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+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75952 ***
+
+
+[Illustration: JOE LOWERED HIS BICYCLE TOWARDS PAUL.
+
+                                                    “Rival Bicyclists.”]
+
+
+
+
+  THE RIVAL BICYCLISTS;
+
+  OR,
+
+  FUN AND ADVENTURE ON THE WHEEL.
+
+  BY CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL,
+
+  _Author of “Gun and Sled,” “The Young Oarsmen of Lakeview,”
+  “Leo the Circus Boy,” etc., etc._
+
+  [Illustration]
+
+  CHICAGO:
+  M. A. DONOHUE & CO.
+
+
+
+
+  COPYRIGHT, 1897.
+  BY
+  W. L. ALLISON CO.
+
+
+
+
+THE RIVAL BICYCLISTS.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+OFF ON THE WHEEL.
+
+
+“What do you say to a ride to Greenpoint and back to-night, Dick?”
+
+“That suits me, Joe.”
+
+“It will be full moonlight, and the ride over the valley road will be
+elegant.”
+
+“True enough. When shall we start?”
+
+“As soon as we have had supper.”
+
+The two speakers were Dick Burns and Joe Johnson.
+
+Dick Burns was the only son of the leading lawyer in Lockport. He was a
+bright fellow of seventeen, and a bicycle rider of no mean ability.
+
+The other boy was Joe Johnson, the hero of the present tale.
+
+At the time of which we write Joe was not quite fifteen years of age.
+He had been born in a little town in Ohio called Rayford’s Run, but
+ere he was seven years old his parents moved to Lockport, where Mr.
+Johnson obtained employment in a large carpet works.
+
+Joe attended the village school and had a host of friends. Every one
+liked the young fellow because he was so straightforward and honest in
+all he did. “You can trust Joe to do it,” was a common expression among
+his schoolmates.
+
+Just three months before the opening of this story Joe had become the
+proud possessor of a bicycle. It had cost a neat little sum of money,
+but he had earned every dollar of it himself by doing odd jobs during
+off hours from school and home duties.
+
+Joe was very proud of his wheel, and he soon learned to ride
+exceedingly well.
+
+“Keep on, Joe, and you’ll become an expert,” said Dick to him one day.
+
+“I wouldn’t like anything better,” returned Joe promptly.
+
+That evening, long before the sun went down, the moon came up full and
+clear.
+
+Dick Burns ate his supper as soon as he could and then hurried around
+to Joe’s house.
+
+“Joe!”
+
+“Coming!” was the reply from the woodshed. “Just wait till I put this
+wood in the box behind the kitchen stove.”
+
+Having finished his evening chores, Joe came out with his wheel.
+
+He wore a neat suit his mother had made for him, and cut a nice figure
+as he rode away by Dick Burns’ side.
+
+As the two wheeled through the village they met pretty Carrie Burns,
+Dick’s sister.
+
+Joe tipped his hat and stopped to chat with her a few minutes.
+
+There was a tall, slim boy who saw this and scowled deeply from behind
+a pile of boxes at the corner grocery. This boy was Lemuel Akers, and
+he was Joe’s one enemy.
+
+On one occasion Lemuel had given Joe the lie direct in school, and,
+much to his astonishment, had been knocked down for doing it.
+
+There had been a short fight, and Joe had shown that he was clearly the
+stronger boy of the two, even though he was much smaller than Lemuel.
+
+The tall boy hated Joe greatly, and was watching his chances to “get
+square,” as he termed it.
+
+He did not attack Joe openly, but, instead, waited to do some mean
+trick behind Joe’s back.
+
+“Going off for a ride, eh?” muttered Lemuel Akers, as Joe and Dick
+proceeded on their way. “I would like to make trouble for him while he
+is gone! I wonder if I can’t think of something.”
+
+All unconscious of what was going on in Lemuel’s mind, Joe pushed on
+his pedals and made a spurt.
+
+“Catch me, Dick!” he called, and a lively race took place, and was kept
+up until the outskirts of the place for which they were bound were
+reached.
+
+Greenpoint was a fine town on the edge of a great lake, and here the
+two boys took a half-hour’s rest, while Dick, who always had pocket
+money, treated to soda water.
+
+The rest over, Dick proposed that they return home by a different route.
+
+“Let us go up Bacon Hill,” he said. “We have got lots of time, and
+coasting down the other side will be simply immense.”
+
+“It’s pretty risky coasting on that hill in the moonlight,” replied Joe.
+
+“Oh, it’s all right. I was over the road only two days ago and it is in
+prime condition.”
+
+“All right, come on. I can’t bear to rest any longer.”
+
+Off they went again, but this time not so fast, as there was a long and
+rather steep hill to climb.
+
+The top reached, they stopped just a minute to look over the
+surrounding landscape, bathed in the white light of the full moon, and
+then started on the down grade leading to the Pentaco River, and back
+to Lockport.
+
+A single push on the pedals was sufficient. The grade was not great,
+but it was enough, and with their feet up on the coasters they went
+flying down the long stretch, gaining additional speed as they advanced.
+
+“Fine, eh?” cried Dick Burns.
+
+“Immense!” yelled Joe, who was in the lead. “Come on!”
+
+“I’m coming,” was his reply.
+
+But try his best, Dick could not quite reach Joe.
+
+Over a mile was passed without the least accident, and then, far
+beyond, the two saw the river winding along and sparkling in the pale
+light.
+
+On the other side of the stream there was another hill, so the “fly”
+would have to end at the bridge.
+
+“Now for a grand finish!” called out Joe. “Catch me, if you can, Dick!”
+
+“I’m coming!” sang out his companion again.
+
+Nearer and nearer they came to the river, Joe still well in advance.
+
+Suddenly both boys saw something which made their hearts fairly leap
+into their throats.
+
+The bridge was down!
+
+That very afternoon the workmen had torn down the wooden structure, to
+replace it soon with one of iron.
+
+The boys had ridden along so fast that neither had noticed the several
+notices posted up that the river could not be crossed on this road.
+
+“The bridge is gone!” groaned Dick Burns.
+
+Joe said nothing.
+
+It was impossible for the bicyclists to stop on that downward grade.
+
+Almost before they could think, they were within twenty feet of the
+river.
+
+It was a rock-bound mountain torrent, not deep, but highly dangerous.
+
+A fall from the road into it, at the speed at which they were going,
+would certainly mean death.
+
+Could the two boys escape?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+OUT OF A PERILOUS SITUATION.
+
+
+Joe and Dick had to think and act quickly, for they were going at such
+speed that another second must decide their fate.
+
+“To the right!” yelled Joe.
+
+There was no time to say more.
+
+He switched off, and at the same time threw his whole weight over.
+
+The wheels of his bicycle slid along the road several yards, and it was
+only Joe’s skill that prevented him from taking the nastiest kind of a
+header.
+
+Then he ran upon some planking from the torn-away bridge.
+
+Dick tried to follow his lead, but was not so fortunate. He flew off
+his machine, and when Joe stopped, Dick went sailing directly over his
+head.
+
+Both finally found themselves mixed up in a mass of planks and beams.
+
+At first Joe could scarcely collect his thoughts. His clothing was
+much torn, and his left arm had been badly wrenched.
+
+Dick Burns was unconscious.
+
+Joe thought for the instant his friend was killed, and in his horror
+forgot all about his own bruises.
+
+He picked Dick up and laid him down on the near-by grass. Then Dick
+stirred slightly, and Joe knew he was still alive.
+
+He ran down to a pool and got some water in his cap, with which he
+bathed Dick’s face. He also rubbed his chum’s wrists.
+
+Finally he had the satisfaction of seeing Dick open his eyes with a
+deep sigh.
+
+“Dick, are you hurt?” he asked.
+
+“I don’t know. I hit my chest.”
+
+“Maybe you broke a rib or two?”
+
+“I don’t know.”
+
+It was fully fifteen minutes before Dick felt like sitting up.
+
+By that time he felt sure that no bones had been broken. But he was so
+sore he could not think of riding home.
+
+“We will have to go back to Greenpoint, and I would give out inside of
+a mile,” he said.
+
+“If I could get a wagon we might drive home,” said Joe.
+
+They talked the matter over, and finally our hero started off to hunt
+up a wagon.
+
+He knew a number of farmers in the district, and felt pretty certain he
+could get a turnout from one or the other of them, especially when he
+made known that he wanted to take home Lawyer Burns’ son, who had been
+hurt.
+
+Joe’s wheel, strange to say, had sustained no damage outside of a few
+bent spokes, and now he went off on the machine, leaving Dick sitting
+on the old bridge lumber.
+
+“Come back as soon as you can, Joe.”
+
+“Of course, Dick.”
+
+The river was soon left out of sight, and Joe turned into a by-road,
+lined on either side with heavy trees.
+
+Beneath, the trees formed an archway, which in the heat of the day gave
+a grateful shade to travelers.
+
+But now, in spite of the moonlight, it was very dark here, and Joe had
+to slacken his speed for fear of going into a hole or striking a stone.
+
+“I don’t want another trip-up,” he thought, as he pedaled along. “One
+such in a month is enough.”
+
+Our hero was very thankful that he had escaped a plunge into the river.
+
+Halfway to the house he was bound for the lad heard the sounds of
+voices coming from the roadside.
+
+“I’m dead hungry, Gimpy,” he heard in the rough voice of a tramp. “Wot
+yer got fer supper?”
+
+“Dare ain’t nuthin’ but a couple o’ handouts, Jimmie,” was the reply
+from a second tramp.
+
+“Dat won’t do fer me. Say! Dare’s a big henhouse up at dat farm I just
+passed.”
+
+“I know it.”
+
+“Suppose we rake in a chicken or two? Da will go fine after wot we’ve
+had.”
+
+“Dat’s so.”
+
+“Dare ain’t nobuddy around der place but an old man an’ an old woman,
+and da’ll be going ter bed soon.”
+
+“Well, I’m wid yer.”
+
+Joe listened to this conversation with keen interest. He had stopped
+behind a big tree and had heard every word spoken.
+
+He knew the farmhouse to which the two tramps referred. It was the very
+place for which he was bound.
+
+The farmer’s name was Josiah Arkley, and he lived on the place with
+Susan, his sister.
+
+They kept no hired help, and the farm was a good quarter mile from any
+other.
+
+It would be an easy matter for the tramps to rob Josiah Arkley’s
+henhouse, for the old man and his sister always retired early.
+
+Besides, the old pair were both slightly deaf, and it was not likely
+that they would hear the disturbance among the fowls.
+
+As silently as a cat Joe left the vicinity. Once out of earshot of the
+tramps, he sped along to the Arkley farmhouse as fast as his wheel
+would carry him.
+
+As he had surmised, the place was dark, for the old couple had long
+before gone to bed.
+
+It took a deal of hammering on the front door to arouse Josiah Arkley.
+
+“Who’s there?” he demanded, as he popped his head out of an upper
+window.
+
+“Joe Johnson, Mr. Arkley.”
+
+“And what brings you here, Joe?” asked the old farmer in surprise.
+
+“Two things, sir. Come down as soon as you can, please.”
+
+“I will.”
+
+The window was shut down and all became quiet again.
+
+Soon a light appeared below, the door was thrown open and Joe entered
+the farmhouse, taking his wheel with him. He found both of the old
+folks had dressed and come down.
+
+“Now, what’s up, Joe?” asked the old man in a trembling voice.
+
+“Well, in the first place, two tramps are on their way here to rob your
+hen roost.”
+
+“Land sakes alive!” burst out Susan. “You don’t mean it, Joe?”
+
+“Wait till I get my gun,” went on Josiah.
+
+He ran into the kitchen and returned with an old-fashioned blunderbuss
+which was loaded and ready for use.
+
+In a few words Joe told of the conversation he had overheard, to which
+the farmer and his sister listened with interest.
+
+“I’ll fix ’em,” muttered Josiah.
+
+He turned out the light and led the way to the shed built on the side
+of the kitchen.
+
+From here a good view of the chicken-house, not a hundred feet away,
+could be obtained.
+
+Joe looked out of the window over the old man’s shoulder.
+
+“Here they come!” he whispered, for the two tramps had just leaped a
+side fence.
+
+The intruders separated, and while one remained on guard, the other
+made a tour around the house.
+
+Apparently satisfied that they were not observed, the two tramps
+sneaked back toward the chicken-house.
+
+In this building old Josiah Arkley kept about two dozen prize fowls.
+
+He did not believe in owning many, but what he did have were of the
+best, many of them being worth three and four dollars apiece for
+breeding purposes.
+
+The sight of the tramps excited the old man very much, and it was with
+difficulty that Joe and old Susan kept him from shooting down the
+would-be offenders without warning.
+
+“Why don’t you capture them and take them to jail?” suggested Joe.
+
+“I can’t capture two men alone.”
+
+“I’ll help you,” said Joe.
+
+“So will I,” added Susan Arkley.
+
+The two latter at once armed themselves.
+
+Joe procured Josiah Arkley’s heaviest cane, which was little short of
+being a club.
+
+Old Susan brought forth a broom--an old one which was worn down to a
+hard stub at the end.
+
+In the meanwhile one of the tramps had pried the padlock from the
+chicken-house door.
+
+Now one of them stood by the open door while the other went inside.
+
+“Come on!” whispered Josiah Arkley, and he led the way out of the house.
+
+Silently the three sneaked along by the well and dairy until within six
+yards of the fowl-house.
+
+“You villains, throw up your hands or I will shoot!” suddenly cried
+Josiah Arkley.
+
+The tramps were dumfounded for the minute. Then the one at the door
+began to yell.
+
+“Dere’s onto us, Gimpy!”
+
+“Stand still, do you hear?” cried old Josiah.
+
+“Not much!” howled the fellow called Jimmie. “I ain’t doin’ time dis
+summer!” and he started to run.
+
+Bang! went the blunderbuss, and the tramp received a dose of shot in
+his leg and fell groaning beside the dairy.
+
+Then out came the second tramp. Joe rushed at him and struck him with
+the club.
+
+The tramp turned on our hero, and a second later both were rolling over
+and over on the ground.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+JOE IS ACCUSED OF A CRIME.
+
+
+The tramp did not mean that he should be captured. The summer was at
+its height, and during this portion of the year tramps hate to be sent
+to jail.
+
+In the winter they do not mind it so much, for then they are assured of
+a warm place to stay and enough to eat.
+
+But Joe had made up his mind to capture the tramp.
+
+He held on with a great grip, and in vain the vagabond tried to shake
+him off.
+
+“Let me git after him with the broom!” shrieked Susan Arkley, dancing
+about.
+
+While Joe was struggling old Josiah Arkley went after the tramp who had
+been shot.
+
+This fellow was full of rage, and now he threatened to injure the
+farmer’s head with a rock.
+
+It promised to be a lively time all around.
+
+But Joe soon settled matters, so far as it concerned the man with whom
+he was wrestling.
+
+He broke loose, and then the fellow received a blow in the face that
+made him shriek with pain.
+
+In the meantime Josiah Arkley had struck the other tramp with the end
+of the blunderbuss. Susan had followed with half a dozen whacks from
+the broom, and now the chap was pleading for mercy.
+
+“Give a feller a show ter live!” he groaned. “Oh! me head! Don’t hit me
+agin!”
+
+“Now, Susan, stand guard over him till I git a rope,” went on old
+Josiah.
+
+He disappeared into the barn and soon came out with ropes and old bits
+of harness. With these the tramp was secured, hands and feet.
+
+“Good for you, Joe,” exclaimed the old farmer, when he saw what our
+hero had accomplished.
+
+“Bind him, too, Mr. Arkley.”
+
+“Sure, Joe, sure,” was the reply, and soon the second tramp was a
+prisoner.
+
+Both were dragged into the barn and there bound fast to rings in
+separate stalls.
+
+The old farmer would take no chances of their escaping while he went to
+notify the authorities.
+
+The tramps in custody, Joe told the farmer about the accident at the
+bridge.
+
+Josiah Arkley at once agreed to let Joe have his large farm wagon and a
+team.
+
+This would give the two boys plenty of room for themselves and their
+bicycles.
+
+“You can put the team up in Mr. Burns’ barn, and I’ll be over for it
+to-morrow,” said the farmer.
+
+This was agreed to, and Joe drove off, taking Josiah Arkley with him
+until the turn in the road beyond the heavy trees was reached.
+
+Then the farmer left him to walk to the next village for a constable,
+while Joe turned the team toward the river.
+
+Our hero found Dick where he had left him.
+
+“You have been gone a long time, Joe,” cried Dick. “I thought you were
+never coming back.”
+
+“That’s so; I had something happen that I didn’t look for,” returned
+Joe.
+
+And as he helped Dick into the wagon on the top of a number of
+blankets, he told his friend of what had occurred. Dick was much
+astonished.
+
+“It’s a good job done to capture those tramps,” he remarked. “Father
+says the law against them isn’t half strong enough.”
+
+Joe piled the two bicycles on the back of the wagon. Dick’s was sadly
+bent and would have to be sent away for repairs.
+
+“Never mind,” said the lawyer’s son. “I am very thankful we both
+escaped with our lives.”
+
+“And so am I,” said Joe with a shudder, as he started the team off.
+
+On they jogged slowly until the few lights of the town appeared in
+sight. By this time Dick was much fatigued, and Joe had to drive slower
+than ever.
+
+When they turned into the Burns garden the house door opened and the
+lawyer came out.
+
+“Hullo! I thought it was Dick returning,” he called out.
+
+“It is I, father,” replied the son. “We’ve been in a smash-up.”
+
+At once the lawyer came down, and soon his wife and Carrie Burns
+followed.
+
+Dick was helped out of the wagon and almost carried into the house,
+where he was made comfortable on his bed.
+
+Dick told the lawyer about the team, and Mr. Burns willingly consented
+to keep it over night.
+
+“And I’ll pay Mr. Arkley, too,” he said.
+
+Joe put the team up and was on the point of leaving, when a man rushed
+up to the house.
+
+It was Simon Pepper, the village watchmaker. He kept a small store on
+the main street, filled with watches, clocks, and cheap jewelry.
+
+“Ha! I have you!” he cried, running up to Joe and catching our hero by
+the arm.
+
+“What’s the matter, Mr. Pepper?” asked Joe in surprise.
+
+“You know well enough what’s the matter,” fumed the watchmaker. He was
+a little man and of a very excitable nature.
+
+“I must say I haven’t the slightest idea,” returned Joe.
+
+“Indeed!” was the sneering return. “Maybe you haven’t been around my
+shop.”
+
+“I was around there yesterday to get our clock.”
+
+“Exactly; and you asked me about my highest-priced jewelry, too.”
+
+“I asked about the jewelry. I want to save up and get my mother a pin
+for her birthday.”
+
+“Just so, just so. And you took that key, you rascal!”
+
+“What key?”
+
+“You know well enough. Oh, you are a smart boy, Joe Johnson, but you
+can’t play any such trick on me.”
+
+And in his rage Simon Pepper shook his fist in Joe’s face.
+
+“Mr. Pepper, won’t you explain yourself?” put in Mr. Burns curiously.
+
+“Of course, of course, Mr. Burns, in a minute! But I can’t stand it to
+have this young rascal act so cool about it! Just as if he didn’t know
+a word!”
+
+“And I don’t know a word,” added Joe promptly.
+
+“Well, maybe you’ll know more when you are behind the bars! Do you
+hear? Behind the bars! I came to see Mr. Burns about the case.”
+
+“A case against Joe?” asked the lawyer.
+
+“Precisely, Mr. Burns.”
+
+“What has he done?”
+
+“Done enough to send him to State’s prison for ten years.”
+
+“Impossible!”
+
+“It is false!” burst from Joe’s lips. The lad could scarcely believe
+his ears.
+
+“It ain’t false; it’s true. Yesterday he was in my store and stole the
+key to the back door. To-night he has been in there and robbed me of
+nigh on to a hundred dollars’ worth of jewelry. I’m going to have him
+arrested, and then I’m going to get a warrant and search his home.”
+
+“I never stole a thing in my life!” ejaculated Joe.
+
+“I can prove it, boy, I can prove it! Do you know why? Because I found
+your knife back of the very showcase that was robbed. You used that
+knife to throw the catch back on the lock. Don’t you dare to deny it,
+or attempt to run away!”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+JOE DECLARES HIS INNOCENCE.
+
+
+For a moment Joe could not speak. Here he was accused of robbing Simon
+Pepper’s jewelry shop that very night, when he had not been near the
+place.
+
+He felt in his pocket. True enough, his pocket-knife was gone.
+
+“Oh, I’ve got the knife safe enough,” sneered Simon Pepper. “You
+needn’t look for it.”
+
+“Perhaps Joe dropped the knife yesterday, when he came for the clock,”
+suggested the lawyer.
+
+“No, he didn’t. I swept up, and I would have found it before.”
+
+“Joe has been out bicycling with my son.”
+
+“I can’t help that! He robbed the place, I feel sure of it,” snapped
+Simon Pepper. “I’m going to have him locked up, and then have his house
+searched.”
+
+“You can search the house, and welcome,” said Joe promptly. “You will
+find nothing there belonging to you.”
+
+“Maybe I will--unless you have taken the stuff off to some other
+place,” retorted the unreasonable jeweler.
+
+In vain Mr. Burns protested that Joe might be innocent. The hot-headed
+jeweler would not listen, and the upshot of the matter was that Joe was
+marched to the justice’s house.
+
+Here, as late as it was, a hearing was had.
+
+The watchmaker told his story, and told of the pocket-knife.
+
+Then he procured a search warrant, that he might search Mr. Johnson’s
+home.
+
+Joe accompanied the crowd to the house. His mother sat up waiting for
+him. She was very much disturbed, as Joe was in the habit of returning
+home much earlier than was now the time.
+
+“Oh, what is the matter!” she cried.
+
+“It’s all right, mother,” cried Joe. “Mr. Pepper has got it into his
+head that I robbed his shop, but I didn’t, and he can’t prove it.”
+
+“Oh, Joe!”
+
+Mr. Johnson was called, and soon he learned the particulars of the case
+on hand.
+
+He believed Joe’s story that he was innocent.
+
+Simon Pepper, with a constable, who had come along, now searched the
+house from cellar to garret. Of course, not a thing belonging to the
+watchmaker was found.
+
+“Didn’t I tell you so!” cried Joe, and not without a slight ring of
+triumph in his tones.
+
+After searching the house the party went to the barn, and to the
+woodshed, but all to no purpose.
+
+“You can easily see that you have made a mistake, Mr. Pepper,” said
+Joe’s father.
+
+“I don’t see. Maybe he has already sold the stuff he took,” growled the
+watchmaker.
+
+He would not listen to Joe’s story of the accident on the road, and of
+what had happened at old Josiah Arkley’s house.
+
+He wanted Joe arrested, and the justice had to take his complaint.
+
+But the official knew Mr. Burns very well, and at once accepted bail
+from the lawyer for the boy.
+
+“And I’ll defend you when the trial comes off,” he said to Joe. “We all
+believe you innocent.”
+
+Joe went home with his father rather downcast. It was one thing to be
+innocent, but it was quite another to prove it. He knew many in the
+village would look at him as a thief.
+
+A shadow on one’s character is very depressing.
+
+On the following day Joe called on Dick Burns, and found him much
+improved, but still unable to go out. It would be some time before
+Dick would be able to ride his wheel again.
+
+“Pepper must be crazy!” declared Dick. “Never mind, I’ll tell what I
+know of the matter. You were with me nearly all the evening.”
+
+“One thing is certain,” said Joe. “His store was robbed. I wonder who
+did it?”
+
+“Maybe tramps,” suggested Dick, and there the question dropped.
+
+Joe was glad of one thing, and that was that Dick’s sister also looked
+on him as being innocent.
+
+Several days went by, and Joe’s trial was set down for the last
+Wednesday in the month.
+
+In the meanwhile the boys at Elmwood, four miles from Lockport, got up
+an amateur bicycle tournament.
+
+Joe entered the two-mile event, along with half a dozen boys from
+Elmwood, and three lads from Lockport.
+
+Among those from the latter place was Lemuel Akers. The big boy was
+conceited enough to think he would win the race, although there were a
+score of boys in the district who could ride better than he.
+
+Joe was not so certain of himself, but he told Dick he would do his
+best.
+
+“And that’s all a chap can do, you know,” he said.
+
+“Do your best, Joe, and you will win,” said his chum confidently.
+
+The day for the races dawned bright and clear, and among those who
+attended were Joe’s parents and the entire Burns family.
+
+Joe cut a very trim figure as he rode on to the track in the parade,
+which headed off the entertainment.
+
+Only one boy looked at our hero with disdain, and that was Lemuel.
+
+As he passed Joe he muttered something about “jailbird.”
+
+“What’s that?” demanded Joe sharply.
+
+“You heard me well enough,” sneered the big boy.
+
+Scarcely had he spoken when Joe leaned from his seat and struck Akers
+over the mouth with the flat of his hand.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+JOE’S FIRST RACE.
+
+
+Several who were riding close by saw Joe strike Akers.
+
+As for Lemuel himself, he was so astonished that for the moment he
+could scarcely speak.
+
+“What do you mean by that?” he managed to gasp at last.
+
+He had half-leaped, half-tumbled from his machine, and now he strode up
+to Joe, his face dark with passion.
+
+“I mean a good deal,” retorted Joe, and he leaped down in front of
+Akers.
+
+“What’s the row, Joe?”
+
+“What did you strike Akers for?”
+
+“It’s against the rules to scrap on the grounds.”
+
+“He called me a jailbird, boys, and I won’t take that from any one,
+rules or no rules.”
+
+“For shame, Akers!”
+
+“Joe hasn’t been proved guilty yet.”
+
+“And he isn’t guilty, to my way of thinking.”
+
+Nearly all of the boys sided with Joe.
+
+“Humph, evidently you are all with him, and I’ve got no rights here,”
+growled Lemuel Akers.
+
+“You have certainly no right to call him a jailbird,” returned the
+manager of the races warmly. “I don’t blame Joe for slapping you in the
+mouth.”
+
+“I’ll fix him for it!” grumbled Lemuel, but instead of advancing upon
+Joe, who stood on guard and ready to administer a good thrashing to the
+bully, he backed away, mounted his wheel, and rode off to another part
+of the grounds.
+
+After that Akers was knowing enough to keep out of Joe’s way until the
+two-mile race came off.
+
+There was that in Joe’s eye that warned him to beware, and, as we have
+said before, he was a coward at heart.
+
+The two-mile race was the last of all.
+
+A big crowd had assembled, for several valuable prizes were to be given
+to the winners of the first and second place.
+
+The boys lined up in good form.
+
+“All ready?”
+
+There was no answer.
+
+Bang!
+
+Off went the pistol, and off went the racers. It was a splendid start.
+
+The track was a quarter of a mile around, so the boys had to cover
+eight laps in order to make the two miles.
+
+At the first lap one of the Elmwood boys was in the lead, with Lemuel
+Akers second, and another boy third.
+
+The second lap was the same, excepting that Lemuel was crowding the
+leader pretty closely.
+
+“Akers is going to win that race!”
+
+“I’ll bet on Donnelly!”
+
+On the third lap Joe dropped to fourth place.
+
+“Wake up, Joe!” shouted Dick Burns. “Wake up!”
+
+Joe paid no attention to this remark, but kept his eyes straight ahead.
+
+On the next lap there was a bunch up among the three last riders, and
+two went down, with the third over them.
+
+Friends helped the unfortunates off the track, just in time to avoid a
+collision with the leaders on the next lap.
+
+Around and around went the remaining riders until the last lap was on.
+
+Lemuel Akers was leading, Donnelly second, and Joe third.
+
+“Go it, Akers!”
+
+“Catch him, Donnelly!”
+
+“Go, Joe, go!”
+
+The last cry was from Dick Burns’ sister, and it seemed to put new life
+into our hero.
+
+Away he went like a flash. It was an extraordinary spurt, and told only
+too well what was in Joe’s make-up as a bicyclist.
+
+They were on the home stretch.
+
+Donnelly was also spurting.
+
+In vain Lemuel Akers tried to maintain his lead.
+
+Donnelly crept up inch by inch and finally passed him.
+
+“It’s Donnelly’s race!”
+
+“I told you he could beat Akers.”
+
+But now the crowd suddenly held its breath.
+
+Like a meteor Joe was coming up.
+
+Nothing could stop him.
+
+With flashing wheels he rushed by Akers.
+
+Donnelly was but a yard ahead.
+
+And the tape but ten yards distant.
+
+Donnelly did his best, but in vain.
+
+“Joe Johnson has won!”
+
+It was true, for our hero had come over the tape just one foot ahead of
+Donnelly.
+
+The crowd went wild and shouted itself hoarse. The Lockport boys rushed
+to Joe, hauled him from his wheel, and marched around the track with
+their hero on their shoulders.
+
+It was a great day for Joe, and one that he never forgot.
+
+Dick Burns was almost as much pleased as our hero.
+
+“I knew you could do it, Joe,” he said. “One of these days you will be
+a leading racer, mark my words.”
+
+And Dick’s sister also praised Joe.
+
+Lemuel Akers was much taken down by Joe’s victory. As soon as he could
+he left the race track grounds and started off for a little village
+called Bailey’s, two miles to the west.
+
+Here Akers spent a good two hours at the tavern.
+
+He was not above drinking, and now he took just enough to make him
+thoroughly ugly.
+
+“I’ll fix him yet,” muttered Lemuel to himself. “He shan’t ride it over
+me.”
+
+Lemuel felt doubly chagrined because Dick Burns’ sister no longer
+noticed him.
+
+It was not until evening that Akers started to return to Lockport.
+
+In the meanwhile Joe had returned home and had supper.
+
+Our hero felt rather wakeful after his hard ride, and thought a quiet
+spin on his wheel just before going to bed would do him good.
+
+So he went off alone, a crowd of boys cheering him as he passed out of
+sight.
+
+He was a hero, and for the time being, at least, the fact that he was
+under suspicion was forgotten.
+
+Joe pedaled along for about a mile very slowly. Then he came to a part
+of the road which was fringed with blackberry bushes. The ripe fruit
+looked so tempting that he dismounted, and, setting his machine against
+a tree, began to gather some to eat. While he was doing this Lemuel
+Akers came along.
+
+“Hullo! what are you doing there?” he demanded.
+
+“None of your business,” replied Joe sharply. He had not forgotten
+Lemuel’s insult at the race track.
+
+“Don’t you know this is my uncle’s land?” went on the big boy.
+
+“It’s not fenced in, and any one has a right to pick these berries
+along the road,” responded our hero.
+
+“You have no right, and I want you to skip!” roared Akers savagely.
+
+And then, as he rode close to Joe, he struck our hero with a stout
+stick he carried.
+
+“That’s for hitting me at the race track,” he cried, and wheeled off at
+top speed.
+
+Joe was somewhat stunned by the blow from the stick. He staggered into
+the bushes, and in consequence one hand was scratched in several places.
+
+But he quickly recovered, and, mounting his wheel, rode after Akers.
+
+Finding himself pursued, the bully pedaled along at top speed down a
+side road. At first it looked as if he would get away from Joe, but
+just as the foot of a long hill was reached, our hero caught up beside
+him.
+
+“Stop, Akers, or I’ll knock you off of your machine!” cried Joe.
+
+“Don’t you dare to touch me!” screamed Akers.
+
+He tried to go on, and, seeing this, Joe gave him a shove, which hurled
+the rascal to the ground.
+
+Lemuel went down on his bicycle, half a dozen spokes of which were
+badly bent in the fall. When he arose he found Joe also on the ground,
+but on his feet.
+
+“Now, see what you have done, you jailbird,” he cried.
+
+“Take back those words, Lemuel Akers!” exclaimed Joe. “I warned you
+before, and I won’t warn you again.”
+
+“I won’t take ’em back,” howled the big boy. “You are a jailbird and a
+thief, and every one----”
+
+Lemuel went no further.
+
+Joe’s right fist shot out like lightning. The big boy was caught fairly
+on the chin, and over he went flat on his back in the dirt of the road.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+PAUL JOHNSON’S PERIL.
+
+
+Lemuel Akers was so dazed by the blow he had received that it was fully
+a minute before he recovered sufficiently to stand on his feet.
+
+“What did you hit me with that club for?” he bellowed.
+
+“I hit with my fist, and I’ll do it again unless you take back what you
+said,” replied Joe. “I’ll fight you with one hand,” he added.
+
+Lemuel Akers was fearfully frightened. He had never imagined that our
+hero was so strong. He glared at Joe, but did not dare attack him just
+then.
+
+“I’ll fix you one of these days,” he muttered, and picked up his wheel.
+
+“I want you to take back what you said,” went on Joe calmly, and he
+came a step closer to Lemuel.
+
+The big boy was now thoroughly scared. He would have run away, but he
+understood that such an attempt would be fruitless.
+
+“I--I--maybe I made a mistake,” he whined.
+
+“You are a low, despicable fellow, Lemuel Akers! Now go; and beware how
+you speak of me in the future.”
+
+So speaking, Joe turned on his heel, mounted his wheel, and rode off.
+He was thoroughly disgusted with Lemuel.
+
+The meeting had disturbed our hero not a little, and it took an hour’s
+riding to make him easy in mind once more.
+
+Lemuel’s words rang most unpleasantly in his ears. Would they convict
+him when the trial came off? Would they really send him to jail? The
+thought was fearful. His fair name would be blasted forever.
+
+“I must do something toward clearing myself,” he thought. “If only I
+could find the real thief!”
+
+On the following day a heavy storm came up. It rained for forty-eight
+hours, and, in consequence, the river which flowed to the west of
+Lockport was considerably swollen.
+
+Joe’s younger brother, Paul, owned a rowboat, which was tied up on this
+stream. The rowboat broke away, and on the day it cleared, Paul went
+off in search of his property.
+
+Joe had some work to do about the house after school hours, but about
+four o’clock in the afternoon he finished up, and then rode off on his
+wheel to see what had become of Paul, and if his brother’s boat had
+been found.
+
+The roads were heavy after the rain, and wheeling was not very good.
+Joe went along slowly, and in several places he had to dismount and
+walk.
+
+Just as he neared the stream he met three villainous-looking tramps.
+They had been camping out in an old shanty by the roadside. The tramps
+saw Joe some distance off, and at once began to whisper together.
+
+“Hi, there, young feller!” called one of the tramps.
+
+“What is it?” asked Joe.
+
+“Give us a bit of terbacker, will yer?”
+
+“I don’t use it.”
+
+“Then give us the price o’ a paper, that’s a good son.”
+
+“I have nothing for you.”
+
+“Don’t git imperdent, son.”
+
+And then the three tramps placed themselves directly in Joe’s path.
+
+It was a lonely part of the road, and our hero realized that the tramps
+intended to stop him and go through his pockets. It was not the first
+time such a hold-up had occurred in the vicinity.
+
+“Clear the way!” cried Joe sharply.
+
+“Just you step down and pony up,” returned the leader of the trio.
+
+“I won’t. Look out!”
+
+As Joe spoke he turned back as if to retreat. At once the three tramps
+made after him.
+
+Our hero waited until they were somewhat scattered, and then he turned
+again.
+
+Like a flash he passed the two leading road ruffians.
+
+The third tramp, a slight-built fellow, was directly in his way.
+
+Whack! Joe’s wheel hit him directly in the side, and with a howl he
+went down in the mud.
+
+Joe was almost unseated, but he managed to right his machine, and on he
+went.
+
+When he had covered a good fifty yards he looked back. All three of the
+tramps were shaking their fists after him.
+
+“That’s the time I got out of a tight pocket,” said Joe to himself.
+
+The tramps did not remain long in the vicinity. They were afraid Joe
+would return with help and place them under arrest.
+
+Ten minutes later brought our hero to the river. He was surprised to
+see how greatly the recent rains had swollen it. From a small creek it
+had grown into a swiftly-flowing river.
+
+He looked up and down for Paul, but could see nothing of his brother.
+
+“I’ll go below to Factory Falls,” he thought. “Maybe the boat went over
+the falls and was smashed to pieces.”
+
+There was a fair road along the river bank, and along this our hero
+wheeled his way.
+
+Presently he came to an iron bridge which spanned the river. Not fifty
+feet below were the Factory Falls, where the waters dropped a distance
+of twenty feet and more.
+
+Joe wheeled on the bridge, and as he did so he noticed a rowboat away
+up the stream, with a single occupant in it.
+
+As the rowboat came nearer, Joe saw that the person in it was a boy. He
+was standing up and waving his hands wildly.
+
+“By jinks! That fellow has no oars!” exclaimed our hero suddenly.
+
+On came the rowboat. It was caught in the mad current, and in a few
+minutes more would pass under the bridge and be hurled over the roaring
+falls.
+
+Then Joe made a discovery that caused his heart to leap into his throat.
+
+The boat was Paul’s craft and the occupant was his brother!
+
+“Save me! Save me!” screamed Paul Johnson.
+
+He saw Joe and held out his hands in despair.
+
+What was to be done?
+
+A thought flashed across Joe’s mind. There was one way in which his
+brother might be saved--only one.
+
+Catching hold of one end of his bicycle our hero lowered the other end
+over the side of the bridge.
+
+He leaned down as far as he dared.
+
+“Catch hold of the wheel, Paul!” he yelled hoarsely.
+
+Ten seconds more and it would be decided if Paul Johnson would be saved
+or if he would be dashed over the falls to his death.
+
+The rowboat was coming along swiftly. Already it was in the shadow of
+the bridge.
+
+Joe bent down still further. One hand clutched the wheel, the other a
+brace of the bridge.
+
+And now the rowboat was directly beneath. Paul stretched out his hands,
+but could not reach the wheel.
+
+“Jump! It’s your only chance!” shouted Joe.
+
+And leaping on a seat, Paul jumped as high as he could.
+
+His fingers grasped the lower rim of the bicycle wheel.
+
+From under him swept the frail rowboat, to be dashed to pieces over
+the falls but a moment later.
+
+The weight of his brother’s body was a great strain on Joe, but he
+managed to keep himself on the bridge.
+
+“Hold tight, Paul!” he cried encouragingly.
+
+“I will, but I can’t climb!” gasped the younger boy.
+
+“I’ll pull you up!”
+
+And Joe did pull him up, until Paul was able to step upon a bridge
+support and spring to the foot-planks.
+
+Paul Johnson was saved!
+
+He let out a sob and threw himself into his brother’s arms.
+
+“Oh, Joe!”
+
+It was all he could say, but the way he uttered the words was enough.
+
+Joe was scarcely less affected. To lose his younger brother would have
+been a bitter blow to him.
+
+For some time the two boys remained on the bridge to catch their breath
+and to get over the intense strain they had endured.
+
+“Your boat is gone, Paul,” said Joe, at length.
+
+“I don’t care. I wouldn’t want to go on the river any more, anyhow,”
+shuddered Paul.
+
+“It always was a dangerous sport, Paul. Let us both save up, and we’ll
+buy a wheel for you to ride.”
+
+Paul was too much overcome to walk home, and he rode behind Joe the
+greater part of the distance.
+
+Our hero wanted to say nothing about the rescue, but Paul would not
+keep silent, and soon it was related how Joe had played the part of a
+hero.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+THE BULLY RECEIVES A LESSON.
+
+
+The next morning when Joe went to school he was immediately surrounded
+by a crowd of the boys.
+
+“Lemuel Akers says you intend to fight him with one hand,” said half a
+dozen at once.
+
+“I said I would,” replied Joe. “I don’t want to fight, but he must be
+more civil with his tongue.”
+
+Many of the boys shook their heads at this. They believed Joe could
+whip the bully with two hands, but when it came to one hand only they
+were doubtful.
+
+Many of the boys expected an encounter between the pair before school,
+but the bully was late and school was called when he came along.
+
+There would be no chance to fight at noon, so it was arranged that the
+encounter should occur after school.
+
+But toward the middle of the afternoon the sky grew black, and soon it
+began to rain.
+
+“That will spoil all,” said Larry Dare, one of the boys. “They can’t
+fight in a howling rainstorm.”
+
+“True,” replied Sam Anderson, another of the pupils. “They’ll have to
+wait until to-morrow.”
+
+When school let out it was raining as hard as ever.
+
+The master was in a hurry to get off and called one of the big boys to
+him.
+
+“Lathrop,” he said. “I am going off. If the boys want to stay in the
+schoolroom until it clears off let them. I will look to you to lock up.”
+
+“Yes, sir.”
+
+“And, Lathrop, see to it that no skylarking occurs,” added Mr.
+Chalmondey, as he left.
+
+“Yes, sir,” replied Lathrop again, and grinned from ear to ear.
+
+“Now is your chance, fellows!” he cried as soon as the master was gone.
+“Have it out and done with.”
+
+“I am willing,” said Joe quietly, but with determination.
+
+“So am I,” growled the bully, who felt sure that he could give our hero
+a sound drubbing.
+
+A piece of rope was procured, and after Joe had fixed up his clothing
+to suit himself, his left hand was tied behind him. Then Lemuel Akers
+faced him, and a ring was formed.
+
+“All ready?” asked Larry Dare. “Very well, now go in and wax him, Joe!”
+
+“It’s Lem will do the waxing!” retorted Jake Foley, one of the bully’s
+toadies.
+
+Our hero and the bully watched each other like two cats. For several
+seconds neither made any effort to reach each other.
+
+Then Lemuel struck out, but Joe leaped to one side.
+
+With only one hand it was useless to attempt to parry a blow.
+
+Then out shot his fist, and the bully caught a stinging blow that
+caused him to stagger back against a desk.
+
+“Good for Joe!” cried a large part of the crowd.
+
+As quickly as he could Lemuel rushed up once again. He struck out
+several times in quick succession and at last his left hand reached
+Joe’s neck.
+
+It left a long scratch behind it.
+
+Our hero immediately made an important discovery. Lemuel, even with the
+advantage of two hands against one, was not fighting him fair.
+
+The bully had something sharp concealed in the palm of each closed hand.
+
+The moment that Joe made the discovery that the bully was not fighting
+fair he called out time.
+
+“Got enough, have you!” cried Jake Foley.
+
+“I’ve got enough of this sort of fighting,” replied our hero calmly.
+
+“Why, what’s the matter, Joe?” questioned Larry.
+
+“Lemuel Akers is not fighting me fair.”
+
+At this announcement nearly all the boys were greatly astonished.
+
+“He is fighting fair,” blustered Jake Foley.
+
+“He is not--and you know it,” retorted Joe. “He has something hard and
+sharp doubled up in each hand.”
+
+“It’s a lie!” blustered the bully.
+
+“Make him open both of his hands!” suggested several boys.
+
+“You mind your own business,” put in Jake Foley.
+
+“It’s my business to see that Joe has a fair show,” said Larry Dare.
+
+“That’s right,” added Sam Anderson.
+
+“See here, I am here to fight, not to talk,” howled Lemuel.
+
+“But you must fight fair,” said Carl Lathrop. “If you are honest, open
+both of your hands.”
+
+This the bully would not do.
+
+While he was hesitating Joe winked to Larry.
+
+He retired for an instant, then came forward and caught the bully by
+both wrists.
+
+“Now open your fists,” he said sternly.
+
+“Let go my wrists.”
+
+In vain Lemuel tried to free himself.
+
+Jake Foley wanted to spring in at Joe, but Sam and Larry held him back.
+
+Soon Lemuel began to squirm, for Joe was pressing his wrists hard.
+
+“Don’t break my hands!” shrieked the bully at last.
+
+“Then open your fists,” said our hero, and unable to endure the
+pressure longer, the bully opened both hands.
+
+Two sharp pieces of iron about half an inch in diameter fell to the
+floor.
+
+A howl went up from the schoolboys.
+
+“Joe was right!”
+
+“Shame on you, Akers!”
+
+“Give him a big licking now, Joe!”
+
+Suddenly Joe let go his hold. Then he hauled off and gave the bully a
+sharp poke right in the nose.
+
+The blood spouted, and the bully fell with a crash up against a desk.
+For fully a minute he lay dazed, his eyes rolling wildly.
+
+Jake Foley assisted Lemuel to rise.
+
+As the big boy got up a vivid streak of lightning nearly blinded every
+one in the schoolroom.
+
+There followed a deafening peal of thunder, which shook the building
+from top to bottom. Instead of abating, the storm was increasing in
+violence.
+
+The thunder and lightning drove all thoughts of fighting out of the
+scholars’ minds. They huddled together, Joe surrounded by his friends.
+
+Not far away stood Lemuel and Foley, both shaking in their shoes.
+
+The rain came down in torrents, and Carl Lathrop went around to shut up
+all the windows.
+
+“This is the worst yet,” he said. “I’m glad I ain’t on the road.”
+
+“Maybe it would be safer on the road than in here,” observed Sam, as
+the roll of thunder sounded out again.
+
+“Maybe,” replied Carl.
+
+A few minutes passed, and it looked as if the rain was letting up.
+
+Akers and Foley moved toward the door, for they wished to get away just
+as quick as they could.
+
+“I’ll fix you another time,” growled the bully, looking toward Joe.
+
+“I’ll be ready for you any time,” returned our hero calmly. “But you’ll
+have to fight fair.”
+
+At that instant a blinding flash of lightning struck terror to nearly
+every one in the building.
+
+Amid the roar of thunder the lightning seemed to enter the schoolroom
+by the open doorway.
+
+It ran along several desks, and, with a report like that of a gun,
+disappeared up the chimney.
+
+Larry Dare was knocked flat, and several others were partly stunned.
+
+A sulphurous odor filled the place, and a moment later a fire blazed up
+near the chimneypiece.
+
+“Get out of here, boys!” cried Joe. “Quick!”
+
+Blinded and confused, the boys ran out of the building into the pelting
+rain.
+
+Joe waited long enough to pick up Larry’s unconscious form, and then he
+followed.
+
+There was a shed not far away, and here Larry was placed on an old
+door. He was not seriously hurt, and soon returned to consciousness.
+
+The boys were so bewildered they did not know what to do. They stood
+around like a flock of sheep.
+
+“The schoolhouse is on fire!” suddenly cried Carl Lathrop. “See the
+smoke coming out of the door!”
+
+But this report was not true, and presently the boys went back to the
+building. The bully of the school, however, had disappeared.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+A GALLANT SWIM.
+
+
+The next day on account of the damage to the chimney, which was almost
+completely demolished by the lightning, there was no school and Joe and
+Sam Anderson got together and went off for a morning’s fishing.
+
+The mountain streams about the place were much swollen because of the
+heavy rain, and they had little hope of catching much, but they thought
+the outing would be pleasant.
+
+They started out bright and early, their poles over their shoulders and
+their tackle in a basket.
+
+They soon had their lines in readiness, each fixed with a tempting bait.
+
+Joe was the first to cast in, and also the first to draw out a fine fat
+fish, but Sam was not far behind.
+
+Then they went further up the stream, each with a small string of fish
+at the end of his rod.
+
+Hardly a hundred feet had been covered when a shrill scream startled
+both boys.
+
+“What was that?” cried Sam, coming to a halt.
+
+“A woman’s voice,” responded our hero.
+
+Both listened intently.
+
+Again the shrill cry rang out, coming from some distance up the stream.
+
+“Come on!” called Joe, and set off on a run with Sam beside him.
+
+A beautiful young girl was struggling wildly in the middle of the
+swiftly-flowing stream.
+
+She had been in the act of crossing a cove when the bridge gave way in
+the center.
+
+“She will be drowned,” ejaculated Sam Anderson.
+
+“It is Carrie Burns!” called out Joe, a second later, and with a wildly
+beating heart.
+
+“What’s to do?” asked Sam, as he stood helpless.
+
+Our hero thought for a moment. To swim out into midstream and save the
+girl was out of the question. The water ran so swiftly no landing could
+be made with any burden.
+
+“The fishlines!” cried Joe. “Be quick, Sam.”
+
+He brought out his own line and Sam’s and twisted them together.
+
+Then fastening the end of this double line around his waist he leaped
+boldly into the mountain torrent.
+
+The water bubbled and foamed all around him. But he struck out
+undaunted.
+
+“Save me!” cried Carrie Burns, and then she went under the surface, to
+reappear at a distance of fifty feet down stream.
+
+When she came up Joe was but a few yards away. He struck out with
+renewed energy and soon managed to catch hold of her by the arm.
+
+“Cling to me, Carrie!” he said, “and I will save you.”
+
+“Oh, Joe, do not let me drown!” gasped the poor, frightened girl.
+
+She clung to our hero, and he called out to Sam to haul in on the
+fishlines.
+
+“And be careful,” he added, “or the line----”
+
+He got no further.
+
+Crack! Both lines parted and down the stream went Joe and the girl he
+was trying to save.
+
+The force of the mountain stream rolled our hero and the girl over and
+over.
+
+The girl gasped with terror and consequently swallowed a large quantity
+of water.
+
+This filled her with terror and she clutched at Joe’s neck until he was
+almost strangled.
+
+But he managed finally to keep her at a distance and in this manner
+they swept on and on.
+
+The boy knew that something must be done, and that quickly. The girl
+could not endure the water much longer.
+
+He looked ahead. Twenty yards further down stream was a clump of
+willows. Some of the long lashes hung within a foot or two of the
+surface of the bubbling torrent.
+
+Could he grasp hold as they sped by? He resolved to try.
+
+In a second more he was directly beneath the first of the overhanging
+boughs.
+
+He sprang up as far as he could and caught hold of a handful of the
+lashes.
+
+For a brief half-minute they held him, then one after another parted
+and he and his fair burden swept onward.
+
+But Joe was not dismayed by this failure.
+
+Another bough was reached, and again his hand went up. This time he
+caught hold of a strong bough, and although it bent far into the water,
+it did not break.
+
+“Sam! Sam!” he called.
+
+“I’m coming!” was the reply, and Sam Anderson appeared at the foot of
+the willow tree.
+
+“Can you crawl out on the limb and help me?”
+
+“I’ll try it,” replied Sam Anderson.
+
+Throwing down his rods and lines Sam began the ascent of the tree.
+
+Soon he was at a point directly over our hero’s head.
+
+Holding on to the willow lashes with one hand, Joe raised the limp form
+of the girl with the other.
+
+A lot of muscle was required to reach Sam, but it was not wanting.
+
+As soon as Sam had Carrie Burns safe on the upper branch Joe climbed
+into the tree without trouble.
+
+Between them they managed to get the girl to shore. Here they worked
+over her for ten minutes. At the end of that time she opened her eyes
+and sat up.
+
+“Where am I?” she asked faintly.
+
+“You are safe, Carrie, don’t worry,” replied Joe gently.
+
+It was a full hour before Carrie Burns felt strong enough to return to
+her home.
+
+Once again Joe was praised for his bravery. Mr. and Mrs. Burns were
+particularly warm toward our hero, while Dick fairly hugged him.
+
+On the following day school opened as usual.
+
+Jake Foley sneaked in without saying a word to anybody.
+
+Lemuel Akers did not appear, nor did he show up for a week. Then he
+pretended to ignore Joe entirely.
+
+About a week later Carl Lathrop proposed a game of hare and hounds.
+
+The others eagerly assented, and an afternoon was set for the game.
+
+Joe and Carl were chosen as hares, and Larry and Sam as captains of the
+hounds, or “whippers-in.”
+
+To those who have never played the game, we would say that the hares
+are given a certain time to get away in, leaving a trail of white bits
+of paper behind them. Usually a game lasts half, or at times a whole
+day.
+
+School let out early, and five minutes later our hero and Carl Lathrop
+were ready to leave, each with a big bag of white paper under his arm.
+
+“All ready!” asked Sam.
+
+“Yes.”
+
+“Then away! Ten minutes for a start and no more!”
+
+On the instant Joe and Carl were off.
+
+“Which way?” asked Carl.
+
+“Let us make for the Sand Cliffs.”
+
+“All right.”
+
+The Sand Cliffs were back of a long series of hills, about four miles
+from the schoolhouse.
+
+As the two boys ran on they talked about the others.
+
+“It’s funny Lemuel Akers wouldn’t join in,” said Carl. “I suppose he is
+mad because he wasn’t chosen a hare.”
+
+“Well, somebody must be a hound,” replied Joe. “Never mind; let us
+forget the mean fellow.”
+
+An hour’s running brought them to the Sand Cliffs.
+
+“We must be pretty well ahead,” said Carl. “Let us rest for a few
+minutes in the shade.”
+
+“All right; I’m willing,” said our hero.
+
+The two threw themselves down at the foot of a high cliff.
+
+As they did this a boy who had been taking it easy behind some bushes
+came out at the top of the cliff.
+
+The boy was Lemuel Akers. When he saw Joe his face took on a hard,
+crafty look.
+
+“So now I have you at my mercy!” he muttered to himself.
+
+Close to the edge of the cliff rested a big rock. It lay in such a
+position that if rolled over the edge it would land directly upon our
+hero’s head.
+
+Lemuel sized up the rock, and then, stealing up to it, shoved hard
+against it with his hands and his shoulder.
+
+There was a scraping of loose pebbles, and then over the edge of the
+cliff rolled the rock, crashing down in a direct line for Joe’s head!
+
+Had the big rock fallen as expected our hero would have been crushed to
+death.
+
+But a single thing saved our hero. The falling of several loose pebbles
+caused him to look up just before the rock came down.
+
+“Jump back!” he yelled to Carl.
+
+And then he made one swift leap to the right.
+
+Boom! Down came the rock, burying itself several inches in the sand. It
+had escaped Joe’s head by a narrow six inches.
+
+The sand flew all over both boys.
+
+Carl grew pale as death and was unable to say a word.
+
+“By Jove, but that was a narrow escape,” murmured our hero as soon as
+he recovered from his shock.
+
+When Akers realized how his plan had miscarried he fled from the spot.
+
+“I--I wonder what made it come down?” gasped Carl at last.
+
+“I suppose it was on the edge and we must have disturbed it when we
+shied those stones up at the birds,” replied Joe.
+
+Not for a moment did he imagine that it was the work of his enemy. He
+was too good-hearted to think so ill of any one.
+
+The boys were afraid the hounds would catch them, and so after leaving
+a bunch of white paper beside the big rock, they hurried on to finish
+the game of hare and hounds.
+
+They ran along the Sand Cliffs for nearly a mile and then turned their
+noses homeward.
+
+From a long distance behind came the toot of a horn carried by Sam
+Anderson.
+
+“We are safe, unless we run into some pocket,” said Joe.
+
+“We must be careful,” rejoined Carl.
+
+Naturally light-hearted, both lads soon forgot the dire peril through
+which they had passed.
+
+They ran on and on, across a patch of woods and then forded a brook,
+where they also stopped long enough to bathe their faces and get a
+drink.
+
+“Run around that clump of bushes and across the lot and back and put
+the paper everywhere,” said Joe. “That will puzzle them to find the
+trail.”
+
+This was done by Carl, and then on they went, almost as fresh as when
+they had started.
+
+The woods passed, they emerged into a large sheep field. The flock of
+sheep was grazing at one end and they stopped for a minute to look at
+the animals.
+
+Then on they went again, but the adventure on the Sand Cliffs had taken
+the sport out of Joe, and ere they reached home the hares were caught.
+
+On the way to Lockport, Sam walked beside Joe and talked over the game.
+
+“By the way,” said Sam. “Who do you suppose I saw sneaking along the
+Sand Cliffs?”
+
+“Who?” asked our hero with much interest.
+
+“Lemuel Akers. As soon as I saw him he darted out of sight.”
+
+Joe did not answer to this. But he did a good bit of thinking.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+IN AN OLD COAL MINE.
+
+
+After the failure of his plot at the Sand Cliffs the bully of Lockport
+was more sour than ever toward Joe.
+
+“I’ll get square, see if I don’t,” he said to Jake Foley.
+
+Foley did not know how Lemuel had tried to harm Joe at the Sand Cliffs,
+but he was willing to do anything his chum desired.
+
+More especially was he willing to help Lemuel when one day our hero
+pitched into him for beating a little boy on the way to school. The
+little boy was lame, and Joe became so angry he gave Jake a most severe
+chastising.
+
+“You big brute,” he said when he was done. “Next time tackle a lad of
+your size.”
+
+Jake sneaked off, with his heart full of bitterness.
+
+“I would like to fix Joe Johnson,” he said.
+
+“So would I,” said Lemuel.
+
+“Can’t we lead him into some sort of a trap?”
+
+“Maybe, if we watch our chance,” returned the bully.
+
+So they both watched Joe closely. But day after day went and still no
+chance came to light.
+
+But in the meantime Lemuel fell in with Phil Henderson, the tramp who
+had received such a knock-down on the road from Joe, when he and his
+cronies had wanted to rob the boy.
+
+Phil Henderson was also waiting for a chance to “fix” Joe, and he
+readily agreed to help Lemuel and Jake in any plan they projected.
+
+One day Jake came to the others with a wicked smile on his face.
+
+“Now we can fix him,” he said.
+
+“How?” demanded Lemuel.
+
+“Joe has made a bet that he is not afraid to walk through the old coal
+mine at midnight. Sam Anderson dared him to do it, and he is going to
+walk through the mine to-morrow night.”
+
+“And will he be alone?” asked Phil Henderson eagerly.
+
+“Of course. He is to take a pack of marked cards, and drop them here
+and there as he walks along, so the boys can see the next morning if he
+really went into all the dark holes and corners.”
+
+“Good!” muttered Lemuel.
+
+“We’ll fix things,” said Henderson.
+
+Then he talked on for several minutes in a whisper.
+
+“Is it a go?” he asked.
+
+“Yes,” replied both boys.
+
+“Then that is settled. If Joe Johnson visits the old mine to-morrow
+night he will never come out as he went in.”
+
+What Jake Foley had said about our hero was true.
+
+In a joke Sam Anderson had proposed the midnight visit.
+
+The deserted coal mine was a very lonely place. Some of the simple
+country folks thought it was haunted by the ghost of a man who had been
+killed there once by a premature blast, and few in the district cared
+to go near the place at night.
+
+But Joe knew no such thing as fear.
+
+“I’ll bet you a first-class pocket-knife you don’t dare go,” said Sam.
+
+And then several other boys offered to bet.
+
+“All right, I take you all up,” declared Joe.
+
+The boys would not at first believe him.
+
+It was our hero who suggested the marked cards for distribution, and
+the boys adopted the suggestion.
+
+The next day passed quickly.
+
+Our hero told his folks about what he was going to do. They merely
+laughed, but in secret they were proud to think he was not one to be
+easily frightened.
+
+After supper Joe went over to Sam’s house.
+
+Soon Larry came along, and at eleven o’clock quite a crowd of boys were
+assembled.
+
+The start was to be made from the blacksmith shop, and promptly at
+half-past eleven Joe took the cards Sam had prepared.
+
+“I’m off now, boys,” he said. “I don’t expect to get back before one or
+half-past. Good night to you.”
+
+At a swinging gait he set off for the old mine, half a mile distant.
+
+Never once did he dream of the peril which there awaited him.
+
+There would be no moon that night, and our hero had only the stars to
+guide him on his lonely way to the deserted quarries.
+
+“It won’t be a very pleasant walk,” he thought. “But the boys dared me,
+and I won’t take a dare from anybody.”
+
+Joe walked on briskly, and to keep his spirits up began to whistle a
+merry tune.
+
+A quarter of an hour brought him to the entrance of the largest of the
+mine openings.
+
+There was more than one pitfall here, but Joe knew the way and went on
+without hesitation.
+
+He was not in the least afraid of ghosts, and had one appeared it is
+more than likely it would have received an unusually warm reception.
+
+Presently he passed a deserted cabin, which had once been occupied by
+the coal-mine watchman.
+
+He had been cautioned to leave a card at the cabin, and so threw one
+through a broken window.
+
+Was it imagination, or did he hear a low chuckle from the inside?
+
+Instead of going on our hero halted.
+
+The average boy would have taken to his heels, but Joe was made of
+different stuff.
+
+No, there was no mistake. The chuckle sounded a second time, and going
+up to the door Joe kicked it open.
+
+“You fellows in there, come out,” he cried. “I heard you, and you can’t
+play any trick on me.”
+
+A deathlike silence followed.
+
+“If I had a match I would light up and hunt you out,” went on Joe, “but
+I can do nothing in the dark. So, either come out or stay there. I am
+not a bit scared.”
+
+Still the silence continued. Then our hero threw another card inside
+and went on.
+
+He thought some of his friends must be in the cabin, but he was
+woefully mistaken.
+
+Hardly had he left the tumble-down building when three figures stole
+forth as silently as so many shadows.
+
+It is needless to say the trio were Akers, Jake Foley and Henderson.
+
+They followed Joe several hundred feet.
+
+Presently our hero reached the edge of a deep hole, from which tons and
+tons of coal had been taken.
+
+It was part of his wager to go down to the bottom of the hole. To prove
+he had been there he must place a card on a flat rock and put another
+rock on top of it. The rock on top would show the card had not merely
+been thrown into the hole.
+
+A series of huge steps led downward. Joe had just reached the first of
+the steps when the three behind him rushed up.
+
+“Now, all together!” cried Henderson, in a thick disguised voice.
+
+The three leaped on Joe and gave him a violent shove.
+
+Our hero tried in vain to save himself. He dropped down and clutched at
+the rocks.
+
+Then he rolled over and went down the stony steps, bump, bump, bump, to
+the bottom.
+
+He lay unconscious, the blood pouring from a dozen wounds.
+
+Evidently his assailants had done their work well.
+
+Henderson lit a lantern and cast the rays downward.
+
+“He’s done for,” he whispered. “Come and get him out of sight.”
+
+“Le--let us run!” stammered Jake Foley, who was as pale as death itself.
+
+“No, do as Henderson says,” put in Lemuel Akers.
+
+He was almost as cool as the older villain.
+
+Thus addressed, Foley followed the pair down the steps, keeping well in
+the rear.
+
+“There is a sort of cave but a short distance away,” said Henderson. “I
+have bunked in it more than once. Let us put him in that.”
+
+But Jake Foley could not be induced to touch the body.
+
+So Akers and Henderson took up the heavy burden and stumbled with it to
+the cave which the older rascal had mentioned.
+
+Then the body was placed on the rocks, and by the light of the lantern
+Henderson went through our hero’s pockets.
+
+He found but little, and was greatly displeased over his ill luck.
+
+“Do hurry!” cried Foley, at least a dozen times. He would have given
+all he was worth to be safe at home.
+
+“You’re a softy!” cried Henderson.
+
+“Yes, Jake, do have a little nerve!” put in Lemuel.
+
+Scarcely had he spoken when an unearthly sound echoed through the air.
+
+The bully’s hair stood on ends, and Jake Foley ran a dozen steps before
+Henderson could stop him.
+
+“A ghost!”
+
+“Let us get out!”
+
+“A ghost nothing,” growled Henderson. “It’s only a tramp cat. There
+are several of them around the old coal mine. It’s their meowing makes
+folks believe there are ghosts here.”
+
+“I won’t stay any longer,” insisted Jake Foley. He was ready to drop
+from fear.
+
+The trio took up their lantern and walked to the entrance of the cave.
+
+A number of large rocks were handy, and soon the opening to the cave
+was tightly closed.
+
+They did their work well, and removed all traces as far as lay in their
+power.
+
+Lemuel had secured the cards Joe had left, and now he quitted the mine
+by a back way, dropping them as he went.
+
+This would put any who came to hunt for poor Joe off the track.
+
+An hour later the trio separated, Foley and Akers going home and
+Henderson making his way to a crossroads tavern a couple of miles away.
+
+“We are rid of Joe Johnson,” said the bully to himself. “I said I would
+get square with him, and I kept my word.”
+
+Yet it must be confessed that Lemuel did not feel as happy as he
+thought he would be.
+
+All night long he tossed on his bed, and in imagination saw Joe’s cold
+white face turned up to his own.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+THE MISSING BOY.
+
+
+Only a few of the boys hung around after Joe started for the old coal
+mine. They did not dare to remain out too long, and so went home.
+
+Sam and Larry were the last to leave, and then it was with the
+understanding that they were to meet at our hero’s house before five
+o’clock in the morning.
+
+Five o’clock found them on hand. A few minutes later Carl Lathrop came
+up.
+
+It was then the lads received the astonishing bit of information that
+Joe had not yet come home.
+
+His folks were much worried about him, and all wondered where he was.
+
+Half an hour passed, and then Sam, Larry and Carl struck out to hunt
+their chum up.
+
+It took them about the same time to reach the mine as it had taken our
+hero.
+
+“There is a marked card,” said Sam, pointing to the card at the
+entrance, “That shows he entered.”
+
+“I knew something would happen,” said Larry. “The ghosts----”
+
+“Nonsense!” cried Carl. “It’s more likely he slipped and fell. It was
+foolish anyway to come in such darkness.”
+
+The boys walked on and found several other cards, including those left
+in the deserted cabin.
+
+When they came to the pit and the stone steps leading to it they went
+down with great care.
+
+“No card here,” said Larry. “I guess he found the pit too much for him.”
+
+“Hullo! Look here!” suddenly ejaculated Carl.
+
+He pointed to a number of bright red stains on a flat rock at their
+feet.
+
+“What is it?”
+
+“Blood, boys!”
+
+They all gathered around and surveyed the spots with sober faces.
+
+What did it mean?
+
+No solution of the mystery offered itself.
+
+They walked past the rocks which concealed the entrance to the cave
+several times, but never dreamed of what was behind them.
+
+At last they left the pit and walked on.
+
+Soon they came upon the cards Lemuel had so cunningly dropped.
+
+“He came this way and left the mine,” cried Sam.
+
+When the lads saw the cards strung out clear to the fields beyond they
+felt much relieved.
+
+“That settles it,” said Sam. “He certainly left the mine and didn’t
+tumble down those awful steps.”
+
+“But where did he go?” asked Carl.
+
+Ah, that was another question. In vain they sought for a solution.
+
+Later on several other boys joined in the search, and then came a
+number of men.
+
+As a matter of fact, the entire district was alarmed.
+
+Not to appear in any way guilty, Lemuel joined in the search, making
+sure, however, to keep away from the pit in the quarry.
+
+Jake Foley was too sick to do anything. Miserable beyond description,
+he remained around home, out of sight of every one.
+
+And in the meanwhile what of poor Joe? Had that cruel shove into the
+pit really killed him?
+
+Not quite. It was true he was fearfully bruised, and that when he
+finally struck the bottom all became a terrible blank.
+
+How long he remained unconscious he could never afterward tell.
+
+When he came to all was pitch dark around him.
+
+His head ached as it never had before, and with his mind in a whirl he
+climbed out of the cave into which he had been placed and started for
+home.
+
+But he could not go far, and soon sank beneath a clump of bushes and
+became unconscious once more.
+
+At last, after many hours had passed, as we know, he went on again,
+more dead than alive.
+
+He was almost home when he ran plump into Sam and Larry. The boys gave
+a shout and clasped him warmly by the hand.
+
+“My, but I’m glad you are safe!” cried Sam, and Larry uttered words to
+the same effect.
+
+Of course, the lads were anxious to hear Joe’s story, but he felt too
+tired to tell it just then. They walked home with him, and listened to
+all he had to say after he had had some hot coffee to drink and some
+dinner.
+
+“Those rascals meant to kill me, I think,” said Joe, when his story was
+finished. “I only escaped by a miracle.”
+
+“Who were they?”
+
+“I’ll never tell. There seemed to be a man and two boys, but I am not
+sure.”
+
+“You didn’t see their faces?”
+
+“No, it was too dark for that.”
+
+“Did they rob you?”
+
+Our hero had not thought of that. He felt in his pockets.
+
+“Yes.”
+
+This put a new phase on the case, to the others’ way of thinking.
+
+All hands talked it over and came to the conclusion that Joe had been
+followed by three villainous tramps. No doubt the tramps had thought
+him well to do, and imagined they would make a rich haul by robbing him.
+
+A search was organized by the people of the villages around, and that
+night six tramps were brought in. But they all proved their innocence
+and were let go the next day on promise to quit the neighborhood
+immediately.
+
+When Lemuel and Jake heard Joe was safe they could scarcely believe
+their ears. For a whole day they were in mortal terror for fear that
+our hero would mention them as two of the gang who had assaulted him.
+
+It was nearly a week before Joe felt like himself again. He went to
+school, but did not help much at home.
+
+When he again met Jake Foley that boy did not dare to look him in the
+face. Joe did not say anything, but went to thinking. Did Jake know
+anything of the assault? Time would tell.
+
+With Lemuel it was different. He was too brazen-faced and stony-hearted
+to be ashamed at anything. He passed our hero staringly, and even
+spread a report that Joe had got up the tale of the assault just to
+make folks talk about him.
+
+This story our hero did not like, and one day he cornered the bully in
+the schoolyard and the two came to blows in double-quick order, and
+Lemuel went home with two black eyes and a nose that was swollen to
+twice its natural size.
+
+This put the bully in a fearful temper.
+
+“I’ll do him yet, see if I don’t,” he growled to Jake Foley.
+
+“Better let him alone,” said Jake, who was not yet over his scare. “You
+can’t do anything with him, I’m convinced of that.”
+
+“Oh, you always were chicken-hearted,” retorted Lemuel, and then and
+there he and Jake Foley fell out and were friends no more.
+
+It was a good thing for Jake, for he was not naturally a bad lad,
+and he at once became better in a hundred ways until a number of the
+schoolboys got to quite like him. He never tried to harm Joe again.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+A STIRRING FOOT RACE.
+
+
+About a week after the events narrated in the previous chapter Joe was
+on his way from Lockport to a little village several miles up the river.
+
+Instead of riding on his bicycle he was on foot, his machine being
+slightly in need of repairs which could not be made until several days
+later.
+
+Joe had proceeded but a short distance when he was joined by Billy
+Smith, a school chum, and a cousin to Dick Burns.
+
+“Where bound, Joe?” called out Billy.
+
+“To Haverley’s.”
+
+“I’m going there myself.”
+
+“All right; come along.”
+
+“Where’s your wheel?” asked Billy as he came up.
+
+“I’ve got to fix it a bit,” Joe told him. “I don’t mind walking for a
+change,” he added.
+
+“I don’t think I would care much for wheeling,” said Billy. “I prefer
+baseball.”
+
+“I know that,” laughed Joe. “You would rather play ball than eat,
+wouldn’t you?”
+
+“Almost. But, by the way, Joe, are you going to play on our nine this
+season?”
+
+“I will if you wish me to, Billy.”
+
+“Certainly we want you. Charley Osborne spoke of it only yesterday. I
+know you can catch beautifully if you will only try.”
+
+Joe smiled at this. He had caught on the team during the previous
+summer and acquitted himself quite creditably.
+
+“Yes, we’ve been reorganizing the Rushers,” said Billy. “Charley
+Osborne is to be pitcher and we want you to catch.”
+
+“And what of yourself?”
+
+“Oh, I’ll take my old position at first base.”
+
+“I suppose I can catch,” remarked Joe reflectively. “But I don’t know
+about running. I’m all out of practice, I’ve wheeled so much lately.”
+
+“Let’s try a race, just for fun,” cried Billy Smith. “That will be a
+good test.”
+
+“All right. I’ll race you to old Crosby’s well.”
+
+“Done, Joe. Are you ready?”
+
+“Yes.”
+
+“Then toe this mark. One, two, three, go!”
+
+And away the two boys went at top speed down the road.
+
+The well toward which they set their pace was situated at the back end
+of a lot which faced the highway.
+
+The distance to it and back again was over five hundred feet.
+
+The well was in something of a hollow, and down the hill tore the two
+boys at a breakneck speed.
+
+They kept side by side for more than half the distance to the well.
+
+But then Joe forged ahead, and, try his best, Billy Smith could not
+catch up.
+
+“It’s no use, you’ve won,” he said, and dropped into a walk.
+
+“Never mind, Billy, you’ll have a chance to tie me going back,” said
+Joe encouragingly.
+
+Of course the boys intended to stop at the well for a drink. The
+opening had no buckets to it, and the boys had to dip down with an old
+tin can to get water.
+
+But oh! how cool and refreshing it was! And as they were so hot it
+actually tasted sweet to them.
+
+Soon the two boys had their fill of water, and they prepared to return
+to the road when a strange rattle sounded in the bushes back of the
+well.
+
+“Listen! What is that?” exclaimed Billy Smith.
+
+“It sounded like a rattlesnake!” cried Joe. “Let us go and see if it is
+a snake,” he added fearlessly.
+
+Arming themselves with sticks and stones, the two lads circled about
+the bushes in question.
+
+Suddenly Billy Smith gave a loud laugh.
+
+“Here is your rattler!” he exclaimed. “Nothing but a drunken tramp,
+sleeping off the effects of the bad whisky he’s been drinking.”
+
+Joe looked troubled.
+
+“I don’t see how he could make that noise,” he returned slowly. “He is
+snoring, but that is all. Perhaps--oh! Billy, look!”
+
+Joe stopped short and pointed to a low tree that overhung the spot
+where the sleeping tramp lay.
+
+There, wound around one of the lower branches, was a big rattlesnake.
+His eyes were as bright as diamonds and he was on the point of dropping
+down and striking at the unconscious man with his deadly fangs!
+
+It would be useless to deny that the two boys were much startled by
+what they saw. They realized that the drunken tramp was in mortal
+danger of his life. Should the rattlesnake really strike him it would
+be doubtful if he could ever come to his senses.
+
+“Oh! what shall we do?” gasped Billy Smith as he fell back a couple of
+paces.
+
+There was no time to answer. A moment of hesitation and it might be too
+late to act.
+
+In his hand Joe carried a large and sharp-sided stone. Taking careful
+aim with this, he let drive at the snake’s head.
+
+His aim was true. The stone struck the reptile directly in one eye,
+inflicting a severe wound.
+
+At once they heard an angry rattle, and the reptile wound and unwound
+itself about the tree with lighting-like rapidity. It was suffering
+intense pain and was now more furious than ever.
+
+As it curved about, Joe rushed forward and pulled the tramp several
+yards off in the direction of the well.
+
+“Wake up! Snakes!” he yelled.
+
+“Lemme--hic--alone,” muttered the tramp. “I ain’t got no--hic--snakes.
+Only overcome by the--hic--sunshine.”
+
+“There are real snakes here! Look out!” put in Billy Smith.
+
+At this the tramp staggered to his feet. He saw the writhing rattler,
+and, letting out one long scream of deadly terror, he fled toward the
+road, his ragged coat-tails streaming out behind him.
+
+During this time Joe had again advanced upon the snake. With his stick
+he struck half a dozen blows. Billy Smith jumped in to help him.
+
+The rattlesnake fought desperately, but with one eye gone he was at a
+disadvantage, and inside of five minutes Billy gave him a final whack
+that stretched him out lifeless.
+
+“By jinks! but that was a stirring fight,” cried Billy when all was
+over.
+
+“I don’t want another such in a hurry,” replied Joe, and he shuddered
+as he viewed the shining reptile.
+
+“You saved that tramp’s life.”
+
+They measured the snake and found it was nearly five feet long and had
+nine rattles.
+
+“If he wasn’t so bruised I would take him home and have him stuffed,”
+said Joe.
+
+“Never mind; let us take him along anyway,” said Billy. “We can show
+him to the other boys. Maybe they won’t believe such a snake story
+unless they see the snake.”
+
+While they were tying the snake to a long stick old Farmer Crosby came
+along from another field.
+
+“By gum! Got a rattler, hev yeou!” he said, as he stared at their
+victim. “Ye must hev had a lively fight, boys.”
+
+“We did have.”
+
+“I seed thet rattler last week, over in the cornfield. But I didn’t
+tackle him, I can tell ye thet!”
+
+Farmer Crosby was glad the snake was dead. He told the boys they could
+come to the farm and hunt snakes any time they pleased.
+
+“No, thanks; we are not in that business,” laughed Billy.
+
+The fight with the snake had driven all thoughts of the footrace out of
+the two boys’ heads. They walked back to the road slowly, carrying the
+dead snake between them.
+
+The first person they met was Charley Osborne, the young baseball
+player Billy had mentioned.
+
+Charley was greatly surprised.
+
+“Took him in the eye, eh,” he said. “Joe, if you can throw so straight
+as that you had better take my place on the nine as pitcher.”
+
+“No, I’ll stay behind the bat and put men out when they try to steal
+bases,” laughed our hero.
+
+The snake was showed to all the boys, and then Billy took it home.
+
+Later on it was stuffed and hung up in the club-room the Rushers had
+hired and furnished.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+JOE AND THE OLD APPLEWOMAN.
+
+
+That evening Charley Osborne and Billy Smith called a special meeting
+of the baseball club, at which Joe was present.
+
+“The Stars want to play us next Saturday,” Charley said, as he held up
+a communication. “Shall we accept or put off the match?”
+
+“Let us accept,” said Billy. “We can practice every afternoon and get
+into good shape, to my way of thinking.”
+
+The matter was talked over and finally the other boys decided to follow
+this advice.
+
+A communication accepting the challenge was written by Charley and sent
+to the Stars on the following Monday.
+
+Then the Rushers settled down to steady, hard practice with Joe as
+their catcher.
+
+A few evenings later Joe spent two hours at Billy Smith’s house helping
+his friend fix up and paint a rowboat to be used on the lake.
+
+When he left Billy’s house he found the sky overcast. In the west the
+thunder rumbled, telling that a storm was not far off.
+
+Not wishing to be caught out without an umbrella, our hero started for
+his home on a swift walk.
+
+He had gone about two blocks when, on turning a street corner, a sight
+met his gaze that caused his blood to boil.
+
+An old woman known as Apple Mary, who sold fruit and candy throughout
+the district, was in the hands of two cowardly footpads, who were
+trying to rob her of her hard-earned savings.
+
+One of the footpads was behind the old woman, and had his hands over
+her mouth so she could not scream. The other footpad was in front,
+trying to find the pocket in Apple Mary’s dress.
+
+“Got it, Henderson?” asked the footpad in the rear.
+
+“No, hang the luck, I can’t find the pocket!” growled his companion.
+
+“Den cut der dress!”
+
+To follow this advice the other footpad brought out a big pocket-knife.
+
+He was in the act of cutting the garment mentioned when Joe came up on
+a run.
+
+“Leave that old lady alone!” he cried indignantly.
+
+“Mind yer own business!” howled both footpads.
+
+Scarcely had they spoken when Joe’s arm shot out.
+
+The footpad who was holding Apple Mary received a blow in the neck that
+almost bowled him over.
+
+Seeing this the other footpad leaped toward our hero, but the lad was
+not to be caught. He dodged off and began to cry for the police.
+
+“Shut up!” howled one of the footpads.
+
+In the meanwhile Apple Mary, finding herself free, pulled something
+from under her skirt. It was an old Irish hawthorn stick.
+
+“Bad cess to ye, ye villains!” she cried, and then she went at one of
+the footpads, tooth and nail.
+
+She was thoroughly aroused, and before the rascal could retreat she
+gave him a whack over the head that almost paralyzed him.
+
+“Good for you, Mary!” shouted Joe. “He deserves it.”
+
+But now the footpads thought it time to clear out, and both ran up the
+street, and a moment later vanished in the darkness.
+
+By the time the constable who did duty as a policeman at night in
+Lockport arrived, it was too late to attempt to hunt them up, although
+the officer made a great show of doing so.
+
+“I owe ye wan for that, Joe Johnson,” said Apple Mary. “’Tis yerself
+that has a stout heart under yer coat, so ye have!”
+
+And she gave his hand a warm shake.
+
+“Did they know you had money with you?” asked the youth.
+
+“Most likely, the villains! Oi got a hundred dollars from the bank
+to-day, to pay on me little home. Oi have it in a bag here,” and Apple
+Mary tapped her skirt.
+
+“Maybe I had better see you safe home then,” said Joe, and he
+accompanied the old Irish woman to the humble cottage she occupied on
+one of the side streets of the town.
+
+Before he left her she thanked him again.
+
+“You’ll be a great man some day,” she said. “You will have thousands of
+friends, mark my wurrud.”
+
+Joe walked home in a thoughtful mood.
+
+“I wonder if Apple Mary is right,” he asked himself. “Will I have
+thousands of friends? I surely hope so.”
+
+Two days passed and the Rushers kept steady at work on the diamond.
+
+Charley Osborne was getting his new curve down fine, and Joe managed
+to catch nearly everything that came over the plate untouched.
+
+“I don’t know what I would do without Joe behind the plate,” Charley
+said more than once. “He is so reliable that he gives me great
+confidence.”
+
+On Friday Sam Anderson, who was also on the nine, came to the meeting
+place looking very much excited.
+
+“Boys, I have a bit of news,” he said.
+
+“All right, Sam; let us have it.”
+
+“I’ve got word in a roundabout way from the Stars.”
+
+“What of them?”
+
+“They intend to beat us.”
+
+“Chestnuts!”
+
+“They can’t do it.”
+
+“Hear me out, boys. They intend to beat us. If they can’t do it by fair
+means, they intend to do it by foul.”
+
+Instantly every one of the Rushers was more than interested. They
+crowded about Sam waiting for him to explain.
+
+But the explanation was not forthcoming.
+
+“I can’t tell you how it is to be done,” said Sam. “All I know is what
+my father told me. He said we must be careful and not get into any
+trouble with the Independence boys.”
+
+“But what does he know?” asked Joe with much interest.
+
+“He was over to Independence to-day, and while he was waiting at a
+store for a man three boys came along. He knew them to be players on
+the Stars, although he doesn’t know their names. He heard them talking
+about the game Saturday and about what they intended to do. He said
+they talked as if they had some trick arranged.”
+
+At this the members of the local club grew serious.
+
+It would not have been so bad had they known what the Stars were up to.
+
+It was the dread of the unknown that haunted them. They talked the
+matter over.
+
+“Every one must be on guard,” said Joe. “They must not be allowed to
+tamper with the balls or bats.”
+
+“Nor the drinking water,” put in Larry Dare, the shortstop. “I believe
+the time they won they put something in the water. I never had such a
+headache in my life.”
+
+“Nor I!” cried Carl Lathrop, who was one of the fielders.
+
+“I believe the water was tampered with beyond a doubt,” said Charley
+Osborne.
+
+“We’ll all keep wide awake. Don’t touch water or anything else unless
+you are certain it is O. K.”
+
+That was Joe’s advice, and they resolved to follow it.
+
+After this the boys went out to practice.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+THE BASEBALL GAME.
+
+
+While the Rushers were out on the common, an old professor from the
+Greenpoint college came along.
+
+His name was Stizik, and he was a very gruff, unsociable man.
+
+He stood and watched Charley Osborne pitch for a few minutes.
+
+Then he heard Billy mention the out and the in curves, and smiled
+sarcastically to himself.
+
+“No such things as out and in and up curves,” he sniffed. “Utter
+impossibility--contrary to all the laws of gravitation.”
+
+“Charley curves the ball--or rather the ball follows a curving line,”
+said Joe stoutly. “I can see it.”
+
+“Only an optical delusion,” snorted Stizik. “Couldn’t possibly curve in
+any direction but downward.”
+
+Joe knew that many people contended the same thing--to this day some
+will not believe that a so-called “curved” ball can be pitched--but he
+stuck to what he thought true.
+
+An argument arose, and then the professor himself made a novel
+proposition.
+
+“We will make a number of square frames and cover them with tissue
+paper. Then he can pitch one of the so styled curved balls through the
+line of frames. The holes through the tissue paper--we will make the
+paper damp--will tell if the ball curved or not.”
+
+At once the boys took up the idea. Some long laths were procured, and
+soon the frames were ready.
+
+One was set up over the home plate and four others at equal distances
+between that point and the pitcher’s box.
+
+“Now, if you can pitch the ball in a curved line, I’ll make the club a
+present of new caps,” said Professor Stizik.
+
+He felt certain Charley could pitch nothing but a straight ball.
+
+“All right! Here goes!” cried Charley.
+
+His arm went back, and through the wet paper went the baseball at a
+fair degree of rapidity.
+
+“Now you’ll see how much you are mistaken!” cried Professor Stizik, as
+the frames were brought together.
+
+But in less than half a minute his face wore a glum look.
+
+Between the first and the last frames the wet paper showed that the
+ball had curved outwardly nearly ten inches.
+
+“I said he could do it!” cried Joe. “I have been behind the bat too
+long to be mistaken.”
+
+“You boys didn’t hold the frames straight,” growled Professor Stizik,
+and off he walked as fast as he could.
+
+He never bought the boys the caps he had promised, but neither did he
+ever attempt to dispute with them again.
+
+The match with the Stars was to be held on a big lot on the outskirts
+of Lockport. Here a grand stand capable of holding three hundred people
+was erected. Admission to the stand was ten cents--the money to go,
+one-quarter to the losing team and three-quarters to the club that won.
+
+The Rushers were on the field bright and early. They wore neat suits
+they had just purchased, and made such a fine appearance that they
+elicited a round of applause.
+
+When the Stars appeared they brought with them over half a hundred
+boys from Independence, many of them tough-looking customers.
+
+An umpire named Valley had already been decided upon.
+
+The Stars won the toss, and sent the Rushers to the bat first.
+
+“Now, nothing like making a good beginning,” said Joe, as Charley took
+up the stick.
+
+But Charley was destined to fan the air. He could not connect with
+the really swift balls the Stars’ pitcher sent in, and he went out on
+strikes.
+
+A cheer went up from the rooters from Independence.
+
+“That’s the way to serve ’em, Jake!” they yelled to their pitcher.
+
+“Don’t give ’em a single hit!”
+
+Billy was next at the bat. He missed two balls and then went out on a
+fly to second base.
+
+The third boy at the bat was Sam Anderson. He knocked a foul into the
+catcher’s hands, and the first half of the innings was over.
+
+How the Independence boys did yell! They thought they had a sure
+victory from the start.
+
+“Don’t give ’em any leeway, Charley,” whispered Joe to Osborne, as they
+walked from the bench. “We must shut them out also.”
+
+“All right.”
+
+The first player up was put out easily. Charley pitched one wild ball,
+but our hero made a leap into the air and secured it quickly. The
+Rushers’ friends applauded this.
+
+The second player of the Stars knocked a weak one between first and
+second bases. The ball was fumbled and he got his base on a close
+decision.
+
+“Hurrah for the Stars!”
+
+“Now bring it in, Terry!”
+
+The next man up knocked a safe hit to right field. He got first and the
+other runner managed to get around to third.
+
+The next player went out on strikes.
+
+Then came a safe hit to center. The batter got down and the man on
+third came home.
+
+The Independence boys were wild with joy. They had scored the first run.
+
+Joe walked down to Charley.
+
+“Keep cool, old man,” he said, “the game is still young.”
+
+This advice had its effect. Charley pitched superbly, and the Stars
+went down with only one run to their credit.
+
+The second inning was short. On both sides the players went out in
+one, two, three order. Billy made a big hit to center, but the fly was
+caught and went for nothing.
+
+In the third inning the Rushers tied the score.
+
+Then the Lockport boys took their turn at yelling.
+
+One to one remained on the score board until the seventh inning, when
+Joe called the boys together.
+
+“We must do something this time, fellows,” he said. “O’Donnell, start
+her up lively.”
+
+And O’Donnell did, making a safe two-bagger.
+
+Several more safe hits followed. Then another Rusher sent out a red-hot
+liner that brought him three bases.
+
+End of the seventh inning: Stars, one; Rushers, five.
+
+The boys from Independence began to look as blue as indigo. The
+Lockport lads could hardly contain themselves.
+
+“Now keep ’em down,” said Charley.
+
+“Yes, you keep ’em down,” put in Carl.
+
+In the eighth inning the Stars began to grow desperate. They did their
+best and brought in two runs, making the score: Stars, three; Rushers,
+five.
+
+In the ninth inning Joe was the first man at the bat. Two strikes were
+called on him, and then he knocked a safe one over in left field. He
+tore down to first, over to second, up to third--and hesitated.
+
+“Run, run, you are all right!”
+
+It was Charley who called to him, and once more he started. But
+something was under his shoe, and he slipped and fell headlong.
+
+As quick as a wink the third baseman stooped, and picking up something,
+put it in his pocket.
+
+It was now useless to try to reach the home plate, and our hero went
+back to the base.
+
+“You tripped me with something,” he said to the baseman sharply.
+
+“Wot yer givin’ me?” growled the fellow.
+
+Joe said no more, but he set to thinking. This was evidently the trick
+the Stars intended to play.
+
+The other players now came up, but were put out on strikes and a foul.
+
+The Rushers had had their innings, and their total number of runs was
+still five.
+
+To beat them the Stars must make three runs in their last half of the
+ninth.
+
+The Stars’ heavy batters were up.
+
+Charley Osborne grew just a bit nervous, and, as a consequence, before
+they knew it two men were on bases.
+
+Then a batter knocked a safe two-base hit, and one of the runners came
+home.
+
+This made the score: Stars, four; Rushers, five
+
+“Go it, Stars!”
+
+“Shut ’em out, Rushers!”
+
+The next boy went out on strikes, and the player to follow did the same.
+
+“Now, one more out and the game is ours,” thought Joe.
+
+But the next batter, by accident, struck a little one to second and
+reached first on a wild throw, while the other runner went to third.
+
+Two out, two men on bases, and two runs to win the game; that was the
+way the Stars sized it up.
+
+Then the Stars’ heaviest batter came up to the plate, and a cheer
+arose, for he was a great favorite.
+
+“Knock a homer, Pete!”
+
+“You can do it, old fellow.”
+
+Charley Osborne was pale and his teeth were set.
+
+He felt that to a great extent the game depended on him.
+
+He sent in one of his outer curves.
+
+The Stars’ crack batter hit out and missed it.
+
+“Good for you, Charley!”
+
+Again Charley took his position. A pause, a look at the men on bases,
+and once more the ball came rushing over the plate.
+
+Crack! The batter had hit out hard. But instead of driving into the
+diamond, the ball went sailing up into the air over Joe’s head.
+
+“Run for it!”
+
+“You must get it!”
+
+“He can’t reach it!”
+
+Back and still further back went Joe with the speed of the wind.
+
+The foul tip was just over the backstop board.
+
+With a mighty spring the boy leaped up on the fence and reached out his
+hand.
+
+To the Rushers it seemed as if the fate of the club hung in Joe’s hands.
+
+Should he muff that foul, the chances were that the heavy hitter of the
+Stars would line out at least a two-bagger and bring in the runs to win
+the game.
+
+The ball was now nearing the ground, our hero strained over still
+further, until it looked as if he must lose his balance and topple over
+on the other side of the fence.
+
+“You’ll break your neck!”
+
+“The ball is out of his reach.”
+
+A pause.
+
+“He has it!”
+
+“Bannon is out!”
+
+“The Rushers have won!”
+
+It was true.
+
+The ball just touched the tips of our hero’s fingers, but he clung to
+it like grim death, and thus brought the game to a conclusion.
+
+Score--Rushers, five; Stars, four.
+
+Maybe the Lockport lads did not yell themselves hoarse.
+
+The Independence boys had nothing to say. They rushed for their
+dressing place and sneaked off as quickly as they could.
+
+All of the Lockport boys praised Joe. They said he had saved the game
+beyond a doubt.
+
+And all agreed that his was the greatest catch ever witnessed on the
+grounds.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+FUN ON THE GREEN.
+
+
+After the great game with the Independence Club the Lockport boys
+practiced harder than ever.
+
+Joe took a particular interest in long-distance throwing. He tried his
+arm constantly and was soon able to throw fifteen feet further than any
+other member of the club.
+
+“But you can’t throw as accurately as I can,” said Will Gibson, one of
+the outfielders.
+
+“I’ll match you and see,” said our hero.
+
+The novel contest took place one Saturday afternoon before the boys
+started in to play a practice game with a scrub nine.
+
+Joe and Gibson walked down in deep center and took positions side by
+side.
+
+Then Dick Burns, who was out for the first time since the accident,
+placed a bushel basket directly on the home plate.
+
+Each boy was to throw a ball three times at given signals. The one who
+threw the most times into the basket was to be the winner.
+
+Joe and Gibson were both provided with balls.
+
+“Ready?” shouted Billy.
+
+“Yes.”
+
+There was a pause.
+
+“Throw!”
+
+Whiz!
+
+Along came both of the balls, thrown at exactly the same time.
+
+Gibson’s struck the rim of the basket and bounced inside.
+
+Joe’s bounced a dozen feet away.
+
+“One for Gibson!”
+
+“That was hardly a fair trial!”
+
+The balls were sent back to our hero and Gibson, and again they got
+ready.
+
+“Throw!” shouted Billy Smith once more.
+
+The spheres flew through the air.
+
+Gibson’s went high up, but Joe’s cut only a graceful curve.
+
+Plump!
+
+Our hero’s struck the basket squarely in the center.
+
+Gibson’s shot over the mark several feet.
+
+“A tie!”
+
+“The ball slipped!” growled Will Gibson.
+
+Now came the decisive throw. Both boys handled the balls carefully, and
+looked well to the spots in which they were standing. The crowd held
+its breath.
+
+“Throw!” shouted Billy for the third and last time.
+
+Again the two balls came along.
+
+Plump!
+
+Joe’s hit the center of the basket again.
+
+Gibson’s struck the rim, knocking the basket over.
+
+“Joe Johnson has won!”
+
+“My! what clever throwing!”
+
+Will Gibson was put out over his failure to win.
+
+“I’ll tell you what I can do,” he said after the practice game was
+over. “I can throw higher than you.”
+
+“Perhaps you can, Will,” replied Joe. “There is no advantage in that,
+though--I mean in ball playing.”
+
+“Never mind, I’ll bet I can do it.”
+
+“I’ll bet you can’t!” cried Charley. “Joe can throw over the church
+steeple.”
+
+“So can I, and I’ll put the ball over the weather vane in the bargain.”
+
+“You can’t do it!”
+
+“I can!”
+
+One word brought on another, and finally our hero was persuaded to
+throw over the church steeple against Gibson.
+
+Fifteen or twenty fellows went along to see the contest.
+
+The church was on the outskirts, and had a steeple of wood and iron. In
+the steeple were several windows, and on the top was a gilded weather
+vane, reaching six or eight feet into the air.
+
+Instead of throwing at the same time, the boys drew lots as to who
+should try first. Gibson won, and chose to throw last.
+
+A standing spot was chosen, and carefully measuring the distance, Joe
+let fly the ball.
+
+Up and up it went into the air, for our hero had thrown it with
+incredible power.
+
+It continued to go up until the top of the steeple was reached.
+
+And now it was on a level with the weather vane.
+
+Up over that fully a yard it curved, and then it began to fall on the
+other side of the church.
+
+The crowd set up a cheer, and Will Gibson’s face fell. He could not
+hope to do better than that, if as well.
+
+“Never mind, Will, tie him!” shouted his friends
+
+The ball was brought back and Gibson took it.
+
+He leaned far back and hurled the sphere with all the force at his
+command. Up it sailed into the air.
+
+Crash! Jingle! jingle! jingle!
+
+Instead of going over the steeple the ball had struck one of the
+topmost windows, shattering the center of the frame and four panes of
+colored glass!
+
+The entire crowd was astonished at the unexpected turn affairs had
+taken.
+
+Will Gibson turned a sickly green, and his face took on a look of alarm.
+
+“Gosh! I didn’t mean to do that!” he cried. “What will old Mallory say
+to that?”
+
+Mallory was the sexton of the church.
+
+“Never mind, it was an accident, and we’ll have to chip in and pay for
+the damage done,” said Joe.
+
+He had hardly spoken when Mallory came rushing out of the edifice, his
+face full of rage. He was a disagreeable man, and all wondered how it
+was that he kept his present position.
+
+“Who smashed those windows?” he roared.
+
+He had been up in the belfry fixing the bell rope. The crash had almost
+scared him out of his wits, he thinking the whole steeple was about to
+fall.
+
+No one answered him.
+
+“I say, who smashed those windows?” he went on. “Answer me, or I’ll
+have the whole crowd arrested.”
+
+“It was an accident, Mr. Mallory--” began Joe.
+
+“Accident! Not much! Did you do it?”
+
+“No.”
+
+“Then who did?”
+
+“You must find out for yourself.”
+
+“Ha! don’t sass me!”
+
+Joe shrugged his shoulders and attempted to move away. Mallory caught
+him by the shoulder.
+
+“Tell me who did this.”
+
+“I will not. Let me go.”
+
+“If you don’t answer I’ll have you locked up.”
+
+Joe simply looked at the enraged man. Then before more could be said,
+some small boy in the rear piped in.
+
+“Please, sir, it was Will Gibson who busted the window.”
+
+“Get out of here, Nicky Dill!” shouted half a dozen of the other lads,
+and, scared out of his wits, the tell-tale took to his heels.
+
+“Will Gibson, eh?” growled Mallory. “Come here!”
+
+He strode over to Will Gibson and grabbed him by the collar.
+
+“I’ll pay for the window, Mr. Mallory.”
+
+“You’ll go to jail!”
+
+“Why should he if he is willing to pay?” asked Carl. “It was an
+accident.”
+
+“I don’t care, he’ll go to jail!” howled Mallory stubbornly.
+
+“I won’t go to jail!” cried Will Gibson.
+
+He was a nice fellow, and the idea of being locked up filled him with
+terror.
+
+“You will!”
+
+Scarcely had the sexton spoken when Will gave a dexterous twist and
+broke away from the angry man. He started to run, and Mallory made
+after him.
+
+Back of the church was an extensive churchyard. Into this shady and
+quiet spot sped Gibson, with Mallory at his heels. The boys all joined
+in the chase.
+
+“It’s a shame!”
+
+“Let him go! We’ll pay for the window!”
+
+“I won’t!” bellowed Mallory. It made him still more angry to have Will
+Gibson slip from his clutches.
+
+Along one of the main paths sped Will. He was a good runner, and
+speedily outdistanced the sexton.
+
+Presently Will reached a spot overhung with evergreens. He dove beneath
+the trees and turned across a patch of thick grass.
+
+When Mallory reached the evergreens the boy was nowhere in sight.
+
+In vain the sexton looked around for him. Will had completely
+disappeared.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+AN ADVENTURE IN A CEMETERY.
+
+
+The other boys were relieved to think Gibson had so cleverly outwitted
+the sexton.
+
+They hung around until Mallory grew angry and drove them all out of the
+grounds.
+
+The sexton wanted to call on Will’s folks, but he had too much work on
+hand to take the necessary time that day.
+
+The boys dispersed and went home, thinking Will had already reached his
+dwelling place.
+
+Joe left also, and after supper he and Billy Smith walked around to
+Will’s home to learn what Gibson might have to say.
+
+A surprise awaited them. Will had not yet come home, and his folks were
+much worried about him.
+
+“He is afraid of being locked up,” said Billy.
+
+And he told Mr. Gibson of what had taken place.
+
+“He will not be locked up,” said Will’s father. “I will pay the
+damages. If you see him, tell him to come home at once, as his mother
+is worried.”
+
+At nine o’clock Will had not yet turned up.
+
+“See here,” said Joe to Billy. “Maybe something has happened to him.”
+
+“What could happen?”
+
+“Maybe he fell into a hole dug for a grave, or something like that.”
+
+“I didn’t see any new holes,” said Billy.
+
+“It’s queer, but I feel just as if we ought to go to the cemetery, and
+take a look around. Perhaps he was tackled as I was at the old coal
+mine.”
+
+Billy shivered. He did not much like the idea, but finally Joe
+persuaded him to go along.
+
+Although it was summer time, it was dark when the pair reached the
+cemetery gates. They found the big iron barriers closed.
+
+“We’ll have to climb over,” said our hero. “Here goes!”
+
+And over the iron fence he went, and Billy Smith followed.
+
+Under the evergreens it was still darker, and Billy came to a halt.
+
+“Supposing a ghost--” he began.
+
+“Ghosts! nonsense! Don’t be foolish, Billy. There is no such thing as a
+ghost.”
+
+Keeping side by side the two boys stole quickly along the path Will had
+taken while running from Mallory.
+
+Soon the evergreens were passed, and they halted in a sort of hollow.
+To one side was a great stone vault, partly covered with dirt and sods.
+The vault had a heavy iron door, which was tightly closed.
+
+“My gracious! what was that!” gasped Billy Smith.
+
+A low, muffled sound had reached his ears.
+
+“I don’t know. Listen!”
+
+Again the sound echoed around them, sending a chill down their
+backbones.
+
+“Sounds like somebody in a coffin trying to get out!” gasped Billy.
+
+“You couldn’t hear a person in a coffin.”
+
+Again they listened. Then Joe walked over to the door of the vault and
+knocked upon it. Immediately an answering knock came back.
+
+“I’ll bet Will Gibson is locked in the vault!”
+
+“Oh, Joe!” cried Billy.
+
+He also sprang to the door.
+
+“Is that you, Will?”
+
+“Yes! yes! let me out!”
+
+Poor Will Gibson was a prisoner in the vault. He had run in there to
+hide, closing the door behind him. The latch above the lock had sprung
+into place, and after Mallory and the others had gone away he had been
+unable to release himself.
+
+Joe quickly raised the latch and pulled the door open.
+
+Out of the darkness staggered Will. The air in the vault, which was
+empty, had nearly suffocated him, and he could scarcely stand.
+
+Joe and Billy led him to a stone step, and there the three boys sat
+down to rest.
+
+“Oh, how thankful I am that you came for me,” said Will. “I was going
+crazy in there!”
+
+“It’s a terrible place to be locked in,” remarked Billy.
+
+It was after eleven o’clock when the boys started to go home.
+
+They had just passed the evergreen trees when Joe suddenly clutched
+both companions by the arm.
+
+“Hist! look there!” he whispered.
+
+And he nodded to their left, where three men were stealing along, one
+with a half-closed lantern, and the others with picks and shovels.
+
+“What can they be up to?” asked Billy, after a breathless pause.
+
+“They are going to dig up a dead body.”
+
+“Body snatchers?” queried Will.
+
+“Exactly.”
+
+“Oh, what a shame!”
+
+“They ought to be locked up!”
+
+“They shan’t get any body to-night,” said Joe with sudden determination.
+
+For a long while dead bodies had been taken from that cemetery. The
+authorities had tried in vain to catch the offenders. They were
+supposed to sell the bodies to some of the local medical colleges, but
+no clew to work upon could be obtained.
+
+Night after night a watch had been set, but every time the body
+snatchers were too shrewd for the police.
+
+No body had been taken now for over a month, and the authorities had
+relaxed their vigilance.
+
+“What will you do?” asked Billy.
+
+“Let one of us go for the police while the others watch these chaps.”
+
+This was agreed on. But who should go?
+
+Will was selected, and he promised to bring help with all possible
+speed.
+
+As soon as he was gone, our hero and Billy Smith stole after the body
+snatchers.
+
+They soon tracked them to a new portion of the cemetery.
+
+Here, in a corner, a woman had been buried that very day.
+
+Setting down the lantern behind a bush the three men took their picks
+and shovels and went to work with a will.
+
+They wanted to get the body out, fill up the grave again, and be off
+ere midnight.
+
+Three hands at one grave made quick work of the semi-loose dirt, and it
+was not long ere the box containing the coffin was reached.
+
+“Will ought to be coming back soon,” murmured Billy.
+
+“Go toward the gate and see if you can learn anything about him,”
+replied Joe. “I’ll stay on guard alone.”
+
+And Billy went off as silently as a shadow.
+
+With several ropes the body snatchers raised the box to the surface.
+Then with his shovel one of the gang started to pry off the lid of the
+box.
+
+At that moment Joe heard a soft but well-known whistle coming from Will
+Gibson.
+
+He replied, and so did Billy.
+
+The grave despoilers started back.
+
+“What’s that, Bill?” asked one.
+
+“I didn’t hear anything.”
+
+“It was a night bird,” said the third man. “Hurry up, Candors. We want
+to get that coffin to the wagon before twelve o’clock.”
+
+Then Joe felt his arm touched. There was Will accompanied by two of
+the Lockport constables. Billy came behind the trio.
+
+“Just in time!” whispered Joe.
+
+“Will you boys help us?” asked the leading officer.
+
+“Certainly,” said our hero.
+
+“Of course,” added Billy and Will.
+
+“Then let us surround these chaps. There are some sticks, better arm
+yourselves.”
+
+A moment later the officers strode forward.
+
+“Surrender! Hands up, all of you!”
+
+The body snatchers were taken completely by surprise.
+
+They started to run, but it was useless.
+
+The leader was shot in the leg by one of the constables, and stumbled
+headlong.
+
+In five minutes more every one of the body snatchers was handcuffed and
+on his way to jail.
+
+The cemetery authorities were notified, and they of course at once had
+the coffin box put back into place.
+
+The boys got warm praise for what they had done, and no more was said
+about the broken windows in the church steeple.
+
+Later on the body snatchers, who proved to hail from a distant city,
+were all tried and sentenced to long terms in prison.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+AN ACCIDENT ON THE RAILROAD.
+
+
+After the affair in the cemetery matters drifted along somewhat quietly
+for several days.
+
+Then Joe was called upon by his father to go on a trip to Cleveland to
+pay some money which was due to an insurance company.
+
+He was to go on the journey by train, and started off early in the day.
+
+In the cars he met Charley Osborne, and the two sat down together.
+
+“It’s awfully foggy,” said Charley. “By gracious! I shouldn’t think the
+engineer could see two yards ahead of him.”
+
+“It’s dangerous traveling in this weather,” replied Joe. “I wish it was
+clearer.”
+
+“So do I--we could look out of the window,” replied Charley.
+
+On rushed the train through the fog. The engineer was behind time, and
+was doing his best to make up his schedule.
+
+“We’re moving along, eh?” cried Joe as the car gave an extra jerk
+around a curve. “We must be going nearly a mile a minute.”
+
+“That’s so.”
+
+A half-hour passed. Several stops were made, but few got off or on. The
+cars were about half filled.
+
+“Folks don’t like to travel in this kind of weather,” remarked Charley.
+
+“Well, I rather wish we had remained home, too,” was Joe’s answer. “I
+would rather take this trip when the sun is shining.”
+
+“Oh, so would I. But who would have thought it was going to get so
+foggy when we left?”
+
+Another half-hour went by. Charley began to get sleepy, and, leaning
+back his head, closed his eyes.
+
+Our hero sat idly turning the pages of a newspaper.
+
+Suddenly the train was checked in its rapid onward course.
+
+Charley and Joe were thrown forward out of their seat on to the back of
+the seat in front of them.
+
+Then came a crash in front and the jingle of glass.
+
+The rear end of the car ahead had come up and struck out the front end
+of the car they were in!
+
+A succession of bumps followed, a quiver, and all became still so far
+as the cars were concerned.
+
+The train had run into the rear end of another train ahead, and the
+crash was followed by a hundred cries on every side.
+
+“Help me out!”
+
+“My leg is broken!”
+
+“Take this seat off my chest!”
+
+“Get an ax and chop me loose!”
+
+The cries came principally from the cars ahead.
+
+“Are you hurt, Charley?” asked our hero as soon as he could make
+himself heard.
+
+“No; are you?”
+
+“Not a bit.”
+
+“Let us get out by the back way.”
+
+“All right.”
+
+They at once started to leave the car.
+
+Charley got out first.
+
+Joe lingered behind to help an old man who was lame.
+
+The old fellow could scarcely move, and our hero had quite a task
+getting him to a place of safety.
+
+Fortunately no one had been seriously hurt in the car they had occupied.
+
+The principal damage sustained was in the car ahead, next to the
+engine, and the rear car of the train ahead.
+
+The engine was almost a total wreck, and both the fireman and engineer
+were badly hurt.
+
+“My! but this is awful!” murmured Joe as he gazed on the scene.
+
+“Help wanted here!” shouted the conductor, as he rushed forward. “We
+must get out the helpless before the cars take fire!”
+
+“I’m at your service!” cried Joe promptly.
+
+“So am I,” added Charley, and a dozen others also volunteered.
+
+It was not long before those on the rear train were all gotten out, and
+then the crowd ran forward.
+
+The rear car of the front train was almost smashed to kindling wood,
+and it was already burning in several places.
+
+Those around had gotten out most of the sufferers, but could not get at
+those who remained.
+
+“Save me! oh, save me!”
+
+It was the cry of a despairing woman.
+
+The appeal came from the end of the car nearest to the wrecked engine.
+
+The woman was caught under several seats, and the fire was but a few
+feet away. Soon it would reach her and she would be burned where she
+lay.
+
+“I’m going in for her!” cried Joe bravely.
+
+“No! no! I’ll go in!” exclaimed the conductor of the train.
+
+He leaped into the battered car and began to crawl over the wreckage.
+
+Soon he was directly over the woman.
+
+The steam and smoke enveloped him like a thick cloud.
+
+With herculean efforts he hurled the broken car seats right and left.
+
+He raised them all excepting the last, which he could not budge.
+
+“An ax!” he yelled. “Bring me an ax!”
+
+Joe heard this cry and got the instrument and threw it toward him.
+
+Crack! Whack! Bang!
+
+The ax flew right and left.
+
+The under car seat was smashed in a jiffy.
+
+Then the conductor raised the woman in his arms.
+
+With quick leaps he sprang through the smoke and flames.
+
+The crowd was watching for him, and as he and his burden appeared they
+set up a shout.
+
+“Good for the conductor!”
+
+Our hero helped place the woman on a grassy bank, and here a doctor
+attended her and the other sufferers.
+
+Stirring times followed, and both Joe and Charley did many deeds to
+their credit.
+
+It was not until an hour later that a train backed down from Cleveland
+and took the dead and dying on board.
+
+Joe and Charley boarded this train and half an hour later found them at
+the depot in Cleveland.
+
+Here Joe’s business for his father was quickly transacted, and then he
+went off with Charley to visit the home of the latter’s uncle.
+
+The two spent a most enjoyable time at Charley’s relative’s house, but
+knowing their parents might be anxious concerning them, should they
+hear of the railroad smash-up, they returned to Lockport much earlier
+than had been their original intention.
+
+The news of the accident had preceded them, and Joe found his folks at
+the depot awaiting him.
+
+“I’m so glad you are safe, Joe!” cried his mother, and folded him to
+her breast.
+
+This was Joe’s first and last accident on a railroad, but many
+thrilling adventures on the wheel were still in store for him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+THE GOLD PIN.
+
+
+As we know, Dick Burns had been quite seriously injured on the road and
+during the time that Joe was playing ball had been unable to go out on
+his wheel.
+
+But the lad was now much better and, Joe’s bicycle being once more in
+good condition, the pair one day went out for a ride of several miles
+around Lockport.
+
+On their way back they passed along the road where Joe had had the
+dispute with Lemuel Akers, while both were on their wheels.
+
+Our hero told Dick of it and showed his chum the exact spot where Akers
+had been knocked down.
+
+“It served him right,” declared Dick. “If he don’t look out I’ll get
+into his wool.”
+
+“Oh, I’m able to take my own part,” laughed Joe.
+
+“I don’t mean on your account, but on Carrie’s. He bothers her with his
+attentions, and she despises him.”
+
+While Dick was speaking he was gazing at something bright, lying but a
+few feet away. Suddenly he made a dash forward and secured it.
+
+It was a gold pin shaped in the form of a new moon, with a pearl at the
+lower end.
+
+“Look, Joe!” he cried.
+
+“A gold pin, I declare! Dick, you are in luck.”
+
+“So I am.”
+
+The two boys examined the pin, and cleaned it off, and then Dick placed
+it on the lapel of his coat.
+
+“It’s worth a couple of dollars, at least,” said Joe.
+
+“I’ll make Carrie a present of it,” rejoined Dick. The manly boy
+thought a good deal of his sister.
+
+After this the boys went on, and a little later turned homeward.
+
+Several days went by, and nothing of special interest happened.
+
+But one day Carrie Burns came home in a flutter and sought out her
+brother without delay.
+
+“Oh! Dick!” she cried, “something strange happened to me to-day.”
+
+“What was it?”
+
+“I met Lemuel Akers, and he began to talk to me, and all of a sudden
+he got as white as a sheet and began to tremble from head to foot.”
+
+“What under the sun was the matter with him?”
+
+“I’m sure I don’t know.”
+
+“Must have been overcome by your beauty and that new dress,” laughed
+Dick good-naturedly.
+
+“Oh, don’t joke, Dick! I’m not in the humor for it. Lemuel was
+dreadfully frightened.”
+
+“But what at?”
+
+“I don’t know. He was talking and looking at that pin you found----”
+
+“What!”
+
+Dick, who was oiling his bicycle, let the can drop and sprang upright.
+
+“Oh! Dick! how you scared me!”
+
+“What did you say Lemuel Akers was doing?” demanded Dick Burns.
+
+“He was looking at that pin.”
+
+“Where is the pin now?”
+
+“Here,” and Carrie pointed to the velvet band around her dainty throat.
+
+“Carrie, let me have that pin again, will you?”
+
+“But, Dick, you gave it to me.”
+
+“I know I did, but I’m not going to have you wear something that is
+going to scare Lemuel Akers to death.”
+
+“I just wish it would scare him so he wouldn’t come near me again,”
+pouted Carrie.
+
+She wanted to keep the pin, but Dick would not listen to it, and at
+last she gave the article up.
+
+As soon as his wheel was oiled Dick rode straight to Simon Pepper’s
+jewelry store.
+
+The crabbed old watchmaker sat behind his bench, repairing several
+timepieces.
+
+Dick went at what was in his mind without beating about the bush.
+
+“Mr. Pepper, do you remember the articles stolen from your store?” he
+questioned.
+
+“O’ course I do,” growled Pepper. “Stuff don’t sell so fast in Lockport
+but what I have a chance to keep it on hand long enough to grow
+familiar with it.”
+
+“Then will you please examine this pin?”
+
+Simon Pepper snatched the pin from Dick’s hand eagerly.
+
+“It’s mine!” he burst out. “It’s one of three I had.”
+
+“Did you ever sell any of them?”
+
+“No. Where did you get this one?”
+
+“Found it on the road.”
+
+“Where?”
+
+“I’ll tell you some other time.”
+
+“But see here, Dick Burns----”
+
+“I won’t answer any questions now, Mr. Pepper. I found it on the road,
+and I think I can locate the thief.”
+
+And without waiting to see what Pepper might have to remark on this
+strange statement, Dick hurried from the shop.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+RACING A LOCOMOTIVE.
+
+
+From Simon Pepper’s shop Dick Burns hurried at once to Joe’s home.
+
+He found our hero weeding the garden, for the lad was always an
+industrious fellow when out of school.
+
+“Joe!”
+
+“Hullo, Dick! What now?”
+
+“I’ve found out who robbed Simon Pepper’s shop.”
+
+“Never!”
+
+Joe dropped the weed in his hand like a hot potato and came forward.
+
+“Who did the deed?”
+
+“Lemuel Akers.”
+
+“Really?”
+
+“He did--unless I am greatly mistaken.”
+
+“Tell me all about it,” went on Joe eagerly.
+
+“You know the pin I picked up on the road just where you had the fight
+with Lemuel?”
+
+“What of it?”
+
+“It is one of those stolen from old Pepper’s shop.”
+
+“And Lemuel dropped it, you think!” asked Joe.
+
+“Why not? You didn’t drop it.”
+
+“No, I’ll give my word I did not.”
+
+“It was lying just where you and he had the tussle.”
+
+“That is so.” Joe thought for a moment. “By George! I believe you are
+right, Dick!”
+
+“It would be just like Lemuel to try to get you into trouble.”
+
+“But my pocket-knife----”
+
+“He could easily get that at school.”
+
+“So he could.”
+
+“I believe if Lemuel’s home was searched we would find something,” went
+on Dick, after a pause.
+
+“It’s a wonder he didn’t sell the stuff or get it out of the way
+somehow.”
+
+“Maybe he did sell most of the stuff. He’s got a new bike. Where did he
+get the money for that?”
+
+“He says he saved it. But I never knew him to save a dollar.”
+
+“Nor I.”
+
+The two boys talked the matter over for half an hour.
+
+Then Mr. Johnson came home, and he and Joe went over with Dick to see
+Mr. Burns.
+
+The lawyer was much interested, for the time for Joe’s trial was close
+at hand. As we know, he intended to defend Joe, not only for the boy’s
+sake, but also on account of Dick.
+
+“It may be that Akers is guilty,” said Mr. Burns. “The thing is to
+prove it.”
+
+“We ought to watch Lemuel,” suggested Joe.
+
+“Perhaps by so doing you may learn of something to his disadvantage.”
+
+So it was arranged that an eye should be kept on Lemuel for a few days.
+
+On the following morning Joe saw Akers riding through town, bound
+toward Greenpoint.
+
+It was Saturday, and our hero instantly made up his mind to follow
+Lemuel all day, in the hope that something would turn up.
+
+He readily got permission to leave home, and was soon on his wheel,
+speeding after the tall boy.
+
+Akers rode directly to Greenpoint, and after having a luncheon there
+struck out to a point still further up the lake.
+
+It was a fine day, but the recent heavy rains had caused several
+washouts along the lakeside road.
+
+Mile after mile was passed, and at last the two reached Pemberton, at
+the head of the lake.
+
+Joe had been very careful to keep out of sight, so Lemuel Akers had no
+idea that he was being followed.
+
+At length Akers came to a halt in front of a shabby-looking second-hand
+store.
+
+He chained his bicycle to a post, and, looking carefully around, walked
+into the establishment.
+
+At once Joe’s suspicions were aroused. He left his machine at a store
+on the corner and hurried to the nearest window of the other store.
+
+The window was piled high with goods, but through an open space Joe saw
+Lemuel Akers talking earnestly to an old, round-shouldered Jew, who
+stood leaning on a back counter.
+
+Presently Lemuel brought a small package from his pocket and opened it.
+
+The package contained a watch chain, two watches and a couple of gold
+rings.
+
+The Jew took the articles, and, walking to the light, examined each one
+carefully.
+
+Then the pair began to talk earnestly, as if haggling about a price.
+
+At last the Jew wrote out several tickets and handed them and a roll of
+bills to Lemuel.
+
+The tall boy pocketed the bills and tickets. Then he looked out of the
+store to see if the coast was clear.
+
+Joe had just sufficient time to spring behind a billboard.
+
+In another minute Lemuel Akers came forth. He mounted his wheel and
+rode off at top speed.
+
+Our hero smiled to himself as he walked back to where he had left his
+own machine.
+
+The truth was plain enough now. Akers had robbed Simon Pepper’s shop
+and was disposing of the stolen goods by pawning them.
+
+Undoubtedly this process was safer than trying to sell the stolen
+articles.
+
+“I have got him where I want him now,” thought Joe. “Simon Pepper can
+identify his goods and the Jew can identify Lemuel, and, besides, if we
+manage things right, we can find those pawntickets on his person.”
+
+Thus reasoning, Joe left Pemberton not very far behind the tall boy.
+
+Lemuel now took a different route, leading up to a summer resort.
+
+Thinking it was no use to follow him longer, our hero struck out for
+home.
+
+The road in this section ran parallel to the track.
+
+Joe was feeling in prime condition, and he moved along at top speed.
+
+Presently a whistle sounded, and, looking back, Joe saw the local
+express in the distance.
+
+Hardly had he heard the whistle when there came a shriek from some
+distance ahead, where the road crossed the railroad tracks.
+
+Joe listened and heard a man crying loudly:
+
+“Save me from the train!”
+
+The man was on the track, lying down. He had been struck by paralysis
+and could not move.
+
+“What’s the matter?” yelled Joe.
+
+“Help! help!” was the only reply the sufferer could make.
+
+He was directly in the way of the oncoming train.
+
+Joe waited to hear no more, but began to push on the pedals with all of
+his might.
+
+Faster and faster he came down the smooth road, with the express
+thundering behind him.
+
+It was Joe’s first and last race with a locomotive, and a life hung in
+the balance.
+
+[Illustration: AN OLD MAN LAY HELPLESS ON THE TRACK.
+
+                                                    “Rival Bicyclists.”]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+LEMUEL AKERS’ GREAT PERIL.
+
+
+The race did not last long. It was a matter of less than half a minute.
+
+But that few seconds showed what Joe could do in the way of spurting.
+
+Down the road he came like a rocket, the wheels of his machine seeming
+to fairly fly through the air.
+
+The crossing was reached while the express was still a hundred and
+fifty feet off.
+
+Joe took a flying leap to the man’s side, leaving the bicycle to take
+care of itself.
+
+He caught the man in his arms and flung both himself and his burden
+into a near-by ditch, and then the express thundered by.
+
+For over a minute Joe was too weak to speak. The awful danger through
+which he had passed now dawned on him fully, and he arose trembling
+from head to foot.
+
+The man he had rescued was unconscious.
+
+Some people driving by had witnessed the thrilling scene and now came
+up.
+
+They were loud in their praise of our hero.
+
+The man was recognized as an old farmer living several miles away. He
+was subject to similar strokes to the present one, and rarely went out
+alone. He was taken home in a wagon, and the next day Joe received a
+warm letter from his wife, thanking him for his great service.
+
+As soon as Joe arrived at home he told his parents of what he had seen,
+and then called again on Mr. Burns.
+
+The lawyer was much pleased.
+
+“Joe, you ought to turn detective,” he said.
+
+“No, thanks,” smiled our hero. “I would rather be something else.”
+
+“I know that old Jew,” went on the lawyer. “To-morrow I am going to
+Pemberton and will interview him. I fancy you are as good as cleared.”
+
+“I am thankful for it,” responded Joe heartily.
+
+Our hero kept on the lookout for Lemuel Akers, but the bully did not
+turn up until after supper.
+
+That evening Joe and Dick went out on their wheels, visiting the spot
+where they had come near to riding into the river.
+
+The new iron bridge was now up, and they now had no difficulty in
+crossing the deep mountain stream.
+
+The chums spoke of Akers first, and, that subject exhausted, Dick told
+Joe of another bicycle meet soon to come off.
+
+“We must both enter the races,” he said. “I am going in for five miles
+and you must go in the two and one mile.”
+
+“I will,” said Joe.
+
+They wheeled on until they were about five miles from home. Then they
+came out on the top of a high hill, from which they could look in every
+direction.
+
+Here they rested, and while doing so Joe pointed to a strange light
+over in the direction of Lockport.
+
+“What light is that, Dick?” he asked.
+
+“I don’t know. Must be on the river.”
+
+“It is growing larger.”
+
+“So it is.”
+
+The two boys watched the light for a minute in silence. Then suddenly
+both gave a cry:
+
+“It’s a fire!”
+
+They were right, for a second later the flames shot skyward all in one
+rush.
+
+“Somebody’s house in Lockport!” cried Dick. “Joe, we must get back as
+soon as we can.”
+
+Our hero made no reply, but leaped on his wheel. Soon they were
+pedaling along rapidly.
+
+As they moved closer to Lockport the flames kept growing brighter and
+brighter, until the entire heavens were lit up.
+
+“It’s more than one house, that’s certain,” remarked Joe. “Who knows
+but what the entire business portion is doomed.”
+
+Joe said this because they could now make out that the fire was down
+in the vicinity of the stores and not over by the river, as they had
+originally supposed.
+
+Not long after this they could hear the crackling of the flames and the
+shouts of the local firemen, who were doing their best to subdue the
+conflagration.
+
+“It’s Rayley’s Row,” suddenly called Joe.
+
+“So it is, and every house in it is doomed,” replied Dick.
+
+Rayley’s Row consisted of six dwellings situated on the main street of
+Lockport, directly opposite the post office and main store.
+
+Only two of the houses in the row were occupied, the others having been
+vacant for some time.
+
+The vacant houses had caught first, having been most likely set on fire
+by tramps, who occasionally made their quarters there on the sly.
+
+“We must join the bucket brigade!” cried Joe.
+
+Lockport boasted of no fire engine, and the only way to put out a fire
+was by pouring buckets of water on it.
+
+Half a dozen lines with buckets were working from as many pumps and
+cisterns to the scene of the fire.
+
+Leaping from their machines, Joe and Dick joined one of the lines which
+was rather short of hands.
+
+In a second bucket after bucket came to each, to be passed to the next
+man or boy in the line.
+
+“Lively, boys, the fire is gaining!” suddenly shouted Carl Lathrop.
+
+“Form another line in the rear there!”
+
+“Why don’t somebody bring a few ladders?”
+
+“Are all the people out of the houses?” asked Charley Osborne.
+
+“Yes, long ago.”
+
+But this answer was a falsehood, as the next instant proved.
+
+At the top of one of the middle buildings appeared a tall figure,
+waving its arms wildly over its head.
+
+“For the love of heaven, won’t somebody save me?”
+
+Everybody stared in mute amazement at the person who uttered the appeal.
+
+It was Lemuel Akers!
+
+He was surrounded by flames, and death stared him in the face.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+JOE’S FATHER SAVES THE ENEMY.
+
+
+Joe was as much astonished as any one to see Lemuel Akers on the top of
+one of the middle of the burning buildings.
+
+How Lemuel had got there was a mystery, as the particular house in
+question was empty.
+
+“It’s Lemuel!” cried Dick Burns.
+
+“He is doomed!” ejaculated a bystander.
+
+“Can’t they get a ladder to him?” asked our hero quickly.
+
+Every one looked around. Several ladders were at hand, but none were
+long enough to reach the top of the house.
+
+Besides, the lower floors were a mass of flames, which shot out of the
+numerous windows in all directions.
+
+“He is doomed!” cried Larry Dare.
+
+“Nothing can save him!” put in Sam Anderson.
+
+“The foolish boy! What was he doing in that empty house?” queried Carl.
+
+And so the cries ran on.
+
+Lemuel Akers’ relatives were frantic and offered all sorts of rewards
+to any one who would go to the rescue.
+
+“I’ll save him!”
+
+It was Mr. Johnson who uttered the cry, and the bystanders looked at
+him in amazement.
+
+“You can’t do it, Johnson.”
+
+“You are crazy; no one can go into that building and get out alive.”
+
+“I don’t intend to go into the building,” said Mr. Johnson.
+
+“Then how will you save him?”
+
+“I’ll show you.”
+
+Mr. Johnson ran around until he found a light but strong washline.
+
+The end of this line he tied securely to the upper rung of the longest
+ladder to be had.
+
+Then he crossed the road to where stood a gigantic elm tree.
+
+The tree was fully sixty feet from the burning building, but its
+branches spread out in every direction.
+
+With an agility that would have done credit to a circus performer our
+hero’s father went up the trunk of the tree in double-quick order.
+
+Once among the branches he drew the ladder up after him.
+
+He kept on going up until he was on a branch on a level with the roof
+of the burning building.
+
+Then with caution he worked his way outward. It was a dangerous
+proceeding, as a slip from his resting place might have meant death.
+
+More than once the wind sent the smoke swirling about his head. At such
+times all he could do was to hold his breath and wait until the wind
+changed.
+
+“Save me! Save me!” screamed Lemuel Akers. He was on the point of
+swooning from terror.
+
+“Keep up your courage, Lemuel!” cried Mr. Johnson. “I am coming.”
+
+“Where are you? I can’t see you.”
+
+“Here in the tree.”
+
+“I can’t jump to the tree.”
+
+“Prepare to catch the end of the ladder I have brought up.”
+
+“Have you a ladder?” and for the first time Lemuel’s tone took on a bit
+of hope.
+
+“Yes. Watch for it.”
+
+Out and out crawled Mr. Johnson, until he was within twenty feet of the
+roof beyond.
+
+Then he brought the ladder up, resting the end against a smaller limb
+above.
+
+When the lower end was at hand he tied it fast, so that it might not
+slip away.
+
+“Now watch for it, Lemuel!” he cried.
+
+Then, calculating the distance as best he could, the man shoved the top
+end of the ladder forward.
+
+It fell just a little sideways, but the top overlapped the building
+gutter by two feet.
+
+“Now come over!” cried the man to the frightened prisoner.
+
+“I--I--can’t,” howled Lemuel. “I’ll fall to the ground.”
+
+“Nonsense! Crawl from rung to rung and you’ll be perfectly safe.”
+
+With his teeth chattering in his head, Lemuel Akers got down flat on
+his stomach and began to crawl at a snail’s pace toward the tree.
+
+“Hurry up, the roof is catching!” called out Mr. Johnson. “Quick!”
+
+Groaning and trembling, the big boy, more of a coward than ever,
+hurried himself, and half a minute later found himself safe in the tree.
+
+“Now you can get down all right, I reckon,” said our hero’s father
+coldly.
+
+Despite the excitement he had not forgotten how Lemuel had treated Joe.
+
+“Oh, I can get down all right enough,” was Akers’ reply. “I was going
+to jump into the tree, anyway.”
+
+And he turned his back on his rescuer and slid down to the ground.
+
+Mr. Johnson remained above to pull away the ladder that it might not be
+burned. Willing hands helped him bring the ladder down.
+
+“By jinks! but that was great!” cried Dick Burns, and he fairly hugged
+Joe. “Your father is a brave man.”
+
+“Lemuel don’t think so.”
+
+“Lemuel Akers is an ungrateful dog!” cried a man standing by. “He ought
+to be kicked out of the town.”
+
+“That’s what I say!” put in another.
+
+“He would have lost his life had it not been for Mr. Johnson.”
+
+“Who said that?” exclaimed Lemuel, pushing his way forward. “Saved
+my life! Not much! I was just going to jump into the tree, anyway! I
+ain’t so very thankful, because I don’t fancy having the father of a
+jailbird----”
+
+Lemuel got no further.
+
+There was a dangerous fire in Joe’s eyes, but before he could move on
+the tall boy Dick Burns stepped between.
+
+“Lem Akers, shut your mouth this instant! No, Joe, don’t whip him
+again, he isn’t worth it.”
+
+“See here, Dick Burns--” howled Lemuel.
+
+“I won’t listen to you,” went on Dick. “Do you want to know why?
+Because, while you insist on calling Joe a jailbird, I firmly believe
+you are the one who robbed Simon Pepper’s store.”
+
+The crowd heard the words and stood in surprise. Every eye was cast on
+Lemuel Akers, who turned deadly white.
+
+“Me?” he stammered. “Do you know what you are talking about, Dick
+Burns?”
+
+“I do. I firmly believe you are the thief. Maybe when Joe’s trial comes
+off, the public will be treated to a surprise.”
+
+What might have followed these words it is hard to say, for at that
+instant there came a strange cracking sound.
+
+“Run! run! the wall is falling!”
+
+Men and boys scattered in all directions.
+
+The warning came too late, however, for all, for the crowd had been too
+close to the fire.
+
+Down came a section of the row of dwellings. The burning timbers were
+hurled in all directions, and some of the pieces fell upon Dick Burns
+and Lemuel Akers, and they were stretched senseless upon the ground.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.
+
+
+A cry of horror arose on every side, heard even above the crash of
+falling walls, as one after another of the doomed buildings went down.
+
+“Dick Burns and Lemuel Akers are under the timbers!”
+
+Then a rush was made, in spite of smoke and flames, and the two boys
+were dragged to a place of safety.
+
+A dash of cold water revived Dick, and he was soon on his feet again,
+suffering nothing more serious than a big lump on his forehead.
+
+Lemuel Akers had been hurt in the chest.
+
+“Call Dr. Hoymark, somebody! He is in the crowd!”
+
+The cry for the doctor soon brought that medical gentleman to Lemuel’s
+side.
+
+He directed that several men carry the big boy to the drug store. Here
+Lemuel was placed on a couch, and the doctor went to work on him,
+while a number of men, including Mr. Johnson and Simon Pepper, stood
+around.
+
+With a sharp pair of scissors the doctor cut open Lemuel’s shirt. Then
+he asked somebody to help him remove the boy’s coat and vest.
+
+Simon Pepper stepped forward, and the two went to work. Hardly were the
+garments removed than the watchmaker gave a gasp of astonishment.
+
+“Mine!”
+
+“What’s that?” asked Dr. Hoymark.
+
+“Look! look! my chains and my pins!” howled Simon Pepper.
+
+He seemed to have suddenly lost his reason. He was tearing open a
+package which had dropped from Lemuel Akers’ breast.
+
+“Your chains and pins!” said Lawyer Burns.
+
+“Yes! yes! Oh, the rascal! He must have been the thief, and not Joe
+Johnson!”
+
+“You have struck it, Pepper,” responded the lawyer quietly.
+
+Simon Pepper opened the package and spread the contents on a near-by
+counter. There was about half the amount stolen from the shop.
+
+“I will tell you where you can find nearly all the rest,” said Lawyer
+Burns.
+
+“Where?”
+
+The lawyer started to tell about the pawnbroker in the next town, when
+Lemuel came to his senses and sat up.
+
+“What--is--the--matter?” he asked slowly.
+
+And then, seeing Simon Pepper, his hand stole to his breast.
+
+“I have found you out!” howled the watchmaker. “You thief! And you
+tried to put it off on Joe Johnson!”
+
+He was even more angry than he had been at our hero, and with far
+greater reason.
+
+“Gently,” interposed Dr. Hoymark. “Remember he is suffering.”
+
+And then he thrust the jeweler aside until he could attend to Lemuel.
+In his dismay at being found out, the tall boy forgot all about his
+bruises. He let the doctor fix him up, and then, putting on his coat
+and vest again, sneaked off without a word of thanks to any one.
+
+“An ungrateful boy,” murmured the doctor.
+
+“And a thoroughly bad one,” added Lawyer Burns.
+
+The news soon spread and reached the ears of all the town people.
+
+Nearly every one said it was no surprise. All had believed Joe innocent
+from the start.
+
+It was thought that Lemuel had used the empty house as a place to hide
+the jewelry, and when the row caught fire had gone in to get the booty
+out.
+
+In the meanwhile the fire had burned itself out. Men and boys worked
+heroically, and nothing burned but the row, although quite a high wind
+was blowing.
+
+Much praise was given to Mr. Johnson for what he had done for Joe’s
+enemy.
+
+Lawyer Burns at once took steps toward having the case against Joe
+quashed. In this he was successful, and a couple of days later every
+one knew that Joe was free from the shadow which had been cast over his
+fair name.
+
+Then came a big surprise. Lemuel Akers had been arrested. No one had
+gone his bail, and he had been placed in the town jail, a primitive and
+rickety affair, which had once been a carpenter’s shop.
+
+From this place of confinement the thief had escaped, and no one knew
+where he had gone.
+
+The town authorities took the matter in hand, but without results.
+Lemuel was missing and that was as far as the single constable who did
+the work on the case could get.
+
+It is possible that his folks knew where he was, but if they did, they
+did not let on.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+A TUG OF WAR.
+
+
+“You can’t do it!”
+
+“We can!”
+
+“I’ll bet you boys a new baseball outfit you can’t!”
+
+“We’ll take you up, Captain Brown,” came from three boyish throats in
+chorus.
+
+“All right, lads, I’ll stick to my word. If you can pull Dan Risley,
+Mike Farrell and Peter Gibson over the line in a tug of war you shall
+have the best outfit to be bought in Greenpoint.”
+
+There was a shout, and three boys crowded around the speaker.
+
+“That outfit is as good as ours,” cried Sam Anderson, the leader of the
+trio.
+
+“Of course it is,” put in Joe, who was also present.
+
+“We’ll pull ’em over at the first word,” added Charley Osborne.
+
+Captain Brown of the Lockport hotel smiled. He thought that what the
+boys proposed to do was impossible.
+
+The fact of the matter was the captain and the three lads had been
+sitting on the hotel porch watching the carpenters on the building
+opposite trying to hoist up several heavy timbers. The timbers had
+remained on the ground, awaiting a machine hoist, and the boys had
+remarked that they could do better than the men.
+
+One word had brought on another, until a tug of war was spoken of
+between the three carpenters on one side and the three boys on the
+other.
+
+The boys had always wanted a new baseball outfit, and now they thought
+they saw a chance of winning it.
+
+When the carpenters came down from the building the contest was
+mentioned to them, and they readily agreed to take part whenever the
+boys were ready.
+
+Sam sounded the others and decided to bring matters to a head on the
+following Saturday afternoon at three o’clock.
+
+The tug of war between the three boys on one side and the three men on
+the other was to come off on the village green, and as it became noised
+about the town great preparations were made for the event.
+
+“We must win, that is all there is to it,” Joe declared over and over
+again.
+
+“It’s rather unequal, when you come to think of it,” remarked Charley.
+“Men ought to be stronger than boys.”
+
+“Not stronger than the members of the Lockport Baseball Club,” said our
+hero.
+
+From that time on until the memorable Saturday afternoon the boys did
+nothing but practice for the coming contest.
+
+They procured an old but stout rope, and going into the woods along the
+river tied one end to a young tree and then tried for hours at a time
+to drag the tree to the ground.
+
+This developed their muscles wonderfully.
+
+At last came the Saturday. The boys heard that the men were all ready
+for them.
+
+“They have been practicing too,” said Dick Burns, who was greatly
+interested in the contest. “I just heard it from Jake Foley.”
+
+“They won’t lose without a tough struggle, that’s certain,” returned
+Joe. “But don’t be worried. We must have confidence or we won’t win.”
+
+When the boys reached the village green half an hour before the contest
+was to come off they found it crowded with men, women, and young folks.
+
+“Here they come!” was the cry.
+
+“And here come the men,” was added a moment later, as the three
+carpenters hove in view.
+
+Captain Brown had provided a brand new rope. The line, as it is called,
+was marked off, and the boys took their position at one end and the men
+at the other.
+
+“Are you ready?” asked the captain.
+
+There were several seconds of silence.
+
+“Pull!” he yelled, and flung his hat on the ground to signal that the
+battle royal was on.
+
+What a straining and tugging there was! Both teams dropped into
+position and the knot in the rope remained where it had been placed,
+directly on the line.
+
+“Pull ’em over!” yelled Dick.
+
+“Don’t give ’em an inch!” added Carl Lathrop.
+
+“The boys are plucky!”
+
+“Yes, but the men are the stronger.”
+
+So the cries ran on.
+
+At the end of ten minutes--it seemed an age--it was noticed that the
+men were gaining. The knot was over to their side all of two inches.
+
+“What did I tell you?”
+
+“The boys are plucky, but they haven’t the weight.”
+
+Sam had his teeth shut hard. He heard the remarks, but paid no
+attention to them.
+
+Suddenly he uttered a slight hissing sound. It was the signal that one
+of their opponents was off his guard.
+
+Instantly the boys planted their feet back and gave a sudden and strong
+pull.
+
+Up came one carpenter after another, grunting as they did.
+
+In vain they tried to fall back into their places.
+
+It was too late, and in a second more the boys dragged them over the
+line with a rush.
+
+What a cheer went up!
+
+Even the carpenters joined in.
+
+“You did it, by the great horn spoon, you did it!” cried the captain.
+“And the baseball outfit is yours!”
+
+And it was.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+ANOTHER BALL GAME.
+
+
+A few days later the Rushers played another game of ball, this time
+with a nine from Greenpoint. As Dick Burns was now well again he played
+at second base, while Joe took his old position behind the home plate
+and Charley Osborne pitched as before.
+
+There was a bitter rivalry between Lockport and Greenpoint at the time,
+so far as baseball matters went.
+
+“We must win this game, sure,” said Captain Brown, who, since giving
+the baseball outfit, had taken a special interest in the club.
+
+“I’ll do my share,” said Charley.
+
+“So will I,” added Joe.
+
+A crowd came to witness the game.
+
+In the first inning Charley gave four boys bases on balls and the
+Greenpointers scored two runs.
+
+“That Lockport pitcher is no good,” said the crowd.
+
+In the second inning Charley pitched a wide ball over Joe’s head.
+
+Our hero did his best to get it, but it was beyond his reach.
+
+He ran like the wind, but before he could grab the sphere another run
+was scored for Greenpoint.
+
+Meanwhile the Rushers had but one run, made by Dick.
+
+Captain Brown came forward.
+
+“See here, you two must do better than this,” he said to Joe and
+Charley.
+
+“It’s the ball,” growled Charley. “Let me have a new ball.”
+
+“Nothing the matter with the ball.”
+
+“I say there is,” returned Charley stoutly.
+
+“Let me see it?”
+
+The captain took the ball and examined it.
+
+Then he called the umpire aside.
+
+“Look here, Clarkson, what do you think of this?” he said sharply.
+
+“What’s the matter?” asked the umpire.
+
+“Look at this ball.”
+
+The umpire did as requested.
+
+“Side heavy.”
+
+“Yes. And the cover has been resewed. This is a doctored ball.”
+
+“Don’t know but what you are right. Where did it come from?”
+
+“Don’t know. But the Greenpoint pitcher threw it to Charley Osborne
+when they went in.”
+
+“Humph! Let us investigate later on. Try a new ball.”
+
+The new ball came out, and several of the Greenpoint team were seen to
+exchange glances.
+
+“They know something about this,” said Charley to Joe.
+
+With a new ball Charley did better work. He sent in some wonderful
+curves, and our hero caught out seven men in rotation.
+
+At the end of the first half of the ninth inning the score stood nine
+to eleven in favor of the Greenpoint nine.
+
+Then the Rushers went to the bat.
+
+It was their last effort to win the game.
+
+“Wake up, boys!” cried Captain Brown.
+
+“Do your best, Dick!”
+
+Dick Burns was the first at the bat.
+
+He hit a safe one to center and got first.
+
+Charley followed, and also reached first on a bunt, while Dick went to
+second.
+
+The next boy struck out, and the following fellow did the same.
+
+Then our hero came to the bat.
+
+Dick was on third and Charley on second.
+
+“Now is the time for one of your long hits,” said the captain to Joe.
+
+The pitcher of the Greenpointers smiled to himself.
+
+He saw that Joe would hit the ball, and hit it hard, if it came where
+he wanted it.
+
+Consequently he resolved to pitch the ball as far as possible out of
+our hero’s reach without getting too many balls called.
+
+“One ball!”
+
+“One strike!”
+
+“Two balls!”
+
+“Three balls!”
+
+Joe understood the pitcher’s trick and got angry.
+
+“Give me something over the plate,” he said.
+
+“Shut up, I know what I am doing,” growled the Greenpoint youth.
+
+He remembered that the boy to bat next to Joe was a weak fellow who
+could be put out with ease.
+
+Along came another ball.
+
+It was a grounder, but our hero made up his mind to do the best he
+could with it.
+
+Bang! He hit the sphere with all the power in his arms.
+
+It was a red-hot liner, and it came straight for the pitcher’s head.
+
+The Greenpoint player knew better than to try to stop it.
+
+He attempted to get out of the way.
+
+The ball struck his arm and bounded far out over the foul line between
+home plate and first.
+
+In the meantime Joe was making time down to first.
+
+Dick came home as if a swarm of hornets were after him, and Charley
+followed.
+
+The Greenpoint catcher had run for the ball, thinking the pitcher would
+come up and cover home plate.
+
+But the pitcher did nothing of the sort. Instead he was nursing his
+arm, which felt as if it had been struck with a brick.
+
+Consequently Dick and Charley had nothing to fear when they came in.
+
+The catcher even when he did get the ball fumbled it and threw wild to
+second.
+
+Joe reached second and, seeing the ball sailing over the baseman’s
+head, bounded for third.
+
+The second baseman ran back for the ball and the center-fielder ran up.
+
+The two came into collision and down both went on top of the sphere.
+
+“Throw the ball, Gimp!”
+
+“Send it in, Hemingway!”
+
+Joe landed safely on third. His club was cheering wildly.
+
+“Come in, Joe, come in!”
+
+“They can’t get the ball up!”
+
+The catcher of the Greenpointers was getting frantic. He danced around
+the home plate like a madman.
+
+“Throw the ball! Throw the ball!” he screamed.
+
+But the ball did not come.
+
+The second baseman managed to get to his feet just as Joe started for
+home.
+
+Then up popped the center-fielder.
+
+Both looked at each other.
+
+Neither had the ball.
+
+They looked on the ground, but the sphere was not in sight.
+
+By this time every one present was yelling.
+
+“Where is the ball?”
+
+“Throw it in!”
+
+“What kind of a game is this, anyhow?”
+
+Joe was sprinting as hard as he could and was halfway home.
+
+Suddenly the center-fielder put his hand into his shirt, which had been
+torn open while struggling on the ground, and out came the ball.
+
+The crowd set up a groan.
+
+The Lockport players roared.
+
+Highly excited over the unexpected discovery he had made, the
+center-fielder let drive the ball for home.
+
+His aim was wild, and the ball flew about six feet over the catcher’s
+head.
+
+Joe dropped into a walk and sauntered up to the plate as coolly as if
+out for an evening stroll.
+
+His extraordinary run had won the game.
+
+Perhaps the Greenpoint team was not angry!
+
+The catcher scolded the pitcher, the second baseman howled at the
+catcher, and the center-fielder said the baseman had put the ball in
+his shirt.
+
+The game ended right there and the out-of-town club sneaked for their
+stage as fast as they were able.
+
+It was a long while before they heard the end of that game.
+
+Joe was praised for the way he had served the pitcher with the red-hot
+liner.
+
+“That’s right, make him pitch you a good ball,” said the captain.
+
+As the Greenpoint Club had been beaten nothing was said about the
+doctored ball.
+
+But in the future Charley Osborne kept his eyes open whenever he
+started to pitch with a strange or new ball.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+AN AMUSING WAY TO CATCH A SNEAK.
+
+
+The boys had built a shed at the ball grounds where they could put
+their street clothing and don their baseball outfit.
+
+One day a player named Washton came to the others with a long face.
+
+“See here, this is getting too thin,” he said.
+
+“What is getting too thin, Washton, your shirt?” and Captain Brown, who
+was a jolly sort of a chap, smiled at his little joke.
+
+“No, this stealing in the dressing-room.”
+
+“I didn’t know there was any stealing going on,” and the captain grew
+sober.
+
+“It don’t amount to a great deal, but it is enough to worry one,”
+went on Washton. “Last week I lost a silk handkerchief, and to-day my
+cardcase with six cents in stamps is gone.”
+
+“I had my handkerchief taken, too,” said another player.
+
+“I had three photographs stolen,” put in a third.
+
+“A new rule book I had is gone,” said Joe. “But I thought I had lost it
+on the street.”
+
+A watch was set for the sneak thief, but he could not be detected.
+
+A week passed and more small articles disappeared.
+
+Joe was one of the main sufferers, and he resolved to catch the guilty
+party if such a thing could be accomplished.
+
+He suspected a negro lad named Jeff Lumson, who was in the habit of
+hanging around the club on the watch to do errands and thus pick up a
+few cents.
+
+Joe set a watch over Jeff, but could not catch him in the act of
+stealing.
+
+Yet he became certain the colored boy was guilty.
+
+“I’ll fix him,” said our hero to Washton.
+
+“Hope you do,” grumbled the other player.
+
+On the following morning Joe went down to the fish market. Here he
+hunted around until he came across a chap who had live crabs to sell.
+
+Joe bought three of the smallest and toughest looking of the crabs and
+put them in a basket.
+
+He took the basket to the shed at the grounds and told Washton of his
+scheme.
+
+When the boys went on the field they left the crabs in their inside
+coat pockets.
+
+Half the game went by and in the excitement Joe forgot all about the
+crabs.
+
+Then the Lockport team came in to take their turn at the bat.
+
+Suddenly a loud yell was heard coming from the shed.
+
+“Come on!” shouted Joe. “I have the sneak!”
+
+The umpire called time, and all started forward.
+
+At the door to the shed they came upon Jeff the negro. He was a sight
+to behold. His hands were covered with blood, and to his right thumb
+hung two of the crabs.
+
+“Help! murder! Take dem off!” he shrieked.
+
+“Jeff, what are you doing with my crabs?” demanded Joe sternly.
+
+“Ain’t doin’ nuffin’, ’pon my word, Joe!” groaned the colored boy.
+“Take dem off before I’se bit to pieces!”
+
+“Do you own up that you are the sneak we’ve been looking for?” asked
+Washton.
+
+“Oh, let me go! I’se----”
+
+“Own up, or we’ll let the crabs have another innings at you!” said
+Charley Osborne.
+
+“I owns up; yes, I does!” groaned Jeff. “Let me go an’ I’ll gib you
+back all de stuff I took.”
+
+“All right,” said Joe.
+
+A bucket of water was handy, and this he held under each crab. As soon
+as the crustaceans saw their native element they dropped into the
+bucket.
+
+Jeff continued to groan, but no one sympathized with him.
+
+The stolen stuff was taken from him and then he was kicked out of the
+grounds by all hands.
+
+Some of the Lockport players thought he was a sort of Mascott for
+the club, but this proved to be false, for that day they beat their
+opponents, a heavy team, too, by fourteen to three.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+JOE’S TRIP TO BOSTON.
+
+
+The summer holidays were now at hand and Joe took again to his wheel,
+in company with Dick Burns.
+
+“Baseball is all well enough,” he said. “But wheeling is the better
+sport of the two after all.”
+
+“I am with you on that,” replied Dick. “I would rather ride than eat.”
+
+“That is, if you weren’t too hungry,” laughed Joe. “By the way, I
+wonder what has become of Lemuel Akers,” he went on.
+
+“I wonder, too. I rather fancy he will never return to Lockport,” said
+Dick.
+
+On the day after this talk Joe was hoeing corn in his father’s field,
+when Dick came over, accompanied by a tall and handsome young man.
+
+“Let me introduce my friend, Wilbur Rand, Joe,” he said.
+
+Joe instantly dropped the hoe and shook hands. Then he invited the pair
+to a bench under an apple tree.
+
+“I am glad to know you,” said Wilbur Rand. “I heard all about your
+bicycle victory at Elmwood.”
+
+Our hero saw Dick and his friend had come up on bicycles, and he asked
+Wilbur Rand how he liked to ride.
+
+Dick burst out laughing.
+
+“Wilbur is a professional rider, Joe,” he explained.
+
+“Oh, is that so?”
+
+“Yes, that is how I make my living,” replied Wilbur Rand. “And, by the
+way, Dick tells me you are more of a rider than most folks think.”
+
+“I can ride some,” replied Joe modestly.
+
+That evening the three went out together.
+
+Wilbur Rand had for several years been connected with the League
+of American Wheelmen, but during the last six months had become an
+out-and-out professional rider.
+
+He had traveled through the West and made a fair sum of money. He was
+now training for a race in Boston, and after that intended to go to
+Europe.
+
+Rand knew all the great riders personally, and Joe listened with
+breathless interest as he told of many races and how they were lost or
+won.
+
+“How I would like to have been in some of them!” murmured Joe, as his
+eyes glistened with anticipation.
+
+“You’ll get there,” said the professional rider.
+
+Wilbur Rand remained at Lockport for over a week.
+
+At the end of that time he paid a special visit to our hero’s home.
+
+“I want to get Joe to go to Boston with me,” he said to Mr. Johnson. “I
+will pay all of his expenses if you will let him go.”
+
+“What for?”
+
+“I want him to help me train. He is just the right kind of a companion.
+Dick Burns will go with us.”
+
+The matter was talked over for several hours, and then Mr. Johnson and
+his wife gave their consent.
+
+It was a bright, clear day when our hero left home. His friends came to
+the train to see him off.
+
+Joe enjoyed the trip very much, but he was still more pleased when the
+great Eastern city was reached.
+
+He took many rides around when not pacing Wilbur Rand. He went over to
+the Bunker Hill Monument and to a dozen other places of interest.
+
+At last came the time for the great race, and it found Wilbur Rand in
+prime condition.
+
+The races were held on the regular cycling field, and a very large
+crowd attended.
+
+Joe was deeply interested. He did all he could for Rand, and so did
+Dick Burns.
+
+When the race was finished Wilbur Rand was the winner of first place.
+
+Joe and Dick shouted themselves hoarse.
+
+Wilbur was much elated, and then and there he made Joe a present of
+fifty dollars for his services as a pacer and otherwise.
+
+Joe would not at first accept the gift, but Wilbur Rand insisted.
+
+“Take your wheel and the money, and get the best bicycle you can,” said
+Rand. “You yourself are cut out for a professional and a winner. Mark
+my words, we shall meet again, and on the track.”
+
+Dick and Joe saw Wilbur Rand off on the steamer bound for Europe, and
+then returned to Lockport.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+JOE’S BIG RACE.
+
+
+A couple of weeks later Joe procured his wheel, which was worth
+a hundred dollars. It was a racer, and weighed only nineteen and
+three-quarter pounds.
+
+Our hero was very proud of the machine.
+
+“To ride on it is like sailing along on wings,” he said to Dick. “Just
+watch me go!”
+
+And go he did, so rapidly that his chum was soon left far behind.
+
+Several weeks went on, and meanwhile Mr. Johnson was thrown out of work.
+
+This would not have been so bad, but he owed two hundred and fifty
+dollars on a note, and this was coming due.
+
+He had not the money to pay up, and the holder of the note refused to
+renew the same.
+
+He spoke of his trouble to his wife and to Joe.
+
+“If I can’t pay up I’ll be sued and sold out,” said Mr. Johnson.
+
+“If I could get the money on my bicycle I would sell that,” said Joe
+promptly.
+
+“No, I must have the whole amount,” replied his father.
+
+On the very day that the money would come due there was to be a series
+of races for cash prizes in Cleveland.
+
+Joe heard of the races through Dick, who advised him to enter for the
+five-mile event.
+
+“You might win something, Joe, and it would be a feather in your cap,”
+said Dick.
+
+“I haven’t the money to enter.”
+
+“It’s only ten dollars, and I’ll put it up.”
+
+“But the car fares?”
+
+“I’ll pay those, too. You can pay me back out of your winnings.”
+
+“But suppose I lose?”
+
+“You won’t lose, excepting through an accident, and in that case I’ll
+pocket my loss.”
+
+The proposition interested Joe greatly, and finally he agreed to take
+Dick up.
+
+Every night he went out for practice, hardening his muscles by long
+climbs up hill.
+
+He also took much exercise to develop his lung power, so that he could
+spurt.
+
+“I’ll win something, or else know the reason why,” he said to himself.
+
+By Dick’s request he said nothing of the races to his parents. Dick
+entered him, and when they went off Mr. Johnson paid no attention.
+
+Behind it all Joe wanted very much to win the first prize of two
+hundred dollars.
+
+“It would help father out of his difficulty, I feel sure,” he thought.
+“Oh, I must win; there are no two ways about it.”
+
+Joe knew that both his father and his mother were much worried over the
+note.
+
+His father had a hundred dollars, but that was not two hundred and
+fifty.
+
+Joe and Dick arrived at the race track several hours before the races.
+Joe was in prime condition and felt confident.
+
+As the pair rode around the grounds Dick suddenly called to our hero:
+
+“Did you see him?”
+
+“Who?”
+
+“Lemuel Akers.”
+
+“No! Where?”
+
+“Back of that grand stand.”
+
+“I saw nobody I know,” replied Joe. “You must be mistaken, Dick.”
+
+“I guess not.”
+
+Dick Burns hurried off, while Joe continued to exercise himself.
+
+Pretty soon Dick came back.
+
+“Well?”
+
+“He got away. But I am sure it was Lemuel.”
+
+It was now time for the first race to come off, and the track was
+cleared of all but those who were to take part.
+
+It was a mile event, and there were twelve entries.
+
+An old favorite won, and this, of course, put the crowd in good humor.
+
+Then came half a dozen other events.
+
+At last the five-mile race was called.
+
+“Now is your time, Joe,” said Dick. “Go in and win.”
+
+Dick accompanied Joe to the starting point that he might hold him up
+and shove him off at the shot.
+
+Ten young men entered the race, all much older, however, than Joe.
+
+“Who is that boy?” asked several.
+
+“Can it be possible that he expects to win?”
+
+“He’ll be left at the first mile.”
+
+Joe heard the unkind remarks, but he paid no attention to them.
+
+He set his teeth hard and looked to see that everything about his
+bicycle was in first-class order.
+
+If he lost, it should not be the fault of careless preparation.
+
+There was a slight delay, and then a really beautiful start was
+effected.
+
+“Go it, Barnstable!”
+
+“Show ’em what you can do, Royal!”
+
+At the end of the first lap the men were all in a bunch, with Joe a few
+yards behind them.
+
+“Didn’t I tell you the boy wouldn’t be in it?”
+
+“What do they want to let a mere lad go in a race like this for?”
+
+“Well, he’ll be out his entrance money, that’s certain.”
+
+“Don’t you mind, Joe,” cried Dick, and he was the only one in that
+great crowd to give our hero any encouragement.
+
+Joe smiled to himself when he heard Dick’s cry. He knew perfectly well
+what he was doing.
+
+All those men ahead could not keep up that burst of speed.
+
+At the third lap one began to lag behind, and Joe passed him.
+
+A mile was passed, and Joe was ahead of three of the racers.
+
+“The boy holds on pretty good!”
+
+“Maybe he’s getting his second wind.”
+
+Two miles, and Joe occupied fourth place.
+
+On and on went the racers. The end of the third mile found Joe fighting
+for third place.
+
+Another lap, and the place was his and Redding dropped behind.
+
+Then Joe tackled the second man, Clover. But Clover was an old rider,
+and was not to be beaten so easily. For a lap and a half he rushed on,
+just a wheel’s length ahead.
+
+“He can’t come it over Clover!”
+
+“Bob’s too much for him!”
+
+Then Joe began to spurt. The end of the race was not far off.
+
+Like a rocket he flashed up beside Clover; it was wheel and wheel for a
+hundred feet.
+
+Then Joe shot ahead.
+
+“The boy has passed him!”
+
+“Clover is out of it. There he goes down!”
+
+The cry was true. The spurt had caused Clover to faint.
+
+He fell, and his fall caused a general break-up behind him.
+
+But several riders escaped and went on, while the injured were carried
+as quickly as possible out of the way of further harm.
+
+In the meanwhile Joe kept on.
+
+Barnstable was a hundred feet ahead.
+
+Could he pass the leader?
+
+“I must do it! I must!”
+
+And so thinking, Joe increased his spurting.
+
+At the turn he happened to glance up and in a corner of the fence saw
+Lemuel Akers. But just then he gave no thought to his enemy.
+
+That race was everything to him.
+
+Another lap, and Barnstable’s lead was cut down nearly one-half.
+
+Suddenly the spectators gave a cry of amazement.
+
+Something had been thrown on the track, directly in front of our hero.
+
+Sizz! Bang!
+
+The object had exploded with a deafening report just as Joe was riding
+close beside it!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+JOE’S DOUBLE ESCAPE.
+
+
+For the moment every one at the track thought Joe had been killed or
+fatally injured.
+
+The bomb, or whatever it was, had gone off directly beside him.
+
+A shower of dirt flew in every direction, and this, mingling with the
+smoke, hid our hero from view.
+
+A cry of terror was followed by absolute silence. Every one looked
+dazed.
+
+Then, from the midst of what was meant to injure him badly, Joe rode
+unharmed.
+
+No, not entirely unharmed, for his clothing was torn and his left hand
+was bleeding.
+
+But such trifles counted for nothing in view of what he had gone
+through.
+
+“He’s out of it!”
+
+“I thought he would be blown to pieces!”
+
+“Who threw that thing on the track?”
+
+“The miscreant ought to be lynched.”
+
+Joe heard very few of the cries. Out of the awful situation he came
+with still but one purpose in his mind. He must win that race.
+
+It is such grit that marks the truly successful boy and man.
+
+Barnstable was fifty feet ahead, and they had just started on the last
+lap.
+
+Joe bent over his handle bar and spurted as he had never spurted before.
+
+The track seemed to fairly flash by under his feet. A hundred shouts
+rang in his ears.
+
+“He’s crawling up on Barnstable!”
+
+“Just see him spurt!”
+
+“He was fooling at the start.”
+
+“No, he wasn’t fooling, he was only saving his wind, and now he is
+going to show you what he can do.”
+
+The last speaker was Dick Burns, and he told the truth.
+
+Like a dart from a blowgun Joe came down the homestretch.
+
+Barnstable was but ten yards ahead--now eight--now five--now only three!
+
+Now they were side by side!
+
+And the tape but six yards off.
+
+“Beat him out, Barnstable!”
+
+“Go, Joe, go!” yelled Dick.
+
+Barnstable increased his speed--he was pedaling the race of his life.
+
+But Joe also increased. Then our hero fairly stood on his pedals and on
+he went, over the line, a winner by a yard!
+
+A silence--then a mighty shout that echoed and re-echoed on all sides.
+
+“The boy has won!”
+
+“Who is he?”
+
+“Joe Johnson, of Lockport.”
+
+“He’ll be a champion some day.”
+
+“So he will.”
+
+Eagerly the crowd surrounded Joe, anxious to make his acquaintance.
+
+But Dick got there first, and it was Dick who hurried Joe off to his
+dressing-room.
+
+“I knew you could do it, old man,” said Dick. “I am proud of you. Won’t
+this tickle Wilbur Rand when he hears of it!”
+
+“I couldn’t have done it on the old wheel, Dick. The new machine won
+that race.”
+
+“Nonsense! It was your endurance and pluck, Joe. Here, let me rub you
+down. The two hundred dollars are yours.”
+
+Joe’s eyes glistened in spite of his exhaustion.
+
+“Won’t father be pleased,” he murmured.
+
+“It will help him out on that mortgage.”
+
+“Exactly. When do I get my prize?”
+
+“The money will be presented this evening at the clubhouse at eight
+o’clock.”
+
+Then the two boys talked about the bomb.
+
+“It was Lemuel Akers threw it on the track, I am certain of it,” said
+Joe.
+
+“It’s just like him. So this is where he is holding out. We’ll have to
+report that fact at home.”
+
+“I fancy it won’t do much good. He’ll keep out of the way for awhile.”
+
+As soon as he was in condition Joe went outside again. Many were
+introduced to him, and soon he was a hail-fellow-well-met among the
+bicyclists.
+
+The track authorities had set two special detectives at work on the
+bomb business, and they promised to find Lemuel Akers, if such a thing
+was possible.
+
+Joe and Dick took supper with their new friends at the clubhouse. It
+was an elegant layout, and it is needless to say that our hero did full
+justice to what was set before him.
+
+Then came a few speeches, and finally Joe was presented with a purse
+containing two hundred dollars in gold.
+
+He thanked the club for the prize, making a speech that drew forth
+considerable applause, and half an hour later he and Dick withdrew in
+order to catch the last train that night back to Lockport.
+
+“I must stop at a house on one of these side streets for a minute,”
+said Dick. “You go down to the depot and wait for me will you?”
+
+“All right,” responded Joe.
+
+Dick turned a corner and Joe went on his way. It was rather dark, as
+there was no moon.
+
+The main street was torn up for a new sewer, so Joe took the back way
+to reach the railroad station. Unknown to him two men were close behind.
+
+“He’s got that two hundred in his breast pocket,” said one man to the
+other. “I saw him place it there.”
+
+“We must get it, Cuddy.”
+
+“Of course. Two hundred can’t be picked up easier.”
+
+So speaking the men followed Joe until a dark corner was reached.
+
+Then one of them ran up and stopped Joe.
+
+“Hold on, sonny.”
+
+“What do you want?” demanded our hero sharply.
+
+“I want that two hundred you have in your breast pocket.”
+
+“What!”
+
+“No nonsense now!” put in the second man. “Fork over and be quick about
+it!”
+
+As he spoke the man drew a pistol.
+
+Joe took in the situation on the instant.
+
+These men were footpads. They had seen him put the money away and now
+they meant to rob him.
+
+As quick as a flash he sprang back. Then on his machine hopped Joe, and
+pedaling off toward the depot. He had gone but a dozen yards when the
+man said:
+
+“Stop! or I’ll fire!”
+
+To this command and threat Joe paid no heed. He spun on, and a few
+seconds later reached the depot in safety.
+
+He at once sought a policeman and told his story. The two went back,
+but the footpads had taken warning and cleared out.
+
+“Next time I’ll be more careful how I show my money,” thought Joe.
+
+It was not long after this that Dick came along. The train also
+arrived, and both boys got aboard.
+
+“Well, Joe, you are a professional rider from to-day,” said Dick. “Your
+amateur days are over.”
+
+Joe and Dick talked over future prospects all the way to Lockport.
+
+It was very late when they arrived at their native town and they
+expected to see the station practically deserted.
+
+What was their surprise to find it lit up on all sides with Chinese
+lanterns, while in the square a big bonfire was blazing.
+
+“Hurrah for Joe Johnson!” sang out a hundred boys as our hero alighted.
+
+The news of his victory had preceded him and the town boys were proud
+of him.
+
+They had a little parade, some riding on their wheels and others
+marching on foot, and they escorted Joe home.
+
+Here Mr. Johnson and Joe’s mother and Paul could scarcely credit their
+ears.
+
+“Won two hundred dollars!” gasped his mother. “Oh, Joe!”
+
+“Yes, mother,” he said proudly. And then he turned to his father: “Use
+it toward that note, father.”
+
+And he held out the purse.
+
+Mr. Johnson gladly accepted a hundred and fifty dollars, which, with
+the hundred he had, would pay off the two hundred and fifty.
+
+“Keep the rest, Joe,” he said. “You more than deserve it.”
+
+“So he does,” put in Paul. “Ain’t I glad though, Joe,” he added warmly.
+
+“But you are out of work--” began Joe.
+
+“No, I am happy to say that I have struck another situation,” replied
+Mr. Johnson.
+
+“That’s good. Where?”
+
+“With Mr. Fordham, at the planing mill.”
+
+“Why, Mr. Akers worked there.”
+
+“I know it. He was discharged last week for carelessness. He broke
+several very valuable planing knives.”
+
+“The Akerses won’t like that,” said Joe soberly.
+
+“I presume not. But the position was vacant and I can’t afford to
+remain idle on their account, Joe.”
+
+“Certainly not, father,” replied Joe; and there the conversation
+dropped.
+
+But Joe could not help but wonder what effect the turn of affairs would
+have on Lemuel Akers and his family.
+
+He fancied, and rightly, too, that they would be very bitter over this
+unexpected change.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+THE MAD DOG.
+
+
+It was two evenings later that Joe arranged to go out bicycling with
+Carrie Burns, who had obtained a situation at the district school.
+
+He was to meet her on the road next day after school hours, and they
+were to take a trip over a road which was comparatively new to her.
+
+At the appointed time Joe looked for Carrie, but she did not put in an
+appearance.
+
+He waited half an hour, and then, mounting his wheel, pedaled slowly
+toward the schoolhouse situated on the outskirts, between Lockport and
+Greenpoint.
+
+He thought something had detained Carrie at the school, although he
+could not imagine what it could be.
+
+On the way Joe met Josiah Arkley. The old farmer was glad to see him.
+
+“I ain’t forgot how ye saved my henroost, Joe,” he said. “An’ I ain’t
+likely to forgit it. They tell me you air a downright good wheeler an’
+makin’ money. I wish ye success, I do, on my word.”
+
+“Thank you, Mr. Arkley,” said Joe, and then he rode on.
+
+As he neared the schoolhouse he heard a scream of terror and recognized
+Carrie Burns’ voice.
+
+Evidently Dick’s sister was in great peril.
+
+Without hesitation our hero shot forward on his wheel.
+
+“Help! Help!”
+
+“What’s the trouble?” cried Joe.
+
+“A mad dog! Save me!” shrieked pretty Carrie Burns.
+
+Leaping to the ground, Joe ran up the schoolhouse steps and burst open
+the door.
+
+A curious and thrilling sight met his gaze.
+
+There, on a high desk, stood Carrie Burns. She held a heavy ruler in
+her hand, with which she was trying to ward off the repeated attacks of
+a small but ferocious dog, who was leaping and snarling about her.
+
+That the dog was mad was evident. He was trying his best to catch her
+dainty foot between his gleaming teeth.
+
+“Oh! Joe, save me!”
+
+“I will, Carrie!”
+
+On hearing Joe’s voice the dog turned around and started to attack our
+hero.
+
+But Joe was too quick for him and sprang on a desk. Then he caught up a
+chair and whacked the dog over the back with it.
+
+The cur rolled over and over, letting out a wild howl as he did so.
+
+As he rolled Joe sprang down and caught him under the neck with one leg
+of the chair.
+
+Before he could free himself our hero had him by the tail.
+
+The schoolhouse was built on the bank of a wide stream, and the windows
+were open.
+
+Swinging the cur around his head, Joe hurled him through a window.
+
+He landed in the water with a splash and disappeared. But soon he came
+to the surface again, and then struck out for the opposite shore, a
+sadder if not a wiser dog.
+
+Then Joe ran to Carrie’s side. She had been fighting off the dog for
+nearly an hour and was completely exhausted.
+
+“Oh, Joe, you saved my life!” she murmured.
+
+“I would do as much for you every day, Carrie,” he replied quickly, and
+then blushed.
+
+It was some time later that the pair returned to Mr. Burns’ house.
+
+Here Joe was again thanked. Later on he and Carrie took their ride, and
+both enjoyed it very much, despite the mad-dog incident.
+
+The next few weeks were busy ones for Joe Johnson. He worked with his
+father, and during his spare time entered half a dozen races.
+
+Of these races he won four and received prizes to the amount of nearly
+a hundred dollars.
+
+With part of the money he bought his mother a new sewing machine,
+something she wished for very much.
+
+The rest of the money went into the bank.
+
+“I’ll not become a spendthrift, no matter how much I make,” said Joe to
+himself.
+
+That winter a bicycle carnival was arranged to take place in the city
+of Chicago.
+
+Joe was asked to enter, and he did so for a twenty-mile event.
+
+Among those who entered against him was Wilbur Rand, who had just come
+back from a fairly successful tour, on which he had been showing off
+the merits of a new high-geared bicycle.
+
+“What did I tell you, Joe?” cried Rand. “Didn’t I say we would meet
+again, and on the professional track?”
+
+“I am sorry we are to race against each other,” said Joe soberly. “I
+want to see you win, and I don’t want to lose.”
+
+“Just my idea of it, too. But we must both do our best. There must be
+no such thing as throwing the race into the other’s hands.”
+
+“Oh, I know that.”
+
+The carnival brought thousands of bicyclists to Chicago, and Joe made a
+great host of friends.
+
+“I think this will be the last long race I will enter,” he said to
+Dick, who came on just to see Joe and Rand race.
+
+“Why, Joe, what do you mean?”
+
+“After this I am going in for one, two, and three mile events. I think
+I may win a championship in one of those events.”
+
+“You can!” cried Dick. “You spurt so beautifully.”
+
+The races were very successful in every way, excepting that in one
+event three of the riders were badly hurt.
+
+On the second day of the carnival the twenty-mile event came off.
+
+There were sixteen entries, and at the call every man appeared.
+
+“You want to be careful of a pocket, Joe,” said Dick.
+
+“And look out for smash-ups,” put in Wilbur Rand. “The track is not
+just what it might be. That other mishap proves it.”
+
+It took some time to effect a good start. But at last they were off in
+a bunch.
+
+All went well for several miles. Three men dropped out, leaving
+thirteen on the track.
+
+An unlucky number, thought some people, and so it proved.
+
+Joe occupied fifth place, with Wilbur Rand just ahead of him.
+
+The three leaders were way ahead. But they were using themselves up,
+and must sooner or later drop behind.
+
+Then came a burst from behind, and Wilbur Rand and Joe were surrounded.
+
+Rand managed to escape, but Joe was “pocketed.”
+
+In vain he tried to break out. Three riders held him steadily in check.
+
+Joe was inclined to think he had been caught on purpose, but he could
+not prove it.
+
+He drove along steadily, watching every movement the others made.
+
+Half a lap was lost, and then our hero saw a fighting chance to clear
+himself.
+
+One of the bicyclists had turned out about a foot.
+
+This left a narrow space between the fellow and the man beside him.
+
+Like an arrow from a bow Joe made a mighty spurt.
+
+He shot through the opening like lightning, just grazing one of the men
+as he passed.
+
+Before the fellows could realize it he was ten yards in advance of them.
+
+“I’ll not get in such a pocket again,” he muttered to himself. “They
+mean to make me lose if they can.”
+
+By this time Wilbur Rand was close up to the three men ahead, who were
+now in a close bunch.
+
+These positions were held for over two miles. Then a cry rang out.
+
+The first man had slipped at one of the turns and gone down. Almost
+instantly the second and third riders came down on top of him.
+
+Before they could right themselves Wilbur Rand came up, with Joe close
+beside him.
+
+Rand was riding at a furious rate, and it looked as if he, too, must be
+thrown amid that mass of wounded humanity and twisted wheels.
+
+He tried to turn out and began to slip.
+
+But Joe caught him by the shoulder.
+
+“Steady!” he cried. “Steady! Now you are all right.”
+
+It was all done quicker than it can be told. But the crowd saw and
+applauded.
+
+Joe had saved Wilbur Rand from a dangerous fall, and perhaps from great
+injury.
+
+On went the two riders side by side.
+
+Then the wreck was cleared away and the others followed.
+
+Some began to spurt, and again Joe was hard pushed from behind, while
+Wilbur Rand led by a dozen yards.
+
+And now the last mile was on.
+
+Joe rode as he had never ridden before. Slowly but surely he crawled up
+to Wilbur Rand.
+
+“Here they come!”
+
+“It’s going to be a close race!”
+
+“Joe Johnson has caught up!”
+
+“See, they are wheel and wheel!”
+
+The shouts were deafening as Joe and Rand neared the end of the final
+lap.
+
+They were indeed side by side. Neither was a single inch ahead.
+
+A flash and the tape was crossed.
+
+A tie!
+
+“Hurrah for Joe Johnson!”
+
+“Three cheers for Wilbur Rand!”
+
+Wilbur Rand and Joe shook hands, while the crowd continued to cheer.
+
+“Shall we divide or race it over?” asked Rand.
+
+“Let us divide,” said Joe. “I would rather have it that way. We can be
+better friends.”
+
+“Just my way of thinking.”
+
+But Rand did not forget how Joe had saved him from falling.
+
+Before they separated he made Joe a present of a handsome diamond
+scarfpin.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+THE BOY ON THE DERRICK ARM.
+
+
+After this great race Joe was looked upon more as a professional
+bicycle rider than anything else.
+
+“He’ll make his mark, see if he don’t,” said his friends, and it looked
+as if this would be true.
+
+Business in Lockport was picking up. Several new factories had been
+started and the town was fast growing into a city.
+
+“Let us go into the bicycle business, father,” said Joe one day. “A
+store of that kind ought to pay.”
+
+The matter was talked over for several weeks, and finally Mr. Johnson
+decided to make the venture, and a store was opened, with Paul and Joe
+in charge. Mr. Johnson was not to give up his present place until the
+new venture was an assured success.
+
+This it speedily was, and Joe’s father resigned his position at the
+planing mill and enlarged the store, adding a general line of hardware
+and farming implements.
+
+The ground where the old Rayley’s Row had stood had been cleared of all
+the _débris_ left by the fire, and now the owners of the land were
+putting up a row of fine brick stores and dwellings which were destined
+to be the pride of the place.
+
+Late one afternoon Joe was passing the buildings where a great number
+of children were at play in the heaps of sand and on the piles of
+lumber which incumbered the street.
+
+Suddenly a boy on the top of one of the buildings let out a sharp cry
+of fear.
+
+Joe looked up and saw a sight that almost caused his heart to stop
+beating.
+
+The boy had in some way been caught on the end of the arm of a big
+derrick used for hoisting building material.
+
+The arm had swung around and the boy now hung over the street, forty
+feet below.
+
+He was caught only by his back, and should his coat rip away he would
+be hurled to his death.
+
+Taking in the situation at a glance, our hero ran up one ladder after
+another until the top of the building was reached.
+
+“Save Willie Gray!” screamed a dozen boys.
+
+They were trying to swing the arm of the derrick around, but could not.
+
+Some of the machinery would not work, and although Joe took a hand, the
+long arm with its human burden would not budge.
+
+Then Joe resolved to go to the boy’s rescue.
+
+Cautiously he climbed out on the long arm on hands and knees.
+
+It was a daring thing to attempt.
+
+Should Joe slip and lose his hold, he would fall forty feet to the
+pavement below.
+
+That would mean but one thing--death.
+
+Yet our hero did not falter. He was made of sterner stuff.
+
+Inch by inch he moved along, while a crowd gathered in the street below
+to watch him.
+
+“Be careful, young fellow!”
+
+The derrick arm wobbled a little, and this made the daring feat still
+more difficult.
+
+Joe was now within two feet of the boy, who was struggling madly to
+catch hold of the arm of the derrick.
+
+Rip! The boy’s coat tore away from where it was caught, and the youth
+gave a scream, thinking he was lost.
+
+With a quick leap our hero grabbed him by the collar just as he was
+dropping.
+
+“He has him!”
+
+“A close call for the youngster!”
+
+With his strong right arm Joe landed the boy on the top of the derrick
+arm. But the lad was too frightened to save himself even then and
+clutched at Joe.
+
+“Save me! Don’t leave me!” he moaned piteously.
+
+It was no easy matter for our hero to move backward with the frightened
+lad clinging to him. Yet back he went, inch by inch.
+
+The crowd held its breath, expecting each instant to see Joe and his
+charge come crashing to the pavement.
+
+But at last the top of the building was reached.
+
+The boy had fainted.
+
+He was quickly surrounded by a score of men and women, among the number
+being his mother.
+
+The thankful woman hugged the boy to her breast and then turned to
+thank Joe for his great service.
+
+But the brave youth was not to be found.
+
+He had slipped through the crowd and hurried down the several ladders
+to the street.
+
+The boys wondered what made Joe so sober that night and the next day.
+
+The local paper came out with a long account of the daring rescue, and
+our hero received great praise.
+
+For a long while after this matters moved along quietly with Joe.
+
+One day, while he was sitting on the porch, talking over bicycle races
+with a rider named Roy Crossley, Mr. Johnson came to him with a bulky
+envelope.
+
+“Suppose you deliver this letter for me on your wheel?” said Mr.
+Johnson. “It will give you something to do, and I would rather have it
+delivered by hand than trust it in the mails.”
+
+“Where is it to go?”
+
+“To a man named Franshaw, who lives up about two miles back of
+Independence. If I put it in the mails he may not get it for three or
+four days, and I want to see him to-morrow, if possible. Perhaps Roy
+would like to ride with you.”
+
+“Certainly; we were just wondering where we should go,” replied Roy
+Crossley.
+
+“We can’t go up there and back by dinner time, though,” put in Joe.
+
+“Then let us take our lunches and make a day of it,” suggested the
+other bicyclist.
+
+This was agreed upon; and half an hour later the two boys set off on
+their bicycles, each with a neat lunch in paper strapped to his handle
+bar, and Joe with the communication for Mr. Franshaw tucked away in a
+back pocket, under his blue sweater.
+
+The early morning had been somewhat misty, but now the sun came out
+strong for a day in the spring time. The roads were dry, but without
+dust, ideal in every way for the trip before them.
+
+“As we have the whole day before us, let us take it easy,” suggested
+our hero, as Roy started off at his usual high rate of speed.
+
+“Joe, you’re getting lazy!” laughed Roy. “Come on. I’ll race you to the
+turn.”
+
+But Joe would not race, and his chum was forced to slow down, much to
+his dissatisfaction. Slowly they rode on, and turned into the road
+leading to Independence.
+
+“I wish I’d had a drink before I left home,” remarked Joe presently.
+“I’m awfully thirsty.”
+
+“We can stop at the next house for water,” returned Roy, but before the
+next building was reached they espied an old-fashioned well situated in
+a rocky field to their right.
+
+“We’ll get a drink up there,” cried Joe. “Come on;” and coming to a
+halt, he dismounted and dragged his wheel up against the rail fence.
+Roy followed, and the pair were soon over the fence and into the field.
+They had quite some fun working the long well sweep, and when Roy was
+getting his drink out of the mossy bucket Joe playfully ducked his nose
+for him, and got a handful of water down his neck in consequence.
+
+“I like to drink out of an old well,” observed Roy, when they were once
+more on their journey. “The water seems to taste sweeter, especially
+if you drink right out of the bucket.”
+
+“Pure imagination,” laughed Joe, who was not of a poetical nature.
+“Might as well say you would like to eat a beefsteak right out of the
+frying pan.”
+
+A hamlet called Bytown had been passed, and now they came to a long
+hill, rather steep in places. Halfway up this Joe called a halt.
+
+“We can rest and then walk the remainder of the way,” he observed, and
+threw himself down on the sward, with his back against a huge stone.
+
+“Well, you are lazy to-day and no mistake,” said Roy, but he was
+compelled to follow his chum’s lead. “We haven’t so everlastingly far
+to go that you’ve got to save your wind in this fashion.”
+
+“It’s far enough, considering the hills.”
+
+“Who is this Mr. Franshaw we are to call on?”
+
+“He used to be a builder in Greenpoint. Some years ago he and my father
+did quite some work together.”
+
+“Your father said it was important he should get the letter at once.”
+
+“Yes. It’s about some building contract, I believe.” Joe put his hand
+back to see if the letter was safe. “Father thinks-- Oh, Roy, it’s
+gone!”
+
+“Gone? What?”
+
+“The letter! I’ve dropped it somewhere!”
+
+In the excitement Joe leaped to his feet and gazed about him and down
+along the road as far as his eye could reach. The envelope was not in
+sight.
+
+“We’ll have to go back,” he said, with a disturbed look on his face.
+“Hurry up.”
+
+“You must have dropped it when we got that drink,” said Roy. “I hope
+you get it back.”
+
+“I must get it back. I think there was a plan in it which cost the
+owner fifty or a hundred dollars,” returned Joe.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+A LETTER AND A SNAKE.
+
+
+Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain
+about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well. As
+a matter of fact, Joe fairly flew down the highway and he had all he
+could do to keep up with him.
+
+The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted
+nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
+They even lit a bit of paper and threw it into the well, that they
+might see if the envelope had dropped into the water. It was all of no
+avail; the communication could not be found.
+
+Joe walked back to the road with a very white face. What would his
+father say to this?
+
+“It’s too bad,” said Roy Crossley. “Let us ride back slowly to where we
+rested. It may be lying somewhere on the way.”
+
+“I ought to have put it into an inside pocket, Roy. Father cautioned
+me to do that, but I forgot.”
+
+On this point Roy could give no comfort, and in silence they turned
+forward again, our hero on one side of the road and his chum on the
+other.
+
+They had almost reached the spot where they had been resting when Roy
+uttered a shout.
+
+“There is the letter, over by that rock!”
+
+He pointed to one side. Both looked in that direction, and an instant
+later gave a yell of fright.
+
+“A snake! And on the letter!”
+
+It was true. A brown reptile nearly three feet long had come out
+of his hole to sun himself, and his head rested directly upon the
+communication.
+
+Both boys rode past and then dismounted. As they did this the snake
+gave an angry hiss which made them retreat in double-quick time. Joe
+picked up a stone and Roy a stick.
+
+For a moment the reptile held its ground, and the lads thought they
+would have a lively and decidedly unwelcome fight. But as the stick and
+stone were raised the snake turned and like a flash disappeared behind
+a rock.
+
+Joe’s heart beat loudly as he picked up the letter, and he brushed it
+off with great care and even then handled it gingerly. Both boys were
+so preoccupied that they did not notice the presence of a little girl
+who had walked up.
+
+“Why didn’t you kill the snake?” she remarked. “I wouldn’t have let him
+get away from me.”
+
+“It’s easy to talk,” returned Roy coldly. “A snake is not a nice thing
+to handle.”
+
+“Huh! My little brother killed one yesterday twice as long as that,”
+she replied disdainfully.
+
+“Can’t you tell us how far we are from Mr. Franshaw’s house?” asked
+Joe, to change the subject.
+
+The girl told them, glancing curiously at the letter in the meantime.
+“Is that for him?” she questioned.
+
+“Yes.”
+
+“Well, if you want to catch him this morning you’ll have to hurry. I
+just came from his place and I heard him tell his man that he was going
+to start for Northfield in a little while, and by what he said I guess
+he’s going to stay there a couple of days.”
+
+“Then we will have to hurry,” replied Joe. “I am much obliged to you
+for the information,” he added.
+
+“I’ve never been out Northfield way,” observed Roy, as they pedaled
+along as rapidly as possible. “Do you know anything about the roads?”
+
+“I was up there once in a wagon,” replied our hero. “I hope we catch
+Mr. Franshaw before he starts.”
+
+They went through the town of Independence at a rapid rate--so rapid
+Roy was afraid they might be arrested for fast riding--and struck out
+on the side road leading to Mr. Franshaw’s residence. The two miles
+were quickly covered, and, dismounting, Joe hurried up to a side door
+and knocked loudly. There was no response.
+
+A man who had seen them from a near-by field approached. He proved to
+be one of Mr. Franshaw’s hired men.
+
+“Yes, Mr. Franshaw left for Northfield about half an hour ago,” he
+said, in reply to Joe’s question.
+
+“On foot?”
+
+“Oh, no, he had a team with some furniture he sold to a man in
+Northfield. You see since his wife died he ain’t got no use for the
+stuff, and he’s thinking of selling out altogether and moving down to
+Greenpoint.”
+
+“Perhaps we can catch him if he has a heavy load,” remarked Roy. “Let’s
+try it.”
+
+“We can catch him at Northfield anyway; that is, if the roads are good
+enough for bicycling,” returned our hero. “Which way did he go?”
+
+“Right straight down this road till you come to the creek,” said the
+hired man. “Then take the road to the left until you get around the
+hill, and then take the road to the right. You might catch him if you
+are good riders.”
+
+“And the roads?”
+
+“Well, they ain’t the best, but I reckon they’re good enough. You may
+have to do a bit of walking here and there.”
+
+“Come ahead!” cried Joe, and in a second more he was off, with Roy in
+his wake. A turn of the road and Mr. Franshaw’s residence was left
+behind, and they were started on a journey destined to be full of
+excitement and surprises.
+
+On and on they sped as fast as the country road would admit, gradually
+climbing the hill to the other side. At the creek they took the turn
+the man had mentioned and pedaled along a smooth way lined on either
+side with dense woods.
+
+“Hullo, look!” cried Roy, who had spurted ahead. “A gypsy camp!”
+
+“Sure enough, Roy! They have four wagons, and look, at least a dozen
+horses.”
+
+“Rather a tough-looking crowd, ain’t they?”
+
+Joe agreed that they were. There were six men visible, lying around a
+flat rock, smoking and playing cards. Besides the men there were two
+women, who were washing clothes and cooking, and half a dozen ragged
+and dirty children. The children shouted at them, but they paid no
+attention as they swept past.
+
+“How folks can live in that style gets me,” commented Roy. “Ugh! those
+men looked like the brigands of Italy you see pictured in books.”
+
+“I guess they are not above stealing chickens, and even horses,”
+replied Joe. “But hurry up, for if I am not mistaken it is going to
+rain before night. Don’t you notice how close it is and how glary the
+sunshine is getting?”
+
+The second turn was reached and before them was a straight stretch of a
+mile and a half. Looking far ahead they saw a wagon lumbering along at
+a lively gait.
+
+“That must be Mr. Franshaw’s,” ejaculated Joe. “Hurry up and see!”
+
+He spurted and so did Roy, and the wagon was reached before it had
+proceeded a quarter of a mile. True enough it belonged to the man they
+were seeking, who sat on the seat calmly smoking his brier root pipe.
+
+“Hullo, Joe Johnson, what are you doing away up here?” he cried, as the
+youth came alongside. “A pretty long and rough ride from your home.”
+
+“I’ve got a letter for you,” answered our hero. “Here it is. I was at
+your home and your man directed me how I could follow you.”
+
+The team was stopped and the communication examined.
+
+“I’m mighty glad you came after me,” said Mr. Franshaw. “I wouldn’t
+want to have missed this for a good deal. I was going to stay at
+Northfield until to-morrow, but I’ll come back as soon as this
+furniture is delivered. You can tell your father I’ll be on hand and
+will take up with that offer if Mr. Burns indorses the notes.”
+
+“Yes, sir.”
+
+“And if you boys want to get home with dry backs I advise you to hurry
+up. It’s going to storm in a little while,” added the man.
+
+He whipped up his team and left them where they had dismounted. Joe was
+about to follow Roy in mounting when he suddenly changed his mind.
+
+“I’m as hungry as a bear,” he said. “Let us tackle our lunch first.
+That will rest us and we can make home in a jiffy, for it’s more down
+hill than up.”
+
+Roy, too, was hungry, and readily agreed to his companion’s plan. They
+found a convenient resting place, near a spring where they could obtain
+water, and soon both were munching the sandwiches and cake with which
+their folks had provided them.
+
+It felt so agreeable to rest and to eat that they spent a much longer
+time in the spot than at first anticipated, and it was not until a low
+rumble of distant thunder startled them that they both leaped to their
+feet.
+
+“The storm is coming up!” cried Roy. “See how black the sky is getting!
+Come on, there’s not a minute to waste!”
+
+He crammed the last of his cake into his mouth and leaped into the
+saddle. Joe did the same, and away they went in the direction of the
+creek and the gypsy camp beyond.
+
+Scarcely a quarter of a mile had been covered when it began to rain.
+At first the drops came down scatteringly, but soon a perfect deluge
+seemed to descend upon them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+THE GYPSY CAMP.
+
+
+“We must find shelter or we’ll be soaked to the skin,” said Roy
+Crossley. “Do you see any kind of a building?”
+
+“No,” said Joe. “Not a blessed thing in sight. But if I remember
+rightly there was an old barn near that gypsy camp.”
+
+They passed the creek and made the turn toward the gypsy’s squatting
+place, but no barn came to view. By this time their sweaters were
+pretty wet and the rain was running over their caps and down their
+necks in anything but a comfortable fashion.
+
+“My gracious, but this is rough,” commented our hero dismally. “If we
+could----”
+
+He got no further, for his front wheel had slipped on the wet road.
+There was a twist and a wobble, and over he went. Roy, directly behind,
+had to leap off to save himself.
+
+“Are you hurt?” he asked anxiously, as Joe arose painfully.
+
+“Yes, I scraped my knee,” gasped our hero. “Riding home with it is
+going to be no picnic.”
+
+“Are you sure you can ride?”
+
+“I’ll try, anyway.”
+
+Joe mounted and went a short distance--bringing them into sight of the
+gypsy’s camp. He gave a groan and dropped rather than stepped to the
+road.
+
+“I can’t do it. If that barn was handy----”
+
+“Here’s the gypsy camp,” began Roy. “I suppose they’ll take us in if we
+pay them.”
+
+“I don’t want to go among those dirty creatures,” said Joe, with a
+shrug of disgust. “They might--here come three of the men now!”
+
+He was right. Through the rain the gypsies had seen his mishap, and now
+they came forward with various offers of assistance.
+
+“Come in the wagon out o’ the wet,” said one, who appeared to be
+something of a leader. “We’ll give you some liniment for your knee.”
+
+The boys did not wish to accept, but the three gypsies insisted, and
+against their will they went along, Roy trundling the machines and the
+gypsy leader catching Joe by the arm to make walking on the injured
+limb easier.
+
+The wagon into which they were invited was large enough to hold a score
+of persons, but it had such an untidy look and smelled so strongly of
+musty bedding and tobacco smoke it nearly made both of the boys sick.
+
+“You can put the bicycles under the wagon,” said one of the gypsies.
+“Here is the medicine for your knee,” and he brought out a black bottle
+which smelled of turpentine.
+
+Two of the gypsies entered the wagon with the boys, while the third
+hurried off to join the men in another shelter. Somewhat against
+his wishes, our hero’s knee was bathed. The stuff put on burned
+considerably, and it is doubtful if it did any good. While the bathing
+was going on the gypsies talked loudly and continuously, and after it
+was over one of the men offered both a drink from a pocket flask, which
+they promptly declined.
+
+“Wont drink, eh,” said the man. “You don’t know what is good.” He gave
+a coarse laugh. “Where are you from?”
+
+Roy told them, and the two men exchanged glances. It was still raining
+as hard as ever, and the second man proposed that they play a game of
+cards to while away the time.
+
+“I don’t know how to play,” said Roy.
+
+“Then I’ll tell your fortunes,” said the gypsy, and immediately set to
+work, telling them of a dozen wonderful things which were to happen to
+both of them in the course of their lives.
+
+“You are both going to meet with a loss soon,” said the man presently.
+“Two bicycle riders from Greenpoint are going to play a dirty trick on
+you. One of the men is a tall fellow, with a squint in his eye; the
+other is short and stout. Look out for them, they are your enemies.”
+
+The man spoke earnestly, looking them squarely in the face as he
+addressed them. Had they believed at all in fortune telling they might
+have imagined that there was some truth in his statement. As it was
+their faces took on a perplexed look, at which the man winked at his
+companion on the sly.
+
+An hour or more was spent in the wagon, and then the sudden shower
+began to let up. Joe had been rubbing his knee and now declared himself
+able to proceed. But the gypsies insisted that they wait until the road
+had dried up a bit.
+
+“There is no use to hurry,” said one. “We are not charging you for
+staying here.”
+
+“No, nor for telling our fortunes,” put in the other. “Make yourselves
+at home until the sun shines again.”
+
+“I’m afraid it won’t shine much before it sets,” said Roy. “If your
+knee will permit, we’ll start now,” he added to Joe. “As it is, we
+won’t get home until dark.”
+
+He was close to the back flap, and throwing it aside, leaped out.
+Our hero followed more carefully, and both looked around for their
+bicycles. The machines were gone!
+
+“What did you do with our wheels?” asked Roy of the gypsies.
+
+“Why, you placed ’em under the wagon,” was the reply.
+
+“They are gone,” burst out Joe. “Did that other man take them away?”
+
+“I guess not. I’ll ask him.”
+
+The gypsy called the leader who had left them when they had entered the
+wagon. He shook his head, declaring he had not seen the bicycles since
+Roy had placed them under the wagon.
+
+“Well, some one has taken them, sure,” said our hero, and he eyed the
+gypsies sharply.
+
+“Ah, I have it!” cried the man who had told their fortunes. “Did I not
+read it on the cards! Those two bicyclists from Greenpoint, the man
+with the squint and the short, stout man. They have----”
+
+“Do you think I believe any such stuff!” interrupted Joe. “Not much!
+You have our wheels, and I want you to produce them.”
+
+At this all of the gypsies who had gathered around looked dark.
+
+“We are not thieves, young fellow,” said the leader. “It was your
+business to look after your machines, not ours. Now clear out about
+your business. We did all we could for you and it’s small thanks we are
+getting for it.”
+
+The gypsies looked so angry and aggressive that both lads were forced
+to retreat. But they only went as far as the road, as the gypsies made
+no attempt to follow them.
+
+“This is a nice fix,” grumbled Roy. “They have our wheels, I’m certain
+of that.”
+
+“So am I. The question is, how are we going to get our bicycles back?”
+
+“I’m sure I don’t know. Where do you suppose they have put them?”
+
+“Perhaps in their tent, or in one of the other wagons.”
+
+“They won’t dare keep them there.”
+
+“Of course not. At the first chance they’ll ride off on them and sell
+them in some city, after changing their looks and numbers.”
+
+“What had we better do?”
+
+“Pretend to go away, and then watch them,” said Joe.
+
+This advice was followed out. They walked along the road around a bend,
+then dove into the woods, coming up in the rear of the gypsy camp.
+
+For some time they saw nothing unusual. The gypsies came up to the
+front of their tent and commenced to eat around a newly made campfire.
+The meal over one of the members began to harness a pair of horses to
+one of the wagons.
+
+“That wagon must have our machines in it,” cried Roy. “I wonder where
+he is going?”
+
+“Hark,” said our hero. “I hear a horse and wagon on the road!”
+
+“Run out and see if it is any one who will help us,” cried his chum,
+and Joe ran out--to behold Mr. Franshaw, swinging along with his empty
+wagon at a lively gait.
+
+The youth drove into the woods again, but by running at a rate which
+hurt his knee not a little, he managed to reach the bend below the camp
+just as Mr. Franshaw was passing.
+
+The man was stopped and matters were explained to him. Of course he
+readily agreed to help the boys all he could.
+
+“But they are a dozen to us three,” he added.
+
+“So we must use strategy.”
+
+The gypsy wagon was now coming out on the road. It was a boxlike
+affair, without a cover, and in the bottom rested some objects covered
+with a piece of canvas.
+
+“He’s got your machines in that sure,” said Mr. Franshaw. “Go for your
+friend and we’ll follow that wagon.”
+
+Joe ran into the woods once more and summoned Roy. Both boys secreted
+themselves in Mr. Franshaw’s turnout, which was then headed in the
+direction the gypsy’s wagon had taken.
+
+Scarcely half a mile was covered when the gypsy discovered that he was
+being pursued. He whipped his horse, and a lively race began, which for
+a long while was a case of nip-and-tuck.
+
+“We are gaining!” cried Roy at last. “Can’t you make him go faster, Mr.
+Franshaw?”
+
+“I’ll try. Go it, Billy! Git alang there!”
+
+And Billy did “git alang,” until the gypsy’s turnout was all but
+overhauled. Seeing he could not escape, the man slowed down.
+
+“We want our wheels,” demanded Joe sharply.
+
+“Who are you talkin’ to?” returned the fellow with a blank look, but
+without ceremony Roy leaped from one wagon to the other, and pulled the
+cover from the two bicycles.
+
+“Hang the luck!” growled the gypsy and sprang into the road. But Mr.
+Franshaw was after him, and struck him with the butt of his whip.
+Then Joe and Roy leaped in, and after a tough struggle, lasting fully
+ten minutes, the gypsy was overpowered, made to enter Mr. Franshaw’s
+wagon and bound up with some bits of harness. Roy remained with the
+prisoner, while Joe undertook the task of driving the prisoner’s
+turnout; and in this fashion they journeyed to the nearest police
+station.
+
+Here the gypsy was held for trial, and in the meantime some officers
+went after the other gypsies, but failed to catch them, as they had
+left for parts unknown.
+
+It was late when the two boys arrived home to tell their story, and the
+excitement through which they had passed was sufficient to last them
+for some time to come.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+AN ACCIDENT ON THE WHEEL.
+
+
+The days flew by, and business at the Johnsons’ store continued to grow
+better and better, until the entire family felt that they were on the
+high road to prosperity.
+
+One day Dan Huxley, who played third base on the Rushers, came to our
+hero and asked him to take a drive out in the country to an uncle’s
+farm for some potatoes.
+
+The day was a fine one and both boys felt in excellent spirits.
+
+Just on the outskirts of the city they ran across Ralph Riley, a
+bicycle rider from Greenpoint, who was spinning along on his wheel.
+
+“I’ll race you!” cried Ralph.
+
+“Done,” said Dan, and the race started.
+
+The horse was pulling a pretty heavy wagon, so he could not go very
+fast.
+
+Yet for a quarter of a mile it was nip-and-tuck between the horse and
+the machine.
+
+Then Ralph drew ahead.
+
+“You’re beat!” he cried, as he went on.
+
+“I would like to have my machine and race you,” said Joe with a laugh.
+
+Just ahead of them the road made a turn around a clump of trees.
+
+On and on sped Ralph, with the wagon not far behind him.
+
+As he went around the curve his bicycle tipped too far in and he
+slipped down on the ground.
+
+“Whoa!” yelled Dan, as he tried to bring his horse to a stand.
+
+He did not wish to run over Ralph, who had rolled over on his back.
+
+Scarcely had Dan spoken when Joe let out a cry of horror. A spanking
+team attached to a heavy coach was coming from the other direction. The
+coach was whirling along at a lively gait, with the driver more than
+half asleep on the box.
+
+“Stop! Stop!” cried Joe, but the sleepy coachman paid no attention.
+
+“Stop!” yelled Dan. “Ralph, get up!”
+
+Realizing his danger, Ralph Riley attempted to do so. But his leg
+caught in his machine and down he went again.
+
+On and on came the heavy coach. In another moment the horses and all
+would pass directly over the prostrate boy’s body.
+
+“Stop your team!” screamed our hero, and leaped to the ground.
+
+As quick as lightning he sprang over Ralph’s body and caught the
+nearest horse of the oncoming team by the bridle.
+
+It was a daring thing to do, for should he fall under the horses, Joe
+would be as bad off, if not worse, than his companion.
+
+Yet he did not mean to fall.
+
+The coach swerved to one side and the driver was almost shaken from his
+lofty seat.
+
+This aroused him and he clutched at the reins.
+
+“Phat are yez up to?” he bawled out.
+
+“Stop your team!” cried our hero. “Don’t you see where you are going?”
+
+“Be hivins!” howled the driver, and pulled up the team in double-quick
+order.
+
+Another step and Ralph would have been trampled under foot.
+
+As it was, one of the horses stepped on one wheel of the bicycle,
+bending several of the steel spokes.
+
+Ralph crawled to his feet and got out of the way as best he could.
+
+Then Joe let go the horse’s head.
+
+“Are ye hurted?” asked the driver anxiously of Ralph.
+
+“No, but my machine is,” replied the boy.
+
+“Oi can’t help that! Git up, Billy! Git up, Nora!”
+
+He attempted to go on with his team. But Dan drew up across the road so
+he could not pass.
+
+“You settle for that broken wheel first,” said Dan.
+
+“To be sure he will!” cried Ralph.
+
+“It’s not me fault,” said the driver of the coach stubbornly.
+
+“It is.”
+
+“’Tis not. Now let me go past!”
+
+Dan would not budge, and added to this Ralph ran up in front of the
+coach, and so did Joe.
+
+At once the Irishman grew angry and reached for his long whip.
+
+“Oi’ll show yez a thing or two!” he howled, and made a crack at Ralph
+with his whip, but the boy leaped out of reach.
+
+“Here, don’t you hit my friend!” cried Joe.
+
+In his pocket he had an apple, which was large and rather hard.
+
+He pulled out the apple, and, just as the coachman made another strike
+at Ralph, he let drive.
+
+The coachman received the apple in one eye, and he let out a terrific
+yell and dropped his whip, which Ralph promptly picked up.
+
+Swish! Swish!
+
+Around the driver’s legs wound the whip end, and the Irishman danced on
+the seat with pain.
+
+“There, now, we’ll call it square!” cried Ralph, as he threw the whip
+into the empty coach. “Now go about your business, and see you don’t
+drive over anybody else.”
+
+The coachman was frantic, but before he could do anything Dan and Joe
+drove past him, and Ralph got on his battered wheel and rode on.
+
+At a crossroads they came to a blacksmith shop, and here Ralph stopped
+off to have the spokes of his wheel straightened.
+
+Joe and Dan continued on their way until the latter’s uncle’s place
+was reached. Here the two boys had a right royal time in the orchards,
+picking and eating fruit.
+
+Dan’s uncle was with them, and while out in the orchard was called off
+for a little while by a neighbor.
+
+“There’s a fine apple tree,” said Dan. “Supposing I climb up and shake
+down a few of those choice apples?”
+
+“Go ahead, and do as you please,” said our hero. “I must confess, as
+far as I am concerned, I don’t want much more fruit.”
+
+“Pretty full, eh?”
+
+“Exactly.”
+
+Nevertheless, Joe gave Dan a boost up the tree.
+
+There were some particularly fine apples on the topmost limbs, and
+these Dan was bent on securing.
+
+Up and up he went, while our hero took it easy on the grass at the foot
+of the tree.
+
+Dan had just reached the top of the tree and secured some choice fruit,
+when a wild cry rang out, coming from the direction of the farmhouse.
+
+“Help! Samuel, come here, quick!”
+
+It was Dan’s aunt calling for her husband.
+
+“What’s up?” yelled Dan from the tree.
+
+“Your aunt wants help!” cried Joe. “I’ll go up and see what’s wrong.”
+
+And away he bounded as fast as his swift feet would carry him.
+
+As he came in sight of the farmhouse a thrilling sight met his gaze.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+A TRAMP’S DOWNFALL.
+
+
+Dan’s aunt was having a desperate fight with a burly tramp, who, after
+being given a hearty dinner, had insisted on having money.
+
+Mrs. Parks--that was the lady’s name--refused to give him the cash, and
+at once the tramp grew abusive.
+
+The fellow was none other than Henderson, who had helped assault Joe at
+the old coal mine.
+
+“I’ll help myself,” he said, and tried to go into the house.
+
+Then the lady screamed for help.
+
+“Ain’t no use ter call,” said the tramp. “Yer husband is up the road a
+good step. I seed him go away.”
+
+“You wretch! Get out of the house,” stormed Mrs. Parks.
+
+“I will--when I have what I want,” was the cool reply of the knight of
+the road.
+
+He thought with only a woman around he could do as he pleased.
+
+He tried to throw the lady into a closet, and a desperate struggle
+ensued.
+
+In the midst of it Joe arrived and took in the situation at a glance.
+
+Our hero looked around for some weapon and espied a sickle lying on the
+cistern-top.
+
+“Let up there!” he cried, as he picked up the sickle. “Let up, or I’ll
+cut you with this!”
+
+And he flourished the sickle dangerously close to the tramp’s head.
+
+Henderson turned pale under his dirt when he saw our hero with the
+sharp-edged sickle.
+
+“Don’t cut me!” he shrieked.
+
+“Then let up on Mrs. Parks,” shouted Joe.
+
+“I wasn’t doin’ nuthin’.”
+
+“I know better.”
+
+“He wanted to rob us,” put in the lady.
+
+“Never stole a thing in my life,” said the tramp. “Ter tell the truth,
+I’m a bit queer at times in me upper story.” And he tapped his forehead.
+
+Our hero saw he was lying.
+
+“Hold him until my husband gets back,” suggested Mrs. Parks.
+
+“I will.”
+
+On hearing this the tramp attempted to run away, but Joe promptly
+tripped him up.
+
+At this moment Dan came running up, having come down out of the apple
+tree as fast as possible.
+
+Now he saw another against him, Henderson was more anxious than ever to
+get away.
+
+“Lemme go, I am out o’ me head,” he moaned. “De hot sun affected me.”
+
+“Did it?” said Joe.
+
+As he spoke he leaped back of the tramp and kicked the cover off of the
+cistern.
+
+Dan saw what he was up to and smiled.
+
+“Yes, me head is affected by the heat,” went on the tramp.
+
+“Then we’ll cool it for you,” cried Joe.
+
+At a signal to Dan to help him he rushed at the dirty fellow.
+
+The lads caught the fellow by the collar and dragged him to the cistern.
+
+In vain Henderson struggled to free himself. They backed him to the
+opening and gave him a sudden push.
+
+He sat down, doubled up like a jackknife and disappeared with a loud
+splash.
+
+“Whow! whow! Let me out! I’ll be drowned.”
+
+In this fashion the tramp spluttered as soon as he could get his head
+above water.
+
+When he stood up the cistern water was just up to his neck and he
+chattered from cold.
+
+“Stay in there and cool off,” cried Joe.
+
+And he and Dan kept watch over him while Mrs. Parks went off for Mr.
+Parks.
+
+The tramp begged piteously to be allowed his liberty, but the boys were
+obdurate.
+
+In a little while Mr. Parks came running in.
+
+“One of them pesky tramps, eh,” he said. “All right, I’ll fix him!” He
+ran to the barn and got his whip.
+
+“Now climb out and I’ll give you something to make you hustle,” he said.
+
+Henderson lost no time in trying to get out of the cistern.
+
+As soon as his shoulders showed above ground old Parks began to thrash
+him with the whip. He kept this up until the tramp was ready to run off.
+
+“Now, clear out,” he exclaimed. “And if I ever see you around this way
+again I’ll give you a dose of buckshot.”
+
+Henderson did not wait to reply.
+
+Dripping wet and aching in every limb he hobbled off.
+
+None of those present ever saw him again.
+
+Mrs. Parks was much pleased with what Joe had done, and she presented
+our hero with a choice basket of fruit to take home.
+
+An hour later found Dan and our hero on the way back to Lockport.
+
+At the blacksmith shop they learned that Ralph had long since gone away
+on his wheel, which had been made as good as ever.
+
+After this adventure with the coach and with the tramp nothing of
+especial interest happened for a long while to come.
+
+Jee kept training himself on his wheel while Mr. Johnson and Paul ran
+the store and matters went very well all around.
+
+Joe would have gone into the store with his brother, but the whole
+family realized that it was the lad’s riding and acquaintanceship with
+wheelmen that brought in a good share of the trade. Even while on the
+road Joe managed to sell several bicycles and all at a good profit.
+
+And thus the fall passed and winter came on, and with the advent
+of snow came the time when Joe Johnson had an adventure he never
+forgot--an adventure as novel as it was thrilling.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+LOST IN THE SNOW.
+
+
+“Joe! Joe!” called Mrs. Johnson, as she entered her son’s bedroom,
+about twelve o’clock one bitter cold night in January. “Wake up. Your
+father is very sick.”
+
+“What’s the matter? Father sick?” asked the boy, springing up.
+
+“Yes, he has taken cold, and complains of heart cramps. I do not know
+what to do. I have tried several things, but none of them seem to do
+any good.”
+
+“Shall I go for Dr. Weston?”
+
+“It would be best to have him. But it is awful cold out, and is snowing
+heavily.”
+
+“I won’t mind that, mother. I’ll hurry on my clothes and start at once.”
+
+“Do, then. Tell the doctor he must come at once.”
+
+“I will.”
+
+Having dressed himself in an incredibly short time, Joe put on his
+overcoat, wound a tippet around his neck and head, donned his hat and
+left the house. Dr. Weston lived on the other side of Lockport, and he
+had a mile’s journey to reach the residence.
+
+As we have said, it was bitter cold. The lazy, generous flakes whirled
+down to such a degree that nothing could be seen twenty feet ahead.
+Undaunted by this, however, our hero started courageously, and was soon
+well on his way, leaving behind him dog-trot footprints in the eight
+inches of snow that covered the ground.
+
+But running as fast as he could it was full half an hour before he
+reached the doctor’s residence. He was thoroughly tired by the run, and
+when he rang the bell he sat down on the piazza railing to rest himself.
+
+“Who’s there?” came through the speaking tube, in the familiar voice of
+the doctor.
+
+“It is I--Joe Johnson,” replied the boy.
+
+“What do you want?”
+
+“My father is very sick. Mother would like you to come and attend him
+at once.”
+
+“What is the matter?”
+
+“I don’t know exactly. He has a heavy cold, and complains of cramps in
+the heart.”
+
+“Then I’ll hurry as fast as I can. If you will wait ten minutes you
+can ride back with me in my cutter.”
+
+Now, undoubtedly, this would have been the best thing for Joe to do.
+But, like many another person in a similar situation, ten minutes
+seemed to him like an age.
+
+“No, doctor, I am much obliged,” he replied. “I’ll start at once and
+let mother know that you are coming.”
+
+“Very well, then,” answered Dr. Weston.
+
+Having rested himself, our hero started on the return. It was much
+colder now than it had been, and the soft flakes had given way to fine,
+hard particles which the wind drove piercingly into his face. The snow,
+too, lay deeper, and rendered his progress slow. In half an hour he
+found himself, thoroughly exhausted, only halfway home.
+
+“I wish I had accepted the doctor’s invitation to ride,” he said to
+himself, as he stood still for a moment, trying to catch his breath. “I
+don’t seem to be returning as fast as I came. I wonder if the doctor is
+behind me.”
+
+Joe listened attentively, but no sound broke the stillness.
+Occasionally a blast of wind swept through the trees, but that was all.
+
+“It won’t do for me to stand here,” he continued. “I would freeze to
+death in five minutes,” and he staggered on through the blinding snow.
+
+But to walk through nearly a foot of snow is no easy task, and with
+the cutting north wind blowing directly in the face it is well-nigh
+impossible.
+
+Our hero grew colder and colder; it seemed to him that he had never
+been so cold before. Several times he missed the way, too, and once,
+when he stumbled, he rolled down into a hollow.
+
+This frightened him, and he tried his best to see ahead and keep in the
+right way.
+
+But now a drowsy sensation began to steal over him, and instead of
+being cold his body began to become of a sluggish warmth. His head sank
+down on his breast, and he felt, oh! so sleepy.
+
+“I’ll sit down under the tree over there and rest for a moment,” he
+thought, and started to carry out his idea.
+
+Before he could take three steps he sank to the ground. He attempted
+to rise, but found he had not the strength to do so. The awful truth
+rushed to his mind:
+
+“I am to die in the snow!”
+
+Those were the last words Joe uttered.
+
+The wind blew and the snow came down faster than ever. It took but a
+few moments to cover him, and then no one would have suspected that
+under that unbroken sheet of white lay a human form.
+
+It was nearly a quarter of an hour after Joe had summoned him that
+Dr. Weston entered the cutter which his colored boy brought from the
+stable, and started on his way to the Johnson home.
+
+He was well wrapped up in an immense fur overcoat and a couple of
+buffalo robes, and nothing but a small part of his face could be seen
+as he grasped the reins and guided his faithful horse, a magnificent
+bay, down the side street and out of the town.
+
+“Come, Hero, get up,” he called. “We must hurry, or we may be too late.
+Faster.”
+
+And Hero, being an intelligent horse, understood what was said and
+began to increase his speed.
+
+Soon they had left the town and were well on the road. Here the fury of
+the snowstorm was more felt, and the doctor, knowing that Hero would
+keep his gait, rode without urging, settled himself deep in the robes,
+and was soon lost in reverie.
+
+His meditations were interrupted by the sudden stop of Hero. He was
+thrown forward against the dashboard, and the shock brought him to his
+full senses in an instant.
+
+“Hello! What is the matter now?” he said to himself. “I wish I could
+see ahead.”
+
+But that was impossible. The blinding snow hid everything from view.
+
+“It’s no use. I must go on. Get up, Hero.”
+
+Hero would not get up. He only pawed the ground with his hoofs, and
+gave a loud snort.
+
+“Something must be the matter,” the doctor continued. “Perhaps there is
+something the matter with the harness. I suppose I will have to jump
+out and see.”
+
+Dr. Weston crawled from the robes, and carried out his idea. A careful
+examination convinced him that the entire running gear and all was in
+perfect order.
+
+“I can’t see what the matter is. Can’t you tell me, Hero?”
+
+Hero gave another snort. Then, greatly to the doctor’s surprise, pawed
+the snow carefully away in front of him, and lowering his head, grasped
+a dark object by his teeth and raised it up. Dr. Weston uttered an
+exclamation:
+
+“Great Cæsar! It’s Joe Johnson!”
+
+In the twinkle of an eye he placed the boy’s form in the cutter. Then
+Hero was set to the quickest of trots. The animal, in five minutes,
+brought the cutter to the Johnson’s cottage.
+
+Here Joe was taken in, and after hard work resuscitated. Mr. Johnson’s
+sickness proved but slight, and the doctor turned all his attention to
+the half-frozen boy.
+
+It took a week for our hero to recover. When he came downstairs for the
+first time, and sat by the fire, he said:
+
+“It was queer, mother: just like going to sleep.”
+
+“It was a sleep, Joe,” replied his mother; and as she turned away she
+continued to herself: “And had it not been for intelligent Hero it
+would have been the sleep of death!”
+
+The winter passed and spring came on, and with the warmer weather Joe’s
+thoughts turned again to bicycling. An international contest had been
+arranged and this our hero determined to enter.
+
+Yet before this great race something occurred which showed more than
+anything else what a great rate of speed Joe could make on his wheel
+when the occasion demanded.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+SAVING THE TOWN.
+
+
+For some time past the forest fires had been raging heavily in the
+dense growth to the northwest of Lockport, but as they were kept pretty
+fully under control but little apprehension was felt for the safety of
+the town.
+
+Guards were stationed at various points both night and day, and they
+gave the alarm whenever the fire gained in one direction or another.
+
+“It is a lucky thing that no fire has started in Huffman’s woods,”
+thought Joe as he rode home one evening after an unusually hard day’s
+training on his wheel. “If it did, and the wind should be just right,
+Greenpoint would suffer a good deal, unless every one was on guard and
+ready to fight it off. It’s a pity it doesn’t rain. Only half an inch
+of water in seven weeks is not enough to count.”
+
+On the day following it grew unusually close and sultry. There was a
+breeze from the north, too, but it carried with it nothing that was in
+the slightest degree refreshing.
+
+“I must take a spin along the Forest Turnpike,” said our hero to
+himself. “It ought to be cool along there and down in the Hollow. I
+can’t stand it to wheel home along the old dusty road in this awful
+heat.”
+
+So, instead of turning to the west, he started off almost northwest,
+and was soon speeding along under the shade of the immense pine and
+other trees through which the Forest Turnpike had been cut four years
+previous.
+
+When he reached the upper end of the turnpike, where the Hollow road
+branched off, he found a nice shady spot, near a tiny brook, and,
+dismounting, threw himself on the grass and pine boughs to rest.
+
+He was over nine miles from home, and it was growing late, but he could
+not resist the temptation to linger and take it easy.
+
+“The coolest spot in the country, I really believe,” he thought lazily,
+as he threw his head and closed his tired eyes. “What a difference
+between this and that hot store of ours.”
+
+Joe lay quiet for perhaps ten minutes, then he gave a long
+sniff--another--and sprang up with a start.
+
+What was that odor which was coming faintly to him from the woods on
+the other side of the brook? It smelled suspiciously like burning pine!
+
+He waited another moment and then gave several more sniffs. He was
+right, it was something burning!
+
+“Huffman’s woods must be on fire!” he thought, and immediately a
+worried look crossed his handsome face. He thoroughly understood the
+danger which the numerous forest fires brought.
+
+The wind began to blow through the trees and brush, and in another
+minute the smoke came drifting overhead and through the upper branches.
+Joe reached for his machine and started to mount.
+
+“I might as well be getting along,” he said, half, aloud. “There is
+no telling how far that fire, wherever it is, may reach before it is
+checked, it’s so awful hot to-day. If only the rain----”
+
+Joe got no further. There was a strange roaring which reached him from
+a distance, followed by a sudden rush of wind, and then--he could
+scarcely believe his eyes--several smoking and burning brands fell near
+him and further on up the road.
+
+“The fire is coming this way just as fast as ever it can,” he gasped.
+“My stars! Look at that! The whole woods will be afire in another ten
+minutes! I must go and give warning before it is too late!”
+
+In a twinkle he was on his machine and riding along the Hollow road
+at topmost speed, his form bent over the handles and every ounce of
+muscle put on the flying pedals. His hat blew off, but he paid no heed
+to this, his one thought being to outride the oncoming fire and warn
+Greenpoint people of their danger.
+
+Ahead of him was a steep hill, six hundred feet long, and up this he
+pushed desperately, the smoke and burning brands sweeping down on
+all sides of him. Once a hot cinder fell upon his neck, burning him
+severely and causing him to utter a sharp cry of pain. But not a second
+was lost; he knew only too well the value of every iota of time.
+
+And now the burning brands, flying hither and thither, set fire to
+the brush on either side of the narrow road, and it was as if Joe was
+riding through two walls of flames. The air grew stifling and he could
+scarcely breathe.
+
+“If I was only to the top of the hill I could coast down the other
+side,” he muttered to himself. “But it’s a good two hundred feet off
+yet, and I don’t seem to be getting ahead at all.”
+
+He endeavored to increase his speed, and the very desperateness of the
+situation lent him extra strength. Up and up he went, avoiding the
+rough stones as best he could, and yet not daring to turn much from a
+direct course.
+
+Joe had almost gained the top of the hill when there came a furious
+blast of wind, filled with smoke and burning branches and leaves, that
+struck him directly in the face. Our hero bent back involuntarily and
+his bicycle came very nearly to a standstill. It looked as if he would
+be stopped at the very moment when the worst of the danger was left
+behind.
+
+But the brave youth recovered, and with one hand over his face and the
+other guiding his machine, he pushed manfully on until the crown of the
+hill was reached.
+
+Here the smoke and flying branches were nearly as thick as below, but
+the awful up-hill struggle was past and ahead lay a downward road
+stretching for over a mile.
+
+With a vigorous push on the pedals Joe started himself on the down
+grade and then placed both feet on the rests.
+
+Like a rocket the bicycle shot down the incline, gathering speed at
+every yard. To Joe it was as if they were fairly flying past the trees
+and rocks which lined the way. More than once the machine struck a
+small stone and bounded upward, lifting him several inches out of the
+saddle. But he held on to the handles, feeling that it was not only a
+ride to save his own life, but also the lives of others.
+
+When the foot of the hill was reached Joe found that he had left the
+smoke and the burning brands in his rear.
+
+But the wind was still blowing his way--the way Greenpoint lay--and
+he realized that the fire was traveling fast behind him. Before the
+bicycle could slacken its speed he had his feet again on the pedals and
+was once more pushing on, determined to give the villagers all the time
+possible in which to save themselves and their goods.
+
+At last, almost exhausted from his spurting, he came in sight of the
+first house, that in which Ralph Riley lived. The family were just
+gathering about the supper-table as he spun up to the horse block.
+
+“The woods are on fire! Look out for yourselves!” he yelled, and,
+assured that his cry had been heard and understood, he dashed on.
+
+Next came Deacon Quilby’s home--a low, rambling place, surrounded by an
+old-fashioned hedge. The deacon sat on the piazza, looking over a new
+hymn.
+
+“Hullo! ridin’ most amazin’ fast--” he began when Joe cut him short.
+
+“Huffman’s woods are in flames and the fire is coming this way. You had
+better get out, and quick, too, if you want to save your lives!”
+
+And before the deacon could utter a word in reply he was out of sight
+again.
+
+In three minutes more Greenpoint was reached, and, riding up and down
+the main street, Joe gave the alarm, which quickly spread. Men, women,
+and children came running from every house.
+
+It did not take long to decide upon what to do. The possibilities of a
+fire reaching the place had often been discussed, and plans had been
+laid to fit all kinds of invasions.
+
+“We’ll blow up the Bleekler cottage and Boren’s stable and the
+trees behind it,” said Seth Axtell, one of the leading merchants of
+Greenpoint. “And some of you can plow up as much of Cass’ field as you
+can. That ought to help us break the line of fire.”
+
+“It will,” said one of the hotel-keepers. “And if the Jackson cottage
+and stable are gutted with water I think we’ll escape, although some
+one ought to be on guard at every building with tubs of water and a wet
+blanket.”
+
+The men and boys went to work with a will, Joe among the rest. The
+women and girls, and even the children, did all they could to help,
+and the next half-hour was a busy one.
+
+The buildings mentioned were blown up with gunpowder and dynamite, and
+all of the _débris_ carried off, and a half-dozen plows soon turned up
+a large expanse of fresh earth. Water was also used as freely as the
+state of wells and cisterns would permit.
+
+Before the half-hour was up the smoke and the flying sparks began to
+come toward the village, and inside of a quarter of an hour the entire
+forest to the north of Greenpoint was a mass of flames.
+
+The lurid blaze made the darkness of the evening as bright as day, and
+this blaze lasted until the rising of the sun on the following morning.
+All night long the villagers worked without ceasing, and the morning
+found them still at their various posts of duty.
+
+At eight o’clock it began to rain. At first the drops came down
+sparingly, but soon it began to pour steadily, and then every one knew
+that the terrible danger which had threatened them for fourteen hours
+was past.
+
+The village was filled with a thick, choking smoke, but no one cared
+for this. All went round from place to place, congratulating each other
+and thanking God for their deliverance.
+
+And Joe was not forgotten. It was Deacon Quilby who started the thanks
+which were given him before he returned home.
+
+“If it hadn’t a-bin for Joe Johnson, Marthy and I would most likely
+hev been burnt up,” he said, with tears standing in his blue eyes. “He
+saved our lives, and I allow as he saved the village, too, God bless
+him!”
+
+Stirring as they had been, the incidents attending the forest fires in
+the district did not stop Joe from training for the championship race.
+
+He was out early and late, and often took Dick Burns and Ralph Riley
+along to pace him on a tandem which belonged to the former.
+
+The race was to come off in Boston, so it would be necessary for Joe to
+leave home several days previous to the event.
+
+“I must win--I simply must,” he said to himself more than a score of
+times.
+
+All his friends came on to see the races, including Dick, his sister
+Carrie, Charley, Ralph Riley, Dan Hukley, Sam Anderson, and Carl
+Lathrop. Wilbur Rand was also present, having entered the ten-mile
+event.
+
+Joe was very careful as to what he eat, for he knew his stomach must be
+in prime condition or he could not win.
+
+Paul watched over his brother carefully nearly all the time.
+
+There was five hundred dollars at stake, and the championship besides.
+
+But unknown to them an enemy was at work.
+
+It was Lemuel Akers, who had become a gambler and heavy drinker.
+
+He heard how Joe was training, and set to work to defeat the youth he
+so hated.
+
+“He made me an outcast,” reasoned Lemuel Akers to himself. “Now I’ll
+ruin his chance of winning, see if I don’t, and then--we’ll settle old
+scores.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+FOILING AN ENEMY.
+
+
+It took Lemuel Akers quite some time to perfect his plans against our
+hero, for he realized that he would have to move cautiously.
+
+He kept out of sight of Joe and his friends, and none of them imagined
+the rascal was around.
+
+Joe had taken up his quarters at a private house in the suburbs of the
+city.
+
+Paul and Dick were constantly with him. The three ate, drank, and slept
+together.
+
+Two days before the great race was to come off Joe retired a little
+earlier than usual, after a substantial supper.
+
+There were a double and a single bed in the room. Joe and Paul occupied
+the double bed, while Dick slept in the other.
+
+All went sound asleep, and the room became quiet excepting for the
+irregular breathing of the trio.
+
+The window which overlooked a side addition to the house was
+half-open, to admit fresh air into the bedchamber.
+
+A quarter of an hour went by, and then the form of a young man appeared
+on the roof outside of the window.
+
+The midnight prowler was Lemuel Akers. His coat was buttoned tightly
+about his neck, his hat was pulled over his eyes, and a handkerchief
+was tied partly over his face.
+
+As cautiously as a cat Lemuel approached the window and peered in.
+
+“All asleep,” he thought. “Now to work, and then we will see whether
+Joe Johnson rides in that race or not.”
+
+Without the slightest noise he entered the room.
+
+From his coat pocket he took a small bottle, and pouring some of the
+liquor it contained on a sponge, he approached the bed upon which Dick
+Burns lay.
+
+He applied the sponge to Dick’s nose.
+
+The sponge contained chloroform, and soon Dick was overcome.
+
+“Number one!” muttered Lemuel Akers to himself.
+
+Paul Johnson was next approached.
+
+As Lemuel was working with the sponge, Joe turned over on his other
+side.
+
+As quick as a flash Akers tried to drop down out of sight. In making
+the move his foot struck a rocking chair, causing a sharp noise.
+
+Instantly Joe sat up.
+
+“Who is there?” he cried. “Dick, was that you?”
+
+Of course, poor Dick could not answer. The question aroused Paul, who
+was but partly overcome.
+
+“Wha--what’s the matter?” he stammered.
+
+“Dick!” again called Joe.
+
+He looked toward his chum. Dick lay there so still that he grew full of
+fear and leaped out of bed.
+
+He almost landed on top of Lemuel Akers, who dodged and tried to find
+the door to the hallway.
+
+“Stop! stop!” called out Joe, and he made a dash after the intruder.
+
+He caught Lemuel by the arm.
+
+The young rascal threw him off, but Joe was plucky, and, though not yet
+fully aroused, he again went after his enemy.
+
+The two grappled by the door and rolled over and over on the floor,
+upsetting a table and a chair.
+
+By this time Paul was able to come to Joe’s assistance.
+
+“Let me go!” cried Akers.
+
+“Lemuel Akers!” cried Joe, as he recognized the voice.
+
+“Did you hear what I said?”
+
+“I won’t let you go. What are you doing in this room?”
+
+“I--I got in by mistake.”
+
+“Well, you won’t go out by mistake,” retorted Joe grimly. “Turn on the
+gas, Paul.”
+
+By this time the entire household was in commotion. Several came
+running to the room, asking what was the matter.
+
+“I’ve caught a thief, and worse,” said Joe. “Lie still, Lemuel.”
+
+“Lemuel Akers!” cried Paul Johnson, after the gas was lit.
+
+“What are you going to do with me?” whined Lemuel.
+
+He was now thoroughly cowed and utterly miserable.
+
+“You’ll find out soon enough,” replied Joe coldly.
+
+While some saw to it that the rascal did not escape, Joe and others
+attended to Dick, who soon came around all right, although he suffered
+with a headache all of the next day.
+
+Then Lemuel Akers was searched. The bottle of chloroform was taken from
+him, as was also another drug, something of a very harmful nature,
+which he had intended to administer to Joe.
+
+“You are too much of a villain to be allowed at large,” said Joe.
+“Call an officer and have him taken to jail.”
+
+“Never!” cried Lemuel, and breaking his bonds, he leaped out of the
+room and down a back stairs.
+
+Joe had to wait to don his clothing. Then he went after the former
+bully of Lockport.
+
+The yard gained he caught a brief vision of the bully on the top of the
+back fence.
+
+“Come back!” he yelled.
+
+“To the Old Nick with you, Joe Johnson!” returned the bad boy, and then
+dropped from the fence and started down a lane as fast as his feet
+would carry him.
+
+In three seconds Joe was over the fence and in pursuit.
+
+It was now a question of speed between the two.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+A BATTLE ON A RUNAWAY CAR.
+
+
+If there was one thing which Lemuel Akers could do well it was run.
+
+At school he had often bested all opponents in contests of this sort.
+
+His legs were long and the way he placed one in front of the other was
+really remarkable.
+
+Our hero, on the other hand, had but rarely tried his speed.
+
+He could run at baseball or in a game of hare and hounds, but that was
+as far as it went.
+
+But Joe’s wind was good, and his legs long, and these counted for a
+good deal.
+
+Down the street went Lemuel, with our hero not over a hundred feet
+behind him.
+
+The thoroughfare was a little less than a quarter of a mile in length.
+It came to an end at the side of the Charles River.
+
+At the foot of the street’s dock rested a rowboat, and into this leaped
+the bully, and shoved himself well out.
+
+When Joe reached the dock Lemuel was more than a hundred feet from
+shore.
+
+“Not to-day, Joe Johnson!” called out Lemuel tauntingly. “Some other
+day. Good-day!”
+
+And he started for the other side of the river.
+
+Joe did not know what to do, for no other boat was at hand.
+
+He watched Lemuel and saw the bully heading for the upper end of the
+river.
+
+“He must be bound for somewhere,” thought Joe.
+
+Although without a boat, our hero did not intend to give up the chase.
+
+Leaving the edge of the dock he hid behind some lumber.
+
+Soon he felt certain Lemuel was going up to a number of freight piers
+above.
+
+“If I only had my wheel,” thought Joe.
+
+Scarcely had this passed through his mind, when the sounds of hoofs
+reached his ears.
+
+Soon a horse attached to a light wagon hove into sight.
+
+On the seat of the wagon sat an old farmer.
+
+In a few words Joe explained the situation.
+
+“Will you drive me along the docks after that fellow?” he asked.
+
+“Certainly. Anything to catch a thief.”
+
+Joe sprang into the light wagon, and off they went for half a dozen
+blocks.
+
+Then our hero ran down to another dock.
+
+The boat was there, showing that Lemuel had already landed.
+
+At first Joe could find no trace of the bully, but presently he struck
+a boy who had seen him.
+
+“Went over toward the freight station,” said the urchin.
+
+And to the station our hero took his way.
+
+It was a busy yard. A dozen men were loading and unloading several
+trains of freight cars.
+
+A number of empties were standing around and Joe began to peer into
+first one and then another.
+
+Suddenly he came face to face with Lemuel.
+
+The bully struck at him with a stick he had picked up.
+
+Joe caught the blow on the arm and hit Lemuel on the left ear.
+
+The bully rolled over on the car floor and clean out of the door on the
+opposite side.
+
+At that instant the train backed still further into the yard.
+
+By the time Joe could get to the other side of the track Lemuel was
+fifty feet away.
+
+He was running toward a train of empties which were just leaving the
+freight station.
+
+He caught the next to the last car.
+
+At the top of his speed Joe came on.
+
+He made a desperate effort and caught the rear railing of the last car.
+
+It was hard work to pull himself up on the car.
+
+Then he crossed the top and let himself down into the car Lemuel had
+entered.
+
+The bully tried to fight him off, but a sudden curve in the track threw
+him down on his back.
+
+The curve nearly caused our hero to lose his life. But he held fast,
+and a second later dropped in through the open side door and right on
+top of Akers.
+
+A fierce fight ensued. The bully did his best to throw Joe from the
+car, and on the other hand our hero fought to bring the bully to
+submission.
+
+At last Joe was successful. He struck Lemuel squarely between the eyes,
+and the bully fell down as if laid out with a club.
+
+When he came to, Joe had tied his hands behind him with a handkerchief.
+
+“Now, if you try any more funny work I’ll give you some more,” said our
+hero by way of a warning.
+
+Finding himself a prisoner, Lemuel began to beg of our hero to let him
+go.
+
+“It was only a joke,” he said.
+
+“It’s a joke which will cost you dear,” replied our hero grimly.
+
+“But look here,” went on the bully. “Let me go and I’ll make it worth
+your while?”
+
+“Can’t do it.”
+
+Then Lemuel offered our hero a big sum of money if allowed to escape.
+
+It was his share of another robbery he had committed.
+
+To tell the truth, Lemuel Akers had become a criminal of the first
+order.
+
+“I’ll not let you go for all the gold in the neighborhood, and that
+ends it,” said Joe.
+
+He had just spoken when there came a sudden jar and a jolt.
+
+The car came to a standstill and then began to move backward.
+
+It kept going backward faster and faster.
+
+In alarm Joe looked out of the door.
+
+Then he realized the truth.
+
+The car and the one behind it had broken away from the rest of the
+train.
+
+He and Lemuel were on a runaway car and going along a down grade at a
+speed of a mile a minute!
+
+The bully saw that something was wrong and he grew pale on the instant.
+
+“What’s the matter?” he gasped.
+
+“The car has cut away from the main train and along with the rear one
+is running away,” replied our hero.
+
+Then he sprang to Lemuel’s side.
+
+“I’ll release your hands,” he went on, “so that you will have as good a
+chance as I for your life.”
+
+He quickly untied the handkerchief.
+
+The bully began to tremble from head to foot.
+
+“Do you think we will be--be killed?” he gasped.
+
+“I don’t know what will happen. Better stand by the door and be
+prepared to jump off.”
+
+Joe stepped to one door, and, trembling in every limb, Lemuel went to
+the other.
+
+On and on swept the cars down.
+
+Down around a curve.
+
+A switch appeared.
+
+The cars were now running at a fearful rate of speed, and at the switch
+they both jumped the track.
+
+There was a series of bumps, a jerk, and then came a fearful crash of
+splintering wood.
+
+Joe went sailing through the air. He landed on his back in a pool of
+meadow water, and then knew no more.
+
+When he came to his senses a dozen men were bending over him. He had
+been taken from the pool and placed on a number of coats spread out on
+the dry grass.
+
+“He’s coming around now,” he heard somebody say, and then sat up and
+stared about him.
+
+Near at hand lay both cars completely smashed.
+
+The crowd was composed of railroad men and included the regular hands
+of the train.
+
+It was some time before Joe could tell his story.
+
+The crowd listened with interest.
+
+A search was made for Lemuel Akers, and he was found lying but a short
+distance away, fearfully injured.
+
+“Get a doctor!” he groaned. “Oh, my leg! Oh, my leg!”
+
+An examination was made and the limb was found to be broken.
+
+Both Joe and his enemy were placed on another train and taken back to
+Boston.
+
+They were met by Joe’s friends and the police.
+
+Joe was at once taken to his stopping place and everything was done to
+put him into condition again.
+
+Lemuel was removed to a hospital. Later on he was charged with
+entering, and sent to prison for one year. Joe could have preferred a
+more serious charge, but he did not want to be too hard on the fellow.
+
+“It’s the fault of his training as much as anything,” he said to Dick.
+“The whole Akers crowd are not worth their salt.”
+
+“You are right, Joe,” replied Dick. Then he shuddered. “How thankful I
+am that we escaped.”
+
+“So am I.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+
+THE RACE--GOOD-BY TO THE BICYCLISTS.
+
+
+The great race track was literally jammed with people.
+
+And why not? Were not the very best riders in the country to compete
+there for supremacy?
+
+Joe felt it was the event of his life.
+
+“It is do or die!” he said to himself, almost desperately.
+
+He wanted to win. It meant much to him--money, fame, and better
+business for the family; for if he won Joe was to become the
+representative of one of the largest wheel concerns in the State.
+
+For two weeks he had been preparing for a race that was to last less
+than five minutes.
+
+It was a good deal of preparation for such a short event.
+
+The first race on the programme was that in which Wilbur Rand was one
+of the starters. Despite the fact that he had fine riders against him,
+Rand came in second, winning several hundred dollars.
+
+Then came half a dozen other events.
+
+“Joe! it’s time to go on!”
+
+Dick had called him.
+
+Was everything in apple-pie order?
+
+Paul Johnson made a most minute examination.
+
+“All O. K. as far as I can see, Joe,” he said. “And now, good luck to
+you. Show them your best.”
+
+Out into the ring rode our hero.
+
+Ten thousand voices greeted him, for a boy is always a favorite.
+
+“The best-hearted rider that ever lived,” said many.
+
+Each man rode around the track several times.
+
+Then the starter called them together.
+
+“Gentlemen, are you all ready?”
+
+A silence so intense that one might have heard a pin drop followed.
+
+Crack!
+
+At the sound of the pistol seven bicyclists bent to their pedals and
+shot ahead like so many arrows from a single bow.
+
+“A beautiful start!”
+
+“Perfect! The best yet!”
+
+“It’s going to be the closest race on the programme.”
+
+“See them go, boys!”
+
+And go they did, flashing by the spectators like an express train.
+
+The first half-mile was passed.
+
+Time for the leader, one minute two seconds.
+
+Joe was the fourth man; time, one minute three seconds.
+
+On and on they went.
+
+A mile is covered.
+
+Time for the leader, two minutes ten seconds.
+
+Joe is now third; time, two minutes nineteen seconds.
+
+On and on they flash, making each turn at breakneck speed.
+
+The crowd goes frantic.
+
+A mile and a half has been covered.
+
+Time for the leader, three minutes thirty-one seconds--the terrific
+pace is telling.
+
+But Joe is striving manfully for second place. Time for second and
+third men, three minutes thirty-four seconds.
+
+And now the last half is on.
+
+See them go! It is the great struggle of the giants.
+
+Joe is riding as he never rode before.
+
+But now what is he up to?
+
+The crowd hold their breaths and then break out into a perfect roar.
+
+He has not yet reached his limit.
+
+He is spurting, faster than ever.
+
+He fairly runs away from the second man.
+
+Now he is crawling up behind the leader.
+
+In vain the rider tries to shake him off.
+
+Joe knows exactly what he is doing.
+
+He keeps behind the leader until the very last stretch is reached.
+
+And then?
+
+Can that really be our hero who is bending down over the handle bar,
+his feet twinkling so rapidly that one can scarce see them?
+
+Joe has let himself out to the full limit.
+
+A wild, daring, marvelous rush, the like of which had never before been
+witnessed, and the leader is passed, and Joe comes over the tape the
+winner by three yards!
+
+Time, four minutes forty-seven seconds!
+
+The record has been completely smashed, and Joe is the champion
+two-mile bicycle rider of the country.
+
+He goes on half a lap before he stops. Then, amid the applause of the
+immense crowd, he wheels around the track and into the outstretched
+arms of Paul, his father, and Dick Burns.
+
+A hundred hands are thrust out to shake his own, but he is hurried to
+his dressing-room, there to be rubbed down and to receive medical
+attention if it be necessary.
+
+“He’s the boy!” cries Charley Osborne.
+
+“That’s right,” says Sam Anderson. “They can’t beat our Joe.”
+
+“The nicest rider on the track,” is what Carl and Larry add.
+
+Carrie Burns says but little, but the bright smile she gives Joe speaks
+volumes.
+
+That evening our hero is dined and toasted, and on the following day
+the purse of five hundred dollars in gold is presented to him at a
+great public banquet.
+
+Carrie Burns is there, as well as Joe’s relatives and friends, and Joe
+is the happiest young man on the face of the globe.
+
+And here let us leave him--in the midst of his successes. He is settled
+down now, having married Carrie Burns, the sweetheart of his boyhood
+days. He is interested in a large bicycle manufacturing company and is
+rapidly growing rich. Let us wish him and all who surround him well.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:
+
+
+  Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.
+
+  Perceived typographical errors have been corrected.
+
+  Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.
+
+  Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75952 ***
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+      The rival bicyclists | Project Gutenberg
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+<body>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75952 ***</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_f001">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i_f001.jpg" alt="">
+  <figcaption class="caption"><p class="caption">JOE LOWERED HIS BICYCLE TOWARDS PAUL.</p>
+
+<p class="right">“Rival Bicyclists.”</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>THE RIVAL BICYCLISTS;</h1>
+
+<p><small>OR,</small></p>
+
+<p><span class="large">FUN AND ADVENTURE ON THE WHEEL.</span></p>
+
+<p><span class="large"><span class="smcap">By</span> CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL,</span><br>
+
+<i>Author of “Gun and Sled,” “The Young Oarsmen of Lakeview,”<br>
+“Leo the Circus Boy,” etc., etc.</i></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_title_logo.jpg" alt="publisher's logo"></div>
+
+<p>CHICAGO:<br>
+<span class="large"><span class="smcap">M. A. Donohue</span> &amp; <span class="smcap">Co.</span></span></p>
+</div>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1897.<br>
+BY<br>
+<span class="smcap">W. L. Allison Co.</span></p>
+</div>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[1]</span>
+
+<p class="ph2">THE RIVAL BICYCLISTS.</p>
+<hr class="tiny">
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER I.<br>
+
+<small>OFF ON THE WHEEL.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>“<span class="smcap">What</span> do you say to a ride to Greenpoint and
+back to-night, Dick?”</p>
+
+<p>“That suits me, Joe.”</p>
+
+<p>“It will be full moonlight, and the ride over the
+valley road will be elegant.”</p>
+
+<p>“True enough. When shall we start?”</p>
+
+<p>“As soon as we have had supper.”</p>
+
+<p>The two speakers were Dick Burns and Joe
+Johnson.</p>
+
+<p>Dick Burns was the only son of the leading
+lawyer in Lockport. He was a bright fellow of
+seventeen, and a bicycle rider of no mean ability.</p>
+
+<p>The other boy was Joe Johnson, the hero of the
+present tale.</p>
+
+<p>At the time of which we write Joe was not quite
+fifteen years of age. He had been born in a little<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[2]</span>
+town in Ohio called Rayford’s Run, but ere he was
+seven years old his parents moved to Lockport,
+where Mr. Johnson obtained employment in a large
+carpet works.</p>
+
+<p>Joe attended the village school and had a host of
+friends. Every one liked the young fellow because
+he was so straightforward and honest in all he did.
+“You can trust Joe to do it,” was a common expression
+among his schoolmates.</p>
+
+<p>Just three months before the opening of this
+story Joe had become the proud possessor of a
+bicycle. It had cost a neat little sum of money,
+but he had earned every dollar of it himself by doing
+odd jobs during off hours from school and home
+duties.</p>
+
+<p>Joe was very proud of his wheel, and he soon
+learned to ride exceedingly well.</p>
+
+<p>“Keep on, Joe, and you’ll become an expert,”
+said Dick to him one day.</p>
+
+<p>“I wouldn’t like anything better,” returned Joe
+promptly.</p>
+
+<p>That evening, long before the sun went down, the
+moon came up full and clear.</p>
+
+<p>Dick Burns ate his supper as soon as he could and
+then hurried around to Joe’s house.</p>
+
+<p>“Joe!”</p>
+
+<p>“Coming!” was the reply from the woodshed.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[3]</span>
+“Just wait till I put this wood in the box behind
+the kitchen stove.”</p>
+
+<p>Having finished his evening chores, Joe came out
+with his wheel.</p>
+
+<p>He wore a neat suit his mother had made for him,
+and cut a nice figure as he rode away by Dick Burns’
+side.</p>
+
+<p>As the two wheeled through the village they met
+pretty Carrie Burns, Dick’s sister.</p>
+
+<p>Joe tipped his hat and stopped to chat with her
+a few minutes.</p>
+
+<p>There was a tall, slim boy who saw this and
+scowled deeply from behind a pile of boxes at the
+corner grocery. This boy was Lemuel Akers, and
+he was Joe’s one enemy.</p>
+
+<p>On one occasion Lemuel had given Joe the lie
+direct in school, and, much to his astonishment, had
+been knocked down for doing it.</p>
+
+<p>There had been a short fight, and Joe had shown
+that he was clearly the stronger boy of the two,
+even though he was much smaller than Lemuel.</p>
+
+<p>The tall boy hated Joe greatly, and was watching
+his chances to “get square,” as he termed it.</p>
+
+<p>He did not attack Joe openly, but, instead, waited
+to do some mean trick behind Joe’s back.</p>
+
+<p>“Going off for a ride, eh?” muttered Lemuel
+Akers, as Joe and Dick proceeded on their way.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span>
+“I would like to make trouble for him while he is
+gone! I wonder if I can’t think of something.”</p>
+
+<p>All unconscious of what was going on in Lemuel’s
+mind, Joe pushed on his pedals and made a spurt.</p>
+
+<p>“Catch me, Dick!” he called, and a lively race
+took place, and was kept up until the outskirts of
+the place for which they were bound were reached.</p>
+
+<p>Greenpoint was a fine town on the edge of a
+great lake, and here the two boys took a half-hour’s
+rest, while Dick, who always had pocket money,
+treated to soda water.</p>
+
+<p>The rest over, Dick proposed that they return
+home by a different route.</p>
+
+<p>“Let us go up Bacon Hill,” he said. “We have
+got lots of time, and coasting down the other side
+will be simply immense.”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s pretty risky coasting on that hill in the
+moonlight,” replied Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, it’s all right. I was over the road only two
+days ago and it is in prime condition.”</p>
+
+<p>“All right, come on. I can’t bear to rest any
+longer.”</p>
+
+<p>Off they went again, but this time not so fast, as
+there was a long and rather steep hill to climb.</p>
+
+<p>The top reached, they stopped just a minute to
+look over the surrounding landscape, bathed in the
+white light of the full moon, and then started on<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span>
+the down grade leading to the Pentaco River, and
+back to Lockport.</p>
+
+<p>A single push on the pedals was sufficient. The
+grade was not great, but it was enough, and with
+their feet up on the coasters they went flying down
+the long stretch, gaining additional speed as they
+advanced.</p>
+
+<p>“Fine, eh?” cried Dick Burns.</p>
+
+<p>“Immense!” yelled Joe, who was in the lead.
+“Come on!”</p>
+
+<p>“I’m coming,” was his reply.</p>
+
+<p>But try his best, Dick could not quite reach Joe.</p>
+
+<p>Over a mile was passed without the least accident,
+and then, far beyond, the two saw the river winding
+along and sparkling in the pale light.</p>
+
+<p>On the other side of the stream there was another
+hill, so the “fly” would have to end at the bridge.</p>
+
+<p>“Now for a grand finish!” called out Joe.
+“Catch me, if you can, Dick!”</p>
+
+<p>“I’m coming!” sang out his companion again.</p>
+
+<p>Nearer and nearer they came to the river, Joe
+still well in advance.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly both boys saw something which made
+their hearts fairly leap into their throats.</p>
+
+<p>The bridge was down!</p>
+
+<p>That very afternoon the workmen had torn down<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span>
+the wooden structure, to replace it soon with one of
+iron.</p>
+
+<p>The boys had ridden along so fast that neither
+had noticed the several notices posted up that the
+river could not be crossed on this road.</p>
+
+<p>“The bridge is gone!” groaned Dick Burns.</p>
+
+<p>Joe said nothing.</p>
+
+<p>It was impossible for the bicyclists to stop on that
+downward grade.</p>
+
+<p>Almost before they could think, they were within
+twenty feet of the river.</p>
+
+<p>It was a rock-bound mountain torrent, not deep,
+but highly dangerous.</p>
+
+<p>A fall from the road into it, at the speed at which
+they were going, would certainly mean death.</p>
+
+<p>Could the two boys escape?</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER II.<br>
+
+<small>OUT OF A PERILOUS SITUATION.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Joe</span> and Dick had to think and act quickly, for
+they were going at such speed that another second
+must decide their fate.</p>
+
+<p>“To the right!” yelled Joe.</p>
+
+<p>There was no time to say more.</p>
+
+<p>He switched off, and at the same time threw his
+whole weight over.</p>
+
+<p>The wheels of his bicycle slid along the road
+several yards, and it was only Joe’s skill that prevented
+him from taking the nastiest kind of a
+header.</p>
+
+<p>Then he ran upon some planking from the torn-away
+bridge.</p>
+
+<p>Dick tried to follow his lead, but was not so
+fortunate. He flew off his machine, and when Joe
+stopped, Dick went sailing directly over his head.</p>
+
+<p>Both finally found themselves mixed up in a mass
+of planks and beams.</p>
+
+<p>At first Joe could scarcely collect his thoughts.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span>
+His clothing was much torn, and his left arm had
+been badly wrenched.</p>
+
+<p>Dick Burns was unconscious.</p>
+
+<p>Joe thought for the instant his friend was killed,
+and in his horror forgot all about his own bruises.</p>
+
+<p>He picked Dick up and laid him down on the
+near-by grass. Then Dick stirred slightly, and Joe
+knew he was still alive.</p>
+
+<p>He ran down to a pool and got some water in his
+cap, with which he bathed Dick’s face. He also
+rubbed his chum’s wrists.</p>
+
+<p>Finally he had the satisfaction of seeing Dick
+open his eyes with a deep sigh.</p>
+
+<p>“Dick, are you hurt?” he asked.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t know. I hit my chest.”</p>
+
+<p>“Maybe you broke a rib or two?”</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t know.”</p>
+
+<p>It was fully fifteen minutes before Dick felt like
+sitting up.</p>
+
+<p>By that time he felt sure that no bones had been
+broken. But he was so sore he could not think of
+riding home.</p>
+
+<p>“We will have to go back to Greenpoint, and
+I would give out inside of a mile,” he said.</p>
+
+<p>“If I could get a wagon we might drive home,”
+said Joe.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span>They talked the matter over, and finally our hero
+started off to hunt up a wagon.</p>
+
+<p>He knew a number of farmers in the district, and
+felt pretty certain he could get a turnout from one
+or the other of them, especially when he made
+known that he wanted to take home Lawyer Burns’
+son, who had been hurt.</p>
+
+<p>Joe’s wheel, strange to say, had sustained no
+damage outside of a few bent spokes, and now he
+went off on the machine, leaving Dick sitting on
+the old bridge lumber.</p>
+
+<p>“Come back as soon as you can, Joe.”</p>
+
+<p>“Of course, Dick.”</p>
+
+<p>The river was soon left out of sight, and Joe
+turned into a by-road, lined on either side with
+heavy trees.</p>
+
+<p>Beneath, the trees formed an archway, which in
+the heat of the day gave a grateful shade to
+travelers.</p>
+
+<p>But now, in spite of the moonlight, it was very
+dark here, and Joe had to slacken his speed for fear
+of going into a hole or striking a stone.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t want another trip-up,” he thought, as
+he pedaled along. “One such in a month is
+enough.”</p>
+
+<p>Our hero was very thankful that he had escaped
+a plunge into the river.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span>Halfway to the house he was bound for the lad
+heard the sounds of voices coming from the roadside.</p>
+
+<p>“I’m dead hungry, Gimpy,” he heard in the
+rough voice of a tramp. “Wot yer got fer supper?”</p>
+
+<p>“Dare ain’t nuthin’ but a couple o’ handouts,
+Jimmie,” was the reply from a second tramp.</p>
+
+<p>“Dat won’t do fer me. Say! Dare’s a big henhouse
+up at dat farm I just passed.”</p>
+
+<p>“I know it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Suppose we rake in a chicken or two? Da will
+go fine after wot we’ve had.”</p>
+
+<p>“Dat’s so.”</p>
+
+<p>“Dare ain’t nobuddy around der place but an old
+man an’ an old woman, and da’ll be going ter bed
+soon.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, I’m wid yer.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe listened to this conversation with keen interest.
+He had stopped behind a big tree and had
+heard every word spoken.</p>
+
+<p>He knew the farmhouse to which the two tramps
+referred. It was the very place for which he was
+bound.</p>
+
+<p>The farmer’s name was Josiah Arkley, and he
+lived on the place with Susan, his sister.</p>
+
+<p>They kept no hired help, and the farm was a good
+quarter mile from any other.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span>It would be an easy matter for the tramps to rob
+Josiah Arkley’s henhouse, for the old man and his
+sister always retired early.</p>
+
+<p>Besides, the old pair were both slightly deaf, and
+it was not likely that they would hear the disturbance
+among the fowls.</p>
+
+<p>As silently as a cat Joe left the vicinity. Once
+out of earshot of the tramps, he sped along to the
+Arkley farmhouse as fast as his wheel would carry
+him.</p>
+
+<p>As he had surmised, the place was dark, for the
+old couple had long before gone to bed.</p>
+
+<p>It took a deal of hammering on the front door to
+arouse Josiah Arkley.</p>
+
+<p>“Who’s there?” he demanded, as he popped his
+head out of an upper window.</p>
+
+<p>“Joe Johnson, Mr. Arkley.”</p>
+
+<p>“And what brings you here, Joe?” asked the old
+farmer in surprise.</p>
+
+<p>“Two things, sir. Come down as soon as you
+can, please.”</p>
+
+<p>“I will.”</p>
+
+<p>The window was shut down and all became quiet
+again.</p>
+
+<p>Soon a light appeared below, the door was thrown
+open and Joe entered the farmhouse, taking his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span>
+wheel with him. He found both of the old folks
+had dressed and come down.</p>
+
+<p>“Now, what’s up, Joe?” asked the old man in a
+trembling voice.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, in the first place, two tramps are on their
+way here to rob your hen roost.”</p>
+
+<p>“Land sakes alive!” burst out Susan. “You
+don’t mean it, Joe?”</p>
+
+<p>“Wait till I get my gun,” went on Josiah.</p>
+
+<p>He ran into the kitchen and returned with an old-fashioned
+blunderbuss which was loaded and ready
+for use.</p>
+
+<p>In a few words Joe told of the conversation he
+had overheard, to which the farmer and his sister
+listened with interest.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll fix ’em,” muttered Josiah.</p>
+
+<p>He turned out the light and led the way to the
+shed built on the side of the kitchen.</p>
+
+<p>From here a good view of the chicken-house, not
+a hundred feet away, could be obtained.</p>
+
+<p>Joe looked out of the window over the old man’s
+shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>“Here they come!” he whispered, for the two
+tramps had just leaped a side fence.</p>
+
+<p>The intruders separated, and while one remained
+on guard, the other made a tour around the house.</p>
+
+<p>Apparently satisfied that they were not observed,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span>
+the two tramps sneaked back toward the chicken-house.</p>
+
+<p>In this building old Josiah Arkley kept about two
+dozen prize fowls.</p>
+
+<p>He did not believe in owning many, but what he
+did have were of the best, many of them being
+worth three and four dollars apiece for breeding
+purposes.</p>
+
+<p>The sight of the tramps excited the old man very
+much, and it was with difficulty that Joe and old
+Susan kept him from shooting down the would-be
+offenders without warning.</p>
+
+<p>“Why don’t you capture them and take them to
+jail?” suggested Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“I can’t capture two men alone.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll help you,” said Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“So will I,” added Susan Arkley.</p>
+
+<p>The two latter at once armed themselves.</p>
+
+<p>Joe procured Josiah Arkley’s heaviest cane, which
+was little short of being a club.</p>
+
+<p>Old Susan brought forth a broom—an old one
+which was worn down to a hard stub at the end.</p>
+
+<p>In the meanwhile one of the tramps had pried the
+padlock from the chicken-house door.</p>
+
+<p>Now one of them stood by the open door while
+the other went inside.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span>“Come on!” whispered Josiah Arkley, and he
+led the way out of the house.</p>
+
+<p>Silently the three sneaked along by the well and
+dairy until within six yards of the fowl-house.</p>
+
+<p>“You villains, throw up your hands or I will
+shoot!” suddenly cried Josiah Arkley.</p>
+
+<p>The tramps were dumfounded for the minute.
+Then the one at the door began to yell.</p>
+
+<p>“Dere’s onto us, Gimpy!”</p>
+
+<p>“Stand still, do you hear?” cried old Josiah.</p>
+
+<p>“Not much!” howled the fellow called Jimmie.
+“I ain’t doin’ time dis summer!” and he started to
+run.</p>
+
+<p>Bang! went the blunderbuss, and the tramp received
+a dose of shot in his leg and fell groaning
+beside the dairy.</p>
+
+<p>Then out came the second tramp. Joe rushed at
+him and struck him with the club.</p>
+
+<p>The tramp turned on our hero, and a second later
+both were rolling over and over on the ground.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER III.<br>
+
+<small>JOE IS ACCUSED OF A CRIME.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">The</span> tramp did not mean that he should be captured.
+The summer was at its height, and during
+this portion of the year tramps hate to be sent to
+jail.</p>
+
+<p>In the winter they do not mind it so much, for
+then they are assured of a warm place to stay and
+enough to eat.</p>
+
+<p>But Joe had made up his mind to capture the
+tramp.</p>
+
+<p>He held on with a great grip, and in vain the
+vagabond tried to shake him off.</p>
+
+<p>“Let me git after him with the broom!” shrieked
+Susan Arkley, dancing about.</p>
+
+<p>While Joe was struggling old Josiah Arkley
+went after the tramp who had been shot.</p>
+
+<p>This fellow was full of rage, and now he threatened
+to injure the farmer’s head with a rock.</p>
+
+<p>It promised to be a lively time all around.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span>But Joe soon settled matters, so far as it concerned
+the man with whom he was wrestling.</p>
+
+<p>He broke loose, and then the fellow received a
+blow in the face that made him shriek with pain.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime Josiah Arkley had struck the
+other tramp with the end of the blunderbuss. Susan
+had followed with half a dozen whacks from the
+broom, and now the chap was pleading for mercy.</p>
+
+<p>“Give a feller a show ter live!” he groaned.
+“Oh! me head! Don’t hit me agin!”</p>
+
+<p>“Now, Susan, stand guard over him till I git a
+rope,” went on old Josiah.</p>
+
+<p>He disappeared into the barn and soon came out
+with ropes and old bits of harness. With these the
+tramp was secured, hands and feet.</p>
+
+<p>“Good for you, Joe,” exclaimed the old farmer,
+when he saw what our hero had accomplished.</p>
+
+<p>“Bind him, too, Mr. Arkley.”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure, Joe, sure,” was the reply, and soon the
+second tramp was a prisoner.</p>
+
+<p>Both were dragged into the barn and there bound
+fast to rings in separate stalls.</p>
+
+<p>The old farmer would take no chances of their
+escaping while he went to notify the authorities.</p>
+
+<p>The tramps in custody, Joe told the farmer about
+the accident at the bridge.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span>Josiah Arkley at once agreed to let Joe have his
+large farm wagon and a team.</p>
+
+<p>This would give the two boys plenty of room for
+themselves and their bicycles.</p>
+
+<p>“You can put the team up in Mr. Burns’ barn,
+and I’ll be over for it to-morrow,” said the farmer.</p>
+
+<p>This was agreed to, and Joe drove off, taking
+Josiah Arkley with him until the turn in the road
+beyond the heavy trees was reached.</p>
+
+<p>Then the farmer left him to walk to the next
+village for a constable, while Joe turned the team
+toward the river.</p>
+
+<p>Our hero found Dick where he had left him.</p>
+
+<p>“You have been gone a long time, Joe,” cried
+Dick. “I thought you were never coming back.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s so; I had something happen that I didn’t
+look for,” returned Joe.</p>
+
+<p>And as he helped Dick into the wagon on the top
+of a number of blankets, he told his friend of what
+had occurred. Dick was much astonished.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s a good job done to capture those tramps,”
+he remarked. “Father says the law against them
+isn’t half strong enough.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe piled the two bicycles on the back of the
+wagon. Dick’s was sadly bent and would have to
+be sent away for repairs.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span>“Never mind,” said the lawyer’s son. “I am
+very thankful we both escaped with our lives.”</p>
+
+<p>“And so am I,” said Joe with a shudder, as he
+started the team off.</p>
+
+<p>On they jogged slowly until the few lights of the
+town appeared in sight. By this time Dick was
+much fatigued, and Joe had to drive slower than
+ever.</p>
+
+<p>When they turned into the Burns garden the
+house door opened and the lawyer came out.</p>
+
+<p>“Hullo! I thought it was Dick returning,” he
+called out.</p>
+
+<p>“It is I, father,” replied the son. “We’ve been
+in a smash-up.”</p>
+
+<p>At once the lawyer came down, and soon his wife
+and Carrie Burns followed.</p>
+
+<p>Dick was helped out of the wagon and almost
+carried into the house, where he was made comfortable
+on his bed.</p>
+
+<p>Dick told the lawyer about the team, and Mr.
+Burns willingly consented to keep it over night.</p>
+
+<p>“And I’ll pay Mr. Arkley, too,” he said.</p>
+
+<p>Joe put the team up and was on the point of
+leaving, when a man rushed up to the house.</p>
+
+<p>It was Simon Pepper, the village watchmaker.
+He kept a small store on the main street, filled with
+watches, clocks, and cheap jewelry.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span>“Ha! I have you!” he cried, running up to Joe
+and catching our hero by the arm.</p>
+
+<p>“What’s the matter, Mr. Pepper?” asked Joe in
+surprise.</p>
+
+<p>“You know well enough what’s the matter,”
+fumed the watchmaker. He was a little man and
+of a very excitable nature.</p>
+
+<p>“I must say I haven’t the slightest idea,” returned
+Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“Indeed!” was the sneering return. “Maybe
+you haven’t been around my shop.”</p>
+
+<p>“I was around there yesterday to get our clock.”</p>
+
+<p>“Exactly; and you asked me about my highest-priced
+jewelry, too.”</p>
+
+<p>“I asked about the jewelry. I want to save up
+and get my mother a pin for her birthday.”</p>
+
+<p>“Just so, just so. And you took that key, you
+rascal!”</p>
+
+<p>“What key?”</p>
+
+<p>“You know well enough. Oh, you are a smart
+boy, Joe Johnson, but you can’t play any such trick
+on me.”</p>
+
+<p>And in his rage Simon Pepper shook his fist in
+Joe’s face.</p>
+
+<p>“Mr. Pepper, won’t you explain yourself?” put in
+Mr. Burns curiously.</p>
+
+<p>“Of course, of course, Mr. Burns, in a minute!<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span>
+But I can’t stand it to have this young rascal act so
+cool about it! Just as if he didn’t know a word!”</p>
+
+<p>“And I don’t know a word,” added Joe promptly.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, maybe you’ll know more when you are
+behind the bars! Do you hear? Behind the bars!
+I came to see Mr. Burns about the case.”</p>
+
+<p>“A case against Joe?” asked the lawyer.</p>
+
+<p>“Precisely, Mr. Burns.”</p>
+
+<p>“What has he done?”</p>
+
+<p>“Done enough to send him to State’s prison for
+ten years.”</p>
+
+<p>“Impossible!”</p>
+
+<p>“It is false!” burst from Joe’s lips. The lad
+could scarcely believe his ears.</p>
+
+<p>“It ain’t false; it’s true. Yesterday he was in
+my store and stole the key to the back door. To-night
+he has been in there and robbed me of nigh
+on to a hundred dollars’ worth of jewelry. I’m
+going to have him arrested, and then I’m going to
+get a warrant and search his home.”</p>
+
+<p>“I never stole a thing in my life!” ejaculated
+Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“I can prove it, boy, I can prove it! Do you
+know why? Because I found your knife back of the
+very showcase that was robbed. You used that
+knife to throw the catch back on the lock. Don’t
+you dare to deny it, or attempt to run away!”</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IV.<br>
+
+<small>JOE DECLARES HIS INNOCENCE.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">For</span> a moment Joe could not speak. Here he
+was accused of robbing Simon Pepper’s jewelry shop
+that very night, when he had not been near the
+place.</p>
+
+<p>He felt in his pocket. True enough, his pocket-knife
+was gone.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, I’ve got the knife safe enough,” sneered
+Simon Pepper. “You needn’t look for it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Perhaps Joe dropped the knife yesterday, when
+he came for the clock,” suggested the lawyer.</p>
+
+<p>“No, he didn’t. I swept up, and I would have
+found it before.”</p>
+
+<p>“Joe has been out bicycling with my son.”</p>
+
+<p>“I can’t help that! He robbed the place, I feel
+sure of it,” snapped Simon Pepper. “I’m going to
+have him locked up, and then have his house
+searched.”</p>
+
+<p>“You can search the house, and welcome,” said<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span>
+Joe promptly. “You will find nothing there belonging
+to you.”</p>
+
+<p>“Maybe I will—unless you have taken the stuff
+off to some other place,” retorted the unreasonable
+jeweler.</p>
+
+<p>In vain Mr. Burns protested that Joe might be
+innocent. The hot-headed jeweler would not
+listen, and the upshot of the matter was that Joe
+was marched to the justice’s house.</p>
+
+<p>Here, as late as it was, a hearing was had.</p>
+
+<p>The watchmaker told his story, and told of the
+pocket-knife.</p>
+
+<p>Then he procured a search warrant, that he might
+search Mr. Johnson’s home.</p>
+
+<p>Joe accompanied the crowd to the house. His
+mother sat up waiting for him. She was very much
+disturbed, as Joe was in the habit of returning home
+much earlier than was now the time.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, what is the matter!” she cried.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s all right, mother,” cried Joe. “Mr. Pepper
+has got it into his head that I robbed his shop, but
+I didn’t, and he can’t prove it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, Joe!”</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Johnson was called, and soon he learned the
+particulars of the case on hand.</p>
+
+<p>He believed Joe’s story that he was innocent.</p>
+
+<p>Simon Pepper, with a constable, who had come<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span>
+along, now searched the house from cellar to garret.
+Of course, not a thing belonging to the watchmaker
+was found.</p>
+
+<p>“Didn’t I tell you so!” cried Joe, and not without
+a slight ring of triumph in his tones.</p>
+
+<p>After searching the house the party went to the
+barn, and to the woodshed, but all to no purpose.</p>
+
+<p>“You can easily see that you have made a mistake,
+Mr. Pepper,” said Joe’s father.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t see. Maybe he has already sold the
+stuff he took,” growled the watchmaker.</p>
+
+<p>He would not listen to Joe’s story of the accident
+on the road, and of what had happened at old
+Josiah Arkley’s house.</p>
+
+<p>He wanted Joe arrested, and the justice had to
+take his complaint.</p>
+
+<p>But the official knew Mr. Burns very well, and at
+once accepted bail from the lawyer for the boy.</p>
+
+<p>“And I’ll defend you when the trial comes off,”
+he said to Joe. “We all believe you innocent.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe went home with his father rather downcast.
+It was one thing to be innocent, but it was quite
+another to prove it. He knew many in the village
+would look at him as a thief.</p>
+
+<p>A shadow on one’s character is very depressing.</p>
+
+<p>On the following day Joe called on Dick Burns,
+and found him much improved, but still unable to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span>
+go out. It would be some time before Dick would
+be able to ride his wheel again.</p>
+
+<p>“Pepper must be crazy!” declared Dick. “Never
+mind, I’ll tell what I know of the matter. You
+were with me nearly all the evening.”</p>
+
+<p>“One thing is certain,” said Joe. “His store
+was robbed. I wonder who did it?”</p>
+
+<p>“Maybe tramps,” suggested Dick, and there the
+question dropped.</p>
+
+<p>Joe was glad of one thing, and that was that Dick’s
+sister also looked on him as being innocent.</p>
+
+<p>Several days went by, and Joe’s trial was set
+down for the last Wednesday in the month.</p>
+
+<p>In the meanwhile the boys at Elmwood, four
+miles from Lockport, got up an amateur bicycle
+tournament.</p>
+
+<p>Joe entered the two-mile event, along with half
+a dozen boys from Elmwood, and three lads from
+Lockport.</p>
+
+<p>Among those from the latter place was Lemuel
+Akers. The big boy was conceited enough to think
+he would win the race, although there were a score
+of boys in the district who could ride better than
+he.</p>
+
+<p>Joe was not so certain of himself, but he told
+Dick he would do his best.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span>“And that’s all a chap can do, you know,” he
+said.</p>
+
+<p>“Do your best, Joe, and you will win,” said his
+chum confidently.</p>
+
+<p>The day for the races dawned bright and clear,
+and among those who attended were Joe’s parents
+and the entire Burns family.</p>
+
+<p>Joe cut a very trim figure as he rode on to the
+track in the parade, which headed off the entertainment.</p>
+
+<p>Only one boy looked at our hero with disdain,
+and that was Lemuel.</p>
+
+<p>As he passed Joe he muttered something about
+“jailbird.”</p>
+
+<p>“What’s that?” demanded Joe sharply.</p>
+
+<p>“You heard me well enough,” sneered the big boy.</p>
+
+<p>Scarcely had he spoken when Joe leaned from
+his seat and struck Akers over the mouth with the
+flat of his hand.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER V.<br>
+
+<small>JOE’S FIRST RACE.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Several</span> who were riding close by saw Joe strike
+Akers.</p>
+
+<p>As for Lemuel himself, he was so astonished that
+for the moment he could scarcely speak.</p>
+
+<p>“What do you mean by that?” he managed to
+gasp at last.</p>
+
+<p>He had half-leaped, half-tumbled from his
+machine, and now he strode up to Joe, his face dark
+with passion.</p>
+
+<p>“I mean a good deal,” retorted Joe, and he leaped
+down in front of Akers.</p>
+
+<p>“What’s the row, Joe?”</p>
+
+<p>“What did you strike Akers for?”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s against the rules to scrap on the grounds.”</p>
+
+<p>“He called me a jailbird, boys, and I won’t take
+that from any one, rules or no rules.”</p>
+
+<p>“For shame, Akers!”</p>
+
+<p>“Joe hasn’t been proved guilty yet.”</p>
+
+<p>“And he isn’t guilty, to my way of thinking.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span>Nearly all of the boys sided with Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“Humph, evidently you are all with him, and
+I’ve got no rights here,” growled Lemuel Akers.</p>
+
+<p>“You have certainly no right to call him a jailbird,”
+returned the manager of the races warmly.
+“I don’t blame Joe for slapping you in the mouth.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll fix him for it!” grumbled Lemuel, but instead
+of advancing upon Joe, who stood on guard
+and ready to administer a good thrashing to the
+bully, he backed away, mounted his wheel, and rode
+off to another part of the grounds.</p>
+
+<p>After that Akers was knowing enough to keep
+out of Joe’s way until the two-mile race came off.</p>
+
+<p>There was that in Joe’s eye that warned him to
+beware, and, as we have said before, he was a
+coward at heart.</p>
+
+<p>The two-mile race was the last of all.</p>
+
+<p>A big crowd had assembled, for several valuable
+prizes were to be given to the winners of the first
+and second place.</p>
+
+<p>The boys lined up in good form.</p>
+
+<p>“All ready?”</p>
+
+<p>There was no answer.</p>
+
+<p>Bang!</p>
+
+<p>Off went the pistol, and off went the racers. It
+was a splendid start.</p>
+
+<p>The track was a quarter of a mile around, so the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span>
+boys had to cover eight laps in order to make the
+two miles.</p>
+
+<p>At the first lap one of the Elmwood boys was in
+the lead, with Lemuel Akers second, and another
+boy third.</p>
+
+<p>The second lap was the same, excepting that
+Lemuel was crowding the leader pretty closely.</p>
+
+<p>“Akers is going to win that race!”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll bet on Donnelly!”</p>
+
+<p>On the third lap Joe dropped to fourth place.</p>
+
+<p>“Wake up, Joe!” shouted Dick Burns. “Wake
+up!”</p>
+
+<p>Joe paid no attention to this remark, but kept
+his eyes straight ahead.</p>
+
+<p>On the next lap there was a bunch up among
+the three last riders, and two went down, with the
+third over them.</p>
+
+<p>Friends helped the unfortunates off the track, just
+in time to avoid a collision with the leaders on the
+next lap.</p>
+
+<p>Around and around went the remaining riders
+until the last lap was on.</p>
+
+<p>Lemuel Akers was leading, Donnelly second,
+and Joe third.</p>
+
+<p>“Go it, Akers!”</p>
+
+<p>“Catch him, Donnelly!”</p>
+
+<p>“Go, Joe, go!”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span>The last cry was from Dick Burns’ sister, and it
+seemed to put new life into our hero.</p>
+
+<p>Away he went like a flash. It was an extraordinary
+spurt, and told only too well what was in
+Joe’s make-up as a bicyclist.</p>
+
+<p>They were on the home stretch.</p>
+
+<p>Donnelly was also spurting.</p>
+
+<p>In vain Lemuel Akers tried to maintain his
+lead.</p>
+
+<p>Donnelly crept up inch by inch and finally passed
+him.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s Donnelly’s race!”</p>
+
+<p>“I told you he could beat Akers.”</p>
+
+<p>But now the crowd suddenly held its breath.</p>
+
+<p>Like a meteor Joe was coming up.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing could stop him.</p>
+
+<p>With flashing wheels he rushed by Akers.</p>
+
+<p>Donnelly was but a yard ahead.</p>
+
+<p>And the tape but ten yards distant.</p>
+
+<p>Donnelly did his best, but in vain.</p>
+
+<p>“Joe Johnson has won!”</p>
+
+<p>It was true, for our hero had come over the tape
+just one foot ahead of Donnelly.</p>
+
+<p>The crowd went wild and shouted itself hoarse.
+The Lockport boys rushed to Joe, hauled him from
+his wheel, and marched around the track with their
+hero on their shoulders.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span>It was a great day for Joe, and one that he never
+forgot.</p>
+
+<p>Dick Burns was almost as much pleased as our
+hero.</p>
+
+<p>“I knew you could do it, Joe,” he said. “One of
+these days you will be a leading racer, mark my
+words.”</p>
+
+<p>And Dick’s sister also praised Joe.</p>
+
+<p>Lemuel Akers was much taken down by Joe’s
+victory. As soon as he could he left the race track
+grounds and started off for a little village called
+Bailey’s, two miles to the west.</p>
+
+<p>Here Akers spent a good two hours at the
+tavern.</p>
+
+<p>He was not above drinking, and now he took just
+enough to make him thoroughly ugly.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll fix him yet,” muttered Lemuel to himself.
+“He shan’t ride it over me.”</p>
+
+<p>Lemuel felt doubly chagrined because Dick
+Burns’ sister no longer noticed him.</p>
+
+<p>It was not until evening that Akers started to
+return to Lockport.</p>
+
+<p>In the meanwhile Joe had returned home and
+had supper.</p>
+
+<p>Our hero felt rather wakeful after his hard ride,
+and thought a quiet spin on his wheel just before
+going to bed would do him good.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span>So he went off alone, a crowd of boys cheering
+him as he passed out of sight.</p>
+
+<p>He was a hero, and for the time being, at least,
+the fact that he was under suspicion was forgotten.</p>
+
+<p>Joe pedaled along for about a mile very slowly.
+Then he came to a part of the road which was
+fringed with blackberry bushes. The ripe fruit
+looked so tempting that he dismounted, and, setting
+his machine against a tree, began to gather some to
+eat. While he was doing this Lemuel Akers came
+along.</p>
+
+<p>“Hullo! what are you doing there?” he demanded.</p>
+
+<p>“None of your business,” replied Joe sharply.
+He had not forgotten Lemuel’s insult at the race
+track.</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t you know this is my uncle’s land?” went
+on the big boy.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s not fenced in, and any one has a right to
+pick these berries along the road,” responded our
+hero.</p>
+
+<p>“You have no right, and I want you to skip!”
+roared Akers savagely.</p>
+
+<p>And then, as he rode close to Joe, he struck our
+hero with a stout stick he carried.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s for hitting me at the race track,” he
+cried, and wheeled off at top speed.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span>Joe was somewhat stunned by the blow from the
+stick. He staggered into the bushes, and in consequence
+one hand was scratched in several
+places.</p>
+
+<p>But he quickly recovered, and, mounting his
+wheel, rode after Akers.</p>
+
+<p>Finding himself pursued, the bully pedaled along
+at top speed down a side road. At first it looked
+as if he would get away from Joe, but just as the
+foot of a long hill was reached, our hero caught up
+beside him.</p>
+
+<p>“Stop, Akers, or I’ll knock you off of your
+machine!” cried Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t you dare to touch me!” screamed
+Akers.</p>
+
+<p>He tried to go on, and, seeing this, Joe gave
+him a shove, which hurled the rascal to the
+ground.</p>
+
+<p>Lemuel went down on his bicycle, half a dozen
+spokes of which were badly bent in the fall. When
+he arose he found Joe also on the ground, but on
+his feet.</p>
+
+<p>“Now, see what you have done, you jailbird,” he
+cried.</p>
+
+<p>“Take back those words, Lemuel Akers!” exclaimed
+Joe. “I warned you before, and I won’t
+warn you again.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span>“I won’t take ’em back,” howled the big boy.
+“You are a jailbird and a thief, and every one——”</p>
+
+<p>Lemuel went no further.</p>
+
+<p>Joe’s right fist shot out like lightning. The big
+boy was caught fairly on the chin, and over he went
+flat on his back in the dirt of the road.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VI.<br>
+
+<small>PAUL JOHNSON’S PERIL.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Lemuel Akers</span> was so dazed by the blow he had
+received that it was fully a minute before he recovered
+sufficiently to stand on his feet.</p>
+
+<p>“What did you hit me with that club for?” he
+bellowed.</p>
+
+<p>“I hit with my fist, and I’ll do it again unless
+you take back what you said,” replied Joe. “I’ll
+fight you with one hand,” he added.</p>
+
+<p>Lemuel Akers was fearfully frightened. He had
+never imagined that our hero was so strong. He
+glared at Joe, but did not dare attack him just then.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll fix you one of these days,” he muttered, and
+picked up his wheel.</p>
+
+<p>“I want you to take back what you said,” went
+on Joe calmly, and he came a step closer to Lemuel.</p>
+
+<p>The big boy was now thoroughly scared. He
+would have run away, but he understood that such
+an attempt would be fruitless.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span>“I—I—maybe I made a mistake,” he whined.</p>
+
+<p>“You are a low, despicable fellow, Lemuel Akers!
+Now go; and beware how you speak of me in the
+future.”</p>
+
+<p>So speaking, Joe turned on his heel, mounted his
+wheel, and rode off. He was thoroughly disgusted
+with Lemuel.</p>
+
+<p>The meeting had disturbed our hero not a little,
+and it took an hour’s riding to make him easy in
+mind once more.</p>
+
+<p>Lemuel’s words rang most unpleasantly in his
+ears. Would they convict him when the trial came
+off? Would they really send him to jail? The
+thought was fearful. His fair name would be
+blasted forever.</p>
+
+<p>“I must do something toward clearing myself,”
+he thought. “If only I could find the real thief!”</p>
+
+<p>On the following day a heavy storm came up. It
+rained for forty-eight hours, and, in consequence,
+the river which flowed to the west of Lockport was
+considerably swollen.</p>
+
+<p>Joe’s younger brother, Paul, owned a rowboat,
+which was tied up on this stream. The rowboat
+broke away, and on the day it cleared, Paul went
+off in search of his property.</p>
+
+<p>Joe had some work to do about the house after
+school hours, but about four o’clock in the afternoon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span>
+he finished up, and then rode off on his wheel
+to see what had become of Paul, and if his brother’s
+boat had been found.</p>
+
+<p>The roads were heavy after the rain, and wheeling
+was not very good. Joe went along slowly, and
+in several places he had to dismount and walk.</p>
+
+<p>Just as he neared the stream he met three villainous-looking
+tramps. They had been camping out in
+an old shanty by the roadside. The tramps saw Joe
+some distance off, and at once began to whisper
+together.</p>
+
+<p>“Hi, there, young feller!” called one of the
+tramps.</p>
+
+<p>“What is it?” asked Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“Give us a bit of terbacker, will yer?”</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t use it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then give us the price o’ a paper, that’s a good
+son.”</p>
+
+<p>“I have nothing for you.”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t git imperdent, son.”</p>
+
+<p>And then the three tramps placed themselves
+directly in Joe’s path.</p>
+
+<p>It was a lonely part of the road, and our hero
+realized that the tramps intended to stop him and
+go through his pockets. It was not the first time
+such a hold-up had occurred in the vicinity.</p>
+
+<p>“Clear the way!” cried Joe sharply.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span>“Just you step down and pony up,” returned the
+leader of the trio.</p>
+
+<p>“I won’t. Look out!”</p>
+
+<p>As Joe spoke he turned back as if to retreat. At
+once the three tramps made after him.</p>
+
+<p>Our hero waited until they were somewhat scattered,
+and then he turned again.</p>
+
+<p>Like a flash he passed the two leading road ruffians.</p>
+
+<p>The third tramp, a slight-built fellow, was directly
+in his way.</p>
+
+<p>Whack! Joe’s wheel hit him directly in the side,
+and with a howl he went down in the mud.</p>
+
+<p>Joe was almost unseated, but he managed to right
+his machine, and on he went.</p>
+
+<p>When he had covered a good fifty yards he looked
+back. All three of the tramps were shaking their
+fists after him.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s the time I got out of a tight pocket,”
+said Joe to himself.</p>
+
+<p>The tramps did not remain long in the vicinity.
+They were afraid Joe would return with help and
+place them under arrest.</p>
+
+<p>Ten minutes later brought our hero to the river.
+He was surprised to see how greatly the recent
+rains had swollen it. From a small creek it had
+grown into a swiftly-flowing river.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span>He looked up and down for Paul, but could see
+nothing of his brother.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll go below to Factory Falls,” he thought.
+“Maybe the boat went over the falls and was
+smashed to pieces.”</p>
+
+<p>There was a fair road along the river bank, and
+along this our hero wheeled his way.</p>
+
+<p>Presently he came to an iron bridge which
+spanned the river. Not fifty feet below were the
+Factory Falls, where the waters dropped a distance
+of twenty feet and more.</p>
+
+<p>Joe wheeled on the bridge, and as he did so he
+noticed a rowboat away up the stream, with a
+single occupant in it.</p>
+
+<p>As the rowboat came nearer, Joe saw that the
+person in it was a boy. He was standing up and
+waving his hands wildly.</p>
+
+<p>“By jinks! That fellow has no oars!” exclaimed
+our hero suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>On came the rowboat. It was caught in the mad
+current, and in a few minutes more would pass
+under the bridge and be hurled over the roaring
+falls.</p>
+
+<p>Then Joe made a discovery that caused his heart
+to leap into his throat.</p>
+
+<p>The boat was Paul’s craft and the occupant was
+his brother!</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span>“Save me! Save me!” screamed Paul Johnson.</p>
+
+<p>He saw Joe and held out his hands in despair.</p>
+
+<p>What was to be done?</p>
+
+<p>A thought flashed across Joe’s mind. There was
+one way in which his brother might be saved—only
+one.</p>
+
+<p>Catching hold of one end of his bicycle our hero
+lowered the other end over the side of the bridge.</p>
+
+<p>He leaned down as far as he dared.</p>
+
+<p>“Catch hold of the wheel, Paul!” he yelled
+hoarsely.</p>
+
+<p>Ten seconds more and it would be decided if Paul
+Johnson would be saved or if he would be dashed
+over the falls to his death.</p>
+
+<p>The rowboat was coming along swiftly. Already
+it was in the shadow of the bridge.</p>
+
+<p>Joe bent down still further. One hand clutched
+the wheel, the other a brace of the bridge.</p>
+
+<p>And now the rowboat was directly beneath.
+Paul stretched out his hands, but could not reach
+the wheel.</p>
+
+<p>“Jump! It’s your only chance!” shouted Joe.</p>
+
+<p>And leaping on a seat, Paul jumped as high as
+he could.</p>
+
+<p>His fingers grasped the lower rim of the bicycle
+wheel.</p>
+
+<p>From under him swept the frail rowboat, to be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span>
+dashed to pieces over the falls but a moment
+later.</p>
+
+<p>The weight of his brother’s body was a great
+strain on Joe, but he managed to keep himself on
+the bridge.</p>
+
+<p>“Hold tight, Paul!” he cried encouragingly.</p>
+
+<p>“I will, but I can’t climb!” gasped the younger
+boy.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll pull you up!”</p>
+
+<p>And Joe did pull him up, until Paul was able to
+step upon a bridge support and spring to the foot-planks.</p>
+
+<p>Paul Johnson was saved!</p>
+
+<p>He let out a sob and threw himself into his
+brother’s arms.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, Joe!”</p>
+
+<p>It was all he could say, but the way he uttered
+the words was enough.</p>
+
+<p>Joe was scarcely less affected. To lose his
+younger brother would have been a bitter blow to
+him.</p>
+
+<p>For some time the two boys remained on the
+bridge to catch their breath and to get over the intense
+strain they had endured.</p>
+
+<p>“Your boat is gone, Paul,” said Joe, at length.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t care. I wouldn’t want to go on the
+river any more, anyhow,” shuddered Paul.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span>“It always was a dangerous sport, Paul. Let us
+both save up, and we’ll buy a wheel for you to
+ride.”</p>
+
+<p>Paul was too much overcome to walk home, and
+he rode behind Joe the greater part of the distance.</p>
+
+<p>Our hero wanted to say nothing about the rescue,
+but Paul would not keep silent, and soon it was
+related how Joe had played the part of a hero.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VII.<br>
+
+<small>THE BULLY RECEIVES A LESSON.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">The</span> next morning when Joe went to school he
+was immediately surrounded by a crowd of the
+boys.</p>
+
+<p>“Lemuel Akers says you intend to fight him with
+one hand,” said half a dozen at once.</p>
+
+<p>“I said I would,” replied Joe. “I don’t want to
+fight, but he must be more civil with his tongue.”</p>
+
+<p>Many of the boys shook their heads at this.
+They believed Joe could whip the bully with two
+hands, but when it came to one hand only they
+were doubtful.</p>
+
+<p>Many of the boys expected an encounter between
+the pair before school, but the bully was late and
+school was called when he came along.</p>
+
+<p>There would be no chance to fight at noon, so it
+was arranged that the encounter should occur after
+school.</p>
+
+<p>But toward the middle of the afternoon the sky
+grew black, and soon it began to rain.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span>“That will spoil all,” said Larry Dare, one of the
+boys. “They can’t fight in a howling rainstorm.”</p>
+
+<p>“True,” replied Sam Anderson, another of the
+pupils. “They’ll have to wait until to-morrow.”</p>
+
+<p>When school let out it was raining as hard as
+ever.</p>
+
+<p>The master was in a hurry to get off and called
+one of the big boys to him.</p>
+
+<p>“Lathrop,” he said. “I am going off. If the
+boys want to stay in the schoolroom until it clears
+off let them. I will look to you to lock up.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, sir.”</p>
+
+<p>“And, Lathrop, see to it that no skylarking
+occurs,” added Mr. Chalmondey, as he left.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, sir,” replied Lathrop again, and grinned
+from ear to ear.</p>
+
+<p>“Now is your chance, fellows!” he cried as soon
+as the master was gone. “Have it out and done
+with.”</p>
+
+<p>“I am willing,” said Joe quietly, but with determination.</p>
+
+<p>“So am I,” growled the bully, who felt sure that
+he could give our hero a sound drubbing.</p>
+
+<p>A piece of rope was procured, and after Joe had
+fixed up his clothing to suit himself, his left hand
+was tied behind him. Then Lemuel Akers faced
+him, and a ring was formed.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span>“All ready?” asked Larry Dare. “Very well,
+now go in and wax him, Joe!”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s Lem will do the waxing!” retorted Jake
+Foley, one of the bully’s toadies.</p>
+
+<p>Our hero and the bully watched each other like
+two cats. For several seconds neither made any
+effort to reach each other.</p>
+
+<p>Then Lemuel struck out, but Joe leaped to one
+side.</p>
+
+<p>With only one hand it was useless to attempt to
+parry a blow.</p>
+
+<p>Then out shot his fist, and the bully caught a
+stinging blow that caused him to stagger back
+against a desk.</p>
+
+<p>“Good for Joe!” cried a large part of the crowd.</p>
+
+<p>As quickly as he could Lemuel rushed up once
+again. He struck out several times in quick
+succession and at last his left hand reached Joe’s
+neck.</p>
+
+<p>It left a long scratch behind it.</p>
+
+<p>Our hero immediately made an important discovery.
+Lemuel, even with the advantage of two
+hands against one, was not fighting him fair.</p>
+
+<p>The bully had something sharp concealed in the
+palm of each closed hand.</p>
+
+<p>The moment that Joe made the discovery that
+the bully was not fighting fair he called out time.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span>“Got enough, have you!” cried Jake Foley.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ve got enough of this sort of fighting,” replied
+our hero calmly.</p>
+
+<p>“Why, what’s the matter, Joe?” questioned
+Larry.</p>
+
+<p>“Lemuel Akers is not fighting me fair.”</p>
+
+<p>At this announcement nearly all the boys were
+greatly astonished.</p>
+
+<p>“He is fighting fair,” blustered Jake Foley.</p>
+
+<p>“He is not—and you know it,” retorted Joe.
+“He has something hard and sharp doubled up in
+each hand.”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s a lie!” blustered the bully.</p>
+
+<p>“Make him open both of his hands!” suggested
+several boys.</p>
+
+<p>“You mind your own business,” put in Jake
+Foley.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s my business to see that Joe has a fair show,”
+said Larry Dare.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s right,” added Sam Anderson.</p>
+
+<p>“See here, I am here to fight, not to talk,”
+howled Lemuel.</p>
+
+<p>“But you must fight fair,” said Carl Lathrop.
+“If you are honest, open both of your hands.”</p>
+
+<p>This the bully would not do.</p>
+
+<p>While he was hesitating Joe winked to Larry.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span>He retired for an instant, then came forward and
+caught the bully by both wrists.</p>
+
+<p>“Now open your fists,” he said sternly.</p>
+
+<p>“Let go my wrists.”</p>
+
+<p>In vain Lemuel tried to free himself.</p>
+
+<p>Jake Foley wanted to spring in at Joe, but Sam
+and Larry held him back.</p>
+
+<p>Soon Lemuel began to squirm, for Joe was pressing
+his wrists hard.</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t break my hands!” shrieked the bully at
+last.</p>
+
+<p>“Then open your fists,” said our hero, and unable
+to endure the pressure longer, the bully opened
+both hands.</p>
+
+<p>Two sharp pieces of iron about half an inch in
+diameter fell to the floor.</p>
+
+<p>A howl went up from the schoolboys.</p>
+
+<p>“Joe was right!”</p>
+
+<p>“Shame on you, Akers!”</p>
+
+<p>“Give him a big licking now, Joe!”</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly Joe let go his hold. Then he hauled
+off and gave the bully a sharp poke right in the
+nose.</p>
+
+<p>The blood spouted, and the bully fell with a
+crash up against a desk. For fully a minute he lay
+dazed, his eyes rolling wildly.</p>
+
+<p>Jake Foley assisted Lemuel to rise.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span>As the big boy got up a vivid streak of lightning
+nearly blinded every one in the schoolroom.</p>
+
+<p>There followed a deafening peal of thunder,
+which shook the building from top to bottom. Instead
+of abating, the storm was increasing in
+violence.</p>
+
+<p>The thunder and lightning drove all thoughts of
+fighting out of the scholars’ minds. They huddled
+together, Joe surrounded by his friends.</p>
+
+<p>Not far away stood Lemuel and Foley, both shaking
+in their shoes.</p>
+
+<p>The rain came down in torrents, and Carl Lathrop
+went around to shut up all the windows.</p>
+
+<p>“This is the worst yet,” he said. “I’m glad I
+ain’t on the road.”</p>
+
+<p>“Maybe it would be safer on the road than in
+here,” observed Sam, as the roll of thunder sounded
+out again.</p>
+
+<p>“Maybe,” replied Carl.</p>
+
+<p>A few minutes passed, and it looked as if the
+rain was letting up.</p>
+
+<p>Akers and Foley moved toward the door, for they
+wished to get away just as quick as they could.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll fix you another time,” growled the bully,
+looking toward Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll be ready for you any time,” returned our
+hero calmly. “But you’ll have to fight fair.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span>At that instant a blinding flash of lightning
+struck terror to nearly every one in the building.</p>
+
+<p>Amid the roar of thunder the lightning seemed
+to enter the schoolroom by the open doorway.</p>
+
+<p>It ran along several desks, and, with a report like
+that of a gun, disappeared up the chimney.</p>
+
+<p>Larry Dare was knocked flat, and several others
+were partly stunned.</p>
+
+<p>A sulphurous odor filled the place, and a moment
+later a fire blazed up near the chimneypiece.</p>
+
+<p>“Get out of here, boys!” cried Joe. “Quick!”</p>
+
+<p>Blinded and confused, the boys ran out of the
+building into the pelting rain.</p>
+
+<p>Joe waited long enough to pick up Larry’s unconscious
+form, and then he followed.</p>
+
+<p>There was a shed not far away, and here Larry
+was placed on an old door. He was not seriously
+hurt, and soon returned to consciousness.</p>
+
+<p>The boys were so bewildered they did not know
+what to do. They stood around like a flock of
+sheep.</p>
+
+<p>“The schoolhouse is on fire!” suddenly cried
+Carl Lathrop. “See the smoke coming out of the
+door!”</p>
+
+<p>But this report was not true, and presently the
+boys went back to the building. The bully of the
+school, however, had disappeared.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VIII.<br>
+
+<small>A GALLANT SWIM.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">The</span> next day on account of the damage to the
+chimney, which was almost completely demolished
+by the lightning, there was no school and Joe and
+Sam Anderson got together and went off for a
+morning’s fishing.</p>
+
+<p>The mountain streams about the place were much
+swollen because of the heavy rain, and they had
+little hope of catching much, but they thought the
+outing would be pleasant.</p>
+
+<p>They started out bright and early, their poles
+over their shoulders and their tackle in a basket.</p>
+
+<p>They soon had their lines in readiness, each fixed
+with a tempting bait.</p>
+
+<p>Joe was the first to cast in, and also the first to
+draw out a fine fat fish, but Sam was not far behind.</p>
+
+<p>Then they went further up the stream, each with
+a small string of fish at the end of his rod.</p>
+
+<p>Hardly a hundred feet had been covered when a
+shrill scream startled both boys.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span>“What was that?” cried Sam, coming to a
+halt.</p>
+
+<p>“A woman’s voice,” responded our hero.</p>
+
+<p>Both listened intently.</p>
+
+<p>Again the shrill cry rang out, coming from some
+distance up the stream.</p>
+
+<p>“Come on!” called Joe, and set off on a run with
+Sam beside him.</p>
+
+<p>A beautiful young girl was struggling wildly in the
+middle of the swiftly-flowing stream.</p>
+
+<p>She had been in the act of crossing a cove when
+the bridge gave way in the center.</p>
+
+<p>“She will be drowned,” ejaculated Sam Anderson.</p>
+
+<p>“It is Carrie Burns!” called out Joe, a second
+later, and with a wildly beating heart.</p>
+
+<p>“What’s to do?” asked Sam, as he stood helpless.</p>
+
+<p>Our hero thought for a moment. To swim out
+into midstream and save the girl was out of the
+question. The water ran so swiftly no landing
+could be made with any burden.</p>
+
+<p>“The fishlines!” cried Joe. “Be quick, Sam.”</p>
+
+<p>He brought out his own line and Sam’s and
+twisted them together.</p>
+
+<p>Then fastening the end of this double line around
+his waist he leaped boldly into the mountain torrent.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span>The water bubbled and foamed all around him.
+But he struck out undaunted.</p>
+
+<p>“Save me!” cried Carrie Burns, and then she
+went under the surface, to reappear at a distance of
+fifty feet down stream.</p>
+
+<p>When she came up Joe was but a few yards
+away. He struck out with renewed energy and
+soon managed to catch hold of her by the arm.</p>
+
+<p>“Cling to me, Carrie!” he said, “and I will save
+you.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, Joe, do not let me drown!” gasped the poor,
+frightened girl.</p>
+
+<p>She clung to our hero, and he called out to Sam
+to haul in on the fishlines.</p>
+
+<p>“And be careful,” he added, “or the line——”</p>
+
+<p>He got no further.</p>
+
+<p>Crack! Both lines parted and down the stream
+went Joe and the girl he was trying to save.</p>
+
+<p>The force of the mountain stream rolled our hero
+and the girl over and over.</p>
+
+<p>The girl gasped with terror and consequently
+swallowed a large quantity of water.</p>
+
+<p>This filled her with terror and she clutched at
+Joe’s neck until he was almost strangled.</p>
+
+<p>But he managed finally to keep her at a distance
+and in this manner they swept on and on.</p>
+
+<p>The boy knew that something must be done, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span>
+that quickly. The girl could not endure the water
+much longer.</p>
+
+<p>He looked ahead. Twenty yards further down
+stream was a clump of willows. Some of the long
+lashes hung within a foot or two of the surface of
+the bubbling torrent.</p>
+
+<p>Could he grasp hold as they sped by? He resolved
+to try.</p>
+
+<p>In a second more he was directly beneath the first
+of the overhanging boughs.</p>
+
+<p>He sprang up as far as he could and caught hold
+of a handful of the lashes.</p>
+
+<p>For a brief half-minute they held him, then one
+after another parted and he and his fair burden
+swept onward.</p>
+
+<p>But Joe was not dismayed by this failure.</p>
+
+<p>Another bough was reached, and again his hand
+went up. This time he caught hold of a strong
+bough, and although it bent far into the water,
+it did not break.</p>
+
+<p>“Sam! Sam!” he called.</p>
+
+<p>“I’m coming!” was the reply, and Sam Anderson
+appeared at the foot of the willow tree.</p>
+
+<p>“Can you crawl out on the limb and help me?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll try it,” replied Sam Anderson.</p>
+
+<p>Throwing down his rods and lines Sam began the
+ascent of the tree.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span>Soon he was at a point directly over our hero’s
+head.</p>
+
+<p>Holding on to the willow lashes with one hand,
+Joe raised the limp form of the girl with the other.</p>
+
+<p>A lot of muscle was required to reach Sam, but
+it was not wanting.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Sam had Carrie Burns safe on the
+upper branch Joe climbed into the tree without
+trouble.</p>
+
+<p>Between them they managed to get the girl to
+shore. Here they worked over her for ten minutes.
+At the end of that time she opened her eyes and sat
+up.</p>
+
+<p>“Where am I?” she asked faintly.</p>
+
+<p>“You are safe, Carrie, don’t worry,” replied Joe
+gently.</p>
+
+<p>It was a full hour before Carrie Burns felt strong
+enough to return to her home.</p>
+
+<p>Once again Joe was praised for his bravery. Mr.
+and Mrs. Burns were particularly warm toward our
+hero, while Dick fairly hugged him.</p>
+
+<p>On the following day school opened as usual.</p>
+
+<p>Jake Foley sneaked in without saying a word to
+anybody.</p>
+
+<p>Lemuel Akers did not appear, nor did he show
+up for a week. Then he pretended to ignore Joe
+entirely.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span>About a week later Carl Lathrop proposed a game
+of hare and hounds.</p>
+
+<p>The others eagerly assented, and an afternoon
+was set for the game.</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Carl were chosen as hares, and Larry
+and Sam as captains of the hounds, or “whippers-in.”</p>
+
+<p>To those who have never played the game, we
+would say that the hares are given a certain time to
+get away in, leaving a trail of white bits of paper
+behind them. Usually a game lasts half, or at
+times a whole day.</p>
+
+<p>School let out early, and five minutes later our
+hero and Carl Lathrop were ready to leave, each
+with a big bag of white paper under his arm.</p>
+
+<p>“All ready!” asked Sam.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then away! Ten minutes for a start and no
+more!”</p>
+
+<p>On the instant Joe and Carl were off.</p>
+
+<p>“Which way?” asked Carl.</p>
+
+<p>“Let us make for the Sand Cliffs.”</p>
+
+<p>“All right.”</p>
+
+<p>The Sand Cliffs were back of a long series of
+hills, about four miles from the schoolhouse.</p>
+
+<p>As the two boys ran on they talked about the
+others.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span>“It’s funny Lemuel Akers wouldn’t join in,” said
+Carl. “I suppose he is mad because he wasn’t
+chosen a hare.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, somebody must be a hound,” replied Joe.
+“Never mind; let us forget the mean fellow.”</p>
+
+<p>An hour’s running brought them to the Sand
+Cliffs.</p>
+
+<p>“We must be pretty well ahead,” said Carl.
+“Let us rest for a few minutes in the shade.”</p>
+
+<p>“All right; I’m willing,” said our hero.</p>
+
+<p>The two threw themselves down at the foot of a
+high cliff.</p>
+
+<p>As they did this a boy who had been taking it
+easy behind some bushes came out at the top of the
+cliff.</p>
+
+<p>The boy was Lemuel Akers. When he saw Joe
+his face took on a hard, crafty look.</p>
+
+<p>“So now I have you at my mercy!” he muttered
+to himself.</p>
+
+<p>Close to the edge of the cliff rested a big rock.
+It lay in such a position that if rolled over
+the edge it would land directly upon our hero’s
+head.</p>
+
+<p>Lemuel sized up the rock, and then, stealing up
+to it, shoved hard against it with his hands and his
+shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>There was a scraping of loose pebbles, and then<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span>
+over the edge of the cliff rolled the rock, crashing
+down in a direct line for Joe’s head!</p>
+
+<p>Had the big rock fallen as expected our hero
+would have been crushed to death.</p>
+
+<p>But a single thing saved our hero. The falling
+of several loose pebbles caused him to look up just
+before the rock came down.</p>
+
+<p>“Jump back!” he yelled to Carl.</p>
+
+<p>And then he made one swift leap to the right.</p>
+
+<p>Boom! Down came the rock, burying itself
+several inches in the sand. It had escaped Joe’s
+head by a narrow six inches.</p>
+
+<p>The sand flew all over both boys.</p>
+
+<p>Carl grew pale as death and was unable to say a
+word.</p>
+
+<p>“By Jove, but that was a narrow escape,” murmured
+our hero as soon as he recovered from his
+shock.</p>
+
+<p>When Akers realized how his plan had miscarried
+he fled from the spot.</p>
+
+<p>“I—I wonder what made it come down?” gasped
+Carl at last.</p>
+
+<p>“I suppose it was on the edge and we must have
+disturbed it when we shied those stones up at the
+birds,” replied Joe.</p>
+
+<p>Not for a moment did he imagine that it was the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span>
+work of his enemy. He was too good-hearted to
+think so ill of any one.</p>
+
+<p>The boys were afraid the hounds would catch
+them, and so after leaving a bunch of white paper
+beside the big rock, they hurried on to finish the
+game of hare and hounds.</p>
+
+<p>They ran along the Sand Cliffs for nearly a mile
+and then turned their noses homeward.</p>
+
+<p>From a long distance behind came the toot of a
+horn carried by Sam Anderson.</p>
+
+<p>“We are safe, unless we run into some pocket,”
+said Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“We must be careful,” rejoined Carl.</p>
+
+<p>Naturally light-hearted, both lads soon forgot the
+dire peril through which they had passed.</p>
+
+<p>They ran on and on, across a patch of woods and
+then forded a brook, where they also stopped long
+enough to bathe their faces and get a drink.</p>
+
+<p>“Run around that clump of bushes and across the
+lot and back and put the paper everywhere,” said
+Joe. “That will puzzle them to find the trail.”</p>
+
+<p>This was done by Carl, and then on they went,
+almost as fresh as when they had started.</p>
+
+<p>The woods passed, they emerged into a large
+sheep field. The flock of sheep was grazing at one
+end and they stopped for a minute to look at the
+animals.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span>Then on they went again, but the adventure on
+the Sand Cliffs had taken the sport out of Joe, and
+ere they reached home the hares were caught.</p>
+
+<p>On the way to Lockport, Sam walked beside Joe
+and talked over the game.</p>
+
+<p>“By the way,” said Sam. “Who do you suppose
+I saw sneaking along the Sand Cliffs?”</p>
+
+<p>“Who?” asked our hero with much interest.</p>
+
+<p>“Lemuel Akers. As soon as I saw him he darted
+out of sight.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe did not answer to this. But he did a good
+bit of thinking.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IX.<br>
+
+<small>IN AN OLD COAL MINE.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">After</span> the failure of his plot at the Sand Cliffs
+the bully of Lockport was more sour than ever
+toward Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll get square, see if I don’t,” he said to Jake
+Foley.</p>
+
+<p>Foley did not know how Lemuel had tried to
+harm Joe at the Sand Cliffs, but he was willing to
+do anything his chum desired.</p>
+
+<p>More especially was he willing to help Lemuel
+when one day our hero pitched into him for beating
+a little boy on the way to school. The little boy
+was lame, and Joe became so angry he gave Jake a
+most severe chastising.</p>
+
+<p>“You big brute,” he said when he was done.
+“Next time tackle a lad of your size.”</p>
+
+<p>Jake sneaked off, with his heart full of bitterness.</p>
+
+<p>“I would like to fix Joe Johnson,” he said.</p>
+
+<p>“So would I,” said Lemuel.</p>
+
+<p>“Can’t we lead him into some sort of a trap?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span>“Maybe, if we watch our chance,” returned the
+bully.</p>
+
+<p>So they both watched Joe closely. But day after
+day went and still no chance came to light.</p>
+
+<p>But in the meantime Lemuel fell in with Phil
+Henderson, the tramp who had received such a
+knock-down on the road from Joe, when he and his
+cronies had wanted to rob the boy.</p>
+
+<p>Phil Henderson was also waiting for a chance to
+“fix” Joe, and he readily agreed to help Lemuel
+and Jake in any plan they projected.</p>
+
+<p>One day Jake came to the others with a wicked
+smile on his face.</p>
+
+<p>“Now we can fix him,” he said.</p>
+
+<p>“How?” demanded Lemuel.</p>
+
+<p>“Joe has made a bet that he is not afraid to walk
+through the old coal mine at midnight. Sam
+Anderson dared him to do it, and he is going to
+walk through the mine to-morrow night.”</p>
+
+<p>“And will he be alone?” asked Phil Henderson
+eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>“Of course. He is to take a pack of marked
+cards, and drop them here and there as he walks
+along, so the boys can see the next morning if he
+really went into all the dark holes and corners.”</p>
+
+<p>“Good!” muttered Lemuel.</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll fix things,” said Henderson.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span>Then he talked on for several minutes in a
+whisper.</p>
+
+<p>“Is it a go?” he asked.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes,” replied both boys.</p>
+
+<p>“Then that is settled. If Joe Johnson visits the
+old mine to-morrow night he will never come out as
+he went in.”</p>
+
+<p>What Jake Foley had said about our hero was
+true.</p>
+
+<p>In a joke Sam Anderson had proposed the midnight
+visit.</p>
+
+<p>The deserted coal mine was a very lonely place.
+Some of the simple country folks thought it was
+haunted by the ghost of a man who had been killed
+there once by a premature blast, and few in the district
+cared to go near the place at night.</p>
+
+<p>But Joe knew no such thing as fear.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll bet you a first-class pocket-knife you don’t
+dare go,” said Sam.</p>
+
+<p>And then several other boys offered to bet.</p>
+
+<p>“All right, I take you all up,” declared Joe.</p>
+
+<p>The boys would not at first believe him.</p>
+
+<p>It was our hero who suggested the marked cards
+for distribution, and the boys adopted the suggestion.</p>
+
+<p>The next day passed quickly.</p>
+
+<p>Our hero told his folks about what he was going<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span>
+to do. They merely laughed, but in secret they
+were proud to think he was not one to be easily
+frightened.</p>
+
+<p>After supper Joe went over to Sam’s house.</p>
+
+<p>Soon Larry came along, and at eleven o’clock
+quite a crowd of boys were assembled.</p>
+
+<p>The start was to be made from the blacksmith
+shop, and promptly at half-past eleven Joe took the
+cards Sam had prepared.</p>
+
+<p>“I’m off now, boys,” he said. “I don’t expect to
+get back before one or half-past. Good night to
+you.”</p>
+
+<p>At a swinging gait he set off for the old mine,
+half a mile distant.</p>
+
+<p>Never once did he dream of the peril which there
+awaited him.</p>
+
+<p>There would be no moon that night, and our hero
+had only the stars to guide him on his lonely way
+to the deserted quarries.</p>
+
+<p>“It won’t be a very pleasant walk,” he thought.
+“But the boys dared me, and I won’t take a dare
+from anybody.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe walked on briskly, and to keep his spirits up
+began to whistle a merry tune.</p>
+
+<p>A quarter of an hour brought him to the entrance
+of the largest of the mine openings.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span>There was more than one pitfall here, but Joe
+knew the way and went on without hesitation.</p>
+
+<p>He was not in the least afraid of ghosts, and had
+one appeared it is more than likely it would have
+received an unusually warm reception.</p>
+
+<p>Presently he passed a deserted cabin, which had
+once been occupied by the coal-mine watchman.</p>
+
+<p>He had been cautioned to leave a card at the
+cabin, and so threw one through a broken window.</p>
+
+<p>Was it imagination, or did he hear a low chuckle
+from the inside?</p>
+
+<p>Instead of going on our hero halted.</p>
+
+<p>The average boy would have taken to his heels,
+but Joe was made of different stuff.</p>
+
+<p>No, there was no mistake. The chuckle sounded
+a second time, and going up to the door Joe kicked
+it open.</p>
+
+<p>“You fellows in there, come out,” he cried. “I
+heard you, and you can’t play any trick on me.”</p>
+
+<p>A deathlike silence followed.</p>
+
+<p>“If I had a match I would light up and hunt you
+out,” went on Joe, “but I can do nothing in the
+dark. So, either come out or stay there. I am not
+a bit scared.”</p>
+
+<p>Still the silence continued. Then our hero threw
+another card inside and went on.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span>He thought some of his friends must be in the
+cabin, but he was woefully mistaken.</p>
+
+<p>Hardly had he left the tumble-down building
+when three figures stole forth as silently as so many
+shadows.</p>
+
+<p>It is needless to say the trio were Akers, Jake
+Foley and Henderson.</p>
+
+<p>They followed Joe several hundred feet.</p>
+
+<p>Presently our hero reached the edge of a deep
+hole, from which tons and tons of coal had been
+taken.</p>
+
+<p>It was part of his wager to go down to the bottom
+of the hole. To prove he had been there he
+must place a card on a flat rock and put another
+rock on top of it. The rock on top would show the
+card had not merely been thrown into the hole.</p>
+
+<p>A series of huge steps led downward. Joe had
+just reached the first of the steps when the three
+behind him rushed up.</p>
+
+<p>“Now, all together!” cried Henderson, in a thick
+disguised voice.</p>
+
+<p>The three leaped on Joe and gave him a violent
+shove.</p>
+
+<p>Our hero tried in vain to save himself. He
+dropped down and clutched at the rocks.</p>
+
+<p>Then he rolled over and went down the stony
+steps, bump, bump, bump, to the bottom.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span>He lay unconscious, the blood pouring from a
+dozen wounds.</p>
+
+<p>Evidently his assailants had done their work well.</p>
+
+<p>Henderson lit a lantern and cast the rays downward.</p>
+
+<p>“He’s done for,” he whispered. “Come and get
+him out of sight.”</p>
+
+<p>“Le—let us run!” stammered Jake Foley, who
+was as pale as death itself.</p>
+
+<p>“No, do as Henderson says,” put in Lemuel
+Akers.</p>
+
+<p>He was almost as cool as the older villain.</p>
+
+<p>Thus addressed, Foley followed the pair down the
+steps, keeping well in the rear.</p>
+
+<p>“There is a sort of cave but a short distance
+away,” said Henderson. “I have bunked in it more
+than once. Let us put him in that.”</p>
+
+<p>But Jake Foley could not be induced to touch
+the body.</p>
+
+<p>So Akers and Henderson took up the heavy
+burden and stumbled with it to the cave which the
+older rascal had mentioned.</p>
+
+<p>Then the body was placed on the rocks, and by
+the light of the lantern Henderson went through
+our hero’s pockets.</p>
+
+<p>He found but little, and was greatly displeased
+over his ill luck.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span>“Do hurry!” cried Foley, at least a dozen times.
+He would have given all he was worth to be safe
+at home.</p>
+
+<p>“You’re a softy!” cried Henderson.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, Jake, do have a little nerve!” put in
+Lemuel.</p>
+
+<p>Scarcely had he spoken when an unearthly sound
+echoed through the air.</p>
+
+<p>The bully’s hair stood on ends, and Jake Foley
+ran a dozen steps before Henderson could stop him.</p>
+
+<p>“A ghost!”</p>
+
+<p>“Let us get out!”</p>
+
+<p>“A ghost nothing,” growled Henderson. “It’s
+only a tramp cat. There are several of them
+around the old coal mine. It’s their meowing makes
+folks believe there are ghosts here.”</p>
+
+<p>“I won’t stay any longer,” insisted Jake Foley.
+He was ready to drop from fear.</p>
+
+<p>The trio took up their lantern and walked to the
+entrance of the cave.</p>
+
+<p>A number of large rocks were handy, and soon
+the opening to the cave was tightly closed.</p>
+
+<p>They did their work well, and removed all traces
+as far as lay in their power.</p>
+
+<p>Lemuel had secured the cards Joe had left, and
+now he quitted the mine by a back way, dropping
+them as he went.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span>This would put any who came to hunt for poor
+Joe off the track.</p>
+
+<p>An hour later the trio separated, Foley and Akers
+going home and Henderson making his way to a
+crossroads tavern a couple of miles away.</p>
+
+<p>“We are rid of Joe Johnson,” said the bully to
+himself. “I said I would get square with him, and
+I kept my word.”</p>
+
+<p>Yet it must be confessed that Lemuel did not feel
+as happy as he thought he would be.</p>
+
+<p>All night long he tossed on his bed, and in
+imagination saw Joe’s cold white face turned up to
+his own.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER X.<br>
+
+<small>THE MISSING BOY.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Only</span> a few of the boys hung around after Joe
+started for the old coal mine. They did not dare
+to remain out too long, and so went home.</p>
+
+<p>Sam and Larry were the last to leave, and then
+it was with the understanding that they were to
+meet at our hero’s house before five o’clock in the
+morning.</p>
+
+<p>Five o’clock found them on hand. A few minutes
+later Carl Lathrop came up.</p>
+
+<p>It was then the lads received the astonishing bit
+of information that Joe had not yet come home.</p>
+
+<p>His folks were much worried about him, and all
+wondered where he was.</p>
+
+<p>Half an hour passed, and then Sam, Larry and
+Carl struck out to hunt their chum up.</p>
+
+<p>It took them about the same time to reach the
+mine as it had taken our hero.</p>
+
+<p>“There is a marked card,” said Sam, pointing to
+the card at the entrance, “That shows he entered.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span>“I knew something would happen,” said Larry.
+“The ghosts——”</p>
+
+<p>“Nonsense!” cried Carl. “It’s more likely he
+slipped and fell. It was foolish anyway to come in
+such darkness.”</p>
+
+<p>The boys walked on and found several other
+cards, including those left in the deserted cabin.</p>
+
+<p>When they came to the pit and the stone steps
+leading to it they went down with great care.</p>
+
+<p>“No card here,” said Larry. “I guess he found
+the pit too much for him.”</p>
+
+<p>“Hullo! Look here!” suddenly ejaculated Carl.</p>
+
+<p>He pointed to a number of bright red stains on a
+flat rock at their feet.</p>
+
+<p>“What is it?”</p>
+
+<p>“Blood, boys!”</p>
+
+<p>They all gathered around and surveyed the spots
+with sober faces.</p>
+
+<p>What did it mean?</p>
+
+<p>No solution of the mystery offered itself.</p>
+
+<p>They walked past the rocks which concealed the
+entrance to the cave several times, but never dreamed
+of what was behind them.</p>
+
+<p>At last they left the pit and walked on.</p>
+
+<p>Soon they came upon the cards Lemuel had so
+cunningly dropped.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span>“He came this way and left the mine,” cried
+Sam.</p>
+
+<p>When the lads saw the cards strung out clear to
+the fields beyond they felt much relieved.</p>
+
+<p>“That settles it,” said Sam. “He certainly left
+the mine and didn’t tumble down those awful steps.”</p>
+
+<p>“But where did he go?” asked Carl.</p>
+
+<p>Ah, that was another question. In vain they
+sought for a solution.</p>
+
+<p>Later on several other boys joined in the search,
+and then came a number of men.</p>
+
+<p>As a matter of fact, the entire district was
+alarmed.</p>
+
+<p>Not to appear in any way guilty, Lemuel joined
+in the search, making sure, however, to keep away
+from the pit in the quarry.</p>
+
+<p>Jake Foley was too sick to do anything. Miserable
+beyond description, he remained around home,
+out of sight of every one.</p>
+
+<p>And in the meanwhile what of poor Joe? Had
+that cruel shove into the pit really killed him?</p>
+
+<p>Not quite. It was true he was fearfully bruised,
+and that when he finally struck the bottom all became
+a terrible blank.</p>
+
+<p>How long he remained unconscious he could
+never afterward tell.</p>
+
+<p>When he came to all was pitch dark around him.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span>His head ached as it never had before, and with
+his mind in a whirl he climbed out of the cave into
+which he had been placed and started for home.</p>
+
+<p>But he could not go far, and soon sank beneath a
+clump of bushes and became unconscious once more.</p>
+
+<p>At last, after many hours had passed, as we know,
+he went on again, more dead than alive.</p>
+
+<p>He was almost home when he ran plump into
+Sam and Larry. The boys gave a shout and clasped
+him warmly by the hand.</p>
+
+<p>“My, but I’m glad you are safe!” cried Sam, and
+Larry uttered words to the same effect.</p>
+
+<p>Of course, the lads were anxious to hear Joe’s
+story, but he felt too tired to tell it just then. They
+walked home with him, and listened to all he had
+to say after he had had some hot coffee to drink
+and some dinner.</p>
+
+<p>“Those rascals meant to kill me, I think,” said
+Joe, when his story was finished. “I only escaped
+by a miracle.”</p>
+
+<p>“Who were they?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll never tell. There seemed to be a man and
+two boys, but I am not sure.”</p>
+
+<p>“You didn’t see their faces?”</p>
+
+<p>“No, it was too dark for that.”</p>
+
+<p>“Did they rob you?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span>Our hero had not thought of that. He felt in his
+pockets.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes.”</p>
+
+<p>This put a new phase on the case, to the others’
+way of thinking.</p>
+
+<p>All hands talked it over and came to the conclusion
+that Joe had been followed by three villainous
+tramps. No doubt the tramps had thought him
+well to do, and imagined they would make a rich
+haul by robbing him.</p>
+
+<p>A search was organized by the people of the
+villages around, and that night six tramps were
+brought in. But they all proved their innocence
+and were let go the next day on promise to quit the
+neighborhood immediately.</p>
+
+<p>When Lemuel and Jake heard Joe was safe they
+could scarcely believe their ears. For a whole day
+they were in mortal terror for fear that our hero
+would mention them as two of the gang who had
+assaulted him.</p>
+
+<p>It was nearly a week before Joe felt like himself
+again. He went to school, but did not help much
+at home.</p>
+
+<p>When he again met Jake Foley that boy did not
+dare to look him in the face. Joe did not say anything,
+but went to thinking. Did Jake know anything
+of the assault? Time would tell.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span>With Lemuel it was different. He was too brazen-faced
+and stony-hearted to be ashamed at anything.
+He passed our hero staringly, and even spread a
+report that Joe had got up the tale of the assault
+just to make folks talk about him.</p>
+
+<p>This story our hero did not like, and one day he
+cornered the bully in the schoolyard and the two
+came to blows in double-quick order, and Lemuel
+went home with two black eyes and a nose that was
+swollen to twice its natural size.</p>
+
+<p>This put the bully in a fearful temper.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll do him yet, see if I don’t,” he growled to
+Jake Foley.</p>
+
+<p>“Better let him alone,” said Jake, who was not
+yet over his scare. “You can’t do anything with
+him, I’m convinced of that.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, you always were chicken-hearted,” retorted
+Lemuel, and then and there he and Jake Foley fell
+out and were friends no more.</p>
+
+<p>It was a good thing for Jake, for he was not
+naturally a bad lad, and he at once became better
+in a hundred ways until a number of the schoolboys
+got to quite like him. He never tried to harm Joe
+again.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XI.<br>
+
+<small>A STIRRING FOOT RACE.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">About</span> a week after the events narrated in the
+previous chapter Joe was on his way from Lockport
+to a little village several miles up the river.</p>
+
+<p>Instead of riding on his bicycle he was on foot,
+his machine being slightly in need of repairs which
+could not be made until several days later.</p>
+
+<p>Joe had proceeded but a short distance when he
+was joined by Billy Smith, a school chum, and a
+cousin to Dick Burns.</p>
+
+<p>“Where bound, Joe?” called out Billy.</p>
+
+<p>“To Haverley’s.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’m going there myself.”</p>
+
+<p>“All right; come along.”</p>
+
+<p>“Where’s your wheel?” asked Billy as he came
+up.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ve got to fix it a bit,” Joe told him. “I don’t
+mind walking for a change,” he added.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t think I would care much for wheeling,”
+said Billy. “I prefer baseball.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span>“I know that,” laughed Joe. “You would rather
+play ball than eat, wouldn’t you?”</p>
+
+<p>“Almost. But, by the way, Joe, are you going
+to play on our nine this season?”</p>
+
+<p>“I will if you wish me to, Billy.”</p>
+
+<p>“Certainly we want you. Charley Osborne spoke
+of it only yesterday. I know you can catch beautifully
+if you will only try.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe smiled at this. He had caught on the team
+during the previous summer and acquitted himself
+quite creditably.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, we’ve been reorganizing the Rushers,” said
+Billy. “Charley Osborne is to be pitcher and we
+want you to catch.”</p>
+
+<p>“And what of yourself?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, I’ll take my old position at first base.”</p>
+
+<p>“I suppose I can catch,” remarked Joe reflectively.
+“But I don’t know about running. I’m all
+out of practice, I’ve wheeled so much lately.”</p>
+
+<p>“Let’s try a race, just for fun,” cried Billy Smith.
+“That will be a good test.”</p>
+
+<p>“All right. I’ll race you to old Crosby’s well.”</p>
+
+<p>“Done, Joe. Are you ready?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then toe this mark. One, two, three, go!”</p>
+
+<p>And away the two boys went at top speed down
+the road.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span>The well toward which they set their pace was
+situated at the back end of a lot which faced the
+highway.</p>
+
+<p>The distance to it and back again was over five
+hundred feet.</p>
+
+<p>The well was in something of a hollow, and down
+the hill tore the two boys at a breakneck speed.</p>
+
+<p>They kept side by side for more than half the
+distance to the well.</p>
+
+<p>But then Joe forged ahead, and, try his best,
+Billy Smith could not catch up.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s no use, you’ve won,” he said, and dropped
+into a walk.</p>
+
+<p>“Never mind, Billy, you’ll have a chance to tie
+me going back,” said Joe encouragingly.</p>
+
+<p>Of course the boys intended to stop at the well
+for a drink. The opening had no buckets to it, and
+the boys had to dip down with an old tin can to get
+water.</p>
+
+<p>But oh! how cool and refreshing it was! And
+as they were so hot it actually tasted sweet to
+them.</p>
+
+<p>Soon the two boys had their fill of water, and
+they prepared to return to the road when a strange
+rattle sounded in the bushes back of the well.</p>
+
+<p>“Listen! What is that?” exclaimed Billy Smith.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span>“It sounded like a rattlesnake!” cried Joe. “Let
+us go and see if it is a snake,” he added fearlessly.</p>
+
+<p>Arming themselves with sticks and stones, the
+two lads circled about the bushes in question.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly Billy Smith gave a loud laugh.</p>
+
+<p>“Here is your rattler!” he exclaimed. “Nothing
+but a drunken tramp, sleeping off the effects of the
+bad whisky he’s been drinking.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe looked troubled.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t see how he could make that noise,” he
+returned slowly. “He is snoring, but that is all.
+Perhaps—oh! Billy, look!”</p>
+
+<p>Joe stopped short and pointed to a low tree that
+overhung the spot where the sleeping tramp lay.</p>
+
+<p>There, wound around one of the lower branches,
+was a big rattlesnake. His eyes were as bright as
+diamonds and he was on the point of dropping down
+and striking at the unconscious man with his deadly
+fangs!</p>
+
+<p>It would be useless to deny that the two boys
+were much startled by what they saw. They realized
+that the drunken tramp was in mortal danger
+of his life. Should the rattlesnake really strike him
+it would be doubtful if he could ever come to his
+senses.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh! what shall we do?” gasped Billy Smith as
+he fell back a couple of paces.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span>There was no time to answer. A moment of
+hesitation and it might be too late to act.</p>
+
+<p>In his hand Joe carried a large and sharp-sided
+stone. Taking careful aim with this, he let drive
+at the snake’s head.</p>
+
+<p>His aim was true. The stone struck the reptile
+directly in one eye, inflicting a severe wound.</p>
+
+<p>At once they heard an angry rattle, and the
+reptile wound and unwound itself about the tree
+with lighting-like rapidity. It was suffering intense
+pain and was now more furious than ever.</p>
+
+<p>As it curved about, Joe rushed forward and
+pulled the tramp several yards off in the direction
+of the well.</p>
+
+<p>“Wake up! Snakes!” he yelled.</p>
+
+<p>“Lemme—hic—alone,” muttered the tramp. “I
+ain’t got no—hic—snakes. Only overcome by the—hic—sunshine.”</p>
+
+<p>“There are real snakes here! Look out!” put in
+Billy Smith.</p>
+
+<p>At this the tramp staggered to his feet. He saw
+the writhing rattler, and, letting out one long
+scream of deadly terror, he fled toward the road,
+his ragged coat-tails streaming out behind him.</p>
+
+<p>During this time Joe had again advanced upon
+the snake. With his stick he struck half a dozen
+blows. Billy Smith jumped in to help him.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span>The rattlesnake fought desperately, but with one
+eye gone he was at a disadvantage, and inside of five
+minutes Billy gave him a final whack that stretched
+him out lifeless.</p>
+
+<p>“By jinks! but that was a stirring fight,” cried
+Billy when all was over.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t want another such in a hurry,” replied
+Joe, and he shuddered as he viewed the shining
+reptile.</p>
+
+<p>“You saved that tramp’s life.”</p>
+
+<p>They measured the snake and found it was nearly
+five feet long and had nine rattles.</p>
+
+<p>“If he wasn’t so bruised I would take him home
+and have him stuffed,” said Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“Never mind; let us take him along anyway,”
+said Billy. “We can show him to the other boys.
+Maybe they won’t believe such a snake story unless
+they see the snake.”</p>
+
+<p>While they were tying the snake to a long stick
+old Farmer Crosby came along from another field.</p>
+
+<p>“By gum! Got a rattler, hev yeou!” he said, as
+he stared at their victim. “Ye must hev had a
+lively fight, boys.”</p>
+
+<p>“We did have.”</p>
+
+<p>“I seed thet rattler last week, over in the cornfield.
+But I didn’t tackle him, I can tell ye thet!”</p>
+
+<p>Farmer Crosby was glad the snake was dead.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span>
+He told the boys they could come to the farm and
+hunt snakes any time they pleased.</p>
+
+<p>“No, thanks; we are not in that business,”
+laughed Billy.</p>
+
+<p>The fight with the snake had driven all thoughts
+of the footrace out of the two boys’ heads. They
+walked back to the road slowly, carrying the dead
+snake between them.</p>
+
+<p>The first person they met was Charley Osborne,
+the young baseball player Billy had mentioned.</p>
+
+<p>Charley was greatly surprised.</p>
+
+<p>“Took him in the eye, eh,” he said. “Joe, if you
+can throw so straight as that you had better take
+my place on the nine as pitcher.”</p>
+
+<p>“No, I’ll stay behind the bat and put men out
+when they try to steal bases,” laughed our hero.</p>
+
+<p>The snake was showed to all the boys, and then
+Billy took it home.</p>
+
+<p>Later on it was stuffed and hung up in the club-room
+the Rushers had hired and furnished.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XII.<br>
+
+<small>JOE AND THE OLD APPLEWOMAN.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">That</span> evening Charley Osborne and Billy Smith
+called a special meeting of the baseball club, at
+which Joe was present.</p>
+
+<p>“The Stars want to play us next Saturday,”
+Charley said, as he held up a communication.
+“Shall we accept or put off the match?”</p>
+
+<p>“Let us accept,” said Billy. “We can practice
+every afternoon and get into good shape, to my way
+of thinking.”</p>
+
+<p>The matter was talked over and finally the other
+boys decided to follow this advice.</p>
+
+<p>A communication accepting the challenge was
+written by Charley and sent to the Stars on the
+following Monday.</p>
+
+<p>Then the Rushers settled down to steady, hard
+practice with Joe as their catcher.</p>
+
+<p>A few evenings later Joe spent two hours at Billy
+Smith’s house helping his friend fix up and paint a
+rowboat to be used on the lake.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span>When he left Billy’s house he found the sky overcast.
+In the west the thunder rumbled, telling
+that a storm was not far off.</p>
+
+<p>Not wishing to be caught out without an umbrella,
+our hero started for his home on a swift
+walk.</p>
+
+<p>He had gone about two blocks when, on turning
+a street corner, a sight met his gaze that caused his
+blood to boil.</p>
+
+<p>An old woman known as Apple Mary, who sold
+fruit and candy throughout the district, was in the
+hands of two cowardly footpads, who were trying
+to rob her of her hard-earned savings.</p>
+
+<p>One of the footpads was behind the old woman,
+and had his hands over her mouth so she could not
+scream. The other footpad was in front, trying to
+find the pocket in Apple Mary’s dress.</p>
+
+<p>“Got it, Henderson?” asked the footpad in the
+rear.</p>
+
+<p>“No, hang the luck, I can’t find the pocket!”
+growled his companion.</p>
+
+<p>“Den cut der dress!”</p>
+
+<p>To follow this advice the other footpad brought
+out a big pocket-knife.</p>
+
+<p>He was in the act of cutting the garment mentioned
+when Joe came up on a run.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span>“Leave that old lady alone!” he cried indignantly.</p>
+
+<p>“Mind yer own business!” howled both footpads.</p>
+
+<p>Scarcely had they spoken when Joe’s arm shot
+out.</p>
+
+<p>The footpad who was holding Apple Mary received
+a blow in the neck that almost bowled him
+over.</p>
+
+<p>Seeing this the other footpad leaped toward our
+hero, but the lad was not to be caught. He dodged
+off and began to cry for the police.</p>
+
+<p>“Shut up!” howled one of the footpads.</p>
+
+<p>In the meanwhile Apple Mary, finding herself
+free, pulled something from under her skirt. It was
+an old Irish hawthorn stick.</p>
+
+<p>“Bad cess to ye, ye villains!” she cried, and then
+she went at one of the footpads, tooth and nail.</p>
+
+<p>She was thoroughly aroused, and before the rascal
+could retreat she gave him a whack over the head
+that almost paralyzed him.</p>
+
+<p>“Good for you, Mary!” shouted Joe. “He
+deserves it.”</p>
+
+<p>But now the footpads thought it time to clear out,
+and both ran up the street, and a moment later
+vanished in the darkness.</p>
+
+<p>By the time the constable who did duty as a
+policeman at night in Lockport arrived, it was too<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span>
+late to attempt to hunt them up, although the officer
+made a great show of doing so.</p>
+
+<p>“I owe ye wan for that, Joe Johnson,” said Apple
+Mary. “’Tis yerself that has a stout heart under
+yer coat, so ye have!”</p>
+
+<p>And she gave his hand a warm shake.</p>
+
+<p>“Did they know you had money with you?”
+asked the youth.</p>
+
+<p>“Most likely, the villains! Oi got a hundred
+dollars from the bank to-day, to pay on me little
+home. Oi have it in a bag here,” and Apple Mary
+tapped her skirt.</p>
+
+<p>“Maybe I had better see you safe home then,”
+said Joe, and he accompanied the old Irish woman
+to the humble cottage she occupied on one of the
+side streets of the town.</p>
+
+<p>Before he left her she thanked him again.</p>
+
+<p>“You’ll be a great man some day,” she said.
+“You will have thousands of friends, mark my
+wurrud.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe walked home in a thoughtful mood.</p>
+
+<p>“I wonder if Apple Mary is right,” he asked
+himself. “Will I have thousands of friends? I
+surely hope so.”</p>
+
+<p>Two days passed and the Rushers kept steady at
+work on the diamond.</p>
+
+<p>Charley Osborne was getting his new curve down<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span>
+fine, and Joe managed to catch nearly everything
+that came over the plate untouched.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t know what I would do without Joe behind
+the plate,” Charley said more than once.
+“He is so reliable that he gives me great confidence.”</p>
+
+<p>On Friday Sam Anderson, who was also on the
+nine, came to the meeting place looking very much
+excited.</p>
+
+<p>“Boys, I have a bit of news,” he said.</p>
+
+<p>“All right, Sam; let us have it.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ve got word in a roundabout way from the
+Stars.”</p>
+
+<p>“What of them?”</p>
+
+<p>“They intend to beat us.”</p>
+
+<p>“Chestnuts!”</p>
+
+<p>“They can’t do it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Hear me out, boys. They intend to beat us.
+If they can’t do it by fair means, they intend to do
+it by foul.”</p>
+
+<p>Instantly every one of the Rushers was more
+than interested. They crowded about Sam waiting
+for him to explain.</p>
+
+<p>But the explanation was not forthcoming.</p>
+
+<p>“I can’t tell you how it is to be done,” said Sam.
+“All I know is what my father told me. He said<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span>
+we must be careful and not get into any trouble
+with the Independence boys.”</p>
+
+<p>“But what does he know?” asked Joe with much
+interest.</p>
+
+<p>“He was over to Independence to-day, and while
+he was waiting at a store for a man three boys
+came along. He knew them to be players on the
+Stars, although he doesn’t know their names. He
+heard them talking about the game Saturday and
+about what they intended to do. He said they
+talked as if they had some trick arranged.”</p>
+
+<p>At this the members of the local club grew
+serious.</p>
+
+<p>It would not have been so bad had they known
+what the Stars were up to.</p>
+
+<p>It was the dread of the unknown that haunted
+them. They talked the matter over.</p>
+
+<p>“Every one must be on guard,” said Joe. “They
+must not be allowed to tamper with the balls or
+bats.”</p>
+
+<p>“Nor the drinking water,” put in Larry Dare,
+the shortstop. “I believe the time they won they
+put something in the water. I never had such a
+headache in my life.”</p>
+
+<p>“Nor I!” cried Carl Lathrop, who was one of
+the fielders.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span>“I believe the water was tampered with beyond
+a doubt,” said Charley Osborne.</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll all keep wide awake. Don’t touch
+water or anything else unless you are certain it is
+O. K.”</p>
+
+<p>That was Joe’s advice, and they resolved to
+follow it.</p>
+
+<p>After this the boys went out to practice.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIII.<br>
+
+<small>THE BASEBALL GAME.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">While</span> the Rushers were out on the common, an
+old professor from the Greenpoint college came
+along.</p>
+
+<p>His name was Stizik, and he was a very gruff,
+unsociable man.</p>
+
+<p>He stood and watched Charley Osborne pitch for
+a few minutes.</p>
+
+<p>Then he heard Billy mention the out and the in
+curves, and smiled sarcastically to himself.</p>
+
+<p>“No such things as out and in and up curves,” he
+sniffed. “Utter impossibility—contrary to all the
+laws of gravitation.”</p>
+
+<p>“Charley curves the ball—or rather the ball
+follows a curving line,” said Joe stoutly. “I can
+see it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Only an optical delusion,” snorted Stizik.
+“Couldn’t possibly curve in any direction but downward.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe knew that many people contended the same<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span>
+thing—to this day some will not believe that a so-called
+“curved” ball can be pitched—but he stuck
+to what he thought true.</p>
+
+<p>An argument arose, and then the professor himself
+made a novel proposition.</p>
+
+<p>“We will make a number of square frames and
+cover them with tissue paper. Then he can pitch
+one of the so styled curved balls through the line of
+frames. The holes through the tissue paper—we
+will make the paper damp—will tell if the ball
+curved or not.”</p>
+
+<p>At once the boys took up the idea. Some long
+laths were procured, and soon the frames were
+ready.</p>
+
+<p>One was set up over the home plate and four
+others at equal distances between that point and the
+pitcher’s box.</p>
+
+<p>“Now, if you can pitch the ball in a curved line,
+I’ll make the club a present of new caps,” said Professor
+Stizik.</p>
+
+<p>He felt certain Charley could pitch nothing but a
+straight ball.</p>
+
+<p>“All right! Here goes!” cried Charley.</p>
+
+<p>His arm went back, and through the wet paper
+went the baseball at a fair degree of rapidity.</p>
+
+<p>“Now you’ll see how much you are mistaken!”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span>
+cried Professor Stizik, as the frames were brought
+together.</p>
+
+<p>But in less than half a minute his face wore a
+glum look.</p>
+
+<p>Between the first and the last frames the wet
+paper showed that the ball had curved outwardly
+nearly ten inches.</p>
+
+<p>“I said he could do it!” cried Joe. “I have been
+behind the bat too long to be mistaken.”</p>
+
+<p>“You boys didn’t hold the frames straight,”
+growled Professor Stizik, and off he walked as fast
+as he could.</p>
+
+<p>He never bought the boys the caps he had promised,
+but neither did he ever attempt to dispute with
+them again.</p>
+
+<p>The match with the Stars was to be held on a big
+lot on the outskirts of Lockport. Here a grand
+stand capable of holding three hundred people was
+erected. Admission to the stand was ten cents—the
+money to go, one-quarter to the losing team and
+three-quarters to the club that won.</p>
+
+<p>The Rushers were on the field bright and early.
+They wore neat suits they had just purchased, and
+made such a fine appearance that they elicited a
+round of applause.</p>
+
+<p>When the Stars appeared they brought with them<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span>
+over half a hundred boys from Independence, many
+of them tough-looking customers.</p>
+
+<p>An umpire named Valley had already been
+decided upon.</p>
+
+<p>The Stars won the toss, and sent the Rushers to
+the bat first.</p>
+
+<p>“Now, nothing like making a good beginning,”
+said Joe, as Charley took up the stick.</p>
+
+<p>But Charley was destined to fan the air. He
+could not connect with the really swift balls the
+Stars’ pitcher sent in, and he went out on strikes.</p>
+
+<p>A cheer went up from the rooters from Independence.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s the way to serve ’em, Jake!” they yelled
+to their pitcher.</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t give ’em a single hit!”</p>
+
+<p>Billy was next at the bat. He missed two balls
+and then went out on a fly to second base.</p>
+
+<p>The third boy at the bat was Sam Anderson. He
+knocked a foul into the catcher’s hands, and the
+first half of the innings was over.</p>
+
+<p>How the Independence boys did yell! They
+thought they had a sure victory from the start.</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t give ’em any leeway, Charley,” whispered
+Joe to Osborne, as they walked from the bench.
+“We must shut them out also.”</p>
+
+<p>“All right.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span>The first player up was put out easily. Charley
+pitched one wild ball, but our hero made a leap into
+the air and secured it quickly. The Rushers’ friends
+applauded this.</p>
+
+<p>The second player of the Stars knocked a weak
+one between first and second bases. The ball
+was fumbled and he got his base on a close decision.</p>
+
+<p>“Hurrah for the Stars!”</p>
+
+<p>“Now bring it in, Terry!”</p>
+
+<p>The next man up knocked a safe hit to right
+field. He got first and the other runner managed
+to get around to third.</p>
+
+<p>The next player went out on strikes.</p>
+
+<p>Then came a safe hit to center. The batter got
+down and the man on third came home.</p>
+
+<p>The Independence boys were wild with joy.
+They had scored the first run.</p>
+
+<p>Joe walked down to Charley.</p>
+
+<p>“Keep cool, old man,” he said, “the game is still
+young.”</p>
+
+<p>This advice had its effect. Charley pitched
+superbly, and the Stars went down with only one
+run to their credit.</p>
+
+<p>The second inning was short. On both sides the
+players went out in one, two, three order. Billy
+made a big hit to center, but the fly was caught and
+went for nothing.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span>In the third inning the Rushers tied the score.</p>
+
+<p>Then the Lockport boys took their turn at yelling.</p>
+
+<p>One to one remained on the score board until the
+seventh inning, when Joe called the boys together.</p>
+
+<p>“We must do something this time, fellows,” he
+said. “O’Donnell, start her up lively.”</p>
+
+<p>And O’Donnell did, making a safe two-bagger.</p>
+
+<p>Several more safe hits followed. Then another
+Rusher sent out a red-hot liner that brought him
+three bases.</p>
+
+<p>End of the seventh inning: Stars, one; Rushers,
+five.</p>
+
+<p>The boys from Independence began to look as
+blue as indigo. The Lockport lads could hardly
+contain themselves.</p>
+
+<p>“Now keep ’em down,” said Charley.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, you keep ’em down,” put in Carl.</p>
+
+<p>In the eighth inning the Stars began to grow
+desperate. They did their best and brought in two
+runs, making the score: Stars, three; Rushers,
+five.</p>
+
+<p>In the ninth inning Joe was the first man at the
+bat. Two strikes were called on him, and then he
+knocked a safe one over in left field. He tore down
+to first, over to second, up to third—and hesitated.</p>
+
+<p>“Run, run, you are all right!”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span>It was Charley who called to him, and once more
+he started. But something was under his shoe, and
+he slipped and fell headlong.</p>
+
+<p>As quick as a wink the third baseman stooped,
+and picking up something, put it in his pocket.</p>
+
+<p>It was now useless to try to reach the home plate,
+and our hero went back to the base.</p>
+
+<p>“You tripped me with something,” he said to
+the baseman sharply.</p>
+
+<p>“Wot yer givin’ me?” growled the fellow.</p>
+
+<p>Joe said no more, but he set to thinking. This
+was evidently the trick the Stars intended to play.</p>
+
+<p>The other players now came up, but were put out
+on strikes and a foul.</p>
+
+<p>The Rushers had had their innings, and their total
+number of runs was still five.</p>
+
+<p>To beat them the Stars must make three runs in
+their last half of the ninth.</p>
+
+<p>The Stars’ heavy batters were up.</p>
+
+<p>Charley Osborne grew just a bit nervous, and, as a
+consequence, before they knew it two men were on
+bases.</p>
+
+<p>Then a batter knocked a safe two-base hit, and
+one of the runners came home.</p>
+
+<p>This made the score: Stars, four; Rushers, five</p>
+
+<p>“Go it, Stars!”</p>
+
+<p>“Shut ’em out, Rushers!”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span>The next boy went out on strikes, and the player
+to follow did the same.</p>
+
+<p>“Now, one more out and the game is ours,”
+thought Joe.</p>
+
+<p>But the next batter, by accident, struck a little
+one to second and reached first on a wild throw,
+while the other runner went to third.</p>
+
+<p>Two out, two men on bases, and two runs to win
+the game; that was the way the Stars sized it up.</p>
+
+<p>Then the Stars’ heaviest batter came up to the
+plate, and a cheer arose, for he was a great favorite.</p>
+
+<p>“Knock a homer, Pete!”</p>
+
+<p>“You can do it, old fellow.”</p>
+
+<p>Charley Osborne was pale and his teeth were set.</p>
+
+<p>He felt that to a great extent the game depended
+on him.</p>
+
+<p>He sent in one of his outer curves.</p>
+
+<p>The Stars’ crack batter hit out and missed it.</p>
+
+<p>“Good for you, Charley!”</p>
+
+<p>Again Charley took his position. A pause, a look
+at the men on bases, and once more the ball came
+rushing over the plate.</p>
+
+<p>Crack! The batter had hit out hard. But instead
+of driving into the diamond, the ball went
+sailing up into the air over Joe’s head.</p>
+
+<p>“Run for it!”</p>
+
+<p>“You must get it!”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span>“He can’t reach it!”</p>
+
+<p>Back and still further back went Joe with the
+speed of the wind.</p>
+
+<p>The foul tip was just over the backstop board.</p>
+
+<p>With a mighty spring the boy leaped up on the
+fence and reached out his hand.</p>
+
+<p>To the Rushers it seemed as if the fate of the
+club hung in Joe’s hands.</p>
+
+<p>Should he muff that foul, the chances were that
+the heavy hitter of the Stars would line out at
+least a two-bagger and bring in the runs to win the
+game.</p>
+
+<p>The ball was now nearing the ground, our hero
+strained over still further, until it looked as if he
+must lose his balance and topple over on the other
+side of the fence.</p>
+
+<p>“You’ll break your neck!”</p>
+
+<p>“The ball is out of his reach.”</p>
+
+<p>A pause.</p>
+
+<p>“He has it!”</p>
+
+<p>“Bannon is out!”</p>
+
+<p>“The Rushers have won!”</p>
+
+<p>It was true.</p>
+
+<p>The ball just touched the tips of our hero’s fingers,
+but he clung to it like grim death, and thus brought
+the game to a conclusion.</p>
+
+<p>Score—Rushers, five; Stars, four.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span>Maybe the Lockport lads did not yell themselves
+hoarse.</p>
+
+<p>The Independence boys had nothing to say.
+They rushed for their dressing place and sneaked
+off as quickly as they could.</p>
+
+<p>All of the Lockport boys praised Joe. They said
+he had saved the game beyond a doubt.</p>
+
+<p>And all agreed that his was the greatest catch
+ever witnessed on the grounds.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIV.<br>
+
+<small>FUN ON THE GREEN.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">After</span> the great game with the Independence
+Club the Lockport boys practiced harder than ever.</p>
+
+<p>Joe took a particular interest in long-distance
+throwing. He tried his arm constantly and was
+soon able to throw fifteen feet further than any
+other member of the club.</p>
+
+<p>“But you can’t throw as accurately as I can,”
+said Will Gibson, one of the outfielders.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll match you and see,” said our hero.</p>
+
+<p>The novel contest took place one Saturday afternoon
+before the boys started in to play a practice
+game with a scrub nine.</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Gibson walked down in deep center and
+took positions side by side.</p>
+
+<p>Then Dick Burns, who was out for the first time
+since the accident, placed a bushel basket directly
+on the home plate.</p>
+
+<p>Each boy was to throw a ball three times at
+given signals. The one who threw the most times
+into the basket was to be the winner.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span>Joe and Gibson were both provided with balls.</p>
+
+<p>“Ready?” shouted Billy.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes.”</p>
+
+<p>There was a pause.</p>
+
+<p>“Throw!”</p>
+
+<p>Whiz!</p>
+
+<p>Along came both of the balls, thrown at exactly
+the same time.</p>
+
+<p>Gibson’s struck the rim of the basket and bounced
+inside.</p>
+
+<p>Joe’s bounced a dozen feet away.</p>
+
+<p>“One for Gibson!”</p>
+
+<p>“That was hardly a fair trial!”</p>
+
+<p>The balls were sent back to our hero and Gibson,
+and again they got ready.</p>
+
+<p>“Throw!” shouted Billy Smith once more.</p>
+
+<p>The spheres flew through the air.</p>
+
+<p>Gibson’s went high up, but Joe’s cut only a graceful
+curve.</p>
+
+<p>Plump!</p>
+
+<p>Our hero’s struck the basket squarely in the
+center.</p>
+
+<p>Gibson’s shot over the mark several feet.</p>
+
+<p>“A tie!”</p>
+
+<p>“The ball slipped!” growled Will Gibson.</p>
+
+<p>Now came the decisive throw. Both boys
+handled the balls carefully, and looked well to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span>
+spots in which they were standing. The crowd
+held its breath.</p>
+
+<p>“Throw!” shouted Billy for the third and last
+time.</p>
+
+<p>Again the two balls came along.</p>
+
+<p>Plump!</p>
+
+<p>Joe’s hit the center of the basket again.</p>
+
+<p>Gibson’s struck the rim, knocking the basket
+over.</p>
+
+<p>“Joe Johnson has won!”</p>
+
+<p>“My! what clever throwing!”</p>
+
+<p>Will Gibson was put out over his failure to win.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll tell you what I can do,” he said after the
+practice game was over. “I can throw higher
+than you.”</p>
+
+<p>“Perhaps you can, Will,” replied Joe. “There
+is no advantage in that, though—I mean in ball
+playing.”</p>
+
+<p>“Never mind, I’ll bet I can do it.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll bet you can’t!” cried Charley. “Joe can
+throw over the church steeple.”</p>
+
+<p>“So can I, and I’ll put the ball over the weather
+vane in the bargain.”</p>
+
+<p>“You can’t do it!”</p>
+
+<p>“I can!”</p>
+
+<p>One word brought on another, and finally our<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span>
+hero was persuaded to throw over the church
+steeple against Gibson.</p>
+
+<p>Fifteen or twenty fellows went along to see the
+contest.</p>
+
+<p>The church was on the outskirts, and had a
+steeple of wood and iron. In the steeple were
+several windows, and on the top was a gilded
+weather vane, reaching six or eight feet into the
+air.</p>
+
+<p>Instead of throwing at the same time, the boys
+drew lots as to who should try first. Gibson won,
+and chose to throw last.</p>
+
+<p>A standing spot was chosen, and carefully measuring
+the distance, Joe let fly the ball.</p>
+
+<p>Up and up it went into the air, for our hero had
+thrown it with incredible power.</p>
+
+<p>It continued to go up until the top of the steeple
+was reached.</p>
+
+<p>And now it was on a level with the weather vane.</p>
+
+<p>Up over that fully a yard it curved, and then it
+began to fall on the other side of the church.</p>
+
+<p>The crowd set up a cheer, and Will Gibson’s face
+fell. He could not hope to do better than that, if
+as well.</p>
+
+<p>“Never mind, Will, tie him!” shouted his friends</p>
+
+<p>The ball was brought back and Gibson took it.</p>
+
+<p>He leaned far back and hurled the sphere with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span>
+all the force at his command. Up it sailed into the
+air.</p>
+
+<p>Crash! Jingle! jingle! jingle!</p>
+
+<p>Instead of going over the steeple the ball had
+struck one of the topmost windows, shattering the
+center of the frame and four panes of colored glass!</p>
+
+<p>The entire crowd was astonished at the unexpected
+turn affairs had taken.</p>
+
+<p>Will Gibson turned a sickly green, and his face
+took on a look of alarm.</p>
+
+<p>“Gosh! I didn’t mean to do that!” he cried.
+“What will old Mallory say to that?”</p>
+
+<p>Mallory was the sexton of the church.</p>
+
+<p>“Never mind, it was an accident, and we’ll have
+to chip in and pay for the damage done,” said Joe.</p>
+
+<p>He had hardly spoken when Mallory came rushing
+out of the edifice, his face full of rage. He was
+a disagreeable man, and all wondered how it was
+that he kept his present position.</p>
+
+<p>“Who smashed those windows?” he roared.</p>
+
+<p>He had been up in the belfry fixing the bell rope.
+The crash had almost scared him out of his wits, he
+thinking the whole steeple was about to fall.</p>
+
+<p>No one answered him.</p>
+
+<p>“I say, who smashed those windows?” he went
+on. “Answer me, or I’ll have the whole crowd
+arrested.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span>“It was an accident, Mr. Mallory—” began Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“Accident! Not much! Did you do it?”</p>
+
+<p>“No.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then who did?”</p>
+
+<p>“You must find out for yourself.”</p>
+
+<p>“Ha! don’t sass me!”</p>
+
+<p>Joe shrugged his shoulders and attempted to
+move away. Mallory caught him by the shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>“Tell me who did this.”</p>
+
+<p>“I will not. Let me go.”</p>
+
+<p>“If you don’t answer I’ll have you locked up.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe simply looked at the enraged man. Then
+before more could be said, some small boy in the
+rear piped in.</p>
+
+<p>“Please, sir, it was Will Gibson who busted the
+window.”</p>
+
+<p>“Get out of here, Nicky Dill!” shouted half a
+dozen of the other lads, and, scared out of his wits,
+the tell-tale took to his heels.</p>
+
+<p>“Will Gibson, eh?” growled Mallory. “Come
+here!”</p>
+
+<p>He strode over to Will Gibson and grabbed him
+by the collar.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll pay for the window, Mr. Mallory.”</p>
+
+<p>“You’ll go to jail!”</p>
+
+<p>“Why should he if he is willing to pay?” asked
+Carl. “It was an accident.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span>“I don’t care, he’ll go to jail!” howled Mallory
+stubbornly.</p>
+
+<p>“I won’t go to jail!” cried Will Gibson.</p>
+
+<p>He was a nice fellow, and the idea of being
+locked up filled him with terror.</p>
+
+<p>“You will!”</p>
+
+<p>Scarcely had the sexton spoken when Will gave a
+dexterous twist and broke away from the angry
+man. He started to run, and Mallory made after
+him.</p>
+
+<p>Back of the church was an extensive churchyard.
+Into this shady and quiet spot sped Gibson, with
+Mallory at his heels. The boys all joined in the
+chase.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s a shame!”</p>
+
+<p>“Let him go! We’ll pay for the window!”</p>
+
+<p>“I won’t!” bellowed Mallory. It made him still
+more angry to have Will Gibson slip from his
+clutches.</p>
+
+<p>Along one of the main paths sped Will. He was
+a good runner, and speedily outdistanced the sexton.</p>
+
+<p>Presently Will reached a spot overhung with
+evergreens. He dove beneath the trees and turned
+across a patch of thick grass.</p>
+
+<p>When Mallory reached the evergreens the boy
+was nowhere in sight.</p>
+
+<p>In vain the sexton looked around for him. Will
+had completely disappeared.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XV.<br>
+
+<small>AN ADVENTURE IN A CEMETERY.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">The</span> other boys were relieved to think Gibson
+had so cleverly outwitted the sexton.</p>
+
+<p>They hung around until Mallory grew angry and
+drove them all out of the grounds.</p>
+
+<p>The sexton wanted to call on Will’s folks, but he
+had too much work on hand to take the necessary
+time that day.</p>
+
+<p>The boys dispersed and went home, thinking
+Will had already reached his dwelling place.</p>
+
+<p>Joe left also, and after supper he and Billy Smith
+walked around to Will’s home to learn what Gibson
+might have to say.</p>
+
+<p>A surprise awaited them. Will had not yet come
+home, and his folks were much worried about him.</p>
+
+<p>“He is afraid of being locked up,” said Billy.</p>
+
+<p>And he told Mr. Gibson of what had taken place.</p>
+
+<p>“He will not be locked up,” said Will’s father.
+“I will pay the damages. If you see him, tell him
+to come home at once, as his mother is worried.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span>At nine o’clock Will had not yet turned up.</p>
+
+<p>“See here,” said Joe to Billy. “Maybe something
+has happened to him.”</p>
+
+<p>“What could happen?”</p>
+
+<p>“Maybe he fell into a hole dug for a grave, or
+something like that.”</p>
+
+<p>“I didn’t see any new holes,” said Billy.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s queer, but I feel just as if we ought to go
+to the cemetery, and take a look around. Perhaps
+he was tackled as I was at the old coal mine.”</p>
+
+<p>Billy shivered. He did not much like the idea,
+but finally Joe persuaded him to go along.</p>
+
+<p>Although it was summer time, it was dark when
+the pair reached the cemetery gates. They found
+the big iron barriers closed.</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll have to climb over,” said our hero.
+“Here goes!”</p>
+
+<p>And over the iron fence he went, and Billy Smith
+followed.</p>
+
+<p>Under the evergreens it was still darker, and Billy
+came to a halt.</p>
+
+<p>“Supposing a ghost—” he began.</p>
+
+<p>“Ghosts! nonsense! Don’t be foolish, Billy.
+There is no such thing as a ghost.”</p>
+
+<p>Keeping side by side the two boys stole quickly
+along the path Will had taken while running from
+Mallory.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span>Soon the evergreens were passed, and they halted
+in a sort of hollow. To one side was a great stone
+vault, partly covered with dirt and sods. The
+vault had a heavy iron door, which was tightly
+closed.</p>
+
+<p>“My gracious! what was that!” gasped Billy
+Smith.</p>
+
+<p>A low, muffled sound had reached his ears.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t know. Listen!”</p>
+
+<p>Again the sound echoed around them, sending a
+chill down their backbones.</p>
+
+<p>“Sounds like somebody in a coffin trying to get
+out!” gasped Billy.</p>
+
+<p>“You couldn’t hear a person in a coffin.”</p>
+
+<p>Again they listened. Then Joe walked over to
+the door of the vault and knocked upon it. Immediately
+an answering knock came back.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll bet Will Gibson is locked in the vault!”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, Joe!” cried Billy.</p>
+
+<p>He also sprang to the door.</p>
+
+<p>“Is that you, Will?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes! yes! let me out!”</p>
+
+<p>Poor Will Gibson was a prisoner in the vault.
+He had run in there to hide, closing the door behind
+him. The latch above the lock had sprung into
+place, and after Mallory and the others had gone
+away he had been unable to release himself.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span>Joe quickly raised the latch and pulled the door
+open.</p>
+
+<p>Out of the darkness staggered Will. The air in
+the vault, which was empty, had nearly suffocated
+him, and he could scarcely stand.</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Billy led him to a stone step, and there
+the three boys sat down to rest.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, how thankful I am that you came for me,”
+said Will. “I was going crazy in there!”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s a terrible place to be locked in,” remarked
+Billy.</p>
+
+<p>It was after eleven o’clock when the boys started
+to go home.</p>
+
+<p>They had just passed the evergreen trees when
+Joe suddenly clutched both companions by the
+arm.</p>
+
+<p>“Hist! look there!” he whispered.</p>
+
+<p>And he nodded to their left, where three men
+were stealing along, one with a half-closed lantern,
+and the others with picks and shovels.</p>
+
+<p>“What can they be up to?” asked Billy, after a
+breathless pause.</p>
+
+<p>“They are going to dig up a dead body.”</p>
+
+<p>“Body snatchers?” queried Will.</p>
+
+<p>“Exactly.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, what a shame!”</p>
+
+<p>“They ought to be locked up!”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span>“They shan’t get any body to-night,” said Joe
+with sudden determination.</p>
+
+<p>For a long while dead bodies had been taken
+from that cemetery. The authorities had tried in
+vain to catch the offenders. They were supposed
+to sell the bodies to some of the local medical
+colleges, but no clew to work upon could be obtained.</p>
+
+<p>Night after night a watch had been set, but every
+time the body snatchers were too shrewd for the
+police.</p>
+
+<p>No body had been taken now for over a month,
+and the authorities had relaxed their vigilance.</p>
+
+<p>“What will you do?” asked Billy.</p>
+
+<p>“Let one of us go for the police while the others
+watch these chaps.”</p>
+
+<p>This was agreed on. But who should go?</p>
+
+<p>Will was selected, and he promised to bring help
+with all possible speed.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as he was gone, our hero and Billy Smith
+stole after the body snatchers.</p>
+
+<p>They soon tracked them to a new portion of the
+cemetery.</p>
+
+<p>Here, in a corner, a woman had been buried that
+very day.</p>
+
+<p>Setting down the lantern behind a bush the three<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span>
+men took their picks and shovels and went to work
+with a will.</p>
+
+<p>They wanted to get the body out, fill up the
+grave again, and be off ere midnight.</p>
+
+<p>Three hands at one grave made quick work of
+the semi-loose dirt, and it was not long ere the box
+containing the coffin was reached.</p>
+
+<p>“Will ought to be coming back soon,” murmured
+Billy.</p>
+
+<p>“Go toward the gate and see if you can learn
+anything about him,” replied Joe. “I’ll stay on
+guard alone.”</p>
+
+<p>And Billy went off as silently as a shadow.</p>
+
+<p>With several ropes the body snatchers raised the
+box to the surface. Then with his shovel one of
+the gang started to pry off the lid of the box.</p>
+
+<p>At that moment Joe heard a soft but well-known
+whistle coming from Will Gibson.</p>
+
+<p>He replied, and so did Billy.</p>
+
+<p>The grave despoilers started back.</p>
+
+<p>“What’s that, Bill?” asked one.</p>
+
+<p>“I didn’t hear anything.”</p>
+
+<p>“It was a night bird,” said the third man.
+“Hurry up, Candors. We want to get that coffin
+to the wagon before twelve o’clock.”</p>
+
+<p>Then Joe felt his arm touched. There was Will<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span>
+accompanied by two of the Lockport constables.
+Billy came behind the trio.</p>
+
+<p>“Just in time!” whispered Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“Will you boys help us?” asked the leading
+officer.</p>
+
+<p>“Certainly,” said our hero.</p>
+
+<p>“Of course,” added Billy and Will.</p>
+
+<p>“Then let us surround these chaps. There are
+some sticks, better arm yourselves.”</p>
+
+<p>A moment later the officers strode forward.</p>
+
+<p>“Surrender! Hands up, all of you!”</p>
+
+<p>The body snatchers were taken completely by
+surprise.</p>
+
+<p>They started to run, but it was useless.</p>
+
+<p>The leader was shot in the leg by one of the
+constables, and stumbled headlong.</p>
+
+<p>In five minutes more every one of the body
+snatchers was handcuffed and on his way to jail.</p>
+
+<p>The cemetery authorities were notified, and they
+of course at once had the coffin box put back into
+place.</p>
+
+<p>The boys got warm praise for what they had
+done, and no more was said about the broken windows
+in the church steeple.</p>
+
+<p>Later on the body snatchers, who proved to hail
+from a distant city, were all tried and sentenced to
+long terms in prison.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVI.<br>
+
+<small>AN ACCIDENT ON THE RAILROAD.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">After</span> the affair in the cemetery matters drifted
+along somewhat quietly for several days.</p>
+
+<p>Then Joe was called upon by his father to go on
+a trip to Cleveland to pay some money which was
+due to an insurance company.</p>
+
+<p>He was to go on the journey by train, and started
+off early in the day.</p>
+
+<p>In the cars he met Charley Osborne, and the two
+sat down together.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s awfully foggy,” said Charley. “By
+gracious! I shouldn’t think the engineer could see
+two yards ahead of him.”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s dangerous traveling in this weather,” replied
+Joe. “I wish it was clearer.”</p>
+
+<p>“So do I—we could look out of the window,”
+replied Charley.</p>
+
+<p>On rushed the train through the fog. The
+engineer was behind time, and was doing his best
+to make up his schedule.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span>“We’re moving along, eh?” cried Joe as the car
+gave an extra jerk around a curve. “We must be
+going nearly a mile a minute.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s so.”</p>
+
+<p>A half-hour passed. Several stops were made,
+but few got off or on. The cars were about half
+filled.</p>
+
+<p>“Folks don’t like to travel in this kind of
+weather,” remarked Charley.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, I rather wish we had remained home,
+too,” was Joe’s answer. “I would rather take this
+trip when the sun is shining.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, so would I. But who would have thought
+it was going to get so foggy when we left?”</p>
+
+<p>Another half-hour went by. Charley began to
+get sleepy, and, leaning back his head, closed his
+eyes.</p>
+
+<p>Our hero sat idly turning the pages of a newspaper.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly the train was checked in its rapid onward
+course.</p>
+
+<p>Charley and Joe were thrown forward out of
+their seat on to the back of the seat in front of
+them.</p>
+
+<p>Then came a crash in front and the jingle of
+glass.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span>The rear end of the car ahead had come up and
+struck out the front end of the car they were in!</p>
+
+<p>A succession of bumps followed, a quiver, and
+all became still so far as the cars were concerned.</p>
+
+<p>The train had run into the rear end of another
+train ahead, and the crash was followed by a hundred
+cries on every side.</p>
+
+<p>“Help me out!”</p>
+
+<p>“My leg is broken!”</p>
+
+<p>“Take this seat off my chest!”</p>
+
+<p>“Get an ax and chop me loose!”</p>
+
+<p>The cries came principally from the cars ahead.</p>
+
+<p>“Are you hurt, Charley?” asked our hero as soon
+as he could make himself heard.</p>
+
+<p>“No; are you?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not a bit.”</p>
+
+<p>“Let us get out by the back way.”</p>
+
+<p>“All right.”</p>
+
+<p>They at once started to leave the car.</p>
+
+<p>Charley got out first.</p>
+
+<p>Joe lingered behind to help an old man who was
+lame.</p>
+
+<p>The old fellow could scarcely move, and our hero
+had quite a task getting him to a place of safety.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately no one had been seriously hurt in the
+car they had occupied.</p>
+
+<p>The principal damage sustained was in the car<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span>
+ahead, next to the engine, and the rear car of the
+train ahead.</p>
+
+<p>The engine was almost a total wreck, and both
+the fireman and engineer were badly hurt.</p>
+
+<p>“My! but this is awful!” murmured Joe as he
+gazed on the scene.</p>
+
+<p>“Help wanted here!” shouted the conductor, as
+he rushed forward. “We must get out the helpless
+before the cars take fire!”</p>
+
+<p>“I’m at your service!” cried Joe promptly.</p>
+
+<p>“So am I,” added Charley, and a dozen others
+also volunteered.</p>
+
+<p>It was not long before those on the rear train
+were all gotten out, and then the crowd ran forward.</p>
+
+<p>The rear car of the front train was almost
+smashed to kindling wood, and it was already
+burning in several places.</p>
+
+<p>Those around had gotten out most of the sufferers,
+but could not get at those who remained.</p>
+
+<p>“Save me! oh, save me!”</p>
+
+<p>It was the cry of a despairing woman.</p>
+
+<p>The appeal came from the end of the car nearest
+to the wrecked engine.</p>
+
+<p>The woman was caught under several seats, and
+the fire was but a few feet away. Soon it would
+reach her and she would be burned where she lay.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span>“I’m going in for her!” cried Joe bravely.</p>
+
+<p>“No! no! I’ll go in!” exclaimed the conductor
+of the train.</p>
+
+<p>He leaped into the battered car and began to
+crawl over the wreckage.</p>
+
+<p>Soon he was directly over the woman.</p>
+
+<p>The steam and smoke enveloped him like a thick
+cloud.</p>
+
+<p>With herculean efforts he hurled the broken car
+seats right and left.</p>
+
+<p>He raised them all excepting the last, which he
+could not budge.</p>
+
+<p>“An ax!” he yelled. “Bring me an ax!”</p>
+
+<p>Joe heard this cry and got the instrument and
+threw it toward him.</p>
+
+<p>Crack! Whack! Bang!</p>
+
+<p>The ax flew right and left.</p>
+
+<p>The under car seat was smashed in a jiffy.</p>
+
+<p>Then the conductor raised the woman in his arms.</p>
+
+<p>With quick leaps he sprang through the smoke
+and flames.</p>
+
+<p>The crowd was watching for him, and as he and
+his burden appeared they set up a shout.</p>
+
+<p>“Good for the conductor!”</p>
+
+<p>Our hero helped place the woman on a grassy
+bank, and here a doctor attended her and the other
+sufferers.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span>Stirring times followed, and both Joe and Charley
+did many deeds to their credit.</p>
+
+<p>It was not until an hour later that a train backed
+down from Cleveland and took the dead and dying
+on board.</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Charley boarded this train and half an
+hour later found them at the depot in Cleveland.</p>
+
+<p>Here Joe’s business for his father was quickly
+transacted, and then he went off with Charley to
+visit the home of the latter’s uncle.</p>
+
+<p>The two spent a most enjoyable time at Charley’s
+relative’s house, but knowing their parents might be
+anxious concerning them, should they hear of the
+railroad smash-up, they returned to Lockport much
+earlier than had been their original intention.</p>
+
+<p>The news of the accident had preceded them,
+and Joe found his folks at the depot awaiting him.</p>
+
+<p>“I’m so glad you are safe, Joe!” cried his mother,
+and folded him to her breast.</p>
+
+<p>This was Joe’s first and last accident on a railroad,
+but many thrilling adventures on the wheel
+were still in store for him.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVII.<br>
+
+<small>THE GOLD PIN.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">As we</span> know, Dick Burns had been quite seriously
+injured on the road and during the time that Joe
+was playing ball had been unable to go out on his
+wheel.</p>
+
+<p>But the lad was now much better and, Joe’s
+bicycle being once more in good condition, the pair
+one day went out for a ride of several miles around
+Lockport.</p>
+
+<p>On their way back they passed along the road
+where Joe had had the dispute with Lemuel Akers,
+while both were on their wheels.</p>
+
+<p>Our hero told Dick of it and showed his chum
+the exact spot where Akers had been knocked
+down.</p>
+
+<p>“It served him right,” declared Dick. “If he
+don’t look out I’ll get into his wool.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, I’m able to take my own part,” laughed
+Joe.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span>“I don’t mean on your account, but on Carrie’s.
+He bothers her with his attentions, and she despises
+him.”</p>
+
+<p>While Dick was speaking he was gazing at something
+bright, lying but a few feet away. Suddenly
+he made a dash forward and secured it.</p>
+
+<p>It was a gold pin shaped in the form of a new
+moon, with a pearl at the lower end.</p>
+
+<p>“Look, Joe!” he cried.</p>
+
+<p>“A gold pin, I declare! Dick, you are in luck.”</p>
+
+<p>“So I am.”</p>
+
+<p>The two boys examined the pin, and cleaned it
+off, and then Dick placed it on the lapel of his coat.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s worth a couple of dollars, at least,” said
+Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll make Carrie a present of it,” rejoined Dick.
+The manly boy thought a good deal of his sister.</p>
+
+<p>After this the boys went on, and a little later
+turned homeward.</p>
+
+<p>Several days went by, and nothing of special
+interest happened.</p>
+
+<p>But one day Carrie Burns came home in a flutter
+and sought out her brother without delay.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh! Dick!” she cried, “something strange happened
+to me to-day.”</p>
+
+<p>“What was it?”</p>
+
+<p>“I met Lemuel Akers, and he began to talk to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span>
+me, and all of a sudden he got as white as a sheet
+and began to tremble from head to foot.”</p>
+
+<p>“What under the sun was the matter with him?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’m sure I don’t know.”</p>
+
+<p>“Must have been overcome by your beauty and
+that new dress,” laughed Dick good-naturedly.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, don’t joke, Dick! I’m not in the humor
+for it. Lemuel was dreadfully frightened.”</p>
+
+<p>“But what at?”</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t know. He was talking and looking at
+that pin you found——”</p>
+
+<p>“What!”</p>
+
+<p>Dick, who was oiling his bicycle, let the can drop
+and sprang upright.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh! Dick! how you scared me!”</p>
+
+<p>“What did you say Lemuel Akers was doing?”
+demanded Dick Burns.</p>
+
+<p>“He was looking at that pin.”</p>
+
+<p>“Where is the pin now?”</p>
+
+<p>“Here,” and Carrie pointed to the velvet band
+around her dainty throat.</p>
+
+<p>“Carrie, let me have that pin again, will you?”</p>
+
+<p>“But, Dick, you gave it to me.”</p>
+
+<p>“I know I did, but I’m not going to have you
+wear something that is going to scare Lemuel
+Akers to death.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span>“I just wish it would scare him so he wouldn’t
+come near me again,” pouted Carrie.</p>
+
+<p>She wanted to keep the pin, but Dick would not
+listen to it, and at last she gave the article up.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as his wheel was oiled Dick rode straight
+to Simon Pepper’s jewelry store.</p>
+
+<p>The crabbed old watchmaker sat behind his
+bench, repairing several timepieces.</p>
+
+<p>Dick went at what was in his mind without beating
+about the bush.</p>
+
+<p>“Mr. Pepper, do you remember the articles
+stolen from your store?” he questioned.</p>
+
+<p>“O’ course I do,” growled Pepper. “Stuff don’t
+sell so fast in Lockport but what I have a chance to
+keep it on hand long enough to grow familiar with
+it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then will you please examine this pin?”</p>
+
+<p>Simon Pepper snatched the pin from Dick’s hand
+eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s mine!” he burst out. “It’s one of three I
+had.”</p>
+
+<p>“Did you ever sell any of them?”</p>
+
+<p>“No. Where did you get this one?”</p>
+
+<p>“Found it on the road.”</p>
+
+<p>“Where?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll tell you some other time.”</p>
+
+<p>“But see here, Dick Burns——”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span>“I won’t answer any questions now, Mr. Pepper.
+I found it on the road, and I think I can locate the
+thief.”</p>
+
+<p>And without waiting to see what Pepper might
+have to remark on this strange statement, Dick
+hurried from the shop.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVIII.<br>
+
+<small>RACING A LOCOMOTIVE.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">From</span> Simon Pepper’s shop Dick Burns hurried at
+once to Joe’s home.</p>
+
+<p>He found our hero weeding the garden, for the
+lad was always an industrious fellow when out of
+school.</p>
+
+<p>“Joe!”</p>
+
+<p>“Hullo, Dick! What now?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ve found out who robbed Simon Pepper’s
+shop.”</p>
+
+<p>“Never!”</p>
+
+<p>Joe dropped the weed in his hand like a hot
+potato and came forward.</p>
+
+<p>“Who did the deed?”</p>
+
+<p>“Lemuel Akers.”</p>
+
+<p>“Really?”</p>
+
+<p>“He did—unless I am greatly mistaken.”</p>
+
+<p>“Tell me all about it,” went on Joe eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>“You know the pin I picked up on the road just
+where you had the fight with Lemuel?”</p>
+
+<p>“What of it?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span>“It is one of those stolen from old Pepper’s
+shop.”</p>
+
+<p>“And Lemuel dropped it, you think!” asked Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“Why not? You didn’t drop it.”</p>
+
+<p>“No, I’ll give my word I did not.”</p>
+
+<p>“It was lying just where you and he had the
+tussle.”</p>
+
+<p>“That is so.” Joe thought for a moment. “By
+George! I believe you are right, Dick!”</p>
+
+<p>“It would be just like Lemuel to try to get you
+into trouble.”</p>
+
+<p>“But my pocket-knife——”</p>
+
+<p>“He could easily get that at school.”</p>
+
+<p>“So he could.”</p>
+
+<p>“I believe if Lemuel’s home was searched we
+would find something,” went on Dick, after a pause.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s a wonder he didn’t sell the stuff or get it
+out of the way somehow.”</p>
+
+<p>“Maybe he did sell most of the stuff. He’s got a
+new bike. Where did he get the money for that?”</p>
+
+<p>“He says he saved it. But I never knew him to
+save a dollar.”</p>
+
+<p>“Nor I.”</p>
+
+<p>The two boys talked the matter over for half an
+hour.</p>
+
+<p>Then Mr. Johnson came home, and he and Joe
+went over with Dick to see Mr. Burns.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span>The lawyer was much interested, for the time for
+Joe’s trial was close at hand. As we know, he intended
+to defend Joe, not only for the boy’s sake,
+but also on account of Dick.</p>
+
+<p>“It may be that Akers is guilty,” said Mr. Burns.
+“The thing is to prove it.”</p>
+
+<p>“We ought to watch Lemuel,” suggested Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“Perhaps by so doing you may learn of something
+to his disadvantage.”</p>
+
+<p>So it was arranged that an eye should be kept on
+Lemuel for a few days.</p>
+
+<p>On the following morning Joe saw Akers riding
+through town, bound toward Greenpoint.</p>
+
+<p>It was Saturday, and our hero instantly made up
+his mind to follow Lemuel all day, in the hope that
+something would turn up.</p>
+
+<p>He readily got permission to leave home, and
+was soon on his wheel, speeding after the tall boy.</p>
+
+<p>Akers rode directly to Greenpoint, and after
+having a luncheon there struck out to a point still
+further up the lake.</p>
+
+<p>It was a fine day, but the recent heavy rains had
+caused several washouts along the lakeside road.</p>
+
+<p>Mile after mile was passed, and at last the two
+reached Pemberton, at the head of the lake.</p>
+
+<p>Joe had been very careful to keep out of sight,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span>
+so Lemuel Akers had no idea that he was being
+followed.</p>
+
+<p>At length Akers came to a halt in front of a
+shabby-looking second-hand store.</p>
+
+<p>He chained his bicycle to a post, and, looking
+carefully around, walked into the establishment.</p>
+
+<p>At once Joe’s suspicions were aroused. He left
+his machine at a store on the corner and hurried to
+the nearest window of the other store.</p>
+
+<p>The window was piled high with goods, but
+through an open space Joe saw Lemuel Akers talking
+earnestly to an old, round-shouldered Jew, who
+stood leaning on a back counter.</p>
+
+<p>Presently Lemuel brought a small package from
+his pocket and opened it.</p>
+
+<p>The package contained a watch chain, two watches
+and a couple of gold rings.</p>
+
+<p>The Jew took the articles, and, walking to the
+light, examined each one carefully.</p>
+
+<p>Then the pair began to talk earnestly, as if
+haggling about a price.</p>
+
+<p>At last the Jew wrote out several tickets and
+handed them and a roll of bills to Lemuel.</p>
+
+<p>The tall boy pocketed the bills and tickets.
+Then he looked out of the store to see if the coast
+was clear.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span>Joe had just sufficient time to spring behind a
+billboard.</p>
+
+<p>In another minute Lemuel Akers came forth. He
+mounted his wheel and rode off at top speed.</p>
+
+<p>Our hero smiled to himself as he walked back to
+where he had left his own machine.</p>
+
+<p>The truth was plain enough now. Akers had
+robbed Simon Pepper’s shop and was disposing of
+the stolen goods by pawning them.</p>
+
+<p>Undoubtedly this process was safer than trying to
+sell the stolen articles.</p>
+
+<p>“I have got him where I want him now,” thought
+Joe. “Simon Pepper can identify his goods and
+the Jew can identify Lemuel, and, besides, if we
+manage things right, we can find those pawntickets
+on his person.”</p>
+
+<p>Thus reasoning, Joe left Pemberton not very far
+behind the tall boy.</p>
+
+<p>Lemuel now took a different route, leading up to a
+summer resort.</p>
+
+<p>Thinking it was no use to follow him longer, our
+hero struck out for home.</p>
+
+<p>The road in this section ran parallel to the track.</p>
+
+<p>Joe was feeling in prime condition, and he moved
+along at top speed.</p>
+
+<p>Presently a whistle sounded, and, looking back,
+Joe saw the local express in the distance.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span>Hardly had he heard the whistle when there came
+a shriek from some distance ahead, where the road
+crossed the railroad tracks.</p>
+
+<p>Joe listened and heard a man crying loudly:</p>
+
+<p>“Save me from the train!”</p>
+
+<p>The man was on the track, lying down. He had
+been struck by paralysis and could not move.</p>
+
+<p>“What’s the matter?” yelled Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“Help! help!” was the only reply the sufferer
+could make.</p>
+
+<p>He was directly in the way of the oncoming
+train.</p>
+
+<p>Joe waited to hear no more, but began to push on
+the pedals with all of his might.</p>
+
+<p>Faster and faster he came down the smooth road,
+with the express thundering behind him.</p>
+
+<p>It was Joe’s first and last race with a locomotive,
+and a life hung in the balance.</p>
+
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowe44_25" id="i_p128a">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i_p128a.jpg" alt="">
+  <figcaption class="caption"><p class="caption">
+AN OLD MAN LAY HELPLESS ON THE TRACK.</p>
+
+<p class="right">“Rival Bicyclists.”</p>
+</figcaption>
+</figure>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIX.<br>
+
+<small>LEMUEL AKERS’ GREAT PERIL.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">The</span> race did not last long. It was a matter of
+less than half a minute.</p>
+
+<p>But that few seconds showed what Joe could do
+in the way of spurting.</p>
+
+<p>Down the road he came like a rocket, the wheels
+of his machine seeming to fairly fly through the
+air.</p>
+
+<p>The crossing was reached while the express was
+still a hundred and fifty feet off.</p>
+
+<p>Joe took a flying leap to the man’s side, leaving
+the bicycle to take care of itself.</p>
+
+<p>He caught the man in his arms and flung both
+himself and his burden into a near-by ditch, and
+then the express thundered by.</p>
+
+<p>For over a minute Joe was too weak to speak.
+The awful danger through which he had passed
+now dawned on him fully, and he arose trembling
+from head to foot.</p>
+
+<p>The man he had rescued was unconscious.</p>
+
+<p>Some people driving by had witnessed the thrilling
+scene and now came up.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span>They were loud in their praise of our hero.</p>
+
+<p>The man was recognized as an old farmer living
+several miles away. He was subject to similar
+strokes to the present one, and rarely went out
+alone. He was taken home in a wagon, and the
+next day Joe received a warm letter from his wife,
+thanking him for his great service.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Joe arrived at home he told his parents
+of what he had seen, and then called again on Mr.
+Burns.</p>
+
+<p>The lawyer was much pleased.</p>
+
+<p>“Joe, you ought to turn detective,” he said.</p>
+
+<p>“No, thanks,” smiled our hero. “I would rather
+be something else.”</p>
+
+<p>“I know that old Jew,” went on the lawyer.
+“To-morrow I am going to Pemberton and will
+interview him. I fancy you are as good as cleared.”</p>
+
+<p>“I am thankful for it,” responded Joe heartily.</p>
+
+<p>Our hero kept on the lookout for Lemuel Akers,
+but the bully did not turn up until after supper.</p>
+
+<p>That evening Joe and Dick went out on their
+wheels, visiting the spot where they had come near
+to riding into the river.</p>
+
+<p>The new iron bridge was now up, and they now
+had no difficulty in crossing the deep mountain
+stream.</p>
+
+<p>The chums spoke of Akers first, and, that subject<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span>
+exhausted, Dick told Joe of another bicycle meet
+soon to come off.</p>
+
+<p>“We must both enter the races,” he said. “I am
+going in for five miles and you must go in the two
+and one mile.”</p>
+
+<p>“I will,” said Joe.</p>
+
+<p>They wheeled on until they were about five miles
+from home. Then they came out on the top of a
+high hill, from which they could look in every
+direction.</p>
+
+<p>Here they rested, and while doing so Joe pointed
+to a strange light over in the direction of Lockport.</p>
+
+<p>“What light is that, Dick?” he asked.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t know. Must be on the river.”</p>
+
+<p>“It is growing larger.”</p>
+
+<p>“So it is.”</p>
+
+<p>The two boys watched the light for a minute in
+silence. Then suddenly both gave a cry:</p>
+
+<p>“It’s a fire!”</p>
+
+<p>They were right, for a second later the flames
+shot skyward all in one rush.</p>
+
+<p>“Somebody’s house in Lockport!” cried Dick.
+“Joe, we must get back as soon as we can.”</p>
+
+<p>Our hero made no reply, but leaped on his wheel.
+Soon they were pedaling along rapidly.</p>
+
+<p>As they moved closer to Lockport the flames kept
+growing brighter and brighter, until the entire
+heavens were lit up.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span>“It’s more than one house, that’s certain,” remarked
+Joe. “Who knows but what the entire
+business portion is doomed.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe said this because they could now make out
+that the fire was down in the vicinity of the stores
+and not over by the river, as they had originally
+supposed.</p>
+
+<p>Not long after this they could hear the crackling
+of the flames and the shouts of the local firemen,
+who were doing their best to subdue the conflagration.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s Rayley’s Row,” suddenly called Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“So it is, and every house in it is doomed,” replied
+Dick.</p>
+
+<p>Rayley’s Row consisted of six dwellings situated
+on the main street of Lockport, directly opposite the
+post office and main store.</p>
+
+<p>Only two of the houses in the row were occupied,
+the others having been vacant for some time.</p>
+
+<p>The vacant houses had caught first, having been
+most likely set on fire by tramps, who occasionally
+made their quarters there on the sly.</p>
+
+<p>“We must join the bucket brigade!” cried Joe.</p>
+
+<p>Lockport boasted of no fire engine, and the only
+way to put out a fire was by pouring buckets of
+water on it.</p>
+
+<p>Half a dozen lines with buckets were working<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span>
+from as many pumps and cisterns to the scene of
+the fire.</p>
+
+<p>Leaping from their machines, Joe and Dick
+joined one of the lines which was rather short of
+hands.</p>
+
+<p>In a second bucket after bucket came to each, to
+be passed to the next man or boy in the line.</p>
+
+<p>“Lively, boys, the fire is gaining!” suddenly
+shouted Carl Lathrop.</p>
+
+<p>“Form another line in the rear there!”</p>
+
+<p>“Why don’t somebody bring a few ladders?”</p>
+
+<p>“Are all the people out of the houses?” asked
+Charley Osborne.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, long ago.”</p>
+
+<p>But this answer was a falsehood, as the next instant
+proved.</p>
+
+<p>At the top of one of the middle buildings appeared
+a tall figure, waving its arms wildly over its
+head.</p>
+
+<p>“For the love of heaven, won’t somebody save
+me?”</p>
+
+<p>Everybody stared in mute amazement at the person
+who uttered the appeal.</p>
+
+<p>It was Lemuel Akers!</p>
+
+<p>He was surrounded by flames, and death stared
+him in the face.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XX.<br>
+
+<small>JOE’S FATHER SAVES THE ENEMY.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Joe</span> was as much astonished as any one to see
+Lemuel Akers on the top of one of the middle of
+the burning buildings.</p>
+
+<p>How Lemuel had got there was a mystery, as the
+particular house in question was empty.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s Lemuel!” cried Dick Burns.</p>
+
+<p>“He is doomed!” ejaculated a bystander.</p>
+
+<p>“Can’t they get a ladder to him?” asked our
+hero quickly.</p>
+
+<p>Every one looked around. Several ladders were
+at hand, but none were long enough to reach the
+top of the house.</p>
+
+<p>Besides, the lower floors were a mass of flames,
+which shot out of the numerous windows in all
+directions.</p>
+
+<p>“He is doomed!” cried Larry Dare.</p>
+
+<p>“Nothing can save him!” put in Sam Anderson.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span>“The foolish boy! What was he doing in that
+empty house?” queried Carl.</p>
+
+<p>And so the cries ran on.</p>
+
+<p>Lemuel Akers’ relatives were frantic and offered
+all sorts of rewards to any one who would go to the
+rescue.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll save him!”</p>
+
+<p>It was Mr. Johnson who uttered the cry, and the
+bystanders looked at him in amazement.</p>
+
+<p>“You can’t do it, Johnson.”</p>
+
+<p>“You are crazy; no one can go into that building
+and get out alive.”</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t intend to go into the building,” said Mr.
+Johnson.</p>
+
+<p>“Then how will you save him?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll show you.”</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Johnson ran around until he found a light
+but strong washline.</p>
+
+<p>The end of this line he tied securely to the upper
+rung of the longest ladder to be had.</p>
+
+<p>Then he crossed the road to where stood a gigantic
+elm tree.</p>
+
+<p>The tree was fully sixty feet from the burning
+building, but its branches spread out in every direction.</p>
+
+<p>With an agility that would have done credit to a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span>
+circus performer our hero’s father went up the
+trunk of the tree in double-quick order.</p>
+
+<p>Once among the branches he drew the ladder up
+after him.</p>
+
+<p>He kept on going up until he was on a branch on
+a level with the roof of the burning building.</p>
+
+<p>Then with caution he worked his way outward.
+It was a dangerous proceeding, as a slip from his
+resting place might have meant death.</p>
+
+<p>More than once the wind sent the smoke swirling
+about his head. At such times all he could do was
+to hold his breath and wait until the wind changed.</p>
+
+<p>“Save me! Save me!” screamed Lemuel Akers.
+He was on the point of swooning from terror.</p>
+
+<p>“Keep up your courage, Lemuel!” cried Mr.
+Johnson. “I am coming.”</p>
+
+<p>“Where are you? I can’t see you.”</p>
+
+<p>“Here in the tree.”</p>
+
+<p>“I can’t jump to the tree.”</p>
+
+<p>“Prepare to catch the end of the ladder I have
+brought up.”</p>
+
+<p>“Have you a ladder?” and for the first time
+Lemuel’s tone took on a bit of hope.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes. Watch for it.”</p>
+
+<p>Out and out crawled Mr. Johnson, until he was
+within twenty feet of the roof beyond.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span>Then he brought the ladder up, resting the end
+against a smaller limb above.</p>
+
+<p>When the lower end was at hand he tied it fast,
+so that it might not slip away.</p>
+
+<p>“Now watch for it, Lemuel!” he cried.</p>
+
+<p>Then, calculating the distance as best he could,
+the man shoved the top end of the ladder forward.</p>
+
+<p>It fell just a little sideways, but the top overlapped
+the building gutter by two feet.</p>
+
+<p>“Now come over!” cried the man to the frightened
+prisoner.</p>
+
+<p>“I—I—can’t,” howled Lemuel. “I’ll fall to the
+ground.”</p>
+
+<p>“Nonsense! Crawl from rung to rung and you’ll
+be perfectly safe.”</p>
+
+<p>With his teeth chattering in his head, Lemuel
+Akers got down flat on his stomach and began to
+crawl at a snail’s pace toward the tree.</p>
+
+<p>“Hurry up, the roof is catching!” called out Mr.
+Johnson. “Quick!”</p>
+
+<p>Groaning and trembling, the big boy, more of a
+coward than ever, hurried himself, and half a minute
+later found himself safe in the tree.</p>
+
+<p>“Now you can get down all right, I reckon,” said
+our hero’s father coldly.</p>
+
+<p>Despite the excitement he had not forgotten how
+Lemuel had treated Joe.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span>“Oh, I can get down all right enough,” was
+Akers’ reply. “I was going to jump into the tree,
+anyway.”</p>
+
+<p>And he turned his back on his rescuer and slid
+down to the ground.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Johnson remained above to pull away the
+ladder that it might not be burned. Willing hands
+helped him bring the ladder down.</p>
+
+<p>“By jinks! but that was great!” cried Dick
+Burns, and he fairly hugged Joe. “Your father is
+a brave man.”</p>
+
+<p>“Lemuel don’t think so.”</p>
+
+<p>“Lemuel Akers is an ungrateful dog!” cried a
+man standing by. “He ought to be kicked out of
+the town.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s what I say!” put in another.</p>
+
+<p>“He would have lost his life had it not been for
+Mr. Johnson.”</p>
+
+<p>“Who said that?” exclaimed Lemuel, pushing his
+way forward. “Saved my life! Not much! I
+was just going to jump into the tree, anyway! I
+ain’t so very thankful, because I don’t fancy having
+the father of a jailbird——”</p>
+
+<p>Lemuel got no further.</p>
+
+<p>There was a dangerous fire in Joe’s eyes, but before
+he could move on the tall boy Dick Burns
+stepped between.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span>“Lem Akers, shut your mouth this instant! No,
+Joe, don’t whip him again, he isn’t worth it.”</p>
+
+<p>“See here, Dick Burns—” howled Lemuel.</p>
+
+<p>“I won’t listen to you,” went on Dick. “Do
+you want to know why? Because, while you insist
+on calling Joe a jailbird, I firmly believe you are
+the one who robbed Simon Pepper’s store.”</p>
+
+<p>The crowd heard the words and stood in surprise.
+Every eye was cast on Lemuel Akers, who turned
+deadly white.</p>
+
+<p>“Me?” he stammered. “Do you know what you
+are talking about, Dick Burns?”</p>
+
+<p>“I do. I firmly believe you are the thief. Maybe
+when Joe’s trial comes off, the public will be
+treated to a surprise.”</p>
+
+<p>What might have followed these words it is hard
+to say, for at that instant there came a strange
+cracking sound.</p>
+
+<p>“Run! run! the wall is falling!”</p>
+
+<p>Men and boys scattered in all directions.</p>
+
+<p>The warning came too late, however, for all, for
+the crowd had been too close to the fire.</p>
+
+<p>Down came a section of the row of dwellings.
+The burning timbers were hurled in all directions,
+and some of the pieces fell upon Dick Burns and
+Lemuel Akers, and they were stretched senseless
+upon the ground.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXI.<br>
+
+<small>AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">A cry</span> of horror arose on every side, heard even
+above the crash of falling walls, as one after another
+of the doomed buildings went down.</p>
+
+<p>“Dick Burns and Lemuel Akers are under the
+timbers!”</p>
+
+<p>Then a rush was made, in spite of smoke and
+flames, and the two boys were dragged to a place
+of safety.</p>
+
+<p>A dash of cold water revived Dick, and he was
+soon on his feet again, suffering nothing more serious
+than a big lump on his forehead.</p>
+
+<p>Lemuel Akers had been hurt in the chest.</p>
+
+<p>“Call Dr. Hoymark, somebody! He is in the
+crowd!”</p>
+
+<p>The cry for the doctor soon brought that medical
+gentleman to Lemuel’s side.</p>
+
+<p>He directed that several men carry the big boy
+to the drug store. Here Lemuel was placed on a
+couch, and the doctor went to work on him, while<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span>
+a number of men, including Mr. Johnson and Simon
+Pepper, stood around.</p>
+
+<p>With a sharp pair of scissors the doctor cut open
+Lemuel’s shirt. Then he asked somebody to help
+him remove the boy’s coat and vest.</p>
+
+<p>Simon Pepper stepped forward, and the two
+went to work. Hardly were the garments removed
+than the watchmaker gave a gasp of astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>“Mine!”</p>
+
+<p>“What’s that?” asked Dr. Hoymark.</p>
+
+<p>“Look! look! my chains and my pins!” howled
+Simon Pepper.</p>
+
+<p>He seemed to have suddenly lost his reason. He
+was tearing open a package which had dropped
+from Lemuel Akers’ breast.</p>
+
+<p>“Your chains and pins!” said Lawyer Burns.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes! yes! Oh, the rascal! He must have been
+the thief, and not Joe Johnson!”</p>
+
+<p>“You have struck it, Pepper,” responded the
+lawyer quietly.</p>
+
+<p>Simon Pepper opened the package and spread
+the contents on a near-by counter. There was
+about half the amount stolen from the shop.</p>
+
+<p>“I will tell you where you can find nearly all the
+rest,” said Lawyer Burns.</p>
+
+<p>“Where?”</p>
+
+<p>The lawyer started to tell about the pawnbroker<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span>
+in the next town, when Lemuel came to his senses
+and sat up.</p>
+
+<p>“What—is—the—matter?” he asked slowly.</p>
+
+<p>And then, seeing Simon Pepper, his hand stole
+to his breast.</p>
+
+<p>“I have found you out!” howled the watchmaker.
+“You thief! And you tried to put it off on Joe
+Johnson!”</p>
+
+<p>He was even more angry than he had been at
+our hero, and with far greater reason.</p>
+
+<p>“Gently,” interposed Dr. Hoymark. “Remember
+he is suffering.”</p>
+
+<p>And then he thrust the jeweler aside until he
+could attend to Lemuel. In his dismay at being
+found out, the tall boy forgot all about his bruises.
+He let the doctor fix him up, and then, putting on
+his coat and vest again, sneaked off without a word
+of thanks to any one.</p>
+
+<p>“An ungrateful boy,” murmured the doctor.</p>
+
+<p>“And a thoroughly bad one,” added Lawyer
+Burns.</p>
+
+<p>The news soon spread and reached the ears of all
+the town people.</p>
+
+<p>Nearly every one said it was no surprise. All
+had believed Joe innocent from the start.</p>
+
+<p>It was thought that Lemuel had used the empty<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span>
+house as a place to hide the jewelry, and when the
+row caught fire had gone in to get the booty out.</p>
+
+<p>In the meanwhile the fire had burned itself out.
+Men and boys worked heroically, and nothing
+burned but the row, although quite a high wind
+was blowing.</p>
+
+<p>Much praise was given to Mr. Johnson for what
+he had done for Joe’s enemy.</p>
+
+<p>Lawyer Burns at once took steps toward having
+the case against Joe quashed. In this he was successful,
+and a couple of days later every one knew
+that Joe was free from the shadow which had been
+cast over his fair name.</p>
+
+<p>Then came a big surprise. Lemuel Akers had
+been arrested. No one had gone his bail, and he
+had been placed in the town jail, a primitive and
+rickety affair, which had once been a carpenter’s
+shop.</p>
+
+<p>From this place of confinement the thief had
+escaped, and no one knew where he had gone.</p>
+
+<p>The town authorities took the matter in hand,
+but without results. Lemuel was missing and that
+was as far as the single constable who did the work
+on the case could get.</p>
+
+<p>It is possible that his folks knew where he was,
+but if they did, they did not let on.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXII.<br>
+
+<small>A TUG OF WAR.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>“<span class="smcap">You</span> can’t do it!”</p>
+
+<p>“We can!”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll bet you boys a new baseball outfit you
+can’t!”</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll take you up, Captain Brown,” came from
+three boyish throats in chorus.</p>
+
+<p>“All right, lads, I’ll stick to my word. If you
+can pull Dan Risley, Mike Farrell and Peter Gibson
+over the line in a tug of war you shall have the
+best outfit to be bought in Greenpoint.”</p>
+
+<p>There was a shout, and three boys crowded
+around the speaker.</p>
+
+<p>“That outfit is as good as ours,” cried Sam
+Anderson, the leader of the trio.</p>
+
+<p>“Of course it is,” put in Joe, who was also
+present.</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll pull ’em over at the first word,” added
+Charley Osborne.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Brown of the Lockport hotel smiled. He<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span>
+thought that what the boys proposed to do was impossible.</p>
+
+<p>The fact of the matter was the captain and the
+three lads had been sitting on the hotel porch
+watching the carpenters on the building opposite
+trying to hoist up several heavy timbers. The
+timbers had remained on the ground, awaiting a
+machine hoist, and the boys had remarked that they
+could do better than the men.</p>
+
+<p>One word had brought on another, until a tug of
+war was spoken of between the three carpenters on
+one side and the three boys on the other.</p>
+
+<p>The boys had always wanted a new baseball outfit,
+and now they thought they saw a chance of
+winning it.</p>
+
+<p>When the carpenters came down from the building
+the contest was mentioned to them, and they
+readily agreed to take part whenever the boys were
+ready.</p>
+
+<p>Sam sounded the others and decided to bring
+matters to a head on the following Saturday afternoon
+at three o’clock.</p>
+
+<p>The tug of war between the three boys on one
+side and the three men on the other was to come off
+on the village green, and as it became noised about
+the town great preparations were made for the
+event.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span>“We must win, that is all there is to it,” Joe declared
+over and over again.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s rather unequal, when you come to think of
+it,” remarked Charley. “Men ought to be stronger
+than boys.”</p>
+
+<p>“Not stronger than the members of the Lockport
+Baseball Club,” said our hero.</p>
+
+<p>From that time on until the memorable Saturday
+afternoon the boys did nothing but practice for the
+coming contest.</p>
+
+<p>They procured an old but stout rope, and going
+into the woods along the river tied one end to a
+young tree and then tried for hours at a time to
+drag the tree to the ground.</p>
+
+<p>This developed their muscles wonderfully.</p>
+
+<p>At last came the Saturday. The boys heard that
+the men were all ready for them.</p>
+
+<p>“They have been practicing too,” said Dick
+Burns, who was greatly interested in the contest.
+“I just heard it from Jake Foley.”</p>
+
+<p>“They won’t lose without a tough struggle, that’s
+certain,” returned Joe. “But don’t be worried.
+We must have confidence or we won’t win.”</p>
+
+<p>When the boys reached the village green half
+an hour before the contest was to come off they
+found it crowded with men, women, and young
+folks.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span>“Here they come!” was the cry.</p>
+
+<p>“And here come the men,” was added a moment
+later, as the three carpenters hove in view.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Brown had provided a brand new rope.
+The line, as it is called, was marked off, and the
+boys took their position at one end and the men at
+the other.</p>
+
+<p>“Are you ready?” asked the captain.</p>
+
+<p>There were several seconds of silence.</p>
+
+<p>“Pull!” he yelled, and flung his hat on the
+ground to signal that the battle royal was on.</p>
+
+<p>What a straining and tugging there was! Both
+teams dropped into position and the knot in the
+rope remained where it had been placed, directly on
+the line.</p>
+
+<p>“Pull ’em over!” yelled Dick.</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t give ’em an inch!” added Carl Lathrop.</p>
+
+<p>“The boys are plucky!”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, but the men are the stronger.”</p>
+
+<p>So the cries ran on.</p>
+
+<p>At the end of ten minutes—it seemed an age—it
+was noticed that the men were gaining. The knot
+was over to their side all of two inches.</p>
+
+<p>“What did I tell you?”</p>
+
+<p>“The boys are plucky, but they haven’t the
+weight.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span>Sam had his teeth shut hard. He heard the remarks,
+but paid no attention to them.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly he uttered a slight hissing sound. It
+was the signal that one of their opponents was off
+his guard.</p>
+
+<p>Instantly the boys planted their feet back and
+gave a sudden and strong pull.</p>
+
+<p>Up came one carpenter after another, grunting as
+they did.</p>
+
+<p>In vain they tried to fall back into their places.</p>
+
+<p>It was too late, and in a second more the boys
+dragged them over the line with a rush.</p>
+
+<p>What a cheer went up!</p>
+
+<p>Even the carpenters joined in.</p>
+
+<p>“You did it, by the great horn spoon, you did
+it!” cried the captain. “And the baseball outfit is
+yours!”</p>
+
+<p>And it was.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXIII.<br>
+
+<small>ANOTHER BALL GAME.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">A few</span> days later the Rushers played another
+game of ball, this time with a nine from Greenpoint.
+As Dick Burns was now well again he
+played at second base, while Joe took his old
+position behind the home plate and Charley Osborne
+pitched as before.</p>
+
+<p>There was a bitter rivalry between Lockport and
+Greenpoint at the time, so far as baseball matters
+went.</p>
+
+<p>“We must win this game, sure,” said Captain
+Brown, who, since giving the baseball outfit, had
+taken a special interest in the club.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll do my share,” said Charley.</p>
+
+<p>“So will I,” added Joe.</p>
+
+<p>A crowd came to witness the game.</p>
+
+<p>In the first inning Charley gave four boys bases
+on balls and the Greenpointers scored two runs.</p>
+
+<p>“That Lockport pitcher is no good,” said the
+crowd.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span>In the second inning Charley pitched a wide ball
+over Joe’s head.</p>
+
+<p>Our hero did his best to get it, but it was beyond
+his reach.</p>
+
+<p>He ran like the wind, but before he could grab
+the sphere another run was scored for Greenpoint.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the Rushers had but one run, made by
+Dick.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Brown came forward.</p>
+
+<p>“See here, you two must do better than this,” he
+said to Joe and Charley.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s the ball,” growled Charley. “Let me have
+a new ball.”</p>
+
+<p>“Nothing the matter with the ball.”</p>
+
+<p>“I say there is,” returned Charley stoutly.</p>
+
+<p>“Let me see it?”</p>
+
+<p>The captain took the ball and examined it.</p>
+
+<p>Then he called the umpire aside.</p>
+
+<p>“Look here, Clarkson, what do you think of
+this?” he said sharply.</p>
+
+<p>“What’s the matter?” asked the umpire.</p>
+
+<p>“Look at this ball.”</p>
+
+<p>The umpire did as requested.</p>
+
+<p>“Side heavy.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes. And the cover has been resewed. This
+is a doctored ball.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151]</span>“Don’t know but what you are right. Where
+did it come from?”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t know. But the Greenpoint pitcher threw
+it to Charley Osborne when they went in.”</p>
+
+<p>“Humph! Let us investigate later on. Try a
+new ball.”</p>
+
+<p>The new ball came out, and several of the Greenpoint
+team were seen to exchange glances.</p>
+
+<p>“They know something about this,” said Charley
+to Joe.</p>
+
+<p>With a new ball Charley did better work. He
+sent in some wonderful curves, and our hero caught
+out seven men in rotation.</p>
+
+<p>At the end of the first half of the ninth inning
+the score stood nine to eleven in favor of the Greenpoint
+nine.</p>
+
+<p>Then the Rushers went to the bat.</p>
+
+<p>It was their last effort to win the game.</p>
+
+<p>“Wake up, boys!” cried Captain Brown.</p>
+
+<p>“Do your best, Dick!”</p>
+
+<p>Dick Burns was the first at the bat.</p>
+
+<p>He hit a safe one to center and got first.</p>
+
+<p>Charley followed, and also reached first on a
+bunt, while Dick went to second.</p>
+
+<p>The next boy struck out, and the following fellow
+did the same.</p>
+
+<p>Then our hero came to the bat.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span>Dick was on third and Charley on second.</p>
+
+<p>“Now is the time for one of your long hits,” said
+the captain to Joe.</p>
+
+<p>The pitcher of the Greenpointers smiled to himself.</p>
+
+<p>He saw that Joe would hit the ball, and hit it
+hard, if it came where he wanted it.</p>
+
+<p>Consequently he resolved to pitch the ball as far
+as possible out of our hero’s reach without getting
+too many balls called.</p>
+
+<p>“One ball!”</p>
+
+<p>“One strike!”</p>
+
+<p>“Two balls!”</p>
+
+<p>“Three balls!”</p>
+
+<p>Joe understood the pitcher’s trick and got angry.</p>
+
+<p>“Give me something over the plate,” he said.</p>
+
+<p>“Shut up, I know what I am doing,” growled the
+Greenpoint youth.</p>
+
+<p>He remembered that the boy to bat next to Joe
+was a weak fellow who could be put out with ease.</p>
+
+<p>Along came another ball.</p>
+
+<p>It was a grounder, but our hero made up his mind
+to do the best he could with it.</p>
+
+<p>Bang! He hit the sphere with all the power in
+his arms.</p>
+
+<p>It was a red-hot liner, and it came straight for the
+pitcher’s head.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span>The Greenpoint player knew better than to try
+to stop it.</p>
+
+<p>He attempted to get out of the way.</p>
+
+<p>The ball struck his arm and bounded far out over
+the foul line between home plate and first.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime Joe was making time down to
+first.</p>
+
+<p>Dick came home as if a swarm of hornets were
+after him, and Charley followed.</p>
+
+<p>The Greenpoint catcher had run for the ball,
+thinking the pitcher would come up and cover home
+plate.</p>
+
+<p>But the pitcher did nothing of the sort. Instead
+he was nursing his arm, which felt as if it had been
+struck with a brick.</p>
+
+<p>Consequently Dick and Charley had nothing to
+fear when they came in.</p>
+
+<p>The catcher even when he did get the ball
+fumbled it and threw wild to second.</p>
+
+<p>Joe reached second and, seeing the ball sailing
+over the baseman’s head, bounded for third.</p>
+
+<p>The second baseman ran back for the ball and the
+center-fielder ran up.</p>
+
+<p>The two came into collision and down both went
+on top of the sphere.</p>
+
+<p>“Throw the ball, Gimp!”</p>
+
+<p>“Send it in, Hemingway!”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span>Joe landed safely on third. His club was cheering
+wildly.</p>
+
+<p>“Come in, Joe, come in!”</p>
+
+<p>“They can’t get the ball up!”</p>
+
+<p>The catcher of the Greenpointers was getting
+frantic. He danced around the home plate like a
+madman.</p>
+
+<p>“Throw the ball! Throw the ball!” he screamed.</p>
+
+<p>But the ball did not come.</p>
+
+<p>The second baseman managed to get to his feet
+just as Joe started for home.</p>
+
+<p>Then up popped the center-fielder.</p>
+
+<p>Both looked at each other.</p>
+
+<p>Neither had the ball.</p>
+
+<p>They looked on the ground, but the sphere was
+not in sight.</p>
+
+<p>By this time every one present was yelling.</p>
+
+<p>“Where is the ball?”</p>
+
+<p>“Throw it in!”</p>
+
+<p>“What kind of a game is this, anyhow?”</p>
+
+<p>Joe was sprinting as hard as he could and was
+halfway home.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly the center-fielder put his hand into his
+shirt, which had been torn open while struggling
+on the ground, and out came the ball.</p>
+
+<p>The crowd set up a groan.</p>
+
+<p>The Lockport players roared.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span>Highly excited over the unexpected discovery he
+had made, the center-fielder let drive the ball for
+home.</p>
+
+<p>His aim was wild, and the ball flew about six feet
+over the catcher’s head.</p>
+
+<p>Joe dropped into a walk and sauntered up to the
+plate as coolly as if out for an evening stroll.</p>
+
+<p>His extraordinary run had won the game.</p>
+
+<p>Perhaps the Greenpoint team was not angry!</p>
+
+<p>The catcher scolded the pitcher, the second baseman
+howled at the catcher, and the center-fielder
+said the baseman had put the ball in his shirt.</p>
+
+<p>The game ended right there and the out-of-town
+club sneaked for their stage as fast as they were
+able.</p>
+
+<p>It was a long while before they heard the end of
+that game.</p>
+
+<p>Joe was praised for the way he had served the
+pitcher with the red-hot liner.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s right, make him pitch you a good ball,”
+said the captain.</p>
+
+<p>As the Greenpoint Club had been beaten nothing
+was said about the doctored ball.</p>
+
+<p>But in the future Charley Osborne kept his eyes
+open whenever he started to pitch with a strange
+or new ball.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXIV.<br>
+
+<small>AN AMUSING WAY TO CATCH A SNEAK.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">The</span> boys had built a shed at the ball grounds
+where they could put their street clothing and don
+their baseball outfit.</p>
+
+<p>One day a player named Washton came to the
+others with a long face.</p>
+
+<p>“See here, this is getting too thin,” he said.</p>
+
+<p>“What is getting too thin, Washton, your shirt?”
+and Captain Brown, who was a jolly sort of a chap,
+smiled at his little joke.</p>
+
+<p>“No, this stealing in the dressing-room.”</p>
+
+<p>“I didn’t know there was any stealing going on,”
+and the captain grew sober.</p>
+
+<p>“It don’t amount to a great deal, but it is enough
+to worry one,” went on Washton. “Last week I
+lost a silk handkerchief, and to-day my cardcase
+with six cents in stamps is gone.”</p>
+
+<p>“I had my handkerchief taken, too,” said another
+player.</p>
+
+<p>“I had three photographs stolen,” put in a third.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span>“A new rule book I had is gone,” said Joe.
+“But I thought I had lost it on the street.”</p>
+
+<p>A watch was set for the sneak thief, but he could
+not be detected.</p>
+
+<p>A week passed and more small articles disappeared.</p>
+
+<p>Joe was one of the main sufferers, and he resolved
+to catch the guilty party if such a thing could be
+accomplished.</p>
+
+<p>He suspected a negro lad named Jeff Lumson,
+who was in the habit of hanging around the club
+on the watch to do errands and thus pick up a few
+cents.</p>
+
+<p>Joe set a watch over Jeff, but could not catch
+him in the act of stealing.</p>
+
+<p>Yet he became certain the colored boy was
+guilty.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll fix him,” said our hero to Washton.</p>
+
+<p>“Hope you do,” grumbled the other player.</p>
+
+<p>On the following morning Joe went down to the
+fish market. Here he hunted around until he came
+across a chap who had live crabs to sell.</p>
+
+<p>Joe bought three of the smallest and toughest
+looking of the crabs and put them in a basket.</p>
+
+<p>He took the basket to the shed at the grounds
+and told Washton of his scheme.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span>When the boys went on the field they left the
+crabs in their inside coat pockets.</p>
+
+<p>Half the game went by and in the excitement
+Joe forgot all about the crabs.</p>
+
+<p>Then the Lockport team came in to take their
+turn at the bat.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly a loud yell was heard coming from the
+shed.</p>
+
+<p>“Come on!” shouted Joe. “I have the sneak!”</p>
+
+<p>The umpire called time, and all started forward.</p>
+
+<p>At the door to the shed they came upon Jeff the
+negro. He was a sight to behold. His hands were
+covered with blood, and to his right thumb hung
+two of the crabs.</p>
+
+<p>“Help! murder! Take dem off!” he shrieked.</p>
+
+<p>“Jeff, what are you doing with my crabs?” demanded
+Joe sternly.</p>
+
+<p>“Ain’t doin’ nuffin’, ’pon my word, Joe!” groaned
+the colored boy. “Take dem off before I’se bit to
+pieces!”</p>
+
+<p>“Do you own up that you are the sneak we’ve
+been looking for?” asked Washton.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, let me go! I’se——”</p>
+
+<p>“Own up, or we’ll let the crabs have another
+innings at you!” said Charley Osborne.</p>
+
+<p>“I owns up; yes, I does!” groaned Jeff. “Let
+me go an’ I’ll gib you back all de stuff I took.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span>“All right,” said Joe.</p>
+
+<p>A bucket of water was handy, and this he held
+under each crab. As soon as the crustaceans saw
+their native element they dropped into the bucket.</p>
+
+<p>Jeff continued to groan, but no one sympathized
+with him.</p>
+
+<p>The stolen stuff was taken from him and then he
+was kicked out of the grounds by all hands.</p>
+
+<p>Some of the Lockport players thought he was a
+sort of Mascott for the club, but this proved to be
+false, for that day they beat their opponents, a
+heavy team, too, by fourteen to three.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXV.<br>
+
+<small>JOE’S TRIP TO BOSTON.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">The</span> summer holidays were now at hand and Joe
+took again to his wheel, in company with Dick
+Burns.</p>
+
+<p>“Baseball is all well enough,” he said. “But
+wheeling is the better sport of the two after all.”</p>
+
+<p>“I am with you on that,” replied Dick. “I
+would rather ride than eat.”</p>
+
+<p>“That is, if you weren’t too hungry,” laughed
+Joe. “By the way, I wonder what has become of
+Lemuel Akers,” he went on.</p>
+
+<p>“I wonder, too. I rather fancy he will never
+return to Lockport,” said Dick.</p>
+
+<p>On the day after this talk Joe was hoeing corn in
+his father’s field, when Dick came over, accompanied
+by a tall and handsome young man.</p>
+
+<p>“Let me introduce my friend, Wilbur Rand, Joe,”
+he said.</p>
+
+<p>Joe instantly dropped the hoe and shook hands.
+Then he invited the pair to a bench under an apple
+tree.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span>“I am glad to know you,” said Wilbur Rand.
+“I heard all about your bicycle victory at Elmwood.”</p>
+
+<p>Our hero saw Dick and his friend had come up
+on bicycles, and he asked Wilbur Rand how he
+liked to ride.</p>
+
+<p>Dick burst out laughing.</p>
+
+<p>“Wilbur is a professional rider, Joe,” he explained.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, is that so?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, that is how I make my living,” replied
+Wilbur Rand. “And, by the way, Dick tells me
+you are more of a rider than most folks think.”</p>
+
+<p>“I can ride some,” replied Joe modestly.</p>
+
+<p>That evening the three went out together.</p>
+
+<p>Wilbur Rand had for several years been connected
+with the League of American Wheelmen,
+but during the last six months had become an out-and-out
+professional rider.</p>
+
+<p>He had traveled through the West and made a
+fair sum of money. He was now training for a
+race in Boston, and after that intended to go to
+Europe.</p>
+
+<p>Rand knew all the great riders personally, and
+Joe listened with breathless interest as he told of
+many races and how they were lost or won.</p>
+
+<p>“How I would like to have been in some of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span>
+them!” murmured Joe, as his eyes glistened with
+anticipation.</p>
+
+<p>“You’ll get there,” said the professional rider.</p>
+
+<p>Wilbur Rand remained at Lockport for over a
+week.</p>
+
+<p>At the end of that time he paid a special visit to
+our hero’s home.</p>
+
+<p>“I want to get Joe to go to Boston with me,” he
+said to Mr. Johnson. “I will pay all of his expenses
+if you will let him go.”</p>
+
+<p>“What for?”</p>
+
+<p>“I want him to help me train. He is just the
+right kind of a companion. Dick Burns will go
+with us.”</p>
+
+<p>The matter was talked over for several hours, and
+then Mr. Johnson and his wife gave their consent.</p>
+
+<p>It was a bright, clear day when our hero left
+home. His friends came to the train to see him off.</p>
+
+<p>Joe enjoyed the trip very much, but he was still
+more pleased when the great Eastern city was
+reached.</p>
+
+<p>He took many rides around when not pacing
+Wilbur Rand. He went over to the Bunker Hill
+Monument and to a dozen other places of interest.</p>
+
+<p>At last came the time for the great race, and it
+found Wilbur Rand in prime condition.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span>The races were held on the regular cycling field,
+and a very large crowd attended.</p>
+
+<p>Joe was deeply interested. He did all he could
+for Rand, and so did Dick Burns.</p>
+
+<p>When the race was finished Wilbur Rand was the
+winner of first place.</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Dick shouted themselves hoarse.</p>
+
+<p>Wilbur was much elated, and then and there he
+made Joe a present of fifty dollars for his services
+as a pacer and otherwise.</p>
+
+<p>Joe would not at first accept the gift, but Wilbur
+Rand insisted.</p>
+
+<p>“Take your wheel and the money, and get the
+best bicycle you can,” said Rand. “You yourself
+are cut out for a professional and a winner. Mark
+my words, we shall meet again, and on the track.”</p>
+
+<p>Dick and Joe saw Wilbur Rand off on the steamer
+bound for Europe, and then returned to Lockport.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXVI.<br>
+
+<small>JOE’S BIG RACE.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">A couple</span> of weeks later Joe procured his wheel,
+which was worth a hundred dollars. It was a racer,
+and weighed only nineteen and three-quarter pounds.</p>
+
+<p>Our hero was very proud of the machine.</p>
+
+<p>“To ride on it is like sailing along on wings,” he
+said to Dick. “Just watch me go!”</p>
+
+<p>And go he did, so rapidly that his chum was soon
+left far behind.</p>
+
+<p>Several weeks went on, and meanwhile Mr. Johnson
+was thrown out of work.</p>
+
+<p>This would not have been so bad, but he owed
+two hundred and fifty dollars on a note, and this
+was coming due.</p>
+
+<p>He had not the money to pay up, and the holder
+of the note refused to renew the same.</p>
+
+<p>He spoke of his trouble to his wife and to Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“If I can’t pay up I’ll be sued and sold out,” said
+Mr. Johnson.</p>
+
+<p>“If I could get the money on my bicycle I would
+sell that,” said Joe promptly.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span>“No, I must have the whole amount,” replied his
+father.</p>
+
+<p>On the very day that the money would come due
+there was to be a series of races for cash prizes in
+Cleveland.</p>
+
+<p>Joe heard of the races through Dick, who advised
+him to enter for the five-mile event.</p>
+
+<p>“You might win something, Joe, and it would be
+a feather in your cap,” said Dick.</p>
+
+<p>“I haven’t the money to enter.”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s only ten dollars, and I’ll put it up.”</p>
+
+<p>“But the car fares?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll pay those, too. You can pay me back out
+of your winnings.”</p>
+
+<p>“But suppose I lose?”</p>
+
+<p>“You won’t lose, excepting through an accident,
+and in that case I’ll pocket my loss.”</p>
+
+<p>The proposition interested Joe greatly, and finally
+he agreed to take Dick up.</p>
+
+<p>Every night he went out for practice, hardening
+his muscles by long climbs up hill.</p>
+
+<p>He also took much exercise to develop his lung
+power, so that he could spurt.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll win something, or else know the reason
+why,” he said to himself.</p>
+
+<p>By Dick’s request he said nothing of the races to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[166]</span>
+his parents. Dick entered him, and when they
+went off Mr. Johnson paid no attention.</p>
+
+<p>Behind it all Joe wanted very much to win the
+first prize of two hundred dollars.</p>
+
+<p>“It would help father out of his difficulty, I feel
+sure,” he thought. “Oh, I must win; there are
+no two ways about it.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe knew that both his father and his mother
+were much worried over the note.</p>
+
+<p>His father had a hundred dollars, but that was
+not two hundred and fifty.</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Dick arrived at the race track several
+hours before the races. Joe was in prime condition
+and felt confident.</p>
+
+<p>As the pair rode around the grounds Dick suddenly
+called to our hero:</p>
+
+<p>“Did you see him?”</p>
+
+<p>“Who?”</p>
+
+<p>“Lemuel Akers.”</p>
+
+<p>“No! Where?”</p>
+
+<p>“Back of that grand stand.”</p>
+
+<p>“I saw nobody I know,” replied Joe. “You
+must be mistaken, Dick.”</p>
+
+<p>“I guess not.”</p>
+
+<p>Dick Burns hurried off, while Joe continued to
+exercise himself.</p>
+
+<p>Pretty soon Dick came back.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[167]</span>“Well?”</p>
+
+<p>“He got away. But I am sure it was Lemuel.”</p>
+
+<p>It was now time for the first race to come off,
+and the track was cleared of all but those who
+were to take part.</p>
+
+<p>It was a mile event, and there were twelve
+entries.</p>
+
+<p>An old favorite won, and this, of course, put the
+crowd in good humor.</p>
+
+<p>Then came half a dozen other events.</p>
+
+<p>At last the five-mile race was called.</p>
+
+<p>“Now is your time, Joe,” said Dick. “Go in and
+win.”</p>
+
+<p>Dick accompanied Joe to the starting point that
+he might hold him up and shove him off at the shot.</p>
+
+<p>Ten young men entered the race, all much older,
+however, than Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“Who is that boy?” asked several.</p>
+
+<p>“Can it be possible that he expects to win?”</p>
+
+<p>“He’ll be left at the first mile.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe heard the unkind remarks, but he paid no
+attention to them.</p>
+
+<p>He set his teeth hard and looked to see that
+everything about his bicycle was in first-class order.</p>
+
+<p>If he lost, it should not be the fault of careless
+preparation.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span>There was a slight delay, and then a really beautiful
+start was effected.</p>
+
+<p>“Go it, Barnstable!”</p>
+
+<p>“Show ’em what you can do, Royal!”</p>
+
+<p>At the end of the first lap the men were all in a
+bunch, with Joe a few yards behind them.</p>
+
+<p>“Didn’t I tell you the boy wouldn’t be in it?”</p>
+
+<p>“What do they want to let a mere lad go in a
+race like this for?”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, he’ll be out his entrance money, that’s
+certain.”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t you mind, Joe,” cried Dick, and he was
+the only one in that great crowd to give our hero
+any encouragement.</p>
+
+<p>Joe smiled to himself when he heard Dick’s cry.
+He knew perfectly well what he was doing.</p>
+
+<p>All those men ahead could not keep up that burst
+of speed.</p>
+
+<p>At the third lap one began to lag behind, and
+Joe passed him.</p>
+
+<p>A mile was passed, and Joe was ahead of three
+of the racers.</p>
+
+<p>“The boy holds on pretty good!”</p>
+
+<p>“Maybe he’s getting his second wind.”</p>
+
+<p>Two miles, and Joe occupied fourth place.</p>
+
+<p>On and on went the racers. The end of the
+third mile found Joe fighting for third place.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span>Another lap, and the place was his and Redding
+dropped behind.</p>
+
+<p>Then Joe tackled the second man, Clover. But
+Clover was an old rider, and was not to be beaten
+so easily. For a lap and a half he rushed on, just a
+wheel’s length ahead.</p>
+
+<p>“He can’t come it over Clover!”</p>
+
+<p>“Bob’s too much for him!”</p>
+
+<p>Then Joe began to spurt. The end of the race
+was not far off.</p>
+
+<p>Like a rocket he flashed up beside Clover; it was
+wheel and wheel for a hundred feet.</p>
+
+<p>Then Joe shot ahead.</p>
+
+<p>“The boy has passed him!”</p>
+
+<p>“Clover is out of it. There he goes down!”</p>
+
+<p>The cry was true. The spurt had caused Clover
+to faint.</p>
+
+<p>He fell, and his fall caused a general break-up
+behind him.</p>
+
+<p>But several riders escaped and went on, while the
+injured were carried as quickly as possible out of
+the way of further harm.</p>
+
+<p>In the meanwhile Joe kept on.</p>
+
+<p>Barnstable was a hundred feet ahead.</p>
+
+<p>Could he pass the leader?</p>
+
+<p>“I must do it! I must!”</p>
+
+<p>And so thinking, Joe increased his spurting.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span>At the turn he happened to glance up and in a
+corner of the fence saw Lemuel Akers. But just
+then he gave no thought to his enemy.</p>
+
+<p>That race was everything to him.</p>
+
+<p>Another lap, and Barnstable’s lead was cut down
+nearly one-half.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly the spectators gave a cry of amazement.</p>
+
+<p>Something had been thrown on the track, directly
+in front of our hero.</p>
+
+<p>Sizz! Bang!</p>
+
+<p>The object had exploded with a deafening report
+just as Joe was riding close beside it!</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXVII.<br>
+
+<small>JOE’S DOUBLE ESCAPE.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">For</span> the moment every one at the track thought
+Joe had been killed or fatally injured.</p>
+
+<p>The bomb, or whatever it was, had gone off
+directly beside him.</p>
+
+<p>A shower of dirt flew in every direction, and this,
+mingling with the smoke, hid our hero from view.</p>
+
+<p>A cry of terror was followed by absolute silence.
+Every one looked dazed.</p>
+
+<p>Then, from the midst of what was meant to injure
+him badly, Joe rode unharmed.</p>
+
+<p>No, not entirely unharmed, for his clothing was
+torn and his left hand was bleeding.</p>
+
+<p>But such trifles counted for nothing in view of
+what he had gone through.</p>
+
+<p>“He’s out of it!”</p>
+
+<p>“I thought he would be blown to pieces!”</p>
+
+<p>“Who threw that thing on the track?”</p>
+
+<p>“The miscreant ought to be lynched.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span>Joe heard very few of the cries. Out of the
+awful situation he came with still but one purpose
+in his mind. He must win that race.</p>
+
+<p>It is such grit that marks the truly successful boy
+and man.</p>
+
+<p>Barnstable was fifty feet ahead, and they had
+just started on the last lap.</p>
+
+<p>Joe bent over his handle bar and spurted as he
+had never spurted before.</p>
+
+<p>The track seemed to fairly flash by under his
+feet. A hundred shouts rang in his ears.</p>
+
+<p>“He’s crawling up on Barnstable!”</p>
+
+<p>“Just see him spurt!”</p>
+
+<p>“He was fooling at the start.”</p>
+
+<p>“No, he wasn’t fooling, he was only saving his
+wind, and now he is going to show you what he can
+do.”</p>
+
+<p>The last speaker was Dick Burns, and he told the
+truth.</p>
+
+<p>Like a dart from a blowgun Joe came down the
+homestretch.</p>
+
+<p>Barnstable was but ten yards ahead—now eight—now
+five—now only three!</p>
+
+<p>Now they were side by side!</p>
+
+<p>And the tape but six yards off.</p>
+
+<p>“Beat him out, Barnstable!”</p>
+
+<p>“Go, Joe, go!” yelled Dick.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span>Barnstable increased his speed—he was pedaling
+the race of his life.</p>
+
+<p>But Joe also increased. Then our hero fairly
+stood on his pedals and on he went, over the line, a
+winner by a yard!</p>
+
+<p>A silence—then a mighty shout that echoed and
+re-echoed on all sides.</p>
+
+<p>“The boy has won!”</p>
+
+<p>“Who is he?”</p>
+
+<p>“Joe Johnson, of Lockport.”</p>
+
+<p>“He’ll be a champion some day.”</p>
+
+<p>“So he will.”</p>
+
+<p>Eagerly the crowd surrounded Joe, anxious to
+make his acquaintance.</p>
+
+<p>But Dick got there first, and it was Dick who
+hurried Joe off to his dressing-room.</p>
+
+<p>“I knew you could do it, old man,” said Dick.
+“I am proud of you. Won’t this tickle Wilbur
+Rand when he hears of it!”</p>
+
+<p>“I couldn’t have done it on the old wheel, Dick.
+The new machine won that race.”</p>
+
+<p>“Nonsense! It was your endurance and pluck,
+Joe. Here, let me rub you down. The two hundred
+dollars are yours.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe’s eyes glistened in spite of his exhaustion.</p>
+
+<p>“Won’t father be pleased,” he murmured.</p>
+
+<p>“It will help him out on that mortgage.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span>“Exactly. When do I get my prize?”</p>
+
+<p>“The money will be presented this evening at
+the clubhouse at eight o’clock.”</p>
+
+<p>Then the two boys talked about the bomb.</p>
+
+<p>“It was Lemuel Akers threw it on the track, I
+am certain of it,” said Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s just like him. So this is where he is holding
+out. We’ll have to report that fact at home.”</p>
+
+<p>“I fancy it won’t do much good. He’ll keep out
+of the way for awhile.”</p>
+
+<p>As soon as he was in condition Joe went outside
+again. Many were introduced to him, and soon he
+was a hail-fellow-well-met among the bicyclists.</p>
+
+<p>The track authorities had set two special detectives
+at work on the bomb business, and they promised
+to find Lemuel Akers, if such a thing was
+possible.</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Dick took supper with their new friends
+at the clubhouse. It was an elegant layout, and it
+is needless to say that our hero did full justice to
+what was set before him.</p>
+
+<p>Then came a few speeches, and finally Joe was
+presented with a purse containing two hundred
+dollars in gold.</p>
+
+<p>He thanked the club for the prize, making a speech
+that drew forth considerable applause, and half an<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span>
+hour later he and Dick withdrew in order to catch
+the last train that night back to Lockport.</p>
+
+<p>“I must stop at a house on one of these side
+streets for a minute,” said Dick. “You go down
+to the depot and wait for me will you?”</p>
+
+<p>“All right,” responded Joe.</p>
+
+<p>Dick turned a corner and Joe went on his way.
+It was rather dark, as there was no moon.</p>
+
+<p>The main street was torn up for a new sewer, so
+Joe took the back way to reach the railroad
+station. Unknown to him two men were close
+behind.</p>
+
+<p>“He’s got that two hundred in his breast pocket,”
+said one man to the other. “I saw him place it
+there.”</p>
+
+<p>“We must get it, Cuddy.”</p>
+
+<p>“Of course. Two hundred can’t be picked up
+easier.”</p>
+
+<p>So speaking the men followed Joe until a dark
+corner was reached.</p>
+
+<p>Then one of them ran up and stopped Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“Hold on, sonny.”</p>
+
+<p>“What do you want?” demanded our hero
+sharply.</p>
+
+<p>“I want that two hundred you have in your
+breast pocket.”</p>
+
+<p>“What!”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[176]</span>“No nonsense now!” put in the second man.
+“Fork over and be quick about it!”</p>
+
+<p>As he spoke the man drew a pistol.</p>
+
+<p>Joe took in the situation on the instant.</p>
+
+<p>These men were footpads. They had seen him
+put the money away and now they meant to rob
+him.</p>
+
+<p>As quick as a flash he sprang back. Then on his
+machine hopped Joe, and pedaling off toward the
+depot. He had gone but a dozen yards when the
+man said:</p>
+
+<p>“Stop! or I’ll fire!”</p>
+
+<p>To this command and threat Joe paid no heed.
+He spun on, and a few seconds later reached the
+depot in safety.</p>
+
+<p>He at once sought a policeman and told his story.
+The two went back, but the footpads had taken
+warning and cleared out.</p>
+
+<p>“Next time I’ll be more careful how I show my
+money,” thought Joe.</p>
+
+<p>It was not long after this that Dick came along.
+The train also arrived, and both boys got aboard.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, Joe, you are a professional rider from to-day,”
+said Dick. “Your amateur days are over.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Dick talked over future prospects all the
+way to Lockport.</p>
+
+<p>It was very late when they arrived at their native<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[177]</span>
+town and they expected to see the station practically
+deserted.</p>
+
+<p>What was their surprise to find it lit up on all
+sides with Chinese lanterns, while in the square a
+big bonfire was blazing.</p>
+
+<p>“Hurrah for Joe Johnson!” sang out a hundred
+boys as our hero alighted.</p>
+
+<p>The news of his victory had preceded him and
+the town boys were proud of him.</p>
+
+<p>They had a little parade, some riding on their
+wheels and others marching on foot, and they
+escorted Joe home.</p>
+
+<p>Here Mr. Johnson and Joe’s mother and Paul
+could scarcely credit their ears.</p>
+
+<p>“Won two hundred dollars!” gasped his mother.
+“Oh, Joe!”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, mother,” he said proudly. And then he
+turned to his father: “Use it toward that note,
+father.”</p>
+
+<p>And he held out the purse.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Johnson gladly accepted a hundred and fifty
+dollars, which, with the hundred he had, would pay
+off the two hundred and fifty.</p>
+
+<p>“Keep the rest, Joe,” he said. “You more than
+deserve it.”</p>
+
+<p>“So he does,” put in Paul. “Ain’t I glad though,
+Joe,” he added warmly.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[178]</span>“But you are out of work—” began Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“No, I am happy to say that I have struck another
+situation,” replied Mr. Johnson.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s good. Where?”</p>
+
+<p>“With Mr. Fordham, at the planing mill.”</p>
+
+<p>“Why, Mr. Akers worked there.”</p>
+
+<p>“I know it. He was discharged last week for
+carelessness. He broke several very valuable planing
+knives.”</p>
+
+<p>“The Akerses won’t like that,” said Joe soberly.</p>
+
+<p>“I presume not. But the position was vacant
+and I can’t afford to remain idle on their account,
+Joe.”</p>
+
+<p>“Certainly not, father,” replied Joe; and there
+the conversation dropped.</p>
+
+<p>But Joe could not help but wonder what effect
+the turn of affairs would have on Lemuel Akers and
+his family.</p>
+
+<p>He fancied, and rightly, too, that they would be
+very bitter over this unexpected change.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXVIII.<br>
+
+<small>THE MAD DOG.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">It</span> was two evenings later that Joe arranged to
+go out bicycling with Carrie Burns, who had
+obtained a situation at the district school.</p>
+
+<p>He was to meet her on the road next day after
+school hours, and they were to take a trip over a
+road which was comparatively new to her.</p>
+
+<p>At the appointed time Joe looked for Carrie, but
+she did not put in an appearance.</p>
+
+<p>He waited half an hour, and then, mounting his
+wheel, pedaled slowly toward the schoolhouse situated
+on the outskirts, between Lockport and Greenpoint.</p>
+
+<p>He thought something had detained Carrie at
+the school, although he could not imagine what it
+could be.</p>
+
+<p>On the way Joe met Josiah Arkley. The old
+farmer was glad to see him.</p>
+
+<p>“I ain’t forgot how ye saved my henroost, Joe,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span>
+he said. “An’ I ain’t likely to forgit it. They tell
+me you air a downright good wheeler an’ makin’
+money. I wish ye success, I do, on my word.”</p>
+
+<p>“Thank you, Mr. Arkley,” said Joe, and then he
+rode on.</p>
+
+<p>As he neared the schoolhouse he heard a scream
+of terror and recognized Carrie Burns’ voice.</p>
+
+<p>Evidently Dick’s sister was in great peril.</p>
+
+<p>Without hesitation our hero shot forward on his
+wheel.</p>
+
+<p>“Help! Help!”</p>
+
+<p>“What’s the trouble?” cried Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“A mad dog! Save me!” shrieked pretty Carrie
+Burns.</p>
+
+<p>Leaping to the ground, Joe ran up the schoolhouse
+steps and burst open the door.</p>
+
+<p>A curious and thrilling sight met his gaze.</p>
+
+<p>There, on a high desk, stood Carrie Burns. She
+held a heavy ruler in her hand, with which she was
+trying to ward off the repeated attacks of a small
+but ferocious dog, who was leaping and snarling
+about her.</p>
+
+<p>That the dog was mad was evident. He was
+trying his best to catch her dainty foot between his
+gleaming teeth.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh! Joe, save me!”</p>
+
+<p>“I will, Carrie!”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span>On hearing Joe’s voice the dog turned around
+and started to attack our hero.</p>
+
+<p>But Joe was too quick for him and sprang on a
+desk. Then he caught up a chair and whacked the
+dog over the back with it.</p>
+
+<p>The cur rolled over and over, letting out a wild
+howl as he did so.</p>
+
+<p>As he rolled Joe sprang down and caught him
+under the neck with one leg of the chair.</p>
+
+<p>Before he could free himself our hero had him by
+the tail.</p>
+
+<p>The schoolhouse was built on the bank of a wide
+stream, and the windows were open.</p>
+
+<p>Swinging the cur around his head, Joe hurled
+him through a window.</p>
+
+<p>He landed in the water with a splash and disappeared.
+But soon he came to the surface again, and
+then struck out for the opposite shore, a sadder if
+not a wiser dog.</p>
+
+<p>Then Joe ran to Carrie’s side. She had been
+fighting off the dog for nearly an hour and was
+completely exhausted.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, Joe, you saved my life!” she murmured.</p>
+
+<p>“I would do as much for you every day, Carrie,”
+he replied quickly, and then blushed.</p>
+
+<p>It was some time later that the pair returned to
+Mr. Burns’ house.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span>Here Joe was again thanked. Later on he and
+Carrie took their ride, and both enjoyed it very
+much, despite the mad-dog incident.</p>
+
+<p>The next few weeks were busy ones for Joe Johnson.
+He worked with his father, and during his
+spare time entered half a dozen races.</p>
+
+<p>Of these races he won four and received prizes to
+the amount of nearly a hundred dollars.</p>
+
+<p>With part of the money he bought his mother a
+new sewing machine, something she wished for very
+much.</p>
+
+<p>The rest of the money went into the bank.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll not become a spendthrift, no matter how
+much I make,” said Joe to himself.</p>
+
+<p>That winter a bicycle carnival was arranged to
+take place in the city of Chicago.</p>
+
+<p>Joe was asked to enter, and he did so for a twenty-mile
+event.</p>
+
+<p>Among those who entered against him was Wilbur
+Rand, who had just come back from a fairly
+successful tour, on which he had been showing off
+the merits of a new high-geared bicycle.</p>
+
+<p>“What did I tell you, Joe?” cried Rand. “Didn’t
+I say we would meet again, and on the professional
+track?”</p>
+
+<p>“I am sorry we are to race against each other,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span>
+said Joe soberly. “I want to see you win, and I
+don’t want to lose.”</p>
+
+<p>“Just my idea of it, too. But we must both do
+our best. There must be no such thing as throwing
+the race into the other’s hands.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, I know that.”</p>
+
+<p>The carnival brought thousands of bicyclists to
+Chicago, and Joe made a great host of friends.</p>
+
+<p>“I think this will be the last long race I will
+enter,” he said to Dick, who came on just to see Joe
+and Rand race.</p>
+
+<p>“Why, Joe, what do you mean?”</p>
+
+<p>“After this I am going in for one, two, and three
+mile events. I think I may win a championship in
+one of those events.”</p>
+
+<p>“You can!” cried Dick. “You spurt so beautifully.”</p>
+
+<p>The races were very successful in every way, excepting
+that in one event three of the riders were
+badly hurt.</p>
+
+<p>On the second day of the carnival the twenty-mile
+event came off.</p>
+
+<p>There were sixteen entries, and at the call every
+man appeared.</p>
+
+<p>“You want to be careful of a pocket, Joe,” said
+Dick.</p>
+
+<p>“And look out for smash-ups,” put in Wilbur<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span>
+Rand. “The track is not just what it might be.
+That other mishap proves it.”</p>
+
+<p>It took some time to effect a good start. But at
+last they were off in a bunch.</p>
+
+<p>All went well for several miles. Three men
+dropped out, leaving thirteen on the track.</p>
+
+<p>An unlucky number, thought some people, and so
+it proved.</p>
+
+<p>Joe occupied fifth place, with Wilbur Rand just
+ahead of him.</p>
+
+<p>The three leaders were way ahead. But they
+were using themselves up, and must sooner or later
+drop behind.</p>
+
+<p>Then came a burst from behind, and Wilbur Rand
+and Joe were surrounded.</p>
+
+<p>Rand managed to escape, but Joe was “pocketed.”</p>
+
+<p>In vain he tried to break out. Three riders held
+him steadily in check.</p>
+
+<p>Joe was inclined to think he had been caught on
+purpose, but he could not prove it.</p>
+
+<p>He drove along steadily, watching every movement
+the others made.</p>
+
+<p>Half a lap was lost, and then our hero saw a
+fighting chance to clear himself.</p>
+
+<p>One of the bicyclists had turned out about a foot.</p>
+
+<p>This left a narrow space between the fellow and
+the man beside him.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span>Like an arrow from a bow Joe made a mighty
+spurt.</p>
+
+<p>He shot through the opening like lightning, just
+grazing one of the men as he passed.</p>
+
+<p>Before the fellows could realize it he was ten
+yards in advance of them.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll not get in such a pocket again,” he muttered
+to himself. “They mean to make me lose if they
+can.”</p>
+
+<p>By this time Wilbur Rand was close up to the
+three men ahead, who were now in a close bunch.</p>
+
+<p>These positions were held for over two miles.
+Then a cry rang out.</p>
+
+<p>The first man had slipped at one of the turns and
+gone down. Almost instantly the second and third
+riders came down on top of him.</p>
+
+<p>Before they could right themselves Wilbur Rand
+came up, with Joe close beside him.</p>
+
+<p>Rand was riding at a furious rate, and it looked
+as if he, too, must be thrown amid that mass of
+wounded humanity and twisted wheels.</p>
+
+<p>He tried to turn out and began to slip.</p>
+
+<p>But Joe caught him by the shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>“Steady!” he cried. “Steady! Now you are
+all right.”</p>
+
+<p>It was all done quicker than it can be told. But
+the crowd saw and applauded.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span>Joe had saved Wilbur Rand from a dangerous
+fall, and perhaps from great injury.</p>
+
+<p>On went the two riders side by side.</p>
+
+<p>Then the wreck was cleared away and the others
+followed.</p>
+
+<p>Some began to spurt, and again Joe was hard
+pushed from behind, while Wilbur Rand led by a
+dozen yards.</p>
+
+<p>And now the last mile was on.</p>
+
+<p>Joe rode as he had never ridden before. Slowly
+but surely he crawled up to Wilbur Rand.</p>
+
+<p>“Here they come!”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s going to be a close race!”</p>
+
+<p>“Joe Johnson has caught up!”</p>
+
+<p>“See, they are wheel and wheel!”</p>
+
+<p>The shouts were deafening as Joe and Rand
+neared the end of the final lap.</p>
+
+<p>They were indeed side by side. Neither was a
+single inch ahead.</p>
+
+<p>A flash and the tape was crossed.</p>
+
+<p>A tie!</p>
+
+<p>“Hurrah for Joe Johnson!”</p>
+
+<p>“Three cheers for Wilbur Rand!”</p>
+
+<p>Wilbur Rand and Joe shook hands, while the
+crowd continued to cheer.</p>
+
+<p>“Shall we divide or race it over?” asked Rand.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[187]</span>“Let us divide,” said Joe. “I would rather have
+it that way. We can be better friends.”</p>
+
+<p>“Just my way of thinking.”</p>
+
+<p>But Rand did not forget how Joe had saved him
+from falling.</p>
+
+<p>Before they separated he made Joe a present of
+a handsome diamond scarfpin.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[188]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXIX.<br>
+
+<small>THE BOY ON THE DERRICK ARM.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">After</span> this great race Joe was looked upon more
+as a professional bicycle rider than anything else.</p>
+
+<p>“He’ll make his mark, see if he don’t,” said his
+friends, and it looked as if this would be true.</p>
+
+<p>Business in Lockport was picking up. Several
+new factories had been started and the town was
+fast growing into a city.</p>
+
+<p>“Let us go into the bicycle business, father,” said
+Joe one day. “A store of that kind ought to pay.”</p>
+
+<p>The matter was talked over for several weeks,
+and finally Mr. Johnson decided to make the venture,
+and a store was opened, with Paul and Joe in
+charge. Mr. Johnson was not to give up his present
+place until the new venture was an assured success.</p>
+
+<p>This it speedily was, and Joe’s father resigned his
+position at the planing mill and enlarged the store,
+adding a general line of hardware and farming
+implements.</p>
+
+<p>The ground where the old Rayley’s Row had
+stood had been cleared of all the <i>débris</i> left by the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[189]</span>
+fire, and now the owners of the land were putting
+up a row of fine brick stores and dwellings which
+were destined to be the pride of the place.</p>
+
+<p>Late one afternoon Joe was passing the buildings
+where a great number of children were at play in
+the heaps of sand and on the piles of lumber which
+incumbered the street.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly a boy on the top of one of the buildings
+let out a sharp cry of fear.</p>
+
+<p>Joe looked up and saw a sight that almost caused
+his heart to stop beating.</p>
+
+<p>The boy had in some way been caught on the end
+of the arm of a big derrick used for hoisting building
+material.</p>
+
+<p>The arm had swung around and the boy now
+hung over the street, forty feet below.</p>
+
+<p>He was caught only by his back, and should his
+coat rip away he would be hurled to his death.</p>
+
+<p>Taking in the situation at a glance, our hero ran
+up one ladder after another until the top of the
+building was reached.</p>
+
+<p>“Save Willie Gray!” screamed a dozen boys.</p>
+
+<p>They were trying to swing the arm of the derrick
+around, but could not.</p>
+
+<p>Some of the machinery would not work, and
+although Joe took a hand, the long arm with its
+human burden would not budge.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[190]</span>Then Joe resolved to go to the boy’s rescue.</p>
+
+<p>Cautiously he climbed out on the long arm on
+hands and knees.</p>
+
+<p>It was a daring thing to attempt.</p>
+
+<p>Should Joe slip and lose his hold, he would fall
+forty feet to the pavement below.</p>
+
+<p>That would mean but one thing—death.</p>
+
+<p>Yet our hero did not falter. He was made of
+sterner stuff.</p>
+
+<p>Inch by inch he moved along, while a crowd
+gathered in the street below to watch him.</p>
+
+<p>“Be careful, young fellow!”</p>
+
+<p>The derrick arm wobbled a little, and this made
+the daring feat still more difficult.</p>
+
+<p>Joe was now within two feet of the boy, who was
+struggling madly to catch hold of the arm of the
+derrick.</p>
+
+<p>Rip! The boy’s coat tore away from where it
+was caught, and the youth gave a scream, thinking
+he was lost.</p>
+
+<p>With a quick leap our hero grabbed him by the
+collar just as he was dropping.</p>
+
+<p>“He has him!”</p>
+
+<p>“A close call for the youngster!”</p>
+
+<p>With his strong right arm Joe landed the boy on
+the top of the derrick arm. But the lad was too<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[191]</span>
+frightened to save himself even then and clutched
+at Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“Save me! Don’t leave me!” he moaned piteously.</p>
+
+<p>It was no easy matter for our hero to move backward
+with the frightened lad clinging to him. Yet
+back he went, inch by inch.</p>
+
+<p>The crowd held its breath, expecting each instant
+to see Joe and his charge come crashing to the
+pavement.</p>
+
+<p>But at last the top of the building was reached.</p>
+
+<p>The boy had fainted.</p>
+
+<p>He was quickly surrounded by a score of men and
+women, among the number being his mother.</p>
+
+<p>The thankful woman hugged the boy to her breast
+and then turned to thank Joe for his great service.</p>
+
+<p>But the brave youth was not to be found.</p>
+
+<p>He had slipped through the crowd and hurried
+down the several ladders to the street.</p>
+
+<p>The boys wondered what made Joe so sober that
+night and the next day.</p>
+
+<p>The local paper came out with a long account of
+the daring rescue, and our hero received great
+praise.</p>
+
+<p>For a long while after this matters moved along
+quietly with Joe.</p>
+
+<p>One day, while he was sitting on the porch, talking
+over bicycle races with a rider named Roy<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[192]</span>
+Crossley, Mr. Johnson came to him with a bulky
+envelope.</p>
+
+<p>“Suppose you deliver this letter for me on your
+wheel?” said Mr. Johnson. “It will give you something
+to do, and I would rather have it delivered by
+hand than trust it in the mails.”</p>
+
+<p>“Where is it to go?”</p>
+
+<p>“To a man named Franshaw, who lives up about
+two miles back of Independence. If I put it in the
+mails he may not get it for three or four days, and
+I want to see him to-morrow, if possible. Perhaps
+Roy would like to ride with you.”</p>
+
+<p>“Certainly; we were just wondering where we
+should go,” replied Roy Crossley.</p>
+
+<p>“We can’t go up there and back by dinner time,
+though,” put in Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“Then let us take our lunches and make a day of
+it,” suggested the other bicyclist.</p>
+
+<p>This was agreed upon; and half an hour later the
+two boys set off on their bicycles, each with a neat
+lunch in paper strapped to his handle bar, and Joe
+with the communication for Mr. Franshaw tucked
+away in a back pocket, under his blue sweater.</p>
+
+<p>The early morning had been somewhat misty, but
+now the sun came out strong for a day in the spring
+time. The roads were dry, but without dust, ideal
+in every way for the trip before them.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[193]</span>“As we have the whole day before us, let us take
+it easy,” suggested our hero, as Roy started off at
+his usual high rate of speed.</p>
+
+<p>“Joe, you’re getting lazy!” laughed Roy. “Come
+on. I’ll race you to the turn.”</p>
+
+<p>But Joe would not race, and his chum was forced
+to slow down, much to his dissatisfaction. Slowly
+they rode on, and turned into the road leading to
+Independence.</p>
+
+<p>“I wish I’d had a drink before I left home,” remarked
+Joe presently. “I’m awfully thirsty.”</p>
+
+<p>“We can stop at the next house for water,” returned
+Roy, but before the next building was
+reached they espied an old-fashioned well situated
+in a rocky field to their right.</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll get a drink up there,” cried Joe. “Come
+on;” and coming to a halt, he dismounted and
+dragged his wheel up against the rail fence. Roy
+followed, and the pair were soon over the fence and
+into the field. They had quite some fun working
+the long well sweep, and when Roy was getting his
+drink out of the mossy bucket Joe playfully ducked
+his nose for him, and got a handful of water down
+his neck in consequence.</p>
+
+<p>“I like to drink out of an old well,” observed
+Roy, when they were once more on their journey.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[194]</span>
+“The water seems to taste sweeter, especially if
+you drink right out of the bucket.”</p>
+
+<p>“Pure imagination,” laughed Joe, who was not
+of a poetical nature. “Might as well say you would
+like to eat a beefsteak right out of the frying pan.”</p>
+
+<p>A hamlet called Bytown had been passed, and
+now they came to a long hill, rather steep in places.
+Halfway up this Joe called a halt.</p>
+
+<p>“We can rest and then walk the remainder of the
+way,” he observed, and threw himself down on the
+sward, with his back against a huge stone.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, you are lazy to-day and no mistake,” said
+Roy, but he was compelled to follow his chum’s
+lead. “We haven’t so everlastingly far to go that
+you’ve got to save your wind in this fashion.”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s far enough, considering the hills.”</p>
+
+<p>“Who is this Mr. Franshaw we are to call on?”</p>
+
+<p>“He used to be a builder in Greenpoint. Some
+years ago he and my father did quite some work
+together.”</p>
+
+<p>“Your father said it was important he should get
+the letter at once.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes. It’s about some building contract, I believe.”
+Joe put his hand back to see if the letter
+was safe. “Father thinks— Oh, Roy, it’s gone!”</p>
+
+<p>“Gone? What?”</p>
+
+<p>“The letter! I’ve dropped it somewhere!”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[195]</span>In the excitement Joe leaped to his feet and gazed
+about him and down along the road as far as his
+eye could reach. The envelope was not in sight.</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll have to go back,” he said, with a disturbed
+look on his face. “Hurry up.”</p>
+
+<p>“You must have dropped it when we got that
+drink,” said Roy. “I hope you get it back.”</p>
+
+<p>“I must get it back. I think there was a plan in
+it which cost the owner fifty or a hundred dollars,”
+returned Joe.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[196]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXX.<br>
+
+<small>A LETTER AND A SNAKE.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Our</span> hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy
+had no cause to complain about the time made in
+returning to the vicinity of the old well. As a
+matter of fact, Joe fairly flew down the highway
+and he had all he could do to keep up with him.</p>
+
+<p>The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced
+a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering
+every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
+They even lit a bit of paper and threw it into the
+well, that they might see if the envelope had
+dropped into the water. It was all of no avail; the
+communication could not be found.</p>
+
+<p>Joe walked back to the road with a very white
+face. What would his father say to this?</p>
+
+<p>“It’s too bad,” said Roy Crossley. “Let us ride
+back slowly to where we rested. It may be lying
+somewhere on the way.”</p>
+
+<p>“I ought to have put it into an inside pocket,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[197]</span>
+Roy. Father cautioned me to do that, but I forgot.”</p>
+
+<p>On this point Roy could give no comfort, and in
+silence they turned forward again, our hero on one
+side of the road and his chum on the other.</p>
+
+<p>They had almost reached the spot where they had
+been resting when Roy uttered a shout.</p>
+
+<p>“There is the letter, over by that rock!”</p>
+
+<p>He pointed to one side. Both looked in that
+direction, and an instant later gave a yell of fright.</p>
+
+<p>“A snake! And on the letter!”</p>
+
+<p>It was true. A brown reptile nearly three feet
+long had come out of his hole to sun himself, and
+his head rested directly upon the communication.</p>
+
+<p>Both boys rode past and then dismounted. As
+they did this the snake gave an angry hiss which
+made them retreat in double-quick time. Joe
+picked up a stone and Roy a stick.</p>
+
+<p>For a moment the reptile held its ground, and
+the lads thought they would have a lively and
+decidedly unwelcome fight. But as the stick and
+stone were raised the snake turned and like a flash
+disappeared behind a rock.</p>
+
+<p>Joe’s heart beat loudly as he picked up the letter,
+and he brushed it off with great care and even then
+handled it gingerly. Both boys were so preoccupied<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[198]</span>
+that they did not notice the presence of a
+little girl who had walked up.</p>
+
+<p>“Why didn’t you kill the snake?” she remarked.
+“I wouldn’t have let him get away from me.”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s easy to talk,” returned Roy coldly. “A
+snake is not a nice thing to handle.”</p>
+
+<p>“Huh! My little brother killed one yesterday
+twice as long as that,” she replied disdainfully.</p>
+
+<p>“Can’t you tell us how far we are from Mr.
+Franshaw’s house?” asked Joe, to change the subject.</p>
+
+<p>The girl told them, glancing curiously at the
+letter in the meantime. “Is that for him?” she
+questioned.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, if you want to catch him this morning
+you’ll have to hurry. I just came from his place
+and I heard him tell his man that he was going to
+start for Northfield in a little while, and by what
+he said I guess he’s going to stay there a couple of
+days.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then we will have to hurry,” replied Joe. “I
+am much obliged to you for the information,” he
+added.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ve never been out Northfield way,” observed
+Roy, as they pedaled along as rapidly as possible.
+“Do you know anything about the roads?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[199]</span>“I was up there once in a wagon,” replied our
+hero. “I hope we catch Mr. Franshaw before he
+starts.”</p>
+
+<p>They went through the town of Independence at
+a rapid rate—so rapid Roy was afraid they might
+be arrested for fast riding—and struck out on the
+side road leading to Mr. Franshaw’s residence. The
+two miles were quickly covered, and, dismounting,
+Joe hurried up to a side door and knocked loudly.
+There was no response.</p>
+
+<p>A man who had seen them from a near-by field
+approached. He proved to be one of Mr. Franshaw’s
+hired men.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, Mr. Franshaw left for Northfield about
+half an hour ago,” he said, in reply to Joe’s question.</p>
+
+<p>“On foot?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, no, he had a team with some furniture he
+sold to a man in Northfield. You see since his wife
+died he ain’t got no use for the stuff, and he’s thinking
+of selling out altogether and moving down to
+Greenpoint.”</p>
+
+<p>“Perhaps we can catch him if he has a heavy
+load,” remarked Roy. “Let’s try it.”</p>
+
+<p>“We can catch him at Northfield anyway; that
+is, if the roads are good enough for bicycling,” returned
+our hero. “Which way did he go?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[200]</span>“Right straight down this road till you come to
+the creek,” said the hired man. “Then take the
+road to the left until you get around the hill, and
+then take the road to the right. You might catch
+him if you are good riders.”</p>
+
+<p>“And the roads?”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, they ain’t the best, but I reckon they’re
+good enough. You may have to do a bit of walking
+here and there.”</p>
+
+<p>“Come ahead!” cried Joe, and in a second more
+he was off, with Roy in his wake. A turn of the
+road and Mr. Franshaw’s residence was left behind,
+and they were started on a journey destined to be
+full of excitement and surprises.</p>
+
+<p>On and on they sped as fast as the country road
+would admit, gradually climbing the hill to the
+other side. At the creek they took the turn the
+man had mentioned and pedaled along a smooth
+way lined on either side with dense woods.</p>
+
+<p>“Hullo, look!” cried Roy, who had spurted
+ahead. “A gypsy camp!”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure enough, Roy! They have four wagons,
+and look, at least a dozen horses.”</p>
+
+<p>“Rather a tough-looking crowd, ain’t they?”</p>
+
+<p>Joe agreed that they were. There were six men
+visible, lying around a flat rock, smoking and playing
+cards. Besides the men there were two women,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[201]</span>
+who were washing clothes and cooking, and half a
+dozen ragged and dirty children. The children
+shouted at them, but they paid no attention as they
+swept past.</p>
+
+<p>“How folks can live in that style gets me,” commented
+Roy. “Ugh! those men looked like the
+brigands of Italy you see pictured in books.”</p>
+
+<p>“I guess they are not above stealing chickens,
+and even horses,” replied Joe. “But hurry up, for
+if I am not mistaken it is going to rain before night.
+Don’t you notice how close it is and how glary the
+sunshine is getting?”</p>
+
+<p>The second turn was reached and before them
+was a straight stretch of a mile and a half. Looking
+far ahead they saw a wagon lumbering along at
+a lively gait.</p>
+
+<p>“That must be Mr. Franshaw’s,” ejaculated Joe.
+“Hurry up and see!”</p>
+
+<p>He spurted and so did Roy, and the wagon was
+reached before it had proceeded a quarter of a mile.
+True enough it belonged to the man they were
+seeking, who sat on the seat calmly smoking his
+brier root pipe.</p>
+
+<p>“Hullo, Joe Johnson, what are you doing away
+up here?” he cried, as the youth came alongside.
+“A pretty long and rough ride from your home.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ve got a letter for you,” answered our hero.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[202]</span>
+“Here it is. I was at your home and your man
+directed me how I could follow you.”</p>
+
+<p>The team was stopped and the communication
+examined.</p>
+
+<p>“I’m mighty glad you came after me,” said Mr.
+Franshaw. “I wouldn’t want to have missed this
+for a good deal. I was going to stay at Northfield
+until to-morrow, but I’ll come back as soon as this
+furniture is delivered. You can tell your father I’ll
+be on hand and will take up with that offer if Mr.
+Burns indorses the notes.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, sir.”</p>
+
+<p>“And if you boys want to get home with dry
+backs I advise you to hurry up. It’s going to storm
+in a little while,” added the man.</p>
+
+<p>He whipped up his team and left them where
+they had dismounted. Joe was about to follow
+Roy in mounting when he suddenly changed his
+mind.</p>
+
+<p>“I’m as hungry as a bear,” he said. “Let us
+tackle our lunch first. That will rest us and we can
+make home in a jiffy, for it’s more down hill than
+up.”</p>
+
+<p>Roy, too, was hungry, and readily agreed to his
+companion’s plan. They found a convenient resting
+place, near a spring where they could obtain
+water, and soon both were munching the sandwiches<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[203]</span>
+and cake with which their folks had provided
+them.</p>
+
+<p>It felt so agreeable to rest and to eat that they
+spent a much longer time in the spot than at first
+anticipated, and it was not until a low rumble of
+distant thunder startled them that they both leaped
+to their feet.</p>
+
+<p>“The storm is coming up!” cried Roy. “See how
+black the sky is getting! Come on, there’s not a
+minute to waste!”</p>
+
+<p>He crammed the last of his cake into his mouth
+and leaped into the saddle. Joe did the same, and
+away they went in the direction of the creek and
+the gypsy camp beyond.</p>
+
+<p>Scarcely a quarter of a mile had been covered
+when it began to rain. At first the drops came
+down scatteringly, but soon a perfect deluge seemed
+to descend upon them.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[204]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXI.<br>
+
+<small>THE GYPSY CAMP.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>“<span class="smcap">We</span> must find shelter or we’ll be soaked to the
+skin,” said Roy Crossley. “Do you see any kind
+of a building?”</p>
+
+<p>“No,” said Joe. “Not a blessed thing in sight.
+But if I remember rightly there was an old barn
+near that gypsy camp.”</p>
+
+<p>They passed the creek and made the turn toward
+the gypsy’s squatting place, but no barn came to
+view. By this time their sweaters were pretty wet
+and the rain was running over their caps and down
+their necks in anything but a comfortable fashion.</p>
+
+<p>“My gracious, but this is rough,” commented our
+hero dismally. “If we could——”</p>
+
+<p>He got no further, for his front wheel had slipped
+on the wet road. There was a twist and a wobble,
+and over he went. Roy, directly behind, had to
+leap off to save himself.</p>
+
+<p>“Are you hurt?” he asked anxiously, as Joe
+arose painfully.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[205]</span>“Yes, I scraped my knee,” gasped our hero.
+“Riding home with it is going to be no picnic.”</p>
+
+<p>“Are you sure you can ride?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll try, anyway.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe mounted and went a short distance—bringing
+them into sight of the gypsy’s camp. He gave a
+groan and dropped rather than stepped to the road.</p>
+
+<p>“I can’t do it. If that barn was handy——”</p>
+
+<p>“Here’s the gypsy camp,” began Roy. “I suppose
+they’ll take us in if we pay them.”</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t want to go among those dirty creatures,”
+said Joe, with a shrug of disgust. “They might—here
+come three of the men now!”</p>
+
+<p>He was right. Through the rain the gypsies had
+seen his mishap, and now they came forward with
+various offers of assistance.</p>
+
+<p>“Come in the wagon out o’ the wet,” said one,
+who appeared to be something of a leader. “We’ll
+give you some liniment for your knee.”</p>
+
+<p>The boys did not wish to accept, but the three
+gypsies insisted, and against their will they went
+along, Roy trundling the machines and the gypsy
+leader catching Joe by the arm to make walking on
+the injured limb easier.</p>
+
+<p>The wagon into which they were invited was
+large enough to hold a score of persons, but it had
+such an untidy look and smelled so strongly of musty<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[206]</span>
+bedding and tobacco smoke it nearly made both of
+the boys sick.</p>
+
+<p>“You can put the bicycles under the wagon,”
+said one of the gypsies. “Here is the medicine for
+your knee,” and he brought out a black bottle
+which smelled of turpentine.</p>
+
+<p>Two of the gypsies entered the wagon with the
+boys, while the third hurried off to join the men in
+another shelter. Somewhat against his wishes, our
+hero’s knee was bathed. The stuff put on burned
+considerably, and it is doubtful if it did any good.
+While the bathing was going on the gypsies talked
+loudly and continuously, and after it was over one
+of the men offered both a drink from a pocket flask,
+which they promptly declined.</p>
+
+<p>“Wont drink, eh,” said the man. “You don’t
+know what is good.” He gave a coarse laugh.
+“Where are you from?”</p>
+
+<p>Roy told them, and the two men exchanged
+glances. It was still raining as hard as ever, and
+the second man proposed that they play a game of
+cards to while away the time.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t know how to play,” said Roy.</p>
+
+<p>“Then I’ll tell your fortunes,” said the gypsy,
+and immediately set to work, telling them of a
+dozen wonderful things which were to happen to
+both of them in the course of their lives.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[207]</span>“You are both going to meet with a loss soon,”
+said the man presently. “Two bicycle riders from
+Greenpoint are going to play a dirty trick on you.
+One of the men is a tall fellow, with a squint in his
+eye; the other is short and stout. Look out for
+them, they are your enemies.”</p>
+
+<p>The man spoke earnestly, looking them squarely
+in the face as he addressed them. Had they believed
+at all in fortune telling they might have
+imagined that there was some truth in his statement.
+As it was their faces took on a perplexed
+look, at which the man winked at his companion on
+the sly.</p>
+
+<p>An hour or more was spent in the wagon, and
+then the sudden shower began to let up. Joe had
+been rubbing his knee and now declared himself
+able to proceed. But the gypsies insisted that they
+wait until the road had dried up a bit.</p>
+
+<p>“There is no use to hurry,” said one. “We are
+not charging you for staying here.”</p>
+
+<p>“No, nor for telling our fortunes,” put in the
+other. “Make yourselves at home until the sun
+shines again.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’m afraid it won’t shine much before it sets,”
+said Roy. “If your knee will permit, we’ll start
+now,” he added to Joe. “As it is, we won’t get
+home until dark.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[208]</span>He was close to the back flap, and throwing it
+aside, leaped out. Our hero followed more carefully,
+and both looked around for their bicycles.
+The machines were gone!</p>
+
+<p>“What did you do with our wheels?” asked Roy
+of the gypsies.</p>
+
+<p>“Why, you placed ’em under the wagon,” was
+the reply.</p>
+
+<p>“They are gone,” burst out Joe. “Did that
+other man take them away?”</p>
+
+<p>“I guess not. I’ll ask him.”</p>
+
+<p>The gypsy called the leader who had left them
+when they had entered the wagon. He shook his
+head, declaring he had not seen the bicycles since
+Roy had placed them under the wagon.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, some one has taken them, sure,” said our
+hero, and he eyed the gypsies sharply.</p>
+
+<p>“Ah, I have it!” cried the man who had told
+their fortunes. “Did I not read it on the cards!
+Those two bicyclists from Greenpoint, the man with
+the squint and the short, stout man. They have——”</p>
+
+<p>“Do you think I believe any such stuff!” interrupted
+Joe. “Not much! You have our wheels,
+and I want you to produce them.”</p>
+
+<p>At this all of the gypsies who had gathered
+around looked dark.</p>
+
+<p>“We are not thieves, young fellow,” said the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[209]</span>
+leader. “It was your business to look after your
+machines, not ours. Now clear out about your
+business. We did all we could for you and it’s
+small thanks we are getting for it.”</p>
+
+<p>The gypsies looked so angry and aggressive that
+both lads were forced to retreat. But they only
+went as far as the road, as the gypsies made no
+attempt to follow them.</p>
+
+<p>“This is a nice fix,” grumbled Roy. “They have
+our wheels, I’m certain of that.”</p>
+
+<p>“So am I. The question is, how are we going to
+get our bicycles back?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’m sure I don’t know. Where do you suppose
+they have put them?”</p>
+
+<p>“Perhaps in their tent, or in one of the other
+wagons.”</p>
+
+<p>“They won’t dare keep them there.”</p>
+
+<p>“Of course not. At the first chance they’ll ride
+off on them and sell them in some city, after changing
+their looks and numbers.”</p>
+
+<p>“What had we better do?”</p>
+
+<p>“Pretend to go away, and then watch them,”
+said Joe.</p>
+
+<p>This advice was followed out. They walked
+along the road around a bend, then dove into the
+woods, coming up in the rear of the gypsy camp.</p>
+
+<p>For some time they saw nothing unusual. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[210]</span>
+gypsies came up to the front of their tent and commenced
+to eat around a newly made campfire. The
+meal over one of the members began to harness a
+pair of horses to one of the wagons.</p>
+
+<p>“That wagon must have our machines in it,”
+cried Roy. “I wonder where he is going?”</p>
+
+<p>“Hark,” said our hero. “I hear a horse and
+wagon on the road!”</p>
+
+<p>“Run out and see if it is any one who will help
+us,” cried his chum, and Joe ran out—to behold Mr.
+Franshaw, swinging along with his empty wagon
+at a lively gait.</p>
+
+<p>The youth drove into the woods again, but by
+running at a rate which hurt his knee not a little,
+he managed to reach the bend below the camp just
+as Mr. Franshaw was passing.</p>
+
+<p>The man was stopped and matters were explained
+to him. Of course he readily agreed to help the
+boys all he could.</p>
+
+<p>“But they are a dozen to us three,” he added.</p>
+
+<p>“So we must use strategy.”</p>
+
+<p>The gypsy wagon was now coming out on the
+road. It was a boxlike affair, without a cover, and
+in the bottom rested some objects covered with a
+piece of canvas.</p>
+
+<p>“He’s got your machines in that sure,” said Mr.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[211]</span>
+Franshaw. “Go for your friend and we’ll follow
+that wagon.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe ran into the woods once more and summoned
+Roy. Both boys secreted themselves in Mr. Franshaw’s
+turnout, which was then headed in the direction
+the gypsy’s wagon had taken.</p>
+
+<p>Scarcely half a mile was covered when the gypsy
+discovered that he was being pursued. He whipped
+his horse, and a lively race began, which for a long
+while was a case of nip-and-tuck.</p>
+
+<p>“We are gaining!” cried Roy at last. “Can’t
+you make him go faster, Mr. Franshaw?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll try. Go it, Billy! Git alang there!”</p>
+
+<p>And Billy did “git alang,” until the gypsy’s turnout
+was all but overhauled. Seeing he could not
+escape, the man slowed down.</p>
+
+<p>“We want our wheels,” demanded Joe sharply.</p>
+
+<p>“Who are you talkin’ to?” returned the fellow
+with a blank look, but without ceremony Roy
+leaped from one wagon to the other, and pulled the
+cover from the two bicycles.</p>
+
+<p>“Hang the luck!” growled the gypsy and sprang
+into the road. But Mr. Franshaw was after him,
+and struck him with the butt of his whip. Then
+Joe and Roy leaped in, and after a tough struggle,
+lasting fully ten minutes, the gypsy was overpowered,
+made to enter Mr. Franshaw’s wagon and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[212]</span>
+bound up with some bits of harness. Roy remained
+with the prisoner, while Joe undertook the task of
+driving the prisoner’s turnout; and in this fashion
+they journeyed to the nearest police station.</p>
+
+<p>Here the gypsy was held for trial, and in the
+meantime some officers went after the other gypsies,
+but failed to catch them, as they had left for parts
+unknown.</p>
+
+<p>It was late when the two boys arrived home to
+tell their story, and the excitement through which
+they had passed was sufficient to last them for some
+time to come.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[213]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXII.<br>
+
+<small>AN ACCIDENT ON THE WHEEL.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">The</span> days flew by, and business at the Johnsons’
+store continued to grow better and better, until the
+entire family felt that they were on the high road
+to prosperity.</p>
+
+<p>One day Dan Huxley, who played third base on
+the Rushers, came to our hero and asked him to
+take a drive out in the country to an uncle’s farm
+for some potatoes.</p>
+
+<p>The day was a fine one and both boys felt in
+excellent spirits.</p>
+
+<p>Just on the outskirts of the city they ran across
+Ralph Riley, a bicycle rider from Greenpoint, who
+was spinning along on his wheel.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll race you!” cried Ralph.</p>
+
+<p>“Done,” said Dan, and the race started.</p>
+
+<p>The horse was pulling a pretty heavy wagon, so
+he could not go very fast.</p>
+
+<p>Yet for a quarter of a mile it was nip-and-tuck
+between the horse and the machine.</p>
+
+<p>Then Ralph drew ahead.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[214]</span>“You’re beat!” he cried, as he went on.</p>
+
+<p>“I would like to have my machine and race you,”
+said Joe with a laugh.</p>
+
+<p>Just ahead of them the road made a turn around
+a clump of trees.</p>
+
+<p>On and on sped Ralph, with the wagon not far
+behind him.</p>
+
+<p>As he went around the curve his bicycle tipped
+too far in and he slipped down on the ground.</p>
+
+<p>“Whoa!” yelled Dan, as he tried to bring his
+horse to a stand.</p>
+
+<p>He did not wish to run over Ralph, who had
+rolled over on his back.</p>
+
+<p>Scarcely had Dan spoken when Joe let out a cry
+of horror. A spanking team attached to a heavy
+coach was coming from the other direction. The
+coach was whirling along at a lively gait, with the
+driver more than half asleep on the box.</p>
+
+<p>“Stop! Stop!” cried Joe, but the sleepy coachman
+paid no attention.</p>
+
+<p>“Stop!” yelled Dan. “Ralph, get up!”</p>
+
+<p>Realizing his danger, Ralph Riley attempted to
+do so. But his leg caught in his machine and down
+he went again.</p>
+
+<p>On and on came the heavy coach. In another
+moment the horses and all would pass directly over
+the prostrate boy’s body.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[215]</span>“Stop your team!” screamed our hero, and leaped
+to the ground.</p>
+
+<p>As quick as lightning he sprang over Ralph’s
+body and caught the nearest horse of the oncoming
+team by the bridle.</p>
+
+<p>It was a daring thing to do, for should he fall
+under the horses, Joe would be as bad off, if not
+worse, than his companion.</p>
+
+<p>Yet he did not mean to fall.</p>
+
+<p>The coach swerved to one side and the driver was
+almost shaken from his lofty seat.</p>
+
+<p>This aroused him and he clutched at the reins.</p>
+
+<p>“Phat are yez up to?” he bawled out.</p>
+
+<p>“Stop your team!” cried our hero. “Don’t you
+see where you are going?”</p>
+
+<p>“Be hivins!” howled the driver, and pulled up
+the team in double-quick order.</p>
+
+<p>Another step and Ralph would have been
+trampled under foot.</p>
+
+<p>As it was, one of the horses stepped on one
+wheel of the bicycle, bending several of the steel
+spokes.</p>
+
+<p>Ralph crawled to his feet and got out of the way
+as best he could.</p>
+
+<p>Then Joe let go the horse’s head.</p>
+
+<p>“Are ye hurted?” asked the driver anxiously of
+Ralph.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[216]</span>“No, but my machine is,” replied the boy.</p>
+
+<p>“Oi can’t help that! Git up, Billy! Git up,
+Nora!”</p>
+
+<p>He attempted to go on with his team. But Dan
+drew up across the road so he could not pass.</p>
+
+<p>“You settle for that broken wheel first,” said
+Dan.</p>
+
+<p>“To be sure he will!” cried Ralph.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s not me fault,” said the driver of the coach
+stubbornly.</p>
+
+<p>“It is.”</p>
+
+<p>“’Tis not. Now let me go past!”</p>
+
+<p>Dan would not budge, and added to this Ralph
+ran up in front of the coach, and so did Joe.</p>
+
+<p>At once the Irishman grew angry and reached for
+his long whip.</p>
+
+<p>“Oi’ll show yez a thing or two!” he howled, and
+made a crack at Ralph with his whip, but the boy
+leaped out of reach.</p>
+
+<p>“Here, don’t you hit my friend!” cried Joe.</p>
+
+<p>In his pocket he had an apple, which was large
+and rather hard.</p>
+
+<p>He pulled out the apple, and, just as the coachman
+made another strike at Ralph, he let drive.</p>
+
+<p>The coachman received the apple in one eye, and
+he let out a terrific yell and dropped his whip,
+which Ralph promptly picked up.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[217]</span>Swish! Swish!</p>
+
+<p>Around the driver’s legs wound the whip end,
+and the Irishman danced on the seat with pain.</p>
+
+<p>“There, now, we’ll call it square!” cried Ralph,
+as he threw the whip into the empty coach. “Now
+go about your business, and see you don’t drive over
+anybody else.”</p>
+
+<p>The coachman was frantic, but before he could
+do anything Dan and Joe drove past him, and Ralph
+got on his battered wheel and rode on.</p>
+
+<p>At a crossroads they came to a blacksmith shop,
+and here Ralph stopped off to have the spokes of his
+wheel straightened.</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Dan continued on their way until the
+latter’s uncle’s place was reached. Here the two
+boys had a right royal time in the orchards, picking
+and eating fruit.</p>
+
+<p>Dan’s uncle was with them, and while out in the
+orchard was called off for a little while by a
+neighbor.</p>
+
+<p>“There’s a fine apple tree,” said Dan. “Supposing
+I climb up and shake down a few of those choice
+apples?”</p>
+
+<p>“Go ahead, and do as you please,” said our hero.
+“I must confess, as far as I am concerned, I don’t
+want much more fruit.”</p>
+
+<p>“Pretty full, eh?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[218]</span>“Exactly.”</p>
+
+<p>Nevertheless, Joe gave Dan a boost up the tree.</p>
+
+<p>There were some particularly fine apples on the
+topmost limbs, and these Dan was bent on securing.</p>
+
+<p>Up and up he went, while our hero took it easy
+on the grass at the foot of the tree.</p>
+
+<p>Dan had just reached the top of the tree and
+secured some choice fruit, when a wild cry rang
+out, coming from the direction of the farmhouse.</p>
+
+<p>“Help! Samuel, come here, quick!”</p>
+
+<p>It was Dan’s aunt calling for her husband.</p>
+
+<p>“What’s up?” yelled Dan from the tree.</p>
+
+<p>“Your aunt wants help!” cried Joe. “I’ll go up
+and see what’s wrong.”</p>
+
+<p>And away he bounded as fast as his swift feet
+would carry him.</p>
+
+<p>As he came in sight of the farmhouse a thrilling
+sight met his gaze.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[219]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXIII.<br>
+
+<small>A TRAMP’S DOWNFALL.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Dan’s</span> aunt was having a desperate fight with a
+burly tramp, who, after being given a hearty dinner,
+had insisted on having money.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Parks—that was the lady’s name—refused
+to give him the cash, and at once the tramp grew
+abusive.</p>
+
+<p>The fellow was none other than Henderson, who
+had helped assault Joe at the old coal mine.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll help myself,” he said, and tried to go into
+the house.</p>
+
+<p>Then the lady screamed for help.</p>
+
+<p>“Ain’t no use ter call,” said the tramp. “Yer
+husband is up the road a good step. I seed him go
+away.”</p>
+
+<p>“You wretch! Get out of the house,” stormed
+Mrs. Parks.</p>
+
+<p>“I will—when I have what I want,” was the cool
+reply of the knight of the road.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[220]</span>He thought with only a woman around he could
+do as he pleased.</p>
+
+<p>He tried to throw the lady into a closet, and a
+desperate struggle ensued.</p>
+
+<p>In the midst of it Joe arrived and took in the
+situation at a glance.</p>
+
+<p>Our hero looked around for some weapon and
+espied a sickle lying on the cistern-top.</p>
+
+<p>“Let up there!” he cried, as he picked up the
+sickle. “Let up, or I’ll cut you with this!”</p>
+
+<p>And he flourished the sickle dangerously close to
+the tramp’s head.</p>
+
+<p>Henderson turned pale under his dirt when he
+saw our hero with the sharp-edged sickle.</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t cut me!” he shrieked.</p>
+
+<p>“Then let up on Mrs. Parks,” shouted Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“I wasn’t doin’ nuthin’.”</p>
+
+<p>“I know better.”</p>
+
+<p>“He wanted to rob us,” put in the lady.</p>
+
+<p>“Never stole a thing in my life,” said the tramp.
+“Ter tell the truth, I’m a bit queer at times in me
+upper story.” And he tapped his forehead.</p>
+
+<p>Our hero saw he was lying.</p>
+
+<p>“Hold him until my husband gets back,” suggested
+Mrs. Parks.</p>
+
+<p>“I will.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[221]</span>On hearing this the tramp attempted to run
+away, but Joe promptly tripped him up.</p>
+
+<p>At this moment Dan came running up, having
+come down out of the apple tree as fast as possible.</p>
+
+<p>Now he saw another against him, Henderson was
+more anxious than ever to get away.</p>
+
+<p>“Lemme go, I am out o’ me head,” he moaned.
+“De hot sun affected me.”</p>
+
+<p>“Did it?” said Joe.</p>
+
+<p>As he spoke he leaped back of the tramp and
+kicked the cover off of the cistern.</p>
+
+<p>Dan saw what he was up to and smiled.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, me head is affected by the heat,” went on
+the tramp.</p>
+
+<p>“Then we’ll cool it for you,” cried Joe.</p>
+
+<p>At a signal to Dan to help him he rushed at the
+dirty fellow.</p>
+
+<p>The lads caught the fellow by the collar and
+dragged him to the cistern.</p>
+
+<p>In vain Henderson struggled to free himself.
+They backed him to the opening and gave him a
+sudden push.</p>
+
+<p>He sat down, doubled up like a jackknife and
+disappeared with a loud splash.</p>
+
+<p>“Whow! whow! Let me out! I’ll be drowned.”</p>
+
+<p>In this fashion the tramp spluttered as soon as he
+could get his head above water.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[222]</span>When he stood up the cistern water was just up
+to his neck and he chattered from cold.</p>
+
+<p>“Stay in there and cool off,” cried Joe.</p>
+
+<p>And he and Dan kept watch over him while Mrs.
+Parks went off for Mr. Parks.</p>
+
+<p>The tramp begged piteously to be allowed his
+liberty, but the boys were obdurate.</p>
+
+<p>In a little while Mr. Parks came running in.</p>
+
+<p>“One of them pesky tramps, eh,” he said. “All
+right, I’ll fix him!” He ran to the barn and got
+his whip.</p>
+
+<p>“Now climb out and I’ll give you something to
+make you hustle,” he said.</p>
+
+<p>Henderson lost no time in trying to get out of the
+cistern.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as his shoulders showed above ground
+old Parks began to thrash him with the whip. He
+kept this up until the tramp was ready to run off.</p>
+
+<p>“Now, clear out,” he exclaimed. “And if I ever
+see you around this way again I’ll give you a dose
+of buckshot.”</p>
+
+<p>Henderson did not wait to reply.</p>
+
+<p>Dripping wet and aching in every limb he hobbled
+off.</p>
+
+<p>None of those present ever saw him again.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Parks was much pleased with what Joe had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[223]</span>
+done, and she presented our hero with a choice
+basket of fruit to take home.</p>
+
+<p>An hour later found Dan and our hero on the
+way back to Lockport.</p>
+
+<p>At the blacksmith shop they learned that Ralph
+had long since gone away on his wheel, which had
+been made as good as ever.</p>
+
+<p>After this adventure with the coach and with
+the tramp nothing of especial interest happened for
+a long while to come.</p>
+
+<p>Jee kept training himself on his wheel while Mr.
+Johnson and Paul ran the store and matters went
+very well all around.</p>
+
+<p>Joe would have gone into the store with his
+brother, but the whole family realized that it was
+the lad’s riding and acquaintanceship with wheelmen
+that brought in a good share of the trade. Even
+while on the road Joe managed to sell several
+bicycles and all at a good profit.</p>
+
+<p>And thus the fall passed and winter came on, and
+with the advent of snow came the time when Joe
+Johnson had an adventure he never forgot—an
+adventure as novel as it was thrilling.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[224]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXIV.<br>
+
+<small>LOST IN THE SNOW.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>“<span class="smcap">Joe!</span> Joe!” called Mrs. Johnson, as she entered
+her son’s bedroom, about twelve o’clock one bitter
+cold night in January. “Wake up. Your father
+is very sick.”</p>
+
+<p>“What’s the matter? Father sick?” asked the
+boy, springing up.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, he has taken cold, and complains of heart
+cramps. I do not know what to do. I have tried
+several things, but none of them seem to do any
+good.”</p>
+
+<p>“Shall I go for Dr. Weston?”</p>
+
+<p>“It would be best to have him. But it is awful
+cold out, and is snowing heavily.”</p>
+
+<p>“I won’t mind that, mother. I’ll hurry on my
+clothes and start at once.”</p>
+
+<p>“Do, then. Tell the doctor he must come at
+once.”</p>
+
+<p>“I will.”</p>
+
+<p>Having dressed himself in an incredibly short<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[225]</span>
+time, Joe put on his overcoat, wound a tippet
+around his neck and head, donned his hat and left
+the house. Dr. Weston lived on the other side of
+Lockport, and he had a mile’s journey to reach the
+residence.</p>
+
+<p>As we have said, it was bitter cold. The lazy,
+generous flakes whirled down to such a degree that
+nothing could be seen twenty feet ahead. Undaunted
+by this, however, our hero started courageously,
+and was soon well on his way, leaving
+behind him dog-trot footprints in the eight inches
+of snow that covered the ground.</p>
+
+<p>But running as fast as he could it was full half an
+hour before he reached the doctor’s residence. He
+was thoroughly tired by the run, and when he rang
+the bell he sat down on the piazza railing to rest
+himself.</p>
+
+<p>“Who’s there?” came through the speaking tube,
+in the familiar voice of the doctor.</p>
+
+<p>“It is I—Joe Johnson,” replied the boy.</p>
+
+<p>“What do you want?”</p>
+
+<p>“My father is very sick. Mother would like you
+to come and attend him at once.”</p>
+
+<p>“What is the matter?”</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t know exactly. He has a heavy cold,
+and complains of cramps in the heart.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then I’ll hurry as fast as I can. If you will<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[226]</span>
+wait ten minutes you can ride back with me in my
+cutter.”</p>
+
+<p>Now, undoubtedly, this would have been the best
+thing for Joe to do. But, like many another
+person in a similar situation, ten minutes seemed to
+him like an age.</p>
+
+<p>“No, doctor, I am much obliged,” he replied.
+“I’ll start at once and let mother know that you
+are coming.”</p>
+
+<p>“Very well, then,” answered Dr. Weston.</p>
+
+<p>Having rested himself, our hero started on the
+return. It was much colder now than it had been,
+and the soft flakes had given way to fine, hard particles
+which the wind drove piercingly into his
+face. The snow, too, lay deeper, and rendered his
+progress slow. In half an hour he found himself,
+thoroughly exhausted, only halfway home.</p>
+
+<p>“I wish I had accepted the doctor’s invitation to
+ride,” he said to himself, as he stood still for a
+moment, trying to catch his breath. “I don’t seem
+to be returning as fast as I came. I wonder if the
+doctor is behind me.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe listened attentively, but no sound broke the
+stillness. Occasionally a blast of wind swept
+through the trees, but that was all.</p>
+
+<p>“It won’t do for me to stand here,” he continued.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[227]</span>
+“I would freeze to death in five minutes,”
+and he staggered on through the blinding snow.</p>
+
+<p>But to walk through nearly a foot of snow is no
+easy task, and with the cutting north wind blowing
+directly in the face it is well-nigh impossible.</p>
+
+<p>Our hero grew colder and colder; it seemed to
+him that he had never been so cold before. Several
+times he missed the way, too, and once, when he
+stumbled, he rolled down into a hollow.</p>
+
+<p>This frightened him, and he tried his best to see
+ahead and keep in the right way.</p>
+
+<p>But now a drowsy sensation began to steal over
+him, and instead of being cold his body began to
+become of a sluggish warmth. His head sank down
+on his breast, and he felt, oh! so sleepy.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll sit down under the tree over there and rest
+for a moment,” he thought, and started to carry out
+his idea.</p>
+
+<p>Before he could take three steps he sank to the
+ground. He attempted to rise, but found he had
+not the strength to do so. The awful truth rushed
+to his mind:</p>
+
+<p>“I am to die in the snow!”</p>
+
+<p>Those were the last words Joe uttered.</p>
+
+<p>The wind blew and the snow came down faster
+than ever. It took but a few moments to cover
+him, and then no one would have suspected that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[228]</span>
+under that unbroken sheet of white lay a human
+form.</p>
+
+<p>It was nearly a quarter of an hour after Joe had
+summoned him that Dr. Weston entered the cutter
+which his colored boy brought from the stable, and
+started on his way to the Johnson home.</p>
+
+<p>He was well wrapped up in an immense fur overcoat
+and a couple of buffalo robes, and nothing but
+a small part of his face could be seen as he grasped
+the reins and guided his faithful horse, a magnificent
+bay, down the side street and out of the town.</p>
+
+<p>“Come, Hero, get up,” he called. “We must
+hurry, or we may be too late. Faster.”</p>
+
+<p>And Hero, being an intelligent horse, understood
+what was said and began to increase his speed.</p>
+
+<p>Soon they had left the town and were well on the
+road. Here the fury of the snowstorm was more
+felt, and the doctor, knowing that Hero would keep
+his gait, rode without urging, settled himself deep
+in the robes, and was soon lost in reverie.</p>
+
+<p>His meditations were interrupted by the sudden
+stop of Hero. He was thrown forward against the
+dashboard, and the shock brought him to his full
+senses in an instant.</p>
+
+<p>“Hello! What is the matter now?” he said to
+himself. “I wish I could see ahead.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[229]</span>But that was impossible. The blinding snow hid
+everything from view.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s no use. I must go on. Get up, Hero.”</p>
+
+<p>Hero would not get up. He only pawed the
+ground with his hoofs, and gave a loud snort.</p>
+
+<p>“Something must be the matter,” the doctor continued.
+“Perhaps there is something the matter
+with the harness. I suppose I will have to jump
+out and see.”</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Weston crawled from the robes, and carried
+out his idea. A careful examination convinced him
+that the entire running gear and all was in perfect
+order.</p>
+
+<p>“I can’t see what the matter is. Can’t you tell
+me, Hero?”</p>
+
+<p>Hero gave another snort. Then, greatly to the
+doctor’s surprise, pawed the snow carefully away in
+front of him, and lowering his head, grasped a dark
+object by his teeth and raised it up. Dr. Weston
+uttered an exclamation:</p>
+
+<p>“Great Cæsar! It’s Joe Johnson!”</p>
+
+<p>In the twinkle of an eye he placed the boy’s form
+in the cutter. Then Hero was set to the quickest of
+trots. The animal, in five minutes, brought the
+cutter to the Johnson’s cottage.</p>
+
+<p>Here Joe was taken in, and after hard work
+resuscitated. Mr. Johnson’s sickness proved but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[230]</span>
+slight, and the doctor turned all his attention to the
+half-frozen boy.</p>
+
+<p>It took a week for our hero to recover. When
+he came downstairs for the first time, and sat by
+the fire, he said:</p>
+
+<p>“It was queer, mother: just like going to sleep.”</p>
+
+<p>“It was a sleep, Joe,” replied his mother; and as
+she turned away she continued to herself: “And
+had it not been for intelligent Hero it would have
+been the sleep of death!”</p>
+
+<p>The winter passed and spring came on, and with
+the warmer weather Joe’s thoughts turned again to
+bicycling. An international contest had been
+arranged and this our hero determined to enter.</p>
+
+<p>Yet before this great race something occurred
+which showed more than anything else what a
+great rate of speed Joe could make on his wheel
+when the occasion demanded.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[231]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXV.<br>
+
+<small>SAVING THE TOWN.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">For</span> some time past the forest fires had been
+raging heavily in the dense growth to the northwest
+of Lockport, but as they were kept pretty
+fully under control but little apprehension was felt
+for the safety of the town.</p>
+
+<p>Guards were stationed at various points both
+night and day, and they gave the alarm whenever
+the fire gained in one direction or another.</p>
+
+<p>“It is a lucky thing that no fire has started in
+Huffman’s woods,” thought Joe as he rode home
+one evening after an unusually hard day’s training
+on his wheel. “If it did, and the wind should be
+just right, Greenpoint would suffer a good deal,
+unless every one was on guard and ready to fight it
+off. It’s a pity it doesn’t rain. Only half an inch
+of water in seven weeks is not enough to count.”</p>
+
+<p>On the day following it grew unusually close and
+sultry. There was a breeze from the north, too, but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[232]</span>
+it carried with it nothing that was in the slightest
+degree refreshing.</p>
+
+<p>“I must take a spin along the Forest Turnpike,”
+said our hero to himself. “It ought to be cool
+along there and down in the Hollow. I can’t stand
+it to wheel home along the old dusty road in this
+awful heat.”</p>
+
+<p>So, instead of turning to the west, he started off
+almost northwest, and was soon speeding along
+under the shade of the immense pine and other trees
+through which the Forest Turnpike had been cut
+four years previous.</p>
+
+<p>When he reached the upper end of the turnpike,
+where the Hollow road branched off, he found a
+nice shady spot, near a tiny brook, and, dismounting,
+threw himself on the grass and pine boughs to
+rest.</p>
+
+<p>He was over nine miles from home, and it was
+growing late, but he could not resist the temptation
+to linger and take it easy.</p>
+
+<p>“The coolest spot in the country, I really believe,”
+he thought lazily, as he threw his head and
+closed his tired eyes. “What a difference between
+this and that hot store of ours.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe lay quiet for perhaps ten minutes, then he
+gave a long sniff—another—and sprang up with a
+start.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[233]</span>What was that odor which was coming faintly to
+him from the woods on the other side of the brook?
+It smelled suspiciously like burning pine!</p>
+
+<p>He waited another moment and then gave several
+more sniffs. He was right, it was something burning!</p>
+
+<p>“Huffman’s woods must be on fire!” he thought,
+and immediately a worried look crossed his handsome
+face. He thoroughly understood the danger
+which the numerous forest fires brought.</p>
+
+<p>The wind began to blow through the trees and
+brush, and in another minute the smoke came drifting
+overhead and through the upper branches. Joe
+reached for his machine and started to mount.</p>
+
+<p>“I might as well be getting along,” he said, half,
+aloud. “There is no telling how far that fire,
+wherever it is, may reach before it is checked, it’s
+so awful hot to-day. If only the rain——”</p>
+
+<p>Joe got no further. There was a strange roaring
+which reached him from a distance, followed by a
+sudden rush of wind, and then—he could scarcely
+believe his eyes—several smoking and burning
+brands fell near him and further on up the road.</p>
+
+<p>“The fire is coming this way just as fast as ever
+it can,” he gasped. “My stars! Look at that!
+The whole woods will be afire in another ten<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[234]</span>
+minutes! I must go and give warning before it is
+too late!”</p>
+
+<p>In a twinkle he was on his machine and riding
+along the Hollow road at topmost speed, his form
+bent over the handles and every ounce of muscle
+put on the flying pedals. His hat blew off, but he
+paid no heed to this, his one thought being to outride
+the oncoming fire and warn Greenpoint people
+of their danger.</p>
+
+<p>Ahead of him was a steep hill, six hundred feet
+long, and up this he pushed desperately, the smoke
+and burning brands sweeping down on all sides of
+him. Once a hot cinder fell upon his neck, burning
+him severely and causing him to utter a sharp cry
+of pain. But not a second was lost; he knew only
+too well the value of every iota of time.</p>
+
+<p>And now the burning brands, flying hither and
+thither, set fire to the brush on either side of the
+narrow road, and it was as if Joe was riding
+through two walls of flames. The air grew stifling
+and he could scarcely breathe.</p>
+
+<p>“If I was only to the top of the hill I could coast
+down the other side,” he muttered to himself.
+“But it’s a good two hundred feet off yet, and I
+don’t seem to be getting ahead at all.”</p>
+
+<p>He endeavored to increase his speed, and the
+very desperateness of the situation lent him extra<span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[235]</span>
+strength. Up and up he went, avoiding the rough
+stones as best he could, and yet not daring to turn
+much from a direct course.</p>
+
+<p>Joe had almost gained the top of the hill when
+there came a furious blast of wind, filled with smoke
+and burning branches and leaves, that struck him
+directly in the face. Our hero bent back involuntarily
+and his bicycle came very nearly to a standstill.
+It looked as if he would be stopped at the
+very moment when the worst of the danger was left
+behind.</p>
+
+<p>But the brave youth recovered, and with one
+hand over his face and the other guiding his
+machine, he pushed manfully on until the crown of
+the hill was reached.</p>
+
+<p>Here the smoke and flying branches were nearly
+as thick as below, but the awful up-hill struggle was
+past and ahead lay a downward road stretching for
+over a mile.</p>
+
+<p>With a vigorous push on the pedals Joe started
+himself on the down grade and then placed both
+feet on the rests.</p>
+
+<p>Like a rocket the bicycle shot down the incline,
+gathering speed at every yard. To Joe it was as if
+they were fairly flying past the trees and rocks
+which lined the way. More than once the machine
+struck a small stone and bounded upward, lifting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[236]</span>
+him several inches out of the saddle. But he held
+on to the handles, feeling that it was not only a
+ride to save his own life, but also the lives of
+others.</p>
+
+<p>When the foot of the hill was reached Joe found
+that he had left the smoke and the burning brands
+in his rear.</p>
+
+<p>But the wind was still blowing his way—the way
+Greenpoint lay—and he realized that the fire was
+traveling fast behind him. Before the bicycle could
+slacken its speed he had his feet again on the pedals
+and was once more pushing on, determined to give
+the villagers all the time possible in which to save
+themselves and their goods.</p>
+
+<p>At last, almost exhausted from his spurting, he
+came in sight of the first house, that in which Ralph
+Riley lived. The family were just gathering about
+the supper-table as he spun up to the horse block.</p>
+
+<p>“The woods are on fire! Look out for yourselves!”
+he yelled, and, assured that his cry had
+been heard and understood, he dashed on.</p>
+
+<p>Next came Deacon Quilby’s home—a low, rambling
+place, surrounded by an old-fashioned hedge.
+The deacon sat on the piazza, looking over a new
+hymn.</p>
+
+<p>“Hullo! ridin’ most amazin’ fast—” he began
+when Joe cut him short.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[237]</span>“Huffman’s woods are in flames and the fire is
+coming this way. You had better get out, and
+quick, too, if you want to save your lives!”</p>
+
+<p>And before the deacon could utter a word in
+reply he was out of sight again.</p>
+
+<p>In three minutes more Greenpoint was reached,
+and, riding up and down the main street, Joe gave
+the alarm, which quickly spread. Men, women,
+and children came running from every house.</p>
+
+<p>It did not take long to decide upon what to do.
+The possibilities of a fire reaching the place had
+often been discussed, and plans had been laid to fit
+all kinds of invasions.</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll blow up the Bleekler cottage and Boren’s
+stable and the trees behind it,” said Seth Axtell,
+one of the leading merchants of Greenpoint. “And
+some of you can plow up as much of Cass’ field as
+you can. That ought to help us break the line of
+fire.”</p>
+
+<p>“It will,” said one of the hotel-keepers. “And
+if the Jackson cottage and stable are gutted with
+water I think we’ll escape, although some one ought
+to be on guard at every building with tubs of water
+and a wet blanket.”</p>
+
+<p>The men and boys went to work with a will, Joe
+among the rest. The women and girls, and even<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[238]</span>
+the children, did all they could to help, and the next
+half-hour was a busy one.</p>
+
+<p>The buildings mentioned were blown up with
+gunpowder and dynamite, and all of the <i>débris</i>
+carried off, and a half-dozen plows soon turned up a
+large expanse of fresh earth. Water was also used
+as freely as the state of wells and cisterns would
+permit.</p>
+
+<p>Before the half-hour was up the smoke and the
+flying sparks began to come toward the village,
+and inside of a quarter of an hour the entire forest
+to the north of Greenpoint was a mass of flames.</p>
+
+<p>The lurid blaze made the darkness of the evening
+as bright as day, and this blaze lasted until the
+rising of the sun on the following morning. All
+night long the villagers worked without ceasing,
+and the morning found them still at their various
+posts of duty.</p>
+
+<p>At eight o’clock it began to rain. At first the
+drops came down sparingly, but soon it began to
+pour steadily, and then every one knew that the
+terrible danger which had threatened them for
+fourteen hours was past.</p>
+
+<p>The village was filled with a thick, choking smoke,
+but no one cared for this. All went round from
+place to place, congratulating each other and thanking
+God for their deliverance.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[239]</span>And Joe was not forgotten. It was Deacon
+Quilby who started the thanks which were given
+him before he returned home.</p>
+
+<p>“If it hadn’t a-bin for Joe Johnson, Marthy and
+I would most likely hev been burnt up,” he said,
+with tears standing in his blue eyes. “He saved
+our lives, and I allow as he saved the village, too,
+God bless him!”</p>
+
+<p>Stirring as they had been, the incidents attending
+the forest fires in the district did not stop Joe
+from training for the championship race.</p>
+
+<p>He was out early and late, and often took Dick
+Burns and Ralph Riley along to pace him on a
+tandem which belonged to the former.</p>
+
+<p>The race was to come off in Boston, so it would
+be necessary for Joe to leave home several days
+previous to the event.</p>
+
+<p>“I must win—I simply must,” he said to himself
+more than a score of times.</p>
+
+<p>All his friends came on to see the races, including
+Dick, his sister Carrie, Charley, Ralph Riley, Dan
+Hukley, Sam Anderson, and Carl Lathrop. Wilbur
+Rand was also present, having entered the ten-mile
+event.</p>
+
+<p>Joe was very careful as to what he eat, for he
+knew his stomach must be in prime condition or he
+could not win.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[240]</span>Paul watched over his brother carefully nearly
+all the time.</p>
+
+<p>There was five hundred dollars at stake, and the
+championship besides.</p>
+
+<p>But unknown to them an enemy was at work.</p>
+
+<p>It was Lemuel Akers, who had become a gambler
+and heavy drinker.</p>
+
+<p>He heard how Joe was training, and set to work
+to defeat the youth he so hated.</p>
+
+<p>“He made me an outcast,” reasoned Lemuel
+Akers to himself. “Now I’ll ruin his chance of
+winning, see if I don’t, and then—we’ll settle old
+scores.”</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[241]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXVI.<br>
+
+<small>FOILING AN ENEMY.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">It</span> took Lemuel Akers quite some time to perfect
+his plans against our hero, for he realized that he
+would have to move cautiously.</p>
+
+<p>He kept out of sight of Joe and his friends, and
+none of them imagined the rascal was around.</p>
+
+<p>Joe had taken up his quarters at a private house
+in the suburbs of the city.</p>
+
+<p>Paul and Dick were constantly with him. The
+three ate, drank, and slept together.</p>
+
+<p>Two days before the great race was to come off
+Joe retired a little earlier than usual, after a substantial
+supper.</p>
+
+<p>There were a double and a single bed in the
+room. Joe and Paul occupied the double bed, while
+Dick slept in the other.</p>
+
+<p>All went sound asleep, and the room became
+quiet excepting for the irregular breathing of the
+trio.</p>
+
+<p>The window which overlooked a side addition to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[242]</span>
+the house was half-open, to admit fresh air into the
+bedchamber.</p>
+
+<p>A quarter of an hour went by, and then the form
+of a young man appeared on the roof outside of the
+window.</p>
+
+<p>The midnight prowler was Lemuel Akers. His
+coat was buttoned tightly about his neck, his hat
+was pulled over his eyes, and a handkerchief was
+tied partly over his face.</p>
+
+<p>As cautiously as a cat Lemuel approached the
+window and peered in.</p>
+
+<p>“All asleep,” he thought. “Now to work, and
+then we will see whether Joe Johnson rides in that
+race or not.”</p>
+
+<p>Without the slightest noise he entered the room.</p>
+
+<p>From his coat pocket he took a small bottle, and
+pouring some of the liquor it contained on a sponge,
+he approached the bed upon which Dick Burns lay.</p>
+
+<p>He applied the sponge to Dick’s nose.</p>
+
+<p>The sponge contained chloroform, and soon Dick
+was overcome.</p>
+
+<p>“Number one!” muttered Lemuel Akers to himself.</p>
+
+<p>Paul Johnson was next approached.</p>
+
+<p>As Lemuel was working with the sponge, Joe
+turned over on his other side.</p>
+
+<p>As quick as a flash Akers tried to drop down out<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[243]</span>
+of sight. In making the move his foot struck a
+rocking chair, causing a sharp noise.</p>
+
+<p>Instantly Joe sat up.</p>
+
+<p>“Who is there?” he cried. “Dick, was that
+you?”</p>
+
+<p>Of course, poor Dick could not answer. The
+question aroused Paul, who was but partly overcome.</p>
+
+<p>“Wha—what’s the matter?” he stammered.</p>
+
+<p>“Dick!” again called Joe.</p>
+
+<p>He looked toward his chum. Dick lay there so
+still that he grew full of fear and leaped out of bed.</p>
+
+<p>He almost landed on top of Lemuel Akers, who
+dodged and tried to find the door to the hallway.</p>
+
+<p>“Stop! stop!” called out Joe, and he made a
+dash after the intruder.</p>
+
+<p>He caught Lemuel by the arm.</p>
+
+<p>The young rascal threw him off, but Joe was
+plucky, and, though not yet fully aroused, he again
+went after his enemy.</p>
+
+<p>The two grappled by the door and rolled over
+and over on the floor, upsetting a table and a chair.</p>
+
+<p>By this time Paul was able to come to Joe’s
+assistance.</p>
+
+<p>“Let me go!” cried Akers.</p>
+
+<p>“Lemuel Akers!” cried Joe, as he recognized the
+voice.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[244]</span>“Did you hear what I said?”</p>
+
+<p>“I won’t let you go. What are you doing in
+this room?”</p>
+
+<p>“I—I got in by mistake.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, you won’t go out by mistake,” retorted
+Joe grimly. “Turn on the gas, Paul.”</p>
+
+<p>By this time the entire household was in commotion.
+Several came running to the room, asking
+what was the matter.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ve caught a thief, and worse,” said Joe. “Lie
+still, Lemuel.”</p>
+
+<p>“Lemuel Akers!” cried Paul Johnson, after the
+gas was lit.</p>
+
+<p>“What are you going to do with me?” whined
+Lemuel.</p>
+
+<p>He was now thoroughly cowed and utterly miserable.</p>
+
+<p>“You’ll find out soon enough,” replied Joe coldly.</p>
+
+<p>While some saw to it that the rascal did not
+escape, Joe and others attended to Dick, who soon
+came around all right, although he suffered with a
+headache all of the next day.</p>
+
+<p>Then Lemuel Akers was searched. The bottle of
+chloroform was taken from him, as was also another
+drug, something of a very harmful nature, which
+he had intended to administer to Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“You are too much of a villain to be allowed at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[245]</span>
+large,” said Joe. “Call an officer and have him
+taken to jail.”</p>
+
+<p>“Never!” cried Lemuel, and breaking his bonds,
+he leaped out of the room and down a back stairs.</p>
+
+<p>Joe had to wait to don his clothing. Then he
+went after the former bully of Lockport.</p>
+
+<p>The yard gained he caught a brief vision of the
+bully on the top of the back fence.</p>
+
+<p>“Come back!” he yelled.</p>
+
+<p>“To the Old Nick with you, Joe Johnson!” returned
+the bad boy, and then dropped from the
+fence and started down a lane as fast as his feet
+would carry him.</p>
+
+<p>In three seconds Joe was over the fence and in
+pursuit.</p>
+
+<p>It was now a question of speed between the two.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[246]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXVII.<br>
+
+<small>A BATTLE ON A RUNAWAY CAR.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">If</span> there was one thing which Lemuel Akers
+could do well it was run.</p>
+
+<p>At school he had often bested all opponents in
+contests of this sort.</p>
+
+<p>His legs were long and the way he placed one in
+front of the other was really remarkable.</p>
+
+<p>Our hero, on the other hand, had but rarely tried
+his speed.</p>
+
+<p>He could run at baseball or in a game of hare
+and hounds, but that was as far as it went.</p>
+
+<p>But Joe’s wind was good, and his legs long, and
+these counted for a good deal.</p>
+
+<p>Down the street went Lemuel, with our hero not
+over a hundred feet behind him.</p>
+
+<p>The thoroughfare was a little less than a quarter
+of a mile in length. It came to an end at the side
+of the Charles River.</p>
+
+<p>At the foot of the street’s dock rested a rowboat,
+and into this leaped the bully, and shoved himself
+well out.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[247]</span>When Joe reached the dock Lemuel was more
+than a hundred feet from shore.</p>
+
+<p>“Not to-day, Joe Johnson!” called out Lemuel
+tauntingly. “Some other day. Good-day!”</p>
+
+<p>And he started for the other side of the river.</p>
+
+<p>Joe did not know what to do, for no other boat
+was at hand.</p>
+
+<p>He watched Lemuel and saw the bully heading
+for the upper end of the river.</p>
+
+<p>“He must be bound for somewhere,” thought
+Joe.</p>
+
+<p>Although without a boat, our hero did not intend
+to give up the chase.</p>
+
+<p>Leaving the edge of the dock he hid behind some
+lumber.</p>
+
+<p>Soon he felt certain Lemuel was going up to a
+number of freight piers above.</p>
+
+<p>“If I only had my wheel,” thought Joe.</p>
+
+<p>Scarcely had this passed through his mind, when
+the sounds of hoofs reached his ears.</p>
+
+<p>Soon a horse attached to a light wagon hove into
+sight.</p>
+
+<p>On the seat of the wagon sat an old farmer.</p>
+
+<p>In a few words Joe explained the situation.</p>
+
+<p>“Will you drive me along the docks after that
+fellow?” he asked.</p>
+
+<p>“Certainly. Anything to catch a thief.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[248]</span>Joe sprang into the light wagon, and off they
+went for half a dozen blocks.</p>
+
+<p>Then our hero ran down to another dock.</p>
+
+<p>The boat was there, showing that Lemuel had already
+landed.</p>
+
+<p>At first Joe could find no trace of the bully, but
+presently he struck a boy who had seen him.</p>
+
+<p>“Went over toward the freight station,” said the
+urchin.</p>
+
+<p>And to the station our hero took his way.</p>
+
+<p>It was a busy yard. A dozen men were loading
+and unloading several trains of freight cars.</p>
+
+<p>A number of empties were standing around and
+Joe began to peer into first one and then another.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly he came face to face with Lemuel.</p>
+
+<p>The bully struck at him with a stick he had
+picked up.</p>
+
+<p>Joe caught the blow on the arm and hit Lemuel
+on the left ear.</p>
+
+<p>The bully rolled over on the car floor and clean
+out of the door on the opposite side.</p>
+
+<p>At that instant the train backed still further into
+the yard.</p>
+
+<p>By the time Joe could get to the other side of the
+track Lemuel was fifty feet away.</p>
+
+<p>He was running toward a train of empties which
+were just leaving the freight station.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[249]</span>He caught the next to the last car.</p>
+
+<p>At the top of his speed Joe came on.</p>
+
+<p>He made a desperate effort and caught the rear
+railing of the last car.</p>
+
+<p>It was hard work to pull himself up on the car.</p>
+
+<p>Then he crossed the top and let himself down
+into the car Lemuel had entered.</p>
+
+<p>The bully tried to fight him off, but a sudden
+curve in the track threw him down on his back.</p>
+
+<p>The curve nearly caused our hero to lose his life.
+But he held fast, and a second later dropped in
+through the open side door and right on top of
+Akers.</p>
+
+<p>A fierce fight ensued. The bully did his best to
+throw Joe from the car, and on the other hand our
+hero fought to bring the bully to submission.</p>
+
+<p>At last Joe was successful. He struck Lemuel
+squarely between the eyes, and the bully fell down
+as if laid out with a club.</p>
+
+<p>When he came to, Joe had tied his hands behind
+him with a handkerchief.</p>
+
+<p>“Now, if you try any more funny work I’ll give
+you some more,” said our hero by way of a warning.</p>
+
+<p>Finding himself a prisoner, Lemuel began to beg
+of our hero to let him go.</p>
+
+<p>“It was only a joke,” he said.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[250]</span>“It’s a joke which will cost you dear,” replied our
+hero grimly.</p>
+
+<p>“But look here,” went on the bully. “Let me
+go and I’ll make it worth your while?”</p>
+
+<p>“Can’t do it.”</p>
+
+<p>Then Lemuel offered our hero a big sum of
+money if allowed to escape.</p>
+
+<p>It was his share of another robbery he had committed.</p>
+
+<p>To tell the truth, Lemuel Akers had become a
+criminal of the first order.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll not let you go for all the gold in the
+neighborhood, and that ends it,” said Joe.</p>
+
+<p>He had just spoken when there came a sudden
+jar and a jolt.</p>
+
+<p>The car came to a standstill and then began to
+move backward.</p>
+
+<p>It kept going backward faster and faster.</p>
+
+<p>In alarm Joe looked out of the door.</p>
+
+<p>Then he realized the truth.</p>
+
+<p>The car and the one behind it had broken away
+from the rest of the train.</p>
+
+<p>He and Lemuel were on a runaway car and going
+along a down grade at a speed of a mile a minute!</p>
+
+<p>The bully saw that something was wrong and he
+grew pale on the instant.</p>
+
+<p>“What’s the matter?” he gasped.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[251]</span>“The car has cut away from the main train and
+along with the rear one is running away,” replied
+our hero.</p>
+
+<p>Then he sprang to Lemuel’s side.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll release your hands,” he went on, “so that
+you will have as good a chance as I for your life.”</p>
+
+<p>He quickly untied the handkerchief.</p>
+
+<p>The bully began to tremble from head to foot.</p>
+
+<p>“Do you think we will be—be killed?” he
+gasped.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t know what will happen. Better stand
+by the door and be prepared to jump off.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe stepped to one door, and, trembling in every
+limb, Lemuel went to the other.</p>
+
+<p>On and on swept the cars down.</p>
+
+<p>Down around a curve.</p>
+
+<p>A switch appeared.</p>
+
+<p>The cars were now running at a fearful rate of
+speed, and at the switch they both jumped the
+track.</p>
+
+<p>There was a series of bumps, a jerk, and then
+came a fearful crash of splintering wood.</p>
+
+<p>Joe went sailing through the air. He landed on
+his back in a pool of meadow water, and then knew
+no more.</p>
+
+<p>When he came to his senses a dozen men were
+bending over him. He had been taken from the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[252]</span>
+pool and placed on a number of coats spread out on
+the dry grass.</p>
+
+<p>“He’s coming around now,” he heard somebody
+say, and then sat up and stared about him.</p>
+
+<p>Near at hand lay both cars completely smashed.</p>
+
+<p>The crowd was composed of railroad men and included
+the regular hands of the train.</p>
+
+<p>It was some time before Joe could tell his story.</p>
+
+<p>The crowd listened with interest.</p>
+
+<p>A search was made for Lemuel Akers, and he
+was found lying but a short distance away, fearfully
+injured.</p>
+
+<p>“Get a doctor!” he groaned. “Oh, my leg!
+Oh, my leg!”</p>
+
+<p>An examination was made and the limb was
+found to be broken.</p>
+
+<p>Both Joe and his enemy were placed on another
+train and taken back to Boston.</p>
+
+<p>They were met by Joe’s friends and the police.</p>
+
+<p>Joe was at once taken to his stopping place and
+everything was done to put him into condition
+again.</p>
+
+<p>Lemuel was removed to a hospital. Later on he
+was charged with entering, and sent to prison for
+one year. Joe could have preferred a more serious
+charge, but he did not want to be too hard on the
+fellow.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[253]</span>“It’s the fault of his training as much as anything,”
+he said to Dick. “The whole Akers crowd
+are not worth their salt.”</p>
+
+<p>“You are right, Joe,” replied Dick. Then he
+shuddered. “How thankful I am that we escaped.”</p>
+
+<p>“So am I.”</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[254]</span>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXVIII.<br>
+
+<small>THE RACE—GOOD-BY TO THE BICYCLISTS.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">The</span> great race track was literally jammed with
+people.</p>
+
+<p>And why not? Were not the very best riders in
+the country to compete there for supremacy?</p>
+
+<p>Joe felt it was the event of his life.</p>
+
+<p>“It is do or die!” he said to himself, almost desperately.</p>
+
+<p>He wanted to win. It meant much to him—money,
+fame, and better business for the family;
+for if he won Joe was to become the representative
+of one of the largest wheel concerns in the State.</p>
+
+<p>For two weeks he had been preparing for a race
+that was to last less than five minutes.</p>
+
+<p>It was a good deal of preparation for such a short
+event.</p>
+
+<p>The first race on the programme was that in
+which Wilbur Rand was one of the starters. Despite
+the fact that he had fine riders against him,
+Rand came in second, winning several hundred
+dollars.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[255]</span>Then came half a dozen other events.</p>
+
+<p>“Joe! it’s time to go on!”</p>
+
+<p>Dick had called him.</p>
+
+<p>Was everything in apple-pie order?</p>
+
+<p>Paul Johnson made a most minute examination.</p>
+
+<p>“All O. K. as far as I can see, Joe,” he said.
+“And now, good luck to you. Show them your
+best.”</p>
+
+<p>Out into the ring rode our hero.</p>
+
+<p>Ten thousand voices greeted him, for a boy is
+always a favorite.</p>
+
+<p>“The best-hearted rider that ever lived,” said
+many.</p>
+
+<p>Each man rode around the track several times.</p>
+
+<p>Then the starter called them together.</p>
+
+<p>“Gentlemen, are you all ready?”</p>
+
+<p>A silence so intense that one might have heard a
+pin drop followed.</p>
+
+<p>Crack!</p>
+
+<p>At the sound of the pistol seven bicyclists bent to
+their pedals and shot ahead like so many arrows
+from a single bow.</p>
+
+<p>“A beautiful start!”</p>
+
+<p>“Perfect! The best yet!”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s going to be the closest race on the programme.”</p>
+
+<p>“See them go, boys!”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[256]</span>And go they did, flashing by the spectators like
+an express train.</p>
+
+<p>The first half-mile was passed.</p>
+
+<p>Time for the leader, one minute two seconds.</p>
+
+<p>Joe was the fourth man; time, one minute three
+seconds.</p>
+
+<p>On and on they went.</p>
+
+<p>A mile is covered.</p>
+
+<p>Time for the leader, two minutes ten seconds.</p>
+
+<p>Joe is now third; time, two minutes nineteen
+seconds.</p>
+
+<p>On and on they flash, making each turn at breakneck
+speed.</p>
+
+<p>The crowd goes frantic.</p>
+
+<p>A mile and a half has been covered.</p>
+
+<p>Time for the leader, three minutes thirty-one
+seconds—the terrific pace is telling.</p>
+
+<p>But Joe is striving manfully for second place.
+Time for second and third men, three minutes
+thirty-four seconds.</p>
+
+<p>And now the last half is on.</p>
+
+<p>See them go! It is the great struggle of the
+giants.</p>
+
+<p>Joe is riding as he never rode before.</p>
+
+<p>But now what is he up to?</p>
+
+<p>The crowd hold their breaths and then break out
+into a perfect roar.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[257]</span>He has not yet reached his limit.</p>
+
+<p>He is spurting, faster than ever.</p>
+
+<p>He fairly runs away from the second man.</p>
+
+<p>Now he is crawling up behind the leader.</p>
+
+<p>In vain the rider tries to shake him off.</p>
+
+<p>Joe knows exactly what he is doing.</p>
+
+<p>He keeps behind the leader until the very last
+stretch is reached.</p>
+
+<p>And then?</p>
+
+<p>Can that really be our hero who is bending down
+over the handle bar, his feet twinkling so rapidly
+that one can scarce see them?</p>
+
+<p>Joe has let himself out to the full limit.</p>
+
+<p>A wild, daring, marvelous rush, the like of which
+had never before been witnessed, and the leader is
+passed, and Joe comes over the tape the winner
+by three yards!</p>
+
+<p>Time, four minutes forty-seven seconds!</p>
+
+<p>The record has been completely smashed, and Joe
+is the champion two-mile bicycle rider of the country.</p>
+
+<p>He goes on half a lap before he stops. Then,
+amid the applause of the immense crowd, he wheels
+around the track and into the outstretched arms of
+Paul, his father, and Dick Burns.</p>
+
+<p>A hundred hands are thrust out to shake his own,
+but he is hurried to his dressing-room, there to be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[258]</span>
+rubbed down and to receive medical attention if it
+be necessary.</p>
+
+<p>“He’s the boy!” cries Charley Osborne.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s right,” says Sam Anderson. “They
+can’t beat our Joe.”</p>
+
+<p>“The nicest rider on the track,” is what Carl and
+Larry add.</p>
+
+<p>Carrie Burns says but little, but the bright smile
+she gives Joe speaks volumes.</p>
+
+<p>That evening our hero is dined and toasted, and
+on the following day the purse of five hundred dollars
+in gold is presented to him at a great public
+banquet.</p>
+
+<p>Carrie Burns is there, as well as Joe’s relatives
+and friends, and Joe is the happiest young man on
+the face of the globe.</p>
+
+<p>And here let us leave him—in the midst of his
+successes. He is settled down now, having married
+Carrie Burns, the sweetheart of his boyhood days.
+He is interested in a large bicycle manufacturing
+company and is rapidly growing rich. Let us wish
+him and all who surround him well.</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>Perceived 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 75952 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
+
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+
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+
+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
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+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+book #75952 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/75952)