a pale, azure -flame, which died out instantly, and left--nothing! - -"All this, which it has taken me so long to describe, took place in an -instant of time, and by the time the phantom had vanished Richards and -I had managed to stop the train. We got off and went ahead. The red -lantern had not signaled 'danger' for nothing. A heavy stick of timber -was spiked across the track, and, had we gone on at full speed, it -would have sent us to swift destruction. - -"The company ferreted out the rascal who had done this vile thing, and -he is serving out a long term in the State prison now. I have seen him -and talked with him, and he swore to me, with a voice that trembled -even then with horror, that after he had spiked down the timber and had -hidden in some bushes near by to watch the result, he had seen a tall -man, with a red lantern in his hand, start up in front of the engine -and walk, as nothing human could walk, until he reached the very spot -where the danger lay. - -"'And then,' said the miscreant, 'he changed into a blue flame, and -vanished, and I knew that my plan was upset, and that for once Satan -had gone back on them as he'd set to work.'" - -"Well," said Tom Barnard, "what else?" - -"That is all," said Alf, lighting another cigar. - -"But what was the fellow's object in seeking to disable the train?" - -"Plunder. He had ascertained that a carrying company would have a large -sum of money on board that night, and he was not averse to turning an -honest penny." - -"But the phantom--how do you explain it?" persisted Tom. - -"I don't explain it," said Alf quietly. - - - - -LATEST ISSUES - - -BRAVE AND BOLD WEEKLY - -All kinds of stories that boys like. The biggest and best nickel's -worth ever offered. =High art colored covers. Thirty-two big pages. -Price, 5 cents.= - - 342--Through the Earth; or, Jack Nelson's Invention. By Fred Thorpe. - - 343--The Boy Chief; or, Comrades of Camp and Trail. By John De Morgan. - - 344--Smart Alec; or, Bound to Get There. By Weldon J. Cobb. - - 345--Climbing Up; or, The Meanest Boy Alive. By Harrie Irving Hancock. - - 346--Comrades Three; or, With Gordon Keith in the South Seas. By - Lawrence White, Jr. - - 347--A Young Snake-charmer; or, The Fortunes of Dick Erway. By Fred - Thorpe. - - 348--Checked Through to Mars; or, Adventures in Other Worlds. By - Weldon J. Cobb. - - 349--Fighting the Cowards; or, Among the Georgia Moonshiners. By - Harrie Irving Hancock. - - 350--The Mud River Boys; or, The Fight for Penlow's Mill. By John L. - Douglas. - - 351--Grit and Wit; or, Two of a Kind. By Fred Thorpe. - - 352--Right on Top; or, Yankee to the Backbone. By Cornelius Shea. - - 353--A Clue from Nowhere; or, On a Phantom Trail. By Harrie Irving - Hancock. - - 354--Never Give Up; or, Harry Holton's Resolve. By John L. Douglas. - - 355--Comrades Under Castro; or, Young Engineers in Venezuela. By - Victor St. Clair. - - -MOTOR STORIES - -The latest and best five-cent weekly. We won't say how interesting it -is. See for yourself. =High art colored covers. Thirty-two big pages. -Price, 5 cents.= - - 20--Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory for the Motor Boys. - - 21--Motor Matt's Launch; or, A Friend in Need. - - 22--Motor Matt's Enemies; or, A Struggle for the Right. - - 23--Motor Matt's Prize; or, The Pluck That Wins. - - 24--Motor Matt on the Wing; or, Flying for Fame and Fortune. - - 25--Motor Matt's Reverse; or, Caught in a Losing Game. - - 26--Motor Matt's "Make or Break"; or, Advancing the Spark of - Friendship. - - 27--Motor Matt's Engagement; or, On the Road With a Show. - - 28--Motor Matt's "Short Circuit"; or, The Mahout's Vow. - - 29--Motor Matt's Make-up; or, Playing a New Rôle. - - 30--Motor Matt's Mandarin; or, Turning a Trick for Tsan Ti. - - 31--Motor Matt's Mariner; or, Filling the Bill for Bunce. - - 32--Motor Matt's Double-trouble; or, The Last of the Hoodoo. - - 33--Motor Matt's Mission; or, The Taxicab Tangle. - - -TIP TOP WEEKLY - -The most popular publication for boys. The adventures of Frank and Dick -Merriwell can be had only in this weekly. =High art colored covers. -Thirty-two pages. Price, 5 cents.= - - 691--Dick Merriwell's Dandies; or, A Surprise for the Cowboy Nine. - - 692--Dick Merriwell's "Skyscooter"; or, Professor Pagan and the - "Princess." - - 693--Dick Merriwell in the Elk Mountains; or, The Search for "Dead - Injun" Mine. - - 694--Dick Merriwell in Utah; or, The Road to "Promised Land." - - 695--Dick Merriwell's Bluff; or, The Boy Who Ran Away. - - 696--Dick Merriwell in the Saddle; or, The Bunch from the Bar--Z. - - 697--Dick Merriwell's Ranch Friends; or, Sport on the Range. - - 698--Frank Merriwell at Phantom Lake; or, The Mystery of the Mad - Doctor. - - 699--Frank Merriwell's Hold-back; or, The Boys of Bristol. - - 700--Frank Merriwell's Lively Lads; or, The Rival Campers. - - 701--Frank Merriwell as Instructor; or, The Skill of the Wizard. - - 702--Dick Merriwell's Cayuse; or, The Star of the Big Range. - - 703--Dick Merriwell's Quirt; or, The Sting of the Lash. - - 704--Dick Merriwell's Freshman Friend; or, A Question of Manhood. - - -_For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt -of price, 5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, by_ - -STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York - - -=IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS= of our Weeklies and cannot procure them -from your newsdealer, they can be obtained from this office direct. -Fill out the following Order Blank and send it to us with the price -of the Weeklies you want and we will send them to you by return mail. -=POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY.= - - - ________________________ _190_ - - _STREET & SMITH, 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York City._ - - _Dear Sirs: Enclosed please find_ ___________________________ - _cents for which send me_: - - TIP TOP WEEKLY, Nos. ________________________________ - - NICK CARTER WEEKLY, " ________________________________ - - DIAMOND DICK WEEKLY, " ________________________________ - - BUFFALO BILL STORIES, " ________________________________ - - BRAVE AND BOLD WEEKLY, " ________________________________ - - MOTOR STORIES, " ________________________________ - - _Name_ ________________ _Street_ ________________ - - _City_ ________________ _State_ ________________ - - - - -A GREAT SUCCESS!! - -MOTOR STORIES - - -Every boy who reads one of the splendid adventures of Motor Matt, which -are making their appearance in this weekly, is at once surprised and -delighted. Surprised at the generous quantity of reading matter that we -are giving for five cents; delighted with the fascinating interest of -the stories, second only to those published in the Tip Top Weekly. - -Matt has positive mechanical genius, and while his adventures are -unusual, they are, however, drawn so true to life that the reader can -clearly see how it is possible for the ordinary boy to experience them. - - -_HERE ARE THE TITLES NOW READY AND THOSE TO BE PUBLISHED_: - - 1--Motor Matt; or, The King of the Wheel. - - 2--Motor Matt's Daring; or, True to His Friends. - - 3--Motor Matt's Century Run; or, The Governor's Courier. - - 4--Motor Matt's Race; or, The Last Flight of the "Comet." - - 5--Motor Matt's Mystery; or, Foiling a Secret Plot. - - 6--Motor Matt's Red Flier; or, On the High Gear. - - 7--Motor Matt's Clue; or, The Phantom Auto. - - 8--Motor Matt's Triumph; or, Three Speeds Forward. - - 9--Motor Matt's Air Ship; or, The Rival Inventors. - - 10--Motor Matt's Hard Luck; or, The Balloon House Plot. - - 11--Motor Matt's Daring Rescue; or, The Strange Case of Helen Brady. - - 12--Motor Matt's Peril; or, Cast Away in the Bahamas. - - 13--Motor Matt's Queer Find; or, The Secret of the Iron Chest. - - 14--Motor Matt's Promise; or, The Wreck of the "Hawk." - - 15--Motor Matt's Submarine; or, The Strange Cruise of the "Grampus." - - 16--Motor Matt's Quest; or, Three Chums in Strange Waters. - - 17--Motor Matt's Close Call; or, The Snare of Don Carlos. - - 18--Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under the Amazon. - - 19--Motor Matt's Defiance; or, Around the Horn. - - 20--Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory for the Motor Boys. - - 21--Motor Matt's Launch; or, A Friend in Need. - - 22--Motor Matt's Enemies; or, A Struggle for the Right. - - 23--Motor Matt's Prize; or, The Pluck that Wins. - - 24--Motor Matt on the Wing; or, Flying for Fame and Fortune. - - 25--Motor Matt's Reverse; or, Caught in a Losing Game. - - 26--Motor Matt's "Make or Break"; or, Advancing the Spark of - Friendship. - - 27--Motor Matt's Engagement; or, On the Road With a Show. - - 28--Motor Matt's "Short Circuit"; or, The Mahout's Vow. - -To be Published on September 6th. - - 29--Motor Matt's Make-up; or, Playing a New Role. - -To be Published on September 13th. - - 30--Motor Matt's Mandarin; or, Turning a Trick for Tsan Ti. - -To be Published on September 20th. - - 31--Motor Matt's Mariner; or, Filling the Bill for Bunce. - -To be Published on September 27th. - - 32--Motor Matt's Double-trouble; or, The Last of the Hoodoo. - - -PRICE, FIVE CENTS - -At all newsdealers, or sent, postpaid, by the publishers upon receipt -of the price. - - STREET & SMITH, _Publishers_, NEW YORK - - - - -Transcriber's Notes: - - -Added table of contents. - -Italics are represented with _underscores_, bold with =equal signs=. - -Page 5, added missing quote before "Tsan Ti expressly stipulates." - -Page 9, corrected "qundary" to "quandary." - -Page 11, changed "thrown" to "throw" in "throw the speeder off the -rails." - -Page 12, added missing apostrophe to "if ye ain't?" - -Page 13, changed "anl" to "and" in "and he's got shy." Changed "or" to -"of" in "vicinity of the sharp curve." - -Page 14, changed "declarel" to "declared" after "I don't believe it." -Changed "her" to "here" in "a dozen miles from here." - -Page 15, corrected double quote to single quote before "Eye of Buddha." - -Page 16, corrected double "man" in "third man took it." - -Page 27, corrected "countefeit" to "counterfeit" ("asked that he make a -counterfeit"). - -Page 29, retained error ("your darn smart") from original on assumption -it is intended as part of dialect. - -Page 30, corrected "pickel" to "picked" ("critter you've picked"). - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Motor Matt's Mariner, by Stanley R. 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Matthews. - </title> - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2,h3 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%} -hr.full {width: 95%;} -hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} - - .tdl {text-align: left;} - .tdr {text-align: right;} - .tdc {text-align: center;} - -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; -} /* page numbers */ - -.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} - -.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} - -.br {border-right: solid 2px;} - -.bbox {border: solid 2px;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.u {text-decoration: underline;} - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -/* Footnotes */ -.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} - -.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} - -.fnanchor { - vertical-align: super; - font-size: .8em; - text-decoration: - none; -} - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - padding:0.5em; - margin-bottom:5em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; } -img { border: 0; } -.huge { font-size: 200%; } -.large { font-size: 150%; } -.medium { font-size: 125%; } -.small { font-size: 75%; } -.chaptitle { text-align: center; } -.sig { text-align: right; margin-right: 1.5em; } - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Motor Matt's Mariner, by Stanley R. Matthews - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Motor Matt's Mariner - or, Filling the Bill for Bunce - -Author: Stanley R. Matthews - -Release Date: November 7, 2016 [EBook #53466] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOTOR MATT'S MARINER *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, Demian Katz and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (Images -courtesy of the Digital Library@Villanova University -(http://digital.library.villanova.edu/)) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<a href="images/coverlarge.jpg"><img src="images/cover.jpg" width="400" height="568" alt="The jolt was terrific. Motor Matt -was thrown roughly against the -front seat and Bunce went into the -air as though shot from a gun." /></a> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h1>MOTOR STORIES</h1> - -<table summary="scaffold"> -<tr> -<td style="width: 50%; padding-right: 1.5em;" class="tdr"> -THRILLING<br /> -ADVENTURE -</td> -<td style="width: 50%; padding-left: 1.5em;" class="tdl"> -MOTOR<br /> -FICTION -</td> -</tr><tr> -<td class="bb bt tdl"> -No. 31<br /> -SEPT. 25, 1909. -</td> -<td class="bb bt tdr"> -FIVE<br /> -CENTS -</td> -</tr><tr> -<td class="tdr large" style="padding-right: 0.5em;"> -MOTOR MATT'S<br /> -MARINER -</td><td class="tdr large"><span class="smcap">or</span> FILLING THE<br /> -BILL FOR BUNCE</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td class="tdc"><i>By<br /> -THE AUTHOR<br /> -<span class="smcap">of</span> MOTOR MATT</i></td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td class="tdc" style="padding-top: 1em"> -<i><span class="smcap">Street & Smith<br /> -Publishers</span><br /> -NEW YORK</i> -</td> -</tr></table> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<table summary="scaffold" class="bbox"> -<tr><td colspan="2" class="tdc huge">MOTOR STORIES</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr large" style="padding-right: .25em;">THRILLING ADVENTURE</td><td class="tdl large" style="padding-left: .25em;">MOTOR FICTION</td></tr> -</table> - -<p class="center"><i>Issued Weekly. By subscription $2.50 per year. Copyright, 1909, by</i> <span class="smcap">Street & Smith</span>, <i>79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York, N. Y.</i></p> - -<table summary="scaffold" class="bb bt"> -<tr><td style="width: 33%;" class="tdl"><b>No. 31.</b></td><td style="width: 33%;" class="tdc">NEW YORK, September 25, 1909.</td><td style="width: 33%;" class="tdr"><b>Price Five Cents.</b></td></tr> -</table> - - - -<p class="center huge">MOTOR MATT'S MARINER;</p> - -<p class="center">OR,</p> - -<p class="center large">Filling the Bill for Bunce.</p> - -<hr class="r5" /> -<p class="center">By the author of "MOOR MATT."</p> -<hr class="r5" /> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</a></h2> - -<p> -<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. "BUDDHA'S EYE."</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. THE GREEN PATCH.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. MOTOR MATT—TRUSTEE.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. BUNCE HAS A PLAN.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. BUNCE SPEAKS A GOOD WORD FOR HIMSELF.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. THE HOMEMADE SPEEDER.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. TRAPPED.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. THE CUT-OUT UNDER THE LEDGE.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. BETWEEN THE EYES.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. THE MAN FROM THE "IRIS."</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. ABOARD THE STEAM YACHT.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. GRATTAN'S TRIUMPH.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. FROM THE OPEN PORT!</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. LANDED—AND STUNG.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. A CRAFTY ORIENTAL.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. THE MANDARIN WINS.</a><br /> -<a href="#JERRY_STEBBINS_HOSS_TRADE">JERRY STEBBINS' HOSS TRADE.</a><br /> -<a href="#THE_PHANTOM_ENGINEER">THE PHANTOM ENGINEER.</a><br /> -</p> - - - -<div class="bbox"> - -<h2><a name="CHARACTERS_THAT_APPEAR_IN_THIS_STORY" id="CHARACTERS_THAT_APPEAR_IN_THIS_STORY">CHARACTERS THAT APPEAR IN THIS STORY.</a></h2> - - -<blockquote> - -<p><b>Matt King</b>, otherwise Motor Matt.</p> - -<p><b>Joe McGlory</b>, a young cowboy who proves himself a lad of worth -and character, and whose eccentricities are all on the humorous -side. A good chum to tie to—a point Motor Matt is quick to -perceive.</p> - -<p><b>Tsan Ti</b>, Mandarin of the Red Button, who proves adept in the ways -of Oriental craft, and shows how easy it is for a person to shift -his dangers and responsibilities to other shoulders—if only he -goes about it in the right way.</p> - -<p><b>Philo Grattan</b>, a talented person who devotes himself to "tricks -that are dark and ways that are vain," and whose superb assurance -leads him to flaunt his most memorable crime in the face -of the authorities through the medium of moving pictures. A -man fitted by nature for a worthier part than he plays, and -whose keen mind is not able to save him from deception.</p> - -<p><b>Bunce</b>, the mariner, and a pal of Grattan.</p> - -<p><b>Pardo</b>, who charters a power-boat and uses it in forwarding a plot -of Grattan's.</p> - -<p><b>Bronson</b>, a railroad superintendent, who appears briefly but creditably.</p></blockquote> - -</div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">"BUDDHA'S EYE."</p> - - -<p>"It's three long and weary hours, pard, before the -boat for New York ties up at the landing. You don't -want to cool your heels in the hotel, do you, while we're -waiting? How about doing something to fill in the -time?"</p> - -<p>It was about seven o'clock in the evening, and Motor -Matt and his cowboy chum, Joe McGlory, were sitting -on the porch of their hotel in Catskill-on-the-Hudson. -The hotel was on an elevation, and the boys could look -out over the river and see the lights of steamers, -tugs, motor boats, and other craft gliding up and down -in a glittering maze.</p> - -<p>Matt had been looking down at the river lights, and -dreaming. He aroused himself with a start at the sound -of his chum's voice.</p> - -<p>"What would you suggest, Joe?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"Let's take in the moving-picture shows. Say, they're -the greatest thing for a nickel that I ever saw. Some -yap gets into trouble, and then ladies and gents, and -workmen, and clerks, and nurses with baby cabs take -after the poor duffer, and there's a high old time for -all hands. I'm plumb hungry for excitement, Matt. -This town has become mighty tame since we parted -company with Tsan Ti."</p> - -<p>"If you think the moving-picture shows will furnish -what you need in the excitement line, Joe, we'll go out -and take them in."</p> - -<p>Matt got up with a laugh, and he and McGlory left -the hotel, and laid a course for the main street of the -town. At the first nickel theatre they came to, they gave -up a dime, and moved into the darkened room. An illustrated -song was in the lantern, and a young man with -a husky voice was singing something about a "stingy -moon."</p> - -<p>The motor boys stumbled around in the dark, and McGlory -tried to slip into a seat that was already occupied. -A stifled scream made him aware of his mistake, and -he tumbled all over himself to get somewhere else.</p> - -<p>"Speak to me about that!" he whispered to Matt, -with a choppy chuckle. "That's the trouble with these -moving-picture honkatonks when you come in after the -lights are out. Oh, bother that stingy moon! I wish the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> -chap with the raw voice would cut it out, and let the -rest of the show get to climbing over the screen."</p> - -<p>"Don't be so impatient, old chap," returned Matt. -"You've got to have something happening to you about -once every fifteen minutes, or you get so nervous you -can't sit still. In that respect, you're a lot like Dick Ferral, -a sailor chum I cruised with a while ago. Now——"</p> - -<p>"Sh-h-h!" interrupted the cowboy. "The piano has -had enough of the moon, and now here comes the first -moving picture."</p> - -<p>White letters quivered on the screen. "Buddha's -Eye" was the title of the series of pictures about to be -shown. McGlory gulped excitedly, and Matt stared. -The motor boys had just finished a wild entanglement -with a great ruby called the "Eye of Buddha," and this, -the first picture in the first theatre that claimed them, reminded -them, with something like a shock, of recent experiences.</p> - -<p>"Sufferin' sparks!" muttered McGlory. "What's the -difference between 'Buddha's Eye' and the 'Eye of Buddha,' -Matt?"</p> - -<p>"No difference, Joe," answered Matt. "This is just a -coincidence, that's all."</p> - -<p>The interior of a Buddhist temple was thrown on the -screen. The views were colored, and priests in gray -and yellow robes could be seen moving back and forth -and prostrating themselves before a huge gilt idol. The -idol was of a "sitting Buddha" and must have measured -full twenty feet from the temple floor to the top of the -head.</p> - -<p>With a flash, the interior of the temple gave way to -an enlarged view of the idol's head. The head had but -one eye, placed in the centre of the forehead—a huge -ruby, which glowed like a splash of warm blood.</p> - -<p>"The Honam joss house, in the suburbs of Canton!" -whispered McGlory excitedly. "If it ain't, I'm a Piute!"</p> - -<p>Motor Matt kept silence, wondering.</p> - -<p>The boys were next afforded a view of two men, plotting -aboard a sampan near the island of Honam. One -was tall and had a dark face and sinister eyes. He wore -a solar hat with a pugree. The other had on sailor -clothes, had a fringe of mutton-chop whiskers about his -jaws and a green patch over his right eye. McGlory -grabbed Matt's arm in a convulsive grip.</p> - -<p>"What do you think of that?" demanded the cowboy, -in a husky whisper. "The tinhorn in the sun hat is -Grattan, and the webfoot is Bunce. Am I in a trance, or -what?"</p> - -<p>"Watch!" returned Matt, fully as mystified as was his -chum.</p> - -<p>The next picture was labeled, "The Egyptian Balls—view -of excavations at Karnak, on the Upper Nile."</p> - -<p>Ponderous ruins were brought into view, showing -Egyptian fellahs digging in a subterranean chamber. An -urn was lifted up and uncovered. From this urn the -wondering workmen removed a number of crystalline -spheres. One of the spheres dropped from an awkward -hand, crashed to fragments on the floor of the chamber, -and instantly all the workmen staggered, flung their -hands to their faces, and fell sprawling, lying on the -stones prone and silent.</p> - -<p>Two men stole in upon them, covered with flowing -Arab robes, and their faces masked in white. Swiftly -they gathered up some of the balls, and the camera followed -them as they left the chamber and stood under the -broken columns of the ancient temple of Karnak. The -robes were flung away, and the masks removed. Grattan -and Bunce, the sampan plotters, stood revealed.</p> - -<p>"I've got the blind staggers, I reckon!" mumbled McGlory, -rubbing his eyes. "It was in Egypt Grattan got -his dope balls—the glass spheres filled with the knock-out -fumes. This—this—sufferin' brain twisters! It's -more'n I can savvy."</p> - -<p>After Grattan and Bunce had gone through a pantomime -expressive of their wild delight on securing the -balls, the films entered into another series, entitled, "The -Theft of the Great Ruby from the Honam Joss House, -near Canton, China."</p> - -<p>The walls outside the temple were shown, and an -avenue bordered with banyan trees, with rooks flapping -among the branches. Grattan and Bunce were seen making -their way along the avenue, entering the temple court, -and coming into the chamber which had been flashed on -the screen at the beginning.</p> - -<p>Here was the huge idol again, and the yellow-robed -priests moving about. For a space, Grattan and Bunce -stood and gazed; then, suddenly, Grattan pulled a hand -from his coat, held one of the glass balls over his head -for a space, then sent it crashing among the priests. The -priests started up in amazement, recovered their wits, -and rushed toward the foreign devils. But the priests -were suddenly stricken before Grattan and Bunce could -be roughly dealt with.</p> - -<p>White masks had been pushed over the faces of the -two plotters, and the pair watched while the priests, -overcome by the paralyzing, sense-destroying fumes from -the broken balls, reeled to the temple floor, and lay there -in inert heaps. The masks protected Grattan and Bunce -from the baneful influence of the balls.</p> - -<p>As soon as the priests were stretched silent upon the -floor, Grattan unwound a ladder of silk from about his -waist. One end of the ladder was weighted with a bit -of lead, and this end was thrown over the idol's head. -Thereupon, Grattan mounted the ladder, and dug out the -ruby with a knife. Upon descending, he and Bunce went -through another pantomime, suggesting their joy over -the success of their shameless work, and then passed -quickly from the court, stuffing their white masks into -their pockets as they went.</p> - -<p>The next scene was in the room of a house in the foreign -quarter, on the sea wall, called Shameen. Grattan -was secreting the ruby in the head of a buckthorn cane. -Barely was the secreting done, when a fat mandarin burst -in on them with a number of armed coolies at his heels.</p> - -<p>The mandarin seemed to be accusing Grattan. Grattan -could be seen to shake his head protestingly. Then Grattan -and Bunce were searched thoroughly, and the room -ransacked. In the utmost chagrin, the mandarin and his -coolies left, without having been able to discover anything. -A few minutes later, the thieves took their triumphant -departure, Grattan exultantly waving the buckthorn -stick.</p> - -<p>Scarcely breathing, and with staring eyes, the motor -boys continued to watch the pictures as they raced over -the white screen. What wonder work was this? From -Grattan's own lips Matt had heard of the robbery at -the Honam joss house, in which Grattan had played -such an important part. So far, the pictures had shown -it substantially as the details had come from Grattan; -there were a few minor differences, but they were insignificant.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> - -<p>From this point, however, Grattan's story and the -story as told by the pictures were at variance.</p> - -<p>The thieves got into a couple of sedan chairs, each -chair carried by four coolies. Apparently, Grattan and -Bunce were on their way to the river to embark for -other shores. When near the landing, one of the poles -supporting the chair in which Grattan was riding broke. -The chair fell, the bamboo door burst open, and Grattan -tumbled out. One of the coolies picked up the buckthorn -cane, and another the sun hat with the pugree. Grattan, -in anger, knocked down the coolie who had picked up his -hat. The other, coming to his countryman's aid, struck -at Grattan with the head of the cane. Grattan dropped -to his knees. The cane passed over his head, and the -force the coolie had put into the blow carried the stick -out of his hand, and sent it smashing against the side -of a "go-down."</p> - -<p>The head of the cane was broken, and the great ruby -rolled over the earth out of the débris, and lay gleaming -in the sun under the eyes of the astounded coolies. Then, -with the inexplicable timeliness so prevalent in motion -pictures, the fat mandarin and his coolies came upon the -scene, the mandarin gathering in "Buddha's Eye" with -extravagant expressions of joy, and Grattan and Bunce -writhing desperately in the hands of the chair men and -the mandarin's guard.</p> - -<p>That was all. The scenes to follow were of a humorous -order, and probably had to do with some unfortunate -getting into trouble and leading a varied assortment of -people a gay chase, but McGlory had lost interest in the -show. So had Matt.</p> - -<p>As by a common impulse, the boys got up and groped -their bewildered way out of the room and into the street. -They were dazed, thunderstruck, and hardly knew what -to think.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">THE GREEN PATCH.</p> - - -<p>Distracted by their mental speculations, the motor boys -presently found themselves back on the porch of their -hotel, occupying the same chairs they had left a little -while before. Once more Matt was looking down on the -river lights, coming and going across the broad stream -like so many fireflies.</p> - -<p>"Am I locoed, I wonder?" inquired McGlory, as though -speaking to himself. "Did I see that moving picture, with -Grattan and Bunce in it and stealing the 'Eye of Buddha,' -or didn't I?"</p> - -<p>"You saw the picture, Joe," returned Matt, "and so -did I."</p> - -<p>"I reckon I did; and jumpin' tarantulas, how it got on -my nerves! But how does it happen that the picture is -being shown like it is? Grattan told you, Matt, just how -the ruby was stolen from the Honam joss house by himself -and Bunce; he told you how he went to Egypt after -the glass balls that were more than two thousand years -old, and had been dug up at Karnak. He didn't get the -balls from Karnak just exactly in the way the picture -shows it, but he did steal the ruby in exactly the same -fashion those films brought the tinhorn trick under our -eyes. Not only that, but Grattan hid the ruby in the head -of his cane. Right up to that point the whole game is a -dead ringer for the yarn Grattan batted up to you. The -rest of the pictures are pure fake. It was you who helped -recover 'Buddha's Eye,' and it happened right here in the -Catskill Mountains, near the village of Purling, and not in -China. But it was the smashing of the head of the cane -that revealed the ruby."<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a></p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> The thrilling adventures of the motor boys in recovering the -Eye of Buddha were set forth in No. 30, Motor Stories.</p></div> - -<p>"We know," said Matt, his mind recovering from the -shock occasioned by the strange series of pictures so suddenly -sprung upon him and McGlory, "we know, pard, -that Grattan was in the motion-picture business at the -time he conceived the idea of stealing the ruby. He was -traveling all over the world with his camera apparatus. -Probably his line of work has something to do with his -putting the robbery into the form we have just seen it."</p> - -<p>"But why should Grattan want to publish his criminal -work all over the country in moving pictures? And he -put himself into the pictures, too—and that old sea dog, -Bunce."</p> - -<p>"That part of it is too many for me, Joe," answered -Matt. "However, I can't see as the moving pictures of -the robbery cut much figure now. The mandarin, Tsan -Ti, has recovered the ruby, and is on his way to San -Francisco to take ship for China. Grattan and Bunce -made their escape, and are probably getting out of the -country, or into parts unknown, as rapidly as they can. -So far as we are concerned, the incident is closed. But -it was certainly a startler to come face to face with a set -of pictures like those—and so unexpectedly."</p> - -<p>"First nickelodeon we struck, and the first picture -shoved through the lantern," muttered the cowboy.</p> - -<p>"Are you positive, Joe," went on Matt, "that the two -thieves who figured in the picture were really Grattan and -Bunce?"</p> - -<p>"It's a cinch!" declared McGlory. "There can't be any -mistake. I never saw a clearer set of pictures, and I'd -know Grattan and Bunce anywhere—could pick 'em out -of a thousand."</p> - -<p>"That's the way it looked to me, and yet there's one -point I can't understand. It's a point that doesn't agree -with your assertion that Bunce was really in the picture."</p> - -<p>"What point is that?"</p> - -<p>"Why, it has to do with the green patch Bunce wears -over his eye."</p> - -<p>"The patch was in the picture, all right."</p> - -<p>"Sure it was! But which of Bunce's eyes did it -cover?"</p> - -<p>"The right eye!"</p> - -<p>"Exactly! The green patch was over Bunce's right -eye, in the picture of the robbery, which we just saw; but -when we had our several encounters with Bunce, a few -days ago, the patch was over the mariner's left eye."</p> - -<p>McGlory straightened up in his chair and stared at his -chum through the electric light that shone over them -from the porch ceiling.</p> - -<p>"Glory to glory and all hands round!" he exclaimed. -"You're right, pard. When we were trotting that heat -with Bunce, here in the Catskills, it was his left eye that -was gone. Now, in the picture, it's his right eye. How -do you explain that?"</p> - -<p>"The explanation seems easy enough," answered Matt. -"Bunce must have two good eyes, and he simply covers -up one for the purpose of disguise. Either that, or else -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span>some one represented him when the moving pictures were -taken, and got the patch over the wrong eye."</p> - -<p>"What good is a green patch as a disguise, anyway?" -demanded McGlory.</p> - -<p>"Give it up. The difference in the position of the patch -merely led me to infer that Bunce might not have really -been in that moving picture. And if Bunce wasn't in it, -then it's possible that Grattan wasn't in it, either. Two -men might have been made up to represent the two -thieves. I can't think it possible that Grattan and Bunce, -as you said a moment ago, should want to publish their -crime throughout the country by means of these moving -pictures. The films are rented everywhere, and travel -from place to place."</p> - -<p>McGlory heaved a long breath.</p> - -<p>"Well, anyhow, I don't want to bother myself any more -with the Eye of Buddha," said he. "It's a hoodoo, and I -never went through such a lot of close shaves, or such a -series of rapid-fire events, as when we were helping Tsan -Ti, the mandarin, recover the ruby. Let's forget about it. -We can't understand how those pictures came to be -shown, and we're completely at sea regarding the green -patch. But it's nothing to us, any more. We're for New -York by the night boat, and then it'll be 'Up the river or -down the bay, over to Coney or Rockaway' for the motor -boys. Sufferin' cat naps! A spell of pleasure in the metro-polus -is all that brought me East with you, anyhow. -It's us for the big town, and with you along to see that -no one sells me a gold brick, I reckon I'll be able to pan -out a good time."</p> - -<p>The prospect of a week or two in New York, with a -little rest and a little motoring, was also appealing powerfully -to Matt. He had not been in the big town for -some time, and he longed to renew his acquaintance with -its many "sights" and experiences.</p> - -<p>"We'll be there in the morning, Joe," Matt answered. -"As you say, we need not bother our heads any longer -about the Eye of Buddha, or Grattan, or Bunce, or Tsan -Ti. We'll take our toll of enjoyment out of Manhattan -Isle, and we'll forget there ever was such a thing as the -big ruby."</p> - -<p>"You don't intend to think of business at all while -you're there, eh?"</p> - -<p>"No. We'll just knock around for a couple of weeks -and enjoy ourselves. Of course we'll be more or less -among the motors—I couldn't be happy myself if we -weren't—and then, when we've had enough of that, I -want to take a run up to my old home in the Berkshire -Hills."</p> - -<p>Great Barrington had been very much in Motor Matt's -mind for several weeks. He felt a desire to go back to -the old place, and revisit the scenes of his earlier life. -There was a mystery concerning his parents which had -never been solved. He did not have any idea that a -return to Great Barrington would settle that problem, -but, nevertheless, it had something to do with luring him -in the direction of the Berkshires.</p> - -<p>"Speak to me about that!" murmured McGlory. -"You've always been a good deal of a riddle to me, pard. -You've never let out much about your early life, and I -come from a country where it's a signal for fireworks if -you press a man too closely about his past, so I've just -taken you as I picked you up in 'Frisco, and let it go at -that. But there are a few things I'd like to know, just the -same."</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you about them sometime, Joe," Matt answered. -"Just now, though, I'm not in the mood. When -we're ready to start for the Berkshires——"</p> - -<p>He paused. The night clerk of the hotel had come out -on the porch and was standing at his elbow, a small -package in his hand.</p> - -<p>"Motor Matt," said he, in a voice of concern, "here's -something that came for you by express, about five-thirty -in the afternoon. It's been lying in the safe ever since. -The day clerk couldn't find you, when the package came, -so he receipted for it. He didn't tell me anything about -it, when I went on duty, and he just happened to remember -and to telephone down from his room. I'm sorry -about the delay."</p> - -<p>"We're taking the ten-o'clock boat for New York," -spoke up McGlory. "It would have been a nice layout if -we'd got away and left that package behind."</p> - -<p>"I'm mighty sorry, but it's not my fault."</p> - -<p>"Well," answered Matt, taking the package, "no great -harm has been done. It's an hour and a half, yet, before -the New York boat gets here, and I have the package."</p> - -<p>The clerk went back into the hotel and Matt examined -the package under the light.</p> - -<p>"What do you reckon it is, pard?" queried McGlory -curiously.</p> - -<p>"You can give as good a guess as I can, Joe," Matt -answered. "I'm not expecting anybody to send me anything. -It's addressed plainly enough to Motor Matt, -Catskill, New York, in care of this hotel."</p> - -<p>"And covered with red sealing wax," added McGlory. -"Rip off the cover and let's see what's on the inside. -Sufferin' tenterhooks! Haven't you got any curiosity?"</p> - -<p>Matt cut the cord that bound the package and took off -the wrapper. A small wooden box was disclosed, bound -with another cord.</p> - -<p>The box was opened, and seemed to be filled with cotton -wadding. Resting the box on his knees, Matt proceeded -to remove the wadding. Then he fell back in his -chair with an astounded exclamation.</p> - -<p>A round object, glimmering in the rays of the electric -light like a splash of blood against the cotton, lay under -the amazed eyes of the motor boys.</p> - -<p>"Buddha's Eye!" whispered McGlory.</p> - -<p>Around the end of the veranda, in the wavering -shadows, a face had pushed itself above the veranda -railing—a face topped with a sailor cap and fringed with -"mutton-chop" whiskers—a face with a green patch over -one eye.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">MOTOR MATT—TRUSTEE.</p> - - -<p>Matt and McGlory had seen the Eye of Buddha, and -they were not slow in recognizing it. But the bewildering -events of the evening were crowned by this arrival -of the ruby, by express, consigned to Motor Matt. By -all the laws of reasoning and logic, the gem, worth a -king's ransom, should at that moment have been in the -possession of Tsan Ti, en route to the Flowery Kingdom.</p> - -<p>"Oh, tell—me—about this!" stuttered McGlory.</p> - -<p>Matt picked the ruby up in his fingers and held it in -the palm of his hand. Apparently he was loath to credit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> -the evidence of his senses. From every angle he surveyed -the glittering gem.</p> - -<p>"Wouldn't this rattle you?" he murmured, peering at -his chum.</p> - -<p>"Rattle me!" exploded McGlory. "Why, pard, it leaves -me high and dry—stranded—gasping like a fish. Tsan -Ti must be locoed! At last accounts, he was in a flutter -to get that ruby back to the Honam joss house and replace -it in the idol's head, where it belongs. What came -over the mandarin to box it up and ship it to you? I'm -fair dazed, and no mistake. This cuts the ground right -out from under me."</p> - -<p>Matt, with a hasty look around, dropped the ruby into -his pocket; then he pulled out some more of the wadding -and discovered, in the bottom of the box, a folded sheet -of white paper.</p> - -<p>"Here's a letter," said he. "This will explain why -the ruby was sent to me, I guess."</p> - -<p>"What good's an explanation?" grunted the cowboy. -"I wouldn't be tangled up with that thing for a mint of -money. Sufferin' centipedes! It's a regular hoodoo, and -hands a fellow a hard-luck knock every time he turns -around. What's in the letter, anyway? If it's from -Tsan Ti, I'll bet his paper talk is heavy with big words -and all kinds of Class A 'con' lingo. Read it, do. I can't -tell how nervous you make me hanging fire."</p> - -<p>"It's from Tsan Ti, all right," said Matt, "and is dated -New York."</p> - -<p>"New York! Why, he was hitting nothing but high -places in the direction of 'Frisco, when he left here. How, -in the name of all his ten thousand demons of misfortune, -does he happen to be in New York?"</p> - -<p>"Listen," answered Matt, and began to read.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"'Esteemed and illustrious youth, whose never-to-be-forgotten -services to me shine like letters of gold on a -tablet of silver: Behold——'"</p></blockquote> - -<p>"Oh, the gush!" growled McGlory.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"'Behold,'" continued Matt, "'I send you the Eye of -Buddha, the priceless jewel which belongs in the temple -of Hai-chwang-sze, in my beloved Canton. You ask, -of your perplexity, why is the jewel sent to you? and I -reply, for the security's sake. Upon my trail comes Grattan, -of the evil heart, weaving his plans for recovering -the costly gem. I fear to keep it about me, and so I send -to you asking that you remain with it in the Catskill -Mountains until such time as I may come to you and -receive it from your hands. This will be when the scoundrel -Grattan is safely beheaded, or in prison, and clear of -my way for all time. I turn to you of my perfect trust, -and I adjure you, by the five hundred gods, not to let the -ruby get for one moment out of your possession. Leave -it nowhere, keep it by you always, either sleeping or -walking, and deliver it to no one except to me, who, at -the right time, will come and request it of you in my own -person. Will it be an insult to offer you one thousand -silver dollars and expense money for consummating this -task? I commend you to the good graces of the supernal -ones whose years are ten thousand times ten thousand!</p> - -<p class="sig"> -"'<span class="smcap">Tsan Ti</span>, of the Red Button.'"<br /> -</p></blockquote> - -<p>The reading finished, McGlory eased himself of a sputtering -groan.</p> - -<p>"Loaded up!" he exclaimed. "You and I, pard, just at -the time we thought we were rid of Tsan Ti and -Buddha's Eye for good, find the thing shouldered onto us -again, and trouble staring us in the face! Why didn't -the mandarin deposit the ruby in some bank, or safe-deposit -vault? Better still, if Grattan was on his trail, -why didn't he have the express company take it to San -Francisco for him instead of sending it to you, at Catskill? -He knows less, that Tsan Ti, than any other -heathen on top of earth. In order to keep himself out -of trouble he hands us the Eye of Buddha, and switches -the responsibility to us. Wouldn't that rattle your spurs?"</p> - -<p>McGlory was profoundly disgusted.</p> - -<p>"I reckon," he went on, "that this sidetracks us, eh? -The big town is cut out of our reckoning until the mandarin -shows up and claims the ruby. He may do that -to-morrow, or next week, or next month—and, meanwhile, -here we are, kicking our heels in this humdrum, -back-number, two-by-twice town on the Hudson! Say, -pard, I'd like to fight—and I'd just as soon take a fall -out of that pesky mandarin as any one else."</p> - -<p>"He offers us a thousand dollars and expenses," said -Matt. "Tsan Ti wants to do the right thing, Joe."</p> - -<p>"A million dollars and expenses won't pay us for hanging -onto that ruby. It's a hoodoo, and you know that as -well as I do, pard. We can expect things to happen right -from this minute. Say, put it somewhere where it'll be -safe! Put it in the hotel safe, or in a bank, or any place. -Pass the risk along."</p> - -<p>"Tsan Ti expressly stipulates that I am to keep the ruby -about me," demurred Matt.</p> - -<p>"What of that?" snorted McGlory. "Are you working -for Tsan Ti? Are you bound to do what he tells you to? -What business is it of his if we choose to show a little -sense and get some one else to take charge of the ruby? -The mandarin's an old mutton-head! If he wasn't he'd -know better than to send the Eye of Buddha to us. And -in a common express package, at that. What value did -he put on it?"</p> - -<p>McGlory picked up the wrapper that had covered the -box and looked over the address side.</p> - -<p>"No value at all!" he exclaimed. "Either he didn't -think of that, or else he didn't want to pay for the extra -valuation. If there had been a railroad wreck, and the -ruby had been lost, our excellent mandarin would have -collected just fifty plunks from the express company—and -I reckon the Eye of Buddha is worth fifty thousand -if it's worth a cent."</p> - -<p>"Sometimes," said Matt reflectively, "it's safer to trust -to luck than to put such a terrific value on a package -that's to be carried by express."</p> - -<p>"Well," grunted McGlory, "I don't like his blooming -Oriental way of doing business, and that shot goes as it -lays. I'll tell you what we can do," he added, brightening.</p> - -<p>"What?"</p> - -<p>"We can jump aboard that New York boat and tote the -ruby back to New York; then we can hunt up Tsan Ti -and return the thing to him and tell him not any—that -we have done as much for him as we're going to. -Where's his letter sent from? What's the name of the -hotel?"</p> - -<p>In his eagerness, McGlory snatched the letter from -Matt's knee and began looking it over.</p> - -<p>"There's no address," said Matt.</p> - -<p>"Tsan Ti may be in Chinatown," went on McGlory.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> -"Such a big high boy couldn't get lost in the shuffle -around Pell and Doyer Streets. Let's go on by that boat -and take our chances locating him!"</p> - -<p>"No," and Matt shook his head decidedly, "that's a -move we can't make, Joe. I'm no more in love with this -piece of work than you are, but we're in for it, and there's -no way to dodge. Tsan Ti has unloaded the ruby upon -us and we've got to stand for it."</p> - -<p>"But we're responsible——"</p> - -<p>"Of course, up to a certain point. If the stone should -be taken away from us, though, Tsan Ti couldn't hold us -responsible. We didn't ask for the job of looking after -it, and we don't want the job, but we're doing what we -can, you see, because there's no other way out of it."</p> - -<p>"You could stow it away in a safer place than your -pocket," grumbled McGlory.</p> - -<p>"In that event," returned Matt, "we might be responsible. -The thing for us to do is to follow out our instructions -to the letter. If anything happens to the Eye of -Buddha then it's the mandarin himself who's responsible."</p> - -<p>"And we're to hang out in the Catskill Mountains until -Tsan Ti comes for the ruby!" mused McGlory, in an -angry undertone; "and he's not going to come until Grattan -is 'beheaded' or clapped into jail. We're liable to -have a long wait. Of all the tinhorns I ever saw, or -heard of, that Grattan is the sharpest of the lot. Fine -job this red-button heathen has put onto us!"</p> - -<p>Matt disliked the work of taking care of the valuable -gem, and he would have shirked the responsibility if he -could have done so, but there was no way in which this -could be brought about. He and Joe would have to stay -in the Catskills, for a while anyway, and wait for Tsan Ti -to present himself. Meanwhile, the trip to New York -would have to be postponed.</p> - -<p>More to soothe his friend than as an expression of his -own feelings, the king of the motor boys began taking a -pleasanter view of the situation.</p> - -<p>"We know, pard," said he, "that Tsan Ti is a man of -his word. When he says he'll do anything, he does it. -He'll come for the ruby, and I think he's clever enough -to fool Grattan, and we know he'll pay us a thousand dollars. -That money will come in handy while we're in -New York."</p> - -<p>"If we ever get there," growled the cowboy. "We may -get into so much trouble on account of that Eye of -Buddha that we'll be laid up in the hospital when Tsan Ti -presents himself in these parts."</p> - -<p>Matt laughed.</p> - -<p>"You're so anxious to see the sights in the big town, -Joe," he observed, "that it's the delay, more than anything -else, that's bothering you."</p> - -<p>"When I get started for anywhere," answered McGlory, -"a bee line and the keen jump is my motto. But, -so long as we have anything to do with Tsan Ti, we never -know what's going to happen. I wish the squinch-eyed -heathen would leave us alone."</p> - -<p>Just then a form rounded the front of the hotel, gained -the steps leading up to the porch, and climbed to a place -in front of the motor boys.</p> - -<p>McGlory lifted his eyes. The moment they rested on -the form, and realization of who it was had flashed -through his brain, he jumped for the man and grabbed -him with both hands.</p> - -<p>"Bunce!" he whooped. "I told you things would begin -to happen, pard, and right here is where they start!"</p> - -<p>Then, with considerable violence, McGlory pushed the -old sailor against one of the porch posts, and held him -there, squirming.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">BUNCE HAS A PLAN.</p> - - -<p>"Avast, there!" gurgled Bunce, half choked, trying to -pull the cowboy's hands from his throat.</p> - -<p>The green patch was over his left eye, and the right eye -gleamed glassily in the electric light.</p> - -<p>Matt was as much surprised at Bunce's appearance as -was McGlory, but he held his temper better in hand. The -cowboy, profoundly disgusted with the trend of recent -events, showed a disposition to take it out of the sailor.</p> - -<p>Had Bunce been even the half of an able seaman he -would have given McGlory a hard scramble, but he -seemed a wizened, infirm old salt, although he had proved -active enough during the experiences the motor boys had -already had with him.</p> - -<p>"Don't strangle him, Joe!" called Matt. "Take your -hands from his throat and grab his arm. He came here -openly, and he must have known we were here. Judging -from that, I should say that his intentions are peaceable."</p> - -<p>"Ask him," gritted McGlory, "why he doesn't change -eyes with the patch. Let's get to the bottom of this -moving-picture business, too. We can have a little heart-to-heart -talk, I reckon, and find out a few things before -we turn the old webfoot over to the police."</p> - -<p>"Right you are, my blood," gasped the half-suffocated -Bunce, as the cowboy dropped his hands to his arm and -dragged him down into a chair, "a heart-to-heart talk's -the thing. Didn't I bear away for this place for nothin' -else than to fall afoul o' ye? Ay, ay, that was the way of -it, but split me through if I ever expected such treatment -as this what I'm a-gettin'. Motor Matt's the lad, says I -to myself, to fill the bill for Bunce, so I trips anchor an' -slants away, only to be laid holt of like I was a reg'lar -skull-and-crossbones, walk-the-plank pirate, with the -Jolly Roger at the peak."</p> - -<p>"Oh, put a crimp on that sort of talk," growled McGlory. -"Sufferin' freebooters! If you're anything better -than a pirate, I'd like to have you tell me."</p> - -<p>"So, ho!" and Bunce's eye glittered wrathfully, "if I -had a cutlass, my fine buck, I'd slit ye like a herrin' for -that. I'm a fair-weather sort of man, an' I hates a squall, -but stir up nasty weather an' then give me somethin' to -fight with, an' I'm a bit of a handful. Nigh Pangool, on -the south coast o' Java, I laid out a hull boat's crew with -my fists alone, once, not so many years back. That was -when I was mate o' the brig <i>Hottentot</i>, as fine a two-sticker -as ever shoved nose into the South Seas—reg'lar -bucko mate, I was, an' a main hard man when roused."</p> - -<p>At the time the Eye of Buddha was recovered, Bunce -had made his escape with Grattan; and he had been -equally guilty, with Grattan, in the theft of the ruby -from the Honam joss house. That the sailor should -have shown himself at all, in those parts, was a wonder; -and that he should have shown himself to Matt and McGlory, -who knew of his evil deeds, was a puzzle past -working out.</p> - -<p>"You say you came here to see me?" inquired Matt.</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay, my hearty," answered Bunce. "Motor Matt,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> -says I to myself, is the lad to fill the bill for me, an' I -luffed into the wind an' bore down for Catskill. Here I -am, an' here's you, an' if I blow the gaff a bit that's my -business, ain't it? But take me to the cabin; what I has -to say is between us an' the mainmast with no other ears -to get a sizing of it."</p> - -<p>McGlory glared at Bunce as though he would have -liked to bore into him with his eyes and see what he had -at the back of his head.</p> - -<p>"If you're trying to play double with us, you gangle-legged -old hide rack," he threatened, "you'll live to wish -you'd thought twice before you did it."</p> - -<p>"Now, burn me," snorted Bunce, "d'ye take me for a -dog fish? By the seven holy spritsails, I'm as good a -man as you, an' ye'll l'arn——"</p> - -<p>"Enough of that, Bunce," broke in Matt sharply, getting -up from his chair. "You want to say something to -us in private, and I'm going to give you the chance. Come -after me; you trail along behind him, Joe," and, with that, -Matt went into the hotel and up the stairs to the room -jointly occupied by himself and McGlory.</p> - -<p>At the door, Matt pushed a button that turned on the -lights. As soon as McGlory and Bunce were in the room, -the door was locked and Matt took charge of the key.</p> - -<p>"That's the stuff, pard," approved McGlory, with great -satisfaction. "If the old tinhorn don't spout to please us, -we can phone the office for a policeman."</p> - -<p>"Ye're not sending me to the brig this trip, mates," -spoke up Bunce. "'Cos why? 'Cos in fillin' the bill for -me, ye're givin' the mandarin a leg up out of a purty bad -hole."</p> - -<p>"What have you got to tell us?" inquired Matt curtly. -"Out with it, Bunce."</p> - -<p>"When ye last seen me, my lad," said Bunce, "I was -sailin' in convoy with Philo Grattan. But he's doin' -things I don't approve of, not any ways. It was all right -to put our helm up an' bear down on a chink joss house -to lift the Eye o' Buddha, an' it was all right, too, when -ye helped the big high boy get the ruby back. That was -all in the game, an' we'd ought to've made the most of it. -But not Philo Grattan. D'ye know what he's layin' to do? -Nothin' more, on my soul, than to strangle Tsan Ti with -a yellow cord an' take the ruby away from him. My eye, -mates, but Grattan's a clever hand at overhauling his -locker for a game like that. The boss of the Chinee -Empire sends these yellow cords to the chinks he don't -like an' don't want around. When the cords come to -hand, then the chinks receivin' thereof uses them to -choke out their lives. Tsan Ti is found, dead as a mackerel, -with the yellow cord twisted into his fat neck. Eye o' -Buddha is missin' from his clothes. What's the answer? -Why, that Tsan Ti lost the ruby, an' used the cord sent -him from the home country. That'll seem plain as a -burgee flyin' from the gaff o' one o' these fresh-water -yachts. Won't it, now?"</p> - -<p>Matt knew that Tsan Ti had received the yellow cord -from China, and that he had been allowed two weeks in -which either to find the stolen ruby or to use the cord. -Of course, the ruby had been recovered, and there was -no necessity for using the hideous cord; but, if he was -found strangled, it would have seemed as though he -himself had committed the deed in compliance with orders -from the Chinese regent.</p> - -<p>Bunce may have been romancing, but there was a little -plausibility back of his words.</p> - -<p>"Where is Grattan?" demanded Matt.</p> - -<p>"In these here hills, shipmate," replied Bunce.</p> - -<p>"Tsan Ti isn't in the Catskills!"</p> - -<p>"No more he ain't, which I grant ye offhand an' freely, -but supposin' he's in Noo York, held a pris'ner in a beach -comber's joint in Front Street? An' supposin', furthermore, -this same beach comber is a mate o' Grattan's, an' -waitin' only for Grattan to come afore he makes Tsan Ti -peg out? Put that in your pipe an' smoke it careful."</p> - -<p>"You mean to say that Tsan Ti is a prisoner in New -York—a prisoner of a confederate of Grattan's?"</p> - -<p>"That's gospel truth! It happened recent—no longer -ago than early mornin'. I bore the word to the beach -comber in a letter of hand from Philo, an' the beach -comber met me in a snug harbor on the front where -sailormen are regularly hocused an' shipped for all -parts. I don't know where the beach comber's place is, -not me, but I did get him topping the boom an' he reported -the whole matter entire. However Tsan Ti fell -into the net is a notch above my understandin', but there -he is, hard an' fast, an' when I'd done with the beach -comber I took the train for Catskill to find Grattan an' -tell him what's been pulled off."</p> - -<p>Bunce was a trifle hard to follow.</p> - -<p>"Let's see if I've got this right," said Matt, "When -you and Grattan escaped from the officers, at the time the -ruby was recovered, you hid yourselves away among -the Catskills?"</p> - -<p>"Ay, so we did!"</p> - -<p>"And then Grattan gave you a letter to some man in -New York and you carried it personally?"</p> - -<p>"Personally, that's the word. I carried it personally."</p> - -<p>"And this man in New York entrapped the mandarin -and is holding him a prisoner until he can hear what -Grattan wants done?"</p> - -<p>"Ye've got the proper bearin's, an' no mistake."</p> - -<p>"And you came back on the train to tell Grattan?"</p> - -<p>Bunce nodded, and pulled at his fringe of whiskers.</p> - -<p>"Then, why didn't you go and tell Grattan," asked -Matt, "instead of coming and telling me?"</p> - -<p>"I'm no blessed cut-an'-slash pirate," protested Bunce. -"So long as the ruby was to be come by without any -stranglin', I was willin' to bear a bob an' do my share; an' -while mebby there ain't anythin' morilly wrong in chokin' -the breath out of a heathen Chinee, yet they'll bowse a -man up to the yardarm for doin' the same. Mates, on the -ride back to the Catskills I overhauled the hull matter, an' -I makes up my mind I'd sailed in company with Grattan -as long as 'twas safe. If I can save the mandarin, I -thinks to myself, mebby Motor Matt'll play square with -me an' let me off for what I done in helpin' lift the ruby. -If so be he thinks that way, says I to myself further, then -he's the one to fill the bill for Bunce. So, instid o' slantin' -for the cove where the motor car is hid away, I 'bouts -ship an' lays a course for this hotel."</p> - -<p>"What's your plan, Bunce?" queried Matt.</p> - -<p>"Easy, does it; simple as a granny's knot. You kiss -the Book that I'm free as soon's I do my part, then I -takes you to where Grattan is, an' you lays him by the -heels—just us three in it an' not a man Jack else. The -beach comber don't do a thing to Tsan Ti till he hears -from Grattan; an' how'll he ever hear from Grattan if -he's safe in irons in some jail in these hills? That's my -plan, an' you take it or leave it. If ye don't follow the -course I've laid, then Grattan gets the ruby back, an' the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> -mandarin's life along with it. If ye think I'm talkin' -crooked, an' put the lashings on me an' hand me over to -the police, then not a soul'll ever know where Grattan's -hid, an' he'll clear out an' get to Noo York whether I -see him or not—but Tsan Ti'll be for Davy Jones' locker, -no matter what ye try to do to prevent it. I've said my -say an' eased my mind; now it's you for it."</p> - -<p>With that, Bunce calmly drew a plug of tobacco from -his pocket and nibbled at one corner reflectively.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">BUNCE SPEAKS A GOOD WORD FOR HIMSELF.</p> - - -<p>Matt made a brief study of Bunce, leaning back in his -seat and gazing at the mariner through half-closed eyes. -The sailorman's get-up reminded Matt of <i>Dick Deadeye</i> -in "Pinafore." Whether Bunce was really a deep-water -humbug, and whether he was to be taken seriously, were -questions that gave Matt a good deal of bother.</p> - -<p>"He's stringing us, pard," averred McGlory bluntly. -"That tongue of his is hung in the middle and wags at -both ends."</p> - -<p>"Avast, my man-o'-war!" came hotly from the mariner. -"I'm no loafing longshore scuttler to let go my mudhooks -in these waters and then begin splicing the main brace out -of hand. You'll get your whack, my blood, and get it -hard, if you keep on in the style ye're goin'. Belay a bit, -can't you?"</p> - -<p>McGlory snorted contemptuously and put his tongue in -his cheek. Bunce began fingering his knife lanyard.</p> - -<p>"No more of that give-and-take," said Matt.</p> - -<p>"I'm a hard man," observed Bunce, "an' I've lived a -hard life, winnin' my mate's berth on the ole <i>Hottentot</i> -off Trincomalee by bashing in the skull of a Kanaka. -More things I've done as would make your blood run -cold just by listenin' to, but I'm straight as a forestay -for all that, d'ye mind, an' I've a clean bill from every -master I ever sailed with. 'He ain't much fer looks, -Bunce ain't,' as Cap'n Banks, of the ole <i>Hottentot</i> used -to say, 'but in a pinch you don't have to look twice for -Bunce.' An' there ye have it, all wrapped up, tied small, -an' ready for any swab as doubts me."</p> - -<p>"Bunce," said Matt dubiously, "I'm frank to say I -don't know just how to take you. By your own confession -you're a thief——"</p> - -<p>"Only when chinks has the loot," cut in Bunce hastily, -"an' when it takes a bit of headwork an' a matchin' o' -wits to beat 'em out."</p> - -<p>"You helped Grattan steal the Eye of Buddha. Plotted -it on a sampan off Canton, didn't you?"</p> - -<p>Bunce shoved in his chair and showed signs of consternation.</p> - -<p>"Scuttle me!" he gulped. "Wherever did you find that -out? Grattan never told you where we had our chin-chin -in the river of Honam."</p> - -<p>"It's all pictured out," said Matt, "and you can drop -into a theatre, in this town of Catskill, and see yourself -and Grattan committing the robbery."</p> - -<p>Bunce fell limply back.</p> - -<p>"So, ho!" he mumbled. "Then them pictures are out, -eh? They wasn't to come out for a month yet—it was in -the agreement."</p> - -<p>"Agreement?"</p> - -<p>"Ay, no more nor less. It was on the trip from 'Frisco, -east, mate, when Grattan an' me had the ruby but not a -sou markee in our pockets. We needed money. Grattan -knew some of these moving-picture swabs in Chicago, and -he allowed he could turn a few reds by givin' 'em the -plan of the robbery an' helpin' act it out. 'Avast,' says I, -feelin' a warnin' twinge, 'don't touch it, Philo!' But he -would—an' did, first gettin' an' agreement from the swabs -that they wouldn't put out the pictures for two months. -We got a couple of hundred yen for the work, an' that's -what brought us on to the Catskills. So it's out, so it's -out," and Bunce wagged his head forebodingly.</p> - -<p>"Did you play a part in the pictures, Bunce?" went on -Matt.</p> - -<p>"Not I, mate! I may be lackin' in the head, once in a -while, but there's a few keen thoughts rollin' around in -my locker. I wouldn't go in for it, an' you can smoke my -weather roll on that."</p> - -<p>"There's a one-eyed sailor in the picture," said Matt.</p> - -<p>"And he's a dead ringer for you," added McGlory.</p> - -<p>"Which it ain't me, d'ye see?" scowled the mariner. -"It's a counterfeit, got up to look like me—an' nothin' -more."</p> - -<p>"Then it's a mighty good counterfeit," averred the cowboy.</p> - -<p>"I'm a man o' high principles, mate, even though I do -say it as shouldn't. I was brought up right, by a Marblehead -fisherman who hated rum, couldn't abide playin' -cards, an' believed the-ay-ters was milestones on the road -to the hot place. Actin' in a play I wouldn't think of, an' -that's the flat of it. But what's the good word, shipmate? -Are you sailin' this cruise wi' me to save the life o' the -mandarin? I must know one way or t'other."</p> - -<p>"Where is Grattan?"</p> - -<p>"Five miles away, snug as a bug in a rug where he'll -never be found onless I con the course. We'll have to go -to him soon, if he's captured. I'm due at the meetin' -place to-night."</p> - -<p>"You spoke of a motor car——"</p> - -<p>"Ay, that I did. It's hid in the woods beyond the railroad -yards. We'll use that."</p> - -<p>"You had a couple of motorcycles," said Matt.</p> - -<p>"Which you and Grattan stole from us," supplemented -McGlory. "What's become of them, Bunce?"</p> - -<p>"Wrecked an' sunk," answered Bunce. "Mine sprung -a leak an' went over a cliff in fifty fathoms of air; Grattan's -bounced up on a reef an' went to pieces. Then we -lifted the motor car, usin' of it for night cruises."</p> - -<p>"You stole a motor car, eh?" said McGlory grimly. -"And on top of that you have the nerve to come along -here and speak a good word for yourself."</p> - -<p>"Stow it," growled Bunce, "or you an' I'll be at loggerheads -for good. What's the word?" and he turned his -gleaming eye on Matt. "You can use the telephone an' -hand me over to the police, or you can do as I say an' -save the mandarin. What's the word?"</p> - -<p>"When will we have to start after Grattan?" asked -Matt.</p> - -<p>"By early mornin', mate, just when it's light enough to -see."</p> - -<p>"And where'll we meet you?"</p> - -<p>"In the woods beyond the railroad yards. Go there, -stand on the track, an' whistle. I'll whistle back, then -we'll come together—an' fill the bill."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> - -<p>"You can expect us at six o'clock," said Motor Matt, -unlocking the door and pulling it open.</p> - -<p>"Brayvo, my bully!" enthused Bunce. "An' ye'll come -armed? Grattan is a hard man, an' sizable in a scrimmage."</p> - -<p>"We'll be prepared to take care of Grattan," answered -Matt. "Good night, Bunce."</p> - -<p>"Good night it is," and the mariner vanished into the -hall.</p> - -<p>As soon as the door was again closed, Matt turned to -find McGlory staring at him as though he thought he was -crazy.</p> - -<p>"Sufferin' tinhorns!" exclaimed the cowboy. "You -can't mean it, pard?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, I do," was the answer.</p> - -<p>"Why, that old fore-and-after never told the truth in -his life! He was using his imagination overtime."</p> - -<p>"The chances are that he was, but there's a bare possibility -he was telling the truth. We know Tsan Ti is in -New York, and we can't feel absolutely sure that the -Chinaman hasn't fallen into some trap laid by Grattan. -If that's the case, the mandarin may lose his life."</p> - -<p>"There's about as much chance of that, pard, as that -you and I will get struck by lightning."</p> - -<p>"We'll say the chance that Bunce is telling the truth is -about one in a hundred. Well, Joe, that hundredth -chance is what we can't take. Besides, Grattan is wanted. -If he is really in the hills, and we can capture him, that -will clear the road for Tsan Ti."</p> - -<p>"But what will you do with the Eye of Buddha?"</p> - -<p>Matt was in a quandary about that.</p> - -<p>"Will you tote it along on a trip of this kind?" proceeded -Joe, "or will you leave it in the hotel safe? Maybe -that's what Bunce is playing for."</p> - -<p>"He don't know we have the ruby. How could he?"</p> - -<p>"I'm by. But he's up to something, and that's a cinch."</p> - -<p>"We'll have to give him the benefit of the doubt—on -account of Tsan Ti."</p> - -<p>"Consarn that bungling chink!" grunted the cowboy, -venting his anger on the mandarin as the original cause of -their perplexing situation. "You can't do a thing with -that red stone but lug it along."</p> - -<p>"If the banks were open between now and the time we -start, I might leave it with one of them for safe-keeping."</p> - -<p>"And go dead against your letter of instructions! Then -you would be responsible."</p> - -<p>"I'll think it over to-night," said Matt, and began his -preparations for turning in.</p> - -<p>But sleeping over the question didn't answer it. Matt's -quandary lasted until far into the night.</p> - -<p>He had no faith in Bunce; he couldn't understand why -Tsan Ti should have sent the ruby to him for safe-keeping; -he doubted the wisdom of going into the hills with -the mariner, and he understood well the risk of carrying -the priceless Eye of Buddha with him on the morning's -venture.</p> - -<p>When McGlory opened his eyes in the first gray of the -morning, Matt was tying up the box in which the ruby -had come by express.</p> - -<p>"What are you going to do, pard?" inquired the cowboy, -jumping out of bed and beginning to scramble into -his clothes.</p> - -<p>"I guess, after all," answered Matt, "that I'll leave this -box with the clerk."</p> - -<p>"Wish I knew whether that was the proper caper, or -not, but I don't. One thing's as good as another, I -reckon."</p> - -<p>At five-thirty they had a hurried breakfast, and, a little -before six, Matt handed the small box to the hotel clerk -and asked him to put it away in the office safe. Then -the motor boys started for the railroad track and followed -it away from the river and into the wooded ravine beyond -the yards.</p> - -<p>"This is far enough, I guess," said Matt, and began to -whistle.</p> - -<p>The signal was promptly returned from a place on the -left, and the head of the mariner was pushed through a -thicket of bushes.</p> - -<p>"Ahoy, my hearties!" came from Bunce. "Come up -here and bear a fist with the car, will ye?"</p> - -<p>Puzzled not a little at this request, Matt and McGlory -climbed the bank of the ravine and came alongside the -mariner on a small, cleared shelf on the bank side. The -"motor car" was before them, and at sight of it McGlory -exploded a laugh.</p> - -<p>"Speak to me about this!" he exclaimed. "Had you -any notion it was this sort of a bubble, Matt?"</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">THE HOMEMADE SPEEDER.</p> - - -<p>What Matt saw was an ordinary hand car equipped -with a two-cylinder gasoline engine. Across one end of -the car was a bench, tightly bolted to the framework; -back of this was a shorter bench for the driver of the -queer machine. The king of the motor boys examined -the car with a good deal of curiosity. Power was communicated -to the rear axle by chain and sprocket. The -gasoline tank was under the driver's bench, and he unscrewed -the cap and tested the fuel supply by means of -a clean twig picked up from the shelf.</p> - -<p>"Oh, she's loaded full," wheezed Bunce. "I filled her -myself, not more'n ten minutes ago."</p> - -<p>"Do you know anything about motors, Bunce?" inquired -Matt, giving the mariner a sharp look.</p> - -<p>"Ay, that I do—in a way. I can turn on the oil and -the spark when I wants to start, an' I can cut 'em off an' -jam on the brakes when I wants to stop. That's all ye -got to know in runnin' these benzine machines."</p> - -<p>"Where does this belong?"</p> - -<p>"Track inspector owns it. Grattan an' me borried it." -Bunce grinned. "When we're done with the machine, -we'll give it back."</p> - -<p>"We'll make a picture, pard," grumbled McGlory, -"trailin' along with this tinhorn on a stolen speeder."</p> - -<p>"Avast, I say!" growled Bunce. "Ye're too free with -your jaw tackle. Lend a hand, an' let's get her on the -track an' make off. The section gang'll be out purty -soon, an' we want to be away afore they see us."</p> - -<p>"Sure you do," agreed McGlory sarcastically. "It'll be -healthier for my pard and me, too, I reckon, if we're -absent when the section men come along. That's why -you wanted to make such an early start, eh?"</p> - -<p>Without more ado, the motor boys helped Bunce get -the speeder down the slope and upon the rails.</p> - -<p>"Any trains coming or going at this hour?" asked -Matt, with sudden thought.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Say," jeered McGlory, "it would be fine if we went -head on into a local passenger!"</p> - -<p>"No trains comin' or goin', mate," said Bunce. "That's -another reason for the early start. Want me to run the -thing?"</p> - -<p>"I'll do the running," answered Matt. "You climb up -in front with McGlory."</p> - -<p>Bunce and McGlory got on the front bench. Matt -"turned the engine over" by running with the speeder -for a few steps, then climbed to his seat, and they began -laboring up a stiff grade through the ravine.</p> - -<p>The road was full of curves, and when it couldn't go -around a hill it went over it.</p> - -<p>From his talk with Bunce, the night before, Matt had -been under the impression that the stolen car was an automobile, -and he had made up his mind to return the car -to its owner—if the man's name could be learned—after -it had been used for running down Philo Grattan. Now, -that he had discovered that the car was a track speeder, -he was no less resolved to hand it over to the railroad -company on the return to Catskill.</p> - -<p>The speeder performed fairly well, considering that it -must have been knocked together in the company's shops -by men whose knowledge of their work was not extensive. -A secondhand automobile engine had furnished -the motor.</p> - -<p>"This isn't so bad," remarked McGlory, as they ducked -around the shoulder of a hill, still on the up grade, with -the motor fretting and pounding. "A motor ride's a -motor ride, whether you're on an aëroplane, or rubber -tires, or steel rails."</p> - -<p>"This is what they call a joy ride, Joe," called Matt, -from the rear. "The owner of the car doesn't know we're -out with it. I'll return it to the railroad company when -we're through with our morning's work."</p> - -<p>"That's you. I hope the railroad company don't find -out we've got it before we give it back. Gee, man, how -she's workin'!"</p> - -<p>"Fine day an' clear weather for fillin' the bill," remarked -Bunce. "Did ye come armed, mateys?"</p> - -<p>"Sufferin' hold-ups!" exclaimed McGlory. "Did you -think for a minute, Bunce, we'd jump into this without -being heeled?"</p> - -<p>The cowboy, as he spoke, reached behind him and drew -a short, wicked-looking six-shooter from his hip pocket.</p> - -<p>Bunce recoiled.</p> - -<p>"Where'd you get that, Joe?" asked Matt.</p> - -<p>"Borrowed it from the hotel clerk."</p> - -<p>"Well, put it away. I don't think we're going to need -it. If we find Grattan there'll be three of us to take care -of him. He's alone, I suppose, Bunce?"</p> - -<p>"Sailin' by himself, mate," answered the mariner. "Better -le' me take the gun, my hearty," he added, to McGlory.</p> - -<p>"Speak to me about that!" scoffed the cowboy. -"Why?"</p> - -<p>"I'll have to go for'ard when we come close to the -place, an' if Philo gets vi'lent, I'll look at him over the -gun, an' it'll be soothin'."</p> - -<p>"I'm able to soothe him, I reckon, no matter whether -you're ahead or behind."</p> - -<p>The speeder was making a terrific clatter. Everything -rattled—the brake shoes barged against the wheel -flanges, the engine rocked on its bed, and the levers -jarred in their guides. In order to talk, and make themselves -heard, those aboard had to lift their voices.</p> - -<p>"Sufferin' Bedlam!" cried McGlory. "It's a wonder -Grattan and Bunce were ever able to steal a rattletrap -like this and get away with it. We're making more noise -than a limited express."</p> - -<p>Suddenly the motor gave a flash and a sputter and went -out of business. In a twinkling the car lost headway and -began sliding back down the grade toward Catskill. Matt -threw on the brakes. The rear wheels locked, but still -the car continued to slide downward. Shutting off the -power, Matt dropped into the roadbed over the back of -the bench, cleared the rails at a leap, and wedged one of -the wheels with a stone. He had been obliged to work -rapidly, for the car was on the move, and going faster -and faster, as its weight gathered headway. But the -stone sufficed, and the speeder was brought to a standstill.</p> - -<p>"What took us aback, like that?" demanded Bunce.</p> - -<p>"Too much gasoline," answered Matt, tinkering with -the supply pipe, "and I couldn't check it with the lever -control."</p> - -<p>"This is a great old chug cart," laughed McGlory. -"The railroad company ought to have been willing to pay -somebody for running away with it. How'd you ever -get over this road with it, Bunce?"</p> - -<p>"When I came over the road it was downhill," answered -the mariner, "an' all I had to do was to keep the -craft on her course, an' scud along under bare poles."</p> - -<p>"You had to climb a hill before you took the down -grade, didn't you?"</p> - -<p>"Ay, so I did, but the car came up the hill easy -enough."</p> - -<p>Matt soon had the valve in the supply pipe adjusted, -and all hands had to push in giving the car a start. When -they were going, and the engine had taken up its cycle, -there followed a wild scramble to get aboard. This was -finally accomplished, and once more they were puffing up -the hill, but with less pounding than before.</p> - -<p>"Say, Bunce," demanded McGlory suddenly, "did you -take the speeder off the track and up the slope into those -bushes alone?"</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay, mate," was the answer. "But I had a rope -and tackle to help."</p> - -<p>McGlory was convinced that Bunce was wide of the -truth, and Matt inclined to the same opinion, although -why the mariner wanted to deceive them in such a small -matter was difficult to understand.</p> - -<p>Presently, to the great relief of the motor boys, the -top of the hill was reached. The descent angled downward, -around rocky uplifts and through thick timber, so -that it was impossible to watch the track in advance for -any considerable distance.</p> - -<p>The descent, on such a makeshift power car as the -speeder, was fraught with greater perils than the climb up -the mountain. No power would be necessary, for the -car would go fast enough without any added impetus. -In order to keep it from going too fast, and jumping the -track, the brakes would have to be judiciously used.</p> - -<p>"We're off!" cried McGlory, as the speeder began -coasting down the grade.</p> - -<p>Matt tried out the brakes. They were capable of -slackening the pace, but as for stopping the car, no -appliance could have done that.</p> - -<p>With rear wheels locked, the speeder hurled itself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> -down the mountain, acquiring greater and greater speed -as it went. In and out of cuts the car dashed, here and -there rumbling over a trestle which gave the passengers -fearful glimpses of space below them.</p> - -<p>McGlory and Bunce hung to their bench with both -hands. There was no talking, now, for all three passengers -were holding their breath.</p> - -<p>Finally the descent became less steep. As the grade -flattened out slowly into something approaching a level, -Matt's work with the brakes began to achieve results. -By degrees the mad flight of the car commenced to -slacken.</p> - -<p>"Sharp curve ahead!" sang out McGlory, heaving a -deep breath of relief as the car continued to slow down.</p> - -<p>Matt saw the sharp turn in the track where it rounded -a shoulder of rock. Naturally he could not see around -the turn, and he was speculating as to whether their reduced -speed would be sufficient to throw the speeder -off the rails at the bend, or whether the car would make -it safely.</p> - -<p>Before his calculations had been brought to an end, the -problem was working itself out.</p> - -<p>The speeder struck the curve, whirled around it with a -shrieking of flanges against the rails, and then there went -up a wild yell from McGlory and Bunce.</p> - -<p>Directly in front of the car was a tie across the track!</p> - -<p>A collision with the tie was inevitable. Matt foresaw -it, and clung desperately to his bench.</p> - -<p>"Brace yourselves!" he yelled.</p> - -<p>The next moment they struck the tie.</p> - -<p>The jolt was terrific. Motor Matt was thrown roughly -against the seat in front, and Bunce went into the air as -though shot from a gun.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">TRAPPED.</p> - - -<p>Matt saw that McGlory had managed, like himself, to -stay with the car, then both motor boys had a flash-light -glimpse of the mariner ricochetting through the atmosphere -and striking earth right side up by the track. But -Bunce did not remain in an upright position. The force -with which he had been thrown launched him into a series -of eccentric cartwheels, and when he finally stopped turning -he was in a sitting posture, with his back against a -bowlder.</p> - -<p>Apparently he had escaped serious injury, which was a -remarkable fact, in view of the circumstances. A broken -neck might easily have resulted, or, at the least, a fractured -arm or leg.</p> - -<p>"Shiver me!" gasped Bunce, dazed and bewildered by -the suddenness of it all.</p> - -<p>Then Motor Matt's and McGlory's shocked senses laid -hold of another detail of the situation which was most astounding.</p> - -<p>The green patch had been shaken from the mariner's -head, and he was peering around him with two good -eyes!</p> - -<p>"Tell me about that!" roared McGlory, pointing. -"Look at his lamps, Matt! He's got two!"</p> - -<p>"I see," answered Matt grimly. "Suppose we approach -closer, Joe, and find out about this."</p> - -<p>Bunce watched the boys descend from the speeder and -advance upon him, but there was still a dazed gleam in -his eyes which proved that he was slow in recovering his -wits.</p> - -<p>"Are you all right, Bunce?" asked Matt, reaching the -mariner's side and bending down.</p> - -<p>"That—that craft must have—have turned a handspring," -mumbled Bunce. "Purty tolerable blow we had, -mates, an' I was snatched away from the bench, an' -tossed overboard. It was done so quick I—I hardly -knowed what was goin' on. By the seven holy spritsails! -it's a wonder I'm shipshape an' all together." He -got up slowly and began feeling gingerly of his arms -and legs. "Nothin' busted, I guess," he added.</p> - -<p>The ground where he had landed was cushioned with -sand. To this fact, more than to anything else, he owed -his escape from injury.</p> - -<p>McGlory picked up the green patch.</p> - -<p>"Here's an ornament you dropped during that ground-and-lofty -tumbling, you old tinhorn," said he. "What did -you wear it for, anyhow?"</p> - -<p>"Blow me tight!" exclaimed Bunce, staring at the patch -with falling jaw. "Ain't that reedic'lous?" he added, with -a feeble attempt to treat the matter lightly.</p> - -<p>"It is rather ridiculous, Bunce, and that's a fact," answered -Matt. "You've a pair of very good eyes, it seems -to me, and what's the good of that patch?"</p> - -<p>The mariner grabbed the bit of green cloth and pulled -the string over his head.</p> - -<p>"I never said I'd lost one o' my lamps," he averred, settling -the patch in place. "Off Table Mountain, South -Africy, a cable parted on the ole <i>Hottentot</i>, an' I was hit -in the eye with a loose rope's end. For a while, I thought -I was goin' blind. But I didn't, only the eye has been -weak ever sence, an' needs purtection. That's why I -wear the patch."</p> - -<p>"You've got it over the wrong eye, Bunce," observed -McGlory. "You've been wearing it over the left eye, and -now it's over the right. Have you got any clear notion -which eye was hit with that rope's end?"</p> - -<p>Bunce hastily changed the position of the patch.</p> - -<p>"I'm that rattled," said he, "that I'm all ahoo, an' don't -rightly know what I'm about. I——"</p> - -<p>For an instant he stared up the track, breaking off his -words abruptly; then, without any further explanation, -he whirled and rushed for the timber.</p> - -<p>With a yell of anger, McGlory started after him.</p> - -<p>"Come back, Joe!" shouted Matt. "Here come some -men who seem to have business with us."</p> - -<p>The cowboy whirled to an about face, and followed -with his eyes the direction of his chum's pointing finger.</p> - -<p>Four men in flannel shirts and overalls, and carrying -spades, picks, and tamping irons, were hurrying up the -track in the direction of the curve.</p> - -<p>"The section gang!" muttered McGlory.</p> - -<p>"A good guess," laughed Matt. "We've been trapped."</p> - -<p>"Trapped?"</p> - -<p>"That's the way it looks to me. We were seen coming -down the mountain and those men, recognizing the -speeder, laid the tie across the rails to catch the thieves."</p> - -<p>"Sufferin' kiboshes, but here's a go! This comes of -trying to fill the bill for an old tinhorn like Bunce."</p> - -<p>"Ketched!" yelled one of the approaching men, flourishing -a tamping iron; "we've ketched the robbers that -run off with Mulvaney's speeder! Don't you make no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> -trouble," he added, slowing his pace and coming more -warily.</p> - -<p>The other three men spread out and then closed in, -barring escape for the motor boys in every direction.</p> - -<p>"You've made a mistake," said Matt.</p> - -<p>"Oh, sure!" jeered the section boss, "but I reckon we'll -take ye to Catskill, an' let ye tell the superintendent all -about the mistake."</p> - -<p>"Don't be in a rush about taking us to Catskill," threatened -McGlory. "You listen to what Motor Matt says, -and I reckon he'll make the layout clear to you."</p> - -<p>"Motor Matt!" returned the boss ironically. "Why -don't ye say ye're the governor o' the State, or somethin' -like that? Ye might jest as well. Motor Matt ain't -stealin' speeders an' runnin' off with 'em."</p> - -<p>The king of the motor boys had become pretty well -known in the Catskills through his previous work in recovering -the ruby for Tsan Ti. Even these section men -had heard of his exploits. Matt, seeing the impression -his cowboy pard's words had made, resolved to prove his -identity in the hope of avoiding trouble.</p> - -<p>"What my chum says is true, men," he declared. "I am -Motor Matt. We didn't steal the railroad speeder. That -was done by the man who was with us—the fellow who -ran away. You saw him, didn't you?"</p> - -<p>"Sure we saw him," answered the section boss, "but I -wouldn't try to put it all off onto him, if I was you."</p> - -<p>"Sufferin' blockheads!" rumbled McGlory. "Use your -brains, if you've got any, can't you? Do we look like -thieves?"</p> - -<p>"Can't most always tell from a feller's looks what he -is," returned the boss skeptically. "And this other chap -can't be Motor Matt, nuther, or he wouldn't have stole -the speeder. That there speeder has been missin' for -three days, an' orders has gone out, up an' down the line, -for all hands to watch out for it. When I seen it comin' -down the grade, I knowed we had ye. All we done was -to throw that tie acrost the track, an' the trick was done. -Ye'll have to go to Catskill, that's all about it."</p> - -<p>"Are you men from Catskill?" inquired Matt.</p> - -<p>"No, Tannersville, but Catskill's the place you're -wanted. We'll put ye on the passenger, when it comes -along."</p> - -<p>"But we don't want to go back to Catskill just yet," -Matt demurred. "We've got business here, and it can't -be put off."</p> - -<p>Matt believed that Bunce had run to get away from the -section men, who, he must have realized, had caused the -speeder's mishap in the hope of catching the ones who -had stolen the car. There was yet a chance, Matt -thought, to overhaul Bunce and find Grattan. To go -back to Catskill, just then, would have been disastrous -to the work he and McGlory were trying to do under -the mariner's leadership.</p> - -<p>"Sure ye don't want to go to Catskill," went on the -section boss, "right now, or any other time. But ye're -goin', all the same. Grab 'em, you men," and the boss -shouted the order to the three who had grouped themselves -around Matt and McGlory.</p> - -<p>"Hands off!" shouted the cowboy.</p> - -<p>Matt saw him jerk the revolver from his pocket, and -aim it at the man who was reaching to lay hold of him. -The man fell back with an oath of consternation.</p> - -<p>"Don't do that, Joe!" cried Matt.</p> - -<p>"Oh, no," sneered the boss, "you fellers ain't thieves, I -guess! What're you pullin' a gun on us for, if ye ain't?"</p> - -<p>"I'm not going to argue the case with you any further," -Matt answered shortly. "We're going back to -Catskill after a while, but not now. When we get there -we'll report to your superintendent and explain how we -happened to be aboard the stolen speeder. I was intending -to return the car to the railroad company as soon as -we had got through with it, and then——"</p> - -<p>"Sure ye was!" mocked the boss. "Ye wasn't intendin' -to do anythin' but what was right an' lawful—to hear -ye tell it. We got ye trapped, an' I ain't goin' to fool with -ye any longer. Put down that gun, you!" and he -whirled savagely upon McGlory. "We're goin' to take -ye, an' if you do any shootin' ye'll find yerselves in a -deeper hole than what ye are now."</p> - -<p>"You keep away from me," scowled McGlory, still -holding the weapon leveled, "and keep your men away -from me. Try to touch either of us, and this gun will -begin to talk. We're not thieves, but that's something we -can't pound into your thick head, so we're going to attend -to our business in spite of you."</p> - -<p>The section boss was a man of courage, and was resolute -in his intention to take the boys to Catskill. Certainly, -so far as appearances went, he had the right of -the matter, and Matt didn't feel that he could explain -the exact situation with any chance of having his words -believed.</p> - -<p>"Here's where I'm comin' for ye," proceeded the section -boss, "an' if you shoot, you'll be tagged with more -kinds o' trouble than you can take care of. Now——"</p> - -<p>The section boss got no farther. Just at that moment -the rumble of a train coming up the grade could be heard. -Instantly the attention of the section boss was called to -another matter.</p> - -<p>"The passenger!" he cried, jumping around and staring -at the speeder and the tie. "There'll be a wreck if -we don't clear the track. Come on, men! Hustle!"</p> - -<p>The peril threatening the passenger train banished -from the minds of the section men all thought of the -boys. All four of the gang ran to remove the obstructions -from the rails.</p> - -<p>"Come on, pard!" said McGlory; "now's our chance."</p> - -<p>Matt, with a feeling of intense relief, bounded after his -chum, and they were soon well away in the timber.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">THE CUT-OUT UNDER THE LEDGE.</p> - - -<p>McGlory was inclined to view recent events in a -humorous light.</p> - -<p>"Speak to me about that, pard!" he laughed, when he -and Matt had halted for breath, and to determine, if possible, -which way Bunce had gone. "I told you what was -on the programme if you became trustee for the Eye of -Buddha. We never know when lightning's going to -strike, or how."</p> - -<p>"I don't like episodes of that sort," muttered Matt. -"It puts us in a bad light, Joe."</p> - -<p>"Oh, hang that part of it! We can explain the whole -thing to the railroad superintendent as soon as we get -back to Catskill. That section boss was a saphead. You<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> -couldn't pound any reason into his block with a sledge -hammer. Forget it!"</p> - -<p>"But you drew a gun on the section men. That makes -the business look bad for us."</p> - -<p>McGlory chuckled. "See here, pard," said he. With -that, he "broke" the revolver and exposed the end of the -cylinder.</p> - -<p>There were no cartridges in the weapon!</p> - -<p>"Now, what do you think?" laughed the cowboy. "I -borrowed the gun in a hurry, and didn't think to ask -whether it was loaded—and I reckon the hotel clerk -didn't think to tell me. It's about as dangerous as a -piece of bologna sausage, but it looks ugly—and that's -about all there is to this revolver proposition, anyhow."</p> - -<p>Matt enjoyed the recent experience, in which the harmless -revolver had played its part, fully as much as his -chum.</p> - -<p>"Well," said the king of the motor boys, "what's done -can't be helped, and we'd better be about our business -with Bunce. But what's become of the mariner? He -ought to be around here, somewhere."</p> - -<p>"He's ducked," returned McGlory, "and I'll bet it's -for good. We've found out he had a pair of good eyes, -and he's got shy of us."</p> - -<p>"If we don't find him," mused Matt, "it's a clear case -that he was playing double with us. If we do find him, -then we can take a little more stock in what he tells us -about Tsan Ti. It will be worth something to feel sure, -either way."</p> - -<p>"Maybe you're right, but how are we going to pick up -the webfoot's trail?"</p> - -<p>Matt studied the ground. The earth was soft from a recent -rain, and the fact gave him an idea.</p> - -<p>"Track him, Joe. You're used to that sort of thing. -Put your knowledge to some account."</p> - -<p>"In order to track the mariner," said McGlory, "we'll -have to go back to the place where we saw him duck into -the timber. It'll be a tough job, but I'm willing to try if -we can once pick up the trail."</p> - -<p>"That's the only thing for us to do. If Bunce was intending -to deal squarely with us, he'd have shown himself -before this."</p> - -<p>"Let's see," mused the cowboy. "He said that Grattan -was hiding out about five miles from Catskill, didn't he?"</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"Then I reckon the place is somewhere around here. -We're about five miles from the town, I should judge. -Still," and disgust welled up in the cowboy as he voiced -the thought, "you can't tell whether Bunce was giving -that part of it straight, or not. He's about as crooked as -they make 'em, that tinhorn."</p> - -<p>The boys, during their talk, had been moving slowly -back in the direction of the railroad track. Cautiously -they came to the edge of the timber, close to the right -of way, on the alert not only for the tracks left by Bunce, -but for the presence of the section men, as well.</p> - -<p>The section gang, they discovered, had left the vicinity -of the sharp curve, and were nowhere in sight. The -speeder, badly shaken by the jar of its collision with the -tie, was off the rails, and the tie lay beside it.</p> - -<p>"No sign of the section men," announced Matt, after a -careful survey of the track.</p> - -<p>"Mighty good thing for us, too, pard," said McGlory. -"Here's Bunce's trail, and he traveled so fast he only hit -the ground with his toes. Come on! I can run it out -for a ways, anyhow."</p> - -<p>McGlory's life on the cattle ranges had made him particularly -apt in the lore of the plains. The trail was very -dim in places, but even the disturbed leaves under the -trees, and the broken bushes told McGlory where the -mariner had passed.</p> - -<p>The course taken by Bunce led across a timbered "flat" -and down into a rocky ravine, then along the ravine to a -ledge of rock which jutted out from a side hill. The under -side of the ledge was perhaps a dozen feet over the -bottom of the ravine, and under it was a sort of "pocket" -in the hill.</p> - -<p>Here there were evidences of a primitive camp. The -soft earth under the ledge was trampled by human feet, -and there was a large, five-gallon can that had once held -gasoline, but which was now empty. A small mound of -dried leaves had been heaped up at the innermost recess -of the "pocket," and the bed still bore the faint impression -of a man's body.</p> - -<p>"Bunce was right about Grattan being in hiding near -Catskill," observed Matt. "Here's the place, sure -enough."</p> - -<p>"And Bunce came here, pard," went on McGlory; "he -made tracks straight for this hang-out as soon as he got -clear of us. Judging from what we see, I should say -Bunce met Grattan, and that they both hurried off. But -what was that gasoline for?"</p> - -<p>"For the speeder, maybe," replied Matt.</p> - -<p>"They wouldn't keep the gasoline supply for the -speeder so far from the track, would they?"</p> - -<p>"I shouldn't think so; still, I can't imagine what else -they'd want gasoline for."</p> - -<p>"What sort of a game was Bunce up to? If Grattan -was here, then everything was going right, so far as the -plan to capture Grattan was concerned. Why didn't -Bunce wait for us, back there in the timber, and give us -the chance to come on here and put the kibosh on the -man we want?"</p> - -<p>"It's a mystery, Joe," said the puzzled Matt. "Perhaps -Bunce believed that we'd be captured by the section men -and that it wouldn't be possible to get hold of Grattan. -If he thought that, he might have come on to this place, -given his New York report to Grattan, and made up his -mind to see the rascally game through to a finish. Bunce -couldn't have any idea that we'd escape from the section -gang."</p> - -<p>"Well," growled McGlory, "he might have waited and -made certain of it."</p> - -<p>There was no accounting for the queer actions of the -mariner. It seemed as though, after the collision with the -railroad tie and the coming of the section men, he had -changed his mind about helping the boys capture Grattan.</p> - -<p>Matt and McGlory moved around under the ledge, trying -to find something else that would point positively to -the presence of Grattan in the "pocket."</p> - -<p>There was a strong odor of gasoline—much stronger -than would have come from the uncorked, empty can. -Suddenly Matt found something, and hurriedly called his -chum.</p> - -<p>"What is it?" inquired McGlory, running to Matt's -side.</p> - -<p>Matt pointed to two straight lines in the earth, leading -out and up the ravine.</p> - -<p>"Motorcycles," said he laconically, "two of them!"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> - -<p>McGlory struck his fist against his open palm.</p> - -<p>"Well, what do you think of that!" he cried. "Motorcycles -and speeders! Say, those tinhorns were well fixed -in the motor line. And Bunce told us both motorcycles -had been destroyed! Sufferin' Ananias, but he's a -tongue twister!"</p> - -<p>"There's no doubt but that Grattan was here," went on -Matt, "and that he had the two motorcycles with him. -The gasoline was used to fill the motorcycles' tanks. As -soon as Bunce got to this place, the wheels were made -ready and Bunce and Grattan rode off."</p> - -<p>"They're headed for New York, I reckon, to 'fill the -bill' for poor old Tsan Ti!"</p> - -<p>"I don't believe it," declared Matt. "I didn't take much -stock in the story when Bunce told it, but on the chance -that it might be true, I felt as though we should give Tsan -Ti the benefit of the doubt. But, now, I'm fairly certain -the yarn was all moonshine."</p> - -<p>"Bunce took a whole lot of trouble for nothing, pard," -commented McGlory. "What was the good of his coming -to the hotel, running the risk of our turning him over -to the police, and then motoring out here with us on that -ramshackle speeder if he never intended to help us capture -Grattan?"</p> - -<p>"Maybe we'll discover that later. Suppose we follow -the trail of the motorcycles, Joe?"</p> - -<p>"Why? They're a dozen miles from here, by this time."</p> - -<p>"We can't overtake them, of course, but we can discover -which way they went."</p> - -<p>It was an easy matter to trail the heavy machines up -the ravine. About half a mile above the camp under the -ledge, a wagon road crossed the ravine, and the wheels -had turned into it. To the surprise of the boys, the wheels -had turned in the direction of Catskill.</p> - -<p>"It can't be those two tinhorns would have the nerve -to go to the town," said McGlory.</p> - -<p>"I don't think they would," agreed Matt, "but they -have gone in that direction, at all events. It's up to us to -walk back, so we may as well follow the road and the -motorcycle trail."</p> - -<p>"This is what I call tough luck," said the cowboy, when -he and Matt were swinging along the road. "I didn't -think there was any sense taking up with Bunce, in the -first place. Nice way for that move to pan out! We go -gunning for Grattan on a speeder, and then hoof it back—to -face a charge of robbery preferred by the section -men!"</p> - -<p>"We'll settle that robbery charge quick enough," returned -Matt.</p> - -<p>"No doubt about that. I wouldn't feel so worked up -over the thing if I could make any sort of guess as to -what it was all about."</p> - -<p>"Well," laughed Matt, repeating one of McGlory's favorite -remarks, "we can't know so much all the time as -we do just some part of the time, Joe."</p> - -<p>"No more we can't, pard," said the cowboy.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">BETWEEN THE EYES.</p> - - -<p>The wagon road which the boys were following led -them into Catskill near the railroad station. The motorcycle -tracks, after holding a straight course toward town -for a long time, had finally vanished at an elevated point -from which the motor boys had secured their first view of -the river.</p> - -<p>"We might just as well call on the superintendent," -suggested Matt, when they were close to the station, "and -explain about the speeder. By doing this now, we may -dodge trouble later."</p> - -<p>"Good idea," assented McGlory.</p> - -<p>They found the superintendent in his office, and he -gave them an immediate hearing.</p> - -<p>"We called to tell you about that speeder, Mr. Bronson," -began Matt, having caught the super's name off -the painted window in the door.</p> - -<p>"You mean Mulvaney's speeder," returned Bronson, -"the one that was stolen two days ago?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. My name's King, Matt King, and I'm stopping -at the——"</p> - -<p>"Motor Matt?" interrupted Bronson, whirling squarely -around in his swivel chair. He had suddenly developed a -great interest in the interview.</p> - -<p>"Yes," laughed Matt, "I'm called that more often than -I'm called by my last name. This is my chum, Joe McGlory," -and he nodded toward the cowboy.</p> - -<p>"I've heard of both of you," smiled Bronson. "That -was great business of yours, over near Purling. But -what in the world have you got to tell me about the -stolen speeder?"</p> - -<p>"Then you haven't heard about what happened this -morning?"</p> - -<p>"Haven't heard a thing about the speeder to-day. -Why?"</p> - -<p>"Well, Joe and I and another fellow were chasing down -a grade with it, a few miles out of town, and a section -gang from Tannersville saw us coming and put a tie -across the rails."</p> - -<p>"That stopped you, did it?"</p> - -<p>"Did it!" echoed McGlory. "Why, it stopped us so -hard and quick that one of the passengers was scattered -all over the right of way."</p> - -<p>"We hadn't anything to do with stealing the machine," -went on Matt, "and we didn't——"</p> - -<p>"Of course not!" struck in Bronson. "But where did -you get it, and what were you doing with it?"</p> - -<p>"You heard how the great ruby was recovered, and -how the thieves got away?"</p> - -<p>The superintendent's eyes sparkled.</p> - -<p>"Everybody around here has heard about that," he -answered.</p> - -<p>"We thought we had a chance to capture one of the -thieves," proceeded Matt. "The crook's pal came to us -and offered to show us where Grattan was, and when we -joined the fellow this morning, he had the speeder tucked -away among the bushes. We knew the speeder had been -stolen, and were intending to bring it back as soon as we -had finished our work; but the section gang made things -so warm for us we had to change our plans."</p> - -<p>"And now you're fretting for fear the section men -will send in word, and that I'll have you pinched!" -laughed the superintendent. "I guess I'd think twice before -I had Motor Matt arrested for stealing an old -speeder like that. Mulvaney, our track inspector, made it -himself. He's rather choice of it, and that's why I sent -out word to have the thing found, if possible. But, tell -me, did you capture Grattan?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir. We found where he has been staying, but -he had got away before we reached the place."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Hard luck! By the way, they've got a moving picture -in one of the nickelodeons here, that tells the story -of a ruby called 'Buddha's Eye.' Everybody is going to -see it. Is that the same story as the one connected with -the 'Eye of Buddha?'"</p> - -<p>"It's the same, Mr. Bronson, even down to the minor -detail of the identity of the thieves."</p> - -<p>Bronson whistled.</p> - -<p>"How in the dickens does that happen, eh?" he asked.</p> - -<p>Matt could see no harm in explaining that point, as -Bunce had covered it, and told how the thieves, needing -money in Chicago, had suggested the idea for the picture, -and how at least one of them had volunteered to -play a leading part.</p> - -<p>The superintendent was astounded at the audacity of a -thief who, after perpetrating such a successful robbery, -and with the ruby then in his possession, could publish his -crime through the medium of a moving picture.</p> - -<p>"It merely goes to prove," said the superintendent, -"what a clever and daring scoundrel this fellow Grattan -is. Too bad he escaped at the time the ruby was so -cleverly recovered. More than likely, Motor Matt, he'll -make trouble for you."</p> - -<p>"I guess he'll be too busy looking out for himself," -laughed Matt, "to pay any attention to me."</p> - -<p>"I hope so, certainly."</p> - -<p>Matt and McGlory got up to leave.</p> - -<p>"Don't bother your head about the speeder," the superintendent -went on. "I'm glad your report reached me -ahead of the one from the section gang. I'll know how -to handle the matter, now, when I hear from the section -boss. Good-by, my lads, and good luck to you."</p> - -<p>"It didn't take long to fix that up," said McGlory, when -he and Matt were once more on their way to the hotel.</p> - -<p>"I knew it wouldn't," returned Matt, "just as soon as -we could get to some one who would be willing to take -our word for what happened."</p> - -<p>"What the super said about Grattan trying to get back -at you, Matt, for what you did in the old sugar camp, -near Purling, sounded to me like it had a lot of good -horse sense mixed up in it."</p> - -<p>"What I told the super had a little horse sense in it, -too, didn't it, Joe?"</p> - -<p>"You mean about Grattan having so much to do to -keep out of the clutches of the law that he won't find -any time to hit up your trail?"</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"I don't know about that. Grattan is a tinhorn who is -in a class all by himself. He seems to have all kinds of -nerve, and to be willing to take all sorts of chances. -That moving-picture deal gives us a pretty good line on -him."</p> - -<p>When the boys got to the hotel, McGlory stumbled -into a chair on the veranda.</p> - -<p>"Gee, man, but I'm tired!" he exclaimed. "A cowboy -is built for riding, and not for this footwork. It sure -gets me going. Sit down here for a while, Matt, and -let's palaver about New York, and what the chances are -for our getting there."</p> - -<p>"They're pretty slim, I guess," answered Matt, dropping -into a seat at his chum's side, "if we're to wait until -Grattan is captured. Tsan Ti says, in his letter, that -he won't come on until Grattan is behind the bars, or -safely off his trail."</p> - -<p>"Which means to hang on here until—we don't know -when. We're rid of Bunce, but there'll be something -else to hit us between the eyes before we're many minutes -older. You can bet your moccasins on that. As long as -we're tangled up with that ruby, we'll find hard luck -flagging us all along the pike."</p> - -<p>At that moment the clerk emerged from the hotel office -and crossed the veranda. He wore a troubled look, as -though something had happened to worry him.</p> - -<p>"That man came, Motor Matt," said he, "and I gave -him the box."</p> - -<p>McGlory fell back as though some one had struck him.</p> - -<p>"What man? What box?" he roused up to inquire -wildly.</p> - -<p>The clerk caught the alarm in the cowboy's voice and -manner.</p> - -<p>"Why, don't you know?" he cried, appealing to Matt. -"It was the small box you left with me early this morning."</p> - -<p>"And—and you gave it up?" gasped McGlory huskily.</p> - -<p>"What else could I do?" protested the clerk. "I had -the written order from Motor Matt. The man brought -it."</p> - -<p>McGlory was too dazed to answer. His jaw fell, and -he stared at the king of the motor boys.</p> - -<p>"Let me see the order," said Matt.</p> - -<p>The clerk pulled a letter from his pocket.</p> - -<p>"I hope there's nothing wrong?" he asked, handing the -letter to Matt. "I've been thinking there might be something -wrong, but I didn't see how there could be. The -handwriting of that letter matches your fist on the register—I -was careful to look that up before I gave the man -the box."</p> - -<p>"Read it, pard," implored McGlory, in a mechanical -tone.</p> - -<p>"'Please deliver to bearer the small box which I left -with you for safe-keeping, early this morning,'" Matt -read. "'I need it at once, and find that I can't come for -it in person.' That's all of it, Joe," said Matt, "and I -must say that it's a pretty good imitation of my handwriting. -The name is a tremendously good forgery."</p> - -<p>The clerk nearly threw a fit; and McGlory nearly -helped him.</p> - -<p>"Then the letter is a forgery?" cried the clerk. "The -man didn't have any right to the box?"</p> - -<p>"How could he have any right to the box," stormed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> -McGlory, "when the letter asking you to turn it over to -him was never written by Motor Matt? Corral your wits. -Sufferin' hold-ups, it's come! We no sooner get out of -one raw deal, than we tumble headfirst into another. -Now——"</p> - -<p>"Take it easy, Joe," cut in Matt. "Wait a minute." -He turned to the clerk. "Don't get worked up about -this," said he; "you're not to blame. When did the man -call and deliver the forged letter?"</p> - -<p>"Not more than an hour ago," answered the clerk, -wiping the perspiration from his forehead. "Was there -anything very valuable in the box?"</p> - -<p>"What sort of looking man was he?" proceeded Matt.</p> - -<p>"Slim, and dark, and undersized. Fairly well dressed."</p> - -<p>"Well, never mind. Don't let it worry you."</p> - -<p>The clerk, visibly distressed, in spite of Matt's reassuring -words, went back into the office. As soon as he had -vanished inside the hotel, the king of the motor boys gave -vent to a low laugh.</p> - -<p>McGlory peered at him.</p> - -<p>"Pard!" he murmured, leaning over to drop a hand on -Matt's knee. "Have you gone off the jump on account -of that confounded ruby? It's a blow between the eyes, -all right, but, for heaven's sake, don't let it get you -locoed."</p> - -<p>"Locoed!" and Matt pulled himself together, reached -inside his vest and brought out a knotted handkerchief. -Untying the knotted ends of the handkerchief, he opened -it out on his knee. "See here, Joe!" said he; "that's how -badly I am locoed."</p> - -<p>What McGlory saw was the ruby, glowing redly -against the white linen.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">THE MAN FROM THE "IRIS."</p> - - -<p>Not many times in McGlory's life had he been so tremendously -at a loss for words as he was then. He -stared at the ruby and he stared at Matt.</p> - -<p>"You see, pard," said Matt, "the ruby wasn't in the -box when I gave it to the clerk. I kept the Eye of Buddha -safely about me, all the time. It gouged me a little when -the speeder stopped and I was slammed against the forward -bench."</p> - -<p>"Speak to me about this!" rumbled the cowboy. "It -wasn't in the box—a tinhorn blew in with a forged letter—he -got the box, but he didn't get the ruby. Matt's done -something—and he never told me what he was doing. -What—how—why—— Look here, you blooming old -maverick, how did you ever come to think of such a -dodge?"</p> - -<p>"It wasn't much of a dodge," answered Matt. "In the -first place, I didn't take any stock in that wild yarn told -us by Bunce. At the same time, while I didn't believe in -it, I couldn't afford not to go with Bunce on Tsan Ti's -account. I tried to think why Bunce should want to coax -us into the hills, and the only idea that came to me had -to do with the ruby. Now, I reasoned, if the ruby <i>was</i> -back of Bunce's little game, then it was clear he knew it -had been sent to me for safe-keeping. I wanted to find -just how much Bunce knew, so I left the box with the -clerk. Bunce was watching, or else he had somebody else -watching. If he'd thought I had the ruby with me, an -attempt would have been made to get it while we were in -the hills. But Bunce believed I had left the ruby in the -safe, so he dodged away, leaving you and me to be nabbed -by the section men, while he went on to that 'pocket' -under the ledge, found Grattan, told him where I had -placed the box, and the two got on their motorcycles -and came close enough to town to get a man to help them -secure the box.</p> - -<p>"Grattan must have forged the letter. Then this third -man took it. The rascals had to work quick, for -the game was played while we were taking a look around -at the camp in the ravine, and walking into town. Can't -you understand, Joe? By getting us into the hills, with -that fairy story about Tsan Ti, Grattan could play his -hand either way. If we had the ruby with us, he could -get hold of it; if we had left it behind, he could take advantage -of our absence from Catskill to execute some ruse -in town while we were out in the country."</p> - -<p>"Clever?" breathed McGlory; "why, he's the cleverest -crook that ever happened. But I'd like to have a picture -of him now!" The cowboy fell back in his seat and -roared with mirth. "Wouldn't I like to look in on him -while he and Bunce are opening that box?" he sputtered. -"Oh, but it's rich! Clever as he is, Grattan has found -that he's butted up against some one who can give him -cards and spades, and then beat him out. I've been -proud of you, pard, more times than I can tell, but I'm -just a little prouder now than I ever was before. Shake!"</p> - -<p>Matt caught his chum's hand.</p> - -<p>"It was only a guess, Joe," he deprecated, "and it happened -to work our way. There was nothing clever about -what I did. The result was entirely a—an accident."</p> - -<p>"You had your head with you, all the same," insisted -McGlory, "when you put that empty box in the safe. But -how in thunder did Bunce get next to that? How did -he know that Tsan Ti had sent you the ruby, in the first -place?"</p> - -<p>"Well, he did know, and that's enough. A third man -has jumped into the deal—another pal, who is helping -Grattan and Bunce. Perhaps he had something to do -with keeping track of the ruby."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps. But that old two-eyed counterfeit with the -green patch—I wonder how much he'd sell out for, about -now?"</p> - -<p>"Bunce is pretty clever, in his own way, too," averred -Matt. "He must have laughed in his sleeve when he saw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> -how we had swallowed that fish story of his about Tsan -Ti."</p> - -<p>"He can laugh, now, on t'other side of his face. We're -helping Tsan Ti, all right. Grattan is on our trail instead -of his. I'm not saying it was the right thing for -the mandarin to shift the responsibility for that ruby onto -you, but he was pretty long headed when he did it. He -understood that if any one could take care of the ruby -it was Motor Matt."</p> - -<p>"It will soon be dinner time, Joe," said Matt. "Suppose -we go up to our room, shake the dust out of our -clothes, take a bath, and get ready to eat?"</p> - -<p>"That reminds me how hungry I am!" exclaimed McGlory, -springing up.</p> - -<p>By the time dinner was ready, the boys were ready for -dinner. Their experiences of the forenoon had put a -keen edge on their appetite, and the cowboy was in high -good humor.</p> - -<p>He and Matt had put in a strenuous morning, and so -long as McGlory thought they had not accomplished anything, -he was disgusted and "out of sorts." But to learn -that Grattan and Bunce had been beaten at their own -game, set twanging a most delightful chord in the cowboy's -make-up.</p> - -<p>The motor boys had no plans for the afternoon, so they -put in their time idling about the veranda. It was about -three o'clock when a tall man, dressed in a natty white -yachting costume with the name "Iris," in gilt letters on -the band of his cap, came briskly up the veranda steps, -passed Matt and McGlory and went on into the hotel.</p> - -<p>The man claimed only casual attention, on his first -appearance, but, a few seconds later, he captured the entire -attention of the two boys. He returned to the veranda, -ushered by the clerk, and both stepped toward Motor -Matt.</p> - -<p>"Matt," said the clerk, "this is Mr. Pardo, of the yacht -<i>Iris</i>. Mr. Pardo, Mr. King. He wants to see you about -some business matter," the clerk added, as he vanished -back into the hotel.</p> - -<p>The man from the <i>Iris</i> smiled cordially as he clasped -Matt's hand.</p> - -<p>"This is a pleasure, I assure you," said Pardo. "I -have heard quite a little about Motor Matt."</p> - -<p>"What can I do for you, Mr. Pardo?" asked Matt.</p> - -<p>"That's the business part of our interview," was the -answer, as Pardo helped himself to a chair, "and I'm -going to get right down to it. You are familiar with -gasoline motors, I understand?"</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"With marine motors?"</p> - -<p>"I reckon you never heard how he put an automobile -engine in a launch, at Madison, Wisconsin," struck in -McGlory, "and won a big race. He's right at home with -every kind of an explosive engine, whether it drives a -craft in the air, on wheels, or in the water."</p> - -<p>"My chum is a trifle prejudiced, Mr. Pardo," smiled -Matt.</p> - -<p>"Well, I guess you can do the work, all right. The -question now is, can I secure your services?"</p> - -<p>"What for?"</p> - -<p>"Of course," laughed Pardo, "that's what you naturally -want to know. I'm the owner of a power yacht, fifty -feet over all, ten feet beam, equipped with a fifty-horse-power -motor. She's the <i>Iris</i>. I dropped down from Albany, -this afternoon, and when we tied up at Catskill my -engineer received a telegram from Buffalo saying that -his father was dangerously sick. He left at once, and -here I am, anxious to make a quick run to New York, -but caught in the worst kind of a hole. Can't I get you -to help me out? As soon as I reach New York I can get -any number of reliable men to take charge of my engine -room, but here in Catskill help of that sort is scarce."</p> - -<p>McGlory's joy shone in his face. Here was a chance to -get down the river in style, and all that stood between -Matt and the trip was the ruby.</p> - -<p>"Can't you run the motor, Mr. Pardo?" asked Matt.</p> - -<p>"Don't know the first thing about it," was the answer. -"You see, I haven't had time to learn. This is my first -trip in the <i>Iris</i>, and I haven't had much chance to pick -up a knowledge of her machinery. It's my idea that every -man ought to know how to run his own boat—and I'll -know it, too, before I'm many days older. But, just now, -I've got to have some one. What do you say?"</p> - -<p>Pardo noticed that Matt was not especially eager to -help him out.</p> - -<p>"If you can just get me down to New York," he -pleaded, "that's all I will ask. If you have to come back -to Catskill for anything, you can come on the train in -the morning. You won't be away very long, and it will -be a big accommodation to me. I'll pay you well for -your trouble, too, if that will be any inducement."</p> - -<p>"Better go, pard," urged McGlory. "I don't think your -business will suffer any. We can be back here by nine in -the morning, if we want to."</p> - -<p>It was hardly likely, as Matt reasoned the matter out, -that Tsan Ti would present himself and ask for the ruby -before he and McGlory could get back from New York. -The opportunity to make a little money in a pleasant way -was appealing, for the king of the motor boys had long -desired to have the run of the engine room on a big power -boat.</p> - -<p>"What time do you want to start, Mr. Pardo?" Matt -asked.</p> - -<p>"At nine, this evening," was the reply. "If you can -help me out, you'd better arrange to be aboard at, say, -eight-thirty. The <i>Iris</i> is close to the day-line dock, and -you can't help but find her."</p> - -<p>"How much are you willing to pay for the trip?" -queried Matt. "It's just as well, you know, to have all -that settled beforehand."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I'll give you a hundred dollars—not so much for the -work, you understand, as for the time you are losing. -Your time may be worth even more than that. If it -is——"</p> - -<p>"You are more than liberal," broke in Matt. "I and -my chum will be aboard the <i>Iris</i> at eight-thirty."</p> - -<p>The man from the <i>Iris</i> heaved a deep breath.</p> - -<p>"That's a big load off my mind," said he. "I could -have telegraphed New York and had an engineer come -up on a late train—but that would have delayed the start -until close upon midnight. I shall expect you, Motor -Matt," and Pardo got up and went his way briskly.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">ABOARD THE STEAM YACHT.</p> - - -<p>"I don't know," said Matt, "whether this is the thing -for us to do, or not, Joe. Tsan Ti's letter asked us to -stay in the Catskills."</p> - -<p>"Oh, bother the old heathen!" returned the cowboy. -"He won't show up here for quite a spell. Anyhow, if -he does arrive to-morrow morning, before we do, he can -wait for us, can't he?"</p> - -<p>"He's paying us for our time."</p> - -<p>"What if he is, pard? The old boy won't find any -fault if we take this little run down the river. There's -a point, too, that you don't seem to have thought of."</p> - -<p>"What is it?"</p> - -<p>"Why, Grattan has quit trailing Tsan Ti and gone to -trailing you. By taking this trip down the river we may -be able to throw Grattan off the track."</p> - -<p>"That's so," answered Matt, struck with the idea.</p> - -<p>"If the tinhorn is laying any more of his plans," chuckled -the cowboy, "we'll fool him."</p> - -<p>"I'll leave word with the clerk," said Matt, "to tell -Tsan Ti where we've gone, and when we'll return; then, -if he <i>does</i> happen to get here before we do, he'll know -we're intending to come back and meet him."</p> - -<p>"That's the talk!"</p> - -<p>Matt immediately went into the hotel and stepped to -the clerk's desk.</p> - -<p>"Are you acquainted with Mr. Pardo?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"Never saw him before," answered the clerk. "He -came in here, introduced himself, and said he was looking -for Motor Matt. I knew you were on the porch, so I -volunteered to take him out and introduce you. Looks -like a fine gentleman. Interview satisfactory?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. He has a power yacht at the landing, and wants -an engineer to get her to New York for him. I've taken -the job, and Joe and I will be away all night and not get -back until sometime to-morrow forenoon. If any one -calls and asks for me, you need not tell them where I have -gone, but just let them know when I expect to return."</p> - -<p>"I'll do it, Matt. Didn't know you had an engineer's -license?"</p> - -<p>"He's got everything," put in McGlory, "that goes with -running a motor."</p> - -<p>The boys had no preparations to make, and as there -were two hours to be passed before supper they concluded -to run down to the dock and take a look at the -<i>Iris</i>. There was no difficulty at all in locating her, and -the sight of her trim and graceful lines made Matt eager -to have a look at her interior plan. There was no one -about her decks, however, whom he and McGlory could -hail, and he hesitated to go aboard and arouse any one -who might chance to be in the cabin.</p> - -<p>The cowboy, who was a wretched sailor, quite unaccountably -was an enthusiast about boats, and his doting -eyes sparkled as they traveled over the <i>Iris</i>.</p> - -<p>She had a very high freeboard forward, and this, with -her perfect lines, gave her an easy entrance and a guarantee -that she would not pound or ship seas in any sort -of weather. There was no midship bridge, or forward -pilot house, but the boat was steered and the engine controlled -from a big and roomy after deck.</p> - -<p>"She's a fair daisy!" declared the cowboy, "as spick -and span as a freshly coined four-bit piece. Sufferin' -bones, but I'd like to own a boat like that!"</p> - -<p>"You'd find such a craft an expensive luxury, Joe," -said Matt. "If you did much cruising, it would keep you -poor just buying gasoline. Let's go back up the hill. We -can't see inside the boat, and it don't take long to get a -pretty fair idea of the outside."</p> - -<p>Returning to the hotel, the boys idled away the time -until the supper call sounded. The meal over, there were -still some two hours of waiting before they were due -aboard the <i>Iris</i>.</p> - -<p>McGlory suggested another visit to the theatre for a -second look at the "Buddha's Eye" pictures. Matt, thinking -that as good a way as any for passing the time, acquiesced, -and they were soon at the moving-picture place.</p> - -<p>There was standing room only—which proved how -much of a hit the ruby robbery had made. The hit, of -course, was entirely because of Matt's adventures while -recovering the gem for Tsan Ti. If those attending the -show had known that Motor Matt was also present, and -that he had the very Eye of Buddha in his pocket, there -would have followed a furore of no small proportions.</p> - -<p>But the king of the motor boys, often in direct opposition -to his best interests, was reserved and diffident.</p> - -<p>"Gee!" exclaimed the cowboy, as he and Matt left the -theatre and wandered along the street, "if those people -back there had only known who you were, and what you -had in your pocket, there'd have been something of a -stir."</p> - -<p>"I don't like that kind of a stir," said Matt.</p> - -<p>"That's you! Say, pard, you're altogether too modest -and retiring. If you wanted to splurge a little, you could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> -make yourself talked about from one end of the country -to the other."</p> - -<p>"I'll leave that to those who like it. It's the quiet chap, -who plugs along and does things without blowing his -own horn who makes the biggest hit in the end."</p> - -<p>"I don't know but that's right, too."</p> - -<p>They dropped in at another show, promenaded the -street, and finally discovered that it was nearly eight-thirty. -Turning their steps toward the water front, they -presently reached the wharf alongside the <i>Iris</i>.</p> - -<p>The craft had her "running" lights in position. There -was a white light in the bow, visible from straight ahead -and for ten points on either side, a green light to starboard -and a red light to port, each screened so that it -could be seen from dead ahead to two points aft of the -beam, and a high white light aft and directly over the -keel, showing all around the horizon.</p> - -<p>But, notwithstanding all these lights on deck, there -were none visible through the cabin ports.</p> - -<p>"I wonder if Mr. Pardo has got here?" said Matt.</p> - -<p>"What's the odds, Matt?" returned McGlory. "It's -eight-thirty, and we're due."</p> - -<p>They got aboard, gaining the after deck. The elevated -white light cast a dim glow over polished mahogany and -glittering brasswork, and Matt bent down to examine the -bulkhead controls. A door opened in the bulkhead, on -the right of the steering wheel, and a man showed shadowily -in the dark.</p> - -<p>"Is that Motor Matt?" he called.</p> - -<p>"Yes," was the reply.</p> - -<p>The man clambered up two or three steps, knocking his -shins and swearing because of the darkness.</p> - -<p>"You're expected," said he. "Go down into the saloon—a -stateroom is the first thing you come to, and the -saloon is beyond that."</p> - -<p>"Why don't you light up?" asked Matt.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Pardo has a headache, and the light bothers him. -Go on down—he's waiting for you."</p> - -<p>Matt led the way, and McGlory followed. They left -the door open, and a faint radiance followed them, but -they were in unfamiliar surroundings, and had to grope -their way along.</p> - -<p>"Is that you, Motor Matt?" called a voice, which they -recognized as Pardo's.</p> - -<p>"Yes," Matt answered.</p> - -<p>"Come on in here. I'm not feeling very well to-night, -and the light hurts my eyes. You can guide yourself by -the sound of my voice, can't you?"</p> - -<p>"We'll get there, all right."</p> - -<p>"Is your friend with you?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. I never travel without him."</p> - -<p>The next moment Matt gained the open door in another -bulkhead. Before he could pass through it, two -sinewy arms went around him from behind and a hand -was clapped over his lips. He struggled, but he was -caught as in a vise, and his efforts to free himself were -useless. From near at hand, too, he heard sounds which -indicated that McGlory, also, had been seized.</p> - -<p>"Got them?" came the voice of Pardo.</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir," answered the man who was holding Matt, -"but they're fightin' like a pair o' young demons."</p> - -<p>"Then throw them down on the side seats and hold -pillows over their heads. We'll get under way at once."</p> - -<p>Matt felt himself borne down on a cushioned bench. -The hand was jerked from his lips, and the half-formed -cry that escaped him was smothered in the pillow that -was immediately pushed over his head.</p> - -<p>A bell jingled, and steps could be heard on the deck -above, moving swiftly.</p> - -<p>"All right!" came a muffled voice.</p> - -<p>Matt, half suffocated, could hear no more. He was -fighting fiercely for his breath.</p> - -<p>Presently he was conscious that the <i>Iris</i> was moving, -and, as he lay gasping and helpless under the strong -hands of his captor, there came faintly to his ears the -hum of a motor and the lapping of waves against the -hull.</p> - -<p>How long he was held down on the seat, half smothered -by the pillow, he did not know. It seemed hours, -but was probably no more than so many minutes.</p> - -<p>Then, suddenly, the pillow was jerked away, and he -lifted himself on his elbow, a glare of light in his eyes. -For a moment or two the dazzling light blinded him. -When his eyes became somewhat used to it, he discovered -a man standing near him, his flannel shirt parted at the -throat and his bronzed arms bare to the elbows. The -man held a dirk in one hand and a piece of rope in the -other.</p> - -<p>From this frowning figure, Matt's gaze shifted across -the narrow aisle to a cushioned bench opposite. McGlory -was there, and there was likewise a ruffian keeping -watch of him.</p> - -<p>"What—what does this mean?" demanded Matt.</p> - -<p>"You'll find out, quick enough. Are you goin' to make -any trouble? If you are, say so, now, and you'll save -yourself a knife in the ribs."</p> - -<p>"I want to know about this!" declared Matt.</p> - -<p>"Then get up and go into the saloon."</p> - -<p>"You, too," said the man who had charge of McGlory. -"Foller yer mate inter the saloon, an' if either o' -ye let out a yell ye'll never know what struck you."</p> - -<p>Matt, fearing the worst, swung his feet down from the -upholstered seat and started forward. McGlory, who -appeared to be in a trance, followed him mechanically.</p> - -<p>The door of the saloon was open, and Matt passed -through it, and stopped. McGlory crowded in beside him.</p> - -<p>The saloon was the full width of the boat, with seats -on each side, and a table at one end. The small room was -flooded with light, and three figures were seen in an -angle formed by one of the seats where it partly crossed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> -the forward bulkhead. The fixed table stood in the angle, -and the three figures were leaning upon it.</p> - -<p>One of the men was Grattan, another was Bunce, and -the third was Pardo. In front of Grattan, on the table -top, lay two objects. One was a revolver, and the other -the small box in which the ruby had been expressed to -Matt from New York.</p> - -<p>All three of the men were smiling.</p> - -<p>"Speak to me about this!" muttered McGlory. -"Nabbed! Nabbed as slick as you please! And I never -guessed a thing. Oh, sufferin' easy marks!"</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">GRATTAN'S TRIUMPH.</p> - - -<p>Motor Matt understood the situation. The full realization -came to him with something like a shock. In some -way Grattan had secured the aid of the owner and crew -of the <i>Iris</i> in carrying out his villainous designs. He had -triumphed, for he had only to have Matt searched in -order to secure the ruby.</p> - -<p>Philo Grattan was an educated fellow, and could be -a man of pleasing address when he so desired. In almost -any honest line of work he could have distinguished himself, -for his ability was high above the average. Yet, -like so many others equally gifted, he had been drawn -toward a life of crime.</p> - -<p>"Motor Matt," said he, in a tone and with a manner -that was friendly, "we meet again. The pleasure, on your -part, I presume, is unexpected, and perhaps of a doubtful -quality, but so far as I am concerned, I assure you that -this renewing of our acquaintance leaves nothing to be -desired."</p> - -<p>"Not a blessed thing," struck in Bunce, contorted with -inward mirth, "sink me, if it does!"</p> - -<p>Grattan dropped a heavy hand on the mariner's -shoulder.</p> - -<p>"Keep a still tongue in your head," he ordered sternly. -"I'm able to do the talking."</p> - -<p>"Then," and Matt turned toward Pardo, "this is simply -a plot you have engineered to get me into the hands -of Grattan?"</p> - -<p>"Simply and solely," was Pardo's cheerful answer.</p> - -<p>"Pardo is my friend," explained Grattan. "He lives in -Albany, when he's at home—but he's rarely at home. He -has been fortunate, of late, in sundry little ventures, and -happened to be well supplied with money. No sooner -had I lost my buckthorn cane, there in the old sugar -camp, at Purling, and been made aware of the fact that -the Eye of Buddha had been found, than I communicated -with friend Pardo. I had met him in Albany on -my way to the Catskills, so I knew he was at home. He -met me in my temporary camp, and agreed to charter the -<i>Iris</i> to help me down the river and out of the country -after I had got back the ruby. The <i>Iris</i>, together with a -crew of men on whom we can depend, has been awaiting -my convenience for the past two days. Of course," -and Grattan showed his teeth in a smile, "my friend's -name is not Pardo, any more than mine is Grattan, or -than this salt-water bungler on my left is named Bunce."</p> - -<p>Although Matt followed Grattan closely, he had, at the -same time, been covertly using his eyes.</p> - -<p>The door leading into the stateroom behind him was -closed. On the other side of it he knew there was one -brawny ruffian, and perhaps two. Beyond the saloon's -forward bulkhead he could hear the purring motor. -There, he inferred, was the engine room and the galley, -with another man who could be "depended on." At the -steering and engine controls on the after deck was surely -another man, and probably one on the deck overhead.</p> - -<p>He and McGlory were hemmed in on all sides. There -must have been, counting those in the saloon, all of seven -or eight men against them. So far as Matt could see, the -case was hopeless.</p> - -<p>Matt's covert looks had not escaped the keen eyes of -Grattan. The scoundrel seemed able to read even the -young motorist's thoughts.</p> - -<p>"Don't think of escape, Motor Matt," said he. "That is -entirely out of the question. Neither you nor your friend -are in any danger. I think too highly of you to rob the -world of so much talent and ingenuity. Let us have another -friendly and intimate chat such as we had in the -old sugar camp. I do not object to telling you things of -great moment to me, because I have already taken measures -to make the knowledge harmless. I escaped from -the sugar camp, did I not? And all I told you then did -not in any way hamper me in proceeding with my plans. -I am willing to be equally frank now, in the hope that -you, on your part, will give me some of your confidence.</p> - -<p>"You thought Tsan Ti, the mandarin, had started for -San Francisco with the ruby. Orientals are crafty. He -gave it out that he was going to San Francisco, and immediately -started for New York. I had him followed -from the Hotel Kaaterskill, and shadowed while in New -York. The man who served me was clever, but not -clever enough to keep Tsan Ti from learning that he was -under espionage. The mandarin became nervous. He -did not appeal to the police, as his heathen mind counsels -him to have nothing to do with the peace officers who -serve the foreign devils. But he had his man, Sam Wing, -and other Chinamen, continually guard him. One of -these Chinamen was faithless. Some of my money, expended -by the man I had set to watch Tsan Ti, bought -him. This Chinaman was Charley Foo, and he betrayed -the mandarin's trust for the sum of ten silver dollars.</p> - -<p>"Charley was in the room with Tsan Ti when the ruby -was boxed, wrapped and addressed to Motor Matt. Charley, -also, went with Tsan Ti and Sam Wing to the express -office, and saw the package sent. Then, quite naturally,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> -Charley told my man, and my man telegraphed -Pardo at Hudson, and Pardo got the message to me, out -there in that lonely ravine.</p> - -<p>"Then I began rehearsing Bunce in his part. Bunce is -a natural blockhead, and I was three hours teaching him -what he was to say and do. As an example of his folly, -I will say that it was Bunce who stole the speeder. The -owner of the machine was inspecting a bit of siding that -wound around a low hill. The speeder was on the main -track. All Bunce had to do was to get aboard, switch -on the gasoline and the spark—and there you are. But -why did we need the speeder when we had two good -motorcycles? Bunce can't tell. He doesn't know. He -has a low mind, and the itch to steal unimportant things -runs in his blood—and has more than once proved embarrassing -to me.</p> - -<p>"However, I saw a chance to use the speeder in beguiling -you to my ravine. The motorcycles would only -have carried two, and there were to be three of you, including -Bunce. Besides, the machines might have aroused -your suspicions. So the speeder was used, and Pardo -went over the hill with Bunce and helped him hide the -speeder within an arrow flight of the Catskill railroad -yards.</p> - -<p>"Bunce took a risk. He knew it. I impressed upon him -the fact that, if he did not carry out his programme with -earnestness, you would make a prisoner of him and turn -him over to the police. We knew Tsan Ti had written -that you must keep the ruby about you, and leave it nowhere -for security. I flattered myself you would bring -the gem with you, concealed somewhere upon your person. -But Pardo, wearing clothes which made him look -vastly different, saw you leave the little box with the hotel -clerk. Instantly Pardo ran ahead of you to the place -where Bunce was waiting, and told him. The seeming -failure of our plans threw Bunce into a panic—you can -expect so little of Bunce in a pinch!—and he would have -thrown over the whole matter, then and there, had not -Pardo advised him. 'Take them out into the hills,' said -Pardo, 'and leave them stranded there while you get -away to the ravine and tell Grattan. Grattan will know -what to do.' And Grattan did."</p> - -<p>An ironical smile crossed the face of the strange man, -and he paused a space. When he continued, his manner -was again easy and vivacious.</p> - -<p>"Ah, those section men! They helped gain time for -me, and afforded Bunce his opportunity to get away from -you. Bunce fled—you know how. He came to me and -told me about the box, the box Motor Matt had left with -the hotel clerk to be put in the safe. A fountain pen and -a sheet of letter paper sufficed for the letter. I have seen -your written name, Motor Matt, and when I have once -seen a person's handwriting, I can copy it from memory -after a lapse of one year or ten. Some say it is a gift.</p> - -<p>"We had sharp work ahead of us, Bunce and I. We -rolled out of the ravine on our motorcycles, gained the -river bank below Catskill and signaled the <i>Iris</i>. Pardo -came ashore in the tender, and he loaned us his motor-man -for the work that claimed us. You know how he -got the box, and we know what it contained—cotton -wadding, but no ruby. Motor Matt, I could have shaken -your hand and congratulated you—if you had been near -and I had had time.</p> - -<p>"A few rebuffs are what I need to bring out the best -that is in me. Quick as a flash I thought of the motor-man's sick -father in Buffalo, and Pardo's call at your -hotel to get you to take the <i>Iris</i> to New York. Shall I -call it an inspiration? I believe it amounted to that.</p> - -<p>"Bunce and I, snugged away in this saloon, slept and -waited for the issue of our scheming. Pardo came to report -that you would be aboard the <i>Iris</i> at eight-thirty. I -was almost sure of success, but not certain. You have a -way, Motor Matt, of disappointing people like me, and I -was not counting positively upon success until I had you -in my hands.</p> - -<p>"Well, here you are. I have only the kindliest feelings -toward you, but you know what I want, and what I want, -in this instance, I am going to have."</p> - -<p>Grattan got up and stood beside the table, a superb -figure of a man whose head just cleared the deck above.</p> - -<p>"I have devoted time, and study, and faced dangers innumerable," -he proceeded, betrayed into passionate vehemence, -"to secure the Eye of Buddha! I have beaten -down every obstacle, and secured the stone only to lose it; -now it is mine again, mine. Motor Matt," and he -stretched out his hand, "I will trouble you for the Eye of -Buddha!"</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">FROM THE OPEN PORT!</p> - - -<p>Motor Matt made no move to give the ruby into the -possession of Grattan. Thief though he was, yet Philo -Grattan had a remarkable personality. Matt had listened -to him with deepest interest, but one hand had been busy -in his pocket. McGlory was so deeply absorbed in what -the master rogue was saying that his jaws gaped, and he -hung breathlessly upon his words.</p> - -<p>Near Matt's left hand, with only the width of the side -seat between, was an open port.</p> - -<p>"What!" exclaimed Grattan, as though intensely surprised, -"you hesitate? I dislike to treat you with any -more roughness, Motor Matt. It seems to me you might -understand how hopeless it is for you to try to keep the -ruby. What is this Tsan Ti to you that you will risk so -much for him? Is it the money he pays you? I can't believe -that. You have made a good deal of money in your -work, I have been told, and you are not in need.</p> - -<p>"Is it because you desire to help an unfortunate Chinaman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> -who must use the yellow cord in case he cannot return -to China with the Eye of Buddha? Foolish sentiment! -What would this fat mandarin of the red button -do for you if your positions were reversed? Take the -present case. What has Tsan Ti done? He is a coward. -Instead of facing his risks like a man, he turns the ruby -over to you, thereby unloading the danger and responsibility. -After you have me safely jailed"—and Grattan's -voice throbbed with contempt and scorn—"then this mandarin -will hunt you up, take the ruby, which is worth a -fortune, and pay you a thousand dollars! Why are you -the friend of such a coward? Tell me, will you? Here is -where I should like a frank expression of your views."</p> - -<p>"I don't think Tsan Ti is a coward," Matt answered.</p> - -<p>"You have the proof."</p> - -<p>"I have your side of the question, not his."</p> - -<p>"My side of the question! Is there any other side?"</p> - -<p>"There may be."</p> - -<p>"I am disappointed in you, Motor Matt. Such talk is -foolish—almost worthy of Bunce, here."</p> - -<p>"There is something else, too, Grattan," went on Matt, -"something, I suppose, you will appreciate even less than -what I have just said."</p> - -<p>"I don't think there can be anything I would appreciate -less. However, let's hear what it is."</p> - -<p>"Being true to a trust," answered Matt sturdily. "Even -if a Chinaman trusts you, standing fast and not betraying -his confidence."</p> - -<p>Bunce snickered, and Pardo laughed outright. Only -Grattan kept a serious face and peered steadily at Matt.</p> - -<p>"Yes," murmured Grattan, "there is something in that. -It is not for me—I have turned my back on such principles—but -you are young and quite likely you have -started right. That, however, does not affect our present -situation. It is impossible for you to remain true to the -trust the cowardly Tsan Ti reposes in you. I have you -in my power. It is night, and the <i>Iris</i> is in the middle of -the Hudson River. The ruby is tied up in a handkerchief -in your coat pocket. I tell you I want it."</p> - -<p>The voice was imperious, compelling. Motor Matt -still passively faced Grattan.</p> - -<p>"Oh, shiver me!" grunted Bunce. "Let's lay hold of -him an' take it."</p> - -<p>Pardo pushed a hand toward the revolver on the table.</p> - -<p>With one movement, Grattan, although still with his -eyes on Matt, dropped his own hand to the revolver and -another hand on Bunce's shoulder.</p> - -<p>"You'll speak when you're spoken to, Bunce," said he -savagely, "and Pardo, you'll leave the revolver alone. -I've managed this matter with fair success, up to now, -and I believe I can wind it up. The ruby, Motor Matt!"</p> - -<p>"There it is!" said Matt.</p> - -<p>His hand darted toward the open port. A knotted -handkerchief, weighted with some small object, flashed -through the port and vanished downward.</p> - -<p>A yell escaped Bunce, and he flung himself across the -table in a frantic attempt to lay hold of Matt. Pardo -leaped for him, and the door leading into the stateroom -opened and the man who was waiting stepped into the -room.</p> - -<p>McGlory had jumped to help Matt against Pardo. The -man who had just entered grabbed the cowboy and flung -him roughly on the seat at the side of the room; then he -and Pardo hurled Matt to the floor.</p> - -<p>"Search him!" ordered Grattan calmly.</p> - -<p>"By the seven holy spritsails!" bellowed Bunce, "what's -the use o' searchin' him? Didn't he just throw the Eye o' -Buddha into the river?"</p> - -<p>"He ought to be strangled for that!" cried Pardo, in a -temper.</p> - -<p>"Search him, I tell you!" roared Grattan. "Are you all -a pack of fools? He didn't throw the ruby into the -river."</p> - -<p>"But we saw him," insisted Pardo.</p> - -<p>"You saw his handkerchief go into the river, but it was -only a trick. Do you think he would sacrifice the ruby, -even to prevent me from getting it? Search him, I tell -you."</p> - -<p>The search was made, and thoroughly. Motor Matt's -pockets were turned inside out, but without result. Garment -by garment his clothes were stripped away and -crushed in eager hands, but still without result.</p> - -<p>The ruby was as large as a small hen's egg, and not -easily to be hidden.</p> - -<p>McGlory had gone into a trance again. As he lay on -the seat and stared, he wondered if Matt had really tossed -the priceless gem into the Hudson.</p> - -<p>"He hasn't got it, Grattan," announced Pardo.</p> - -<p>"Then his friend has it," answered Grattan confidently. -"Search him."</p> - -<p>Thereupon the cowboy came in for his share of the -rough handling. Matt once more got into his clothes. -Just as the search of McGlory was finished, Motor Matt -was reaching for his cap, which had tumbled off in the -scuffle in the other room, and had been thrown into the -saloon after the boys had entered it.</p> - -<p>"Nothing here," announced Pardo, as he turned from -McGlory.</p> - -<p>"Nary, there ain't," fumed McGlory. "Motor Matt's -not the lad to shift his responsibilities like Tsan Ti. Sufferin' -hornets! You're a fine outfit of tinhorns, I must -say."</p> - -<p>Stepping quickly out from behind the table, Grattan -passed to Matt and snatched off his cap. He weighed the -cap for a moment in his hand, felt of the crown with his -fingers, and then, still holding the cap, returned quietly to -his seat.</p> - -<p>"Sit down, Bunce, you and Pardo," ordered Grattan. -"Pierson, go out and close the door."</p> - -<p>When the two men were seated, and after Pierson had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> -left the saloon, Grattan leaned his elbows on the table, -Matt's cap between them.</p> - -<p>"This Motor Matt," said he, "is a lad whom I greatly -admire. He takes precautions. His first precaution was -removing the ruby from the box and depositing the box -with the hotel clerk before he went out into the hills with -Bunce. In running away from the ravine with Bunce -to carry out my plan for securing the box, I ran directly -away from Motor Matt and the ruby. Motor Matt had -the ruby tied up in his handkerchief, then. He was seen, -on the hotel veranda, to untie his handkerchief and show -the ruby to his friend. When he came aboard the <i>Iris</i> -he had taken another precaution. Something else was -tied up in the handkerchief, and the ruby was in the -lining of his cap."</p> - -<p>Swiftly Grattan's hands descended, tore at the cap -lining, and brought out the imperial stone. He laid it on -the table, turning and turning it so the light might catch -its fiery flash.</p> - -<p>"Blow me tight!" mumbled Bunce. "Say, mates," he -added, drawing a sleeve across his forehead, "that was a -scare I don't want ever to go through ag'in. We've risked -so much for that bloomin' Eye o' Buddha that I near went -wrong in the head with the thought that it was in the bottom -o' the river!"</p> - -<p>"It's comparatively easy for you to go wrong in the -head, Bunce," taunted Grattan.</p> - -<p>"So that's the thing!" murmured Pardo, his fascinated -eyes on the gleaming stone.</p> - -<p>"Did you ever see anything more beautiful?" asked -Grattan. "It's a true pigeon-blood ruby, and worth ten -times the value of a diamond the same size."</p> - -<p>Then, drawing out his own handkerchief, he wrapped -the ruby carefully, and as carefully stowed it away in his -pocket.</p> - -<p>"So," said he, "after a number of startling adventures -in the Catskills, the ruby is finally where it ought to be."</p> - -<p>"It ought to be in the head of that idol, in Canton," -said Matt.</p> - -<p>The king of the motor boys was calm, and, while he -may have had regrets, he had nothing to reproach himself -for. He had done his best to keep the ruby—and he had -failed.</p> - -<p>"Motor Matt," returned Grattan, "a heathen temple is -no place for such a jewel as this. In the Honan joss -house it benefits no one. When I sell it, it will benefit -me a great deal, and Bunce a little."</p> - -<p>"And me," put in Pardo. "Don't forget that I stand in -on the divvy."</p> - -<p>"And Pardo," added Grattan.</p> - -<p>"And Tsan Ti must strangle himself with the yellow -cord," said Matt.</p> - -<p>"If that is his will, yes. I have no patience with these -pagan superstitions. A heathen, who lives by them, cannot -let them shuffle him out of the world too quickly. -As for you, Motor Matt, you have nothing to be sorry -for. You did your best to keep the ruby out of my -hands—no one else could have done so much."</p> - -<p>"It's not the ruby I care for so much as saving Tsan -Ti," answered Matt.</p> - -<p>"Find out if there's a landing near this point, Pardo," -said Grattan.</p> - -<p>Pardo stepped out of the room and could be heard -talking with the man at the steering wheel.</p> - -<p>"No," he reported, coming back, "there's no safe landing -for the <i>Iris</i> anywhere near here."</p> - -<p>"Then put over the tender," ordered Grattan; "Motor -Matt and his friend are going ashore."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">LANDED—AND STUNG.</p> - - -<p>Pardo left the saloon to give the necessary orders to -the man outside. There was a splash in the water as -the tender was put over, and the <i>Iris</i> slowed until she -had no more than steerage way.</p> - -<p>"Get into your clothes, McGlory," said Grattan to the -cowboy. "I'm about ready to send you ashore."</p> - -<p>"The quicker the better!" exclaimed McGlory wrathfully. -"We don't want to lose a minute getting to some -place where we can send the officers after you."</p> - -<p>Grattan laughed.</p> - -<p>"You will have your trouble for your pains," said he. -"After you are landed, the <i>Iris</i> and those aboard her will -vanish as completely as though they had gone to the bottom. -I have planned for this. Do what you please, and -as soon as you please. Philo Grattan and his friends -will never be captured."</p> - -<p>"Ten thousand demons of misfortune pester a man -who has anything to do with the Eye of Buddha," snarled -McGlory, stamping into his shoes. "My pard and I -know that. Sufferin' hoodoos! Haven't we been tangled -up with all sorts of backsets since we met Tsan Ti? If it -ain't one thing, it's two. You never know what minute's -going to be the next."</p> - -<p>"I'll risk the ten thousand demons," smiled Grattan.</p> - -<p>"Something'll hit you," declared McGlory. "You take -that from me, and spread your blankets on it."</p> - -<p>"You forget that I have carried the ruby for a good -many thousands of miles."</p> - -<p>"I'm gloomed up more to think we ever saw that Eye -of Buddha," scowled McGlory, getting up from the seat -and jamming on his hat, "than to know that we lost it."</p> - -<p>"Are you ready?" asked Grattan.</p> - -<p>"I've been ready to leave this boat ever since we came -aboard! You're a fine bunch of outlaws, the lot of you, -and you'll all get hung, one of these days. I'd like to be -around when it happens."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> - -<p>Matt left his wrathful chum to do the talking. So far -as he was concerned, he had nothing to say.</p> - -<p>"We're going to put you ashore near a place where -you can catch a train north, to Catskill," said Grattan, -after a brief, whispered conversation with Pardo. "There -doesn't happen to be any telegraph station at the place, -but the train will stop on signal."</p> - -<p>"There are other telegraph stations," fumed McGlory. -"I reckon we can find 'em."</p> - -<p>"I hope, Motor Matt," went on Grattan, "that you -don't cherish any hard feelings?"</p> - -<p>"No matter how I feel, Grattan," returned Matt, "I -think you've made a big mistake."</p> - -<p>"How?"</p> - -<p>"Why, in your choice of a career. Half the energy you -put into your criminal work would make you a power in -the world."</p> - -<p>"I used to talk like that," said Grattan, with a tinge of -bitterness, "when I was young. Good-by."</p> - -<p>Matt did not answer, but went out of the saloon and -through the stateroom to the steps leading to the after -deck. McGlory came close behind him. When they -gained the deck, Pierson was in the tender, and another -man stood ready to help them over the side.</p> - -<p>Silently Pierson rowed them ashore through the moonlight. -When the boys had debarked, Pierson rowed -swiftly back to the <i>Iris</i>, and the lads on shore could hear -the noise as the tender was taken aboard.</p> - -<p>"Landed," muttered Matt.</p> - -<p>"And stung," finished McGlory. "Wasn't it neat? -Say, I take off my hat to Grattan. He's the king bee of -all the tinhorns. Let's watch and see which way the <i>Iris</i> -goes."</p> - -<p>The boys watched, but under their staring eyes the -lights vanished one by one from forward and aft, and -from starboard and port. The cabin windows winked -out in darkness, and the gloom of the river swallowed -up the motor yacht. Her disappearance was helped by a -cloud which floated across the face of the moon and -threw the river into deepest shadow.</p> - -<p>"Speak to me about that, pard!" exclaimed McGlory. -"I wonder if it would do any good to send out telegrams?"</p> - -<p>"I don't think it would, Joe," Matt answered, "but if -there was a telegraph office handy, we'd try it."</p> - -<p>"Let's find the place where the trains stop. If a train -comes along pretty soon, we can get to a telegraph office."</p> - -<p>When the cloud had swept on, and the moon shone out -again, a survey of the place showed the boys a dark -building at the top of the bank. They climbed up to the -structure and found that it was an open shed, with -benches. There was no light, and the cowboy struck a -match and hunted for a time card. He could find none.</p> - -<p>"Oh, hang such a place!" grumbled McGlory. "If we -knew how far it was to the next station, pard, we could -set out and hoof it."</p> - -<p>"Haven't you done enough walking for one day, Joe?" -asked Matt. "I believe I have. I'm going to sit down -here and wait for a train to come along."</p> - -<p>Suiting his action to the word, Matt dropped down on -one of the benches. His chum took a place beside him.</p> - -<p>"You're as full of surprises, pard," remarked McGlory, -"as a cocoanut is of milk. There's no guessing what -you're going to do next. You didn't tell me anything -about taking the Eye of Buddha from that empty box -when you left it with the clerk, and you never let out a -yip about removing the ruby from the handkerchief and -putting it in your cap. Regular greaser trick—carrying -things in your hat."</p> - -<p>"I thought I had to do something, Joe. When I was at -work in the engine room, I had planned to take off the -cap and put it in my pocket."</p> - -<p>"What did you have in that handkerchief?"</p> - -<p>"My pocketknife."</p> - -<p>"Great guns! Was the knife in the handkerchief when -we left Catskill?"</p> - -<p>"No. The knife and the handkerchief were both in -the same pocket. I managed to tie the knife up in the -handkerchief, after a fashion, while we were facing Grattan, -and he was talking."</p> - -<p>"Well, glory to glory and all sashay! And Grattan -never saw you!"</p> - -<p>"I'm inclined to think he did, from the way the thing -turned out."</p> - -<p>"You didn't think you could fool Grattan so he -wouldn't search you, did you?"</p> - -<p>"It was a desperate chance to keep him from looking -into my cap. But I might have known I couldn't fool -him."</p> - -<p>Just at that moment a lantern could be seen coming -from down the track. A man reached the shed and began -lighting a lamp at each end of it.</p> - -<p>"Hello, neighbor!" called McGlory. "Do you belong -around here?"</p> - -<p>The man turned and looked toward the boys. Evidently -he had not seen them before, and the call startled -him.</p> - -<p>"I live down the track a ways," he answered.</p> - -<p>"Do you take care of this palatial depot?"</p> - -<p>"I put out the lights," was the reply.</p> - -<p>"A little late getting them out to-night, aren't you?"</p> - -<p>"Well, no. There's no use putting them out before, -'cause the first train to stop hasn't come along yet."</p> - -<p>"How far is it to Catskill?"</p> - -<p>"Twenty mile."</p> - -<p>"Where's the nearest telegraph office?"</p> - -<p>"Three miles below. You fellers waitin' to ketch a -train for Catskill?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. When will it be along?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> - -<p>"It's due now."</p> - -<p>"Does it stop here?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, if it's signaled."</p> - -<p>"How'll we flag it?"</p> - -<p>"I'll do that for ye with the lantern. That's what I -come up here for—to put out the lights an' do the flaggin'."</p> - -<p>"Here's a piece of luck, anyhow, Matt," said McGlory. -"We can go on to Catskill and do our telegraphing from -there."</p> - -<p>"We might just as well," said Matt.</p> - -<p>Matt's failure to keep the ruby was preying on his -spirits. He couldn't help what had happened, but the -sting of failure, when he always prided himself on -"making good," was hard to bear.</p> - -<p>"Buck up, pardy!" cried McGlory. "Old Tsan Ti -can't find any fault with you."</p> - -<p>"I know that. I'm thinking, though, we weren't cautious -enough in going aboard that boat."</p> - -<p>"Cautious? Tell me about that! Who wouldn't have -been fooled, when the game was worked like Grattan -worked it? I don't know how any one could have helped -what happened."</p> - -<p>"Anyhow," said Matt, "we fell down. It might have -been just as well if I had disobeyed Tsan Ti's instructions -and placed the ruby in some bank vault."</p> - -<p>"But the mandarin said no. You carried out orders to -the letter, and that's what lost us the ruby."</p> - -<p>"We were to stay in the Catskills, and we didn't. Because -we broke over our instructions, we fell into the -hands of Grattan."</p> - -<p>"He'd have got at you somehow even if we'd stayed -in Catskill. I never saw such a man to keep after a thing -he's set his mind on. Now, if we——"</p> - -<p>"Train's comin'," called the man, stepping upon the -track and waving the lantern.</p> - -<p>The rumble of the passenger could be heard, growing -rapidly in volume.</p> - -<p>"Well," remarked McGlory, as he and Matt got up, -"we've shuffled off the hoodoo and nothing more will go -crossways with us. That's worth a whole lot. And if -Tsan Ti is fool enough to choke himself with that yellow -cord, well, let him do it. Grattan was more than half -right in what he said about that."</p> - -<p>The train, with its row of dimly lighted windows, came -to a halt. Matt and McGlory climbed aboard, and the -train started on again.</p> - -<p>The boys walked from one car into another trying to -find a vacant seat which they could share together. At -last Matt, who was in the lead, came to a halt in the aisle -at the rear of the second coach.</p> - -<p>"Move on, pard," said McGlory. "We'll try the next -car. It can't be that all the coaches are as full as this -one."</p> - -<p>But Matt did not move on. He turned, amazement -shining in his gray eyes, and pointed to a seat ahead of -him, and on the right.</p> - -<p>Two drowsy Chinamen occupied the seat. One of -them was fleshy, and took up two-thirds of the space. -This man wore a black silk cap with a red button. His -chin was sunk on his breast and he was snoring loudly.</p> - -<p>"Tsan Ti!" murmured McGlory, wondering if his eyes -were playing him a trick.</p> - -<p>"And Sam Wing," added Matt. "The mandarin is -going to Catskill to get the ruby. Here's where I have -to tell him the truth."</p> - -<p>With that, Motor Matt leaned over and touched Tsan -Ti on the shoulder.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">A CRAFTY ORIENTAL.</p> - - -<p>Meeting Tsan Ti in this peculiar fashion was a seven-day -wonder to the motor boys. The workings of chance, -in connection with various matters appertaining to the -stolen ruby, could not have been better exemplified.</p> - -<p>Tsan Ti roused himself under Matt's touch, and blinked -up at him through sleepy eyes. By degrees the lad's face -took form before him, and he gave an incredulous grunt -and floundered to his feet.</p> - -<p>"Estimable, never-to-be-forgotten friend!" the mandarin -wheezed, his flabby face beaming as he reached for -Motor Matt's hand. "Also the notable McGlory, friend -of my friend! This is a delight, all the more joyful because -not expected until Catskill. Why is it I have the -great honor to see you here?"</p> - -<p>"That's quite a yarn, Tsan Ti," replied Matt.</p> - -<p>"Let me hear it forthwith, I beseech!" and Tsan Ti -ordered Sam Wing out of the seat and motioned for -Matt to take his place.</p> - -<p>The mandarin had been educated at one of the most -famous colleges in the United States, and seemed, as McGlory -expressed it, to have spent most of his time corralling -adjectives.</p> - -<p>Sam Wing, apparently not in the least excited by the -sudden appearance of the motor boys, got a seat across -the aisle and continued his doze. McGlory managed to -secure a place behind Matt.</p> - -<p>"I, most devoted youth," said Tsan Ti, as soon as Matt -was seated, "am on my way to Catskill of a purpose to -talk with you. No longer am I followed by the suspicious -person whom I know to have been in the service of Grattan. -So soon as I discovered this, I started immediately -to find you. The five hundred gods of good luck must -have decreed this meeting."</p> - -<p>"Rather," answered Matt, "the ten thousand demons of -misfortune. I suppose, Tsan Ti, you are after the Eye of -Buddha?"</p> - -<p>"Quite true, honorable youth."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Well," said Matt, "I haven't got it."</p> - -<p>Tsan Ti started, then slumped back into his seat.</p> - -<p>"It has escaped you, vigilant one?" he inquired, his -puffy eyelids half closing as he regarded Matt.</p> - -<p>"It has escaped me, all right."</p> - -<p>"And who has it now?"</p> - -<p>"Grattan."</p> - -<p>The mandarin turned his face away and looked out of -the car window into the night. Motor Matt felt miserable -enough. His words, just uttered, might have sealed -the doom of the mandarin.</p> - -<p>"Converse with me at length upon the subject," said -Tsan Ti, again turning toward Matt. "What you say is -of vast importance, excellent friend."</p> - -<p>Matt had twenty miles of slow traveling in which to -make his disclosures, and he made them in detail, with -now and then an explanatory word from McGlory.</p> - -<p>He began at the point where he had received the ruby, -and set forth the manner in which Bunce had presented -himself. Bunce's cock-and-bull story was gone into, and -Tsan Ti's eyes twinkled humorously—Matt wondered at -the humor—as he heard how he had been lured into a -basement by a beach comber and was being held a prisoner. -The leaving of the box with the hotel clerk, the -flight into the hills, and the disappearance of Bunce, all -dropped into the recital in chronological form; then came -the tracking to the "pocket" under the ledge, and the following -of the motorcycle trails in the direction of Catskill, -the arrival of the boys in town, and the report of the clerk -concerning the forged letter and the removal of the box.</p> - -<p>"So there," put in the mandarin, "is where my ruby -escaped from your unfortunate hands."</p> - -<p>"Don't be so quick in your snap judgments, Tsan," -spoke up McGlory. "The ruby wasn't in the box, but in -Motor Matt's pocket. My pard had left the empty box -with the clerk for a bluff."</p> - -<p>The mandarin chuckled, and his body shook with his -suppressed mirth.</p> - -<p>"Remarkably well planned!" approved Tsan Ti. "Who -could have done better? You have a brain of great -power, my renowned friend, and your talk gives me much -amusement and instruction. Grattan had the empty box -and you had the ruby. What then?"</p> - -<p>Then followed the call at the hotel of the man from the -<i>Iris</i>, and Matt's agreement to take charge of the yacht's -motor on the down-river trip, Matt to return to Catskill -on the following morning. The treachery aboard the -boat was listened to by the mandarin with flashing eyes.</p> - -<p>"Grattan is possessed of a demon," declared Tsan Ti. -"His wits are as keen as a sword's edge, and he knows -how to use them. I do not wonder, estimable friend, that -you fell into his power. Even I, had I been in your place, -could not have saved the jewel."</p> - -<p>"What's to be done now, Tsan Ti?" asked Matt anxiously.</p> - -<p>"Nothing," was the answer.</p> - -<p>"But—but—the yellow cord!"</p> - -<p>"It shall not be used by me."</p> - -<p>Here was a mystery. If Tsan Ti could not bear the -Eye of Buddha back to the Canton temple, it was the -august decree of the regent that he should perish by the -yellow cord. The ruby had been recovered, and lost -again, but Tsan Ti had no intention of strangling himself -by invitation of his ruler.</p> - -<p>Failing to understand this point, Matt shifted the subject.</p> - -<p>"Did you know, Tsan Ti," he queried, "that while you -were in New York you had a Chinese spy around with -you? A man who was carrying news of everything you -did to an agent of Grattan's?"</p> - -<p>"You refer to Charley Foo, honorable one?"</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"Grattan can plan, my son, and so can the mandarin. -This agent of Grattan paid Charley Foo ten silver dollars -to betray me, and Charley Foo told me of it, showed the -money, and asked what it was I would have him tell this -hireling of Grattan's. Charley Foo was of much help -to me."</p> - -<p>Tsan Ti folded his hands complacently over his capacious -stomach.</p> - -<p>"Well, sufferin' bluffs!" murmured McGlory. "Charley -Foo was the kind of a dark horse they were playing both -ways. He told Grattan's man only what Tsan Ti wanted -him to know; then why, in the name of all that's hard to -figure out, did Tsan tell Charley to let it be known that -the ruby was being sent to Motor Matt?"</p> - -<p>"It was my wish that Grattan should know about the -sending of the ruby," said this most amazing Chinaman.</p> - -<p>"Then," went on McGlory, "you expected that Grattan -would get on Motor Matt's trail and make a dead set to -get back the Eye of Buddha."</p> - -<p>"I thought it most likely, sagacious youth."</p> - -<p>"Then," averred McGlory warmly, "you can't blame -Motor Matt for losing the ruby."</p> - -<p>"Am I blaming him, inconsiderate one?" returned Tsan -Ti. "Have I said one scolding word, or emitted anything -but praise? Motor Matt has done excellently well, and -I shall engrave his deeds on the tablets of my memory."</p> - -<p>"But the ruby is gone!" said Matt.</p> - -<p>"Not so, highly esteemed but most deceived friend. -Observe!"</p> - -<p>With that, Tsan Ti opened his yellow silk blouse and -revealed a small bag suspended by a chain from his neck. -Opening the bag, he gave Matt and McGlory a swift -glimpse of a shining, blood-red jewel.</p> - -<p>"Behold the Eye of Buddha," smiled the mandarin. -"Not Grattan, with all his evil work, has it, but I."</p> - -<p>This, as might be expected, heaped up the measure of -astonishing events and topped off the motor boys' bewilderment.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> - -<p>"But the ruby—the Eye of Buddha Grattan took from -me——"</p> - -<p>"That, generous youth," answered the mandarin, dropping -the bag on his breast and rearranging his blouse, -"was not a ruby, but a base replica of the true gem. It is -worth, possibly, five dollars. I secured it from a stonecutter -in New York."</p> - -<p>By degrees the mandarin's crafty performance dawned -on the motor boys. They were awed by the scope and -audacious success of the design—completely fooling Grattan -as it had done. As a specimen of Oriental craft, it -was a revelation to Matt and McGlory.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">THE MANDARIN WINS.</p> - - -<p>"Listen, honorable friends," said Tsan Ti, "while I -talk to you instructively. In the words of the great Confucius, -'the cautious man seldom errs.' When I departed -from you, amiable ones, on recovering the Eye of Buddha, -I said that I was returning to my country by way of San -Francisco. Such was my intention, of the moment, but -further reflection dissuaded me. I decided to go to New -York and proceed to China by the longer, but perhaps the -safer, way.</p> - -<p>"In the great city I discovered that I was being pursued -and spied upon, and a great fear overcame me. Immediately -I thought of Motor Matt. Should I visit him -with possible dangers, I besought of myself, in order that -I might preserve the precious relic from the temple at -Honam? I thought of your bravery, never sufficiently to -be praised, and I decided to make the risk. The cutter of -precious stones was sent for, and I showed my ruby and -asked that he make a counterfeit of it that would deceive -any but a dealer in jewels. This was done, and quickly. -I sent this comparatively valueless replica to you, Motor -Matt, and told Charley Foo to let Grattan's man know -what I had done. Also, the man was to be informed of -my desire that Motor Matt should carry the stone about -with him continually.</p> - -<p>"What would happen? I inquired of myself. Most -certainly, reflection made answer. Grattan will be upon -the brave youth's track, and he will never rest until he -secures the gem. This is as I desired, although I dared -not so express myself in my letter which accompanied -the false gem.</p> - -<p>"After the package had left me, my heart failed. I -feared I had exposed you to dangers which might cause -your undoing. Hence, without lingering further, Sam -Wing and I took this train for Catskill, I being of the -intention to tell you what I had planned, and to let it be -known, through Charley Foo, that the real gem was in -my hands and not yours.</p> - -<p>"And see, I have come too late. Grattan, the wise and -unscrupulous, has taken the counterfeit ruby and is -pleased to think he has cheated me, and that I shall pass -by means of the yellow cord. All is well, and my plans -are maturing most successfully. The five hundred gods -of good fortune are smiling upon me. While Grattan -goes his course, firmly believing he has the Eye of -Buddha, I travel mine, knowing he has been justly deceived."</p> - -<p>There was a little resentment in Matt's heart as he -listened to the mandarin's explanation of his crafty ways -and means for circumventing Grattan. Tsan Ti had -thrown upon Matt the weight of the whole proceeding, -and had not taken means to inform him of the true state -of affairs. The king of the motor boys, had he understood -the nature of the mandarin's scheme, could have -worked out his part of it even more successfully than he -had done while being kept in ignorance.</p> - -<p>"You're a keen one, Tsan," grunted McGlory, "but I'm -a Piute if I admire the free-and-easy fashion you have of -making dupes of your friends."</p> - -<p>"It is that which has pained me," admitted the mandarin, -"and it is my regret which was carrying me speedily -to Catskill to tell my widely known friend the exact -truth. Fate was quicker in the race than I. Events have -come swiftly to pass, and out of them rises Grattan with -the false ruby. I have been fortunate, and while he goes -to parts unknown, I shall hope to reach China before he -discovers his error."</p> - -<p>"Queer that Grattan, who knows the great ruby so -well," said Matt, "could be fooled with a piece of glass -of the same shape and size."</p> - -<p>"And likewise of the exact color," returned Tsan Ti. -"The color was most important of all. That Grattan was -fooled shows how admirably the cutter of precious stones -has done his work."</p> - -<p>"You're really going to China this time, are you, Tsan -Ti?"</p> - -<p>"Of a certainty," declared the mandarin. "Now that -you have been met most wonderfully on this train, I shall -not get off at Catskill, but will accompany the cars to -Buffalo. From there, without delay, I shall go on to -Chicago, from there to Denver, and so to San Francisco, -where I will embark on the first ship that will carry me -across the Pacific."</p> - -<p>Tsan Ti leaned over in front of Matt and called out -something in Chinese to Sam Wing. Sam Wing lifted -his nodding head with a start, and from his blouse produced -a small sack of alligator skin, which he handed to -his master.</p> - -<p>The sack was stuffed with banknotes, and from the lot -the mandarin extracted three five-hundred-dollar bills.</p> - -<p>"Will you consider it of an insulting nature if I offer -you these?" inquired the mandarin of Matt.</p> - -<p>"I won't, if he does," chimed in McGlory.</p> - -<p>"I think I'm entitled to the money, Tsan Ti," said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> -Matt. "The way you Chinamen do business doesn't -make much of a hit with me. Your little plot wouldn't -have been hurt in the least if you had just mentioned in -the letter you sent with that supposed ruby that the gem -was false, and that you sent it to me hoping Grattan -would get it and keep off your trail. I could have helped -you even more in achieving your purpose."</p> - -<p>"It is to be regretted deeply that I did not," answered -the mandarin humbly. "In my own country I would not -have given two thoughts to the troubles I caused another, -so long as my aim was just and wise; but here, in -America, different standards rule, and that I brought -dangers upon your head I shall never forget."</p> - -<p>The door of the coach opened and a brakeman thrust in -his head to call out the station of Catskill.</p> - -<p>"That means us, pard," said McGlory. "Grab your -money and let's hike."</p> - -<p>Matt took the money and slowly placed it in his pocket.</p> - -<p>"You bear no ill will, worthy one, and friend whose -memory will always blossom in the gardens of my recollections?" -asked Tsan Ti.</p> - -<p>"It's all right, Tsan Ti," returned Matt, getting up. -"You win, and are off for the Flowery Kingdom with -the Eye of Buddha. Grattan loses, and he'll find it out -sooner or later. As for Joe and me, we'll call accounts -square. Good-by, and good luck to you." He took the -mandarin's hand cordially.</p> - -<p>"May the five hundred gods of good luck smile continually -upon you," said Tsan Ti.</p> - -<p>With that, Motor Matt and McGlory left the coach and -dropped off the train.</p> - -<p>"Back in Catskill!" said the cowboy, "and after being -fooled by Bunce, and Grattan, and Tsan Ti!"</p> - -<p>"We've fooled Grattan twice where he has fooled us -once, Joe," returned Matt.</p> - -<p>"Right you are, pard; and there's plenty of chance for -Tsan Ti to run into a snag between here and China."</p> - -<p>"I'm hoping he makes the trip without any trouble."</p> - -<p>"I don't know but I hope the same thing, although I -get a trifle hot under the collar every time I think of the -way we fretted over a piece of colored glass."</p> - -<p>They stood on the platform until the tail lights of the -train had vanished from sight up the track.</p> - -<p>"The mandarin is getting a good start on the home -trail, anyhow," remarked McGlory, as he and Matt turned -away to climb the slope that led to their hotel. "He's -bound west by train, while Grattan is fooling around, -somewhere on the Hudson, with the <i>Iris</i>. I wouldn't -turn over my hand, after what Tsan Ti told us, to put the -kibosh on Grattan, or even Bunce."</p> - -<p>"Grattan and Bunce have got their deserts," asserted -Matt. "They'll be punished enough when they discover -that they've had all their trouble and taken so many -chances for nothing more than a bogus ruby."</p> - -<p>"Fine business," chuckled McGlory; "and yet," he -added, with a perceptible change in his voice, "there's -something about that Philo Grattan that makes a hit with -me. Maybe I've got a yellow streak in my make-up, -somewhere, and that it's wrong for me to own up to such -a notion, but it's the truth."</p> - -<p>"If Grattan was honest," said Matt, "he'd be a fellow -any one could like. But his ideas are all wrong. He -can't see where the harm comes in removing a valuable -ruby from an idol in a heathen temple, but if he'd step -into Tiffany's, in New York, and extract a gem like that -from the show case and make off with it, his crime -wouldn't be any the less."</p> - -<p>"A heathen has got property rights," agreed the cowboy, -"just the same as you or me—or Grattan, himself. -Where do you suppose Grattan, and that choice assortment -of tinhorns he has with him on the <i>Iris</i>, are going?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know, pard, and what happens to them now -doesn't bother me much. We're rid of them all, and I'm -thankful for it. We've had too much of Tsan Ti, as well -as of Grattan and Bunce."</p> - -<p>"That's what you say now, but just let the mandarin -write you one of those embroidered letters of his, asking -for help, and you'll head in his direction just a-smoking."</p> - -<p>"Not again, Joe. I know what the Yellow Peril is, -now, and I'm going to fight shy of it."</p> - -<p>"Amen to that, pard, and I hope you stick to it."</p> - -<p>"I will."</p> - -<p>"And there's nothing more between us and a high old -time in Manhattan?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing but a stretch of river—or of railroad track, -Joe, if you'd rather go by train."</p> - -<p>"Hooray!" jubilated McGlory.</p> - - -<p class="center">THE END.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="center medium">THE NEXT NUMBER (32) WILL CONTAIN</p> - -<p class="center huge">Motor Matt's Double-trouble;</p> - -<p class="center medium">OR,</p> - -<p class="center large">THE LAST OF THE HOODOO.</p> - -<hr class="r5" /> - -<blockquote> - -<p>The Red Jewel—Another End of the Yarn—Shock -Number One—Shocks Two and Three—A Hot -Starter—McGlory is Lost, and Found—"Pocketed"—Springing -a Coup—Motor Matt's Chase—The -Chase Concluded—A Double Capture—Another -Surprise—Baiting a Trap—How the -Trap was Sprung—Back to the Farm—Conclusion.</p></blockquote> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> - - - - -<table summary="scaffold" class="bbox"> -<tr><td colspan="2" class="tdc huge">MOTOR STORIES</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr large" style="padding-right: .25em;">THRILLING ADVENTURE</td><td class="tdl large" style="padding-left: .25em;">MOTOR FICTION</td></tr> -</table> - -<p class="center">NEW YORK, September 25, 1909.</p> - -<p class="center"><b>TERMS TO MOTOR STORIES MAIL SUBSCRIBERS.</b></p> - -<p class="center">(<i>Postage Free.</i>)</p> - -<p class="center"><b>Single Copies or Back Numbers, 5c. Each.</b></p> - -<table summary="Terms"> -<tr><td>3 months</td><td class="tdr">65c.</td></tr> -<tr><td>4 months</td><td class="tdr">85c.</td></tr> -<tr><td>6 months</td><td class="tdr">$1.25</td></tr> -<tr><td>One year</td><td class="tdr">2.50</td></tr> -<tr><td>2 copies one year</td><td class="tdr">4.00</td></tr> -<tr><td>1 copy two years</td><td class="tdr">4.00</td></tr> -</table> - -<p><b>How to Send Money</b>—By post-office or express money-order, -registered letter, bank check or draft, at our risk. At your own risk if sent -by currency, coin, or postage-stamps in ordinary letter.</p> - -<p><b>Receipts</b>—Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper -change of number on your label. If not correct you have not been properly -credited, and should let us know at once.</p> - -<table summary="scaffold"> -<tr><td> -<span class="smcap">Ormond G. Smith</span>,<br /> -<span class="smcap">George C. Smith</span>, -</td> -<td style="font-size: 200%">}</td><td style="padding-right: 1em;"><i>Proprietors</i>.</td> -<td class="tdc"> -<b>STREET & SMITH, Publishers,<br /> -79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York City.</b> -</td></tr></table> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<h2><a name="JERRY_STEBBINS_HOSS_TRADE" id="JERRY_STEBBINS_HOSS_TRADE">JERRY STEBBINS' HOSS TRADE.</a></h2> - - -<p>At a recent interview with one Jeremiah Stebbins, he freed -his mind in the following choice language:</p> - -<p>"Everybody I've saw lately has ben a-winking and a-smirking, -and a-laughing, and a-saying, 'How de dew, Jerry? how's -the hoss trade?' and sich like, and I've got tired on't; and I'm -a going to tell the hull story to you newspaper fellers, and let -you print it and done with it.</p> - -<p>"You see, the way on't was this. I live up in Bucks -County, Pennsylvania, and once in a while I takes a trip -down to Philadelphia to see the sights, do some dickering, -buy some store things, and so on.</p> - -<p>"I've al'ays considered myself pooty cute, and have gi'n -lots o' advice to them that's around me, telling 'em about the -city, and its big shows, and its cheating scamps, and what to -do when they goes there, and how not to get took in, and -all sich; and I 'spect it's jest because I've done all this ere -that the laugh comes in agin me pooty rough-like.</p> - -<p>"You see there's a feller living right nigh me, named Jim -Smithers, who's been down to Philadelphia four times, and -every time so'thing's happened to him in the way o' getting -fooled by some o' them confounded scamps what don't 'pear -to do nothing for a living but lay around, like nasty spiders, -watching for flies, to ketch some o' us country chaps by some -dirty trick or other, and git hold o' some o' our hard-earned -dollars to loaf around on. I ain't afeared to speak my mind -about 'em, and I don't keer a goll darn if you print it, nuther, -and let 'em know that I think they're just about as mean as -mean kin be.</p> - -<p>"Waal, about Jim Smithers. He's pooty green yit; but the -first time he went down to the big city he was as raw as a -new cabbage, and he got took in fifteen dollars' worth on -what you newspaper fellers calls the drap game.</p> - -<p>"In course you know all about that ere. A feller comes up -behind the country chap, and, all unbeknown to him, drops -a pocketbook, picks it up, and tells him it's hisn. But it ain't, -you know, and the country feller says so. Then the city -scamp opens it a lettle, and it 'pears to be stuffed full o' -bank bills; and he says it's a pity that some honest man has -got to lose it, 'cause he hisself's a stranger in town, and is -jest a-going out ag'in, and he can't stop to advertise it, and -git the big reward that's sartin to be offered for it; but if -the country feller's a mind to take it, give him fifteen or -twenty dollars or so, he'll let him have his chance, and so on.</p> - -<p>"Waal, Jim Smithers was ketched in this way, and he gin -the other feller fifteen dollars—nigh all the money he had—and -when he went to put so'thing into the <i>Public Ledger</i> -about it, and handed over one o' the bills to pay for 't, the -grinning clerk told him as how he'd ben 'sold,' and the money -wa'n't wo'th as much as white paper. Wa'n't Jim mad, then? -and didn't us fellers plague him peskily about it arter he got -home?</p> - -<p>"Waal, the next time Jim went to the city he got ketched in -some keerd trick, and lost a twenty-dollar bill afore he -knowed it. The third time he spent five dollars, a-buying -prize packages that didn't have no prizes in 'em 'cept brass -rings; and the last time some scamp ketched him ag'in on a -hoss affair.</p> - -<p>"'Jim Smithers,' says I, arter he'd told me all about it, -'if I's you I wouldn't go down to Philadelphia ag'in alone—I -swon I wouldn't. Jest as like as not some critter, a-running -loose in the streets, will take you fer a green pumpkin, and -eat you all right up, so's you won't never git back to your -mar any more,' says I.</p> - -<p>"'Oh, you think your darn smart, Jerry Stebbins, don't -ye?' says Jim back ag'in. 'Jest you look out that you don't -git ketched some day your own self.'</p> - -<p>"'They've all tried me, and found me too smart for 'em,' -says I.</p> - -<p>"'We'll see in the end,' says Jim.</p> - -<p>"'Bout a week or so arter that, I went down ag'in to -Philadelphia. I had some arrants to do for some o' my -neighbors; and I'd a notion to tend a auction sale of hosses, -and if I could see any going right cheap, I thought mebbe I -might buy one on a spec—for, though I says it myself, I'm -pooty cute in a hoss trade, and have made a good many dollars -afore now in fatting up some old critter and then swapping -him off and gitting boot.</p> - -<p>"Waal, I went to town, and, arter gitting through with my -other business, I started right over to the bazaar, where they -sells hosses—for I'd been there afore and knowed exactly -where it was.</p> - -<p>"Jest as I was a-going in, I met a dressy-looking chap -a-coming out; and he says to me, says he:</p> - -<p>"'Mister, kin you tell me where I kin buy a right good -hoss pooty cheap?'</p> - -<p>"'I couldn't, less it's in here,' says I 'for that's jest what -I wants to do myself.'</p> - -<p>"'Waal, I shan't buy in this here cheating place,' says he, -'for I done that once afore, and paid a hundred dollars for a -critter that I arterward had to sell for thirty-five; and right -glad I was to git that much, and only lose sixty-five on the -trade. If I's you I wouldn't risk no money in here.'</p> - -<p>"'I knows a hoss when I sees him,' says I, pooty proud, -feeling my oats, 'and if anybody makes anything off o' Jerry -Stebbins in a hoss trade, I hope they'll let me know.'</p> - -<p>"'S'pose you could pick out a good nice critter for me, Mr. -Stebbins, and not get cheated in the price?' says he.</p> - -<p>"'I s'pose I could if I'd try,' says I.</p> - -<p>"'And would five dollars make you try?' says he.</p> - -<p>"'I guess it would,' says I.</p> - -<p>"'Wal, then,' says he, 'I'll give you a five-dollar bill to do -it,' says he.</p> - -<p>"He rammed his hand into his pocket to git the money; -but afore he'd drawed it out, a slick-looking feller comes -riding up on hossback, and says to my chap, says he:</p> - -<p>"'Do you know anybody what wants to buy a right good -hoss dirt cheap?'</p> - -<p>"'I dew,' says my man.</p> - -<p>"'How high be you willing to go?' says the hossback chap.</p> - -<p>"'I don't keer a darn, so's the critter's wo'th the money,' -says t'other, and he gin me a sly wink.</p> - -<p>"'Then I'll take you to a place where I know you'll be -suited,' says the hossback chap.</p> - -<p>"'Fur from here?' axes t'other.</p> - -<p>"'Not more'n a mile at the outside,' says him on the hoss.</p> - -<p>"'Will you jest go along, 'arn the five, and see that I ain't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> -cheated?' says the foot feller to me, in a tone so low that -t'other couldn't hear.</p> - -<p>"I said I would; and then my man axed the man on the -hoss for his keerd, which he gin him and rid away.</p> - -<p>"While we was a-going to the place, my feller told me that -his name was John Jenkins; that he'd got as much money -as he keerd about having, and if he could only git a hoss to -suit him, and not pay more for't than 'twas wo'th, he'd be -mighty pleased.</p> - -<p>"''Tain't 'cause I ker a darn for the money, Mr. Stebbins,' -says he to me, confiding-like; 'but it's 'cause I knows as how -all these racehoss-jockey fellers takes a pride in gitting the -best of everybody they deals with, and I hates to be beat in -that are way. Now I sees by your eyes, Mr. Stebbins, that -you ain't a chap to be took in in a hoss trade, and I wants -you to use 'em for me; and if things comes out all right, I -won't stop to put another ten or twenty a-top of the five, you -know.'</p> - -<p>"'I'll do my best, Mr. Jenkins,' says I; 'and I guess you'll -find my best right up to the handle.'</p> - -<p>"When we got to the place we seen a stable, in a little, -back, dirty street, and in it was two men and three hosses.</p> - -<p>"Two of these 'ere hosses wan't o' no great account, but -t'other one was a pooty slick smart-looking critter.</p> - -<p>"'How much for this 'ere one?' says Mr. Jenkins, putting -his hand onto the beast.</p> - -<p>"Waal, really,' says the dealer, 'we don't keer about selling -that are critter.'</p> - -<p>"'I was recommended to come here for a place where I -could buy a good hoss cheap,' says Mr. Jenkins.</p> - -<p>"'We really hain't got nothing to sell 'cept the other two -critters,' says the jockey. 'We'll sell you them cheap.'</p> - -<p>"'I don't want 'em,' says Jenkins, 'but only this 'ere one. -Hey, Stebbins! what d'you say?' he says, speaking to me.</p> - -<p>"'Waal, the critter you've picked out is pooty likely,' says -I, 'but I don't think much of t'others.'</p> - -<p>"He called me out one side, and axed me what the best -hoss was really wo'th.</p> - -<p>"'A good hundred and twenty-five,' says I.</p> - -<p>"'How about a hundred and fifty?' says he.</p> - -<p>"'I wouldn't go a mite over a hundred and forty,' says I.</p> - -<p>"'I'll have him, though, at some price, for I've sot my mind -on't,' says he, in a determined way.</p> - -<p>"Then he went back to the jockey, and offered him a hundred -dollars for that critter.</p> - -<p>"The jockey chap laughed right in his face at fust, and -then he 'peared to get mad, and said, says he:</p> - -<p>"'You're either a dealer yourself, or else you wants to -insult me; and no matter which it are, I ain't a-going to trade -with you at no price.'</p> - -<p>"'I'll give you a hundred and twenty-five,' says Jenkins.</p> - -<p>"'Pshaw!' says jockey.</p> - -<p>"'A hundred and fifty,' says Jenkins.</p> - -<p>"'No,' says t'other.</p> - -<p>"'A hundred and seventy-five, then.'</p> - -<p>"'No.'</p> - -<p>"'I'll give you two hundred.'</p> - -<p>"'You can't buy him at no price,' says the hoss dealer, -looking awful mad.</p> - -<p>"'Then let us go to a more decenter place, Mr. Stebbins,' -says Jenkins to me.</p> - -<p>"We started off together, and as soon as we'd got out of -sight of the stable, Jenkins says to me, says he:</p> - -<p>"'Friend Stebbins, I wants that are hoss right bad, 'cause -he's jest the critter to suit me. I wonder if you couldn't buy -him for me?'</p> - -<p>"'I don't 'spect I could,' says I, 'for the feller that owns -him has got his Dutch up, and won't sell him to neither of -us.'</p> - -<p>"'Would you mind going back by yourself and trying?' says -he.</p> - -<p>"'To obleege you I'll dew it,' says I. 'But the hoss ain't -wo'th what you offered, and nothink like it.'</p> - -<p>"'I don't keer for that, Mr. Stebbins,' says he; 'it a'nt making -a spec' I'm arter; I wants the hoss for hisself, 'cause -I've sot my mind on't, and money ain't no object with me. -I'll tell ye what I'll dew. If you'll buy that are hoss and fetch -him round to my stable, I'll jest plank down two hundred and -fifty dollars cash for him, and you may make what profit you -kin. I don't keer what you give for him, but I'll give you -two hundred and fifty dollars jest the minute he reaches my -stable, and I'll go right down there now and wait for you.'</p> - -<p>"I told him I'd try my luck, and he writ down the direction -for me to come to.</p> - -<p>"Waal, I went back and found the two hoss fellers talking -with the chap that had fust told us about the place.</p> - -<p>"The minute this chap seen me, he come for'ard and said -he was right down sorry that his pardners had got mad at -my friend—and if he'd been there it wouldn't have turned -out so—though it was a insult for him to offer only a hundred -dollars for a hoss like that are, which nobody could find -his match nowhere for a cent less than three hundred dollars -in gold.</p> - -<p>"'Tell you what 'tis, mister,' he says, 'I know your friend, -John Jenkins—though he don't recollect me—and I know he's -mighty rich, and a right down good customer where he likes -to deal, and I hate like fury that he went away disapp'inted. -Now if you'll find him, and fetch him back, and git him to -trade with us, I'll give you a five-dollar bill.'</p> - -<p>"I thought I'd got a good chance for a spec, so I says, -says I:</p> - -<p>"'I don't think I could git him back; but if you folks here -wants to sell that are hoss, and will take what he's wo'th, I -don't mind buying him for my own self.'</p> - -<p>"'You kin have him for two hundred and twenty-five dollars, -and not a cent short,' says he.</p> - -<p>"'That's more'n I'd give my old daddy for him,' says I.</p> - -<p>"Then we began to talk, and palaver, and hile, and at last -I got him down to two hundred and ten, and him to give in -a old saddle and bridle, so's I could ride him off.</p> - -<p>"Waal, I paid down the money, and then rode off for -Jenkins' stable feeling pooty proud and happy that I'd -made a clean forty dollars by my barg'in.</p> - -<p>"But, somehow or other, I couldn't find Jenkins' stable, -nor Jenkins nuther, and I hain't found 'em since.</p> - -<p>"To git right down to the gist on't, I'd been awfully fooled, -and tricked into paying two hundred and ten dollars for a -hoss that I didn't want myself, and that I's glad to git rid on, -arterwards for one hundred and five, jest one-half the critter -cost me.</p> - -<p>"Waal, mister, that's the story that all the folks round my -way is a-grinning and a-snickering over, and I s'pose I've got -to grin and bear it till the hull darned thing dies out and be -darned to it.</p> - -<p>"It's l'arned me for one thing, that them slick-looking, -slick-talking city fellers kin lie and cheat like thunder; and -for another thing, that it don't dew for a country chap to -butt his brains ag'in them city scamps and al'ays 'spect to git -the best on't."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="THE_PHANTOM_ENGINEER" id="THE_PHANTOM_ENGINEER">THE PHANTOM ENGINEER.</a></h2> - - -<p>"Whenever I tell the story," said Alf Whitney, throwing -away his half-smoked cigar, and putting his long legs on the -top of the table, in a way some men have when a story is to -be forthcoming, "everybody winks at everybody else, as much -as to say, 'Alf had taken too much whisky that time,' or 'Alf -was asleep and dreamed the whole thing.' But I tell you, -comrades, though you are at liberty to disbelieve what I tell -you, it is true; and that's all I know about it. I'm no long-headed -metaphysician to reason it all out—I only know what -happened, and it's that I'm going to tell."</p> - -<p>We gathered closer around the red-hot stove in the bar-room<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> -of the Anderson House, for it was a biting cold night, -and the snow was too much for our train, destitute as we -were of a snowplow, and we had given up the attempt to -push through to C—— that night, and retaken ourselves to -the hospitalities of the Arlington.</p> - -<p>It had often been whispered among the railway employees -that Alf Whitney had once had something strange happen to -him. He was a young man yet, though the oldest and most -skillful engineer on the road—noted for his skill and judgment, -no less than for his sturdy endurance and his bravery, -which nothing ever overcame.</p> - -<p>I suppose you people who ride in Pullman cars, rocked in -velvet cushions, and look at the scenery rushing past, -through plate glass windows, heavy with gilt and rosewood -mouldings, never think much of the man upon whom your -safety depends—the man who, with his hand upon the lever -which controls the monster that is bearing you along, stands -tireless at his post, through cold and heat, through storm -and sunshine, smutty, grimy with smoke, greasy and weather-hardened, -but oftentimes the bravest and noblest man among -you all. But this is a digression.</p> - -<p>We all hastened to assure Alf that we were ready to believe -whatever he might say; and he, smiling a little, as if he -doubted the sincerity of our assurances, began his story. I -give it in his own words, which are much better than mine -would be.</p> - -<p>"Six years ago, one dark stormy night, Jack Horton lost -his life in a smash-up at Rowley's Bend. Jack was an engineer, -and as fine a fellow as ever trod the ground. He was -handsome, too, and notwithstanding his dirty occupation, a -great favorite with the ladies; for when he was off the machine -long enough to get the oil and cinders washed off, and -his other clothes on, he was the best-looking, as well as the -best-mannered, young man anywhere in this vicinity.</p> - -<p>"He was engaged to marry Esther Clay; and Esther was a -beauty without anything by way of art to help her—a sound-looking, -wholesome, healthy young girl—none of your die-away -kind, fainting at the sight of a spider, and going into -tantrums over a cow a mile off. She was just the kind of -woman I could worship, and not put myself out any to do it, -either!"</p> - -<p>"Why didn't you go for her after Jack was dead?" asked -Tom Barnard carelessly.</p> - -<p>"Hush! she is dead!" said Alf, in a subdued voice; and -the unwonted pallor that settled round his mouth gave me a -slight clue to the reason he had never married. And afterward -I knew that Esther Clay, dead, and pledged through -all eternity to another, was more to him than any living -woman!</p> - -<p>After a little he went on.</p> - -<p>"When Jack was killed, it was the breaking of an axle that -caused the mischief; and, of course, this axle broke on just -the worst part of the road. They always do. You all know -Rowley's Bend? You all know just how high the grade is -there, and just how rough and jagged the rocks lie all along -the embankment, clear down to the river. No need to dwell -on this. The train pitched down into the dark, head first, -and Jack, true to his duty, never stirred from his post. It -was a good while before we could get to him, the broken -timbers of the piled-up cars so completely caged him in. She -came there before we had taken his body out, and I shall -never forget how she went down into the ruins where even -the bravest of us hardly dared to venture, so insecure was -the footing, and worked with her white, slender hands, until -the blood ran from their wounds. She never minded it a -particle, but worked on, with a face as pale and rigid as -marble. But I am making a long story, and dwelling too -much on details. Jack was dead when they found him, and -she lived just a month afterward. And, though everybody -lamented at her funeral, and said it was 'so sad,' I do not -think it was sad, for when two people love each other, truly -and loyally, and one of them dies, it seems to me Heaven's -special mercy if the other is suffered to go along.</p> - -<p>"Jack and I had always been great friends; and once when -we were talking about the supernatural nonsense that so -many believe in, Jack said to me laughingly:</p> - -<p>"'If I die first, I'll keep a watch over you, old fellow; and -when I see you running into danger, I'll whistle the brakes -down. Now remember!' After he died these careless words -of his kept coming back to me, and try as I would not to -remember them, the more they were present to my mind.</p> - -<p>"It was nearly two years after Jack's death that I was -taking the ten-fifty accommodation out to L——. It was -a dark, drizzly night, and the headlight on the front of the -engine pierced but a short distance into the gloom and fog -ahead of us. I was running carefully, as I always run on -such nights, and had nearly reached Carney's Ford when I -saw something on the track before us. I whistled to down -brakes, and reversed the lever. The train slackened, and I -could see distinctly ahead of us the tall figure of a man. But -we got no nearer to him, for though he seemed to be only -walking, his speed was fully equal to ours. We should never -overtake him. A cold shiver ran through me as I noted this -fact. No mortal man could walk like that.</p> - -<p>"'Richards,' said I to the fireman, who, ghastly and trembling -with fear, was gazing at the strange apparition, 'it must -be Old Nick himself, with the seven-league boots on!'</p> - -<p>"As I spoke, the figure turned toward us, and then I saw -that in his hand he carried a red lantern, the well-known -signal of danger. He lifted it, swung it slowly round his -head once, and, as he did so, the blood-red light fell full on -his face—the face of Jack Horton. For a moment he stood -motionless, then he was enveloped in a pale, azure flame, -which died out instantly, and left—nothing!</p> - -<p>"All this, which it has taken me so long to describe, took -place in an instant of time, and by the time the phantom had -vanished Richards and I had managed to stop the train. We -got off and went ahead. The red lantern had not signaled -'danger' for nothing. A heavy stick of timber was spiked -across the track, and, had we gone on at full speed, it would -have sent us to swift destruction.</p> - -<p>"The company ferreted out the rascal who had done this -vile thing, and he is serving out a long term in the State -prison now. I have seen him and talked with him, and he -swore to me, with a voice that trembled even then with horror, -that after he had spiked down the timber and had hidden -in some bushes near by to watch the result, he had seen a -tall man, with a red lantern in his hand, start up in front of -the engine and walk, as nothing human could walk, until he -reached the very spot where the danger lay.</p> - -<p>"'And then,' said the miscreant, 'he changed into a blue -flame, and vanished, and I knew that my plan was upset, and -that for once Satan had gone back on them as he'd set to -work.'"</p> - -<p>"Well," said Tom Barnard, "what else?"</p> - -<p>"That is all," said Alf, lighting another cigar.</p> - -<p>"But what was the fellow's object in seeking to disable the -train?"</p> - -<p>"Plunder. He had ascertained that a carrying company -would have a large sum of money on board that night, and he -was not averse to turning an honest penny."</p> - -<p>"But the phantom—how do you explain it?" persisted Tom.</p> - -<p>"I don't explain it," said Alf quietly.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<h2 class="huge bb"> -<a href="images/i1large.jpg"><img src="images/i1.jpg" width="48" height="23" alt="hand" /></a> -<a name="LATEST_ISSUES" id="LATEST_ISSUES">LATEST ISSUES</a> -<a href="images/i2large.jpg"><img src="images/i2.jpg" width="48" height="23" alt="hand" /></a> -</h2> - - -<h3>BRAVE AND BOLD WEEKLY</h3> - -<p>All kinds of stories that boys like. The biggest and best nickel's worth ever offered. <b>High art colored -covers. Thirty-two big pages. Price, 5 cents.</b></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>342—Through the Earth; or, Jack Nelson's Invention. By Fred -Thorpe.</p> - -<p>343—The Boy Chief; or, Comrades of Camp and Trail. By John -De Morgan.</p> - -<p>344—Smart Alec; or, Bound to Get There. By Weldon J. Cobb.</p> - -<p>345—Climbing Up; or, The Meanest Boy Alive. By Harrie -Irving Hancock.</p> - -<p>346—Comrades Three; or, With Gordon Keith in the South -Seas. By Lawrence White, Jr.</p> - -<p>347—A Young Snake-charmer; or, The Fortunes of Dick Erway. -By Fred Thorpe.</p> - -<p>348—Checked Through to Mars; or, Adventures in Other Worlds. -By Weldon J. Cobb.</p> - -<p>349—Fighting the Cowards; or, Among the Georgia Moonshiners. -By Harrie Irving Hancock.</p> - -<p>350—The Mud River Boys; or, The Fight for Penlow's Mill. By -John L. Douglas.</p> - -<p>351—Grit and Wit; or, Two of a Kind. By Fred Thorpe.</p> - -<p>352—Right on Top; or, Yankee to the Backbone. By Cornelius -Shea.</p> - -<p>353—A Clue from Nowhere; or, On a Phantom Trail. By Harrie -Irving Hancock.</p> - -<p>354—Never Give Up; or, Harry Holton's Resolve. By John L. -Douglas.</p> - -<p>355—Comrades Under Castro; or, Young Engineers in Venezuela. -By Victor St. Clair.</p></blockquote> - -<hr class="r5" /> - -<h3>MOTOR STORIES</h3> - -<p>The latest and best five-cent weekly. We won't say how interesting it is. See for yourself. <b>High art -colored covers. Thirty-two big pages. Price, 5 cents.</b></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>20—Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory for the Motor -Boys.</p> - -<p>21—Motor Matt's Launch; or, A Friend in Need.</p> - -<p>22—Motor Matt's Enemies; or, A Struggle for the Right.</p> - -<p>23—Motor Matt's Prize; or, The Pluck That Wins.</p> - -<p>24—Motor Matt on the Wing; or, Flying for Fame and Fortune.</p> - -<p>25—Motor Matt's Reverse; or, Caught in a Losing Game.</p> - -<p>26—Motor Matt's "Make or Break"; or, Advancing the Spark of -Friendship.</p> - -<p>27—Motor Matt's Engagement; or, On the Road With a Show.</p> - -<p>28—Motor Matt's "Short Circuit"; or, The Mahout's Vow.</p> - -<p>29—Motor Matt's Make-up; or, Playing a New Rôle.</p> - -<p>30—Motor Matt's Mandarin; or, Turning a Trick for Tsan Ti.</p> - -<p>31—Motor Matt's Mariner; or, Filling the Bill for Bunce.</p> - -<p>32—Motor Matt's Double-trouble; or, The Last of the Hoodoo.</p> - -<p>33—Motor Matt's Mission; or, The Taxicab Tangle.</p></blockquote> - -<hr class="r5" /> - -<h3>TIP TOP WEEKLY</h3> - -<p>The most popular publication for boys. The adventures of Frank and Dick Merriwell can be had only in -this weekly. <b>High art colored covers. Thirty-two pages. Price, 5 cents.</b></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>691—Dick Merriwell's Dandies; or, A Surprise for the Cowboy -Nine.</p> - -<p>692—Dick Merriwell's "Skyscooter"; or, Professor Pagan and -the "Princess."</p> - -<p>693—Dick Merriwell in the Elk Mountains; or, The Search for -"Dead Injun" Mine.</p> - -<p>694—Dick Merriwell in Utah; or, The Road to "Promised Land."</p> - -<p>695—Dick Merriwell's Bluff; or, The Boy Who Ran Away.</p> - -<p>696—Dick Merriwell in the Saddle; or, The Bunch from the -Bar—Z.</p> - -<p>697—Dick Merriwell's Ranch Friends; or, Sport on the Range.</p> - -<p>698—Frank Merriwell at Phantom Lake; or, The Mystery of the -Mad Doctor.</p> - -<p>699—Frank Merriwell's Hold-back; or, The Boys of Bristol.</p> - -<p>700—Frank Merriwell's Lively Lads; or, The Rival Campers.</p> - -<p>701—Frank Merriwell as Instructor; or, The Skill of the Wizard.</p> - -<p>702—Dick Merriwell's Cayuse; or, The Star of the Big Range.</p> - -<p>703—Dick Merriwell's Quirt; or, The Sting of the Lash.</p> - -<p>704—Dick Merriwell's Freshman Friend; or, A Question of -Manhood.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><i>For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, -5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, by</i></p> - -<p class="center large">STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><b class="medium">IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS</b> of our Weeklies and cannot procure them from your newsdealer, they can be -obtained from this office direct. Fill out the following Order Blank and send it to -us with the price of the Weeklies you want and we will send them to you by return mail. <b>POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY.</b></p></blockquote> - -<hr class="r5" /> - -<table summary="form" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"> - -<tr><td colspan="6" class="tdr sig">________________________ <i>190</i></td></tr> -<tr><td colspan="6"><i>STREET & SMITH, 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York City.</i><br /> -<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><i>Dear Sirs: Enclosed please find</i> ___________________________ <i>cents for which send me</i>:</span> -</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td></tr> -<tr><td><b>TIP TOP WEEKLY,</b></td><td class="tdc"><b>Nos.</b></td><td class="br">______________________</td> -<td><b>BUFFALO BILL STORIES,</b></td><td class="tdc"><b>Nos.</b></td><td>______________________</td></tr> - -<tr><td><b>NICK CARTER WEEKLY,</b></td><td class="tdc"><b>"</b></td><td class="br">______________________</td> -<td><b>BRAVE AND BOLD WEEKLY,</b></td><td class="tdc"><b>"</b></td><td>______________________</td></tr> - -<tr><td><b>DIAMOND DICK WEEKLY,</b></td><td class="tdc"><b>"</b></td><td class="br">______________________</td> -<td><b>MOTOR STORIES,</b></td><td class="tdc"><b>"</b></td><td>______________________</td></tr> - -<tr><td> </td></tr> -<tr><td colspan="6" class="tdc"> -<i>Name</i> ________________ <i>Street</i> ________________ <i>City</i> ________________ <i>State</i> ________________<br /> -</td></tr></table> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><a name="A_GREAT_SUCCESS" id="A_GREAT_SUCCESS">A GREAT SUCCESS!!</a></h2> -<hr class="full" /> -<p class="center huge u">MOTOR STORIES</p> - - -<p>Every boy who reads one of the splendid adventures of Motor Matt, which are making -their appearance in this weekly, is at once surprised and delighted. Surprised at the generous -quantity of reading matter that we are giving for five cents; delighted with the fascinating -interest of the stories, second only to those published in the Tip Top Weekly.</p> - -<p>Matt has positive mechanical genius, and while his adventures are unusual, they are, -however, drawn so true to life that the reader can clearly see how it is possible for the ordinary -boy to experience them.</p> - - -<p class="center"><i>HERE ARE THE TITLES NOW READY AND THOSE TO BE PUBLISHED</i>:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>1—Motor Matt; or, The King of the Wheel.</p> - -<p>2—Motor Matt's Daring; or, True to His Friends.</p> - -<p>3—Motor Matt's Century Run; or, The Governor's -Courier.</p> - -<p>4—Motor Matt's Race; or, The Last Flight of the -"Comet."</p> - -<p>5—Motor Matt's Mystery; or, Foiling a Secret -Plot.</p> - -<p>6—Motor Matt's Red Flier; or, On the High -Gear.</p> - -<p>7—Motor Matt's Clue; or, The Phantom Auto.</p> - -<p>8—Motor Matt's Triumph; or, Three Speeds -Forward.</p> - -<p>9—Motor Matt's Air Ship; or, The Rival Inventors.</p> - -<p>10—Motor Matt's Hard Luck; or, The Balloon -House Plot.</p> - -<p>11—Motor Matt's Daring Rescue; or, The Strange -Case of Helen Brady.</p> - -<p>12—Motor Matt's Peril; or, Cast Away in the -Bahamas.</p> - -<p>13—Motor Matt's Queer Find; or, The Secret of the -Iron Chest.</p> - -<p>14—Motor Matt's Promise; or, The Wreck of the -"Hawk."</p> - -<p>15—Motor Matt's Submarine; or, The Strange Cruise -of the "Grampus."</p> - -<p>16—Motor Matt's Quest; or, Three Chums in -Strange Waters.</p> - -<p>17—Motor Matt's Close Call; or, The Snare of Don -Carlos.</p> - -<p>18—Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under the Amazon.</p> - -<p>19—Motor Matt's Defiance; or, Around the Horn.</p> - -<p>20—Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory -for the Motor Boys.</p> - -<p>21—Motor Matt's Launch; or, A Friend in Need.</p> - -<p>22—Motor Matt's Enemies; or, A Struggle for the -Right.</p> - -<p>23—Motor Matt's Prize; or, The Pluck that Wins.</p> - -<p>24—Motor Matt on the Wing; or, Flying for Fame -and Fortune.</p> - -<p>25—Motor Matt's Reverse; or, Caught in a Losing -Game.</p> - -<p>26—Motor Matt's "Make or Break"; or, Advancing -the Spark of Friendship.</p> - -<p>27—Motor Matt's Engagement; or, On the Road -With a Show.</p> - -<p>28—Motor Matt's "Short Circuit"; or, The Mahout's -Vow.</p></blockquote> - -<p class="center small">To be Published on September 6th.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>29—Motor Matt's Make-up; or, Playing a New -Role.</p></blockquote> - -<p class="center small">To be Published on September 13th.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>30—Motor Matt's Mandarin; or, Turning a Trick -for Tsan Ti.</p></blockquote> - -<p class="center small">To be Published on September 20th.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>31—Motor Matt's Mariner; or, Filling the Bill for -Bunce.</p></blockquote> - -<p class="center small">To be Published on September 27th.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>32—Motor Matt's Double-trouble; or, The Last of -the Hoodoo.</p></blockquote> - - -<p class="large center">PRICE, FIVE CENTS</p> - -<p class="center">At all newsdealers, or sent, postpaid, by the publishers upon receipt of the price.</p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<table summary="scaffold" style="width: 50%;"> -<tr class="medium"><td style="width: 33%">STREET & SMITH,</td><td class="tdc"><i>Publishers</i>,</td><td class="tdr" style="width: 33%">NEW YORK</td></tr> -</table> -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="transnote"> -<h2><a name="Transcribers_Notes" id="Transcribers_Notes">Transcriber's Notes:</a></h2> - -<p>Added table of contents.</p> - -<p>Images may be clicked to view larger versions.</p> - -<p>Page 5, added missing quote before "Tsan Ti expressly stipulates."</p> - -<p>Page 9, corrected "qundary" to "quandary."</p> - -<p>Page 11, changed "thrown" to "throw" in "throw the speeder off the -rails."</p> - -<p>Page 12, added missing apostrophe to "if ye ain't?"</p> - -<p>Page 13, changed "anl" to "and" in "and he's got shy." Changed "or" to "of" in "vicinity of the sharp curve."</p> - -<p>Page 14, changed "declarel" to "declared" after "I don't believe it." Changed "her" to "here" in "a dozen miles from here."</p> - -<p>Page 15, corrected double quote to single quote before "Eye of Buddha."</p> - -<p>Page 16, corrected double "man" in "third man took it."</p> - -<p>Page 27, corrected "countefeit" to "counterfeit" ("asked that he make a counterfeit").</p> - -<p>Page 29, retained error ("your darn smart") from original on assumption it is intended as part of dialect.</p> - -<p>Page 30, corrected "pickel" to "picked" ("critter you've picked").</p> - -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Motor Matt's Mariner, by Stanley R. 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