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diff --git a/75171-h/75171-h.htm b/75171-h/75171-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b2ce8e3 --- /dev/null +++ b/75171-h/75171-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7675 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + Boys of Columbia High in track athletics | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tiny {width: 10%; margin-left: 45%; margin-right: 45%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +td {padding-left: 0.5em;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} + +.bbox {border: 2px solid; padding: 1em;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.ph1 {text-align: center; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;} +.ph2 {text-align: center; font-size: xx-large; font-weight: bold;} + +div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; page-break-after: always;} +div.titlepage p {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 2em;} + +.xlarge {font-size: 150%;} +.large {font-size: 125%;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} + +.x-ebookmaker .hide {display: none; visibility: hidden;} + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +.poetry-container {display: flex; justify-content: center;} +.poetry-container {text-align: center;} +.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} + +.gap {padding-left: 2em;} + +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:smaller; + margin-left: 17.5%; + margin-right: 17.5%; + padding: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; } + +.indentleft {padding-left: 2em;} + +.illowe28_125 {width: 28.125em;} + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75171 ***</div> + +<div class="figcenter hide"><img src="images/coversmall.jpg" width="450" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<figure class="figcenter illowe28_125" id="i_f000"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_f000.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"><p class="caption">“LANKY WALLACE LEADS!”<br> + +<small><i>Boys of Columbia High in Track Athletics.</i> <span class="gap"><i>Frontispiece</i> (<i>Page <a href="#Page_119">119</a>.</i>)</span></small></p></figcaption> +</figure> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_title.jpg" alt="title page"></div> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="titlepage"> +<h1><small>The</small><br> +Boys of Columbia High in<br> +Track Athletics</h1> + +<p><small>OR</small></p> + +<p><span class="xlarge">A Long Run That Won</span></p> + +<p>BY<br> +<span class="xlarge">GRAHAM B. FORBES</span><br> + +AUTHOR OF “THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH,” “THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA<br> +HIGH ON THE DIAMOND,” ETC.</p> + +<p><i>ILLUSTRATED</i></p> + +<p>NEW YORK<br> +<span class="large">GROSSET & DUNLAP</span><br> +PUBLISHERS</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="bbox"> +<p class="ph1">The Boys of Columbia High Series</p> + +<hr class="tiny"> +<p class="ph1">By GRAHAM B. FORBES</p> +<hr class="tiny"> +<p class="center"><i>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated.</i></p> +<hr class="tiny"> + +<p>THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH<br> +<span class="indentleft">Or The All Around Rivals of the School</span><br> +<br> +THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE DIAMOND<br> +<span class="indentleft">Or Winning Out by Pluck</span><br> +<br> +THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE RIVER<br> +<span class="indentleft">Or The Boat Race Plot That Failed</span><br> +<br> +THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE GRIDIRON<br> +<span class="indentleft">Or The Struggle for the Silver Cup</span><br> +<br> +THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE ICE<br> +<span class="indentleft">Or Out for the Hockey Championship</span><br> +<br> +THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH IN TRACK ATHLETICS<br> +<span class="indentleft">Or A Long Run That Won</span></p> +<hr class="tiny"> + +<p class="center"> +GROSSET & DUNLAP<br> +PUBLISHERS <span class="gap"> NEW YORK</span></p> +</div> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1913, by</span><br> +GROSSET & DUNLAP</p> +<hr class="tiny"> +<p class="center"><i>The Boys of Columbia High in Track Athletics</i></p> +</div></div></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_iii">[iii]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CONTENTS</h2> +</div> + +<table> + +<tr><td class="tdr"><small>CHAPTER</small></td><td class="tdr" colspan="2"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">I</td><td> <span class="smcap">Distance Runners</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1"> 1</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">II</td><td> <span class="smcap">Held by the Enemy</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_11"> 11</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">III</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Gypsy Caravan</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_22"> 22</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">IV</td><td> <span class="smcap">A Mystery of the Wagon</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_33"> 33</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">V</td><td> <span class="smcap">On the Campus Green</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_44"> 44</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">VI</td><td> <span class="smcap">Making Plans</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_53"> 53</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">VII</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Benefits of Discipline</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_62"> 62</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">VIII</td><td> <span class="smcap">Lanky’s Pride Conquers</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_71"> 71</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">IX</td><td> <span class="smcap">Among the Nomads of the Road</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_80"> 80</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">X</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Bunch from Bellport</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_89"> 89</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XI</td><td> <span class="smcap">Almost a Riot</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_98"> 98</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XII</td><td> <span class="smcap">A Popular Boy</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_106"> 106</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XIII</td><td> <span class="smcap">On the Harrapin</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_115"> 115</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XIV</td><td> <span class="smcap">Lanky Finds His Chance</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_124"> 124</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XV</td><td> <span class="smcap">An Accident Betrays Rufus</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_133"> 133</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XVI</td><td> <span class="smcap">Lanky Becomes a “Barker”</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_144"> 144</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XVII</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Gypsy Queen’s Move</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_153"> 153</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XVIII</td><td> <span class="smcap">Finding Out</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_162"> 162</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XIX</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Great Day</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_171"> 171</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XX</td><td> <span class="smcap">Clifford’s New Hope</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_180"> 180</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XXI</td><td> <span class="smcap">What Happened to Bones</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_189"> 189</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iv">[iv]</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XXII</td><td> <span class="smcap">Columbia’s Last Chance</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_198"> 198</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XXIII</td><td> <span class="smcap">The End of the Long Run</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_207"> 207</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XXIV</td><td> <span class="smcap">When the Message Came</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_215"> 215</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XXV</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Stolen Child</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_224"> 224</a></td></tr> +</table> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[1]</span> + +<p class="ph2"><small>THE</small><br> +BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH<br> +IN TRACK ATHLETICS</p> + +<hr class="tiny"> +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER I<br> + +<small>DISTANCE RUNNERS</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Our</span> last year at good old Columbia High, fellows!”</p> + +<p>“I just hate to think of it, Lanky!”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you miss your guess about me, boys. +I may stick to Columbia for another year.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[2]</span>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[3]</span> +game where the competition is keen, and victory +cheered to the echo.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>Another school term found the rivals of the Harrapin<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span> +the grind of the Marathon that was to be the crowning +event of the great meet so soon to come about.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Seeing that his two fellow runners were growing +quite curious about the explanation of his assertion, +Frank laughed good-naturedly, and remarked:</p> + +<p>“Well, just wait till I wash the dust down my +throat with a good drink at this spring here, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span> +then I’ll tell you what I meant by saying I might +stick to Columbia High another year.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Now, Frank, keep your promise,” warned Bones.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“My folks seem to have an idea that they’d rather +I was a year older before I went to college,” Frank +began.</p> + +<p>“Why, that’s funny, but I’ve been hearing a lot +along the same line myself at home,” broke in +Lanky.</p> + +<p>“Ditto here,” affirmed Bones Shadduck.</p> + +<p>“And so they had me talk with Professor Tyson +Parke about it,” Frank continued; “and he said<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“Great scheme!” exclaimed Bones, “and just you +see if I don’t put it up to my people at home.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What do you say about starting on again?” +asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Oh! about a mile, I reckon,” Frank made answer, +as they began to run.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span> +hundreds of miles through dense forests, over +mountains and deserts, with little or no rest.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>They had about half crossed the field when Lanky +suddenly came to a stop.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span>“What did you hear, Frank; the halloo of some +other runner who’s bogged over in that swamp?” +demanded Bones.</p> + +<p>“No; I thought I heard a snort, and it made me +think of cattle,” replied Frank.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER II<br> + +<small>HELD BY THE ENEMY</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Talking</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Lanky had been very much nearer the charging +animal than either of his comrades, and he could not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span> +choose his course. With him the “longest way +around” was not the “quickest way to the fire.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe28_125" id="i_p012a"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p012a.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"><p class="caption">LANKY RAN AS PERHAPS HE NEVER DID BEFORE.<br> + +<small><i>Boys of Columbia High in Track Athletics.</i><span class="gap"> <i>Page <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</i></span></small></p> +</figcaption> +</figure> + + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span>“There, he’s up again, and making for the tree!” +snapped Bones, who could not repress his feelings +for an instant.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>All at once Bones gave a whoop.</p> + +<p>“There he goes, Frank! Bully boy, Lanky; you +fooled him that time, all right!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span> +animal being turned away from him to make his +upward leap.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Then tell me,” cried Lanky, eagerly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span>“Grow some wings and fly!” answered Bones, +with a loud laugh.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“For goodness sake, think up some way of getting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span> +him off, Frank!” called out the impatient prisoner +of the lone tree.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got a scheme!” cried Bones.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you have!” Lanky answered in some derision; +for he failed to have any great amount of +faith in anything Bones Shadduck originated.</p> + +<p>“Well, this one’s a corker, I tell you,” the boy on +the fence went on, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“All right, let’s hear it, and speak low so the bull +won’t get on,” Lanky suggested, with mock respect.</p> + +<p>“Besides it’ll give Frank and me a heap of fun +watching you, Lanky.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Why, you want to watch your chance,” began +Bones, soberly.</p> + +<p>“Oh! do I? Chance for what?” demanded Lanky, +derisively, for he seemed to feel that the other was +only having sport with him.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span> +he knocks you off it’s good-bye for yours. You’ll +be a back number.”</p> + +<p>Even Lanky was seen to grin at this wild proposition.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Time passed slowly to the beleaguered runner.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Got the farmer trailing along, I hope?” ventured +Bones.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I can get a squint at Frank now, Lanky; and, +say, what’s he got in his hand?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Where’s Farmer Hobson, Frank?” asked the boy +on the limb.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“And hasn’t he got a man?” wailed Lanky, as +though he began to feel that everything was conspiring +against him.</p> + +<p>Frank went on calmly undoing the rope foot by +foot, and testing it.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I’m surprised at you, Frank,” ventured Lanky, +wishing for information.</p> + +<p>“In what way?” asked the other, coolly, once<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span> +more starting to loop up the rope, as though getting +ready to throw it.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Try me!” said Lanky, laconically.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>our</i> 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?”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER III<br> + +<small>THE GYPSY CARAVAN</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">It’s</span> a screamer!” exclaimed Lanky, immediately.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>So Bones, after finding how he could stand on the +top of the rail fence in a fairly steady fashion, took<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Right here, Bones, put her in my mitt!” called +the other, holding out his hands as though he might<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span> +be a catcher behind the rubber, calling to his slabmate +how to toss them in.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Catch hold, Lanky, quick!” cried the thrower of +the lasso.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Now climb up, and pass it along,” called Frank.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Lanky understood and fastened the knotted end +of the line to the upper branch of the tree—an +especially strong one it was, too.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Looks good to me!” announced Bones, as he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span> +changed his position on the fence so as to get a +better view of the coming “stunt” of the thin chum.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Wow! there he comes!” exclaimed Bones Shadduck,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span> +as the thin boy let go his hold above, and +launched himself upon his aerial passage.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Thank goodness, the rope holds!” cried Bones, +who had been rather doubtful of its strength all +along.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Sure he can,” remarked Bones. “You know +what sort of gymnast Lanky is. Watch him put his +feet in his pockets now.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span> +they’re not in it with a rope run, and a jumpin’ +bull underneath.”</p> + +<p>“Who’ll get the rope, Frank?” asked Bones.</p> + +<p>“You can, if you feel like it,” replied the other, +with a smile.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span> +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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What happened?” asked Bones.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span> +fellow would have been an easy mark for the butting +horns of the bull.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“There’s the road, fellows!” said Frank, after +they had ploughed through a lot of soft ground, and +were thoroughly disgusted with it all.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span> +must be the gypsies that hang around Budd’s +Corners every other summer; don’t you think so?”</p> + +<p>“Just what they are,” came the reply; “but there’s +twice as many this year as ever before.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IV<br> + +<small>A MYSTERY OF THE WAGON</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, rats!” exploded practical Bones; “you’ve +been reading some silly stuff about gypsies taking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>Lanky made a wry face, but stood to his guns.</p> + +<p>“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,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>At that Lanky smiled.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span> +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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“But you admit, Frank, that it could be; don’t +you?” demanded the other, not at all shaken in his +belief.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span>“Well, yes, there might be about one chance in +a hundred, Lanky,” Frank replied.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Lanky paid no attention to the rear wagons, but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Frank knew that for Lanky to make any attempt +to interfere with the gypsies at such a time would be +the height of folly.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“But, didn’t you hear it?” demanded the tall fellow, +irresolutely.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Go on, Lanky,” said Frank, in earnest tones; +“you’ll only make trouble, and get in a fight, if you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span> +try anything here. Wait a while, and perhaps you +can find out all you want without having a row.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“You heard that, too; didn’t you, Frank?” he +asked, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“You more’n half believe it yourself, Frank Allen, +and you don’t dare deny it!” he exclaimed, heatedly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“You know I will, Lanky,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span>Frank paused a brief time as if for reflection.</p> + +<p>“I never did!” he finally replied, with emphasis.</p> + +<p>“How about you, Bones?” pursued Lanky.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>But Frank saw the point Lanky was making, and +appreciated it, too.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>But Lanky would not take any notice of these +slurs. Frank could see that he was deeply impressed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER V<br> + +<small>ON THE CAMPUS GREEN</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Come</span>, brace up, Lanky; ’tisn’t time for your +funeral yet!”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>In the group were several others who have been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Truth to tell, some of them were feeling a little +uneasy. Columbia would evidently have need of all<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Been eating some grub that’s given you indigestion, +p’raps?” suggested Jonsey.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>The boys laughed, for they had all heard the story +to the last particular.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Bully for you, Jack!” cried Buster, patting the +speaker encouragingly.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Then tell us, or we’ll ride you on a rail!” threatened +Jack Comfort.</p> + +<p>“Dare I, Lanky?” asked Jonsey, not wanting to +go too far.</p> + +<p>“Sure. Just tell everything you know, or think, +Jonsey. It won’t take long,” was the answering +shot that came back.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span> +came late, as I had an errand to do for the professor, +you see.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“And some say he’s even worse than Lef ever +was,” added Frank; “but see here, Lanky, what’s +up?”</p> + +<p>“Now please tell me why you think anything is?” +demanded the other.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span>“Nope,” replied Lanky, tersely.</p> + +<p>“I hope you haven’t been running across the trail +of that Walter Ackerman, and doing what you once +threatened to do, Lanky?”</p> + +<p>The other sneered at this.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Well, let’s change the subject, Lanky,” he said. +“You didn’t deny it when I remarked that <i>something</i> +was exciting you. What is it? Anything +that concerns me?”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Oh that’s what ails you; is it?” exclaimed +Frank, stopping to look once more into the eager<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span> +face of his chum. “Why this new outburst? Have +you heard anything more about that little girl you +<i>thought</i> called to you, and held her hands out as if +she wanted you to take her away from a cruel +prison?”</p> + +<p>“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 +<i>have</i> 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!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VI<br> + +<small>MAKING PLANS</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Frank</span> looked queerly at his companion as Lanky +said this.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“That’s what you did, Frank; but then this is +a different thing,” he replied.</p> + +<p>“Oh! is that so, Lanky?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Have you got it along with you?” demanded +Frank.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right, Frank,” the other answered, +promptly.</p> + +<p>“This account tells of how the nurse took the +little girl out walking and never turned up again,” +Frank went on to say.</p> + +<p>“Just what it does, Frank, and I know what +you’ve got on your mind.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“His words, just like you say, Frank,” admitted +Lanky, nodding his head encouragingly.</p> + +<p>“But, Lanky, from start to finish of this story<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span> +there isn’t a single mention of gypsies,” Frank +continued.</p> + +<p>“Huh, not a peep, sure’s you’re born, Frank.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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 <i>do</i> 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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“If you go to nosing around that camp without +some good reason, I’m afraid you’ll get in a peck of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, you’re right there, Frank. What had we +better do?” Lanky asked.</p> + +<p>“I’ve been thinking that part of it over, and struck +an idea that might pan out all right,” Frank remarked.</p> + +<p>“I’d wager it was a good one before you said a +word; but put me wise, Frank.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Yes?” Lanky observed, in what he meant to be +an encouraging tone.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“Say, you do beat anything I ever saw for getting +down to business,” declared Lanky, proudly. “Why,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span> +that’ll just give us the chance of our lives to see +what’s inside that big van of hers; won’t it?”</p> + +<p>“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.’”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Well, when shall we go—to-night, or in the +morning early before school?” Frank went on to ask.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“That’s where you show a wise head,” commented +Frank, as they turned once more toward the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Just then was heard a great shouting from the +basement and a crowd of boys came trooping forth, +laughing uproariously.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span> +well rattled, because he does hate to see the boys +punished.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Here comes Minnie Cuthbert and my sister, +Helen; and they look like they wanted to speak to +us, Lanky,” remarked Frank.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span> +taken to all the class dances, singing schools, as well +as church choir meetings, for a long time.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Whatever are you talking about?” demanded +Frank; but at the same time he smiled and thus +betrayed his knowledge.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>At that Frank exploded with laughter, and even +Lanky grinned.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VII<br> + +<small>THE BENEFITS OF DISCIPLINE</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Fire</span>!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span> +as well as Soggy’s wild behavior, was “make-believe.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Frank Allen had been placed in command of this +detachment of fire-fighters; for well did Professor<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span> +Parke know the ability of the boy for undertaking +any work of this kind.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“It’s mostly smoke up to now, fellows!” he cried, +as they drew nearer the entrance to the cellars.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span> +“And we’ve just <i>got</i> 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?”</p> + +<p>“You bet we are!” called out several; for it only +needs a leader in any crisis, and hosts are ready to +follow.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Already people were running wildly toward the +high school.</p> + +<p>As soon as Frank, in the van of the boy fire-fighters, +had entered the cellar, he saw that the situation<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span> +the news was circulated that the fire was under control, +and that Red had only swooned.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Cheers were rising in waves, and growing with +each demonstration, led by Professor Parke in person,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VIII<br> + +<small>LANKY’S PRIDE CONQUERS</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Professor Parke</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span> +basement at recess that very day, just to provoke old +Soggy.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>“And by the way, Soggy wishes you to come +down and see him in the basement before you go<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Let’s get out of this,” called Ben Allison.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it’s getting too warm again, boys!” cried<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span> +Bones Shadduck; for some of the larger juniors +were classed with the seniors as fire-fighters.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Minnie was there, and Frank smiled to see the +eager look she bent on him as he joined her.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“It wasn’t so very black, you know, Minnie,” interrupted +Frank, teasingly.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“I suppose so, seeing that I’ve already waited an<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; and now return to your pleasant little chat +with Minnie,” the other said, with a long-drawn +sigh that Frank understood very well.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span> +If she’d only ask me to forget that, I’d quit feeling +like thirty cents, and perk up again.”</p> + +<p>“But she was talking to you; wasn’t she?” persisted +Frank.</p> + +<p>“Why, yes, she said she was glad I got out of +that cellar O. K.; that she was <i>so</i> proud to think +that she and I <i>used</i> 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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Well,” replied the other, with a flush of what<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span> +might be regret, “you see that smoke it was fierce, +and I’ve been about half blind ever since.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IX<br> + +<small>AMONG THE NOMADS OF THE ROAD</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">There’s</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>did</i> mean to attract +my attention.”</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe28_125" id="i_p080a"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p080a.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"><p class="caption">FRANK AND LANKY VISIT THE GYPSY CAMP.<br> + +<small><i>Boys of Columbia High in track Athletics.</i> <span class="gap"> <i>Page <a href="#Page_81">81</a>.</i></span></small></p> +</figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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 <i>that</i> subject once. +But, Frank, I’ll use my eyes to beat the band; and +if she’s around I’m bound to see her.”</p> + +<p>“Well, here we are, close up now; so haul off, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I want to see the queen, Esther you call her, I +think,” was what Frank said.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span>“But I don’t want to see her for that,” Frank +insisted.</p> + +<p>“What would you, then, boy?” demanded the man, +a little suspiciously now.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>Frank turned to his companion, and remarked, in +a careless way:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“It’s all right; let him stay as long as he wants.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span> +You come this way with me,” and as he said this +the swarthy-faced, squatty man started off.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I saw something,” muttered Lanky, when their +heads were close together.</p> + +<p>“What was it?” asked Frank, quickly.</p> + +<p>“Over at the big wagon, where you’re going now,” +the other went on.</p> + +<p>“Where the queen lives, you mean?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“Well, she must ’a’ just discovered that there were +strangers in the camp, because I saw her chase +<i>something</i> 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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span> +careful how he touched anything, and got himself in +a mess with the campers.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He found Lanky waiting for him near the border +of the camp, examining the gypsy way of making<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Well, what did you find out?” asked Frank, +when they were beyond sight of the camp.</p> + +<p>“I saw her again,” said Lanky, drawing a long +breath as of repressed excitement.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER X<br> + +<small>THE BUNCH FROM BELLPORT</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Frank</span> looked hastily around him to see that they +were not observed. Then he took the article which +Lanky Wallace was holding out.</p> + +<p>“Why, it’s a child’s little bonnet, Lanky!” he +exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“Glad to see you guess that at the start,” remarked +the excited Lanky, with a touch of humor in his +voice.</p> + +<p>“And the little one dropped this down to you; +did she?” pursued Frank, as he again thoughtfully +examined the article of wearing apparel.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“I think she did, Lanky,” replied the other, a +serious look on his face.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span>“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?”</p> + +<p>“No, I don’t, for a fact, Lanky,” answered Frank, +readily.</p> + +<p>“Looks kinder expensive to me, even if it’s badly +soiled right now; eh, Frank?” continued the tall boy.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>Lanky could hardly contain himself, he was so +excited.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Seems to me there’s only one thing you can do,” +came the reply.</p> + +<p>“Then tell me,” begged Lanky.</p> + +<p>“You’ve got that clipping safe and sound, I +hope?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“Sure I have, and right here in my jeans now,” +Lanky replied.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Chuck that, Frank, and tell me what you mean,” +Lanky pleaded.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span> +nurse, months ago, wore a little bonnet made of lace +and silk, and decorated with a pale blue ribbon.”</p> + +<p>“Wow! all that is going to take a few good +plunks to pay the expense, if you mean I must telegraph +it!” exclaimed Lanky.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later two boys, breathing hard from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span> +fast walking, appeared at the little railroad station +in Columbia, and asked for a bunch of telegraph +blanks.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Oh! we’ll let you have time to grab a bite of +lunch, Conrad,” replied Lanky, in his humorous +fashion.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Lanky wanted to sign Frank’s name to the message, +but the other refused to allow it.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span> +happened in both Clifford and Bellport, didn’t you, +last night?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>About a mile from the border of Columbia lay<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What did I tell you?” remarked Lanky, in an +aside to his chum, as they discovered a big bunch of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span> +high-school fellows, with blue bands around their +hats, coming from the direction of the trolley, and +talking boisterously.</p> + +<p>“Some of the Bellport fellows, sure enough,” +Frank replied; for he recognized several familiar +faces; and the blue ribbon told the story by itself.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XI<br> + +<small>ALMOST A RIOT</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>A number of the more stocky boys were engaged<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>But these things must be expected among a parcel +of untrained schoolboys, whose muscles are not as +hard as they should be.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“It’s a put-up job, that’s what it is!” one of the +latter was saying, roughly.</p> + +<p>“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,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span> +Bellport would lick you out of your boots; and I +don’t care who hears me say it.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Prove it by showing us a single thing that isn’t +square!” cried an angry Columbia student, shaking +his fist at the speaker.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Huh! if I felt that way I wouldn’t take part in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span> +the meet at all!” called out one of the touchy Columbia +boys.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>few</i> square fellers in Columbia; +but the majority aren’t standin’ back on taking advantage +of a crooked deal arranged for them by +their committee.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“And the hockey game that went against her, not +to mention baseball!” echoed still another warm adherent +of the local school.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>But the war of words went on from bad to worse.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span>“Give me 57-L, Bellport, please.”</p> + +<p>A minute later she called:</p> + +<p>“57-L, Bellport. Here you are!”</p> + +<p>“Hello! is this Mr. Lee’s house?” asked Frank, +and was immediately electrified by hearing a voice +he readily recognized, making reply.</p> + +<p>“Yes, who is that talking?”</p> + +<p>“Frank Allen, over in Columbia; is that you, +Cuthbert?”</p> + +<p>“That’s who it is; how are you, Frank; what’s +doing in the athletic line?” came over the wire.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Thunder! that’s bad; I never dreamed they’d do +such a thing,” came from the astounded boy eight +miles away, down in Bellport.</p> + +<p>“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,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span> +and come over here, licketty-split, and save +the day? Please do. It’s the only chance of keeping +peace between the two towns.”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XII<br> + +<small>A POPULAR BOY</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Frank</span>, 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!”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>He ran toward the noisy crowd, and shouted at +the top of his voice:</p> + +<p>“Here’s Cuthbert Lee come over to see us, fellows!”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span> +as creating bad feeling between the neighboring +towns.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>very</i> 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,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Let’s call it off, boys!” cried one Bellport fellow, +who had been among the noisiest of the disputants.</p> + +<p>“I’m sorry we made the trouble at all!” said another, +frankly.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“We hope you’ll forget the unpleasantness, Columbia!”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span> +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?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“<i>One</i> of them, perhaps,” remarked Minnie,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span> +’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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“If you get a wire, call me up, Lanky, sure,” +Frank was saying.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span> +of this thing. I hope it comes by to-morrow, though, +or Saturday.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if it don’t, I’ll be disappointed myself,” +remarked Frank.</p> + +<p>“For one thing,” the other went on, “those gyps +aren’t a-goin’ to hang around these diggings forever, +you know.”</p> + +<p>“Of course not,” agreed Frank.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps there might be some way to coax them +to stay a while longer,” suggested Frank, thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>“How, for instance?” questioned Lanky, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>So Frank went back to Minnie and the laughing +group of which the gay girl was the center and the +life.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>“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;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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 <i>somebody</i> something, you understand!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIII<br> + +<small>ON THE HARRAPIN</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Saturday</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span> +that this method of making progress was declared +barred by those in charge.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>With the crack of the starter’s pistol the long +line jumped away. Several ambitious beginners +immediately sprinted, and took the lead.</p> + +<p>“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.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span> +There he goes, grabbin’ off the yards like fun. It’s +going to be a procession, with Ginger first!”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>A shout was heard just then.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span>“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.</p> + +<p>“Who is it? Ginger Harper making it a sweep?” +cried one, mockingly.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“It’s Frank Allen!” arose the shout.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Lanky Wallace leads!”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“And he’s beat his best time by a whole lot, too!” +announced another enthusiast.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span> +small chance their athletes had in comparison with +this wonder.</p> + +<p>“If he kept to the track he’s the best ever!” one +fellow said, shaking his head as though he could +hardly believe it.</p> + +<p>“There’s another runner, and this time it is Frank +Allen!”</p> + +<p>“With Bones close behind him; and the field out +of sight!”</p> + +<p>“Oh! some of those fellows will be comin’ in for +the next hour!” laughed Buster.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Of course the three who were to enter for Columbia +were those who had come in first, second and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Hey! Lanky, come and go back with us to town +on board the <i>Harrapin Belle</i>!” said Ben Allison, +whacking the tall boy between the shoulders as he +started off alone.</p> + +<p>“Oh! don’t care if I do, Ben,” replied Lanky, +never dreaming to what a strange end this trivial<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span> +incident might lead him; “if your boat isn’t too +crowded.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Rats! Frank did the best he could,” retorted Ben. +“I heard him say so.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The <i>Harrapin Belle</i> 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.</p> + +<p>Lanky discovered, when it was too late, that Dora<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIV<br> + +<small>LANKY FINDS HIS CHANCE</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">There</span> she is!”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>Lanky seized hold of Walter Ackerman.</p> + +<p>“She was with you!” he shouted; “why don’t +you go in after her?”</p> + +<p>The handsome boy never looked as he did then, +white in the face, and frightened.</p> + +<p>“I would; indeed, I’d do it in a minute—but I +can’t swim a stroke!” he gasped.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>One look Lanky cast over the side, as he kicked +his shoes off, and sent his jacket flying after them.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span> +This showed him a white face in the midst of the +water, and, he thought, a pair of hands held out +toward him.</p> + +<p>Then Lanky jumped.</p> + +<p>The <i>Harrapin Belle</i> 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.</p> + +<p>“Hurray! he’s got her!” whooped Ben Allison, +in great excitement.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Oh! be careful, Ben, and don’t run over them!”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span> +begged Helen, as a new fear began to tug at her +heart.</p> + +<p>“I’ll look out,” came the confident reply, as the +boat started slowly to follow the current, and gain +on the struggling couple.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Are you all right, Dora?” he asked, wondering +whether she had retained her senses through it all.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span> +guess there’s just going to be all peace between +Lanky and Dora after this.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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 <i>you</i> can, Paul.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>She held out her little hand, and he clasped it +eagerly.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“You’ll forgive me being so unkind to you; won’t +you, Lanky?” she continued, as Helen very considerately +turned away.</p> + +<p>“Never mention it again to me, Dora. I want<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span> +to forget we ever had a falling out,” the boy went +on, rapidly.</p> + +<p>“And we’re going to be friends again, then, good +friends like we used to be?” she continued, gladness +in her voice.</p> + +<p>“Better than ever—that is, if you care to have +me take you around, instead of <i>him</i>,” Lanky replied +suggestively, and her pretty face took on a +very scornful look as she went on:</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“That’s all right,” he said in Frank’s ear; “takes +longer to get there. Some people, when they’ve<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span>“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 <i>will</i> 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.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XV<br> + +<small>AN ACCIDENT BETRAYS RUFUS</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">I guess</span> yesterday was your big day, all right, +Lanky!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“It sure was a dandy picnic, Frank,” admitted the +other, without hesitation, and drawing in a long +breath, as imagination once more transported him<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span> +back to the moment when he held Dora up with his +right arm, and used the left to keep both of them +afloat.</p> + +<p>“And you went all the way up to the Baxter +farm afterwards, they say, Lanky?”</p> + +<p>“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 <i>heaps</i> to be explained.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Hold on, let’s change the subject,” broke in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span> +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?”</p> + +<p>Lanky sobered up instantly.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“But the gypsies’ll sure vamoose long before +that!” expostulated Lanky.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>did</i> 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.”</p> + +<p>“Of course it will, Frank,” Lanky admitted,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“Then stop bothering your head about it, Lanky.”</p> + +<p>“Guess I will,” answered the tall boy, resolutely.</p> + +<p>“I told you that other business would come out +all right, sooner or later; didn’t I?” Frank demanded.</p> + +<p>“That’s straight goods, Frank.”</p> + +<p>“And it did, you noticed, Lanky?”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“I see you’re onto me, all right,” confessed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“Only a boy on a bike, but he’s whooping it up +rather fast,” Frank admitted, as he turned his head +to look.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Seems to me there’s something familiar about +him, too,” said Frank. “His name is Rufus, isn’t +it, Lanky?”</p> + +<p>“Right the first guess—Rufus Kline.”</p> + +<p>“Wasn’t that the name of one of Bill Klemm’s +cronies—Watkins Kline?” continued Frank, still +observing the approaching boy on the wheel.</p> + +<p>“Yep; and they say his mother is nigh crazy because +nobody’s seen a sign of any of that crowd<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span> +since they skipped out, after the schoolhouse fire,” +Lanky went on to say.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Why should it?” demanded Frank, always +ready to learn facts when he could.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Hey! get off the road there, and let me past!” +called out Rufus, slackening his speed somewhat, +and looking bothered.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>As a natural consequence, boy and wheel came +down with a crash.</p> + +<p>“Oh! that’s too bad, Lanky; you’ve made him +take a header!” exclaimed Frank. “I hope he isn’t +hurt!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“See what you did, Lanky Wallace, by bein’<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span> +mean, and wantin’ to take the whole road?” he exclaimed, +for Rufus was red-haired, and had a temper, +too, in the bargain.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>This he proceeded to do, after hauling the +bicycle up on the road again.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span> +went flyin’ when the wheel slipped on the road, and +took a flop.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Why, yes, he was some touchy, that’s a fact,” +answered the other, slowly, as if unable to understand +what Frank was driving at.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>Lanky stared all the harder, but the truth began +to seep into his brain.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVI<br> + +<small>LANKY BECOMES A “BARKER”</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">That’s</span> 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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“You’re right there, Lanky,” answered Frank, +nodding his head in the affirmative.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span> +Watkins Kline to scare his mother so bad. She +never would believe he was bad, you know.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder what’s up, and why they hang out +there all this while?” Frank mused.</p> + +<p>“Tell you what I think,” remarked his companion, +with a wise look; “I reckon it’s all Bill Klemm’s +doings.”</p> + +<p>“What makes you say that, Lanky?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>The two had been walking swiftly along while<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Looks like they might be reading some notice; +and there are a number of gypsies in the lot, too,” +Frank replied.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span>“Shucks! I know,” exclaimed the other, suddenly.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Suppose we stop here a bit, and listen to what +they say?” suggested Frank.</p> + +<p>“I’ll go you on that idea,” replied Lanky. “It +may put us wise about what they mean to do.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He described some of the competitions that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the same men came hurrying +back.</p> + +<p>“No use askin’ what they did, Frank,” remarked +Lanky, exultantly; “just take a peep at their grinning +faces; doesn’t that tell the story?”</p> + +<p>“I reckon you’re right, Lanky,” admitted the +other, readily enough.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Do you really believe that?” demanded the other, +who was always glad to hear Frank praise him.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span>“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.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVII<br> + +<small>THE GYPSY QUEEN’S MOVE</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Unless</span> 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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! I’ll be on my guard, I promise you, Frank,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span> +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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Well, what is it now?” asked his companion, +without turning his head, as he found himself very +much interested in the operation.</p> + +<p>“She’s beckonin’ to us!” Lanky continued, in +a somewhat awed voice.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span>“Who do you mean?” asked Frank, beginning +to take notice.</p> + +<p>“The old lady, the queen bee of the hive, you +know,” replied the other.</p> + +<p>At that Frank turned his head.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>“You are the boy who brought me the paper +to sign; am I right?” asked the gypsy queen, as +Frank reached her side.</p> + +<p>“Yes, we were here the other day, and brought +that paper,” he replied.</p> + +<p>“My men have been telling me much about some +sort of circus that will be in your town this week;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span> +and they said you could explain what it was?” she +continued, keeping her sharp black eyes fastened +on their faces.</p> + +<p>“Why, yes, sure we can,” Lanky spoke up. +“Frank, oblige the lady; I’m talked out.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“All right, Frank,” he muttered, calming down +again.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span> +almost purplish black. Her skin was as dusky as +that of any of the men.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Evidently Lanky’s ambition had dropped until it +was now very near the zero mark.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He asked numerous questions, just as the men +had done when seeking information concerning the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span> +coming athletic contests. And the old woman did +not seem at all averse about telling him whatever +he wanted to know.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Will you come again?” she asked, seeming to +direct the query toward Lanky; and that worthy +took it upon himself to reply.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>everything</i> +now.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What ails you, old chum?” demanded Frank, in +a joking tone. “You pull a long enough face to +stand for seven first-class funerals.”</p> + +<p>“It’s all off, Frank!” grumbled the other.</p> + +<p>“Oh! you mean the little racket you were working; +is that what makes you look so sad?” demanded +Frank.</p> + +<p>“I was foolish and that’s the trouble!” said Lanky +savagely.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“To think that I’d mistake that half-grown gypsy<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span> +girl for a little one has me badgered some, I tell +you, Frank.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps after all, Lanky, you didn’t make such +a big mistake as you think!”</p> + +<p>“What’s that you’re giving me, Frank; not taffy, +I hope?” cried the tall boy, as he whirled around +on his companion, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVIII<br> + +<small>FINDING OUT</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Lanky</span> was once more himself. The look of +gloom had vanished from his thin face, and he +turned an eager glance on his comrade.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Hear! hear!” burst out the other, pretending +to clap his hands.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“But if there <i>is</i> such a little girlie, Frank?”</p> + +<p>“We’ll stay in the game, make sure of that,” replied +the other, in a determined tone that told Lanky +what he might expect.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we must make out <i>not</i> to be seen, then, +next time,” was the matter-of-fact way Frank put +it.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Wow! that’s what I call going some, Frank,” +remarked Lanky, presently.</p> + +<p>“You saw him then; didn’t you?” asked the leader +of the boys.</p> + +<p>“Right you are; and he’s certain sure follerin’ +us, to see that we don’t play a double game, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span> +sneak back in the direction of the camp,” was +Lanky’s admission.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“That must mean she did it,” Lanky admitted.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Well, when <i>can</i> we come back?” asked Lanky; +“to-morrow afternoon?”</p> + +<p>“For one, I don’t feel like waiting that long,” the +other declared.</p> + +<p>“Say, could we try it to-night, Frank?” asked +Lanky, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span>“There’s a clear line between, as sure as anything,” +admitted the other.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[166]</span> +though chances are I’d only turn it into a foozle by +my clumsiness.”</p> + +<p>“You can depend on me,” was what the other +said, positively.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[167]</span>“Gee! aren’t you late, Frank?” he asked, a little +pettishly.</p> + +<p>Just then the church clock boomed out the hour +of seven, as if saving Frank the trouble of making +a reply.</p> + +<p>“I reckon I’ve been here half an hour, and countin’ +the minutes,” admitted Lanky, candidly, as they +started off on a brisk walk.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Reckon now there’s a storm just wantin’ to sail +along this way, to upset all our calculations about +Wednesday,” he grumbled.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span> +was apt to create some little excitement in the +queen’s van.</p> + +<p>“Aren’t we gettin’ pretty near that little rise, +Frank?” asked Lanky, when they had been making +progress for some time.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>He turned out to be a true prophet, too; for about +the time that limit had expired Lanky remarked in +a thrilling whisper:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span>Presently they ascended the little rise.</p> + +<p>“Say, this is a good place to see from, all right,” +commented Lanky.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The gypsies were either moving about, or else +sitting near the fires, evidently eating their supper. +Lanky almost held his breath while Frank looked.</p> + +<p>“See anything of her?” he asked, finally, unable +to hold out longer.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>He quickly held the ends of the twin tubes to his +eyes, and ten seconds later Frank heard him chuckle, +as though greatly pleased.</p> + +<p>“She’s there, Frank, sure as you’re born!” +Lanky ejaculated.</p> + +<p>“Softly, now, old fellow,” warned Frank.</p> + +<p>“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,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span> +Frank! I can see her shaking a finger at the child, +and I believe the little thing’s crying, too.”</p> + +<p>“What happened?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>For answer Frank clutched his chum’s groping +hand, and squeezed it.</p> + +<p>“And we keep right along in the game, waitin’ +to hear from Mr. Elverson; don’t we, Frank?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIX<br> + +<small>THE GREAT DAY</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> was Wednesday at last.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span> +up, and gave the entire day to merry-making with +their families.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Lanky was the center of a great deal of attention.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“Ho! ho! ho! hi! hi! hi! <i>veni! vidi! vici!</i> we +came, we saw, we conquered! Columbia! Rah!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span>“Hello! Frank!” was the way Lanky greeted his +chum, whom he had not seen that day up to the +minute they met.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“What’s up?” questioned Frank, laughing at the +earnest air of his friend.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“And did he promise he would?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“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,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[176]</span> +just because I had that little spurt the other day, you +know.”</p> + +<p>“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 <i>they</i> know better.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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 <i>sure</i> 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.”</p> + +<p>“Frank, it’s mighty good of you giving me these +pointers, and you going to be a runner in the long +race, too.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[177]</span>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>After the hearty cheers had subsided he started +again to tell of the various contests that had been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[178]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>Then the first contest was called, and immediately +everybody in that great throng became intensely interested.</p> + +<p>It was a fifty-yard dash; and there were just nine +contestants; since the limit had been placed at three +for each school.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span> +on their furious rush over the short distance +that had been marked out for them.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XX<br> + +<small>CLIFFORD’S NEW HOPE</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Almost</span> before some of the crowd knew it had +begun, the fifty-yard dash was over. Coddling had +won!</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span> +cutting down his lead in great shape when they +crossed the line?”</p> + +<p>“That’s a fact, Frank,” admitted Lanky.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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 <i>do</i> something, Lanky.”</p> + +<p>“That’s the stuff, fellows!” cried a Columbia boy +who happened to be passing, and caught the last few +words of what Frank said.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>Another thing Frank noticed, for he was quick +to discover little items that might stand for a great +deal.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He stood there, and chatted for a little while,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Watching his hands after this, Frank noticed that +they seemed to tremble constantly, which was a +rather strange thing in a mere lad.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span> +that way. And doubtless the sight of Dora Baxter +inspired Lanky with more and more determination +to do himself proud on this day.</p> + +<p>Presently the wiry-looking Clifford athlete betook +himself off, apparently satisfied with his view +of his two rivals at close quarters.</p> + +<p>“What do you think of him, Frank?” asked +Lanky. “Is he the great wonder they say, and do +we need to fear him?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“But he does use cigarettes; I saw his stained +fingers,” Lanky went on; “and do you expect that +is going to hurt his chances?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! well, we’re not talking about good looks<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“Whew! that’s layin’ it on pretty thick, Frank!”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>The crowd was in a mood for something comical; +and if sack races are properly conducted, they afford<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[187]</span> +plenty of fun; except for some of the unfortunate +participants who in falling manage to skin their +noses.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>got</i> 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,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[188]</span> +shouting and howling like crazy Indians, because +they’ve licked us at last!”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[189]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXI<br> + +<small>WHAT HAPPENED TO BONES</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Crack!</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“They’re off!” shrieked hundreds of voices, as the +nine boys were seen to speed away like the wind.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[190]</span> +the tension under which the pupils would continue +to labor must affect their ability to pass the annual +examinations with credit.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[191]</span> +same as Frank. Just wait! The one that shouts +last, shouts loudest. We’re holding our wind for +the end!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>But as our interest lies almost entirely with the +runners, it is only right that we should follow them +in their long race.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[192]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Lanky was fretting some, as usual. He seemed +like a mettlesome horse chafing because of the restraining +bit.</p> + +<p>“Frank, say the word, and let’s pick up a bit!” he +complained.</p> + +<p>“Just a little, then,” was the reply the other made.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[193]</span> +as yet any need of shortening the distance between +the leaders and themselves, that Frank gave in so +readily.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And it was perhaps not strange that just then<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[194]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He made quick motions with his hand, at the same +time shouting ere they had gained a point abreast +of where he lay:</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[195]</span> +ker-flop! Go on! Beat ’em both out! You can do +it! Columbia forever! Oh!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>At the same time, upon hearing those significant +words uttered by the injured Columbia student, he +and Lanky exchanged looks.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“S’pose he did the trick, Frank?” asked Lanky, +showing that he too was wrestling over the possibility +of such a thing.</p> + +<p>“Not unless he’d practiced it a hundred times,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[196]</span> +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!”</p> + +<p>“Huh! how about you?” grunted the other.</p> + +<p>“Same here, if I get the chance,” was all Frank +said in reply.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Now the five-mile mark had been turned, and they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[197]</span> +were once more circling, with the intention of heading +for home.</p> + +<p>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.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[198]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXII<br> + +<small>COLUMBIA’S LAST CHANCE</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">On</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[199]</span> +that Lanky was in fit shape for the greatest effort +of his life.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The trees were of unusual size, and grew so<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[200]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Four miles more to run!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Can’t we go a <i>little</i> faster, Frank?” Lanky asked, +as they struck the big woods; and the look he turned<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[201]</span> +on his chum was more expressive than even his +words.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” he gasped.</p> + +<p>“Look ahead, at the side of the road!” answered +the other, between his set teeth.</p> + +<p>Frank did so, and immediately echoed Lanky’s +cry.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>But the sharp eyes of Lanky had made an additional +discovery. It was not any too bright there<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[202]</span> +under those great trees; but Lanky was noted for +his keen eyesight.</p> + +<p>“It isn’t Coddling at all!” he called out, as he ran +on.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Wow! it’s Bill Klemm!” burst from Lanky, who +had been staring at the pained face of the boy.</p> + +<p>The fellow immediately stretched out both hands +toward the runners, and called to them in a weak +voice that quite wrung Frank’s heart.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[203]</span> +I will. Oh! it’s terrible, the pain! Frank, Lanky, +help me!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“We must help him, Frank!” said Lanky, firmly.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Frank had to do some pretty tall thinking just<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[204]</span> +then. He would not desert Bill, but was there any +necessity for both of them to give up the run?</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>But he sturdily put the clamps on when he felt +this spirit trying to choke the generous impulses of +his heart.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe28_125" id="i_p204a"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p204a.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"><p class="caption">“GO ON, I TELL YOU, LANKY, YOU MUST WIN THIS RACE!”<br> + +<small><i>Boys of Columbia High in Track Athletics.</i> <span class="gap"><i>Page <a href="#Page_205">205</a>.</i></span></small></p> +</figcaption> +</figure> + + +<p>Lanky must go on, and do his level best for Old<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[205]</span> +Columbia; leaving to him the less pleasant duty +of caring for the injured Bill Klemm.</p> + +<p>“I’ll look after him, Lanky; you keep right along, +and beat them out! Hear?” he exclaimed, turning +on his chum.</p> + +<p>Lanky shook his head in the negative.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>must</i> +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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[206]</span> +toward the injured boy, was saying gladly to himself:</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[207]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXIII<br> + +<small>THE END OF THE LONG RUN</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Where</span> are Asa Barnes and Wat Kline?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“The skunks deserted me at the last!” grumbled +Bill, gasping with the agony he was doubtless enduring.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[208]</span> +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!”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>So he waved his hand to Wentworth, and called +out:</p> + +<p>“Go on! Don’t stop for a second, Wentworth! +You’ve still got some show! One of our Columbia<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[209]</span> +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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“My chance for making that prize has gone anyway,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[210]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“Doctor, yes, that’s what I need, boys!” muttered +Bill, weakly.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>little</i> chance, only that duty held you on the road. +Hi! Keating, we want you here!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What’s all this mean?” he asked, in a gasp, as +he came up.</p> + +<p>“A fellow has been badly hurt, and we’ve got to +get him to town,” Mallory explained.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[211]</span> +remarked just then, knowing that it was their only +chance.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[212]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Sure enough, there was no one home at that hour. +Chickens were in evidence; a litter of pigs grunted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[213]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>But the house was closed, and the door locked!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[214]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Borne on the late afternoon breeze came the familiar +chorus of voices that the efficient cheer captain, +Herman Hooker, led with such powerful effect.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“Ho! ho! ho! hi! hi! hi! <i>veni! vidi! vici!</i> We +came, we saw, we conquered! Columbia! ’Rah!”</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>And Frank felt content that it was so.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[215]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXIV<br> + +<small>WHEN THE MESSAGE CAME</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Oh! Frank!</span>”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What’s up, Lanky?” asked Frank; “They tell +me you came in ahead, all right, and that Columbia<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[216]</span> +will blaze with bonfires to-night because of your +great work.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Well, what are you going to do about it?” asked +Frank.</p> + +<p>“Get the little girl before those gyps hike out,” +came the reply.</p> + +<p>“Just us two go into that camp, where there are +something like five husky men, with faces I don’t +altogether like?” questioned Frank.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[217]</span> +a surprise, if the thing worked out right. Hit her +up now, and get dressed. I’ll go along and hurry +things.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[218]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Now tell me something about how you came in,” +demanded Frank, after they were well started on +the little run to Budd’s Corners.</p> + +<p>“Oh; on the jump, sure!” replied Lanky, with +one of his usual laughs.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“I passed Coddling first of all,” the other remarked.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[219]</span> +“I think he made some sort of sarcastic +remark; but then that was only what you’d expect.”</p> + +<p>“And Parker?” persisted Frank.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“But you didn’t go to all that trouble, Lanky?” +remarked Frank, laughing at the way the other +put it.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[220]</span>“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.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“It might have been yours, if you hadn’t made me +go on, and leave you with Bill,” grumbled the unselfish +tall chum.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[221]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Which is her wagon, Lanky?” demanded the +Chief, hurriedly.</p> + +<p>“That biggest one, with all the gold paint, and +pictures on the panels, over yonder,” replied the +boy, pointing.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[222]</span> +a few dogs frightened off by the hostile demeanor of +the men in blue uniforms.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“The warrant, if you please, Lanky!” he said in +his heavy voice.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then the pompous Chief knocked upon the closed +door of the van. It was immediately opened, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[223]</span> +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:</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[224]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXV<br> + +<small>THE STOLEN CHILD</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">With</span> 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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[225]</span> +that not a single one of her men was within call. +So she knew she must give up.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>She looked eagerly at the boys, and seeing Lanky, +held out her hands toward him.</p> + +<p>“What is your name, little girl?” Lanky asked, +ready to give a shout, so filled with excitement did +he seem.</p> + +<p>“Effie!” was the quick reply, in a childish voice,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[226]</span> +as the little one shrank from the old queen, who must +have been very cruel to her, Frank thought.</p> + +<p>“That settles it!” yelled Lanky, as he turned on +Frank, the light of a second great victory in one +day filling his dancing eyes.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[227]</span> +for traces of the long-lost daughter of the rich +Elversons.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The tribe disappeared that same hour, nor did +they ever again come back to the vicinity of +Columbia.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I’m the Lanky Wallace that sent the message, +Mr. Elverson!” cried the boy; and his happy face +caused the lady to cry:</p> + +<p>“Oh! tell me, have you found her, my poor little +lamb?”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[228]</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Later on they had to go over the whole story, +telling everything that had the slightest connection +with the gypsies and little Effie.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[229]</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[230]</span> +was put away; only to be worn on Sundays, and +special occasions; for it would do him when he +grew up.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p class="center">THE END.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="transnote"> +<p class="ph1">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:</p> + +<p>Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.</p> + +<p>Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.</p> + +<p>Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.</p> +</div></div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75171 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/75171-h/images/cover.jpg b/75171-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d983d8e --- /dev/null +++ b/75171-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/75171-h/images/coversmall.jpg b/75171-h/images/coversmall.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ca6e427 --- /dev/null +++ b/75171-h/images/coversmall.jpg diff --git a/75171-h/images/i_f000.jpg b/75171-h/images/i_f000.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3a1ba85 --- /dev/null +++ b/75171-h/images/i_f000.jpg diff --git a/75171-h/images/i_p012a.jpg b/75171-h/images/i_p012a.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4bf54fc --- /dev/null +++ b/75171-h/images/i_p012a.jpg diff --git a/75171-h/images/i_p080a.jpg b/75171-h/images/i_p080a.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0227950 --- /dev/null +++ b/75171-h/images/i_p080a.jpg diff --git a/75171-h/images/i_p204a.jpg b/75171-h/images/i_p204a.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..34f6c93 --- /dev/null +++ b/75171-h/images/i_p204a.jpg diff --git a/75171-h/images/i_title.jpg b/75171-h/images/i_title.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2756c30 --- /dev/null +++ b/75171-h/images/i_title.jpg |
