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diff --git a/75171-0.txt b/75171-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1090fdc --- /dev/null +++ b/75171-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5951 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75171 *** + + + [Illustration: “LANKY WALLACE LEADS!” + + _Boys of Columbia High in Track Athletics._ + _Frontispiece_ (_Page 119._)] + + + + + The + Boys of Columbia High in + Track Athletics + + OR + + A Long Run That Won + + BY + GRAHAM B. FORBES + + AUTHOR OF “THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH,” “THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA + HIGH ON THE DIAMOND,” ETC. + + _ILLUSTRATED_ + + NEW YORK + GROSSET & DUNLAP + PUBLISHERS + + + + +The Boys of Columbia High Series + +By GRAHAM B. FORBES + +_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated._ + + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH + Or The All Around Rivals of the School + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE DIAMOND + Or Winning Out by Pluck + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE RIVER + Or The Boat Race Plot That Failed + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE GRIDIRON + Or The Struggle for the Silver Cup + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE ICE + Or Out for the Hockey Championship + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH IN TRACK ATHLETICS + Or A Long Run That Won + + + GROSSET & DUNLAP + PUBLISHERS NEW YORK + + COPYRIGHT, 1913, BY + GROSSET & DUNLAP + + _The Boys of Columbia High in Track Athletics_ + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I DISTANCE RUNNERS 1 + + II HELD BY THE ENEMY 11 + + III THE GYPSY CARAVAN 22 + + IV A MYSTERY OF THE WAGON 33 + + V ON THE CAMPUS GREEN 44 + + VI MAKING PLANS 53 + + VII THE BENEFITS OF DISCIPLINE 62 + + VIII LANKY’S PRIDE CONQUERS 71 + + IX AMONG THE NOMADS OF THE ROAD 80 + + X THE BUNCH FROM BELLPORT 89 + + XI ALMOST A RIOT 98 + + XII A POPULAR BOY 106 + + XIII ON THE HARRAPIN 115 + + XIV LANKY FINDS HIS CHANCE 124 + + XV AN ACCIDENT BETRAYS RUFUS 133 + + XVI LANKY BECOMES A “BARKER” 144 + + XVII THE GYPSY QUEEN’S MOVE 153 + + XVIII FINDING OUT 162 + + XIX THE GREAT DAY 171 + + XX CLIFFORD’S NEW HOPE 180 + + XXI WHAT HAPPENED TO BONES 189 + + XXII COLUMBIA’S LAST CHANCE 198 + + XXIII THE END OF THE LONG RUN 207 + + XXIV WHEN THE MESSAGE CAME 215 + + XXV THE STOLEN CHILD 224 + + + + +THE + +BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH IN TRACK ATHLETICS + + + + +CHAPTER I + +DISTANCE RUNNERS + + +“Our last year at good old Columbia High, fellows!” + +“I just hate to think of it, Lanky!” + +“We’ve had some great times during these four years, for a fact; and +college can never take the place of this school. And what fierce +battles we’ve had on the diamond and gridiron with our rivals of +Clifford and Bellport! I’ll be mighty sorry to leave the old school +behind.” + +“Perhaps you miss your guess about me, boys. I may stick to Columbia +for another year.” + +“Shucks! expect us to believe that kind of talk, Frank Allen; when +everybody knows you’re bound to graduate with the highest honors ever +given at Columbia High?” + +“Listen, then; and while we hold up here to get a breathing spell on +our practice cross country run. I’ll tell you how it is.” + +“Wish you would, Frank,” said the tall, thin lad, who was known +as Lanky Wallace; though it was said that at home they called him +Clarence. “Here’s our chum, Bones Shadduck, staring at you as if he +reckoned he was up against the great Chinese puzzle. Open up and tell +us!” + +The three boys were in running costume, and had been swinging steadily +along country roads, and across fields and farms, within five miles +of the town of Columbia, for an hour or more. They were, with others, +engaged in a cross country run; but as it was only intended to be a +“bracer” for great events in the near future, these three contestants, +all of whom had splendid records in past school races, had for +company’s sake kept close together. + +Columbia lay upon the bank of the Harrapin river, upon which stream the +boys found great enjoyment, winter and summer. Not many miles below +was Bellport, more of a manufacturing town; while Clifford lay up the +river, and on the other bank. + +As both of these enterprising towns had high schools, it was only +natural that the pupils should feel a certain amount of rivalry in +their various sports. And as a rule these were entered upon with +that fine spirit of fairness that adds zest to any game where the +competition is keen, and victory cheered to the echo. + +In the first volume of this series, “The Boys of Columbia High; Or, The +All Around Rivals of the School,” the reader is given an account of the +school life of many of the characters; together with some of the indoor +sports suitable to the season. + +In the spring it was natural that baseball should be the leading topic +in their minds; and some of the thrilling battles which they had with +the neighboring teams of Clifford and Bellport will be found in the +book, “The Boys of Columbia High on the Diamond; Or, Winning Out by +Pluck.” + +With the coming of summer and hot weather, baseball was almost +forgotten; but a new source of amusement, as well as competition, +arose, when an eight-oared shell came for the boys of Columbia High. Of +course, not to be outdone, the rival schools must also embark in the +same line. So a tournament was arranged on the Harrapin by some of the +enterprising citizens of the three towns, who believed in giving their +boys all the healthy outdoor sport they could. Many of the remarkable +happenings that accompanied that summer carnival on the water you will +find in the third volume, called “The Boys of Columbia High on the +River; Or, The Boat Race Plot that Failed.” + +Another school term found the rivals of the Harrapin just as eager to +try conclusions with each other as ever. And as the tang of frost was +in the air, naturally they could think of nothing but football. And so +again they met and fought it out to a finish for the prize. An account +of the fiercely contested games, where brawn and sinew were often +outwitted by a little gray matter in the brain of a clever dodger, is +given in “The Boys of Columbia High on the Gridiron; Or, The Struggle +for the Silver Cup.” + +Then came winter, with a sheet of ice covering the Northern river, and +scores of boys were fairly wild to spend every spare hour upon it. They +had glorious times that year along the Harrapin, as you will admit +after finishing the fifth volume of the series, just preceding this +story, and which bears the name of “The Boys of Columbia High on the +Ice; Or, Out for the Hockey Championship.” + +And now, with spring at hand, the talk was all of the great athletic +event of the year, which had been arranged as a fitting wind-up of the +finest class Columbia had ever turned out at a graduation time. + +It was to be an open competition, and the pupils of Clifford and +Bellport had received a special invitation to enter for the various +field and track events on the long program. + +Every fine day, when school was not in session, boys in running costume +could be met, jogging steadily along the country roads. In the fields +where the schools played all their outdoor games, groups of students +were to be seen engaged in practicing putting the shot, high jumping, +wrestling, sprinting short distances, each and every one filled with +the spirit of the hour. + +Indeed, Columbia was bubbling over with excitement, since the great day +was now close at hand when all these tests to prove superiority were to +be brought about before a record-breaking throng. + +Columbia, in the past, had been very fortunate in downing her river +rivals; but the boys of Clifford and Bellport were possessed of the +true grit animating all lovers of clean sport, and they always came up +smiling for a new test. Forgetting the bitterness of previous defeats, +they were ever ready to affirm their belief in their ability to wrest +the prize from the athletes of Columbia. + +And as there had come many rumors of astonishing progress being made +by these rival schools, many in Columbia went about with sober faces; +and even hinted that they feared it was going to be a bad year for the +famous school. + +Frank Allen always bore a leading part in all these athletic doings; +as did his particular chum, Lanky. And they were out on this Saturday, +with another well-known long-distance runner, Bones Shadduck, to get +their muscles in good trim for the grind of the Marathon that was to +be the crowning event of the great meet so soon to come about. + +They were the hope of Columbia High. No other boys ventured to compete +with these long-distance runners when they took a notion to do their +best. On this occasion they were not thinking of trying to break +records, but meant to cover the ground, so as to become familiar with +all its features. + +The course had been plainly mapped out, and in several places the +runners were allowed to exercise their discretion about choosing +between several methods of arriving at one of the many stations where +they were to be registered. That is, if a lad thought he could make +better time by crossing the country between two roads, he was given +that privilege; though warned that he might get bogged, held up by a +marshy stretch of ground, or even lost in the big woods, if not fully +familiar with the district. + +Consequently it was not likely that anyone would take advantage of this +choice, but all of them were apt to stick to the main roads, where the +going was good. + +Seeing that his two fellow runners were growing quite curious about +the explanation of his assertion, Frank laughed good-naturedly, and +remarked: + +“Well, just wait till I wash the dust down my throat with a good drink +at this spring here, and then I’ll tell you what I meant by saying I +might stick to Columbia High another year.” + +“Well, I want to say right now,” remarked Bones Shadduck, as he +sucked at a long scratch on his hand, which he had received from a +hanging vine in the brush they had just broken through, “that this +thing of cutting across country to save a little time doesn’t strike +me favorably. In the race I wager I keep close to the roads, and let +others take chances of getting mired, or lost, if they want to.” + +Three minutes later, having refreshed themselves at the cool gurgling +spring, the trio of high-school boys stood for a minute or two before +starting off again on their jogging run in the direction of the next +road. + +“Now, Frank, keep your promise,” warned Bones. + +“Yes, I’ll be badgered if I can get head or tail of what he means,” +Lanky Wallace declared, shaking his head in a way he had when in doubt. + +“My folks seem to have an idea that they’d rather I was a year older +before I went to college,” Frank began. + +“Why, that’s funny, but I’ve been hearing a lot along the same line +myself at home,” broke in Lanky. + +“Ditto here,” affirmed Bones Shadduck. + +“And so they had me talk with Professor Tyson Parke about it,” Frank +continued; “and he said that he could arrange a post-graduate course +that would take up the better part of the year, and put me in fine +fettle for going into the freshman class at college.” + +“Great scheme!” exclaimed Bones, “and just you see if I don’t put it up +to my people at home.” + +“Count on me to do the same,” remarked Lanky, enthusiastically. “Why, +it would sort of break the school ties piecemeal, you see; and, +besides, when you take a post-graduate course, you only go for an +hour or so a day. That gives a fellow loads of time to take exercise +outdoors. And I need a heap of that, believe me.” + +“What do you say about starting on again?” asked Frank. + +“How far do you think it is to that road?” Bones queried, sucking again +at his bleeding hand, so that he might extract the last atom of poison +that had come from the scratch of the creeper. + +“Oh! about a mile, I reckon,” Frank made answer, as they began to run. + +“Only hope it’s better going than the last one, then; that was fierce,” +Bones went on to say, as he fell into his regular jogging pace, which +the boys declared he could keep up for an unlimited number of hours; +very much after the style of the Indian runners from Carlisle School, +who got it from their ancestors, those dusky messengers who would +journey hundreds of miles through dense forests, over mountains and +deserts, with little or no rest. + +“Looks like we might have a snap here for a change,” remarked Lanky, as +they arrived on the border of what seemed to be a large pasture, which +told that they were now on some farm where stock were kept. + +So they mounted the rail fence. Frank remembered noticing at the time +that this was built especially strong, and seemed to be even higher +than usual; but then, as his mind was upon other subjects, he paid +little attention to the fact. + +They had about half crossed the field when Lanky suddenly came to a +stop. + +“Go on, fellows!” he called out; “I’ve got to tie my shoe again; I’ll +catch up with you in a jiffy, before you get to the fence yonder.” + +“Put a knot in that shoelace, Lanky,” said Bones, laughingly, over his +shoulder; “that makes the fourth time you’ve dropped down to tie it. +Try that game in the race and it might lose you your chance. It often +hangs on a small thing; doesn’t it, Frank?” + +Receiving no reply to his question Bones glanced up at the face of his +chum. He found that Frank, while running steadily on, seemed to be +apparently listening intently, for his head was cocked to one side. + +“What did you hear, Frank; the halloo of some other runner who’s bogged +over in that swamp?” demanded Bones. + +“No; I thought I heard a snort, and it made me think of cattle,” +replied Frank. + +“Well, that wouldn’t surprise me a whit,” declared the other, +immediately; “for I’ve seen signs of ’em all along, and I reckon this +field is used for--oh! now I heard it, too, Frank! A snort, you said; +well, I guess it was more than that. I’d call it a bellow, and an ugly +one at that. There’s something moving over back of Lanky. I guess he +sees it, for he’s on his feet now, looking. Wow, there comes a cow, +streaking it out from those bushes, and heading straight for Lanky!” + +“A cow!” ejaculated Frank; “that’s a bull, Bones, and the worst-looking +one I ever remember seeing! We must be at the Hobson farm, and that’s +the fierce old bull Jack was telling me about. He’ll get Lanky if our +chum doesn’t do some tall sprinting right soon. Run, Lanky, run for all +you’re worth! Make for that tree near the fence, and if he gets too +close, climb up.” + +Neither Frank nor Bones dared stand still, for the bull was heading in +their direction, even while chasing the tall boy from Columbia High. +And just then there were some “lively doings” in that pasture. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +HELD BY THE ENEMY + + +Talking was out of the question just then. Every fellow was making his +legs go about as rapidly as he knew how; with the bull charging down +after them at full speed, his long tail flying in the air, while he at +the same time emitted sundry half-muffled bellows that added wings to +the flight of the cross country runners. + +Speaking about the experience later on Bones Shadduck vowed that he +broke all known records in covering the distance that separated himself +and Frank from the friendly rail fence. + +They sprang for the top of this as though they felt the hot breath of +the angry bull. Then, feeling safe for the first time, and with their +hearts beating like trip-hammers, the two boys turned to see what had +become of their chum. + +Lanky had been very much nearer the charging animal than either of his +comrades, and he could not choose his course. With him the “longest +way around” was not the “quickest way to the fire.” + +Perhaps he had heard what Frank called out about the tree that happened +to stand about thirty feet from the fence. At any rate, when he ran, he +was heading directly for that point. + +The bull charged at Lanky. It may have been simply because the tall +runner happened to be the nearest moving object. Then again, Lanky had +on a sleeveless running shirt upon which, back and front, was a big +number seven in glowing red; for he had been known by that sign in the +last match in which he took part. And, somehow or other, all bulls, and +even some cows, seem to have a deep-seated hatred for that color. + +Lanky ran as perhaps he never did before when on the home stretch, and +with a rival pressing him hard at his elbow. He had a good reason for +making record time. The prize was safety and a whole body. If he fell +down those cruel-looking black horns of the bull, even though they had +gilt balls at their ends, would be hooked under him to give him a toss +in the air; after which the infuriated animal would gore and trample +him. + + [Illustration: LANKY RAN AS PERHAPS HE NEVER DID BEFORE. + + _Boys of Columbia High in Track Athletics._ _Page 12._] + +But Lanky knew he could not reach that fence in time to mount. The +bull was able to cover ground even faster than the prize sprinter of +the school. He might jump to one side at the critical moment--a +practiced bull-fighter would doubtless have done this with ease; but +then Lanky was a greenhorn when it came to such things. In fact, he +could not remember ever having been chased by such an animal before. + +The tree loomed before him. A few more desperate jumps and he would be +able to dodge around it and escape the first mad rush of his enemy. + +Frank was holding his breath. He could not remember suffering more +mental agony than when sitting upon that fence watching his chum strive +with every muscle in his bony frame to reach the tree ahead of the +charging beast. And all because he and Bones were so utterly helpless +to assist Lanky. + +“Hurrah! he done it!” yelped Bones, with an utter disregard for grammar +that might have shocked his teacher at school; but the boy was so +excited that he hardly knew what he was saying. + +Lanky, with a grand rally at the end, had actually managed to slide +behind the big trunk of the tree. The bull went galloping past, unable +to immediately bring his forward progress to a stop. + +They saw Lanky roll over once or twice, and again Frank gave a gasp, +fearing that the other might have received some injury in that fall +calculated to prevent him from doing what he must to escape the next +charge of the bull. + +“There, he’s up again, and making for the tree!” snapped Bones, who +could not repress his feelings for an instant. + +“Climb up, if you can, Lanky!” shouted Frank; but enough time was not +given for this performance, since again the bull was on the move. + +Around and around the tree they went, the agile boy eluding each wild +attempt on the part of his bovine enemy to get him. Again and again +those horns would come against the trunk of the tree with a wicked +crash; it seemed as if the animal was growing more and more furious as +the seconds sped by without success attending his efforts. + +All at once Bones gave a whoop. + +“There he goes, Frank! Bully boy, Lanky; you fooled him that time, all +right!” + +The one who was in peril had made a quick upward leap, seized hold of a +lower limb, which doubtless he had been looking at closely with a view +to using it; and bringing into play some of his marvelous agility as a +climber, he threw his lithe figure up until he could sit astride of the +new perch. + +But his enemy had by now become aware of what he was doing. The bull +had been bellowing in an ugly way, and tossing the earth with his +horns; and it was while this performance was going on that Lanky had +taken advantage of the attention of the animal being turned away from +him to make his upward leap. + +Although the bull charged and even tried to reach his dangling legs, +Lanky was able to draw them up in such a way that he felt safe. + +Then Frank, for the first time, laughed. Since Lanky had managed to get +beyond the reach of the black beast, and seemed uninjured after his +close call, the humorous side of the adventure struck the other boys. + +“Now will you be good, Lanky?” jeered Bones. “He’s got you nailed there +in that tree good and fast. What word shall we take to your folks +at home? Want to send ’em any message? Expect to get your meals by +aeroplane or kite? He’s going to camp right there till you oblige him +by coming down, believe me, Lanky.” + +“Cut that chaff out, Bones, and be thinking up some scheme to coax the +old sinner away!” called back the beleaguered one, who had climbed +higher in the tree and could see his chums plainly as they sat upon the +fence nearby. + +“Huh! I suppose now you’d like me to step over there and call him away; +wouldn’t you, Lanky?” demanded Bones. “But all the same I’m not goin’ +to do it. There’s only one way you can get out of that tree.” + +“Then tell me,” cried Lanky, eagerly. + +“Grow some wings and fly!” answered Bones, with a loud laugh. + +Frank saw that the situation, while not desperate, had its unpleasant +features. He knew something about the persistency of bulls in general. +He had heard of one that kept a farmer in a tree all night, and a +good part of the next day, nibbling the grass whenever he got hungry, +and always guarding the tree so that there was no chance whatever for +escape. And the man might have died from weakness had not a neighbor +happened to hear his shouts and shot the bull. + +Lanky must be saved in some way or other, but just how to go about it +was the question. At first Frank thought he might coax the bull by +dropping over the fence at some distant part of the field. He tried it, +but with no success whatever. The cunning bull declined to nibble at +the bait. It was just as if he had decided that a boy in the tree was +worth two in the field keeping close to the fence so that it could be +scaled. + +“It’s no go, Frank!” called out Bones, after the other had ventured as +near to the animal as he deemed safe, without drawing his attention a +particle. “You’ll have to try another dodge; or else Lanky’s going to +stay in that tree till Christmas rolls around, or the Glorious Fourth.” + +“For goodness sake, think up some way of getting him off, Frank!” +called out the impatient prisoner of the lone tree. + +“I’ve got a scheme!” cried Bones. + +“Yes, you have!” Lanky answered in some derision; for he failed to have +any great amount of faith in anything Bones Shadduck originated. + +“Well, this one’s a corker, I tell you,” the boy on the fence went on, +eagerly. + +“All right, let’s hear it, and speak low so the bull won’t get on,” +Lanky suggested, with mock respect. + +“Besides it’ll give Frank and me a heap of fun watching you, Lanky.” + +“Oh! it will, hey? Lots of fun, you say? I’ve no doubt you’re enjoying +this game right well, Bones; but you’d laugh out of the other side of +your mouth if it was you sitting up here, and me on the fence. But go +on, tell us about it now.” + +“Why, you want to watch your chance,” began Bones, soberly. + +“Oh! do I? Chance for what?” demanded Lanky, derisively, for he seemed +to feel that the other was only having sport with him. + +“To catch the bull off his guard, when you might drop plump on his +back. But if you do, Lanky,” Bones went on hurriedly, and with much +apparent concern, “be sure you get a good hold, because he’s apt to +jump and kick like a bucking bronco, and if he knocks you off it’s +good-bye for yours. You’ll be a back number.” + +Even Lanky was seen to grin at this wild proposition. + +“Well, you are the punk thing, Bones, when it comes to helping a chum +out of a hole,” he called out. “Frank, I know I can depend on you to +hatch up some smart little trick to shake off this old buffalo that’s +got me up a tree.” + +“I’ve tried my best to coax him away, Lanky,” said Frank, starting to +walk off; “but he won’t budge an inch, and it’s no use.” + +“Hold on, Frank; sure now, you wouldn’t be for leaving me here in this +fix, would you, and me that’s stood by you through thick and thin many +a time? If I had to perch up here long my bones’d be too sore for me to +enter any race for a month of Sundays. Where are you going, Frank?” + +“To hunt up the farmhouse, and see if I can’t get Mr. Hobson to come to +the rescue. I’ll be back before a great while,” was what Frank called +out. + +“Bless you for a true chum, Frank, I knew you wouldn’t leave me in the +lurch; and here’s hoping that you find the farmer at home all right, or +his man. Oh! laugh all you want to, Bones, but it isn’t so funny when +you’re the frog that gets hit by the stones. Just you try it once and +see.” + +Time passed slowly to the beleaguered runner. He even complained of +feeling a little cold, and talked to Bones about supper as though he +began to fear that, after all, he would have to camp there in that tree +the whole night. + +“If you have to stay there, and it comes to the worst,” Bones had +assured him; “mebbe now I might be able to throw a package of grub to +you from the top of the fence here. I’m the boss thrower, you know, +Lanky. Many a time I’ve got a runner at the home plate by lifting a fly +I caught away out when I was playing left field for Ben Allison.” + +“There comes Frank now,” the prisoner of the tree exclaimed, he having +a greater range of vision than the boy who sat astride of the rail +fence. + +“Got the farmer trailing along, I hope?” ventured Bones. + +“Well, if he has, I don’t see him yet,” replied the other dejectedly. +“Reckon I’m just a-goin’ to sit here all night.” + +“I can get a squint at Frank now, Lanky; and, say, what’s he got in his +hand?” + +“Looks like a clothesline to me, Bones,” replied the other, without +much enthusiasm in his voice. “I thought Frank was smarter than that. +If he thinks he’s going to lasso this big bull with that rope and hold +him even one minute he’s sure got another guess coming to him.” + +“Now, you leave all that to Frank,” advised the other. “You’ve been +goin’ with him long enough to know that he’s smart about getting up +schemes; yes, and carryin’ ’em out, too. Wait and see what he says, +Lanky, before you decide about eatin’ your supper on a limb.” + +Frank came hurrying along and just as Lanky had said, he was carrying +what seemed to be a coiled clothesline, for the rope was certainly made +of cotton and seemed rather thin at that. + +“Where’s Farmer Hobson, Frank?” asked the boy on the limb. + +“Gone with a load of stuff to Columbia, and won’t be home till late +to-night,” came the reply, as Frank arrived opposite the spot where the +determined bull kept watch and ward over his prize. + +“And hasn’t he got a man?” wailed Lanky, as though he began to feel +that everything was conspiring against him. + +Frank went on calmly undoing the rope foot by foot, and testing it. + +“Yes; but he’s sick on his back with lumbago, and couldn’t hobble out +here; so I told him not to try, and that I’d find some way to get you +out, all right.” + +“I’m surprised at you, Frank,” ventured Lanky, wishing for information. + +“In what way?” asked the other, coolly, once more starting to loop up +the rope, as though getting ready to throw it. + +“Why, even if you manage to get that rope over his horns it won’t hold +a minute. Look at his broad chest and heavy shoulders, would you? Why, +that bull could snap such a little rope five times over.” + +“I reckon he could, Lanky,” Frank went on, laughing; “but you see, I +don’t expect to use it on him as a lasso. Fact is, I mean it for you!” + +“What’s that; goin’ to get it over my neck, and yank me out of this +tree! I sure like that kind of talk. It shows a kind heart; but my neck +is stretched as long as it can go; so you’ll have to think up some +other dodge, Frank.” + +“Listen,” said Frank, seriously. “If I throw this loop to you, or get +Bones here to try it, do you think you could grab hold of it?” + +“Try me!” said Lanky, laconically. + +“Well, when you get the end, go as far as you can in your tree, and tie +the doubled rope there. Afterwards I’m going to fasten the other end +to this tree we’ve got on _our_ side of the fence. Understand now what +I mean, Lanky? You’ve got to do the tight-rope act; and come out of +there by the aerial route, with Mr. Bull prancing under your heels, but +unable to reach you. How do you like the scheme?” + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE GYPSY CARAVAN + + +“It’s a screamer!” exclaimed Lanky, immediately. + +“What I call a peach!” ejaculated Bones Shadduck. “Say, what was I +tellin’ you, Lanky; didn’t I say our Frank would get up a plan that was +goin’ to beat anything you ever heard tell of? Oh! hurry up, and let’s +get things started.” + +“Well, suppose then you take this doubled rope, which I’ve coiled up, +and see if you can land the end in the branches of Lanky’s tree.” + +“And as near me as you can, Bones, remember,” advised the one most +interested; “because he’s just a-listenin’ as if he knew what we were +talkin’ about; and, if he gets half a chance, I reckon he’ll take that +same rope and wrap it all around those gold-tipped horns of his.” + +So Bones, after finding how he could stand on the top of the rail +fence in a fairly steady fashion, took a survey of the situation, and +decided just what amount of effort it would require to send the end of +the doubled rope into the tree. + +He started to wind up by whirling the coils around his head, after the +fashion of a cowboy about to make a cast. Then, as Lanky, becoming +impatient, begged him to make haste, Bones let fly. + +His first attempt proved a failure, for the rope fell short. The bull +seemed so curious about all these actions that he came over to look at +the rope, which Bones was now dragging back in haste. + +“Keep off there, you!” he called to the animal; “just go back and mind +your own business, which I take it right now is to watch Lanky yonder,” +and, as though understanding what was said, sure enough, the heavy-set +animal turned immediately, trotting back under the tree, and looking up +longingly at the imprisoned boy, while emitting a low bellow. + +“Is that the best you can do, Bones?” demanded Lanky, wishing to spur +the other on; “if it is, better let Frank take a turn, because I know +he can make a longer throw than that was.” + +“You wait,” answered the aroused Bones; “I can do better than that. +Just thought I ought to make a try throw first. This time I’ll put a +little more steam in it, and you get ready to grab, Lanky.” + +“Right here, Bones, put her in my mitt!” called the other, holding out +his hands as though he might be a catcher behind the rubber, calling +to his slabmate how to toss them in. + +Frank steadied Bones from below, so that he could feel on firmer +footing. And this time the rope, flying far out, and uncoiling as it +went, struck in among the lower branches of the tree. + +“Catch hold, Lanky, quick!” cried the thrower of the lasso. + +Lanky almost tumbled out of the tree in his eagerness to reach the +rope; but fortunately it had caught on a branch, and he was able to get +his hands on it. + +“Now climb up, and pass it along,” called Frank. + +“Yes,” added Bones, “there’s a hunky-dory place up yonder to tie it to, +after you’ve doubled it like Frank said. That’s it, Lanky; put the rope +around there, you know.” + +Lanky understood and fastened the knotted end of the line to the upper +branch of the tree--an especially strong one it was, too. + +Afterwards Frank climbed the second tree beyond the rail fence; and as +Lanky had tied his end of the doubled clothesline to an upper limb, +Frank did the same. + +There now stretched a taut doubled line, with a downward slant, from +the tree under which the bull waited patiently for his prey to drop. + +“Looks good to me!” announced Bones, as he changed his position on the +fence so as to get a better view of the coming “stunt” of the thin chum. + +“Course it does,” grumbled Lanky, as he prepared to trust himself to +the slender line. “Think I’m a featherweight, do you, just because I’m +thin; but bones weigh a heap, just you remember. What if she breaks, +Frank?” + +“It will hold you, all right, Lanky,” replied the other, confidently; +“I tested the single line with my weight and it stood firm. Now that +we’ve made it double, honestly, I believe it would hold even Buster +Billings.” + +As the boy mentioned was considered the fattest scholar, without +exception, in any one of the three high schools, such positive +information should have gone far toward giving Lanky confidence. + +“All right, here I come, then. Phew! I hope the blooming old thing +doesn’t give enough to let me down so he can poke his horns into me.” + +That was really the only thing that Frank feared in the least. It +was with more or less concern, therefore, that he saw Lanky get in +readiness to start sliding along the rope. As this had a pretty good +slant from the lone tree’s upper branches, he need not do any climbing, +but just work his way along, and remember to hold on with a firm grip, +no matter what happened. + +“Wow! there he comes!” exclaimed Bones Shadduck, as the thin boy let +go his hold above, and launched himself upon his aerial passage. + +It was a strange sight indeed, with Lanky moving slowly but steadily +down that doubled rope, and the prancing bull keeping directly +underneath him, giving vent to all sorts of queer noises as he even +reared up on his short hind legs and tried to reach Lanky’s long, +dangling figure with his horns. + +“Thank goodness, the rope holds!” cried Bones, who had been rather +doubtful of its strength all along. + +“And it doesn’t seem to sag so very much,” added Frank, mentally +figuring how close bull and boy might come before Lanky found shelter +across the line of fence. “It’s going to be a close shave, I’m afraid, +though, Lanky; can’t you pull up your legs some; he might get you when +you’re near the fence?” + +“Sure he can,” remarked Bones. “You know what sort of gymnast Lanky is. +Watch him put his feet in his pockets now.” + +Of course, the dangling boy did not go quite that far, because in the +first place he had no such thing as a pocket in his running togs, and +even if he had, he felt no inclination to carry out the suggestion of +humorous Bones. But he did throw one leg up over the line, and this +took his form just so much further away from the ugly horns below. + +In this fashion then Lanky passed over the fence, and was safe. The +baffled bull seemed to know that his intended prey had escaped him. +Perhaps he felt that the boy on the fence must be laughing at him. At +any rate he made a sudden, wicked lunge in the direction of Bones, and +that worthy, being taken by surprise, might have suffered if he had not +allowed himself to simply fall in a heap on the ground outside of the +rails. + +Bang! came the rushing bull against the fence, which quivered before +the onset, and might even have given way, only that it had been stoutly +built to withstand such rushes. + +“Bah! don’t you wish you could?” jeered Bones, struggling to his feet, +his fright a thing of the past; and he made a face at the bull, that +was just two feet away, although separated by that barrier of stout +rails. + +“How are you, Lanky; all right?” asked Frank, as the long figure of the +rescued chum appeared in sight, dropping down out of the second tree. + +“Well, I seem to be all here,” replied the other, with a broad smile; +“but when that old beast was trying to reach me, I began to think he’d +have my shins scraped, more or less. That was a bully good thought of +yours, Frank. Queerest ride I ever took in all my life. Talk to me +about toboggan slides--why, they’re not in it with a rope run, and a +jumpin’ bull underneath.” + +“Who’ll get the rope, Frank?” asked Bones. + +“You can, if you feel like it,” replied the other, with a smile. + +“Excuse me, but it’d have to be something more’n an old clothesline +that would tempt me to go into that field again,” Bones declared. + +“Well,” Frank went on, “fortunately there’s no need of anyone going +right now, because I told the farmer’s wife what I meant to do to get +Lanky out of there, and she said to leave the rope where it was. Her +husband would get it later on, after the bull was in the barn for the +night.” + +“Let me have five minutes’ rest after that little slide, Frank,” +entreated Lanky, “and then I’ll be ready to join you both in another +run across to the road. It must have been the strain that told on me. +Right now my heart is beating like fun.” + +“Sure thing,” assented Bones; “mine is, too, because I thought that +black beast was going to get me when he ducked my way with a whoop. +Say, ain’t he just the limit now, fellows? Old Hobson’ll get in trouble +with that critter some fine day. He ought not to keep such a wicked +animal around.” + +“Oh! well,” Frank remarked, “you know we really had no business going +through his pasture. Even if you got hurt, your father couldn’t have +recovered damages if Hobson chose to take it to the courts. When you +trespass, you lose your rights up to a certain extent. How about it +now, Lanky, feel like you could stand a grilling run again?” + +“I’m as right as ever, Frank; and now that the whole thing’s over I’m +ready to laugh at it as hard as the next one. It sure was the queerest +thing that ever happened to me. A dog had me treed once--a bulldog that +guarded an apple tree belonging to our next-door neighbor. Our apples +were good, you know, but his seemed to be just the right kind I was +lookin’ for.” + +“What happened?” asked Bones. + +“Why, the neighbor came along and called the dog off,” Lanky replied, +with one of his customary shrugs; “me to the woodshed as soon as my dad +heard about it, and--well, what’s the use saying anything more? I never +like to think of that same interview, give you my word, fellows.” + +They had by now started off again. Lanky seemed to show no signs of +having suffered because of the strain he had just gone through. These +thin, wiry boys are able to stand a tremendous lot of knocking about, +without feeling any bad effects. Had it been Buster Billings, now, who +was a prisoner in that tree, they could never have effected his release +in the way Lanky was saved. His weight would have caused any line to +sag, so that the poor fellow would have been an easy mark for the +butting horns of the bull. + +After leaving the farm of Mr. Hobson behind the runners found that +they would have to pass over some more dubious ground. Frank realized +that unless some better course was found than this it would be the +height of folly for a runner to think he could save time by leaving the +firm road, and taking to the cross country. And being a good, square +sportsman he determined to do all he could to warn the Clifford and +Bellport fellows against any such attempt. Still, they had the same +privilege of examining the ground that the Columbia High boys did, and +if it struck one of them that he cared to take chances that was really +his own affair. + +“There’s the road, fellows!” said Frank, after they had ploughed +through a lot of soft ground, and were thoroughly disgusted with it all. + +“Oh! happy day!” sang Lanky. “When you hear of me trying to take a +short-cut on that same Marathon race, just engage a room for me at the +insane asylum; won’t you?” + +“But looky there, what under the sun have we got now, boys?” called out +Bones, who happened just then to be a little in the lead of the runners. + +“Wagons, hey?” exclaimed Lanky; “and all the colors of the rainbow at +that. Jupiter whiz! did you ever see such a gay crowd? Say, Frank, +these must be the gypsies that hang around Budd’s Corners every other +summer; don’t you think so?” + +“Just what they are,” came the reply; “but there’s twice as many this +year as ever before.” + +“And would you see the fine wagons they’ve got along?” remarked Bones, +as they stood upon the lower fence rail to watch the caravan pass. +“Most of ’em are fitted up, they tell me, like the cabin of a boat, +with sleeping bunks and a cooking range. I’d just like to say that one +of those wagons must be worth a heap of money. How do they make it all, +Frank, do you think?” and he lowered his voice, for the head of the +procession was now very close by, and the boy did not wholly like the +looks of the swarthy men who drove those wagons along toward the first +of the line. + +“They do a lot of horse trading,” Frank replied; “and are mighty smart +at it, too. The ordinary farmer has little chance against a gypsy in +a trade; though he may think he’s some pumpkins, as they say. Those +horses are a pretty good lot, let me tell you, fellows,” as the wagons +began to pass by. + +There must have been at least ten of them, all told, mostly new ones, +with all the comforts known to modern wagon travelers. The boys watched +the procession pass with considerable interest, and from the way the +gypsies stared at them they excited almost as much curiosity, on +account of their running clothes, as the gypsies did in them. And it +was while they stood in this way that Lanky suddenly began to show a +strange excitement, turning toward his chums with a puzzled look on his +face. + +“Say, perhaps you fellows didn’t see that little girl trying to attract +our attention in one of those vans?” he remarked, with more or less +eagerness. “The old gypsy woman pulled her down in a big hurry, but, +Frank--Bones, I sure believe that she was holding out her baby hands to +us, like she wanted to ask us to help her!” + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A MYSTERY OF THE WAGON + + +The other two boys looked at Lanky curiously, as if to see whether he +could be in earnest, or only joking. Lanky was inclined, at times, to +show an odd streak of humor, as Frank had long since found out. + +But the long-legged chap certainly looked serious enough just then. His +eyes followed the line of gypsy vans eagerly. If there was anything +that appealed to Lanky Wallace it was a bit of mystery, and he had been +known to bother his head for days and weeks over some trifling affair +that the ordinary schoolboy would dismiss from his mind with a laugh. + +“I tell you she did just what I said, fellows,” he persisted in saying; +“held out her hands to me; and if ever there was a look of fear on a +little girl’s face, I saw it on hers!” + +“Oh, rats!” exploded practical Bones; “you’ve been reading some silly +stuff about gypsies taking the children of rich people and holding ’em +for a ransom. That might have happened years ago, or perhaps in Old +England; but if you think it could to-day, and in America, why, you’re +away off your base, Lanky. Reckon you ought to have been born about the +year sixteen hundred and seven, instead of in this age.” + +Frank, while doubting whether there could be anything in what seemed +to be a far-fetched idea of the tall chum, was not so much inclined to +“josh” him as Bones had been. + +He and Lanky had known of a case where the haunting face of a young +tramp had kept both of them guessing for a long spell, and the +persistence of the tall chum had in the end brought the truth to light. +And through that same dogged perseverance a long-lost son and brother +was restored to his family; while Lanky had made a good friend in +rosy-cheeked Dora, the pretty sister of Will Baxter. + +“Tell me, Lanky,” he said, now, in as serious a tone as he could +command, “was the child fair-haired, or a brunette; because, you know, +all gypsies are dark?” + +Lanky made a wry face, but stood to his guns. + +“Sure, she did have a dark little phiz, Frank, that’s right; but, then, +I reckon it’s the easiest thing in the world to change the skin, and +dye the hair. Why, haven’t you had your hands turn brown with the +juice of fresh walnuts every fall, when we laid in our winter stock, +and hulled ’em? ’Course you have, and so has Bones here. I tell you, +fellows, I’ll never get that look out of my head. If I wake up in the +night, bet you a cookey I’ll think of it right away.” + +Frank knew the obstinacy of his chum only too well. There never was +a boy who would persist more in a thing than Lanky Wallace, though +when he had the truth absolutely shown to him he would give up, and +admit that he was wrong. Some people who did not fancy Lanky called +him pig-headed and stubborn, but those who were better able to judge +understood the difference between stubbornness and firmness. + +“Well,” said Frank, “if that’s the way you feel about it, Lanky, +there’s only one thing to be done. To satisfy yourself, you ought to +see the child again. When you find out that she is only a little brown +gypsy, sure enough, you’ll sleep easy again.” + +At that Lanky smiled. + +“I don’t know whether you’re just kidding or not, Frank,” he said; +“but I’d just made up my mind to do that same, right now--follow the +caravan, and try to get another glance at that face.” + +“Well, you do rush things to beat the band!” ejaculated Bones. “We +came out on this run to see how the cut-off might be, and to get a +point on what we could do over the course; but seems to me running has +been about the last on the list with the lot of us to-day. There was +that adventure with the bull; and now here’s Lanky gone daffy over the +brown face of a baby girl, that just happened to look sad at him after +getting a spanking from her ma! Frank, do we go with him, or head off +for ourselves right here?” + +“Oh, suit yourselves, fellows!” said Lanky, quickly, for he was very +touchy, and ready to resent anything like a favor grudgingly bestowed. +“Just leave me alone and I’ll show up later.” + +Frank, however, realized that somehow his chum was worked up over +the matter more than he could remember having seen him for a long +time. Perhaps it was the fact that his nerves had been shaken during +his recent affair with the bull. Then again, there might be a slight +possibility that Lanky was right with regard to the child. + +“Oh, that’s all right, Lanky!” he remarked, soothingly. “I’m going +where you lead, and if Bones objects he knows what he can do. Not that +I take much stock in your kidnapping idea, because such things happen +only once in a long time nowadays.” + +“But you admit, Frank, that it could be; don’t you?” demanded the +other, not at all shaken in his belief. + +“Well, yes, there might be about one chance in a hundred, Lanky,” Frank +replied. + +“And I’m taking the hundredth chance,” said the other, doggedly, as he +started off after the gypsy caravan, which had vanished entirely from +view around a bend in the road while the three runners were holding +this short conversation among themselves. + +They sighted it again as soon as they had turned the curve in the road. +As if by mutual consent Frank and Bones had fallen back, and allowed +Lanky to have the post of honor in the van. + +“If she does it again, Lanky,” remarked Bones, jeeringly, “just you +give us the high sign; when we’ll jump in, and clear up the whole gypsy +tribe, rescue the kidnapped princess, carry her home in triumph and +receive a cool million or so from her happy dad, as a reward for our +heroic achievement!” + +“Oh! splash!” was all Lanky sent back over his shoulder, as he ran +steadily on at that telling jog-trot that seemed never to tire the +runner. + +They rapidly overtook the caravan, for the horses were not trying to +make any speed, having come a long distance, it might be, since sun-up; +and, besides, the drivers knew they were within a few miles of the +place where, once in so often, they made camp for several days, or a +week at a time. + +Lanky paid no attention to the rear wagons, but passed alongside and +kept pushing on. He had eyes only for the most gorgeous van in the +whole procession; since it had been at the side window of this he had +seen the face that, somehow, appealed to his sensitive heart. + +The door at the rear of the high wagon was almost wholly closed, Lanky +noticed as he came along, though once he really thought he saw a face, +surrounded by coils of black hair, in the opening, which could only +belong to a gypsy woman. + +He kept his eyes fastened on the side window, for he knew that his two +skeptical chums were waiting for a sign and would be apt to decide one +way or another, depending on what was to be seen. And, sure enough, a +face did appear there, that of a child in the bargain, and a girl, too. +But she simply stared at the odd costumes of the three boy runners, +and seemed to hold them in the scorn a true gypsy child feels for the +house-dweller. + +Lanky was grievously disappointed. It seemed that he had been mistaken +after all, and, always willing to “take his medicine,” as he called it, +he prepared to accept the expected chaffing of Bones in a good spirit. +Had that ended the matter, doubtless Lanky would have put it out of his +mind for good and all, but as it happened there was a little sequel, +and it is often upon these trifles that great events depend. + +The three boys had passed the gorgeous van, and were pursuing their way +along toward the leading wagon, when a sound came to their ears that +was rather significant under the circumstances. + +It was certainly very like the cry of a frightened child, quickly +suppressed, and yet coming from the identical van toward which Lanky +had drawn the attention of his chums. + +All of them turned their heads to look, but only to meet the surly +frown of the dusky gypsy who drove the pair of fine horses attached to +the wagon, which, from its appearance, might shelter the queen of the +roving tribe. + +Frank knew that for Lanky to make any attempt to interfere with the +gypsies at such a time would be the height of folly. + +“Go on; don’t stop, Lanky!” he exclaimed, ready to push the other +onward if he manifested a stubborn disposition, as though inclined to +investigate. + +“But, didn’t you hear it?” demanded the tall fellow, irresolutely. + +“Move along there!” said Bones, as if in disgust; “why, whatever’s +coming over our bold Lanky Wallace, when even the squalling of a gypsy +kid gets on his nerves?” + +“Go on, Lanky,” said Frank, in earnest tones; “you’ll only make +trouble, and get in a fight, if you try anything here. Wait a while, +and perhaps you can find out all you want without having a row.” + +Realizing that Frank was right, as he generally was, Lanky again +started on; but after passing the head of the gypsy caravan he +slackened his pace enough to let his chum come alongside. + +“You heard that, too; didn’t you, Frank?” he asked, eagerly. + +“Of course I did, and so did Bones, because you know he spoke of a +gypsy kid crying,” returned Frank, himself more than a little puzzled +by now. + +“It wasn’t the one at the window, because she was older, and besides, +you saw her stare at us,” Lanky continued, in his old argumentative +way. “No, sir; that one who started to scream was a smaller child, and +must have been the same I saw before. Didn’t I say she held out her +baby hands to me? And now, when she begins to cry, that old gypsy crone +shuts her off quick. Frank, honest Injun now, I wouldn’t be surprised +if she just took her by the throat and choked her to keep her still!” + +“Oh, come, now, Lanky, you’re letting that wild imagination of yours +just run away with you!” remarked Frank; but the other noticed that +there was a serious expression on the face of his chum at the same time. + +“You more’n half believe it yourself, Frank Allen, and you don’t dare +deny it!” he exclaimed, heatedly. + +“Tell me about that, will you?” Bones could be heard saying to himself, +as he ran along just behind them, and evidently “listening for all he +was worth,” as Lanky remarked later on; for despite his skepticism +Bones was himself beginning to feel a little touch of the fever that +was working on Lanky. + +“Only this far,” Frank went on to say, in response to the accusation of +his chum; “there might be something in what you’ve got on your brain. +But the chances are ten to one, Lanky, that in the end it’ll prove to +be only a little gypsy girl who has been bad and spanked by her ma.” + +“Oh, now it’s only ten to one; is it?” demanded the other, quickly; +“and a little while back the odds were a hundred to one. Shows that +you’re falling to my idea pretty rapid, Frank. Now, I’ve been in gypsy +camps heaps of times and so have both of you. Will you promise to give +me a straight answer, if I ask you a question?” + +“You know I will, Lanky,” said Frank. + +“If it’s nothing personal, I’ll promise, too,” came from the cautious +Bones, who may have had a few secrets of his own to which he did not +wish to confess. + +“Did you ever hear a gypsy child cry, either one of you?” demanded +Lanky, with a triumphant look on his thin face, as though he felt that +this question was what he would call a “clincher.” + +Frank paused a brief time as if for reflection. + +“I never did!” he finally replied, with emphasis. + +“How about you, Bones?” pursued Lanky. + +“Oh, well, I don’t remember about it,” replied the other; “but then, +what does that prove? I reckon they do yell when they get a lickin’, +just the same as other kids; only we never happened to be there when +the old lady’s slipper was getting in its work.” + +But Frank saw the point Lanky was making, and appreciated it, too. + +“I’ve been told,” the tall boy went on to say, “that gypsies bring +up their children about like the old Injuns used to do. They learn +when little kids never to show what they feel. Never heard of a red +Injun boy weepin’; did you, Bones? Well, I guess nobody ever did; and +gypsies, they’re about in the same class.” + +“Well, and even if that’s right, Lanky, how do we know but what the +old queen was givin’ the baby its lesson in keepin’ from cryin’? Sure, +somethin’ shut the noise off right quick, I acknowledge that. But you +just can’t make me believe in any silly yarn like a stolen child, and +such stuff. Bah! next thing you’ll be lookin’ for a strawberry mark on +my left arm, and tryin’ to make out I was changed in the cradle.” + +But Lanky would not take any notice of these slurs. Frank could see +that he was deeply impressed with the idea that the little dark-faced +girl at the window of the big van had actually appealed to him for help +in her childish way. And, knowing Lanky as he did, Frank felt positive +that this would not be the last of the affair. + +“He’ll go to their camp and make trouble sooner or later,” Frank +was saying to himself, as the three runners neared the outskirts of +Columbia; “and I suppose it’s up to me to stick to a chum through thick +and thin. Perhaps he’ll be cured if only he can see the kid and talk +with the mother. However, I’ve got to back Lanky up, no matter what +wild scheme he may hatch in that brain of his. Because he’s a good +fellow, and one of the best chums I’ve ever had.” + +And so the run over the course of the Marathon race that was to be a +leading feature of the athletic meet had been productive of several +thrilling incidents that would not soon be forgotten by the three lads +who were chiefly concerned. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +ON THE CAMPUS GREEN + + +“Come, brace up, Lanky; ’tisn’t time for your funeral yet!” + +“Why, we haven’t even had the preliminary trial races yet to see who’s +going to be chosen to represent Columbia High in the big athletic meet, +and here’s one of our best Marathon boys getting cold feet!” + +A group of lads stood around on the campus during recess, shortly +before noon, comparing notes about the chances their school would have +when up against the crack athletes of Clifford and Bellport. + +Buster Billings had been the first speaker, the fat boy who has often +figured in these stories of Columbia High, while the second one who was +trying to cheer Lanky up, boy-fashion, by giving him a “dig,” was Jack +Comfort, reckoned the best all-round shot-putter the school had ever +known. + +In the group were several others who have been familiar figures in +the past. The good-looking boy who took no part in the conversation, +seeming to be very quiet, was Ralph Langworthy. Once he had been known +as Ralph West; and Frank Allen had been instrumental in solving a great +mystery that hung over his head, thus finding his own true mother for +the new chum. + +Then there were Paul Bird, a very close chum of Frank’s; Bones +Shadduck, Tom Budd, a boy who could never keep still, but must be +turning hand-springs, or standing on his head, half of the time; Jack +Eastwick, the great doubter of the school, who should have been named +Thomas, everybody declared; “Jonsey,” who once upon a time gave out in +a boat race, and put Columbia in a hole; and last of all “Red” Huggins, +whose faculty for getting his tongue twisted when excited often +resulted in queer expressions. + +Lanky Wallace had been unusually grave all morning, and the boys +noticed it, too. Of course, none of them knew what was ailing the tall +student, for Frank alone was in the secret. And most of the talk they +were flinging at Lanky now was done for the evident purpose of “getting +a rise” from him. If he could be stirred up to give them some heated +back talk they might find out what ailed him. + +Truth to tell, some of them were feeling a little uneasy. Columbia +would evidently have need of all her reserve stock of talent this +spring in order to come out ahead in the various trials of skill with +her bitter rivals. And Lanky was reckoned one of the shining lights in +many a contest where agility and power of endurance counted. + +“Cold feet, nothing!” the tall boy flung back at Jack Comfort. “When +that happens you’ll find the moon made of green cheese, boys. Fact is, +I’m just a little bothered to-day about somethin’ that’s got nothin’ to +do with the athletic meet.” + +“Been eating some grub that’s given you indigestion, p’raps?” suggested +Jonsey. + +“For goodness sake, Lanky, don’t get out of trim now; we need you +the worst way, if we expect to wipe up the ground with those up and +down-river fellows,” implored Paul Bird. + +“That’s just what,” broke in Bones Shadduck; “ever since Lanky got +treed by that bull he’s been in the dumps. For once he ran up against +somethin’ he couldn’t beat, and it’s made him sore.” + +The boys laughed, for they had all heard the story to the last +particular. + +“Well, all I know,” remarked Buster Billings, pathetically; “is that +Clifford is just boiling over with confidence. I was up there last +night to a little spread, and you never heard such talk in your life. +Why, they feel dead sure they’re going to walk all over us this time.” + +“Will they?” observed Jack Eastwick, in his customary sarcastic way, +which had long ago become a settled habit with him; “maybe, maybe not. +We’ve got some pretty husky specimens right here in old Columbia, +and when the time comes we expect to pull down a few of those plums +ourselves.” + +“Bully for you, Jack!” cried Buster, patting the speaker encouragingly. + +“I reckon I know what ails Lanky!” ventured Jonsey, who had a little +bone to pick with the other, and lost no opportunity to give him a sly +poke. + +“Then tell us, or we’ll ride you on a rail!” threatened Jack Comfort. + +“Dare I, Lanky?” asked Jonsey, not wanting to go too far. + +“Sure. Just tell everything you know, or think, Jonsey. It won’t take +long,” was the answering shot that came back. + +“Well, the fact of the matter is, Lanky’s best girl’s gone back on him, +because I saw her out riding with that new city fellow that came to +Columbia a few months ago. He’s as fine a looker as you ever saw, the +girls think, and pretty, rose-cheeked Dora Baxter seems to just take to +Mr. Walter Ackerman.” + +Jonsey had kept one eye out for an avenue of escape in case Lanky made +a dive in his direction; he also counted on the others to hold the tall +boy back, so as to give him a chance to escape; for he never could do +it by simply running. But contrary to his expectations, Lanky made no +offensive move. On the other hand, he even laughed in a strained way. + +“That’s where you’re away off, Jonsey,” Lanky declared. “It’s a matter +of mighty small difference to me whether Dora Baxter chooses to keep +company with Walter Ackerman or not, because we’ve had a spat, and +don’t speak when we pass by. And I want to ask you all right now, +please keep her name out of any conversation you may happen to have +about me after this.” + +When Lanky spoke in that way they knew he meant it, and there was not +one in all that group of his schoolmates who would venture to offend +him by declining to regard his request. + +“Well,” said Buster Billings, as if ready to give the puzzle up, “if +none of the things we have mentioned is what’s ailing you, Lanky, for +goodness sake, whatever it is, get it out of your system as quick +as you can. You’re not the same kind of fellow we’re used to seein’ +around. When you show up you give us all a cold shiver. Honest, now, it +makes me think of spooks, graveyards and all that stuff just to look at +you, Lanky.” + +“Oh! does it?” jeered the other; “if that’s the case I’ll get a move +on and step over to my chum, Frank Allen, who’s just come out of the +classroom yonder. But before I go, fellows, just make your minds easy +about me. If I am feeling sort of down in the mouth and serious-like +just now, it isn’t going to affect my athletic stunts one little bit. +I’m as fit as ever I was to run the race of my life. Frank knows, and +he’ll tell you that same thing.” + +“Are you?” said the doubter, Jack Eastwick; “maybe, maybe not. Time +alone will tell that. Saturday the preliminary trials come off, and +then we’ll get a pointer on what all our boys can do.” + +But Lanky did not stop to listen to the “croaker.” Jack often threw +cold water on everything with which he had any connection. It was +very discouraging, to be sure, and more than once his schoolmates had +threatened to hold him under the pump if he didn’t quit harping in that +disagreeable way. For a little while Jack would manage to reform, only +to break out later on; for habits are deep seated. + +Apparently Lanky was more than eager to see Frank, judging from the way +he hurried over to the other, as he issued from the school, stopping to +speak to the old janitor, who was known among the boys as “Soggy.” + +“Hello, Lanky!” was Frank’s greeting, as he eyed the other curiously; +“seems to me I haven’t run across you this whole day up to now. But +then I came late, as I had an errand to do for the professor, you see.” + +“Yes, and it just happened that I wanted to get in touch with you, +too,” remarked the tall boy, as he thrust his arm through Frank’s and +started him walking so as to leave the janitor behind. + +“Soggy was telling me that some of the boys had started to playing +practical jokes on him again,” Frank remarked. “He’s got a notion that +it must be that Bill Klemm and his cronies, Watkins Kline and Asa +Barnes.” + +“They’re sure a bad lot,” commented Lanky, drily. “Ever since Lef +Sellers was hustled off to military school by his dad because he made +such a racket in town that the authorities threatened to send him to +the reform school, Bill has tried to fill his shoes as the town bully, +and bad boy generally.” + +“And some say he’s even worse than Lef ever was,” added Frank; “but see +here, Lanky, what’s up?” + +“Now please tell me why you think anything is?” demanded the other. + +“Well,” Frank went on, with a good-natured laugh, “I can see it in your +face that you’ve got something to tell me. You may fool some of the +fellows, but you can’t me, old chum. Open up and let’s hear what it is. +Anything connected with the big meet we’re all talking so much about?” + +“Nope,” replied Lanky, tersely. + +“I hope you haven’t been running across the trail of that Walter +Ackerman, and doing what you once threatened to do, Lanky?” + +The other sneered at this. + +“Don’t see any scratches or bruises on my phiz; do you, Frank?” he +remarked; “and as I calculate that Walter is something of a scrapper +himself, I couldn’t polish him off without showing the signs; could I? +Shucks! forget him, won’t you? If Dora chooses that city chap before +me, she’s at liberty to do it. I’m not going a foot out of my way to +please her and make her think she’s the only one in Columbia worth +looking at. There are plenty of girls.” + +But however brave his words, Lanky did not deceive the keen eyes +of Frank Allen, who happened to know what a tremendous hold the +red-cheeked Dora had upon the affections of the tall boy. + +“Well, let’s change the subject, Lanky,” he said. “You didn’t deny it +when I remarked that _something_ was exciting you. What is it? Anything +that concerns me?” + +“That’s just according to whether you mean to keep your word, and +join me in my little look through that gypsy camp this afternoon or +to-morrow morning,” was the quick response of the other. + +“Oh that’s what ails you; is it?” exclaimed Frank, stopping to look +once more into the eager face of his chum. “Why this new outburst? +Have you heard anything more about that little girl you _thought_ +called to you, and held her hands out as if she wanted you to take her +away from a cruel prison?” + +“Now you’re taking your turn at having a little fun with me, Frank,” +said Lanky, in an aggrieved tone. “But you just wait a bit. No, I +haven’t heard a single word, one way or the other, about any girl in +the gypsy camp. But, by a funny accident, I _have_ learned about a +child who was lost a month or so ago over in a Pennsylvania city; and, +Frank, it was a little girl, too!” + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +MAKING PLANS + + +Frank looked queerly at his companion as Lanky said this. + +“But, say, didn’t I hear you make a remark a minute or so ago that +there were plenty of girls?” he said; at which the other chuckled. + +“That’s what you did, Frank; but then this is a different thing,” he +replied. + +“Oh! is that so, Lanky?” + +“Because, you see, Bones laughed at the idea of such a thing happening +in these times--as a child bein’ stolen. And when I ran across that +story in an old paper over at our house, I cut it out, just to show you +that every little while something like this does happen.” + +“Have you got it along with you?” demanded Frank. + +“Sure I have, and I want you to read it,” with which Lanky produced a +long slip of paper, about three columns of newspaper matter. + +Frank let his eye run along it hastily; but he had a faculty for +gleaning all the points of a story almost at a glance. Some of the boys +declared that Frank Allen would make a great reporter; but then there +were many other positions in life in which he could make his mark, if +half they said of him were true. + +“Well, it’s an interesting story, I see,” he remarked; “and I hope that +the poor mother, Mrs. Elverson, has found her little Effie long ago. +For I notice that this is cut from a paper that’s two months and more +old, Lanky.” + +“That’s right, Frank,” the other answered, promptly. + +“This account tells of how the nurse took the little girl out walking +and never turned up again,” Frank went on to say. + +“Just what it does, Frank, and I know what you’ve got on your mind.” + +“They traced her to the train, and she set out for another city not +far away, where the detectives lost the trail; and although a week had +gone by when this account was printed, not a single thing had they +learned. The nurse had disappeared just as if the ground had opened and +swallowed her up, this reporter says.” + +“His words, just like you say, Frank,” admitted Lanky, nodding his head +encouragingly. + +“But, Lanky, from start to finish of this story there isn’t a single +mention of gypsies,” Frank continued. + +“Huh, not a peep, sure’s you’re born, Frank.” + +“Then what makes you bring it to me to read, just as if you felt +dead sure this little dark-faced child in the gypsy van might be the +golden-haired Effie Elverson?” + +“Now, hold on, Frank,” interrupted the other, with a sudden change of +front. “You know I didn’t say a word about that. Fact is, I explained +in the start I only fetched this paper for you to see that what +Bones said isn’t true. Right in these up-to-date times children _do_ +disappear once in a while. Yes, and I wouldn’t put it past a gypsy +tribe to steal a little girl, and even dye her hair! Laugh, if you want +to, Frank.” + +“No, I’m not laughing, Lanky,” replied the other. “To tell the honest +truth, somehow you’ve gone and got me worked up more than a little +about this business. And since I promised to help you out, if I could, +I’ll go along when you visit that gypsy camp. But we must lay our plans +first.” + +“How’s that?” demanded Lanky, eagerly; for when it came to mapping out +a campaign he was always willing to yield the palm to his wide-awake +chum. + +“If you go to nosing around that camp without some good reason, I’m +afraid you’ll get in a peck of trouble right away,” Frank went on, +quietly. “Those gypsies are a hot-blooded crowd, and they don’t like +being spied on. And it would be all the worse if it happened that there +was any truth in what you suspect, and the queen kept a stolen child +inside her big painted van.” + +“Yes, you’re right there, Frank. What had we better do?” Lanky asked. + +“I’ve been thinking that part of it over, and struck an idea that might +pan out all right,” Frank remarked. + +“I’d wager it was a good one before you said a word; but put me wise, +Frank.” + +“Why,” Frank began, “I remembered that the gypsies always made their +camp at Budd’s Corners every year; and I hear they’ve settled down for +a week’s stay this time at the old place. So I went over to see Mr. +Budd.” + +“Yes?” Lanky observed, in what he meant to be an encouraging tone. + +“I told him all about it, Lanky; and, although he laughed at your idea, +he was willing enough to make me a messenger, to do some business with +the head of the tribe, who, you must know, is the old queen herself!” + +“Say, you do beat anything I ever saw for getting down to business,” +declared Lanky, proudly. “Why, that’ll just give us the chance of our +lives to see what’s inside that big van of hers; won’t it?” + +“It would, if she invites us in,” replied Frank; “you see, she might +act suspicious. Perhaps she even noticed what you did when we passed +the caravan Saturday. You turned your head, and stared straight at that +particular van. I saw the driver look sour at you, just like he wanted +to tell you to mind your own business. As to getting a look-in; as Jack +Eastwick would say, ‘maybe, maybe not.’” + +“But no matter,” persisted the determined Lanky, “even if we don’t +get an invite to come in, you can be talking to the old lady to beat +the band, while I just meander around the camp, and see what’s doing. +Mebbe I might even run across the little girl somewhere. Just give me a +chance to say ten words to her, and it’ll settle the business whether +she’s bein’ kept there against her will.” + +“Well, when shall we go--to-night, or in the morning early before +school?” Frank went on to ask. + +“I’ll see you after we get out this afternoon, and we can settle it +then,” replied the tall boy, after reflection. “You see, seems to me +the night time isn’t the best for what I want. She’s only a little mite +of a girl, and chances are she’d be asleep by then. I’d rather take the +mornin’, when she’d be wide-awake.” + +“That’s where you show a wise head,” commented Frank, as they turned +once more toward the schoolhouse at the other end of the campus, where +scores of boys and girls were gathered in groups, or walking back and +forth, laughing, talking and altogether making merry. + +Frank pretended not to notice, but he saw Lanky suddenly stiffen up, +and turn his head toward a certain point where a rather handsome, +though proud-looking, young fellow was sauntering with a very pretty +girl, who had just come to high school that year. + +Of course this latter was the fickle Dora, about whom so much had +been said, and who was surely pretty enough to turn the head of even +a plain, sensible fellow like Lanky Wallace. And the boy could be no +other than the “city fellow,” Walter Ackerman, toward whom half the +maids in Columbia were friendly disposed, since he certainly was the +best-looking boy in town. + +Just then was heard a great shouting from the basement and a crowd of +boys came trooping forth, laughing uproariously. + +“There’s Bill Klemm and his bunch, with a few decent fellows in the +bargain,” remarked Frank. “Soggy is having a fierce time with them +right now. He threatens to complain to Professor Tyson Parke if they +keep going on as they are; and you know, when good, old Soggy says +that, he must be pretty well rattled, because he does hate to see the +boys punished.” + +“There he comes out, Frank, and he looks as mad as a wet hen,” remarked +Lanky, glad to have his attention turned from the sight of Dora walking +with the good-looking newcomer in Columbia; perhaps Lanky may have +begun to fear that it had been partly his fault that unlucky quarrel +had come about; but he would never admit it now, since she had taken +to teasing him by openly encouraging the attentions of a fellow he was +jealous about. + +“I wouldn’t be surprised if that Bill Klemm had been smoking again in +the basement,” Frank suggested. “You know it’s against the rules; but +little he cares for that. Some fine day they’ll be setting the school +afire.” + +“Yes,” went on Lanky, “and then good-bye to Bill Klemm, just the +same as we got rid of Lef Sellers. It’ll have to be a skip-out for +Bill, though, because his folks haven’t got the cash to send him to a +military academy to get the training he needs.” + +“Here comes Minnie Cuthbert and my sister, Helen; and they look like +they wanted to speak to us, Lanky,” remarked Frank. + +Two very attractive girls hurried up. One was Frank’s only sister, of +whom his chums, Ralph Langworthy and Paul Bird, were both very fond. +The other was a lively girl, whom Frank himself had taken to all the +class dances, singing schools, as well as church choir meetings, for a +long time. + +The deposed town bully, Lef Sellers, had once hoped to be Minnie +Cuthbert’s first choice, and the fact that Frank had stepped in between +had been the main cause of his enmity toward our hero. + +“It isn’t true; is it, Lanky?” demanded Minnie, as they came up. “He +didn’t throw you over a tree, and then pound you with his hoofs as you +lay on the ground?” + +“Whatever are you talking about?” demanded Frank; but at the same time +he smiled and thus betrayed his knowledge. + +“Why, some of the boys have been telling us the greatest stories you +ever heard, all about that terrible beast Farmer Hobson has out at his +place. They say he chased Lanky around a tree in the pasture, and with +his horns just tossed him--well, one said the tree was forty feet over, +but Jack Eastwick modified it and called it thirty. But even that is a +high jump for anyone to make!” + +At that Frank exploded with laughter, and even Lanky grinned. + +“Say, aren’t they the limit, now, giving the girls all that taffy?” +the latter remarked. “I did meet with the farmer’s bull, Minnie, and +he chased me around a tree, all right, because I couldn’t sprint as +well as Frank and Bones, being too far from the fence at the time. +So I climbed that tree. And in the end they got a rope to me, which I +fastened to a high limb, and went hand over hand, till I was over the +fence and out. And now they all say I’ve got to enter the athletic meet +as the champion tight-rope walker, and performer on the high trapeze.” + +Just then the bell rang for school to begin, and laughing at Lanky’s +good-natured description of his wonderful adventure, the girls set out +on a run toward the entrance of the fine building of which Columbia +people were so proud. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE BENEFITS OF DISCIPLINE + + +“Fire!” + +The dreadful cry is never heard without a wave of fear. And in a +crowded school it must always strike terror to the hearts of every +child, young and old. Yet that was what came floating in through the +open windows, as the droning of pupils reciting ceased for a brief time +between classes. + +Fortunately, Professor Tyson Parke, the principal of the high school, +had always insisted on the most rigid fire drill. Nobody ever knew when +this was going to be sprung on them, for the one object was to make the +pupils feel that there need never be any fear of a holocaust; since +ample fire-escape stairways, iron ones along the outside of the great +building, had been provided. + +And so, on this afternoon, after that first spasm of alarm, some of the +more knowing among the scholars quickly decided that it must be a last +fire-drill test the principal was giving them, before the break-up for +the summer holidays. Their confidence ran to others, just as a spark +plays along a train of gunpowder. Some smiled, and even nodded their +heads in a wise fashion, as if to say they could not be deceived, and +that it was only a mock alarm after all. + +The various teachers, as in duty bound, started their classes toward +the fire-escapes which had been arranged especially for their use. +There must be the utmost order preserved, for that was one of the rules +to be strictly enforced. + +But the first boys and girls who came out upon the iron balconies, and +started to descend the stairways, realized that this time it was not +the old cry of “wolf!” Dense clouds of smoke seemed to be pouring out +of the basement; and Soggy was seen to be rushing here and there, as +though he had lost his head in the excitement. Returning to the school, +after going on an errand for the principal, he had discovered that a +calamity threatened Columbia, with a large percentage of her half-grown +children boxed up within those brick walls. + +Down each stairway streamed the students. They had been appalled at +first, but some of the teachers, keeping their heads, had circulated +the story that it must be all a part of the principal’s plan to get +them accustomed to the idea of a fire; and that the smoke, as well as +Soggy’s wild behavior, was “make-believe.” + +This was intended as a means to quiet the excited students; for the +freshman class was the first to come forth, with the sophomores next; +then the juniors, older and more seasoned; and the seniors last of all. + +By the time Frank’s class issued forth, and began to hasten down the +narrow stairways, the sight was a thrilling one. Smoke was now coming +out of the basement windows, and the door, in great volume, showing +that the fire must have found a good draught there among the kindling +and coal left over from the preceding winter. + +It was too bad, in one sense, that the seniors had to come out last; +for among the older boys of this class, to graduate in June of this +year, a fire-fighting organization had been built up. And even now +as they came forth, a number of the lads carried buckets, while +several had strapped on their backs chemical fire extinguishers; and +others held hand grenades, meant to be hurled into the midst of a +conflagration, which they were supposed to help put out by the liquid +and gases set free by the bursting of the receptacle. + +Frank Allen had been placed in command of this detachment of +fire-fighters; for well did Professor Parke know the ability of the +boy for undertaking any work of this kind. + +When Frank hastened down the iron stairway he was figuring just how +they should go about it in order to get the better of those fierce +flames, which everyone now knew must be gaining more power each minute. + +Professor Parke was directing the dismissal of the scholars, who were +told to keep at least at the other end of the campus; for the firemen +of Columbia might be expected to respond speedily to the alarm bell +that was now beginning to sound its thrilling and brazen notes; and +they would want all the space available in order to work. + +Soggy, the janitor, was quite beside himself. Twice he had acted as +though about to dash madly into the smoke-filled cellar, but was +restrained by some of the teachers. + +Frank gave one last look around, in order to make sure that his little +company was at his back. He saw that some of the boys had white faces, +but from the way they set their teeth together, it was evident that +they meant to stand by him, no matter what happened. And that fact gave +him courage; for had the boys weakened just then, Frank could have done +nothing alone. + +“It’s mostly smoke up to now, fellows!” he cried, as they drew nearer +the entrance to the cellars. “And we’ve just _got_ to get in there, +and put it out. Don’t you smell pine wood smouldering? Well, that shows +where the fire is, over in the bin where Soggy keeps the kindling. We +all ought to know every inch of this cellar, because we’ve played in +here every wet recess. Ready to follow me, now?” + +“You bet we are!” called out several; for it only needs a leader in any +crisis, and hosts are ready to follow. + +“Keep in a bunch,” continued Frank, coolly. “And remember, no one must +throw his hand grenade without orders. Scattered, they won’t do a bit +of good; but sent to the right spot they can knock out nearly any blaze +going. Come along, fire-fighters! We’ve just got to save good old +Columbia High!” + +When the crowd of students, girls and boys, saw that dozen brave lads +boldly enter the cellar from which that pungent smoke was pouring, they +held their breath with suspense. In fact, just at that moment, besides +the crying of a few hysterical younger girls, the only sounds that +could be heard were the brazen notes of the town alarm bell, calling +the volunteer firemen to rally at the engine house. + +Already people were running wildly toward the high school. + +As soon as Frank, in the van of the boy fire-fighters, had entered +the cellar, he saw that the situation was not quite as bad as he had +feared. True, the smoke made their eyes sting, but through it they +could see some tongues of flame beginning to play fiercely among the +waste wood in the great bin. + +He headed straight that way. Just as Frank had said, every boy ought +to know the lay of things down here. Close by was the refreshment room +where Mrs. Louden disposed of certain light luncheons during recess. +Sometimes she went home immediately after school began again, for she +had much cooking to do. Then again, she would stay until after school +was out at half-past one; to cater to those students who had not +exhausted their funds, and had a long way to go before reaching home. + +On this particular day it happened she had left early; and that was why +no one had discovered the fire, which must have been smouldering quite +some time before the alarm was given by an outsider, passing the school. + +Frank immediately felt renewed confidence. A man with a hose just +then could have extinguished the fire without much effort, though it +was just getting a good start. Ten minutes later--yes, even when five +minutes had elapsed--it might have proved beyond holding, and the +building be doomed. + +Frank had a fire extinguisher on his back, and this he instantly set +playing upon the blaze. Two other boys, upon receiving orders from the +foreman, copied his example; while those who carried hand grenades, or +small liquid-filled receptacles, intended to put out fires that were +just beginning, began to get in their work. + +“Hurrah!” they shrieked, as they saw an immediate change begin to take +place in the character of the threatening fire; “give it to the old +thing, Frank! Soak it good and plenty, fellows! We’ve got it on the +run! We’ll knock spots out of it, sure as you live. Hurrah for the +Columbia High fire brigade! Whoop-la! once more now, and all together, +boys!” + +They certainly did smite that rising blaze right and left. Such a +combination of chemicals as was poured upon it was enough to discourage +almost any fire. + +“We’ve got it on the run, boys!” cried the exultant Frank, as he saw +that, bit by bit, the flames had begun to jump up less fiercely, and +gave positive signs of giving up the unequal contest altogether. “Here, +who’s that down there? Red Huggins has fainted with the smoke, fellows! +Bones, you and Paul Bird carry him out! Come back again, if you can get +hold of any water, and bring buckets, so we can soak this bin from end +to end.” + +The boy who had succumbed to the smoke, which he had inhaled, was +carried out of the cellar. The appearance of those who held him by +the legs and head was the signal for a gasp of horror. Then the news +was circulated that the fire was under control, and that Red had only +swooned. + +Loud cheers began to arise, for everyone was wildly excited by this +time; and it could be noticed that the teachers were as vociferous as +any of the students. + +Buckets of water began to arrive, and were carried in to the +fire-fighters, who dashed them upon the last spluttering remnant of the +blaze, which gave up with a final hiss. + +Leaving some newcomers to continue this treatment, Frank ordered his +band out of the basement. He knew from his own feelings that they were +almost at a point where they might drop down, just as Red Huggins had. +The smoke smarted their eyes so that they were nearly blind when they +finally issued forth. And how good that pure air did seem, as they drew +it into their lungs, which had, for some little time, been filled with +smoke-laden atmosphere! + +Around them pressed a dense throng. Parents had arrived in squads by +now; in fact, everyone in Columbia must be on the way there at least; +and filled with a terrible fear concerning the boys and girls whom they +knew were students under that single roof. + +Cheers were rising in waves, and growing with each demonstration, led +by Professor Parke in person, who was very proud of his boys, and +would never forget how they had, in following out his exact directions +for an emergency, saved the building of Columbia High. + +“Here come the fire engine and the ladder wagon, full tilt!” shouted +someone; and then the shouts broke out afresh; but now they were happy +cries. + +“It’s all over! Go back home, and put away your helmets for another +day. You’ve lost your job, boys! Frank Allen and his high-school fire +brigade put it all out! Three cheers for Frank and his bunch! Everybody +yell now.” + +It was the loud-voiced cheer captain who shouted these words; and it +seemed as if a thousand people joined Herman Hooker in the cheers he +called for, that made the ears of Frank Allen and his comrades burn, +even as their eyes had smarted with the smoke of the fire in the +basement of the high school. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +LANKY’S PRIDE CONQUERS + + +Professor Parke asked the young fire-fighters to stay a while, after he +had given instructions that the rest of the students leave for home. As +far as possible he wished to soothe the excited condition of the crowds +that thronged around the building. And he also wished to personally +thank each and every one of those brave lads who had done such splendid +work in getting the fire under control. + +The firemen of the town took matters in hand, and saw to it that there +was not the slightest chance of a stray spark being left undiscovered, +to play havoc, perhaps at night time. + +They also wanted to investigate; for it seemed very queer how a blaze +could originate in the cellar when no fires were going at the time. +Some of the boys believed they could give a guess; and soon it was +being circulated far and wide that Bill Klemm and his two cronies had +been lighting matches in the basement at recess that very day, just to +provoke old Soggy. + +But they seemed to have made themselves scarce. When Chief of Police +Hogg, dressed in his resplendent uniform, with a silver star gleaming +on his broad chest, called around at the several homes of the three +suspected ones late that afternoon, to make inquiries, they were not +to be found anywhere. And before long it was known that Bill, Asa +and Watkins must have run away from home, afraid that they would be +arrested. At any rate, they had been seen making fast time away, as +soon as they got out of the building, and before it was known that the +school could be saved. + +The principal started making inquiries on his own account, and after +hearing what the janitor had to say, he could easily guess what had +caused the fire. Of course the three boys to blame had not intended +doing anything so terrible as to set fire to the school. They had +broken a strict rule laid down by the head, however, and must be +severely punished, when found. + +“Frank,” said Professor Parke, as he joined the little group of waiting +boys, “and the rest of you, I hope you will pardon my keeping you here +so long; but I found it difficult to get away from some of the school +directors, who are bent on investigating, and taking action toward +securing the punishment of the offenders. And my dear boys, I could +not let you go without taking each one of you again by the hand and +telling you how proud I am of you all.” + +There were really tears in his eyes while he spoke; and Frank knew that +if ever the principal were sincere in all his life it was just then. + +Professor Parke was an almost universal favorite among the pupils of +Columbia High. Out of all the students but a small fraction found any +reason to dislike the head of the school; and, as a rule, they were +just such characters as Bill Klemm. + +“Of course,” continued the head master, with a twinkle in his eye, “all +of you will be distressed, I know, to learn that we will be unable to +hold school to-morrow, because of the excitement; as well as the smoky +odor that has permeated every classroom in the building. The directors +think it would be too vivid a reminder of the thrill of to-day; and +they have instructed me to send out word that the building will not be +in use until Wednesday.” + +The boys tried hard not to smile, but it was no use; for when did +the promise of an unexpected holiday bring gloom to the heart of the +average, youth, whether in the primary class, or the senior grade? + +“And by the way, Soggy wishes you to come down and see him in the +basement before you go home,” the principal went on, as he dismissed +Frank and his corps of fire-fighters. “He is enthusiastic over the fact +that you mastered the blaze before the regular department arrived. Why, +he says the building would have gone, only for your prompt work. After +this you can ask Soggy anything, and he’ll grant it. He’s got you down +in his book as heroes, everyone.” + +They found the cellar in a sad mess, for the water was inches deep on +the cement floor, the regulars meaning to have some fun out of it, +after being “called to the colors” by the alarm bell. + +Soggy pounced upon the boys, and went around, shaking everyone by the +hand as though “he thought he had hold of a pump-handle, and was the +early morning milkman,” Lanky Wallace declared. + +“Now that it’s all over, boys,” the pleased janitor declared, “sure I’m +believin’ ’twas worth all it cost to find out what sort of stuff you +young gentlemen had in you! I’ll never forget it, never! And Columbia +High is still on the map, I’m glad to say, thanks to you. Nine names +I’m going to write down in my book; and, boys, if Soggy can do anyone +of you a favor, just let him know. He’s willing to go to the extent of +his wages any time.” + +“Let’s get out of this,” called Ben Allison. + +“Yes, it’s getting too warm again, boys!” cried Bones Shadduck; +for some of the larger juniors were classed with the seniors as +fire-fighters. + +And so they came trooping out of the basement, laughing heartily. +Soggy was a favorite with most of the boys. There could hardly have +been a more efficient janitor; and yet he bemoaned the fact for a long +time that he had not discovered some trace of the smouldering blaze +before he went on that errand for the principal, to find the building +endangered on his return. + +But if Frank believed that he had run the gauntlet to its conclusion +when he got through with Soggy, he counted wrongly. Beyond the confines +of the campus a group of the girls waited, eager to greet the heroes +of the occasion, and perhaps secure to themselves just a little of the +glory that was apt to shine like a halo around the heads of those happy +fire-fighters. + +Minnie was there, and Frank smiled to see the eager look she bent on +him as he joined her. + +“Oh, Frank! how do you feel?” she asked, anxiously. “All that horrid +smoke you must have swallowed, I should think would make you sick. You +do look pale right now; and you ought to go home and lie down.” + +“Well, what sort of sissy do you take me for, Minnie?” asked the +amused Frank. “A boy ought to be used to smoke. Lots of them seem to +get a lot of pleasure out of soaking themselves in it, when they go +to college, you know. Why, I’m feeling as fit as ever, I guess; and I +expect to go on that long run this afternoon, just to keep in trim for +the trial heats Saturday next.” + +“Of course I’m glad to hear you say that, Frank; but it did frighten us +when we saw you lead the way into the cellar, with all that black smoke +pouring out.” + +“It wasn’t so very black, you know, Minnie,” interrupted Frank, +teasingly. + +“Well, anyway,” she went on, “Helen and I just fell into each other’s +arms; and we stood that way, hugging tight, all the time you were in +there. We’re both proud of you; and Helen would be here to say the same +if she wasn’t so busy telling Paul Bird something like that right now.” + +Lanky Wallace was hovering around, as though he wanted to speak to +Frank; and the latter could give a pretty good guess what it might be. + +“Just wait for me a minute while I speak to Lanky, Minnie,” he +remarked; “and then I’d like to walk home with you. I’ve got something +to say about that little boat-ride we planned to take to-night, because +the moon is full, and it’s going to be a glorious night. Can you wait +for me a minute or two, Minnie?” + +“I suppose so, seeing that I’ve already waited an hour almost; but be +as quick as you can, Frank, for I’m almost famished, I confess to you,” +was the reply; as the girl gave him one of her most roguish smiles, for +which almost any sensible fellow would feel like going through fire and +water, if he could feel that it was meant as a reward for his daring. + +“Say, I didn’t like to call you away,” remarked Lanky, as Frank joined +him. “But I wanted to say that as we have that run this afternoon, and +there’s going to be no session to-morrow, perhaps we’d better postpone +our trip to Budd’s Corners, till the morning. How does that suit you, +Frank?” + +“All right,” replied the other, briskly; “I couldn’t go to-night +anyhow, for Minnie made a date with me to take her out boat-riding in +the full of the moon. Is that all you wanted to say, Lanky?” + +“Yes; and now return to your pleasant little chat with Minnie,” the +other said, with a long-drawn sigh that Frank understood very well. + +“By the way, Lanky,” he remarked, “seems to me I saw you talking with +Dora just a little while ago. Have you made up again?” + +“Not that I’ve heard about,” replied Lanky, gloomily. “Of course, I +want to treat her civilly, as a fellow always ought a girl he used to +think a heap of; but I can’t forget how she gave me the cold shake that +night we had the class dance in the barn. If she’d only ask me to +forget that, I’d quit feeling like thirty cents, and perk up again.” + +“But she was talking to you; wasn’t she?” persisted Frank. + +“Why, yes, she said she was glad I got out of that cellar O. K.; that +she was _so_ proud to think that she and I _used_ to be such very good +friends; and a lot more of the same kind; but not a peep about bein’ +sorry because she cut me that night. And, Frank, I guess I showed her +that I wasn’t carin’ a cent. I was as cool as you please; and thanked +her just like you might the mayor of Columbia, if he came to tell you +the town fathers had voted a medal for your work to-day.” + +Frank looked at him curiously. He knew the state of Lanky’s feelings, +and that the tall chap cared more for fickle little Dora than he was +willing to acknowledge. And then and there Frank determined to enlist +the services of Minnie Cuthbert in trying to heal the breach between +the two estranged ones; though, of course, he would not think of +hinting about this to proud Lanky. + +“I guess you must have, Lanky,” he said, shortly; “because I saw her +turn, and walk away with her head held high in the air. You didn’t +notice her hand when she held it out to you, I suppose?” + +“Well,” replied the other, with a flush of what might be regret, “you +see that smoke it was fierce, and I’ve been about half blind ever +since.” + +He turned abruptly and walked away. Perhaps it may have been the smoke +caused his eyes to water then, for Frank was positive he saw them +glisten with some suspicious moisture. + +“The poor old chap does feel it more than he’ll admit,” he said to +himself as he started to rejoin the impatient Minnie. “But if anybody +can fix things, Minnie will. Takes a girl like her to handle a delicate +subject. She’ll get chummy-like with Dora, and draw her out. Then +she’ll tell her how bad Lanky feels, and what she ought to do as the +right thing, after cutting him dead that night. Oh! it’ll be all right +soon, I reckon.” + +And as Frank walked home with Minnie Cuthbert they had their heads +close together in a way that made more than one old gossip smile and +look wise; not knowing that they were discussing the carrying-out of a +generous act. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +AMONG THE NOMADS OF THE ROAD + + +“There’s the gypsy camp, all right, Lanky,” remarked Frank, on the +following morning, about nine, as the two chums sauntered along the +road beyond the confines of the town of Columbia. + +They had managed to elude all their friends, in some way or other; +for since Lanky was determined to settle the question that had been +bothering him ever since first passing the gypsy caravan, it was of +the utmost importance that they enter the camp of the nomads without a +crowd of chums to keep them company. + +“That’s right, Frank,” remarked the other, with a little laugh; “and +just as you said, I was off my base when I thought they might’ve pulled +up stakes, and cleared out durin’ the night. Of course nobody knows +what’s in my mind, and so they’ve not gone and got scar’t. Well, we’ll +soon see now whether I’ve been a loon, or if that kid _did_ mean to +attract my attention.” + + [Illustration: FRANK AND LANKY VISIT THE GYPSY CAMP. + + _Boys of Columbia High in track Athletics._ _Page 81._] + +“Are you still thinking the same way?” asked Frank, in a low tone; +for they were by this time approaching the outskirts of the gypsy +encampment, where several gay tents had been erected among the +expensive wagons with the commodious and painted tops, that were made +to serve for both sleeping and eating places. + +“Can’t just get to see it any other way, I tell you,” Lanky persisted. +“I’ve been turning and twisting it around every which direction, but +all the time I just seem to see that little girl holdin’ out her baby +hands to me. Never did have such a thing grip me, I give you my word, +Frank.” + +“All right, then,” replied his chum, resolutely. “We’ll go through the +performance just like we planned it. I only wanted to make sure you +hadn’t backed water, because it wouldn’t be worth while to take the +chances unless you felt dead sure there might be something in it.” + +“I’m going to do just as you said, Frank, and look like any fellow +might when he had a chance to walk around in a gypsy camp. There’s lots +of queer things to see; and I want to talk with one or two of those +boys, if so be they’ll answer civil questions. But you can bet I don’t +touch on _that_ subject once. But, Frank, I’ll use my eyes to beat the +band; and if she’s around I’m bound to see her.” + +“Well, here we are, close up now; so haul off, and fight shy of the +matter. Let’s jabber away like a couple of boys would, that had been +sent here on an errand, and wanted to look around, just to see how +these ramblers live when they are in camp.” + +Lanky, to use his own expression, “buttoned up his lips” right then and +there. He could not tell when some member of the gypsy tribe might be +lying behind a bush, and overhear what they were saying; and it was the +part of discretion to keep a close watch over everything they did from +now on. + +Suspicious looks greeted their arrival at the camp. Both men and women, +even the younger element among the nomads, seemed to question the +wisdom of allowing a couple of boys to enter the enclosure where the +belongings of the tribe were scattered about. + +But Frank stepped up to the first man he met, and there was something +so manly about his demeanor that unconsciously, before he had spoken a +word, the gypsy smiled. + +“I want to see the queen, Esther you call her, I think,” was what Frank +said. + +“She is not telling fortunes any more,” said the man. “It has brought +us more trouble than dollars, and so she has stopped. But they were +always true; and sometimes the house-dwellers liked them not on that +account.” + +“But I don’t want to see her for that,” Frank insisted. + +“What would you, then, boy?” demanded the man, a little suspiciously +now. + +“I have been sent here to see her by the gentleman who owns this land,” +Frank continued, boldly. “The old agreement has run out, and it was +understood that the next time you came to stay here, your leader would +make a new one. I have brought it for the queen to sign, after we have +talked the matter over.” + +At that the gypsy’s eyes showed more wonder than ever. Undoubtedly he +marveled to see a mere boy sent on such an important errand. But, at +any rate, Frank’s explanation seemed to have cleared away the doubts +that were beginning to harass his mind. + +“If that is so, come with me. I will show you where the queen can be +found,” he said, with more respect than he had used before. + +Frank turned to his companion, and remarked, in a careless way: + +“Just make yourself at home, Lanky, till I get through. I guess there +won’t be any objection to his hanging around the camp a while; will +there? He wants to understand how gypsies live when on the road, you +see.” + +“It’s all right; let him stay as long as he wants. You come this way +with me,” and as he said this the swarthy-faced, squatty man started +off. + +Frank was about to follow when he heard Lanky draw his breath in +a curious way, which had been arranged as a signal between them. +And coming when it did, this told Frank that his chum meant to say +something in a low tone as they stood for a few seconds, before he +himself followed the gypsy. + +“I saw something,” muttered Lanky, when their heads were close together. + +“What was it?” asked Frank, quickly. + +“Over at the big wagon, where you’re going now,” the other went on. + +“Where the queen lives, you mean?” asked Frank. + +“Well, she must ’a’ just discovered that there were strangers in the +camp, because I saw her chase _something_ up the steps into the wagon. +She hid it with her dress all the while, so I couldn’t make sure; but, +Frank, I just know, as certain as I’m here, that it must have been that +kid. She don’t want anybody outside to set eyes on that little girl. +Now, why should she act that way if the child belonged to her people? +I tell you, it looks more and more to me like there must be fire where +you find smoke.” + +There was no opportunity to say any more. The gypsy man had come to a +halt, and was waiting for Frank to overtake him. Perhaps he supposed +that the messenger was warning his companion to be careful how he +touched anything, and got himself in a mess with the campers. + +Frank was soon face to face with a middle-aged woman, whose face, +though marked by many wrinkles, had a keen look upon it. Her black +eyes seemed to bore him through. He had seen Queen Esther on other +occasions, for these gypsies came along about the same time every year, +camping in the pasture at Budd’s Corners, and trading horses with the +farmers for miles around. + +If a farmer had a horse that did not please him he would hold it until +these nomads arrived, when he tried to drive a shrewd bargain with +them. But, though at the time he might flatter himself on having gotten +the best part of the trade, as time rolled on he would awaken to the +fact that after all he was mistaken. But by then the gypsies were sure +to be far on their way; and a whole year would elapse before they again +made their appearance on the scene. + +Frank quickly introduced the subject that had brought him there. He +believed he saw a sudden look of relief flash over the strongly marked +features of the queen, as though certain fears had been set at rest. + +She immediately began to discuss the proposition suggested by Mr. Budd, +and with a business-like manner that proved her right to be at the head +of the tribe. The owner of the field had entered into the spirit of +Frank’s design; and in order to give Lanky more time in which to do his +prowling, the negotiations were prolonged by various little hitches +that had to be smoothed away. + +So slow was Frank in reaching an agreement, and getting it properly +signed, that half an hour must have passed since he and Lanky first +arrived at the borders of the gypsy encampment. + +And all of this time the tall lad was having a chance to roam around +the camp, observing what went on, and doubtless picking up points that +might prove of more or less value to him later on. + +Frank saw him from time to time, but seemed to pay not the slightest +attention to what he was doing. And on Lanky’s part it can be said with +truth that he surely gave his chum no trouble whatever. He sauntered +here, and stopped there to watch some boys playing a game with a +pocket-knife very similar to mumble-the-peg, with which of course Lanky +was familiar. + +All this time Frank was somewhat nervous, for he did not know but +what at any minute there might be a sudden explosion. Lanky was apt +to be impulsive; and if he really found that his suspicions had good +grounds to rest upon, possibly the rash fellow might try to carry off +the little girl. Frank had warned him, however, against anything so +foolish, and gained his solemn promise to let it be taken in hand by +those more capable of engineering the deal than two boys might seem to +be. + +But there was no alarm, for which Frank felt happy. And having finally +gained the signature of Queen Esther to the new contract, though she +grumbled over the rate of renting the pasture for two weeks each +spring, Frank was now ready to depart from the strange camp. + +He too looked around him curiously. Many unfamiliar scenes greeted his +eyes to the right and to the left. Frank had watched the gypsy queen +while they talked, and he was ready to admit that she certainly showed +signs of nervousness more than a few times. Again and again would she +half turn her head, and always to glance up at the elevated door that +marked the rear of the big van, near which they sat on a rustic bench +and talked. + +To tell the truth, she did seem bothered about something connected with +that same wagon. Frank had sat down in such a position that he could +himself steal a curious look that way from time to time; but though the +minutes had crept along, he could not say that he had once seen that +closed door move during the period of his conference with Queen Esther. + +He found Lanky waiting for him near the border of the camp, examining +the gypsy way of making a fire, with a big iron pot hanging over the +flames by means of a stout chain, that in turn was fastened to a heavy +iron bar resting in the crotches of two stakes driven into the ground. + +“Makes me think of the old witch scene in ‘Macbeth’ we were reading +about the other day, where they dance around the fire, and say, ‘Boil +and bubble, toil and trouble,’” Frank remarked as, joined by his chum, +they both strode out from among the wagons, children with dusky faces +and staring black eyes, keen-faced men, and chattering women, and +headed for the road. + +“Well, what did you find out?” asked Frank, when they were beyond sight +of the camp. + +“I saw her again,” said Lanky, drawing a long breath as of repressed +excitement. + +“Did she say anything; or did you have a chance to ask her what you +said you meant to?” was what Frank fired at his chum. + +“Well, no, Frank,” replied Lanky, slowly, but with triumph in his +voice; “you see, the old queen was so close I was afraid she’d hear me. +But I made motions to let the little girl know I was her friend, when +she poked her head out of that side window of the wagon; and what d’ye +think, she just dropped this out to me!” and he held up a small object +before the astonished eyes of his chum. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE BUNCH FROM BELLPORT + + +Frank looked hastily around him to see that they were not observed. +Then he took the article which Lanky Wallace was holding out. + +“Why, it’s a child’s little bonnet, Lanky!” he exclaimed. + +“Glad to see you guess that at the start,” remarked the excited Lanky, +with a touch of humor in his voice. + +“And the little one dropped this down to you; did she?” pursued Frank, +as he again thoughtfully examined the article of wearing apparel. + +“Just what she did, Frank. Never said a single word, either; just gave +me a look I won’t soon forget. Reckon she’s frightened to death of that +old gypsy queen, and didn’t dare give a little peep. But, Frank, don’t +you see the poor little thing wanted me to understand something?” + +“I think she did, Lanky,” replied the other, a serious look on his +face. + +“It’s a child’s bonnet, just like you say, Frank; but tell me, do you +think for a single minute any gypsy child ever wore such a contraption +as that?” + +“No, I don’t, for a fact, Lanky,” answered Frank, readily. + +“Looks kinder expensive to me, even if it’s badly soiled right now; eh, +Frank?” continued the tall boy. + +“Yes, you’re right, it was an expensive bonnet, Lanky. No poor person +could ever afford to buy such a thing for his little girl. It stands +for money. Now, the question comes, how did that bonnet ever get into +the hands of the little, dark-faced girl in the queen’s wagon; and what +did she want you to understand by dropping it before you?” + +“Frank, honest to goodness now, don’t you see that it was a regular +mute appeal? Here was the only link that poor little thing had, +connecting her with the happy past, before she fell into the hands of +these rough gypsy rovers. Somehow it must have seemed to her that if +she ever could get back again to the ones who used to love her that +bonnet was going to do the trick!” + +Lanky could hardly contain himself, he was so excited. + +“I wonder now if that could be so?” mused Frank, still looking at the +delicate little article, made up chiefly of lace and silk, with a faded +blue ribbon fastened to it. + +He examined it closely as though entertaining a faint hope that he +might discover some clue to the past. But in spite of his efforts +nothing resulted from his search. + +“Well, what do you think, Frank?” demanded the impatient Lanky, after a +little time had elapsed, and he considered that his chum must have made +up his mind. + +“Seems to me there’s only one thing you can do,” came the reply. + +“Then tell me,” begged Lanky. + +“You’ve got that clipping safe and sound, I hope?” asked Frank. + +“Sure I have, and right here in my jeans now,” Lanky replied. + +“Let me look over it again,” Frank remarked; and upon his chum pushing +the fragment of newspaper in his hand, he studied it as he walked on. + +“I’m glad of one thing,” he remarked, presently, when Lanky thought he +could not stand the suspense much longer. “They give the gentleman’s +home address here, which is a lucky thing for us.” + +“Chuck that, Frank, and tell me what you mean,” Lanky pleaded. + +“Why, you’ve got to communicate with this Mr. Elverson right away, +and ask him if his little girl, who was carried away by a crazy or +revengeful nurse, months ago, wore a little bonnet made of lace and +silk, and decorated with a pale blue ribbon.” + +“Wow! all that is going to take a few good plunks to pay the expense, +if you mean I must telegraph it!” exclaimed Lanky. + +“I’ll help you out, if you’re short, and you ought to know that,” Frank +immediately declared; “and my father would back me to any extent, I’m +dead sure. This begins to look as though there might be something in +it; and if that child is being held there in that gypsy camp against +her will, she must be taken away from them.” + +“Hurrah! that sounds good to me, Frank!” cried the delighted Lanky, +pleased beyond measure to learn that his cautious chum had finally +decided to come over to his side of the fence. + +“And the sooner we go about that part of the business the better. I’ve +got some money with me, and if we need more I know where to go for it, +Lanky.” + +“That’s the idea!” declared the tall lad; “nothing like striking while +the iron is hot, as we used to learn in our copybooks in school, when +we were kids. Let’s head for the station right now, then, Frank, and +see if we can’t hatch up a message that ought to give this Mr. Elverson +the shock of his life.” + +Ten minutes later two boys, breathing hard from fast walking, appeared +at the little railroad station in Columbia, and asked for a bunch of +telegraph blanks. + +“My! you must be going to keep me busy the rest of the morning, +boys!” remarked the young fellow who acted as ticket agent, express +representative and telegraph operator combined. + +“Oh! we’ll let you have time to grab a bite of lunch, Conrad,” replied +Lanky, in his humorous fashion. + +It took the boys about half an hour to concoct a satisfactory message. +They wanted to cover all the ground without wasting words; for +money did not grow on bushes, Lanky remarked, as he cut out several +adjectives that counted for little. + +Lanky wanted to sign Frank’s name to the message, but the other refused +to allow it. + +“This is your affair, and I’m not going to butt in,” he declared +positively. “And I only hope you reach the gentleman without delay, so +that you may have a reply soon.” + +“What could delay it?” asked Lanky. “Seems to me that he’ll be just +wild to get in touch with us, if that bonnet is like the one his child +wore when the nurse lit out with her.” + +“He might be away from home, you know, and they would have some +trouble in getting him,” Frank observed, for he knew his chum would +be bitterly disappointed if he did not hear from Mr. Elverson right +away; why, just as likely as not Lanky would lie awake half the night, +expecting to hear the telephone bell ring, and the voice of the night +operator at the station calling for him. + +They had to look very mysterious when Conrad, the agent at the station, +having read the message, and counted the words, informed them it would +cost three dollars and a quarter; and then seemed to expect them to +tell him what was in the wind. For Frank had cautioned his rather +talkative chum not to breathe a word about it to a living soul until +they had heard from the gentleman. + +“Now we’ve got the rest of the day before us,” said Frank, as they left +the station, arm in arm; “what are we going to do with it?” + +“It’s about ten, now,” Lanky remarked, “and I reckon there’ll be quite +a squad of our fellows down at the athletic field, tryin’ every stunt +going; because, you see, lots of ’em believe they can qualify for the +broad jump, the shot-put, the hammer-throw, or even in the sprints. And +you’ll see some of the queerest athletic work ever if you come down +there right now.” + +“I’ll go you, then, Lanky,” agreed Frank. “Besides, I heard someone +say there was going to be a big bunch from Bellport coming over to +watch, and see what our boys could do. You heard what happened in both +Clifford and Bellport, didn’t you, last night?” + +“You mean when they got news about the fire at our school, and that +Columbia was going to get to-day off for a holiday, the trustees of +both the other high schools called meetings, and agreed to close up +shop for to-day, too. Mighty decent of them, I say, Frank.” + +“Well, what else could they do?” the other went on to say. “The boys +who expect to enter the competition could claim that Columbia would +have a big advantage in an extra day for practice. Even now there’s +been some lively grumbling among some of the Bellport crowd, to the +effect that we’re favored in the way things are run.” + +“Well, it isn’t so,” declared Lanky, indignantly. “There never was a +fairer arrangement when the three schools came to meet up with each +other. I kinder had an idea some of those Bellport fellows were in for +making trouble; and it wouldn’t surprise me a little bit, Frank, if +they started their racket to-day.” + +“Oh, I hope not,” remarked Frank; “that would be too bad to have +Bellport on the outs with us. Their athletic captain, Cuthbert Lee, is +a square fellow, if ever one could be. But let’s put on a little speed, +and make for the field.” + +About a mile from the border of Columbia lay the athletic field, that +had been given over to the boys of the town by some gentleman whose +heart remained young, even though his hair had taken on a silvery tint. + +Here a grand-stand had been built, and there were several houses +where those who competed in the events could dress. There was even a +shower-bath, and numerous other appliances looking to the comfort of +Columbia boys; with a keeper to take charge of it all, and prevent +destruction of property. + +Usually the Columbia people went to see the baseball and football +matches on foot, for the distance was not great. Crowds came from +Bellport and Clifford by way of boats on the river, or, in the case of +the former town, by using the trolley that connected the two places. + +Some of the Columbia fellows who had boats were wont to use them, any +excuse to get on the water being eagerly seized upon, especially if +some of the girls were of the same mind. + +And so, as Frank and Lanky drew near the big field, they seemed to +see young people moving in all directions, the vast majority of them +heading for the pleasure-ground; since it was known that many of +the boys would be practicing diligently, taking advantage of this +unexpected holiday. + +“What did I tell you?” remarked Lanky, in an aside to his chum, as they +discovered a big bunch of high-school fellows, with blue bands around +their hats, coming from the direction of the trolley, and talking +boisterously. + +“Some of the Bellport fellows, sure enough,” Frank replied; for he +recognized several familiar faces; and the blue ribbon told the story +by itself. + +“Yes, and if you tried to pick out the loudest talkers in all Bellport +you’d be apt to find them in that crowd,” Lanky went on. “Honest Injun, +now, Frank, I wouldn’t be surprised if they had come over here to-day +just to josh our boys, and make trouble. Why, there might be a fight +before the day is done.” + +“That would be too bad,” Frank said, looking serious at the very +thought. “We’ve always been on mighty good terms with Bellport, and for +one I’d hate to see any bad blood between the two schools. We’ll try +and warn our fellows not to pay too much attention to what they may +say. It takes two to make a quarrel, you know.” + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +ALMOST A RIOT + + +The scene was a lively one. Scores of high school boys, all of them +belonging in Columbia, were working out their various theories for +succeeding in the trials which were scheduled to come off on the +following Saturday. Each fellow seemed to have his own particular way +of trying to excel; and some of these were really remarkable, affording +plenty of amusement to the good-natured crowd of young people, boys and +girls combined, coming from town to watch operations. + +When Saturday night came around it was expected that the programme +would have been carried out, and the selections for the grand meet +concluded. The very best in every class would have been chosen; and +after that Columbia could settle down to wait for the day when the +question of supremacy between the rival schools was once more to be +tested in open and square sport, without fear or favor. + +A number of the more stocky boys were engaged in putting the shot, and +throwing the discus or hammer. Jack Comfort seemed to be by all odds +the favorite in these events, though there were several who believed +they had a chance. + +Even fat Buster Billings was seen in light attire, and perspiring +freely as he hopped around, and finally sent out the weight with about +the grace of a waddling duck. Once he even fell headlong after letting +go, and rolled like a barrel, to the intense delight of the spectators. + +Others were practising the broad and standing jump; and close by the +apparatus used for the high jump was in constant use, the crossbar +falling from the uprights again and again, as some aspirant’s foot +caught in going over. + +Still there were several fine jumpers among those who kept trying, and +the crossbar was moved up inch by inch as they cleared it handsomely, +amid the plaudits of the admiring throng. + +Further on the pole-vaulters were making their swift little run, and +rising to clear their elevated bar. Of course in this particular there +were numerous failures, and some of the jumpers had bothersome falls. +One boy went off limping, and assisted by a friend, having bruised his +leg painfully. + +But these things must be expected among a parcel of untrained +schoolboys, whose muscles are not as hard as they should be. + +Somehow Lanky and Frank were more interested in the work of the +sprinters, for that was in their own line. They timed some of the +dashes, and exchanged satisfied looks. There seemed to be considerable +talent among this class; and unless the rival schools developed a +marvel or two, they would have all they could do to keep at the heels +of these lively Columbia lads. + +From time to time the two boys were hailed by those they knew best; and +Lanky seemed to be in an unusually fine humor, even for him. But Frank, +of course, understood the reason for this. He could see that Lanky +somehow turned his head, and looked at nearly every newcomer. He seemed +to think there would be a messenger from the telegraph office hunting +him up; since the answer to his message was sure to be marked “very +important.” + +Loud voices attracted their attention later on, and Frank was sorry to +discover that some of the Columbia boys were engaged in a wordy dispute +with the big crowd of Bellport students who had come over in a fighting +mood. + +“It’s a put-up job, that’s what it is!” one of the latter was saying, +roughly. + +“Yes, things have all got a string on ’em,” added another, with a +sneer. “It’s no wonder Columbia nearly always wins when they know how +to pull the wires, and get the inside track! On even terms, Bellport +would lick you out of your boots; and I don’t care who hears me say it.” + +“Oh! come off now,” remonstrated a Columbia boy; “you know better than +that, Sim Reeves. We’ve been beaten by Bellport and Clifford, and +beaten fairly, too. Did we kick, and set up a howl of fraud? Not much. +We took off our hats to the victors, and said we were sorry to admit +that they were the better fellows that day; but we hoped to tell a +different story another time.” + +“Yes, you did!” jeered a third Bellport fellow. “Right now you’ve +got this competition all cooked up, so that the plums will fall to +Columbia. Wasn’t it engineered by a Columbia gentleman, who put up all +the money for the prizes? Sure it was; and the committee just hated to +think of any of those fine medals going to Bellport, so they arranged +things to give the home crowd all the advantage.” + +“Prove it by showing us a single thing that isn’t square!” cried an +angry Columbia student, shaking his fist at the speaker. + +“Oh! rats! they covered their tracks all right,” the Bellport boy flung +back. “Being used to such tricks, they can do it so nobody could just +put a finger on anything; but all the same the feeling is there that +we’re going to be buncoed right from the start.” + +“Huh! if I felt that way I wouldn’t take part in the meet at all!” +called out one of the touchy Columbia boys. + +“Perhaps we won’t,” came the immediate answer. “A lot of us have come +over here to-day, not so much to see what you’re all doing, as to tell +you what they think in Bellport of your committee’s work. We know +there are a _few_ square fellers in Columbia; but the majority aren’t +standin’ back on taking advantage of a crooked deal arranged for them +by their committee.” + +Frank was shocked at hearing such talk. He knew that the better class +of Bellport fellows would never stand for it; but was afraid that the +two schools might be drawn into a dispute that would put a stop to all +their friendly rivalry in field and track sports. + +“Bellport’s sore because of that football drubbing she got last fall!” +called out a Columbia backer, one word leading to another, as is always +the case when boys get to accusing each other. + +“And the hockey game that went against her, not to mention baseball!” +echoed still another warm adherent of the local school. + +“Oh! be a sport, and take your medicine! You’ve all got an even chance +to win, and I don’t believe there’s a Columbia fellow who’ll accept a +medal, or a prize, if he thought he’d been favored in the least!” + +But the war of words went on from bad to worse. All sorts of +accusations began to pass between the two crowds, for the Bellport boys +had come over with the full intention of making trouble. + +While they were having it in this fashion who should come in sight but +Chief Hogg, dressed as usual in his resplendent uniform. Someone had +managed to telephone to police headquarters that there was danger of a +riot among the boys at the recreation field; and the head of the local +force had pompously driven out there. + +But if anybody expected that the appearance of the stout chief would +stop the tongues of that rough Bellport crowd they were mistaken. They +jeered at the sight of the policeman’s uniform, and matters seemed +getting worse than ever. + +The Columbia girls huddled up in groups, watching the excited boys +argue, while arms were waved, and sticks shaken. Frank had seen all +this, and having a sudden inspiration he hurried into the building +where the telephone was located. + +“I want to get Bellport in a hurry,” he said to the girl who, during +these times, had charge of the booth at the sporting field. + +“I can do that for you right away; but what number do you want?” she +asked; and as Frank looked up from consulting the slender little book +that had the names of all the telephone subscribers in the three river +towns, he replied: + +“Give me 57-L, Bellport, please.” + +A minute later she called: + +“57-L, Bellport. Here you are!” + +“Hello! is this Mr. Lee’s house?” asked Frank, and was immediately +electrified by hearing a voice he readily recognized, making reply. + +“Yes, who is that talking?” + +“Frank Allen, over in Columbia; is that you, Cuthbert?” + +“That’s who it is; how are you, Frank; what’s doing in the athletic +line?” came over the wire. + +“A whole lot, Cuthbert,” Frank replied quickly. “I’m out at our +athletic field right now. There are some hundreds here, and a lot of +our boys practicing stunts. A bunch of your fellows came over, and are +trying to make trouble. They even jeer at Chief Hogg, and defy him to +lay a hand on them.” + +“Thunder! that’s bad; I never dreamed they’d do such a thing,” came +from the astounded boy eight miles away, down in Bellport. + +“Unless something is done pretty soon I’m afraid there’s going to be +trouble here, and some broken heads,” Frank went on. “And the worst of +it all is that such a rumpus will break off all friendly intercourse +between the two schools for years, perhaps. Now, I know you have a +great influence over the Bellport boys, Cuthbert. They’ll do more for +you than any fellow living. Can’t you take your motorcycle, and come +over here, licketty-split, and save the day? Please do. It’s the only +chance of keeping peace between the two towns.” + +“Frank, I’ll come right away!” answered Cuthbert. “I don’t know that +I can hold those hotheads in check; but I’m willing to do all I can. +So-long!” + +Frank went out, hoping that affairs would not reach a crisis before the +athletic leader of the Bellport school arrived. He tried to soothe the +angry and bitter disputants as best he could, and perhaps the respect +they felt for Frank Allen was one reason why some of them did not begin +to use their fists or sticks sooner. + +The minutes dragged along, and each seemed an hour to Frank. He knew +that there could be no holding the boys back much longer, for the +insults were growing more and more bitter, and the motions of arms and +sticks more menacing. + +“Oh! Frank, can’t you do something to separate them before they fight?” +asked Minnie, when the boy happened to come close to where a group of +girls stood shivering, and looking frightened at the war of words. + +“I have done what I could,” replied Frank. “Listen, don’t you hear that +popping sound? It’s Cuthbert Lee on his motorcycle. I ’phoned to him +over home that he was needed here to prevent a clash, and he’s come on +the jump!” + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A POPULAR BOY + + +“Frank, you’re a wonder; and I don’t care who hears me say it!” +exclaimed Minnie, as she saw a cloud of dust down the road, with a boy +on a motorcycle heading it. “Nobody but you would ever have thought of +such a splendid scheme!” + +“Well, all I hope, then, is that it works,” replied the boy; “for +they’re just ready to take a whack at each other right now.” + +He ran toward the noisy crowd, and shouted at the top of his voice: + +“Here’s Cuthbert Lee come over to see us, fellows!” + +Even the mention of the name of the most popular boy in all Bellport +acted as a soothing salve upon the excited minds of the wrangling lads. +They drew back just in time to avoid the first blow, which must have +precipitated the battle, and been followed by bloody noses and bruised +faces. Some of them even began to look ashamed to be caught in such a +business as creating bad feeling between the neighboring towns. + +Cuthbert Lee was wise enough to know that nothing could be accomplished +by accusing his friends of wrongdoing. He began by asking the cause of +the trouble, and smoothing things down so ably that in a short time he +had the Bellport boys cheering him wildly. + +“Don’t let anybody think Bellport has a case of cold feet,” he +declared. “We believe we’ve got the athletes to carry off some of those +prizes, anyhow, and we’re just going to prove it when the time comes. +I’ve watched every arrangement closely, boys, and I give you my solemn +word for it, I honestly believe the arrangements have all been made in +a spirit of fairness.” + +“Hear! hear!” shouted a Columbia boy, beginning to be once more drawn +toward the old rivals of Bellport, whom they had cheered wildly many a +time after a game had been won or lost, and respected in the past as +true sport-lovers. + +“Why,” continued Cuthbert, feeling that his case was already as good +as won, “at the meeting which I had the honor to attend, the gentleman +who offered these fine prizes was _very_ particular to say, time after +time, that he wanted the neighboring towns to feel that they had just +as good a chance to win as Columbia. He was so broad-minded, fellows, +that once our representative had to actually object, and say that +Bellport didn’t need to be favored. Does that look like the committee +meant to side-track us? I never knew of a fairer arrangement between +schools than the one governing this meet. And that’s positive truth, +believe me, fellows. You know I wouldn’t deceive you for anything in +the world.” + +They began to look very foolish now and the Columbia boys were giving +Cuthbert Lee a salvo of loud cheers. Such friendly sentiments touched +their boyish hearts as nothing else could do. + +“Let’s call it off, boys!” cried one Bellport fellow, who had been +among the noisiest of the disputants. + +“I’m sorry we made the trouble at all!” said another, frankly. + +“We’ve been a lot of silly jacks, that’s what!” cried a third; “and for +one I’m in favor of asking the pardon of every Columbia High fellow, +right here and now. Hear that, Frank Allen? It was all a mistake, and +we’re sorry.” + +“We hope you’ll forget the unpleasantness, Columbia!” + +“And let’s be better friends than ever because of it,” called out +Cuthbert Lee. “When we felt the disappointment of defeat on the +gridiron or the diamond I tell you it took a lot of the sting out of +it to hear fair and square Frank Allen and his crowd giving a bully +cheer for Bellport. And, fellows, we can’t afford to show such a nasty +little spirit as to believe those honest enemies of last summer and +fall could get down low enough to even think of cheating. Who’s with me +in giving three and a tiger right now for the boys of Columbia High?” + +Well, they were given, and with a roar. Not a single Bellport boy felt +that he could afford to hold back when Cuthbert Lee led the shouting. +And in five minutes the change in the aspect of things on that athletic +field was magical. Instead of keeping together in a crowd, and +badgering the workers, the visitors separated, and each fellow seemed +to be the center of a group of Columbia students, both boys and girls, +as they watched the continuance of the practice games. + +Good-natured chaffing had taken the place of jarring remarks intended +to cut to the quick. The clouds had rolled away, and a fair sky +overhead had succeeded the storm signals. + +“That was the brightest thing you ever did, Frank,” remarked Cuthbert +Lee, as he stood with a number of others, and chatted together +concerning the various contests scheduled for the great athletic meet +on the following week. + +“_One_ of them, perhaps,” remarked Minnie, proudly; at which there was +a general laugh from the boys and girls, and consequently more or less +blushing on the part of the pretty speaker. + +“I’m glad I had the idea, anyway,” replied Frank; “because it began +to look as if there was going to be a riot, sure thing. When boys +get warmed up they never mince words; and I heard some pretty strong +language used. But it’s ended just as it should, and maybe has drawn +the rival schools closer together.” + +“I guess they let off all their spare steam, anyhow,” remarked Ralph +Langworthy, who had been engaged in some of the sprinting trials, and +was showing considerable speed in the hundred-yard dash. + +Evidently the news had reached Columbia, for men were constantly +arriving at the athletic field. They seemed anxious on coming, but soon +discovered that there must be some sort of mistake about the trouble +that had been reported imminent; for Columbia and Bellport had never +appeared so friendly as just then, and Chief Hogg was telling humorous +stories to the keeper of the grounds. + +Lanky was very glum as he stood around. Frank could easily guess the +cause for this. Dora had stayed down in Columbia over the holiday, +instead of going back to the farm; and she was to be seen in the +society of the good-looking Walter Ackerman ’most all the morning. +Indeed, Frank, seeing her glance quickly toward his chum a number of +times, could understand that she was carrying on in this way simply to +annoy Lanky. And as he declined to notice her even a little bit, it +began to look as though the breach had grown too great to be easily +bridged. + +“H’m!” said Frank to himself, “it doesn’t look as though Minnie had +been very successful in making Dora see how silly she was in quarreling +with poor Lanky, after he’s been taking her around everywhere since he +met her up on the farm, at the time we saved the house from burning +down. I must get her to try again, though. But in cases like this it +isn’t much use. Dora is set on snubbing him; and Lanky wouldn’t shake +hands with her, when she started to make up.” + +Frank and Lanky managed to get together on the trip home, though a bevy +of girls walked close by; and Minnie doubtless wondered what important +business took Frank from her side even for five minutes. + +“If you get a wire, call me up, Lanky, sure,” Frank was saying. + +“Will I? Well, you can wager I will, right speedy now,” came the +answer. “I need your advice all the time, so’s to keep from makin’ a +botched job of this thing. I hope it comes by to-morrow, though, or +Saturday.” + +“Well, if it don’t, I’ll be disappointed myself,” remarked Frank. + +“For one thing,” the other went on, “those gyps aren’t a-goin’ to hang +around these diggings forever, you know.” + +“Of course not,” agreed Frank. + +“They’ll be foldin’ up their tents and silently stealin’ away, as the +poem has it,” Lanky continued; “and then where’d I be if I got word, +when it was too late, that the lost child did wear that same kind of a +little bonnet, with the blue ribbon on it?” + +“Perhaps there might be some way to coax them to stay a while longer,” +suggested Frank, thoughtfully. + +“How, for instance?” questioned Lanky, eagerly. + +“Well, they’re sharp enough to know that with a big event coming off, +like our athletic meet, a crowd of people will be coming to Columbia; +and such a time is always good for horse trading, and such things. I’m +going to set the wheels going, so as to make them see this. One camp +is just as good as another to them, I guess, and so they’ll be glad to +stay over.” + +“Well, if you ain’t the greatest hand at gettin’ up schemes I ever +knew!” declared Lanky, warmly, as he gripped his chum’s hand and shook +it. “Now, why didn’t I think of that plan? A gay old head I’ve got; +ain’t worth shucks sometimes. Reckon some people are just about right +in shaking such a fellow!” he added, gloomily. + +“Cheer up!” said Frank, slapping him on the back. “All this is going +to be changed, just as if a wizard touched it with his magic wand. You +wait and see what’s going to happen. I just feel it in my bones.” + +Lanky did brighten up a little; and then, as he happened to catch sight +of that aggravating couple ahead, Dora chattering away like a little +magpie, and that handsome curly head of Walter so close to her brown +tresses, he gritted his teeth again and lapsed into his former gloomy +state. + +So Frank went back to Minnie and the laughing group of which the gay +girl was the center and the life. + +No call came over the wire from Lanky that afternoon or evening, much +to Frank’s disappointment. And when he met his chum at school on +Wednesday morning, there was a skeptical look on the thin countenance +of Lanky that told of “hopes deferred making the heart sick.” + +“No use talking,” the other declared, in a disgusted tone, “I’m a +regular Jonah nowadays. Never touch a thing but it flops upside-down. +Now, if it’d been only you connected with this racket, Frank, chances +are you’d ’a’ had a message before now; and the father and mother’d +be on their way here. But I’ve just queered the game, that’s what. +Everything’s against me, I do believe.” + +“Oh! wait a while,” said Frank, encouragingly. “It’s plain that your +wire hasn’t reached the gentleman yet; because, if his little girl +hasn’t been found you can just believe that he’d seize on any chance to +hear news. And when he does get the telegram you’ll know it. If he’s +off somewhere, it may be several days before they can reach him; but it +will come, Lanky, it’s bound to come. So I say wait, and just hold your +horses the best you know how.” + +“All right, Frank,” replied Lanky. “I’ll do the best I can; but I’m +badgered if I don’t feel sore, the way things are knocking me. But I’m +all trimmed for making that long run Saturday; and you and Bones’ll +have to hustle if you want to get home anywhere near my time; for I’m +going to show _somebody_ something, you understand!” + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +ON THE HARRAPIN + + +Saturday saw quite a big crowd gathered in the afternoon at the +athletic field, to witness what they called the “elimination trials.” +By this means all who could not take part in the grand meet the +following week would be weeded out. + +There were plenty of young people present from both Bellport and +Clifford; for it was expected that these trial heats would prove +almost as interesting as the real thing later on. Of course this was +a Columbia day entirely, a sort of home affair, since only local boys +could compete. + +One event after another was carried out by the judges who were +appointed to decide upon the merits of the numerous candidates. Even +sack racing was indulged in; and the antics of fat Buster Billings +when he strove with might and main to come in ahead of his more nimble +rivals afforded great fun. He even started to rolling when unable to +get on his feet again after a fall, and might have won, only that this +method of making progress was declared barred by those in charge. + +Some of the jumping tests were well carried out; and those who watched +and figured on the marks made nodded their heads as though satisfied +that Columbia had a good chance in this quarter. + +The high-jumpers also held a carnival of their own, and brought out +loud cheers by their showing; while the pole-vaulters, the shot-putters +and hammer-throwers and the short-distance sprinters gave every +evidence of being grimly determined not to lose the prizes offered in +their departments, if grit and pluck and muscle could win out. + +Finally, at four o’clock the long-distance runners lined up; and as +this was the last, as well as the most important event, on the program, +everybody crowded around to witness the start. There was a lot of +cross-fire talk between some of the ambitious aspirants and their +friends on the side lines. + +Besides Frank, Lanky and Bones Shadduck, the three who were fully +expected to carry off the honors, and get tickets to enter the Marathon +in the big meet, there were almost a dozen others, who seemed to have +hopes of developing into wonders; or else meant to start, just for the +fun of the thing. + +Since that day in school, when the fire occurred in the basement, +nothing had been seen or heard of Bill Klemm and his two cronies, Asa +Barnes and Watkins Kline. Asa’s father, the local butcher, had been +searching all over the country for his son; but thus far nothing had +been heard from him. It was believed that, thinking they must have +caused the destruction of the school by fire, the frightened trio +of boys were hiding far away, not daring to return home. And among +the crowds that gathered on this Saturday, their names were often +mentioned, as all sorts of queer theories were advanced to account for +their disappearance. + +But then, as they were most unpopular boys, no one cared very much +about it. And really the games that were being carried out were ten +times more worth talking about than the fortunes of such a town bully +as Bill Klemm, or his followers, who were trying to walk in the same +trail he followed. + +It had been determined that since this was only a trial race, with the +result really a foregone conclusion, the boys would not have to go +over the entire circuit as laid out for the great meet. Instead of ten +miles, they would cover just half that distance. + +With the crack of the starter’s pistol the long line jumped away. +Several ambitious beginners immediately sprinted, and took the lead. + +“Look at Ginger Harper, would you?” cried a spectator; “why, he’s a +wonder, for a fact. He can run around the rest of that bunch, and not +half try. There he goes, grabbin’ off the yards like fun. It’s going +to be a procession, with Ginger first!” + +“Is it?” remarked Jack Eastwick, with a grin of pity for the ignorance +of the shouter, who was a particular friend of the Harper boy, he knew; +“maybe so, maybe not.” + +Those who knew better saw that the good runners did not start at +headlong pace. They held back in a bunch, and were saving their wind. +In a run that covers five or ten miles it is the height of folly to +make any effort at great speed at the start. By degrees experienced and +knowing runners get into their stride, and in this fashion are able to +finish strongly. That home stretch to them means everything, and when +the crack of the pistol announces that it has been entered, they seem +to exhibit all the freshness of those just starting. + +So the last of the runners disappeared from sight, and the crowd went +back to watch a few more minor events while waiting for the return of +the five-mile contestants. + +“Pretty near time they began to show up; isn’t it?” asked Jack Comfort, +who was well pleased with the showing he had made that day, and fully +assured that he would be the one selected to compete for Columbia with +the weight-throwing and shot-putting squad. + +A shout was heard just then. + +“A runner in sight!” passed along the lines, and immediately everything +else was neglected, while the crowd formed a long double lane from the +outskirts of the field to the tape, which the contestants had to breast +in order to have their time taken. + +“Who is it? Ginger Harper making it a sweep?” cried one, mockingly. + +“Say, Ginger’s been back here these ten minutes and more,” called out +another. “He gave out at the first half-mile stone, and came home to +see the run-in!” + +“It’s Frank Allen!” arose the shout. + +“You’re all mistaken, for it’s Lanky Wallace. Don’t you see how tall he +is; and aren’t we all of us on to his way of running!” whooped Buster +Billings, red in the face with all he had been attempting in various +lines. + +“Lanky Wallace leads!” + +“Three Lankies for cheers!” shrieked Red Huggins, who always managed to +get his sentences twisted when excited, and as some of the boys said, +“got the cart before the horse.” + +“And he’s beat his best time by a whole lot, too!” announced another +enthusiast. + +Some of the Bellport and Clifford boys were seen comparing watches +as Lanky came bounding along with tremendous strides, making for the +tape-line, and apparently they were staggered to realize what small +chance their athletes had in comparison with this wonder. + +“If he kept to the track he’s the best ever!” one fellow said, shaking +his head as though he could hardly believe it. + +“There’s another runner, and this time it is Frank Allen!” + +“With Bones close behind him; and the field out of sight!” + +“Oh! some of those fellows will be comin’ in for the next hour!” +laughed Buster. + +Lanky shot along the double line of shouting admirers, and breasted +the tape in gallant style. And had Frank been there to notice, he +would have smiled to see how the winner’s first thought was to cast a +contemptuous look over to that quarter where pretty little Dora Baxter +stood clapping her hands gleefully, just as though for the moment it +was forgotten that she and Lanky had ever had a falling out. + +Frank was delighted with the wonderful time made by his long-legged +chum. Surely Lanky had improved very much since the last time they +entered for a long-distance run. And if either of the rival schools +could show a better runner, he would have to be a marvel indeed. + +Of course the three who were to enter for Columbia were those who had +come in first, second and third. The fourth did not arrive for ten +minutes or more after Bones Shadduck passed the tape; and when most of +the crowd had left the field the others were still showing up--some +limping from stone-bruises, and others utterly fagged out from the long +grind. + +And if five miles could put them in this condition of exhaustion, it +was very evident that they could not have a grain of hope of ever +getting over the entire course of double that distance. + +Lanky had gone to the dressing-room, and soon appeared in his ordinary +clothes. He took his honors meekly; indeed, Frank suspected that the +boy would really have cared more to hear one girl say a single word of +admiration, than to hear scores load him down with praise. + +But Dora had gone off with a group, and was not to be seen. Evidently +she had rightly interpreted that look of scorn Lanky had thrown toward +her at the moment of his triumph, as though to tell her he did not care +to see her applauding anything which he might do. + +“Hey! Lanky, come and go back with us to town on board the _Harrapin +Belle_!” said Ben Allison, whacking the tall boy between the shoulders +as he started off alone. + +“Oh! don’t care if I do, Ben,” replied Lanky, never dreaming to what a +strange end this trivial incident might lead him; “if your boat isn’t +too crowded.” + +“Huh! nothing’s too good for you this day, Lanky,” replied the other; +“and I’d pitch a few of the others overboard to make room for the boy +who’s going to bring victory our way next week. We’re sure proud of the +way you covered that five-mile course to-day, and that’s the truth. +Here, hook your arm with mine. It’s an honor to be seen walking with +you, Lanky, let me tell you.” + +“Is it?” queried Lanky, gloomily; “some people don’t think that way, +Ben. But I’m wondering if Frank Allen couldn’t have run me a hot race +if he wanted.” + +“Rats! Frank did the best he could,” retorted Ben. “I heard him say so.” + +And so, arguing in this friendly spirit, they finally came to the +river, where a number of boats of all sorts lay, having come for the +most part from the other towns. + +The _Harrapin Belle_ was a big launch that Ben’s father had bought +early that season. It had been second-hand, but was in fair condition. +More than a dozen boys and girls were going back to town on board, +having been invited by generous Ben, and evidently bent on enjoying a +little river trip to vary the monotony of things. + +Lanky discovered, when it was too late, that Dora and Walter Ackerman +were aboard, sitting far up in the bow. He kept away from that quarter +studiously; and, as the boat started up the river, busied himself in +appearing to be utterly care-free. + +They had not gone more than a few hundred yards before the pilot +managed to run against some sort of snag, which was unseen above the +surface of the water. No particular damage to the boat resulted; but +there was quite a little shock. And then came a scream in a voice that +seemed familiar to Lanky. + +Springing to his feet he dashed toward the bow. The boat was floating +with the current now, the power having been turned off. Several of the +boys and girls were bending over the side, gazing in alarm at something +that was occurring there; and among them Lanky could see Walter +Ackerman. + +But he failed to discover Dora; and the truth broke upon him that it +must be the girl who had once been so dear a friend to him, who had +fallen into the river at the time of the collision! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +LANKY FINDS HIS CHANCE + + +“There she is!” + +“Oh! why doesn’t somebody jump overboard, and save her, poor thing?” +cried Helen Allen; at the same time clinging to Paul Bird so +desperately that he could not have attempted the rescue act, even +though inclined that way. + +Lanky seized hold of Walter Ackerman. + +“She was with you!” he shouted; “why don’t you go in after her?” + +The handsome boy never looked as he did then, white in the face, and +frightened. + +“I would; indeed, I’d do it in a minute--but I can’t swim a stroke!” he +gasped. + +Without waiting to hear another word Lanky threw him contemptuously +aside, “just as he might a sack of oats,” Helen afterwards said, in +describing it all to Frank. + +One look Lanky cast over the side, as he kicked his shoes off, and sent +his jacket flying after them. This showed him a white face in the +midst of the water, and, he thought, a pair of hands held out toward +him. + +Then Lanky jumped. + +The _Harrapin Belle_ careened far over on the port side, because +everyone aboard had hastened to that quarter, in order to learn what +happened. They saw Lanky come to the surface after his dive, and fling +the water out of his eyes. Then he struck out for the spot where the +girl seemed to be struggling, trying to swim perhaps; for Dora was +known to possess that accomplishment, though her skirts bothered her +considerably now. + +“Hurray! he’s got her!” whooped Ben Allison, in great excitement. + +“Bully for our Lanky; he’s just the screamer to-day, though! Won the +long run; and now saved the prettiest girl outside of Columbia town!” +shouted another boy. + +The girls were clapping their hands, and almost wishing that fortune +had been kind enough to let them figure in the rôle of a heroine; +though the water did look pretty wet, and it was evidently very deep +right at this point in the Harrapin. + +“We must get them in, fellows!” called Ben, as he gave the signal for +the boy at the engine to back the boat down the current. + +“Oh! be careful, Ben, and don’t run over them!” begged Helen, as a new +fear began to tug at her heart. + +“I’ll look out,” came the confident reply, as the boat started slowly +to follow the current, and gain on the struggling couple. + +But Lanky was not worrying a bit. He had his arm tight around the waist +of Dora, and was easily keeping himself afloat, for he was a good +swimmer--almost like a duck in the water, his mates used to say. + +“Are you all right, Dora?” he asked, wondering whether she had retained +her senses through it all. + +She clung all the tighter to him, as though that alone ought to answer +his question. Perhaps, after it was all over, Dora would treat him just +as coldly as ever; but while it lasted Lanky was not “caring whether +school kept or not,” as he described it. + +They were soon enabled to reach the side of the boat; and as some +of the boys above reached down their hands, Dora’s dripping figure +was quickly drawn up. But it might have been noticed that the girl +studiously avoided touching the hand of Walter Ackerman. He was bound +to pay a heavy penalty for never having learned to swim. + +“His cake is dough, all right!” was the way Paul Bird expressed it to +Helen, after he had seen this aversion on the part of the rescued girl. +“And I guess there’s just going to be all peace between Lanky and Dora +after this.” + +“It’s just wonderful, that’s all I can say!” exclaimed Frank’s young +sister. “If it had been a page out of a story it couldn’t have happened +nicer. But they’re helping Lanky up now. Oh! isn’t he just dripping, +though?” + +“But he rather likes it,” Paul went on to say. “Lanky always was a sort +of water-dog. I’ve known him to spend the best part of a day in the +river. You couldn’t drown him if you tried. See him grin, will you, +when he looks at poor Walter, who’s got to take a back seat after this, +I reckon.” + +“Well, serves him right!” declared Helen. “Every boy ought to know how +to swim, if he ever expects a girl to feel confidence in him at all. +And I’m so glad that _you_ can, Paul.” + +Lanky Wallace no longer looked glum and unhappy. He realized that +fortune had beamed upon him that day in a way he could never have +dreamed would happen. It was not enough that he should come in far +ahead of the field in that long run, beating the best amateur time +known in that section of the country for a five-mile race; but now this +had come about in the bargain. + +Dora was wrapped in a rug they had aboard. Lanky disdained to bother +himself about his wet clothes. He managed to get his shoes on, after +an effort and covered his shoulders with his jacket. He said he felt +as “warm as toast”; and perhaps from the way his heart was pounding +away inside, he had good reason for declaring this. + +And now, when he caught those dancing eyes of Dora which he used to +think were the prettiest and sauciest he had ever seen, he found no +reason to scowl, and hasten to avert his gaze, for they sparkled with +happiness, and his every glance met a smile. + +Finally, before they reached town, he saw Dora beckoning imperiously to +him; just as in those old days before the quarrel, Lanky jumped to obey. + +She held out her little hand, and he clasped it eagerly. + +“I’m going with Helen to dry my clothes,” the girl said in a low tone, +“and if you could come for me in about half an hour in some sort of a +vehicle, Lanky, I’d be ever so much obliged to you to take me up home.” + +“Will I? Well, I guess yes, and glad in the bargain, Dora,” he replied, +with a happy look that told her the bitterness had all gone out of his +heart. + +“You’ll forgive me being so unkind to you; won’t you, Lanky?” she +continued, as Helen very considerately turned away. + +“Never mention it again to me, Dora. I want to forget we ever had a +falling out,” the boy went on, rapidly. + +“And we’re going to be friends again, then, good friends like we used +to be?” she continued, gladness in her voice. + +“Better than ever--that is, if you care to have me take you around, +instead of _him_,” Lanky replied suggestively, and her pretty face took +on a very scornful look as she went on: + +“Him! Oh! I despise him now, too much for me to tell you. I never did +care so much for him, Lanky, and was only trying to make you believe I +did. But to think of him willing to see me drown there! Oh! the coward! +I never, never mean to even speak to him again!” + +“Well,” said Lanky, feeling a little compunction in his generous heart +toward the unlucky object of this girlish disdain; “p’raps he isn’t to +blame so much after all, because he says he can’t swim even a little +bit; and if that’s so, you know he couldn’t ’a’ helped you a whit, even +if he had jumped over.” + +“That doesn’t matter,” she persisted, girl-like; “if he’d been real +brave, like some boys I know, he’d have jumped in, anyway. Why, I might +have saved him then, don’t you see, Lanky? Mr. Walter Ackerman had +better go and take lessons in swimming before he expects any Columbia +girl to be his company again. They all know him now.” + +Lanky looked at her a little queerly. He was in reality wondering +whether, after all, the plucky girl might not have been pretending to +be in greater peril than was actually the case, after finding herself +dumped into the river, just to see which one of her boy friends would +do the life-saving act. But he never knew whether there was any truth +in this far-fetched idea or not. + +Although Lanky Wallace had won considerable renown that day by reason +of his leading the string of long-distance runners, and by such +remarkable time, he seemed to think more of the fact that he was +expected to get a rig, and take Dora to the farm of her parents, quite +a number of miles north of Columbia, where the Harrapin became almost +like a creek. + +Lanky could look back to pleasant days spent at that same farm. And yet +he really believed that he had never contemplated visiting the Baxter +home with more lively anticipations of pleasure than on this occasion. + +Promptly at the time appointed he drove up to the Allen house with +a horse and buggy. That it was not a thoroughbred Lanky privately +admitted to Frank, when the other joked him on the appearance of the +steed. + +“That’s all right,” he said in Frank’s ear; “takes longer to get there. +Some people, when they’ve got a good thing, don’t know how to string +it out. I do. That’s why I declined the use of a horse that could go +a mile in three minutes. Why, honest now, Frank, this nag’s so steady +that the livery man said a one-armed boy could drive him.” + +No doubt, on the long ride up to the farm a full explanation and +reconciliation took place between Lanky and Dora. He only too gladly +forgave her when she pleaded that she was only a silly little girl, but +that she had learned a lesson; and they agreed to be as good friends as +ever. + +It must have been fully midnight when Lanky drove that “very steady” +horse at a pretty swift pace back into town, and the way the animal +covered the ground on the return journey might have surprised Dora, +could she have known of his performance. + +And Lanky had good reason to feel rather well satisfied with the events +of that Saturday, which must always be marked with a white stone in his +history. + +There was now only one more thing on his mind--the clearing of the +mystery concerning the identity of the little child in the gypsy camp. +No word had as yet come from the party to whom he had sent that long +message, costing himself and his chum more than three dollars. In +another week the great athletic meet was to take place. + +“Well,” mused Lanky, as he prepared to go to bed in the small hours of +Sunday morning, after returning the rig to the livery stable where it +had been procured; “I hope something _will_ turn up before the gypsies +move away. I’d hate to spend all that coin for nothing; and never know +whether I was a smart guesser, or just a simple fool, for thinking that +baby girl could be the long-lost Effie Elverson. P’raps I’m due for +another little streak of luck. They say it always hunts in threes. But, +as Frank tells me, I mustn’t worry. This business came out jolly well; +and p’raps the other may. Wow! but I’m sleepy, though, and that bed +looks fine. So it is good-night for me.” + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +AN ACCIDENT BETRAYS RUFUS + + +“I guess yesterday was your big day, all right, Lanky!” + +Frank laughed as he made this remark. It was Sunday afternoon, and he +was taking a little stroll with his chum, “just to show the natives +that they were as fresh as daisies after that five-mile Marathon +yesterday,” as Lanky put it. + +“Well, it did come pretty thick and fast, for a fact,” admitted the +one for whom the remark was intended. “But my mother had pity on me, +and let me sleep late this fine Sunday morning. Just got up in time to +dress, have my breakfast, and then go to church.” + +“I’m sorry I missed that little affair on the river,” Frank went on. +“From all the accounts I heard, it must have been a great time.” + +“It sure was a dandy picnic, Frank,” admitted the other, without +hesitation, and drawing in a long breath, as imagination once more +transported him back to the moment when he held Dora up with his right +arm, and used the left to keep both of them afloat. + +“And you went all the way up to the Baxter farm afterwards, they say, +Lanky?” + +“Oh! it isn’t so very far,” remonstrated the other. “The river makes a +lot of turns, you know; and when a fellow is skating, it seems longer +than when you’re in a buggy, on the main road, alongside a girl, and +there’s just _heaps_ to be explained.” + +“That’s right, Lanky, it does,” replied Frank, with a knowing look. +“And I reckon it was all explained, too, long before you got to the +Baxter place?” + +“Smooth sailing from this on, Frank,” the other quickly retorted. “You +see, when poor old Walter, with all his good looks, had to own up that +he couldn’t swim a little bit, with Dora in the river a-waitin’ for +somebody to do the rescue act, even if she can swim better’n any girl +around Columbia, it just made her disgusted with such a poor stick. +Anyhow, she told me she never had cared much for him, and was goin’ +home from choir meetin’s with Walter just because she was mean, and +wanted to hurt me. But it’s all right now, Frank; and I guess we’re +better friends than ever before.” + +“Well, that’s going some,” remarked Frank, knowingly. “But, Lanky, +how in the wide world did you put on such an immense amount of steam +in the last half mile? Why, I saw in a jiffy that I was a back number +yesterday, and there was no use of a fellow trying to head you off. You +went like the wind, I tell you. Give me the secret, if you don’t mind. +It might come handy in the big, long run.” + +“Shucks! it’s nothin’, after all,” replied Lanky. “I just kept thinkin’ +of her, and how sorry she’d feel that our friendship was busted, when +she saw me come in first, and heard everybody yelling. And she was, +Frank, she admitted that to me. Why, she even couldn’t help jumpin’ +up, and clappin’ her little hands, forgettin’ right then that there +had ever been a wide gulf come between us. But it’s all right now, +Frank, and there’s no such silly spat goin’ to happen any more. We both +promised that.” + +“Well, I’m glad that Walter has become a back number,” Frank observed; +“because I knew you were worrying a lot about losing such a good little +friend as Dora. You always did think a heap of her, right from the +start. Remember the time that tramp set their farmhouse afire, after +robbing them; and when we were skating up that way we had a roaring +time putting out the blaze?” + +“That was sure a screaming old time, Frank; I think of it often, and +how pretty Dora did look, with her rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes.” + +“Hold on, let’s change the subject,” broke in Frank, with a laugh. “I +suppose now, you’re beginning to think your wire went astray, and that +we’ll never hear from that Mr. Elverson?” + +Lanky sobered up instantly. + +“Say, three and a quarter gone up the flume, Frank,” he remarked, +shrugging his shoulders in an expressive way. “Not that I’m carin’ so +much for the hard cash, if only it ended in somethin’. But it comes in +too slow to be just thrown away like that.” + +“Wait,” said Frank, as he had done before; “the game isn’t over yet, +by a long sight, Lanky. Sooner or later that message is just bound to +catch up with Mr. Elverson; and if he hasn’t found his little Effie +yet, it’ll bring an answer as fast as he can get it on the wires.” + +“But the gypsies’ll sure vamoose long before that!” expostulated Lanky. + +“Let ’em go,” Frank went on, as though he did not mean to worry over +such a little thing. “Between us we ought to be able to find out some +way to keep tabs on the tribe, no matter where they wander. And once +we hear from the gentleman, if he hasn’t found his girl, and she _did_ +wear such a baby bonnet as you described, why, it’ll be easy to get on +a train, and go to the town near where they’re camped right then.” + +“Of course it will, Frank,” Lanky admitted, brightening up like magic. +“There never was a chum like you to see ahead. The fog can’t get so +thick but what you manage to punch a hole in it, and glimpse light on +the other side. Why, of course we can do what you say. It’s easy as +fallin’ off a log.” + +“Then stop bothering your head about it, Lanky.” + +“Guess I will,” answered the tall boy, resolutely. + +“I told you that other business would come out all right, sooner or +later; didn’t I?” Frank demanded. + +“That’s straight goods, Frank.” + +“And it did, you noticed, Lanky?” + +“It sure did,” was the candid admission of the other; “but see here, +Frank, with all your smartness, I don’t reckon you ever dreamed it’d +happen the way it did, now?” + +“Well, I should say not,” returned Frank, highly amused. “Why, I never +even had the slightest idea that you meant to go back to town aboard +that old tub of Ben Allison’s; or that a certain young lady would be a +passenger, too. And as to expecting Ben to steer into a sunken snag, +and knock Dora overboard, why, who’d ever dream of such a thing? And +it all worked out as fine as silk for you. But you seem to be wanting +to turn off the main road here, and take that one leading to Budd’s +Corners?” + +“I see you’re onto me, all right,” confessed Lanky. “Fact is, Frank, +since we’re out for a little walk, I thought it wouldn’t matter much if +so be we turned in the direction of the gypsy camp.” + +“Oh! I’m willing enough, if you promise me you won’t go to prowling +around when we strike there, so as to make the men folks notice us. +Remember, Lanky, once we give that sharp old queen any reason to +believe we’ve got an interest in what she’s got hidden away in that +wagon, the game’s up.” + +“I hold up my hand and promise you to be careful,” the tall boy +returned, as he went through the performance. “But looky there what’s +comin’ along back of us like a house afire!” + +“Only a boy on a bike, but he’s whooping it up rather fast,” Frank +admitted, as he turned his head to look. + +“Say, I know that feller, all right,” Lanky declared, as the boy on the +wheel rapidly drew nearer to where they stood on the narrow road. + +“Seems to me there’s something familiar about him, too,” said Frank. +“His name is Rufus, isn’t it, Lanky?” + +“Right the first guess--Rufus Kline.” + +“Wasn’t that the name of one of Bill Klemm’s cronies--Watkins Kline?” +continued Frank, still observing the approaching boy on the wheel. + +“Yep; and they say his mother is nigh crazy because nobody’s seen +a sign of any of that crowd since they skipped out, after the +schoolhouse fire,” Lanky went on to say. + +“Looks like Rufus must have been sent on an errand this fine Sunday +afternoon,” Frank next remarked; “because I notice that he’s got +something of a bundle tied to the handle-bars of his wheel. It’s clumsy +enough to make him wobble more than a little as he rides, too.” + +“Huh! that surprises me some, too,” Lanky remarked, as he stood there, +watching the boy, who was now rapidly drawing nearer to them, and +appeared to be wondering whether the two meant to stand aside and let +him pass, or hold him up; in fact his actions seemed to indicate that +Rufus was bothered not a little. + +“Why should it?” demanded Frank, always ready to learn facts when he +could. + +“You see,” his chum hastily replied, “Mrs. Kline is a very religious +woman, which makes it all the more queer why she lets her boy go with +such fellers as Bill Klemm and Asa Barnes. Now, I never’d ’a’ believed +she’d sent Rufus on an errand, and carryin’ a package like that, on a +Sunday.” + +“Oh! you never can tell,” replied Frank. “Perhaps he’s taking something +to a sick woman friend of hers. There are lots of times when rules have +to be broken, I reckon. But you don’t think of holding him up, just to +ask; do you, Lanky?” + +“I thought I’d inquire, Frank, just from curiosity, you see,” with a +grin. “They say women-folks have all the curiosity there is, but I +notice that boys--yes, and men, too--seem to have their share.” + +“Hey! get off the road there, and let me past!” called out Rufus, +slackening his speed somewhat, and looking bothered. + +“Where you goin’ this fine Sunday afternoon, Rufus, and carryin’ that +big package, too?” demanded Lanky. “Don’t you dare run me down, or +somethin’ll happen right quick, understand. Keep off, now, I tell you!” + +Something did happen, and just as speedily as Lanky had prophesied. +Rufus, in his eagerness to slip by, made a miscalculation; and being +also unbalanced by the sudden swinging of the large bundle hanging from +his handle-bars, he slipped off the road into the shallow ditch that +ran alongside. + +As a natural consequence, boy and wheel came down with a crash. + +“Oh! that’s too bad, Lanky; you’ve made him take a header!” exclaimed +Frank. “I hope he isn’t hurt!” + +Rufus was struggling to regain his feet, feeling of his left leg at the +same time, and apparently hardly knowing whether to cry or get angry. +He finally compromised by whimpering. + +“See what you did, Lanky Wallace, by bein’ mean, and wantin’ to take +the whole road?” he exclaimed, for Rufus was red-haired, and had a +temper, too, in the bargain. + +Lanky stepped over to the wheel, and began to lift it out of the ditch. +Perhaps he was already sorry for interfering with the lone rider. +It had really been none of his business where the younger Kline boy +happened to be going on his bicycle. The fact that it was Sunday, and +Rufus had a strict mother, who would not on ordinary occasions allow +him to use his wheel on that day, might have excited Lanky’s curiosity, +but it was no excuse for him to crowd the boy off the road. + +“I oughtn’t to have done it, Rufus,” Lanky spoke up, with evident +contrition in his voice and manner; “it was sure none of my business +where you happened to be meanderin’ this Sunday afternoon. The road is +free to everybody, gypsy as well as citizens of Columbia. Here’s your +wheel; and outside of this bent handle-bar it doesn’t look like there +was any damage done. I can straighten that in a jiffy.” + +This he proceeded to do, after hauling the bicycle up on the road again. + +“Frank,” he added, immediately afterward, “will you pick up that +bundle, and tie it on again to the handle-bar after I get it a little +straighter? It went flyin’ when the wheel slipped on the road, and +took a flop.” + +But Rufus sprang forward, and snatched the package out of Frank’s +hands. There was almost a fierceness in his manner, that surprised the +other very much. + +“Don’t you dare meddle with my things, Frank Allen!” he cried. “Guess +I can tie it up again myself, without any of your help. Next time +you fellers better keep to one side, and let a wheel go past without +blocking the road. It’s pretty small potatoes to have two big fellers +pick on one little boy!” + +“That’s right, Rufus; and I’m ashamed of myself for botherin’ you,” +admitted Lanky; “there you are; and nobody’d ever know that handle-bar +had been twisted. It’s weak, anyway, and I reckon this isn’t the first +time she’s bent on you. Want me to give you a send-off, Rufus?” + +“Naw!” snapped the boy, crossly; “just let me be; and as soon as I’ve +got this package of clothin’ my maw’s sendin’ to a sick woman, tied up +again, I’ll be all right. I’d thank you to keep away. I might ’a’ broke +my neck takin’ that header.” + +He quickly fastened the recovered package to the front of the wheel, +and mounting from the rear, was off along the road. Lanky looked +queerly at Frank. + +“That was a silly thing for me to do,” he said. “I ought to be ashamed +of myself to bother a smaller fellow. That curiosity is a terrible +business, Frank. But looky here, what ails you?” + +“I was thinking, that’s all, Lanky. An idea seemed to just jump into my +mind. You noticed how he didn’t want me to tie up that bundle; didn’t +you?” + +“Why, yes, he was some touchy, that’s a fact,” answered the other, +slowly, as if unable to understand what Frank was driving at. + +“I saw something of what it contained; and Lanky, a sick woman might +want the loaf of bread, wedge of cake and the other food; but tell me, +what would she care for boy’s trousers made of corduroy, like the pair +I’ve seen Watkins Kline wear on Saturdays, when he was off playing?” + +Lanky stared all the harder, but the truth began to seep into his brain. + +“Tell me about that!” he exclaimed. “I see what you mean now, Frank; +Rufus is taking supplies to his brother, who is hiding somewhere in the +woods with Bill Klemm and Asa Barnes! And he didn’t want us to know +it.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +LANKY BECOMES A “BARKER” + + +“That’s what I was thinking, Lanky,” Frank remarked, smiling at the +excited appearance of his lengthy chum, who had never fully mastered +the secret of controlling his emotions. + +“Well, now, if that don’t just beat the Dutch!” exclaimed the other, as +if almost too amazed to express himself properly. “And Frank, I don’t +believe either of us would ’a’ got on to the curves of Rufus, if it +hadn’t been for the accident he met with, that broke open his bundle.” + +“You’re right there, Lanky,” answered Frank, nodding his head in the +affirmative. + +“The boys are hiding out somewhere in the woods, afraid to come home,” +went on the tall boy, with a wide grin; “here days have passed, and yet +they haven’t showed up. Most people are shakin’ hands with themselves, +and sayin’ it’s a good riddance of bad rubbish; but their folks are +worryin’ some, Frank. It’s low-down mean of Watkins Kline to scare his +mother so bad. She never would believe he was bad, you know.” + +“I wonder what’s up, and why they hang out there all this while?” Frank +mused. + +“Tell you what I think,” remarked his companion, with a wise look; “I +reckon it’s all Bill Klemm’s doings.” + +“What makes you say that, Lanky?” + +“Why he daren’t come back, you see, till it blows over,” Lanky went on. +“They lay it all to Bill, and there was a lot of talk about havin’ him +sent off to the reform school. Ten to one Bill’s got wind of that, and +he’s bound to hang out till the people of Columbia forget the worst of +it. Then some fine day he’ll show up in his old haunts; and ’cept for a +ripple of talk, it won’t be noticed.” + +“I guess you’ve hit the nail on the head, Lanky,” Frank continued, +approvingly. “And not wanting to stay out in the woods all alone, Bill +has put the screws on Asa and Watkins, keeping them for company.” + +“That’s the talk, Frank, as sure as you’re born. P’raps they calculate +to drop in next Wednesday, when the whole place is wild with interest +in the athletic contests; and nobody’ll have time to bother any about +such small fry as three boys who’ve been makin’ trouble at school.” + +The two had been walking swiftly along while chatting in this manner; +and were drawing near the crossroads known far and wide as Budd’s +Corners, because Tom Budd’s father owned most of the property round +about that section. + +It was here the gypsy tribe camped, year after year. Their appearance +always created considerable of a stir through the country. Men visited +the camp to talk horse gossip with the knowing male members of the +tribe. Women sometimes accompanied them, on the pretense of “just +looking around,” and finding out how these nomads lived; but secretly +in the hope that a chance might arise whereby they could get their +fortune told by someone connected with the tribe, possibly the queen +herself. + +There were a few couples in sight, even then, coming from or heading +toward the gypsy camp. The boys were glad to see this. It would serve +to keep any of the gypsies from suspecting that their visit had any +particular meaning. + +“What do you suppose that crowd is standin’ there for, gapin’ at +somethin’ fastened to that tree yonder?” Lanky asked, as they drew near +the spot where the gay wagons, and the tents of the road wanderers, +could be seen among the trees. + +“Looks like they might be reading some notice; and there are a number +of gypsies in the lot, too,” Frank replied. + +“Shucks! I know,” exclaimed the other, suddenly. + +“I think I’ve guessed it, too,” Frank went on to say. “I remember that +bill-poster said he had a few more notices of the meet to stick up; +and the chances are he’s been along here in his buggy. Pudge Watkins +wouldn’t stop because it was Sunday. You never saw him at church in +your life.” + +“That’s what!” echoed Lanky. “And looks like the gyps might be some +stuck on that colored show-bill, too, Frank. Hope they like it well +enough to figure on staying around this section till after the athletic +stunts have been pulled off.” + +“Suppose we stop here a bit, and listen to what they say?” suggested +Frank. + +“I’ll go you on that idea,” replied Lanky. “It may put us wise about +what they mean to do.” + +Accordingly the two lads drew in toward the group that stood in front +of the placard tacked to the tree, where it could be easily seen from +the road. Just as both of them had guessed, it was one of the posters +gotten up by the wide-awake committee of arrangements, telling in +glowing language of the splendid program that had been made up for the +coming Wednesday afternoon. + +Of course the boys had read it many times before. Indeed, they knew +about the whole thing from beginning to end. And yet, as both their +names occurred among the numerous entries for the prizes about to be +competed for, it was only natural that they should be pleased to stand +there, and listen to the various comments. + +Some of the gypsy men were curious about the nature of the affair. +Evidently they had never been given the privilege of witnessing such +a tournament; and feeling a certain amount of interest in things that +pertained to manly sports, they were even then trying to get additional +information by “pumping” an old farmer, who, with his wife and three +small children, happened to be sitting in a wagon near by. + +As he turned out to be almost as unfamiliar with the nature of the +meet as the road-roamers themselves, their success was not very +flattering. A couple of very small town boys who had wandered out that +way endeavored to supply the lack of knowledge, but did not seem to be +making much progress when Frank and Lanky came along. + +Some of the gypsy men turned to the new arrivals with a list of +questions, and Lanky was only too willing to answer to the best of his +ability. + +“Greatest thing that you ever saw, or will see, if you live a thousand +years,” he went on, in a way that made Frank smile, thinking that +his chum might get an engagement as a “barker” for some side show to +a circus. “Yes, sir, there will be the greatest crowd in and around +Columbia that was ever known. You’ll be mighty sorry to miss it, I +tell you. And the farmers who want to trade horses, they always just +flock to these athletic meets. I reckon anybody could do more business +in that line in two days, than a week at other times.” + +Frank saw some of the gypsies look at each other and nod, as though +they rather fancied the idea. Business with them was already the first +consideration. They may have thought that they had about exhausted the +horse trade around the immediate vicinity of Columbia; but if farmers +for a radius of twenty miles and more would be in town with their +vehicles on that wonderful occasion, well, that certainly put another +face on the matter. + +“It’s working, Lanky,” Frank managed to say in a low tone to his chum. +“Keep it up, and you’ll get the whole lot to see things your way.” + +“Huh! takes your Uncle Lanky to do the grand chinning act,” muttered +the tall boy, proudly. “I can soft-soap to beat the band, when I want +to. Got ’em started on the right track; and now I’ll just say a few +more words to clinch things.” + +Some of the gypsies, after talking between themselves, started to +ask questions; and as these applied to the actual events that were +scheduled to take place, Frank felt that he could take it upon himself +to answer as well as his comrade. + +He described some of the competitions that seemed to puzzle the +nomads, as shot-putting, throwing the hammer, hurdle racing, sack +racing, and such things so familiar to all schoolboys in these days. + +The group grew around the two boys. Others of the campers began to +be drawn to the spot, as the two lads continued to talk and explain +things. Presently even a few of the women wandered that way; and the +children were already clustered in knots, listening, nodding their +black locks, and looking wise from time to time, as if what was Greek +to their elders might not be so unfamiliar to them. + +Lanky was very much in earnest. He did not feel that the success of the +athletic meet depended at all upon whether the gypsies voted to remain +over a few more days or not; but he did believe that the carrying +out of the plans he and Frank had arranged would be affected by this +decision. + +By degrees the men seemed to be impressed with the brilliant chance +that opened up before them for doing a land-office business in horse +trading with the army of “hoosiers” who Lanky declared would flock to +the meet, many of them remaining over in town several days to do their +summer shopping, thus killing two birds with one stone. + +“I’ve got ’em on the jump, Frank,” he whispered to his chum, as he saw +the group of men excitedly discussing something that seemed to be of +considerable importance. “They’re set on stayin’ over, you see. Looky, +there goes a bunch back to camp; and I’m thinkin’ they’re going to see +the queen, to put the thing up to her. Hope now she listens to ’em, and +says stay.” + +A few minutes later the same men came hurrying back. + +“No use askin’ what they did, Frank,” remarked Lanky, exultantly; “just +take a peep at their grinning faces; doesn’t that tell the story?” + +“I reckon you’re right, Lanky,” admitted the other, readily enough. + +“That means they stay right here; doesn’t it, Frank? They’ll be on +hand if that telegram only happens to come along to-morrow, Tuesday +or Wednesday. Hope it gets a hustle on by then. If it doesn’t, I’ll +give the game up as a bad job, and call myself a poor detective, who +couldn’t detect a clue as big as Squire Perkins’ new barn.” + +“Well, the way you ran this little dodge, and tempted the men to stay +over, tells me you’re going to do better things right soon!” declared +Frank. + +“Do you really believe that?” demanded the other, who was always glad +to hear Frank praise him. + +“I certainly do, Lanky. And what you’ve done right here is no little +job. It gives you the extension of time you wanted, and holds the gates +wide open.” + +“They’re going to stay, Frank!” said Lanky in a low tone, after +listening to what those who had just come from the camp said to their +comrades still clustered near the tree bearing the flaming placard. +“Three days’ grace, Frank. Isn’t that just bully for us, though? Sure +that telegram must get here before all that time slips past. Say, our +folks might read us a lecture if they saw us here, blowing our horns +about the grand athletic tournament; but, Frank, when I just remember +what we’re doing it all for, I don’t feel that it’s wrong. I’d go +still further to help----” but his chum held up a finger, and gave a +significant warning hiss, to cut his impetuous exclamation short. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE GYPSY QUEEN’S MOVE + + +“Unless you want to queer the whole business, Lanky, you’ve got to hold +yourself in check better,” Frank said, cautiously, making sure that +none of the gypsy men was close enough to hear him whisper in this +fashion. + +“That’s right,” muttered the other, in a penitent fashion. “I’m always +forgettin’ and blurtin’ things out. And it’s sure lucky for me I’ve got +you handy to put me wise to things. I’ll try and chuck it from now on, +Frank, believe me, I will.” + +“Then laugh right now, and don’t look as sober as if you’d got word +your great-grandfather’d died, and forgot you in his will,” Frank went +on to say, jokingly. “Because I can see someone watching us from the +big wagon of the queen, right now. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s +spotted us as the two boys who were in the camp that other time, and +means to keep tabs on us.” + +“Oh! I’ll be on my guard, I promise you, Frank,” Lanky went on to say, +with his teeth tightly clenched. “It’s a shame to upset all our fine +work by a mistake on my part. But do we turn away now; or hang around +the camp a little, to see if we can’t get a peep at that girl?” + +“Might as well stay here a while,” was the reply his chum made. “It’d +look sort of queer if we pushed along in too big a hurry. What we want +to do is to act natural, and do what any fellow would be apt to, if he +just happened along.” + +So they walked over to the camp. Most of the gypsies had returned by +now. After being so familiar with the two boys, and receiving such +important information from them, they seemed to look at Frank and Lanky +in rather a friendly way. The boys might wander all about now, and see +whatever they wanted, without being greeted by the usual black scowls. + +“Say, Frank,” remarked Lanky, presently, as they were watching some of +the women hang a black kettle over a fire by means of a chain, that had +a hook at one end, the other being secured to a stout iron bar above. + +“Well, what is it now?” asked his companion, without turning his head, +as he found himself very much interested in the operation. + +“She’s beckonin’ to us!” Lanky continued, in a somewhat awed voice. + +“Who do you mean?” asked Frank, beginning to take notice. + +“The old lady, the queen bee of the hive, you know,” replied the other. + +At that Frank turned his head. + +“That’s right, she is,” he remarked; “and we’ll have to step over that +way, Lanky. Now, keep your wits about you, and don’t give yourself +away. Like as not she only wants to ask us some questions about the +athletic meet.” + +They started toward the place where the old queen sat on a three-legged +stool, close to the steps leading up to the rear of the huge, painted +van that served as her house, as well as means of conveyance over the +roads. + +Lanky felt sure he would now find some sort of opportunity for proving +whether his belief about the little girl could be founded on facts, or +imagination. At the same time he was inwardly resolved to let Frank do +most of the talking, content on his own part to just “look around.” + +“You are the boy who brought me the paper to sign; am I right?” asked +the gypsy queen, as Frank reached her side. + +“Yes, we were here the other day, and brought that paper,” he replied. + +“My men have been telling me much about some sort of circus that will +be in your town this week; and they said you could explain what it +was?” she continued, keeping her sharp black eyes fastened on their +faces. + +“Why, yes, sure we can,” Lanky spoke up. “Frank, oblige the lady; I’m +talked out.” + +So Frank did explain about the rivalries of the three schools, and how +they came together at various times to find out which could excel in +all sorts of sports such as healthy boys like. + +He described these things so well that he really interested the gypsy +woman. She could understand how boys liked such sports, for the lads of +the camp were always wrestling, boxing, shooting, or fishing, as the +chance arose. + +Lanky could not keep his eyes away from the big wagon. It seemed to him +that he heard some sort of slight movement within the van; and no doubt +he was picturing in his mind the frightened, yet eager, little girl +crouching there, wanting to show herself to them, yet shrinking from +arousing the anger of the black-eyed old queen. + +“Your friend seems to be interested in my new wagon,” remarked the +gypsy, suddenly, and Lanky started, fearing that he had betrayed a +fatal curiosity; but he drew a breath of relief when she continued, +using language that surprised Frank, as it told him the woman must have +a certain amount of education: “If you would like, I will be glad to +show you how it is arranged inside. It is what they call the last thing +in road wagons. And you have been kind to tell my people about the +chance of trading horses in the crowd that is coming to the circus.” + +Frank saw her eyes sparkle while she was saying this. He immediately +guessed that she had a very good reason for talking in that way, though +he could not understand what it might be. + +“If you don’t mind,” he remarked, showing a fair amount of eagerness, +“we would like to see how it is fixed inside. I’ve never really +examined one of these road wagons, and always wanted to.” + +“Come inside with me, then, both of you,” continued the queen, rising +from her stool, and starting up the three steps leading to the closed +door. + +Frank heard Lanky draw a long breath. He laid a hand on the other’s arm +as they started after the gypsy woman; and Lanky understood that this +was meant for a warning to him. + +“All right, Frank,” he muttered, calming down again. + +When the door of the big van had been opened, the interior was exposed +to view. And the first thing the two lads discovered was a girl of +about eight or nine years of age, sitting curled up on a cushion. She +had big dark eyes, and hair that was almost purplish black. Her skin +was as dusky as that of any of the men. + +“This is my grandchild,” explained the old woman, with something +like pride in her voice, for the girl was decidedly handsome, though +very bold looking. “When I die she will be the queen after me. It is +understood by the tribe. She comes of royal blood, does Mena.” + +Then she began to explain what the many appliances were for, that they +saw in the wagon. The girl seemed to understand that she had better go +away while the old queen was telling these two town boys about her new +van, for she left the vehicle. + +Lanky followed her with his eyes. Frank could see a puzzled expression +on the face of his chum, and that he was shaking his head, as though +unable to make out how he had come to mistake a girl like that for a +little thing begging for his assistance. + +Evidently Lanky’s ambition had dropped until it was now very near the +zero mark. + +Frank was genuinely interested in all the wonderful arrangements which +the new traveling van had for sleeping, cooking, and even writing; +though a gypsy is not supposed to do much of this last. + +He asked numerous questions, just as the men had done when seeking +information concerning the coming athletic contests. And the old woman +did not seem at all averse about telling him whatever he wanted to know. + +Frank, however, was not so wrapped up in his desire to learn facts +but what he could use his eyes to good advantage. And he noticed that +several times while she was thus explaining things, the old gypsy would +shoot a triumphant glance over in the direction of Lanky. + +Apparently she must have guessed something of the motive that +influenced that Columbia High student to wander out to the camp on this +Sunday afternoon. And no doubt she was chuckling to herself over her +success in hoodwinking Lanky. His blank face gave her satisfaction, +Frank felt sure. And he believed he knew the reason for it, too. + +After spending at least fifteen minutes in the big van talking with the +owner, who seemed much more intelligent than Frank had ever believed +any gypsy could be, the boys made a move as if to go. + +“Will you come again?” she asked, seeming to direct the query toward +Lanky; and that worthy took it upon himself to reply. + +“I hardly think so. You see, we’re in the big run that winds up the +meet, and after school we’ll have to be practicing, so as to keep in +condition. Besides,” with a sigh, “I guess we’ve seen _everything_ +now.” + +Lanky was plainly much disheartened as he started to leave the gypsy +camp. He even failed to answer the parting remarks from several of +the men, who seemed to rather look upon the two boys in the light +of friends, after receiving so much information that promised to be +valuable to them as horse traders. And so Frank had to wave a good-bye +for both of them. + +They walked down the road side by side, heading toward the town. Lanky +appeared to be wrapped up in his gloomy thoughts, and presently Frank +gave him a sly punch in the ribs, bringing out a grunt. + +“What ails you, old chum?” demanded Frank, in a joking tone. “You pull +a long enough face to stand for seven first-class funerals.” + +“It’s all off, Frank!” grumbled the other. + +“Oh! you mean the little racket you were working; is that what makes +you look so sad?” demanded Frank. + +“I was foolish and that’s the trouble!” said Lanky savagely. + +“Well, I don’t like to dispute a gentleman’s word, when he’s bent on +giving an opinion of himself; but I’d like to know why you say that?” +Frank remarked. + +“To think that I’d mistake that half-grown gypsy girl for a little one +has me badgered some, I tell you, Frank.” + +“Perhaps after all, Lanky, you didn’t make such a big mistake as you +think!” + +“What’s that you’re giving me, Frank; not taffy, I hope?” cried the +tall boy, as he whirled around on his companion, eagerly. + +“There may have been a small child in that wagon, Lanky, when we first +came near the gypsy camp. I didn’t tell you before; but the fact is, +I sure saw the old woman hustle some little figure, bundled in a red +shawl, down those three steps, and then another gypsy woman lead her +off into the woods!” + +“Oh! Frank, is that so?” burst from the delighted Lanky, his eyes +sparkling once more with renewed interest. “You saw all that, did you, +when we were talking with the gypsy men? Aren’t you the swift bunch, +though, to get on to everything, while I stand around with my mouth +open, but my eyes stuck fast? Then she sent the little girl away, and +asked us to take a look around in her wagon just to pull the wool over +my eyes? And, Frank, she’d ’a’ done it for me, right up to the notch, +only for you being so smart!” + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +FINDING OUT + + +Lanky was once more himself. The look of gloom had vanished from his +thin face, and he turned an eager glance on his comrade. + +“I’ve been thinking,” Frank went on, slowly, as he sometimes did when +he was trying to grasp an idea, “that we ought to do something to +settle this business about whether there really is a little child in +the charge of the old queen, or not.” + +“Hear! hear!” burst out the other, pretending to clap his hands. + +“If it turns out that there isn’t any such thing as the child you +believed tried to attract your attention, then the sooner we give up +all this foolishness, why, the better; you understand, Lanky?” + +“But if there _is_ such a little girlie, Frank?” + +“We’ll stay in the game, make sure of that,” replied the other, in a +determined tone that told Lanky what he might expect. + +“Oh! I agree with you all right, about that, Frank,” he observed; “but +the question is, how under the sun can we do it? That sly old queen +knows how to slip the child away every time we happen to be seen coming +around the camp.” + +“Well, we must make out _not_ to be seen, then, next time,” was the +matter-of-fact way Frank put it. + +“Do you mean we’ll sneak back, and see what’s goin’ on, right now; +sorter creep up through the bushes, Injun fashion, and peep, unbeknown +to any of the gypsies? Tell me, is that what’s got you, Frank?” + +“Well no, hardly that, Lanky,” replied the other. “In the first place +it’s getting kind of late, and I promised to be home by five, sharp. +Then, though perhaps you haven’t noticed it, there’s a gypsy boy +trailing us right now. No, don’t turn around and look, because that +would tell him we knew all about his following us. Wait till we get to +that bend, and then you can see without showing that you’re bothering +your head about him.” + +“Wow! that’s what I call going some, Frank,” remarked Lanky, presently. + +“You saw him then; didn’t you?” asked the leader of the boys. + +“Right you are; and he’s certain sure follerin’ us, to see that we +don’t play a double game, and sneak back in the direction of the +camp,” was Lanky’s admission. + +“And you can understand that a boy wouldn’t be up to any such trick +unless some other person had told him to do it?” Frank continued, with +convincing force. + +“That must mean she did it,” Lanky admitted. + +“The old queen, and no other. So, you see, we couldn’t turn back now +without her knowing about it; and that would give the alarm. Why, by +to-morrow morning these same gypsies would be miles away on the road to +nowhere; and it’d be the hardest kind of business getting on the track +of them again.” + +“Well, when _can_ we come back?” asked Lanky; “to-morrow afternoon?” + +“For one, I don’t feel like waiting that long,” the other declared. + +“Say, could we try it to-night, Frank?” asked Lanky, eagerly. + +“I’m willing to come,” replied his companion; “if your folks will +let you out. Look over here to the right, and you’ll see a little +rise of ground. And, Lanky, if a fellow sat on top of that, with a +pair of field glasses in his hands, what would hinder him from seeing +everything that happened in the camp?” + +“There’s a clear line between, as sure as anything,” admitted the other. + +“And if they have their fires going, as they generally do in the early +evening, why, the glass would work O. K. I’ve looked through it at the +moon, and Jupiter, Venus and that crowd of worlds in the night sky. Is +it a go, Lanky?” + +“Put her there, Frank,” replied Lanky, thrusting out a hand with a +boy’s impetuosity. “Why, I’d back you up, no matter what sort of a +harum-scarum scheme you gave me. But this isn’t anything like that; I +consider that it’s the boss idea. Why, we can crawl up there and just +watch for keeps, without a single gyp bein’ any the wiser. Call it a +go, Frank!” + +“Then that’s settled, and I’ll meet you at the big elm at, say, seven,” +Frank proposed. “It doesn’t get real dark till after eight nowadays, +you know; and we’ll have plenty of time to wander up this road.” + +Lanky was greatly pleased over the new development. Coming on the tail +of his recent gloom, it was all the more acceptable to him. When he +later on parted company with his chum, his last words were: + +“Don’t fail to be there at seven sharp, Frank! It’d knock me into +flinders if you didn’t show up. I’d be tempted to come alone, and make +the try, though chances are I’d only turn it into a foozle by my +clumsiness.” + +“You can depend on me,” was what the other said, positively. + +Frank would have liked to take his father fully into his confidence, +and get his sanction for the strange little errand that was about to +occupy the time of himself and Lanky that night. But it happened that +Mr. Allen had stayed at the house of a friend whom he had been visiting +that afternoon; and Frank’s mother was lying down, with a headache; so +it seemed that even had he wanted to, he could not have taken either of +his parents into his secret just then. + +A little before seven he went out, without anyone paying any particular +attention to his action. Possibly the mother supposed Frank was going +to church, for he and Lanky both sang in the volunteer choir. + +But the boy really believed he had good reasons for absenting himself +from his regular seat in the organ loft that night. And under his coat +he carried the field glasses which he had spoken of to his chum. + +Lanky was waiting for him, and kicking his heels against the base of +the big tree that had been appointed as a place of meeting. + +“Gee! aren’t you late, Frank?” he asked, a little pettishly. + +Just then the church clock boomed out the hour of seven, as if saving +Frank the trouble of making a reply. + +“I reckon I’ve been here half an hour, and countin’ the minutes,” +admitted Lanky, candidly, as they started off on a brisk walk. + +Evening was just coming on, and there were some clouds covering the +heavens as the sun went down, which gave Lanky new cause for anxiety. +He would not be happy a single day if things went too smoothly. + +“Reckon now there’s a storm just wantin’ to sail along this way, to +upset all our calculations about Wednesday,” he grumbled. + +“Oh! I guess not,” Frank tried to console him by saying; “weather +reports say dry weather and warmer for the whole eastern half of the +country for the first three days of the week, beginning to-morrow. I +looked it up this morning. Forget it, and let’s think only of what +we’re trying to do right now.” + +When they saw anyone approaching they stepped into the nearby woods, +and let the other pass by. Perhaps this looked a little suspicious, +but then Frank was afraid that one of the gypsy men might happen that +way, and hurry back with a report that was apt to create some little +excitement in the queen’s van. + +“Aren’t we gettin’ pretty near that little rise, Frank?” asked Lanky, +when they had been making progress for some time. + +“Be there in five minutes or so,” was the confident reply; for Frank +had the happy faculty of taking note of distances, by objects to be +seen along the way; and as a rule he was able to tell to a fraction +just where he was, when going over a route he had traversed before. + +He turned out to be a true prophet, too; for about the time that limit +had expired Lanky remarked in a thrilling whisper: + +“I can see the rise right now, Frank; we’d better turn off the road, +too, because there’s somebody coming with a rig. It might be one of +those jockeys from the camp.” + +Frank hastened to comply with the suggestion, and they were soon making +their way through the woods that led up to the bare mound, which the +boys had selected as a place for making their observation. + +They crept along with extreme caution, because the camp was not far +off, and both of them feared lest a gypsy man might be wandering around +about that time, and would discover them unless they used unusual care. + +Presently they ascended the little rise. + +“Say, this is a good place to see from, all right,” commented Lanky. + +Frank, instead of replying, was starting to focus the field glasses on +the camp of the nomads, plainly seen through the open lane. Although +night had by this time fallen fully, several fires were burning in the +camp, and these lighted up the entire place where the wagons and tents +were. + +The gypsies were either moving about, or else sitting near the fires, +evidently eating their supper. Lanky almost held his breath while Frank +looked. + +“See anything of her?” he asked, finally, unable to hold out longer. + +“Take a chance, and see for yourself,” was the reply, as the glasses +were thrust into his hands; and there was a note of satisfaction in +Frank’s voice that gave the other a thrill. + +He quickly held the ends of the twin tubes to his eyes, and ten seconds +later Frank heard him chuckle, as though greatly pleased. + +“She’s there, Frank, sure as you’re born!” Lanky ejaculated. + +“Softly, now, old fellow,” warned Frank. + +“You saw her; of course you did, Frank?” continued the tall boy, +quivering with delight. “She’s eating beside that girl we met--Mena, +the queen called her. There, the old woman is scolding her, Frank! I +can see her shaking a finger at the child, and I believe the little +thing’s crying, too.” + +“What happened?” asked Frank. + +“The old queen leaned over and slapped the little thing twice right on +her ear. She’s pointin’ up at the wagon right now; and, yes, siree, the +girl climbs in, as if she was afraid to stay outside any longer. Frank, +that settles it; doesn’t it? The girl is there, we know that now; don’t +we?” + +For answer Frank clutched his chum’s groping hand, and squeezed it. + +“And we keep right along in the game, waitin’ to hear from Mr. +Elverson; don’t we, Frank?” + +“That’s what we do; and I’m hoping that it comes out just as you’re +expecting, Lanky, because you sure have got yourself keyed up to +top-notch speed right now. But perhaps we’d better be getting back to +town. If we hurried, we might reach there by eight, and lend a hand at +that anthem in the choir.” + +“Oh! I’m willing, all right, Frank,” declared the now light-hearted +Lanky; “we just hit the right nail on the head when we came out here, +and spied on that camp. Poor little thing! Say, that old woman’s got a +temper, all right; and I reckon that child ought to be taken away from +her, even if she doesn’t prove to be the long-lost Effie Elverson. Come +on, Frank, let’s run a little along the road.” + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE GREAT DAY + + +It was Wednesday at last. + +Time had dragged fearfully to all the young people in Columbia; and +doubtless the same could be said of Clifford and Bellport, during those +last two days of school. + +The annual examinations would soon be coming on, so that it was just as +well that the great athletic meet should be carried through before this +period of stress. + +And it was a glorious day, too, with a clear sky, and not too hot for +the strenuous work which those young athletes expected to engage in. + +All morning vehicles kept coming into the town of Columbia, some of +them from great distances, and containing entire families. The former +meetings of the three rival schools in various contests had resulted in +such thrilling scenes that their fame had gone far afield; consequently +farmers hitched up, and gave the entire day to merry-making with their +families. + +As afternoon came along the crowds began to flock out along the road +leading to the field where Columbia always held these events. As has +been stated before, this was about a mile from town, and somewhat down +the river, the trolley from Bellport, which was being extended to +Clifford at the time, leaving loads of eager spectators at a point near +the grounds. + +An hour before the time set for the start of the exercises it seemed as +though every seat in the grand-stand was taken; and even the bleachers +had overflowed into the field. Apparently the day would see such a +throng as Columbia had never before drawn together in all her history. + +Young athletes were as plentiful as blackberries in August. They could +be seen here, there, and everywhere; some exercising to keep in trim +for the coming of the event in which they expected to take part; others +conferring with the coach, or chatting with groups of admiring friends. + +It was a poor contestant who did not have at least a few devoted +adherents, who declared it to be their honest opinion that he was bound +to make all the others in the same event “look like thirty cents,” as +they were fond of putting it. + +Lanky was the center of a great deal of attention. After his +phenomenal run of the trial day, he was looked upon as the one best +hope of Columbia in the long race, which some of the boys called a +Marathon, though it could be hardly classed under that head. + +Of course they still had faith in Frank Allen and Bones Shadduck, +either one of whom they believed could win in case any unlucky accident +happened that would cripple the long-legged racer, who looked like a +greyhound as he stepped so lightly around among his fellow students. + +Clifford and Bellport had their legions present. They seemed to mass +together as a rule, so that they might make the most noise, and thus +encourage their respective candidates for high honors. + +The noise began to be deafening, what with boys yelling; horns tooting; +girls singing their class songs; and automobiles honking merrily, as +they came in shoals, to leave their passengers or secure positions +where the latter could sit still, and see all that was going on. + +Chief Hogg was there, and looking spick and span in a new uniform, +with his silver shield glittering as splendidly as a newly polished +decoration could appear. He had his assistants all in line; and in +addition there were a dozen deputy sheriffs sworn in for the occasion +by the high official who graced the meet with his presence. + +Once upon a time there had been nearly a riot come about at one of +these athletic affairs, caused by some turbulent spirits; and the +committee in charge had determined to leave no stone unturned on this +occasion to prevent a recurrence of that sad event, when several heads +were broken by flying stones. + +Roderick Seymour, who was said to have been the best leader Columbia +ever had, was taking charge of things on this particular day, having +come home from the city, where he was in business, especially to see +Columbia boys once more show their mettle, and to hear again that +slogan: + +“Ho! ho! ho! hi! hi! hi! _veni! vidi! vici!_ we came, we saw, we +conquered! Columbia! Rah!” + +Ah! how it must have thrilled that graduate, as he listened again +to it pealing from the throats of the score or two of boys whom the +cheer captain, Herman Hooker, was leading in the concerted shout! What +memories it must have awakened in the mind of Roderick Seymour, who +during his four years in the school had always held the respect of +every boy worth knowing, as a lover of clean sport, and of a square +deal. It was surely worth coming two hundred miles just to see such +inspiring sights, and listen to that battle cry of Columbia as she +again faced her bitter rivals of Bellport and Clifford, always eager to +make her athletes take their dust. + +“Hello! Frank!” was the way Lanky greeted his chum, whom he had not +seen that day up to the minute they met. + +“You’re feeling pretty perky, I reckon, Lanky,” remarked the other, +smiling as he saw the look of confidence upon the thin face of the tall +runner. + +“Never felt better in my life, Frank; and if I fall down to-day I ought +to quit trying the long-distance act. But, Frank, if you happen to run +across a messenger boy who looks like he was huntin’ somebody, just +remember me; won’t you?” + +“What’s up?” questioned Frank, laughing at the earnest air of his +friend. + +“Why, you see, I just got a hunch that there might a telegram come for +me while the meet was takin’ place,” Lanky explained; “and so I told +Conrad at the station that if so be anything came buzzing along the +wires, meant for Lanky Wallace, he ought to send a messenger down here +on the jump with it.” + +“And did he promise he would?” asked Frank. + +“Huh! he just had to,” grunted Lanky. “Why, right now there isn’t a +feller in all Columbia that’d dare deny me anything I wanted. Conrad +said he’s bound to do it, because he’s been and heard that like as not +I’m goin’ to be the one that’ll win the long-distance run; and somehow +they all think that, Frank, just because I had that little spurt the +other day, you know.” + +“Well,” said Frank, impressively, “just you see that you have another +of the same kind to-day; and make those people from Bellport and +Clifford take notice. They’ve made a lot of changes in their runners +from last season, and think they’ve got it in for poor old Columbia. +That’s the way they talk, Lanky; but some of the boys were here to see +you come in Saturday, and _they_ know better.” + +“Yes, I hear that Coddling, their old pitcher in Bellport, has +blossomed out something in the phenom class as a long-distance runner; +and I guess, Frank, that we’ll have to keep an eye on that tricky old +scout more’n anybody else.” + +“Don’t be too sure of that. There’s a new fellow up in Clifford that +they say never gets tired, and can come in from a ten-mile skip without +hardly a hair turned. That may be just talk, or as you say, hot air; +but, Lanky, don’t be over-confident. It’s all well enough to be _sure_ +you can win; but never let up in your pace because you think you’ve got +the thing cinched. A swift runner may dash past you in a second, and +after that it’s up to you to get him! because he sets the pace, not +you.” + +“Frank, it’s mighty good of you giving me these pointers, and you going +to be a runner in the long race, too.” + +“Oh! whether I win, or you, or Bones, makes little difference to me, +so long as the Columbia purple and gold crosses the line first. That’s +what we call school loyalty, you know, Lanky. Of course it’s always +fine to be the one to get all the cheer, but first of all the school! +But there goes the head man of the committee climbing the band stand. +The music’s stopped, so I reckon the games are going to begin pretty +quick now.” + +After the great throng could be quieted down, the heavy voice of the +gentleman who had agreed to serve as the head of the arrangements +committee started to address the thousands gathered in that field +devoted to boys’ sports. + +As briefly as possible he explained what clean athletic games would do +for the maintenance of health in the bodies of those engaging in them +up to a reasonable limit; and also what grand times the three schools +had had in the past. He congratulated the people of the towns lying +along the Harrapin that there had been so little unpleasant friction +in the past; and expressed the hope that the present meeting of their +representative young athletes would further cement the bonds of good +fellowship among the boys of Columbia, Clifford and Bellport. + +After the hearty cheers had subsided he started again to tell of the +various contests that had been arranged, as well as to mention a list +of prizes donated by the leading merchants of the three places, and +which would be awarded to the winners in the numerous events. + +Then the first contest was called, and immediately everybody in that +great throng became intensely interested. + +It was a fifty-yard dash; and there were just nine contestants; since +the limit had been placed at three for each school. + +In this tournament it had been wisely decided to let each contest stand +on its own merits. There were just seventeen events, and as each would +count just one point, the school winning a plurality of these prizes +would be adjudged the grand champion for the season in track and field +athletics. + +In this way even the absurd sack race would count just as much as the +ten-mile run. But what was fair for one was fair for all, and there was +no grumbling because of these arrangements. + +As their event was scheduled to come off at the very last of the meet, +Frank and Larry could take things easy, while waiting for the time to +arrive when the long-distance race would be called. + +“Have you noticed that quite a lot of our dark-faced friends of the +gypsy camp are present?” Lanky asked his chum, as they stood waiting +for the crack of the pistol which would send the sprinters on their +furious rush over the short distance that had been marked out for them. + +“Yes, and I saw a couple talking with a farmer,” replied Frank, +laughing. “Guess they’ve got a dicker on with him, from the way they +acted. Say, they’ll be glad they took your advice, and held over here. +Perhaps they’ll do the biggest day’s business ever. Look at that +Clifford football snapback, will you? They say he’s winged lightning on +the short dash; and I want to see if it’s so.” + +“Well, the referee is gettin’ ready to send the bunch off, so keep your +good eye peeled on him then; because if he can go that fast, we might +lose sight of him altogether. Wow! they’re off, Frank! That was a great +start, I tell you!” + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +CLIFFORD’S NEW HOPE + + +Almost before some of the crowd knew it had begun, the fifty-yard dash +was over. Coddling had won! + +“White Wings just flew the coop, and landed the first prize!” whooped a +wild Clifford enthusiast, as he jumped up and down in his excitement. + +“And we’ve got a few surprises like Coddling up our sleeve, Columbia!” +cried a second proud student, who wore the colors of the down-river +school. + +“He did carry it off, sure as anything!” remarked Lanky, feeling a +little discouraged. “And I thought our man, Paul Bird, had a sure +thing.” + +“Paul entered in the wrong class there,” remarked Frank. “Just wait +till you see him run in the hundred-yard race, and the quarter-mile. +They’ve got them so scattered that he can rest up good, between each +one. Didn’t you notice that while the Clifford fellow went like the +wind at first, Paul was cutting down his lead in great shape when they +crossed the line?” + +“That’s a fact, Frank,” admitted Lanky. + +“If that race had been twice as far, Paul would have had him easily +beaten. Well, let Clifford roar all she wants, right now; perhaps the +poor thing won’t have another chance to whoop it up all day.” + +“She generally does get it in the neck, somehow, before the end comes,” +admitted Lanky. “There never was such luck, the Clifford boys say. But, +all the same, Frank, they are talking loud about what they’re going to +do to us in that long run.” + +“They’re welcome to say what they please,” the other remarked, calmly. +“Talk is cheap, and boasting hurts no one but those who carry it to +excess. The proof of the pudding is in the eating thereof. We’ll talk +less, and _do_ something, Lanky.” + +“That’s the stuff, fellows!” cried a Columbia boy who happened to be +passing, and caught the last few words of what Frank said. + +“There comes the new Clifford runner, who’s going to make us look like +thirty cents, they say. What’s his name, Frank; did you notice it on +the program?” Lanky asked. + +“Larry Parker,” Frank replied; “and I rather think he’s coming right +over now to take a look at the three Columbia fellows who will be +against him in that race. Of course he’s heard a heap about your +doings on Saturday; and he means to size you up. We’ll have to be +agreeable to him, remember, Lanky. This is our ground, and to-day +Clifford and Bellport are our guests.” + +“Sure thing,” muttered the tall lad, eyeing the approaching runner; who +had a large “C” on his sleeveless shirt to indicate to which school he +belonged, just as if the colors he sported would not do that. + +Evidently Larry Parker was somewhat of a breezy sort, for he came up to +the two Columbia boys, whom he had never met before, and extended his +hand. + +“Hello! fellows!” he exclaimed. “I’m told that this is Frank Allen, and +Lanky Wallace, two of Columbia’s star long-distance runners. And as I’m +entered in that little jaunt myself this afternoon, with a few foolish +Clifford boys thinking I’ve got a fighting chance to win, thought +I’d like to know you a little, before I see the last of you over my +shoulder.” + +There was a cool assurance about the fellow that impressed Frank +against him. It was not that he felt the utmost confidence in himself, +for that is no crime; but he acted as though treating the others with +disdain. + +Frank did not like the face he saw. There was a sly, crafty expression +on it, he believed. To his mind, then, this new Clifford hope, Larry +Parker, would not hesitate about descending to trickery, if by means +of it he might increase his chances for winning his race. The means +did not count in such a fellow’s mind, only what lay at the end. And +in this case the handsome prize offered was a gold watch, surely worth +exerting one’s very best powers in the hope of winning. + +Another thing Frank noticed, for he was quick to discover little items +that might stand for a great deal. + +“Um! a cigarette smoker, eh?” was what he said to himself, as he saw +that the first and second fingers of the other’s hand were stained +yellow; and Frank knew just what that meant. “Chances are, that if he’s +a good runner now, he won’t be a year from to-day. And I’d like to +wager a good deal that he falls down in the last part of this ten-mile +race. So this is the chap who never turns a hair after he’s clipped off +his cool ten, is it? I guess he won’t win against a clean fellow like +Lanky, with no bad habits to weaken him for the strain.” + +Frank knew that Larry Parker had only come across from the Clifford +benches to size them up at close quarters. He was doubtless trying to +discover some signs of weakness about them. Besides, it might pay him +to know two of the contestants before the race was called. + +He stood there, and chatted for a little while, laughing at some of +the accidents that accompanied the next few events. One fellow from +Bellport, who tried to beat Jack Comfort’s throw of the weight, forgot +to let go; and was whirled around like a teetotum, or a dancing dervish +as seen over in Northern Africa. They took him off the field with a +dislocated shoulder, so that he needed the attention of a doctor. + +Frank did not like the way Larry Parker seemed to enjoy a thing like +this. On his part he felt genuinely sorry for the poor chap; but the +Clifford newcomer looked on it as extremely funny. + +Watching his hands after this, Frank noticed that they seemed to +tremble constantly, which was a rather strange thing in a mere lad. + +“That’s what they say excessive cigarette smoking will do for a fellow, +Lanky,” he managed to whisper in the ear of his chum a little later on; +for be it told, Lanky at several times had been known to indulge in +a smoke of the “coffin nail,” as he scoffingly called it. “Watch his +hands, and see them flutter. It acts on his heart. If he keeps it up, a +year from now he’ll never be able to run at all.” + +Lanky gave a grunt, and turned a little red; but immediately looked +away. It was apparently more satisfactory to turn his eyes toward +that corner of the stand where a certain little rosy-cheeked girl +sat, waving her Columbia flag every time he looked that way. And +doubtless the sight of Dora Baxter inspired Lanky with more and more +determination to do himself proud on this day. + +Presently the wiry-looking Clifford athlete betook himself off, +apparently satisfied with his view of his two rivals at close quarters. + +“What do you think of him, Frank?” asked Lanky. “Is he the great wonder +they say, and do we need to fear him?” + +“He’s got all the points of a good runner in his make-up,” replied +Frank. “To tell the truth, he makes me think of some of the Indian +long-distance runners whose pictures I’ve got at home--Longboat in +particular. Yes, if that fellow let tobacco alone, and paid attention +to himself, I rather think he’d look at the bunch of us over his +shoulder as he led the procession all along the ten miles.” + +“But he does use cigarettes; I saw his stained fingers,” Lanky went on; +“and do you expect that is going to hurt his chances?” + +“I don’t doubt it any more than I doubt my eyes when I see you in front +of me,” Frank went on, earnestly. “And another thing, Lanky, I must say +I don’t admire his face very much.” + +“Why, what’s the matter with it, Frank? Now, all things considered, I +was sayin’ to myself that he’s a heap handsomer than Lanky Wallace ever +can be.” + +“Oh! well, we’re not talking about good looks now, you know,” laughed +Frank. “Anybody could take just one glance at your face, and know that +he’d be able to trust you to the limit. But, Lanky, there was something +that I think bordered on treachery and cunning in his shifty eyes, and +the sneer on his face.” + +“Whew! that’s layin’ it on pretty thick, Frank!” + +“I wouldn’t think of saying it to a living soul, only you; and I do it +now because I honestly believe that fellow would be mean enough to do +something to disable you, if he saw that you were going to pass him, +and no one seemed to be looking. He would stick out his foot, and trip +you, hoping you’d strain an ankle in the tumble, and have to give up.” + +“Great governor! you don’t say so, Frank!” ejaculated Lanky; “but he +might know I’d tell it on him after I did limp in!” + +“And he’d claim that it was entirely unintentional on his part--that +he slipped, and came near falling himself, when he tripped you. All I +want to remark is this, Lanky; keep your eye on him, and look out for a +trick, if you do start to go ahead of him. That fellow believes in the +rule or ruin policy, if ever it was written on a boy’s face. But see, +here comes the sack race; it ought to be funny enough to make us forget +all our troubles.” + +The crowd was in a mood for something comical; and if sack races are +properly conducted, they afford plenty of fun; except for some of the +unfortunate participants who in falling manage to skin their noses. + +As the sacks had been secured from a regular sporting goods house in +the city they were made substantially, and doubly reinforced at the +bottom. Being tied around the necks of the contestants there was no +possible way in which they could make use of their arms in order to +block a stumble, or save themselves in the event of a fall. + +At the signal they all started hopping or wriggling along in such +manner as each bagged contestant thought would best advance his +interests. And soon the vast crowd was shrieking with laughter to see +the comical sight, as each lad made the most desperate efforts to get +ahead. + +“Almost down to the last event, Lanky,” said Bones Shadduck, an hour +later, crossing over to where a number of the Columbia boys stood +clustered around Frank and the tall boy. + +“If Bellport takes this pole vault, as I’m afraid she will,” declared +Buster Billings, dejectedly, “the score will stand a tie between +Columbia and Bellport, with seven wins apiece, and two for Clifford. +That means you’ve just _got_ to come in ahead of the Bellport runners, +Lanky, Frank or Bones. Oh! please get wings on your feet, and don’t let +those Bellport crowds go through Columbia this afternoon, shouting and +howling like crazy Indians, because they’ve licked us at last!” + +“Well, here goes the pole vaulting contest,” remarked another Columbia +student; “and Captain Lee looks fit to jump over a two-story house. +He’s bound to beat our man, Ginger Harper, hand over fist.” + +His words turned out to be the truth, for Cuthbert Lee easily beat the +best record that either of his contestants could hang up. This made the +excitement intense; for as the nine long-distance runners came slowly +to the scratch, everybody realized that the score was tied between +Bellport and Columbia, just as it used to be in a tight baseball game. +And if one of their entries won this last match, the long run, it would +mean victory for his school! + +And knowing this, the runners themselves were nerved to do their level +best when they drew up in a line, and began to get ready to jump at the +crack of the pistol. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +WHAT HAPPENED TO BONES + + +Crack! + +It seemed to the mass of spectators, craning their necks to see what +took place, as though that whole line of lithe runners sprang forward +as one. + +Every fellow doubtless had his favorite way of waiting for the signal; +though a quick start is of far less importance in a long run of ten +miles than when the race is a short dash. Some crouched in all sorts of +weird attitudes, doubtless assumed for effect; but several simply stood +with the body bent for the plunge. + +“They’re off!” shrieked hundreds of voices, as the nine boys were seen +to speed away like the wind. + +Eager eyes followed their every move, for everything depended on the +result of this race; that is, with Bellport and Columbia. If Clifford +won, why the other two schools would of course be simply tied for +honors; and must have another test at some later date. This would be +a bad thing all around, since the tension under which the pupils +would continue to labor must affect their ability to pass the annual +examinations with credit. + +Many became anxious because the new wonder from Clifford, Larry Parker, +had shot into the lead, and seemed capable of increasing the distance +between himself and his competitors at will. + +“It’s a walkaway!” whooped the Clifford boys; for if they could only +pull off the most important event of the great day, that victory would +go far toward healing the wounds caused by the poor showing of their +athletes in other contests. + +But very few Columbia fellows were anxious at this early stage in the +race. They knew only too well that ten miles was a long distance to +cover, and all sorts of things could happen before the goal was in +sight. + +“Frank and Lanky and Bones make a team that is simply unbeatable!” +they continued to say, one to another, as the last of the nine runners +vanished from view up the road in the distance. + +“Yes,” others would add, “don’t we know the tactics of Frank Allen to +a dot? You never would catch him letting himself out in the start of +a grilling ten-mile run, like that new fellow does. He works up to +it by degrees, and the result is at the last quarter he feels fresh, +while the sprinter is all in. And the other fellows have been ordered +to do the same as Frank. Just wait! The one that shouts last, shouts +loudest. We’re holding our wind for the end!” + +As time would hang heavy while the runners were away, and in order to +amuse the great crowd, the management had arranged to have several +spirited contests for additional prizes. But although these were full +of go and spirit, and evoked considerable enthusiasm when decided, it +was plain that the throng thought only of the runners coursing over the +country roads, and who in good time would begin to show up. + +The course was in the form of a great loop, though both the start and +the wind-up of the race followed a single track for half a mile. And +when the returning runners struck this neck of the bottle on the return +trip, the discharge of a small cannon would announce that the home +stretch had been entered, when everyone was supposed to exert himself +to the limit of endurance. + +But as our interest lies almost entirely with the runners, it is only +right that we should follow them in their long race. + +Frank and Lanky had managed to keep pretty well together during the +first few miles. Their position was something like midway; for while +there were several of the contestants ahead of them, others were in the +rear. + +Bones had been unable to restrain his eagerness, and chased after the +two leaders--Parker for Clifford, and Coddling for Bellport. Just back +of the other two Columbia entries ran Wentworth, that sturdy Clifford +fellow, who had always worked so hard on diamond and gridiron for +the honor of his school. Then, not far back of him came Mallory and +Keating, two new Bellport “wonders,” who failed in the pinch to get +even a showing. Far in the rear trailed Atkins, the third Clifford +contestant, who seemed either gone “stale” from overtraining, or else +was having trouble with his shoes, for he had stopped twice to do +something. + +That was the way the runners were spread out when the three-mile mark +was passed. Now and then Frank could catch a glimpse of those who were +ahead. He wanted to make sure Parker did not gain such a tremendous +lead that he could not be overhauled later on. + +Lanky was fretting some, as usual. He seemed like a mettlesome horse +chafing because of the restraining bit. + +“Frank, say the word, and let’s pick up a bit!” he complained. + +“Just a little, then,” was the reply the other made. + +The fewer words that passed between them the better, for breath was +valuable. And it was more to quiet Lanky than because he believed there +was as yet any need of shortening the distance between the leaders and +themselves, that Frank gave in so readily. + +Two of the racers seemed to be running neck and neck. They bore the +Clifford and Columbia colors, which would indicate that Bones must have +made a grand spurt, and overtaken the leader. Perhaps he would not rest +content with that, but try to pass Larry Parker before the five-mile +mark had been reached. + +Already the pace had become so grinding that several at the tail-end +of the procession had dropped out. Atkins had given up, and Keating +was seen wobbling when a stretch of straight road allowed Frank to +look back. The other fellows were still booming steadily along, grimly +hoping that if they kept within striking distance, fortune might favor +them by some accident to the leaders, when they might jump in and win. + +All at once, as Frank, side by side with tall Lanky, broke around a +bend of the road, they discovered a lone figure seated by the wayside, +and evidently nursing a sprained ankle. + +Frank saw with more or less dismay that the figure wore the well-known +Columbia colors. He knew to a certainty then that it must be their +chum, Bones Shadduck, who had met with an accident. + +And it was perhaps not strange that just then Frank should remember +what he had said to Lanky as a warning, with regard to Larry Parker, +in case he ever found himself in a position to pass the new Clifford +wonder. + +“It’s Bones!” Frank snapped out between his teeth; for it is no easy +thing for a fellow who has been running speedily over four miles to +talk while continuing to rush on. + +“Oh! poor old Bones, he’s in the soup!” grunted Lanky; and it could be +seen that he was genuinely sorry to know the third Columbia contestant +had been thrown out of the race by an accident. + +“Looks like he’d sprained his ankle!” remarked Frank, as they bore down +on the spot where Bones sat, hugging his left leg with both hands. + +He looked up as they approached. The expression of intense pain on his +face gave way momentarily to one of concern. It was the school spirit +conquering mere physical distress. + +He made quick motions with his hand, at the same time shouting ere they +had gained a point abreast of where he lay: + +“Go on! Don’t you dare stop a second for me! I’m all right! Sprained my +ankle in the queerest way ever, just when I was passing Parker. Stone +must have rolled out from under his foot, and right in my way! It made +me stumble, and down I came ker-flop! Go on! Beat ’em both out! You +can do it! Columbia forever! Oh!” + +The last was an exclamation of acute pain. Evidently the patriotic +Bones, in endeavoring to wave his hand above his head as he cheered, +had given his sprained ankle a new wrench, causing him to nearly shriek +aloud. + +Frank was almost tempted to stop then and there; but he knew that a +sprain, while painful enough, was not dangerous. And one of the fellows +far in the rear, who had no chance whatever to win the race, would +undoubtedly give poor old Bones a helping hand to some nearby house +where he could get a rig to carry him home. + +At the same time, upon hearing those significant words uttered by the +injured Columbia student, he and Lanky exchanged looks. + +It seemed almost impossible that even a tricky fellow, such as Larry +Parker appeared to be, could manipulate things so that he might throw a +competitor out of the race in this remarkable way. And yet if it were +really an accident, then Frank would be forced to believe that Parker +must have been born under a lucky star indeed. + +“S’pose he did the trick, Frank?” asked Lanky, showing that he too was +wrestling over the possibility of such a thing. + +“Not unless he’d practiced it a hundred times,” replied Frank. “But it +shows you what might happen when you’re trying to get ahead of Parker. +Look out for him, and give him a wide berth, Lanky, when you pass him!” + +“Huh! how about you?” grunted the other. + +“Same here, if I get the chance,” was all Frank said in reply. + +Then they lapsed into utter silence again. Talking might be all very +well when out for a spin, just to get exercise; but it is the height of +folly when pushing along at full speed in a race, with over five miles +still to be run. + +They had picked up some on the leaders. Parker and Coddling were not so +very far ahead now. Most of the time they could see the two boys, and +were thus able to gauge the distance separating them. Lanky showed an +inclination to cut down the gap still more, and Frank had to humor him +a little; for he saw that his chum was able to make a burst of speed +that would overcome anything possible from that pair in the van, when +the right time arrived. + +Now and then people along the road cheered them; but none of these +shouts gave the young Columbia athletes one-half the inspiration that +the agonized cry of the injured Bones did, when he urged them to +leave him there, and hurry on to win the grand race, for the honor of +Columbia. + +Now the five-mile mark had been turned, and they were once more +circling, with the intention of heading for home. + +It was time, Lanky undoubtedly thought, that something were done to +oust those two persistent runners from their hold of first and second +place. And as for Frank, he knew that the impetuous one could not be +much longer held in leash. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +COLUMBIA’S LAST CHANCE + + +On the run out they had been heading almost due west, with the sun +shining directly in their eyes. Now that the turn had been made, they +had it easier; for they were no longer half blinded by that glare. + +The railroad was not so very far off but that a train passing at one +place, the passengers leaned out of the windows waving hankerchiefs, +and shouting words of cheer. For everybody loves a boy athlete, +and seems to be drawn to utter strangers, when coming upon them +unexpectedly. + +Frank had already made up his mind on several matters. One was that +he did not feel his best somehow, on this important day; and that if +it all depended on him, there was a strong possibility that either +Clifford or Bellport would land the prize, and carry off that gold +watch. + +This might have worried him considerably at another time, but it did +not now; for he had been keeping a watchful eye on his running mate, +and realized that Lanky was in fit shape for the greatest effort of +his life. + +Barring accidents, Frank really believed the long-legged fellow could +overtake the leaders inside of a quarter of a mile, no matter how +desperately they strove to maintain their present advantage. + +He was content that it should be so. And in times to come he would +never envy Lanky that splendid timepiece, which was to be the reward of +his pluck and running ability. + +Still, he deemed it wise to hold back as much as he could, and not +allow this impetuous comrade his head. Letting the two who led the run +set the pace, was the wisest thing that could be done. They were apt to +vie with each other in little spurts that were calculated to exhaust +their vim; while those behind could continue to push steadily along +in a grinding, irresistible way, always keeping a certain amount of +reserve speed on tap for an emergency. + +It was about this time that the runners entered upon the gloomiest +part of the entire course. Frank remembered the stretch of dense woods +full well. He had even hunted for gray squirrels here, more than a few +times; though as a rule the boys of Columbia seldom came this way, when +the river offered them such a field for most of their sports, summer +and winter. + +The trees were of unusual size, and grew so thickly that there was +always an aspect of gloom hanging over the district. It had rather a +bad name, too, on account of a peddler having met with his death here +years back; and though the authorities had done their duty as well as +possible, the tramp who undoubtedly was responsible for the forest +tragedy had never been apprehended. + +Still, there did not seem to be any chance for even a schemer such as +Frank believed Larry Parker to be to play any trick upon his opponents. +He could not slacken his own pace; and it was altogether unlikely that +he would influence any Clifford comrade to lie in wait, so as to trip +the runners, or in some other way bring them to a stop. + +Besides, just then Parker was in the lead, and could not know what a +surprise was in store for him when Lanky Wallace broke loose. He seemed +to have only the wily Bellport runner, Coddling, to fear. And that +fellow was too smart, Frank believed, to give his rival any chance to +come in contact with him. + +Four miles more to run! + +How slowly time seemed to pass! Why, it was as though an age had +elapsed since the pistol cracked that sent the contestants flying like +the wind on their way. + +“Can’t we go a _little_ faster, Frank?” Lanky asked, as they struck the +big woods; and the look he turned on his chum was more expressive than +even his words. + +Frank shook his head in the negative. Knowing the impulsive nature of +the tall Columbia student, Roderick Seymour in the beginning had given +Lanky to understand that he must govern his actions by those of Frank +Allen. If the other gave him the word to let himself out at any time, +then he could start on his own responsibility. For it was understood +before the race started, that the contestants of each school could +assist one another by advice, or in any other legitimate way, while +endeavoring to land the prize. + +A minute later Lanky suddenly cried out; and it gave Frank a shock, +for he instantly conceived the thought that his running mate must have +wrenched an ankle, and that would put him out of the running. + +“What is it?” he gasped. + +“Look ahead, at the side of the road!” answered the other, between his +set teeth. + +Frank did so, and immediately echoed Lanky’s cry. + +“Another fellow put out of the race, just like Bones was!” he +exclaimed, feeling that this time it certainly could not have been an +accident that had disabled the second rival of Larry Parker. + +But the sharp eyes of Lanky had made an additional discovery. It was +not any too bright there under those great trees; but Lanky was noted +for his keen eyesight. + +“It isn’t Coddling at all!” he called out, as he ran on. + +“That’s a fact; because he’s dressed in regular clothes; but it’s a +boy, and he acts like he was suffering like anything!” Frank went on, +slackening his pace just a little as they drew nearer the recumbent +figure. + +Just then the boy who had been lying there like one nearly dead, heard +the sound of their voices, likely enough; at any rate, he lifted his +head, and seeing them, made a desperate effort to scramble to his feet. + +The first thing Frank saw was that one of his legs seemed utterly +helpless. Then he felt a thrill of horror, for he discovered that blood +was trickling down, as though the wound might be most severe. + +“Wow! it’s Bill Klemm!” burst from Lanky, who had been staring at the +pained face of the boy. + +The fellow immediately stretched out both hands toward the runners, and +called to them in a weak voice that quite wrung Frank’s heart. + +“Fellers, get help fur me, quick! I’ve nigh bled to death. Fell out of +a high tree, and broke my leg, I ’spect. Oh! the bone come through, and +it keeps on bleedin’ to beat the band! Please don’t leave me like them +other fellers did. I’ll die, sure I will. Oh! it’s terrible, the pain! +Frank, Lanky, help me!” + +The two long-distance runners stopped short. The lure of that golden +prize was for the moment utterly forgotten by both of them. Here was +a boy whom they had never liked, and who was known as the latest +scapegrace of the town. Even then he was hiding from justice, fearing +punishment because of that fire at the high-school building, which was +laid at his door. + +But for all that he was one of their schoolmates. They had played with +him from time to time in the past. And there could be no doubt in the +world but that poor Bill Klemm was suffering dreadfully; there was no +make-believe about that expression of pain on his dirty face. + +“We must help him, Frank!” said Lanky, firmly. + +He wanted to win that race above all things. Glory and victory, +together with that fine prize, had been ever before his mind. Then +there was his promise to Dora that he would do his very level best to +bring the Columbia colors in ahead of all competitors. + +But above all else Lanky had a heart. He could not pass by, as +evidently Parker and Coddling had done, without extending even a word +of sympathy to the stricken bad boy of Columbia. + +Frank had to do some pretty tall thinking just then. He would not +desert Bill, but was there any necessity for both of them to give up +the run? + +He could hardly believe that Coddling, at any rate, would have been +quite so cold-hearted. Perhaps he had not understood what it really +meant. He may even have suspected that some wily Columbia student, +hoping to delay the leaders, had gotten himself up in this fashion to +play the injured act. All sorts of expedients had been practiced in +former long runs, to break in upon the winning spell of the leaders; +and clever Coddling was alive to such tricks. + +But with Frank and Lanky there could be no such excuse for wantonly +deserting the boy who begged for their help. They could see for +themselves that he was in a serious condition; and that unless someone +stood by him, to assist in stopping that flow of blood, Bill might even +die. + +Frank knew that his work was cut out for him. He did not relinquish the +last hope of being in the run to the finish without a sigh; for there +was always some expectation that Columbia might have to look to him for +victory, should Lanky fail in the pinch. + +But he sturdily put the clamps on when he felt this spirit trying to +choke the generous impulses of his heart. + + [Illustration: “GO ON, I TELL YOU, LANKY, YOU MUST WIN THIS RACE!” + + _Boys of Columbia High in Track Athletics._ _Page 205._] + +Lanky must go on, and do his level best for Old Columbia; leaving to +him the less pleasant duty of caring for the injured Bill Klemm. + +“I’ll look after him, Lanky; you keep right along, and beat them out! +Hear?” he exclaimed, turning on his chum. + +Lanky shook his head in the negative. + +“You go, and let me stay, Frank!” he said, crushing down the feeling +of rebellion because so miserable a specimen as Bill Klemm, of all +Columbia boys, should interfere with the successful carrying-out of +their part in the race. + +“I’ll not stir from this spot until I’ve seen Bill taken in charge,” +was the way Frank spoke. “And it’s silly to think that both of us must +stay. There will be others along after a minute or two, and they can +help me. Go on, I tell you, Lanky. You _must_ win this race. Think of +Dora; and the proud colors of Columbia that will be trailed in the dust +if you fail them. My duty is here; yours to beat out those two runners +ahead. Now you’re off!” + +Frank actually turned Lanky around, and gave him a shove. The tall boy +glared once over his shoulder, and gave his chum a last look, in which +affection mingled with the stern resolve that filled his soul. + +Then he was away like the wind. Around the bend beyond he flashed as +might a departing sunbeam; and Frank Allen, as he turned once more +toward the injured boy, was saying gladly to himself: + +“Lanky will do it! he’s keyed up to making a record run; and he’ll just +pass the other fellows like they were standing still!” + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE END OF THE LONG RUN + + +“Where are Asa Barnes and Wat Kline?” + +Frank asked the question as he was bending down over the wounded boy, +making a rude tourniquet, with which to stop the flow of blood, by +compressing the leg above the broken part. + +He put this question from a double motive; being curious to know why +Bill’s cronies had not attempted to assist him in his trouble; and also +to keep the mind of the wounded boy off his pain as much as he could. + +“The skunks deserted me at the last!” grumbled Bill, gasping with the +agony he was doubtless enduring. + +“Do you mean they ran away, and left you like this?” demanded the +amateur surgeon, twisting the stick he had inserted in the handkerchief +that was already knotted around the leg. + +“Naw, they never knowed anything about me bein’ hurt,” whimpered Bill, +and then he gave a little snort, going on: “Ouch! that hurts like all +get out, Frank! Let up on a feller a little, can’t you? I know I ain’t +always treated you white; but sure you wouldn’t take it out on me, now +I’m down!” + +“You don’t understand, Bill,” Frank replied, giving even a firmer twist +to the handkerchief by means of the grip he maintained on the stick +which was passed through the upper part; “I’m trying to press down on +the artery, and stop the flow of blood. It may hurt some; but be a man +and bear it. I’m doing all I can to save your very life, Bill.” + +The wretched Bill began to cry, and Frank hardly knew what he could do, +since he had his hands full with holding that knotted handkerchief, +and the stick with which he had turned it again and again, until the +knot pressed down exactly on the artery under the knee, and stopped the +blood from flowing. + +Just then a runner came along. It was Wentworth, of course. And he gave +signs of meaning to stop to ask what it all meant. + +Frank knew that possibly this runner might have a ghost of a show to +come in either first, or second. Those further back would be out of the +running by the time they arrived here; and he could depend on one of +them to assist him. + +So he waved his hand to Wentworth, and called out: + +“Go on! Don’t stop for a second, Wentworth! You’ve still got some show! +One of our Columbia boys here has been hurt. I’ll stop Mallory or +Keating when they come on, to help me get him out of this before he +bleeds to death. Get along with you now, Wentworth. Take the will for +the deed! Your school wants you to make a try for that prize!” + +Thus urged, Wentworth did push right along, though be it said to his +honor that he gave evidences of reluctance in so leaving Frank. He must +have seen from the appearance of the wounded boy that it was a serious +matter. + +“Oh! why did you let him go on?” complained Bill, who was getting a +trifle light-headed, the result of the pain and excitement combined. +“Looks like you just wanted me to die right here, Frank Allen.” + +“There are two other fellows coming along soon, and they’ll stop to +help us,” Frank tried to console him by saying. “Yes, I can see one +right now, and he’ll sure be here in a minute, Bill. Just keep up your +pluck a little while more. It’s going to be all right; and you’ll pull +through, never fear.” + +But poor Bill was almost in a state of collapse by the time Mallory +reached the spot. Frank did not know this boy, for he was a newcomer +in Bellport. But he had a good face; and sure enough, as soon as he +understood what the matter was, he evinced a perfect readiness to stand +by. + +“My chance for making that prize has gone anyway, Allen,” he said, +with a sigh of keen disappointment. “I worked too hard the last week, +and you can see I’ve just gone stale. Can’t get any speed out of my +legs, no matter how I try. So I call quits right here, and stay with +you to help get this poor chap to a doctor.” + +“Doctor, yes, that’s what I need, boys!” muttered Bill, weakly. + +“Here comes Keating along,” Mallory continued presently; “and he’s +pretty well winded, too; so I reckon he’ll hold over, and give us a +hand. That’s better than coming in at the tail-end of the procession, +anyhow. People’ll say you might ’a’ had a _little_ chance, only that +duty held you on the road. Hi! Keating, we want you here!” + +The runner was not averse to stopping, for his wind seemed about gone. +Indeed, he was even then possibly debating whether he wanted to keep +up the hopeless race, or head for Bellport on a walk, to strike the +trolley line further down the road. + +“What’s all this mean?” he asked, in a gasp, as he came up. + +“A fellow has been badly hurt, and we’ve got to get him to town,” +Mallory explained. + +“If one of you could keep hold of this stick, and not let up on the +pressure a little bit, I’d try and find a farm somewhere near, where +I could borrow a horse and wagon, to carry him back to town,” Frank +remarked just then, knowing that it was their only chance. + +“Sure, we’ll stick by you, Allen!” was the ready response of Keating, +who proved to be a pretty fine sort of a fellow. “Skip out, and get +back as soon as you can. I’d like to pike on to the grounds, and see +who won the race before all the crowd gets away. But we’ll wait, no +matter how long you take, Allen.” + +“Oh! rats! what have we got to lose?” replied the other, laughingly. +“We’re long since out of the swim, anyhow. But I say, Allen, where’d +you learn how to put on a tourniquet so well? My dad’s the new doctor +in Bellport, and I wager he’d say he couldn’t have done it better +himself, in an emergency. If this fellow gets through alive, he’ll owe +a heap to you, believe me.” + +But Frank did not wait to listen to any words of praise. He was on +the run even as Keating spoke in this strain. For he had remembered +that when hunting squirrels in these woods, he had come on a little +farm that was almost lost among the tall timber; and secured a most +refreshing drink of buttermilk from a pleasant woman who seemed to be +running the place. + +It was to look for this that he now set out. And he was cudgeling his +brains as hard as he could while hastening away, trying to figure out +just how he could best reach this hidden farm. A mistake might lose +him much time; and if the life of the wounded boy was to be saved, they +must surely get him to the doctor as speedily as possible. + +Fortunately Frank was a boy who noticed everything; and once he had +visited a place, he could find his way there again because of this +habit of observation. So now he called things to mind, and remembered +how he had passed that crooked tree that made him laugh because of its +queer shape, just after he came out of the lane that led direct to the +hidden farm. + +And so he found what he sought, and turning in, sped lightly along, +rapidly nearing the farm. The only thing that worried him now was the +possibility of the occupants being away; for nearly everybody around +Columbia for twenty miles had in some way heard of the great athletic +contests, and doubtless made it a point to be present on this eventful +day. + +If that happened to be the case, and he could find a spare horse, as +well as any sort of vehicle, Frank was resolved to appropriate them +without any compunction. When a human life depends on rapid action, it +is no time to stand on ceremony; and he felt sure he could depend on +that cheery little woman of the farm to applaud his action. + +Sure enough, there was no one home at that hour. Chickens were in +evidence; a litter of pigs grunted near the barn; several sheep +were cropping the grass in a nearby pasture; just beyond a group of +gentle-eyed cows looked curiously at him as he came hastily up, and +called out. + +But the house was closed, and the door locked! + +Frank ran straight out to the barn and stables. Here he found an old +horse, and a wagon that would serve his purpose. Managing to hitch the +animal between the shafts after some fashion, Frank threw armfuls of +sweet smelling hay into the bed of the vehicle, upon which the wounded +boy could lie. + +Then he was off, using the whip on the old animal in a fashion that +doubtless astonished Dobbin not a little. But the beast kicked up his +heels, and went on a gallop down the lane until the road was reached. + +So, before a great while had elapsed, Frank was back again with the +boys who were bending over poor Bill, dressed only in their running +togs as they were. With as much tenderness as possible they lifted the +wounded lad, and deposited him in the wagon. He cried out with the +agony several times, though they tried to be very careful. + +Frank drove the old horse, while the other two sat alongside Bill, and +endeavored to cheer him up; though the boy began to close his eyes, and +seemed as though he might be faint with what he had gone through. + +While the road was good Frank hurried the animal as much as he dared. +And since they must pass the athletic grounds on their way to Columbia, +he would not have been human had he not listened, with his heart +seemingly in his mouth, to catch the tenor of the exultant shouts that +were being raised by the departing hosts of spectators. + +They were streaming in various directions, in knots and crowds, and the +greatest enthusiasm seemed to abound; as though the finish of the long +run might have been very dramatic. + +Borne on the late afternoon breeze came the familiar chorus of voices +that the efficient cheer captain, Herman Hooker, led with such powerful +effect. + +The sound thrilled Frank Allen as nothing else could have done. He +found himself involuntarily joining in with that never-to-be-forgotten +rallying cry that had so often aroused himself and his mates to +undreamed-of endeavors on the field of strife: + +“Ho! ho! ho! hi! hi! hi! _veni! vidi! vici!_ We came, we saw, we +conquered! Columbia! ’Rah!” + +That told the story! The departing hosts seemed to be all Columbia +people, judging from the shouts that arose. Then Lanky--good, reliable +old Lanky--had passed both Parker and Coddling in the race, and landed +the colors of his school across the tape, winner of the long run! + +And Frank felt content that it was so. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +WHEN THE MESSAGE CAME + + +“Oh! Frank!” + +There was Lanky, dressed in his everyday clothes, and looking very +unlike the proud victor of a long, grueling run. But Frank could +understand that his chum was tremendously excited. + +The three boys had just seen poor Bill taken into his own home, with +his mother crying over him, and the father hastening to ’phone for +a doctor to come without delay; for they, like all other parents, +instantly forgave the erring son when they saw him so terribly injured. + +Frank had accepted the offer of Mallory that he and Keating take the +horse to a livery stable, and they had just driven off, to communicate +with the owner later, when Lanky hailed in the manner stated above. + +“What’s up, Lanky?” asked Frank; “They tell me you came in ahead, all +right, and that Columbia will blaze with bonfires to-night because of +your great work.” + +“That’s all right!” exclaimed Lanky, breathlessly; “tell you all about +it later. Get into your everyday togs as fast as you can, and come with +me.” + +“Why, what’s the matter now?” demanded Frank; though perhaps he began +to have a dim suspicion as to the cause of his chum’s new excitement. + +“Had a message over the wire,” Lanky went on, tersely, as though breath +was more valuable now than when on his long run; “little Effie had on +just such a bonnet when she disappeared. Mr. Elverson and his wife were +away, and just got my wire. They’re coming along right now, and’ll get +here to-morrow, Frank.” + +“Well, what are you going to do about it?” asked Frank. + +“Get the little girl before those gyps hike out,” came the reply. + +“Just us two go into that camp, where there are something like five +husky men, with faces I don’t altogether like?” questioned Frank. + +“Shucks! no. Don’t you understand, I’ve fixed it up with Chief Hogg, +and he’s to go along, with two of his men. And more’n that, Frank, I’ve +been and got an order of arrest on the charge of kidnapping for that +old gypsy queen. Didn’t tell you about that before, did I; eh? Well, I +thought I’d spring a surprise, if the thing worked out right. Hit her +up now, and get dressed. I’ll go along and hurry things.” + +Frank was almost as excited now as Lanky had been from the start. The +great race had been won by Columbia; and as if that were not enough +glory for one day, here they were about to prove that they could play +the part of detectives as well as win juvenile Marathons. + +Frank had to be urged to hasten no longer. He ran like a greyhound for +home, and to don an extra suit of clothes, his ordinary wearing apparel +being down at the dressing-rooms of the athletic grounds, where he +could get it on the next day. + +The way Frank got into those clothes would have opened the eyes of +some boys, who, having no bump of order, can never find anything that +belongs to them. And as soon as he had finished, he found that Lanky +had already made a break for the outer air. + +“We’ve got to get a wagon at the livery!” was what the leader called +back over his shoulder; and about three minutes later a couple of +panting boys were demanding that a vehicle capable of holding half +dozen at least be hitched up. + +After that came the job of getting the co-operation of the police. +Luckily Chief Hogg had arrived home from his duties of repressing the +smaller boys at the athletic grounds. And not being averse to figuring +in a matter that was apt to get his name printed in the big daily +papers of the metropolis, he at once hustled a couple of his men around +to the big wagon. + +Frank saw that they were, as he expressed it, “loaded for bear”; +since every man swung a club; and moreover made it a point to have a +suspicious bulge under the tails of his coat, showing that he carried a +big revolver in a hip pocket. + +The Chief himself drove the horses attached to the wagon. Doubtless +people, seeing them pass, might wonder what was going on; but then +that day had been so filled with thrills that they could not bother +themselves any great length of time in useless speculation. + +“Now tell me something about how you came in,” demanded Frank, after +they were well started on the little run to Budd’s Corners. + +“Oh; on the jump, sure!” replied Lanky, with one of his usual laughs. + +“But go on and tell me about it,” Frank persisted. “You must have +overhauled the two runners ahead of you before a couple of miles had +been laid away. How was it when you went ahead? Did anything happen? +Was there anything said, or attempted, about that time, Lanky?” + +“I passed Coddling first of all,” the other remarked. “I think he +made some sort of sarcastic remark; but then that was only what you’d +expect.” + +“And Parker?” persisted Frank. + +“He looked back just then,” Lanky remarked. “P’raps he heard Coddling +call out; but all I know is he turned his head and saw me. And Frank, +he looked like he was too mad for anything. I knew he wouldn’t let me +pass him if he could help it. And I just remembered all you’d said +about what I must do.” + +“Yes, go on, Lanky,” urged Frank; while even the police officers +listened with apparent interest as the boy told his story of how the +long run was made. + +“I kept getting closer and closer to Parker,” Lanky continued. “He was +doing all he knew how just then to hold his own; but, Frank, I was +feeling that frisky I reckon I c’d ’a’ drawn circles around that dub if +I tried.” + +“But you didn’t go to all that trouble, Lanky?” remarked Frank, +laughing at the way the other put it. + +“When I was just back of him I kept my eyes open for any of his little +tricks,” the tall boy explained. “You see, I didn’t want to get hit by +any stone that might just take a notion to fly up from his feet, and +get in my way, like poor old Bones. And I was watchin’ for a chance to +flip past Parker when he didn’t expect it.” + +“Which I take it you did after a little?” Frank suggested, to hurry +Lanky on; for they were even then drawing near the camp of the Romany +tribe. + +“Yes, I saw him make a movement of some sort; and thinkin’ he was +goin’ to drop something in front of me, I just skipped across to the +other side of the road in great shape, and then lit out for all I +was worth. Heard him tryin’ to say somethin’ or other, but he was +too late; because, you see, I was ahead. And after that I could give +Larry the grand laugh. I just romped in, with him fifty yards behind, +and Coddling picking up on him fast; because, you see, the wonder was +played out. That’s all. I tried to duck when the boys made a grab +for me; but they insisted on carryin’ me around the field on their +shoulders, while they roared our school song. And there’s the camp, +Frank!” + +“I’m going to look at your watch later on, Lanky; but it sure gives me +great pleasure to see you wearing it,” Frank remarked. + +“It might have been yours, if you hadn’t made me go on, and leave you +with Bill,” grumbled the unselfish tall chum. + +“Oh! no, that’s where you’re away off, Lanky,” came the reply. “I knew +that you were the only one who could head that Parker with the lead he +had. But now let’s hope the same sort of success falls to us here as +came in that long run.” + +The gypsy camp looked rather quiet. Frank was glad to see no men in +evidence, and could give a pretty good guess that they were all off, +occupied with driving hard and fast bargains in horse trading with the +many farmers in town for that day. + +This pleased Frank, because if the gypsy men were absent it diminished +the chances of a riot all the more, should Chief Hogg carry off the old +queen. He expected to do this on the strength of the warrant Lanky had +sworn out, charging her with abducting a child belonging to Mr. and +Mrs. Elverson of a neighboring State. + +When the wagon had arrived close to the camp those aboard jumped down, +much to the surprise and consternation of several dark-faced women and +children, who had run out to see the police wagon pass by. + +“Which is her wagon, Lanky?” demanded the Chief, hurriedly. + +“That biggest one, with all the gold paint, and pictures on the panels, +over yonder,” replied the boy, pointing. + +“This way, men, and surround that van! Be sure you let not a single +person escape from it!” called the Chief, holding his long night-stick +out in a threatening manner, as he led the charge through the camp; +where kettles were kicked to one side, piles of bright-hued cushions +leaped over, and a few dogs frightened off by the hostile demeanor of +the men in blue uniforms. + +In this manner, therefore, did the valorous Chief Hogg, and his several +equally brave men, manage to reach the big van, which they speedily +surrounded. The boys only hoped that no warning of their coming might +have been conveyed to the queen; and that she would be caught inside, +together with the child whom they had from the beginning been trying to +rescue from bondage and tyranny. + +In making this movement the head of the local force had been careful +to take up a position himself that gave him command of the door in the +rear of the traveling wagon. He looked about him as if to make sure +that everything was arranged, and his men in their proper positions. +Then he turned to Lanky. + +“The warrant, if you please, Lanky!” he said in his heavy voice. + +Lanky only too willingly surrendered the precious document which +called upon the officers to bring the persons of the gypsy queen, and +the small child which would be found in her care, before the nearest +magistrate, and charging her with having kidnapped the little girl, for +some purpose unknown to the court. + +Then the pompous Chief knocked upon the closed door of the van. It was +immediately opened, and the astonished face of the old queen became +visible. She looked at the men in their uniforms and then at the two +boys. Evidently the sight of Lanky excited her anger, just as a red +flag will that of a bull. She shook her fist at him, and burst out in a +flow of furious words: + +“You are to blame for this! I knew you were not coming here to our +camp, and prowling around, without some reason. Now, what does all this +mean, and what has the queen of the gypsies done that she should be +disturbed in her home by the officers of the house-dweller’s law? By +what right are you here? Speak up, you fat man with the silver badge on +your breast, and tell me of what crime Queen Esther is accused!” + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE STOLEN CHILD + + +With her eyes sparkling with rage the old queen looked very ferocious. +But Chief Hogg did not quail. It would be a pretty thing to tell if he +had shown the white feather in the face of a woman, no matter if she +was a swarthy gypsy queen. + +“I have here,” he went on to say, pompously, never noticing the slur in +her language when she addressed him; “a legally sworn warrant, charging +you with having in your wagon a small child--yes, a girl at that--which +it is claimed you have abducted, kidnapped, carried away from its +proper parents or guardians. And by virtue of my office, and this +document, I am directed by the justice to bring both woman and child +before him at once. So produce the child, and prepare to accompany us +back to town.” + +He made a motion, and his men closed in. The old queen looked as though +she might defy the authorities of Columbia; but a glance around showed +that not a single one of her men was within call. So she knew she must +give up. + +“I have a child, I confess,” she said, scornfully, addressing Frank +rather than the big policeman; “and it does not belong to my tribe, but +I expected to adopt it after a while, if no one claimed it. A woman +came to us several months ago, when, we were camped far away from here. +She seemed to be out of her mind, and we took her in. The little girl +was with her. She died soon afterwards, and the child was left with us. +All this can be proved. What have I to fear?” + +Turning, she spoke to someone behind her, when the girl the boys had +seen before, and whom the queen had called her granddaughter, Mena, +shoved forward. She, too, looked scornfully at the big policeman, and +undoubtedly the defiant nature of the old queen had descended to the +child. + +She was leading a small girl, whose hair seemed to be black enough, and +her skin as dusky as that of the genuine gypsy, but whose eyes were a +bonny blue. + +She looked eagerly at the boys, and seeing Lanky, held out her hands +toward him. + +“What is your name, little girl?” Lanky asked, ready to give a shout, +so filled with excitement did he seem. + +“Effie!” was the quick reply, in a childish voice, as the little one +shrank from the old queen, who must have been very cruel to her, Frank +thought. + +“That settles it!” yelled Lanky, as he turned on Frank, the light of a +second great victory in one day filling his dancing eyes. + +The Chief would take no delay. He realized that should the gypsy men +return and find him arresting their queen, trouble of some sort was apt +to ensue. And while Chief Hogg could look very imposing in his fine +uniform, and possibly frighten boys, and hungry hoboes, everyone knew +he did not particularly like a rough-and-tumble fight. + +And so they all climbed up into the wagon, when the return journey to +town was begun. Fortunately they happened to meet none of the gypsies +on the way. And the old queen seemed to be sure that she could prove +her statement, so that she would be held guiltless. If anyone was +guilty of abduction it must have been the half-crazed woman who came +with the child. And she had long since passed to a land where human +laws could never reach her. + +It turned out just as the gypsy queen had said. She had been wise +enough long before to write an account of the happening, and have it +published in some little country paper, that, having no circulation +outside of the village where it was printed, was never seen by those +who searched far and wide for traces of the long-lost daughter of the +rich Elversons. + +And when she produced a copy of this it was seen that she could not +be held on any charge, unless that of cruelty toward the child. But +she had been smart enough never to whip the little girl in a manner +that would leave any traces; and so, there being no witnesses, and a +mere child’s word not holding against that of the whole tribe, she was +finally allowed to go. + +The tribe disappeared that same hour, nor did they ever again come back +to the vicinity of Columbia. + +On the day after the rescue of little Effie, her parents arrived. Frank +and Lanky met them at the train. When they saw a beautiful, though +sad-looking, lady, accompanied by a tall gentleman, get off the train, +and look hungrily around, they waited no longer, but rushed up to them. + +“I’m the Lanky Wallace that sent the message, Mr. Elverson!” cried the +boy; and his happy face caused the lady to cry: + +“Oh! tell me, have you found her, my poor little lamb?” + +For answer Lanky just turned and gave a whistle he had arranged with +Effie, who had been left in the station. And as the child came running +toward them, the lady started in amazement; for as yet nobody had been +able to remove the stain that had been used to color her hair and her +whole body, so that even her mother did not recognize her. + +But when her childish voice piped up the one word “mommy,” and the lady +had a single look into those laughing blue eyes, she doubted no longer, +but squeezed the little waif to her heart, laughing and crying at the +same time. + +Of course they made a great ado over the two boys, and Frank in vain +tried to prove that it had been all Lanky’s doings. His chum declared +that they were partners through it all; and that he would never have +been able to do the least thing toward learning the truth if it had not +been for the advice and backing of Frank. + +Later on they had to go over the whole story, telling everything that +had the slightest connection with the gypsies and little Effie. + +And before they went away with their recovered darling, Mr. Elverson +and his wife made the two boys accept a most generous reward as a +slight token of their esteem. + +“It is only what would have been paid to a stranger who recovered our +child for us,” the former declared, “and which has long been standing +as an inducement for the detectives of the country to exert themselves; +but outside of that, my dear boys, we can never forget what you have +done. Our home shall be open to you always, as though you were kith +and kin to us. And Effie will expect to see you there as often as you +can make it convenient.” + +Of course the boys enjoyed all this. The story had leaked out, and was +told in every home in Columbia. Chief Hogg seemed to have an added +strut to his walk; and it puzzled everyone to decide whether this came +from seeing his name mentioned in the big New York dailies, as helping +to recover the long-lost child of the millionaire, Adolph Elverson; or +on account of the bulge in his pocket where he kept his wallet, after +Mr. Elverson had visited him at headquarters. + +Columbia High soon settled down to the duties of the season, and that +year Prof. Tyson Parke admitted that the averages had never been so +high. He secretly gave it as his opinion that the encouragement which +clean athletics met with in his school, backed by the far-seeing +trustees, was the cause for this increased interest shown by the pupils +in their studies. + +Lanky was very proud of his gold watch. He had to show it about twenty +times a day for weeks after the long run, and the victory won, had +gained him such a prize. And then his father, fearing that it was +making him vain, bought him a dollar nickel timepiece, which he said +was good enough for the rough-and-tumble school life of a boy. The +prize was put away; only to be worn on Sundays, and special occasions; +for it would do him when he grew up. + +During the vacation that now loomed up before them, some of the +boys who have figured extensively in these stories were to decide +whether they would go to college, or, as Frank had suggested, take a +post-graduate course under Prof. Parke; since their parents considered +them rather young to break away from all home ties, and face the many +temptations that beset the college student, especially in his freshman +year. + +Bill Klemm recovered, though he was laid up for two months. And there +were many who echoed what the good doctor told Bill and his parents, +that only for the first aid to the injured tactics of Frank Allen, the +boy would hardly have pulled through. It doubtless would serve as a +lesson to Bill, and everybody hoped for the sake of his parents that he +would reform his ways. + +If, as seems likely, Frank and a number of his chums who reached the +graduation class on the last June school exhibition decide to stay in +Columbia High another year, we shall hope and expect to meet them again +amid scenes of boyish sports, where the honor of the school is the +magnet that leads the contestants on to do their level best. + + +THE END. + + + + +TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: + + + Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. + + Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. + + Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized. + + Archaic or variant spelling has been retained. + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75171 *** |