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| author | pgww <pgww@lists.pglaf.org> | 2025-09-03 22:22:01 -0700 |
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| committer | pgww <pgww@lists.pglaf.org> | 2025-09-03 22:22:01 -0700 |
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diff --git a/76812-h/76812-h.htm b/76812-h/76812-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..39c5740 --- /dev/null +++ b/76812-h/76812-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11332 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + Fighting for fortune | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} +.p4 {margin-top: 4em;} +.p6 {margin-top: 6em;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + +hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 47.5%; margin-right: 47.5%;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + min-width: 70%; +} + +.tdl {text-align: left;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} /* page numbers */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.left {text-align: left;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:small; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} + +.tiny {font-size: 50%;} +.small {font-size: 75%;} +.medium {font-size: 125%;} +.large {font-size:150%;} +.sig {text-align: right; margin-right: 2.5em; } + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowe15 {width: 5em;} +.illowe60 {width: 60em;} + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76812 ***</div> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe60" id="cover"> + <img class="w100" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Cover"> +</figure> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center">“<i>The true test is when they buy it a second time</i>”</p> + +<p class="center">ALGER SERIES No. 175</p> + +<h1 class="left">Fighting <i>for</i><br> +Fortune</h1> +</div> + +<p><i>By</i> <span class="smcap large">Roy Franklin</span></p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Street & Smith Corp.</span><br> +<span class="smcap">Publishers</span> · <span class="smcap">New York</span> +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="medium nobreak" id="BOOKS_THAT_NEVER_GROW_OLD">BOOKS THAT NEVER GROW OLD</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center large">Alger Series</p> + +<p class="center">Clean Adventure Stories for Boys</p> + +<p class="center medium">The Most Complete List Published</p> + + +<p>The following list does not contain all the books that Horatio Alger +wrote, but it contains most of them, and certainly the best.</p> + +<p>Horatio Alger is to boys what Charles Dickens is to grown-ups. His +work is just as popular to-day as it was years ago. The books have +a quality, the value of which is beyond computation.</p> + +<p>There are legions of boys of foreign parents who are being helped +along the road to true Americanism by reading these books which are +so peculiarly American in tone that the reader cannot fail to absorb +some of the spirit of fair play and clean living which is so characteristically +American.</p> + +<p>In this list will be included certain books by Edward Stratemeyer, +Oliver Optic, and other authors who wrote the Alger type of stories, +which are equal in interest and wholesomeness with those written by +the famous author after which this great line of books for boys is +named.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT</i></p> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<h3>By HORATIO ALGER, Jr.</h3> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1—Driven from Home</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">2—A Cousin’s Conspiracy</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">3—Ned Newton</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">4—Andy Gordon</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">5—Tony, the Tramp</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">6—The Five Hundred Dollar Check</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">7—Helping Himself</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">8—Making His Way</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">9—Try and Trust</span><br> +10—Only an Irish Boy<br> +11—Jed, the Poorhouse Boy<br> +12—Chester Rand<br> +13—Grit, the Young Boatman of Pine Point<br> +14—Joe’s Luck<br> +15—From Farm Boy to Senator<br> +16—The Young Outlaw<br> +17—Jack’s Ward<br> +18—Dean Dunham<br> +19—In a New World<br> +20—Both Sides of the Continent<br> +21—The Store Boy<br> +22—Brave and Bold<br> +23—A New York Boy<br> +24—Bob Burton<br> +25—The Young Adventurer<br> +26—Julius, the Street Boy<br> +27—Adrift in New York<br> +28—Tom Brace<br> +29—Struggling Upward<br> +30—The Adventures of a New York Telegraph Boy<br> +31—Tom Tracy<br> +32—The Young Acrobat<br> +33—Bound to Rise<br> +34—Hector’s Inheritance<br> +35—Do and Dare<br> +36—The Tin Box<br> +37—Tom, the Bootblack<br> +38—Risen from the Ranks<br> +39—Shifting for Himself<br> +40—Walt and Hope<br> +41—Sam’s Chance<br> +42—Striving for Fortune<br> +43—Phil, the Fiddler<br> +44—Slow and Sure<br> +45—Walter Sherwood’s Probation<br> +46—The Trials and Triumphs of Mark Mason<br> +47—The Young Salesman<br> +48—Andy Grant’s Pluck<br> +49—Facing the World<br> +50—Luke Walton<br> +51—Strive and Succeed<br> +52—From Canal Boy to President<br> +53—The Erie Train Boy<br> +54—Paul, the Peddler<br> +55—The Young Miner<br> +56—Charlie Codman’s Cruise<br> +57—A Debt of Honor<br> +58—The Young Explorer<br> +59—Ben’s Nugget<br> +60—The Errand Boy<br> +61—Frank and Fearless<br> +62—Frank Hunter’s Peril<br> +63—Adrift in the City<br> +64—Tom Thatcher’s Fortune<br> +65—Tom Turner’s Legacy<br> +66—Dan, the Newsboy<br> +67—Digging for Gold<br> +68—Lester’s Luck<br> +69—In Search of Treasure<br> +70—Frank’s Campaign<br> +71—Bernard Brook’s Adventures<br> +72—Robert Coverdale’s Struggles<br> +73—Paul Prescott’s Charge<br> +74—Mark Manning’s Mission<br> +75—Rupert’s Ambition<br> +76—Sink or Swim<br> +77—The Backwoods Boy<br> +78—Tom Temple’s Career<br> +79—Ben Bruce<br> +80—The Young Musician<br> +81—The Telegraph Boy<br> +82—Work and Win<br> +83—The Train Boy<br> +84—The Cash Boy<br> +85—Herbert Carter’s Legacy<br> +86—Strong and Steady<br> +87—Lost at Sea<br> +88—From Farm to Fortune<br> +89—Young Captain Jack<br> +90—Joe, the Hotel Boy<br> +91—Out for Business<br> +92—Falling in with Fortune<br> +93—Nelson, the Newsboy<br> +94—Randy of the River<br> +95—Jerry, the Backwoods Boy<br> +96—Ben Logan’s Triumph<br> +97—The Young Book Agent<br> +</p> + + +<h3>By EDWARD STRATEMEYER</h3> + +<p> +98—The Last Cruise of <i>The Spitfire</i><br> +99—Reuben Stone’s Discovery<br> +100—True to Himself<br> +101—Richard Dare’s Venture<br> +102—Oliver Bright’s Search<br> +103—To Alaska for Gold<br> +104—The Young Auctioneer<br> +105—Bound to Be an Electrician<br> +106—Shorthand Tom<br> +107—Fighting for His Own<br> +108—Joe, the Surveyor<br> +109—Larry, the Wanderer<br> +110—The Young Ranchman<br> +111—The Young Lumberman<br> +112—The Young Explorers<br> +113—Boys of the Wilderness<br> +114—Boys of the Great Northwest<br> +115—Boys of the Gold Field<br> +116—For His Country<br> +117—Comrades in Peril<br> +118—The Young Pearl Hunters<br> +119—The Young Bandmaster<br> +120—Boys of the Fort<br> +121—On Fortune’s Trail<br> +122—Lost in the Land of Ice<br> +123—Bob, the Photographer<br> +</p> + + +<h3>By OLIVER OPTIC</h3> + +<p> +124—Among the Missing<br> +125—His Own Helper<br> +126—Honest Kit Dunstable<br> +127—Every Inch a Boy<br> +128—The Young Pilot<br> +129—Always in Luck<br> +130—Rich and Humble<br> +131—In School and Out<br> +132—Watch and Wait<br> +133—Work and Win<br> +134—Hope and Have<br> +135—Haste and Waste<br> +136—Royal Tarr’s Pluck<br> +137—The Prisoners of the Cave<br> +138—Louis Chiswick’s Mission<br> +139—The Professor’s Son<br> +140—The Young Hermit<br> +141—The Cruise of <i>The Dandy</i><br> +142—Building Himself Up<br> +143—Lyon Hart’s Heroism<br> +144—Three Young Silver Kings<br> +145—Making a Man of Himself<br> +146—Striving for His Own<br> +147—Through by Daylight<br> +148—Lightning Express<br> +149—On Time<br> +150—Switch Off<br> +151—Brake Up<br> +152—Bear and Forbear<br> +153—The “Starry Flag”<br> +154—Breaking Away<br> +155—Seek and Find<br> +156—Freaks of Fortune<br> +157—Make or Break<br> +158—Down the River<br> +159—The Boat Club<br> +160—All Aboard<br> +161—Now or Never<br> +162—Try Again<br> +</p> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p>In order that there may be no confusion, we desire to say that +the books listed below will be issued during the respective months in +New York City and vicinity. They may not reach the readers at a +distance promptly, on account of delays in transportation.</p> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p class="center">To be published in July, 1926.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdl">163—Poor and Proud</td><td class="tdr">By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">164—Little by Little</td><td class="tdr">By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">165—The Sailor Boy</td><td class="tdr">By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p class="center">To be published in August, 1926.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdl">166—The Yankee Middy</td><td class="tdr">By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">167—Brave Old Salt</td><td class="tdr">By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p class="center">To be published in September, 1926.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdl">168—Luck and Pluck</td><td class="tdr">By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">169—Ragged Dick</td><td class="tdr">By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p class="center">To be published in October, 1926.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdl">170—Fame and Fortune</td><td class="tdr">By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">171—Mark, the Match Boy</td><td class="tdr">By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p class="center">To be published in November, 1926.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdl">172—Rough and Ready</td><td class="tdr">By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">173—Ben, the Luggage Boy</td><td class="tdr">By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p class="center">To be published in December, 1926.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdl">174—Rufus and Rose</td><td class="tdr">By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">175—Fighting for Fortune</td><td class="tdr">By Roy Franklin</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">176—The Young Steel Worker</td><td class="tdr">By Frank H. MacDougal</td></tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="medium nobreak" id="A_CARNIVAL_OF_ACTION">A CARNIVAL OF ACTION</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center large">ADVENTURE LIBRARY</p> + +<p class="center medium">Splendid, Interesting, Big Stories</p> + + +<p>This line is devoted exclusively to a splendid type of adventure +story, in the big outdoors. There is really a breath of fresh air in +each of them, and the reader who pays fifteen cents for a copy of this +line feels that he has received his money’s worth and a little more.</p> + +<p>The authors of these books are experienced in the art of writing, +and know just what the up-to-date American reader wants.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT</i></p> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p class="center medium">By WILLIAM WALLACE COOK</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1—The Desert Argonaut</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">2—A Quarter to Four</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">3—Thorndyke of the Bonita</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">4—A Round Trip to the Year 2000</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">5—The Gold Gleaners</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">6—The Spur of Necessity</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">7—The Mysterious Mission</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">8—The Goal of a Million</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">9—Marooned in 1492</span><br> +10—Running the Signal<br> +11—His Friend the Enemy<br> +12—In the Web<br> +13—A Deep Sea Game<br> +14—The Paymaster’s Special<br> +15—Adrift in the Unknown<br> +16—Jim Dexter, Cattleman<br> +17—Juggling with Liberty<br> +18—Back from Bedlam<br> +19—A River Tangle<br> +20—Billionaire Pro Tem<br> +21—In the Wake of the Scimitar<br> +22—His Audacious Highness<br> +23—At Daggers Drawn<br> +24—The Eighth Wonder<br> +25—The Cat’s-paw<br> +26—The Cotton Bag<br> +27—Little Miss Vassar<br> +28—Cast Away at the Pole<br> +29—The Testing of Noyes<br> +30—The Fateful Seventh<br> +31—Montana<br> +32—The Deserter<br> +33—The Sheriff of Broken Bow<br> +34—Wanted: A Highwayman<br> +35—Frisbie of San Antone<br> +36—His Last Dollar<br> +37—Fools for Luck<br> +38—Dare of Darling & Co.<br> +</p> + +<p>In order that there may be no confusion, we desire to say that +the books listed below will be issued during the respective months in +New York City and vicinity. They may not reach the readers at a +distance promptly, on account of delays in transportation.</p> + + +<p class="center">To be published in July, 1926.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdl">39—Trailing <i>The Josephine</i></td><td class="tdr">By William Wallace Cook</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">40—The Snapshot Chap</td><td class="tdr">By Bertram Lebhar</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="center">To be published in August, 1926.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdl">41—Brothers of the Thin Wire</td><td class="tdr">By Franklin Pitt</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">42—Jungle Intrigue</td><td class="tdr">By Edmond Lawrence</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">43—His Snapshot Lordship</td><td class="tdr">By Bertram Lebhar</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="center">To be published in September, 1926.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdl">44—Folly Lode</td><td class="tdr">By James F. Dorrance</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">45—The Forest Rogue</td><td class="tdr">By Julian G. Wharton</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="center">To be published in October, 1926.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdl">46—Snapshot Artillery</td><td class="tdr">By Bertram Lebhar</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">47—Stanley Holt, Thoroughbred</td><td class="tdr">By Ralph Boston</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="center">To be published in November, 1926.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdl">48—The Riddle and the Ring</td><td class="tdr">By Gordon MacLaren</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">49—The Black Eye Snapshot</td><td class="tdr">By Bertram Lebhar</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="center">To be published in December, 1926.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdl">50—Bainbridge of Bangor</td><td class="tdr">By Julian G. Wharton</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">51—Amid Crashing Hills</td><td class="tdr">By Edmond Lawrence</td></tr> +</table> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2>Fighting for Fortune</h2> +<p class="p4 center">OR,</p> +<p class="p2 center medium">Making a Place for Himself</p> +<p class="p6 small center">BY</p> +<p class="center medium">ROY FRANKLIN</p> +<p class="center"> +Author of “The Lost Mine,” “On Fortune’s Trail,”<br> +“Winning by Courage,” et cetera.</p> +<p class="p4"> </p> +<figure class="figcenter illowe15" id="i1"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i1.jpg" alt="S AND S NOVELS"> +</figure><br> +<p class="center p4 tiny">(Printed in the U. S. A.)</p> +<p class="center p2 medium"> +STREET & SMITH CORPORATION<br> +<span class="small">PUBLISHERS</span><br> +79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York<br> +</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span></p> + +<p class="center small">Copyright, 1909</p> +</div> + +<p class="center">By STREET & SMITH</p> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p class="center">Fighting for Fortune</p> + + +<p class="center p6">(Printed In the U. S. A.)</p> + +<p class="center">All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign +languages, including the Scandinavian.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="FIGHTING_FOR_FORTUNE">FIGHTING FOR FORTUNE.</h2> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</h2> +</div> + + +<p class="center"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. A BOYISH CHOICE.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. LEFT BEHIND.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. THE SLY HAND OF THE ENEMY.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. “MAN OVERBOARD!”</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. AN AMAZING DISCOVERY.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. THE EIGHT-THOUSAND-DOLLAR CHECK.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. THE NIGHT FIRE.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. THE MORNING NEWS.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. TIM DEMANDS HIS DUES.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. A TELEPHONE MESSAGE.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. UNDER SUSPICION.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. THE RACE BETWEEN THE STEAMERS.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. THE FATE OF THE “WARRIOR.”</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. A LINK IN THE CHAIN OF MYSTERY.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. BEHIND PRISON BARS.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. HELPLESS AND HOPELESS.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII. STRANGE MYSTERIES.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII. TALK OF ESCAPE.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX. DIGGING THEIR WAY OUT.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX. THE FLIGHT FROM PRISON.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI. MARCUS BECOMES A DETECTIVE.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII. ON THE TRAIL.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII. AT MILLVILLE AGAIN.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV. WORSE AND WORSE.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV. DEAN MERCER IN JAIL.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI. CRAZY MEG’S MARK.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII. A FRUITLESS SEARCH.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII. RELEASED ON BAIL.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX. THE SECRET ENEMY.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX. MARCUS DISCOVERS A CLUE.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">CHAPTER XXXI. WHAT THE BOYS FOUND.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">CHAPTER XXXII. IN THE VALLEY.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">CHAPTER XXXIII. IN OLD MEG’S CAVE.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV">CHAPTER XXXIV. IN A HARD PLIGHT.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV">CHAPTER XXXV. STARTLING ADVENTURES.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI">CHAPTER XXXVI. TIM DOWNEY ARRESTED.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVII">CHAPTER XXXVII. THE RECKONING.</a><br> +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">A BOYISH CHOICE.</p> + + +<p>Dean Mercer drew a breath of relief as he stepped +from the musty law office of his former employer, Russell +Montague, into the open air. He knew that he +had made the most momentous decision of his life—a +decision which was to shape his whole future course +of action. In doing this he had abandoned a promising +law course, overcame the natural preference of his +parents and “struck out for himself,” as he put it.</p> + +<p>“I can’t bear the stifling old place!” he exclaimed, +giving vent to his feelings with a low exclamation of +exultation, as the fresh breeze from Lake Seneca cooled +his overheated temples. “Don’t that feel good—free, +just as I feel, free!</p> + +<p>“I do not blame Mr. Montague for wanting to keep +me, just as I was becoming useful, and thinking, as he +does, that he was doing father and mother a great<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span> +favor. I am grateful to him for his six months’ kindly +supervision of my fate, as he put it.</p> + +<p>“Mother was loath to have me leave, but father +could see more clearly than she that my heart was not +in it. They all have called it ‘a boyish choice.’ Strange +they all should have used the same words. But I am in +for it, and, make or break, I am going to win. Sleepy +old town, little do you realize that you are about to be +suddenly awakened.”</p> + +<p>Again the youthful speaker laughed softly to himself, +his handsome, manly countenance showing a firmness +of character not usually seen in a youth of seventeen.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a look of concern swept over his face, and +he started on a smart run toward the lake shore, murmuring +as he ran:</p> + +<p>“The <i>Warrior</i> is about to start. I shall miss my +passage.”</p> + +<p>Five minutes of his rapid advance brought Dean to +within a few yards of where one of the boats that plied +on the lake, between that town and another at the foot +of the lake, was chafing at its moorings. Catching +sight of her commander, Dean asked:</p> + +<p>“Is the <i>Warrior</i> about to start, Captain Weymouth?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span></p> + +<p>“Start? Bless you, lad, did you ever know the <i>Warrior</i> +to start on time? It will be a good two hours before +we leave our moorings.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, sir.”</p> + +<p>Then Dean added to himself:</p> + +<p>“I shall have ample time to see Judge Oglesby, as I +ought to, before leaving for Springfield. Hello! what’s +going on over yonder?”</p> + +<p>If everything was quiet about the wharf, Dean had +suddenly discovered that there was excitement reigning +but a short distance away, though nothing could +be seen to indicate trouble.</p> + +<p>Still cries of distress came from near at hand, and +a moment’s study of the situation told Dean that they +came from behind a pile of old boxes and barrels.</p> + +<p>Without further hesitation he sprang swiftly toward +the spot, and in a moment these bitter words, uttered +in a revengeful tone, came to his ears:</p> + +<p>“Stung again!”</p> + +<p>Biff—whack—biff! rang on the air, mingled with the +cries for “help!”</p> + +<p>Then Dean Mercer abruptly came upon a sight which +made his blood boil with indignation. A burly-framed +youth of eighteen had succeeded in throwing to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span> +ground a boy of nearly his age, but considerably +smaller, and was pummelling him most unmercifully.</p> + +<p>“Sass me, will ye?” half questioned, half answered +the belligerent bully, continuing to pound his victim +with unremitting vengeance.</p> + +<p>“Stop, Tim Downey!” fairly shouted Dean, who +had quickly recognized the bully.</p> + +<p>Then, without stopping for the other to cease his +beating, if he would, Dean seized the fellow by the collar +and hurled him backward a dozen yards, when the +other whirled about on his feet like a top for a moment, +to fall in a heap at last.</p> + +<p>The abused boy slowly staggered to his feet, rubbing +his eyes and staring stupidly upon Dean, as if he was +too bewildered to speak, which in truth he was. He +was considerably smaller than Dean, and a stranger +to him.</p> + +<p>“Has he hurt you very much?” asked Dean.</p> + +<p>“Broke me all up,” replied the latter. “And I was +just walking along without speaking to any one. +I——”</p> + +<p>“You crib every durned word you lisp!” cried Tim +Downey fiercely, regaining his feet at this juncture.</p> + +<p>Then seeing and recognizing Dean, he snapped:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span></p> + +<p>“So it’s you that hev durst to meddle in my ’fairs! +Drat yer picter, I’ll fix ye so ye won’t look in the glass +fer one good spell!”</p> + +<p>Tim had clenched his fists and was about to spring +on Dean, when the latter said, in a clear, ringing tone:</p> + +<p>“Lay a hand on me if you dare, Tim Downey.”</p> + +<p>“I do dare!” yelled the bully, suddenly making a +dash for the other.</p> + +<p>Tim could never tell just what took place in the next +half minute. But he soon found himself lying prone +upon the ground again. He got up slower than he +had before, his eyes filled with dirt and a stinging sensation +behind the ear where Dean Mercer’s fist had +landed. He stood glowering upon his victor without +speaking.</p> + +<p>Dean, seeing he had quite knocked out the bully for +the time, turned to speak to the boy he had rescued +from the other’s abuse.</p> + +<p>“You look like a stranger in Millville?”</p> + +<p>“I am, mister. My name is Marcus Ellison. I +sha’n’t forget the good turn you did me. I thank you, +and, if you don’t mind, I’ll be going. Hope the fellow +won’t make you any trouble on my account.”</p> + +<p>“Never fear for that.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span></p> + +<p>Seeing that the strange youth was anxious to be +going his way, Dean said nothing further to him, while +he again faced his enemy.</p> + +<p>“Mebbe ye think ye’ve done yerself up brown with +that, Dean Mercer. But I’ll do you up browner afore +I’m through with yer miserable meddling. I know a +thing or two that you don’t think I know,” and with +these words the bully hastily left the place, Dean looking +after him with a quizzical expression upon his +countenance.</p> + +<p>“Didn’t take long to stop that fuss,” he mused. “But +perhaps it isn’t ended as far as I am concerned. Tim +Downey has the reputation of being the worst boy in +town, but that does not mean that I need fear him. +Wonder what made that other boy in such a hurry.”</p> + +<p>Dean then came out from the dark corner into the +main street which ran nearly parallel with the waterline.</p> + +<p>Millville lacked but one quality to make it one of the +most beautiful and attractive places anywhere in the +country. That quality was life, a very essential element.</p> + +<p>Situated at the head of one of the most beautiful +sheets of water in our fair land, its broad bosom dotted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span> +with fairy-like islands, it was located so as to command +the business of a long line of towns running up +and down the lake. Summer tourists had already been +attracted here, and several villas and groups of cottages +had sprung up among the delightful groves that +covered its isles and lined its shore.</p> + +<p>Dean had not gone a dozen steps before he stopped +with a short whistle. He had seen a man rapidly approaching +him, and his name was called anxiously. He +saw at a glance that the newcomer was Mr. Montague, +his recent employer and master.</p> + +<p>“Whew!” panted the lawyer, quite out of breath with +his exertions, “I was afraid I should miss you, Dean.”</p> + +<p>“A delay in the starting of the steamer leaves me +here, Mr. Montague. Is there anything I can do for +you?”</p> + +<p>“You are going to Springfield?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Then I want you to do an errand for me. I forgot +it when you left my office, I was so flustered with your +leaving.”</p> + +<p>“Anything I can do for you, Mr. Montague, I will +gladly do.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span></p> + +<p>“I thought you would. Come with me to a side +street. It is something important and confidential.”</p> + +<p>Dean followed his friend away from the main thoroughfare, +though not a person was in sight at that moment.</p> + +<p>“I am going to intrust you with an errand, Dean, I +would not trust with another. Here is this wallet for +you to take to Springfield. It contains a thousand dollars +in money and papers that are more valuable than +the money. You remember the Ellison case?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. You mean the Robert Ellison who was tried +for murder?”</p> + +<p>“Exactly. But we appealed, and he is to be given +another chance. Well, I have found new evidence that +will clear him. The proof is in that wallet. Take the +papers and money to Mr. Durand, my associate at +Springfield, and hand him the package as soon as possible. +Mind you, do not let anyone else get it.”</p> + +<p>“I will guard it with my life, Mr. Montague.”</p> + +<p>“I know I can trust you, Dean. And I hope you +will have reconsidered your hasty leave of me, and resume +your law studies.”</p> + +<p>“I do not believe I ever shall, Mr. Montague.”</p> + +<p>“Time will show. Everything is made clear in those<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span> +papers, but if Mr. Durand wants me, I will come to +Springfield upon short notice. Good-day. The <i>Warrior</i> +must be about to start.”</p> + +<p>“Good-day, sir.”</p> + +<p>As the couple separated, each to go his way, the +scowling face of Tim Downey appeared around the +corner of a near-by building, and the tall, angular +figure of the young bully came into full sight, while +he watched the departure of Dean Mercer, muttering +under his breath as he did so:</p> + +<p>“So the wise Rube has fallen into a big pile of +money! A thousand dollars and something a feller +don’t understand. Guess he don’t size me up if he +thinks I’m going to slump on that.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">LEFT BEHIND.</p> + + +<p>Tim Downey was the worst boy in Millville. Everybody +in the village knew it, and Tim himself knew it, +and rather gloried in the fact.</p> + +<p>His parents were worthless, dissolute characters, who +lived on the sands north of the village, where a low +community of squatters and fishermen resided.</p> + +<p>Tim had been twice in jail for stealing, and was +avoided by all respectable boys in Millville.</p> + +<p>Unconscious of the discovery his enemy had made, +Dean Mercer walked with rapid steps in the direction +of the more attractive portion of the town, where the +better class of dwellings were to be found.</p> + +<p>One of the finest of these was the residence of Judge +Oglesby, and hither he was shaping his course. He +soon came in sight of the well-kept grounds with groves +of maples and birches, under whose cooling shade a +brawling stream ran zigzag across one corner. The +owner of this beautiful estate had left its surroundings +in their natural state, as far as it had been possible +without sacrificing his convenience.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span></p> + +<p>The concrete driveway ran under an iron arch hung +with electric lights of different colors and supported +by two massive stone posts. A pair of huge stone dogs, +as if on guard duty, crouched near the entrance to the +magnificent retreat inside.</p> + +<p>A bright boy of a dozen years was astride of one +of these mute sentinels as Dean approached, while a +pretty miss of fifteen, his sister, was warning him +against falling from his perch.</p> + +<p>At sight of the newcomer, the active youngster called +out with boyish friendliness that put to rout all pretension +to polite manners:</p> + +<p>“Hello, Dean! Papa is waiting for you.”</p> + +<p>Nodding to the youthful speaker, Dean bowed courteously +to the sister, as he met her gaze with a look of +admiration.</p> + +<p>“Yes; you will find papa in the library, Dean,” she +said, with a smile of welcome. “He told me to tell +you to come right in, though he has company. He is +such a strange-looking and acting man, too.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, Miss Eva. Did you learn his name?”</p> + +<p>“No; but papa said he was a fine sailor. He looks +and acts more like a big brown bear. And don’t you +think instead of ringing the door bell——”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span></p> + +<p>“He yelled like a pirate to the servants: ‘Avast +there, you lubbers! Ship ahoy!’” broke in the boy, +with enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>“Do be still, Manly,” admonished his sister. “What +is the mystery of all this, Dean?” she asked. “I am +sure you know, for papa hinted that he had enlisted you +in some new enterprise of his.”</p> + +<p>“And he also pledged me to secrecy, Miss Eva. If +you will watch the lake a few days, I think you will +discover the key to the mystery.”</p> + +<p>As she did not seem inclined to reply to this, Dean +continued his approach to the fine residence of his +wealthy friend.</p> + +<p>The owner must have been watching for him, as he +met him at the door and ushered him into his spacious +library without delay.</p> + +<p>“I am glad to see you, Dean. There is an important +matter of which I wish to speak, and besides, I wish +to introduce you to the captain of the <i>Spray</i>, who is +just now in the dining room doing justice to the viands +spread before him. You have notified Mr. Montague +of your intentions?”</p> + +<p>“I have, Mr. Oglesby, and I shall go down to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span> +Springfield on the <i>Warrior</i>, which will start in a short +time.”</p> + +<p>“Good. When you have anything to do you attend +to it at once. That is a trait I like. I wonder what +the colonel would say if he knew that two of his passengers +were about to become his rivals for traffic on +the lake?”</p> + +<p>“But you have a perfect right to enter into this undertaking, +Judge Oglesby. The people are clamoring +for it. It is needed. Millville has been owned body +and soul too long by two men, neither of whom has +shown any disposition to do the right thing.”</p> + +<p>“Brave for you, Dean Mercer!” cried the rich man, +clasping the hand of his youthful visitor with a hearty +grip. “That’s the kind of spirit I want to see. It is +the kind that hews its way through the most dense obstruction. +Only there is one thing I want you never to +say again. Don’t say ‘you,’ but say ‘we.’ It is true I +am furnishing the money, but there are fools that might +do that. You are furnishing the power to develop this +work. So we make a partnership, and it is <i>we</i> that are +doing this.”</p> + +<p>If Dean had made a bold assertion when he had said<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span> +that Millville was owned body and soul by two men, +there were not many in the town who would have +denied its truth.</p> + +<p>With all its natural features of advantage, its beautiful +scenery, its fortunate location, the dream of its +founders that it might become a prosperous and powerful +centre of population and business had not been +realized.</p> + +<p>This was due mainly to two men. One of these +was Squire David Littleton, who owned and operated +the line of stages running between Millville and Springfield, +the metropolis of that section of country. The +other man was Colonel Ebenezer Darringford, who +owned and operated the line of packets that plied up +and down the lake, getting a share of the public patronage.</p> + +<p>These lines were, in a way, rivals, and each operator +hated and did all he could against his competitor. Still +this rivalry did not, as is sometimes the case, improve +the situation. If the squire’s coaches were miserable +affairs, unfit to carry passengers, the colonel’s boats +were no better. Both had grown rich out of their business, +and the town had grown poor and helpless.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span></p> + +<p>Mr. Montague had spoken of this to Dean before the +latter had left him:</p> + +<p>“The people may grumble at the old shaky coaches +and the leaky, slow-moving packets, but they gain nothing +by their clamor, simply because this couple of old-timers +have got them by the throat.</p> + +<p>“They have talked of railroads and better steamers +upon the lake, and now that Judge Oglesby has moved +here with his money and political influence this talk is +revived. I do not see that the town is likely to profit +by it. He has only complicated the fight; given the +community another leech to suck its very life blood, +without the inclination or ability to improve its condition.</p> + +<p>“I can remember when Millville dreamed of being +a great centre for the trade of the surrounding country, +and her future looked bright. Now she sits in +sackcloth and ashes, an old, hopeless, frayed-out community, +looking with dimming sight upon the prosperity +of her sister towns.”</p> + +<p>Judge Oglesby showed that he had been thinking of +Mr. Montague when he next spoke, saying:</p> + +<p>“Mr. Montague has become a bit old-fashioned in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span> +his ideas, Dean. I remember he told me, with a good +deal of vinegar in his tone, when I mentioned that you +were to come with me: ‘Yes; you have filled his mind +with visions. This is called the age of the young man. +It is wrong—it is wrong. Does not the wisdom of +years count for more than the illusions of youth?’ +Now all you have got to do is to show him that you +are equal to your opportunity.”</p> + +<p>“I will, Judge Oglesby,” replied Dean firmly.</p> + +<p>“If I did not think you would, I should not have +selected you to carry out my plans. But there is no +need for me to review the situation. We have other +matters to talk of in the few minutes given us. I +would not have you miss your passage on the <i>Warrior</i> +for considerable. The <i>Spray</i> must be brought up in +the morning. There are important reasons for this.”</p> + +<p>“I await your directions, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Please be seated while I write a letter for you to +take along. Then we will talk over our business.”</p> + +<p>Judge Oglesby was a bright-faced man, whose kindly +countenance showed not only good nature, but the results +of correct habits. His desk was piled high with +letters and documents, proving that he had a busy day<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span> +before him. In fact, all days were busy ones with +Judge Oglesby.</p> + +<p>While he was waiting for his friend to write the +letter, Dean amused himself by looking through an +album, which he knew from the name on the flyleaf +belonged to Evaline Oglesby.</p> + +<p>He recognized but few of the portraits, and among +this limited number were the pictures of two that he +had strong reasons for disliking intensely. These were +the photographs of Rodney Darringford and Abner +Littleton, sons of the two men of whom he had spoken +to Judge Oglesby with so much decisiveness.</p> + +<p>While this couple were not friendly to each other, +he knew both fairly hated him. He realized, too, that +this hatred was likely to be increased within a few +days if the plans of Judge Oglesby and himself did not +meet with failure.</p> + +<p>Somehow, Dean, as unmanly as he knew it was, +could not help feeling somewhat piqued to find their +pictures in Evaline Oglesby’s album. But he was, fortunately, +interrupted in the midst of these unpleasant +reflections by the words of her father:</p> + +<p>“There you are, Dean, at last,” he said, folding carefully +the letter he had written, and placing, not only<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span> +that, but a check, in the envelope, which he handed, unsealed, +to him. The superscription read, written in a +bold hand:</p> + +<p class="center"> +BROWN, SEWALL & CO.,<br> +Shipbuilders,<br> +Springfield.<br> +</p><p> +By Dean Mercer.<br> +</p> + +<p>“Be careful of it, Dean,” admonished the judge. +“The check is for eight thousand dollars, and is to pay +the balance on the boat. You will attend to this part +of your business immediately upon reaching the city +and take possession of the boat.”</p> + +<p>“I understand, sir. But I did not know I was to go +alone.”</p> + +<p>“Well, not exactly. While I cannot go, as I had +planned, I have a man to accompany you. You see, it +was necessary to find a man to captain our boat, so I +sent to my lawyers to find me a man. He found us a +full set, crew and officers. One of them, at least, is a +study for the character reader. His name is Jack Carboy, +and he is to be the man at the wheel. Ha! here he +comes! Note how he speaks of our lake as a mud puddle, +and——”</p> + +<p>Before Judge Oglesby had finished his sentence, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span> +object of his remarks, a typical tar of sailing days on +the sea, entered the room with the peculiar rolling gait +of one used to a life upon shipboard.</p> + +<p>“Shiver my toplights, admiral, ’tain’t every watch-eend +ol’ Jack sets by sich a feast. Ahoy! what strange +craft is this?” The last words spoken in an interrogative +tone as the speaker caught sight of Dean.</p> + +<p>“Your new commander, who is to manage our enterprise,” +said the judge. “Mr. Mercer, allow me to introduce +to you Mr. Jack Carboy, who——”</p> + +<p>“Avast there! who dubs this ol’ salt a ‘mister’? Reef +yer flying jib and give ol’ Jack Carboy his due. Pardin’, +sir,” he quickly added, executing an admirable +naval salute, “I didn’t know it was the high admiral.”</p> + +<p>“Your pardon, Jack,” said the judge good naturedly. +“If your new captain is young, he is quick to learn.”</p> + +<p>“So he’s the skipper, is he?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Jack.”</p> + +<p>Carboy tugged at a stray lock at his brow and +scraped his foot backward in grotesque politeness.</p> + +<p>“Captain, sir!” he said half inquiringly.</p> + +<p>“No, no!” laughed Dean.</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes!” replied the judge spiritedly. “He’ll<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span> +need a little posting, Jack, but you and he must combine +efforts and help each other along.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll do that, sir!” cried Carboy. “His eye tells +me that I shall like him. As to bossing the boat, that’s +mere jaw work. It’s the man at the wheel that is the +real genius of the boat. That’s me, ho! ho!”</p> + +<p>Judge Oglesby talked with the twain for about five +minutes.</p> + +<p>“Now, then,” he said, “we understand just what is +to be done, don’t we?”</p> + +<p>“I think so, sir,” replied Dean. “The men to man +the new steamer are waiting for us at Springfield.”</p> + +<p>“Exactly. You will find the <i>Spray</i> all ready for +you.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that—what’s that, sir?” cried Carboy, with +a start of dismay.</p> + +<p>“The <i>Spray</i>.”</p> + +<p>“Is that the name of the steamer?”</p> + +<p>“It is.”</p> + +<p>“Sorry!” and Jack shook his head lugubriously.</p> + +<p>“Why, Jack?” exclaimed the amazed judge.</p> + +<p>“It’s a bad name.”</p> + +<p>“Bad name?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span></p> + +<p>“How so, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“Because I’ve sailed on two <i>Sprays</i>—one to Australia, +one to China, and both were wrecked at sea.”</p> + +<p>Judge Oglesby smiled at Carboy’s superstitious fears.</p> + +<p>“This is a lake, Jack,” he said reassuringly.</p> + +<p>But Carboy looked glum.</p> + +<p>“You’ve got the check safe, Dean?” asked the judge.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Then, good-by. I shall expect to see you back here +by to-morrow night.”</p> + +<p>“Surely, sir,” replied Jack Carboy. “Come, captain, +we’re started on the voyage at last!”</p> + +<p>Seeing no reason for further delay in starting for +the pier, Dean suggested that they go aboard the <i>Warrior</i> +at once. Accordingly, he and his quaint companion +bade the judge adieu and started toward the lake shore +at a rapid pace.</p> + +<p>They had barely got in sight of the pier when Dean +stopped with a low exclamation of surprise.</p> + +<p>“Look! See! We are too late!” he cried. “The +<i>Warrior</i> has left her moorings and is headed down the +lake!”</p> + +<p>“Ship ahoy!” bellowed Jack Carboy at the top of his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span> +stentorian lungs, while he dashed madly toward the +shore, closely followed by Dean Mercer.</p> + +<p>A crowd of boys witnessed their hasty advance, and +shouted after them in derision and mirth.</p> + +<p>“Hie, there, or your feet will run away with your +heads!”</p> + +<p>“See old brine roll along!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">THE SLY HAND OF THE ENEMY.</p> + + +<p>After what we have said of Tim Downey, it is to be +expected that he would act promptly in doing what he +could to baffle Dean Mercer in his purpose. Unexpectedly +he had come into possession of the other’s secret. +He had followed Dean Mercer to Judge Oglesby’s +house, and by means of an open window in the library +he had overheard the conversation about the new +steamer.</p> + +<p>If this had been no fault of Dean’s, it was Tim’s +good fortune, and he resolved to improve his advantage +to the utmost. Fired with the spirit of this discovery, +he started toward the pier, his crafty eyes lighting with +satisfaction as he murmured the words which indicated +his intentions:</p> + +<p>“I’ll see Rodney Darringford!” he chuckled. “Won’t +he be surprised? Won’t the old colonel be kerflummixed? +A new steamer! that cooks their dough sure.”</p> + +<p>Tim reached the pier. It was always a scene of +bustle and activity at leaving time. Juvenile Millville +loved to haunt the shadow of the steamer, and, besides,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span> +the <i>Warrior</i> carried considerable freight and many passengers +on its afternoon trip to Springfield.</p> + +<p>“Hey, boy! come here!”</p> + +<p>Tim had addressed a keen-eyed, ragged urchin.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” demanded the latter, eying Tim with +no great favor.</p> + +<p>“Want to earn a nickel?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I do, but you haven’t got one!”</p> + +<p>“Haven’t I? See here!” and Tim produced the designated +coin. “Come with me.”</p> + +<p>He led the way to where a pile of lumber shut out +a view of the boat.</p> + +<p>“Now, then,” he said, “you go aboard the steamer.”</p> + +<p>“What for?”</p> + +<p>“And find Rodney Darringford.”</p> + +<p>“All right, I know him!”</p> + +<p>“Tell him that Tim Downey wants to see him, and +bring him here.”</p> + +<p>“All right. Gimme the nickel.”</p> + +<p>“There it is.”</p> + +<p>The urchin scampered off. Tim sat down and waited +patiently for the result of his experiment.</p> + +<p>The place was secluded from the sight of people on +the pier, the only persons in sight being some children<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span> +down the beach, playing with an old box that had +floated ashore.</p> + +<p>It was, perhaps, ten minutes later when a shadow +fell across the sand in front of the waiting Tim. The +latter looked up; a boy about his own age stood before +him.</p> + +<p>He was better dressed than Tim; in fact, his garments +were of the latest style; but fine clothes did not +conceal a face that bore fully as much of craftiness and +evil as that of his companion.</p> + +<p>It was Rodney Darringford, the son of the wealthy +colonel, and clerk of the steamer <i>Warrior</i>.</p> + +<p>Rodney Darringford had of late been given employment +by his father as clerk of the <i>Warrior</i>, and Dean, +knowing this, was not at all in love with the idea of a +sail down the lake in his company.</p> + +<p>He was a vicious and ill-tempered boy, a dandy in +dress, prided himself as being a full-fledged “dasher” +in matters of juvenile dissipation, and had sneered at +Dean whenever he met him.</p> + +<p>An actual fisticuff row had resulted about a week +previously, in which Rodney was worsted, and several +Millville boys had informed Dean that Rodney “had it +in for him!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span></p> + +<p>Rodney’s brow was drawn in a deep furrow, and +he looked angry enough to fight Tim then and there.</p> + +<p>“Well!” he ejaculated coarsely, “Tim Downey?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Tim Downey!” chuckled Tim, a little aggressively +and defiantly, at Rodney’s contemptuous words +and manner.</p> + +<p>“You haven’t got any check, have you!”</p> + +<p>“Oh! enough to carry me through, I guess!” replied +Tim carelessly.</p> + +<p>“What did you send for me for?”</p> + +<p>“Business!”</p> + +<p>“I have none with you!”</p> + +<p>“Oh! yes, you have. See here, Mr. Rodney Darrington! +no airs with me, because I won’t stand it. I +sent for you because I wanted to see you, and I want to +see you because I want money.”</p> + +<p>“Well, get it.”</p> + +<p>“I intend to, and because I wanted to go to Springfield.”</p> + +<p>“Well, go!”</p> + +<p>“I intend to—on the <i>Warrior</i>. I want ten dollars +and a free ride to Springfield, and I want ’em from you, +and no back talk about it!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span></p> + +<p>Tim Downey’s face grew sullen as he noticed the +deepening scowl on Rodney’s face.</p> + +<p>“See here!” cried the latter angrily.</p> + +<p>“No, see here!” interrupted Tim savagely. “You +just do as I say, and no jaw about it, or I’ll peach on +you. You’ve been stealing! you have, and I know all +about it. You and Jem Vance, that drunken engineer +of yours, robbed a passenger, and stole two hundred +dollars of your father’s money.”</p> + +<p>“Shut up, you idiot,” gasped Rodney, with an +alarmed glance about them.</p> + +<p>“No, I won’t shut up. I know all about it. I’ll +shout it out to all Millville, if you don’t do as I say.”</p> + +<p>Rodney Darringford stood pale and trembling with +fear and rage, silent for some moments.</p> + +<p>He knew that Tim Downey spoke the truth. Tim +shared the secret of the crimes he had committed to +secure money to play billiards and “cut a dash” generally +in Millville.</p> + +<p>Secretly he chafed like a caged lion. He could +scarcely speak for anger, but he said finally:</p> + +<p>“All right, Tim Downey. You have got me in your +power, and I suppose you intend to keep me there; but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span> +look out—you may go too far some day. Come aboard +when the boat starts, and I’ll pass you. Mind you, +though, don’t you come sneaking around me as if you +knew me.”</p> + +<p>“All right—and the money?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll slip it to you during the trip. I hope you’re going +to Springfield to stay.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I ain’t,” grinned Tim maliciously.</p> + +<p>“Ain’t what?”</p> + +<p>“Going to Springfield to stay.”</p> + +<p>“What are you going for, then?”</p> + +<p>“To get work.”</p> + +<p>“You work!” sneered Rodney contemptuously.</p> + +<p>“Yes; me work!”</p> + +<p>“At what?”</p> + +<p>“Steamboating.”</p> + +<p>Rodney Darringford regarded Tim contemptuously.</p> + +<p>“Who’ll hire you?”</p> + +<p>“The new steamboat company.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, at Springfield—down the river?”</p> + +<p>“No; at Millville,” mimicked Tim, with the keenest +satisfaction at tormenting Rodney—“up the lake.”</p> + +<p>“What!” ejaculated Rodney.</p> + +<p>“Yes; up the lake.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span></p> + +<p>“The new steamboat company?”</p> + +<p>“Precisely.”</p> + +<p>“There ain’t any.”</p> + +<p>“Ain’t there?”</p> + +<p>“Not that I heard of.”</p> + +<p>“You ain’t in the secret.”</p> + +<p>“Are you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“A new company?”</p> + +<p>“With new boats. Judge Oglesby owns it, and your +dearest friend, Dean Mercer, is to be captain of the first +steamer, the <i>Spray</i>.”</p> + +<p>Rodney Darringford stared at Tim Downey as if he +found it impossible to credit his amazing story.</p> + +<p>He listened with an excited face as Tim proceeded +to tell how he had overheard the talk of the judge and +Dean and Carboy.</p> + +<p>“It ruins your business,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Ruins it? Say, Tim, are you sure there’s no mistake? +A new line of steamers. I must see my father. +Come aboard later,” and in a wild flutter of excitement, +Rodney darted away from the spot.</p> + +<p>Tim Downey chuckled. He enjoyed witnessing the +downfall of those above him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span></p> + +<p>“You young scoundrel. Is it you that my boy came +to see?”</p> + +<p>Tim Downey, about to stroll toward the steamer at +the pier, became suddenly conscious of the intrusion of +a portly form from behind the pile of lumber.</p> + +<p>At the same moment that the harsh tones sounded +on his hearing, a rough hand grasped his arm.</p> + +<p>Tim looked up, somewhat startled. Colonel Ebenezer +Darringford, pompous, red-faced, and unmistakably +intoxicated, glared down at him.</p> + +<p>“Hello, colonel!” muttered Tim.</p> + +<p>“Hello, colonel!” bellowed the wealthy shipowner. +“You young thief, I’ll cane you for your insolent familiarity. +See here, I saw my boy come here. He’s +been getting into bad company lately, and I’ve been +watching him. Did he come here to see you?”</p> + +<p>“He did, colonel.”</p> + +<p>“What about?”</p> + +<p>Tim drew a breath of relief. The colonel, then, had +not overheard their conversation.</p> + +<p>“About—well, you see, I’m only a poor boy!” +whined Tim hypocritically.</p> + +<p>“A thief and vagabond, you mean.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” murmured Tim humbly, dropping the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span> +vernacular in which he usually spoke. “Rodney has +got a kind heart in him, and he offered to take me free +to Springfield to get work.”</p> + +<p>“Hum! You work! What else? Out with it, you +reprobate. I can see by your eye that you are lying +to me.”</p> + +<p>“Well, sir, I told him about the new line of steamers,” +and in voluble words, Tim Downey revealed +Judge Oglesby’s scheme entire.</p> + +<p>His crafty eye twinkled covertly as he did it. A +deep plotter was Tim Downey, and he watched his victims +as he played his cards.</p> + +<p>If the son had been amazed, the father was fairly +petrified. He gasped, roared and raved.</p> + +<p>“A new line of steamers—Judge Oglesby—the interloper, +the scoundrel!” yelled the colonel, the liquor +he had drunk making a madman of him.</p> + +<p>He became quieted at last. Then he questioned Tim +closely.</p> + +<p>About to go, Tim approached him with an air of +mystery. He decided to make a bold move.</p> + +<p>“Colonel,” he said, “if the new steamers run on the +lake, it’s bad for you, ain’t it?”</p> + +<p>“Bad? it’s ruin!” groaned the colonel.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span></p> + +<p>“All right, sir. You know your business. I know +mine. You give me two hundred dollars afore we +reach Springfield, and the <i>Spray</i> don’t sail to-morrow, +nor next day, nor never.”</p> + +<p>The colonel started violently and stared at the presumptuous +boy who had dared to add to the torture +of dread of rivalry, a hint of dishonor and scheming.</p> + +<p>He uttered a cry of choleric rage, struck Tim a +sounding blow with his cane, and then in a passion, he +stalked away toward the pier.</p> + +<p>“So—ho!” exclaimed Tim, looking after the retreating +figure of the colonel with a wicked twinkle in has +eye. “I’ll fetch ye yet, ol’ ‘boozer,’” and with this +thought in his mind he followed the colonel on board +the packet.</p> + +<p>Fuming over what he had heard from Tim Downey, +no sooner had Colonel Darringford gained the boat +than he ordered that the <i>Warrior</i> start without longer +delay.</p> + +<p>In vain did the captain ask for more time to complete +the repairs he felt were necessary. The owner +would not brook the loss of any more time.</p> + +<p>This was how the boat left her pier before Dean +Mercer had expected her to start.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">“MAN OVERBOARD!”</p> + + +<p>Unmindful of the jeers and jibes hurled at their +heads, Dean Mercer and Jack Carboy stopped abruptly, +as they saw that their efforts were in vain.</p> + +<p>The <i>Warrior</i> was already moving steadily down the +lake and beyond their recall.</p> + +<p>“Shiver my timbers!” yelled Jack, “ye hev shipped +without your crew, ye blasted shell o’ a land-locked sea.”</p> + +<p>While Jack was greatly disturbed over the disappointment +of losing passage on the <i>Warrior</i>, Dean felt +his defeat more keenly.</p> + +<p>Besides the mortification of having been left behind +by what looked like his own negligence, he realized that +for two or three reasons it was necessary for them to +get to Springfield that evening.</p> + +<p>They were expected to bring up the new boat, and +to fail at the outset portended failure rather than success +in their undertaking.</p> + +<p>But of even more importance to Dean was the discharge +of the errand intrusted to him by Mr. Montague. +In this case a human life was at stake. If he should<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span> +fail to reach Springfield in season to deliver the papers +in his care as they should be, it was possible that an +innocent person would suffer for his neglect.</p> + +<p>The successful man is he who can act quickly in an +emergency. That is the one great secret of success.</p> + +<p>Fortunately Dean Mercer was prompt in his decisions. +While his companion stormed like a September +gale over their disappointment as he watched the old +steamer fast disappearing from his sight, Dean recollected +that the stage for the lower towns started about +the same time as the boat.</p> + +<p>“There is another chance for us, Jack!” he cried +enthusiastically. “I think we shall be in season to take +the stage to Landlock, where we can take the packet +to Springfield, providing we can get there before the +boat.”</p> + +<p>“Avast there, younker—I mean high admiral!” +and Jack, instead of completing his sentence, executed +a salute in token of his blunder.</p> + +<p>Hurried, impatient, excited, Dean Mercer, knowing +he had no time to waste if he would accomplish his purpose, +darted swiftly along the street, Jack following as +best he could.</p> + +<p>But the latter soon found himself unequal to the gait<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span> +set him by his young companion, and, stopping short in +his laborious advance, he bellowed at the top of his +lungs:</p> + +<p>“Ship ahoy! reef yer topsails or this ol’ craft’ll +ground!”</p> + +<p>Dean Mercer, awakened to what he was doing, +quickly came to a standstill, turning an inquiring gaze +upon his companion, who was puffing and blowing like +a porpoise.</p> + +<p>“Shiver (puff) my (puff) toplights (puff), admiral +(puff-uff-ff). Ye’ve left (puff) crew, coxswain and +man at the wheel (puff) in the weather eye.”</p> + +<p>“Pardon me, Jack,” said Dean. “I was so anxious +I forgot you could not keep pace with me in this race. +The fact is, we have got to hurry or we shall miss the +stage.”</p> + +<p>“Then let her kite in the wind’s eye, and leave this +ol’ craft ahind. Blast my picter, lad—I mean, admiral, +axin’ yeh pardin, didn’t I tell ye to h’ist yer jib and +kiter? Ol’ Jack’ll foller as soon as he gits his bearings +and his ballast in this land-lubbered v’yage.”</p> + +<p>“Hello, Dean!” called out a familiar voice at Dean’s +elbow, before he could reply. “We’re in luck. But +what’s up?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span></p> + +<p>It was Mr. Montague speaking, and as soon as he +could recover his self-composure, Dean saw the boy he +had saved from the vengeance of Tim Downey beside +the latter.</p> + +<p>“Excuse me, Mr. Montague. We have missed the +<i>Warrior</i>, and we are on our way to catch the stage for +Landlock.”</p> + +<p>“Missed the <i>Warrior</i>?” asked the lawyer incredulously. +“That’s a pretty go.”</p> + +<p>“It is, Mr. Montague. You see, she started before +we expected. But I think we can intercept her at Landlock +by cutting across the country by the stage. That +is, if the stage has not got started.”</p> + +<p>“So you can, Dean. And if the stage has got started +you must take a team. That will do it. Excuse me. +This is Marcus Ellison, the son of Robert Ellison, +whose papers I gave you. The boy is anxious about +his father, so he has come to see me. Now you and +he can go to Springfield together.”</p> + +<p>Marcus Ellison held out his hand, saying frankly:</p> + +<p>“I remember you, Mr. Mercer, if you do not me. I +am the boy you saved from the pummelling of that +wharf bully.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span></p> + +<p>“I am glad to meet you again, and under more pleasant +circumstances, Mr. Ellison.”</p> + +<p>“I told Marcus the papers were with you, and now +I turn him over to your care.”</p> + +<p>“We will get to Springfield all right, Mr. Montague. +I will now hand the papers and money over to him.”</p> + +<p>“You may keep them until we get to Springfield,” +said Marcus, who was a frank, pleasant youth for +whom Dean quickly conceived a strong liking.</p> + +<p>“I will see that you have them safely. But if Jack’s +recovered his wind, we’ll start again for the stage.”</p> + +<p>“Heave ahead, ol’ lad—I mean admiral!” said Jack +Carboy, bowing and scraping in true nautical politeness +to his companions. “This ol’ craft’s got its bearings +ag’in; square the yards for a fresh breeze.”</p> + +<p>Dean, hastily bidding adieu to Mr. Montague, resumed +his way, Marcus keeping close beside him, while +old Jack did his level best to keep along.</p> + +<p>The Landlock stage left the stable of an old-time hostelry +standing a little south of the main street running +away from the shore, and thither Dean hastened.</p> + +<p>“There’s the stage just starting!” he cried.</p> + +<p>Marcus Ellison saw a lumbering vehicle drawn by a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span> +pair of horses coming out of the yard in front of the +dilapidated old stable.</p> + +<p>“Here, driver! hold up a moment,” shouted Dean.</p> + +<p>The grizzled stage driver was in the act of taking his +whip from its socket to swing the long lash in the air, +as was his custom, winding up with a terrific cracking +of the lash, for which he was famous, when Dean’s +voice rang on his ears.</p> + +<p>The horses seemed to know as well as their master +what was wanted, and they came to an immediate stop, +while old Jim Dolittle looked askance upon the approaching +trio.</p> + +<p>“We want passage to Landlock, Jim,” explained +Dean.</p> + +<p>“The hull of you?” asked the driver, as he ran his +eye over the approaching three.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Jim. You can take us?”</p> + +<p>“Not more’n one on ye. Stage full to running over +now.”</p> + +<p>From a hasty survey Dean saw that he had four passengers, +which left room for at least three more.</p> + +<p>“You surely can take us all, Jim? We must all go.”</p> + +<p>“Hang yer ‘musts’! I ain’t obleeged to take more +passengers ’n I wanter.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span></p> + +<p>“This is a public conveyance and you——”</p> + +<p>“Drat the public. I reckon I ain’t obleeged to over-load +my hosses jess co’s’ there’s a public. Get up there, +boys! Show a light heel, old Thunderbolt! Rattle +yer hoofs, Spotted Dan!”</p> + +<p>Finding that the driver was not inclined to stop for +him, Dean Mercer sprang nimbly upon the crossbar of +the whiffle-tree, and the next moment took a seat beside +Jim Dolittle, the old stager.</p> + +<p>Marcus Ellison showed that he was not a whit less +prompt or nimble than his companion, for by this time +he had gained a perch upon the top of the vehicle.</p> + +<p>In the midst of this scene, which called forth the +wondering exclamations of the regular passengers, to +say nothing of the ejaculations of the old driver, the +stentorian call of Jack Carboy could be heard for half +a mile:</p> + +<p>“Ahoy! lay to, yer land lubbers.”</p> + +<p>“Stop, Jim!” called out Dean smartly. “My friend +has got to get to Landlock with us. You can take us +as well as not.”</p> + +<p>Seeing that he was dealing with one who would not +be stopped, muttering over something about “hot-headed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span> +boys!” the stager pulled up his horses to wait +for the old sailor.</p> + +<p>Puffing and snorting his rage over the race he had +had, Jack Carboy soon reached the side of the coach.</p> + +<p>“Throw the life line,” he cried. “Blast yer picters, +how’s a-one going to get aboard this craft?”</p> + +<p>Jack quickly swung himself upward to a seat beside +Dean, when Jim Dolittle whirled his long blacksnake +whip with some avail, the horses snorted after a manner +which was music to his ears, and the old coach +went rattling and bouncing along the country road at +a merry pace.</p> + +<p>“This seems like business,” declared Dean. “Here +we go, Jack.”</p> + +<p>Jack Carboy, clinging to his seat with both hands, +made no reply.</p> + +<p>The road along which the old stage was drawn by +the stout horses proved rough and hilly, so that at times +the coach was given fearful jolts. Occasionally a cry +would come from one of those within the vehicle calling +for moderation in speed where the condition of the +highway was worst, but the grim old driver, aroused +by the addition of his late passengers, no doubt, seemed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span> +determined to get his revenge, proof of which was +given in his muttered words:</p> + +<p>“I’ll gin ’em ’nough on’t. As if I didn’t know when +I had load ’nough.”</p> + +<p>“Ho! reef yer topsails!” roared Jack, as they thundered +down a long, sharp descent. “By the harpoon o’ +Neptune! these seas be the roughest I ever sailed. Hi!”</p> + +<p>They were turning an angle in the road, while the +horses were pounding furiously forward, when the old +spring on the off side snapped like rotten twine, and the +body of the coach suddenly lurched in that direction, as +if it was going to collapse entirely.</p> + +<p>A chorus of cries from the passengers inside rang +above the furious sounds, while the startled group was +thrown into a struggling body of men and women.</p> + +<p>But it fared worst than this with Marcus Ellison, +who was riding on top of the reeling stage. The violence +of the mishap caused him to lose his hold upon +the railing of the coach top, and before he could recover +himself he was flung through the air into the +dense bushes fringing the highway.</p> + +<p>Seeing his doubled-up form flying through the space, +Jack Carboy bawled:</p> + +<p>“Hi, there, skipper! man overboard!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">AN AMAZING DISCOVERY.</p> + + +<p>Dean Mercer saw the tumble of his friend with dismay, +thinking he would be killed, but the stage driver +did not seem to notice the catastrophe. In fact, he +seemed to be oblivious of the damage done to the old +coach as he continued to let his horses fly down the +road at a headlong rate, his only aim appearing to be +to keep them along the middle of the highway.</p> + +<p>Jack Carboy, however, was very much alive to the +situation, and, as the stage thumped along, he stormed +out in no uncertain tone for him to stop.</p> + +<p>Apparently enjoying the mad gait they were making, +the driver paid no heed to the command of the excited +seaman. Then Jack awoke to action, and proved himself +equal to the occasion in his way.</p> + +<p>“Avast there, ye dumbfounded landlubber! I say, a +man overboard!”</p> + +<p>Still that headlong gait was kept up.</p> + +<p>Seizing upon the reins, Jack jerked them from the +old stager’s grasp, at the same time yelling:</p> + +<p>“Throw over the anchor!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span></p> + +<p>Putting action to words, the excited sailor, half rising +in his seat, tossed the reins out over the dashboard +into space.</p> + +<p>So well did he calculate that they dropped over a +mile stone beside the road, proving a most effective +“anchor.” The leather was strong, and the sudden +strain upon the bits of the horses brought the animals +back upon their haunches, and the next moment horses, +passengers and coach were piled in a promiscuous heap.</p> + +<p>The vehicle was upset, so the passengers inside were +flung into the midst of the débris with fearful force.</p> + +<p>The driver was thrown completely under the heels +of the horses, while Jack Carboy was a-straddle of the +neck of the nigh horse.</p> + +<p>Dean Mercer, younger and more nimble, landed +squarely upon his feet in the middle of the road, and, +though roughly shaken up, he soon found he had received +no injuries.</p> + +<p>“Port yer helm!” cried Jack. “We’re on the breakers!”</p> + +<p>“Easy, there, Jack,” cried Dean, who quickly recovered +his self-possession enough to go to the rescue. +“Keep their heads down and I will free them from the +stage.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span></p> + +<p>By this time the driver had managed to crawl out +of his position, and, having received only a few slight +bruises, he lent his aid to the others.</p> + +<p>Inside of as many minutes the three had freed the +animals, when they staggered to their feet, where they +stood trembling and dazed.</p> + +<p>“Drat that infernal ijit! Let me get my paw on +him,” cried the driver, starting toward Jack Carboy, +who had precipitated the catastrophe.</p> + +<p>It is difficult to say what would have happened had +not Dean sprang between the two.</p> + +<p>“This is no time for personal quarrels,” he said. “We +must see how it has fared with those inside the coach, +Mr. Dolittle.”</p> + +<p>Perhaps the latter had begun to realize that he was +likely to meet a Tartar in the person of the brawny +sailor, who seemed as willing to meet him in a hand-to-hand +struggle as he might be, for the driver quickly +followed the advice of Dean.</p> + +<p>It was soon found that none of the passengers had +sustained broken limbs, or any injuries that might +prove serious, though two at least had received severe +cuts, and all were badly shaken up.</p> + +<p>“I think you can attend to them,” said Dean. “I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span> +must see what has happened to the boy who was on top +of the coach. I am afraid he has been killed.”</p> + +<p>Dean was obliged to return over their course nearly +a quarter of a mile before he reached the place where +Marcus Ellison had been thrown from the top of the +stage. He had no trouble in finding the spot, and, parting +the bushes growing by the wayside, he discovered +the motionless form of the boy lying in their midst.</p> + +<p>“He is dead,” he thought, as he broke his way +through the undergrowth to the side of the unconscious +youth.</p> + +<p>“I do not find any evidence of his having been hurt, +except his clothes are torn and there are scratches on +his face. The bushes must have broken the force of his +fall. Ha! he breathes; he lives!”</p> + +<p>Dean managed to drag the other out into a small, +cleared spot, where he began a hasty examination of +him.</p> + +<p>Marcus was showing signs of recovering his senses, +and in a few minutes he lifted his head and stared +around him.</p> + +<p>“Where am I?” he murmured.</p> + +<p>“Safe,” replied Dean, “and I hope suffering no more<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span> +serious mishap than sore joints and possibly a headache.”</p> + +<p>It proved that the bushes had so broken the momentum +of his involuntary plunge from the top of the coach +that he had come out of the adventure as well as the +others.</p> + +<p>Jack was calling to them, so Dean dashed back into +the road to answer the summons.</p> + +<p>“If you feel like it we had better join them,” said +Dean.</p> + +<p>“I do. In fact, I shall soon feel as well as ever.”</p> + +<p>On their way to rejoin the group about the stage, +Dean told Marcus what had taken place.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dolittle was examining the coach to see if it +was injured so they could not continue their journey, +and he finally concluded that if they had a stout stick +to place under the body on that side, it would enable +the vehicle to carry the party. A small dry sapling +was found in the woods, and this was made to answer +the purpose required.</p> + +<p>While the other men, barring Jack Carboy, whose +usefulness was rather questionable at that time, were +attending to this work, the driver hitched the horses to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span> +the stage, so inside of fifteen minutes they were ready +to resume their journey.</p> + +<p>If Jim Dolittle had his misgiving of the eccentric old +seaman, so did the latter have his misapprehensions of +“the ol’ tug without a rudder.”</p> + +<p>“Blamed if the fool shall set on the driver’s seat!” +muttered the stager.</p> + +<p>“Shiver my toplights, if Ol’ Jack Carboy straddles +the lookout o’ thet craft,” exclaimed the other.</p> + +<p>A compromise was effected by having Jack stand on +the step of the near side, which he declared was more +“shipshape.”</p> + +<p>The balance of the trip to Landlock had to be made +at a slow gait; so slow that Dean and Marcus worried +lest the <i>Warrior</i> should leave the place before they +could get there.</p> + +<p>So she would if it had not been that her usual ill fortune +followed the <i>Warrior</i>.</p> + +<p>It proved that sufficient repairs had not been made at +Millville so that the packet was two hours late at Landlock, +and Dean’s party had over an hour to wait.</p> + +<p>Jack fumed and fretted over this suspense, declaring +that when they got the new boat to running there would +be no such “land-lubberish doings.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span></p> + +<p>Landlock is most peculiarly situated where a cove of +the inland sea known as Lake Seneca cuts into the shore +in the shape of a huge heart, high bluffs on the opposing +sides overhanging the water. The town, which +does not contain more than two thousand inhabitants, +lies at the point of the shore line.</p> + +<p>When Jack Carboy had seemed to exhaust his vocabulary +of invectives against the tardy boat, it came +into sight, and with provoking slowness reached the +pier.</p> + +<p>In the bustle and excitement Dean caught sight of +Colonel Darringford and his scapegrace son, the former +showing deeply the effects of his potations of +liquor and his anger at the delays already made in the +passage.</p> + +<p>The captain had declared that it would be impossible +to continue the trip without further repairs, and he had +reluctantly consented to an hour’s stop at Landlock for +this purpose.</p> + +<p>As Dean’s party went aboard Rodney Darringford +stared insolently at them, while Tim Downey, in the +background, watched them as a cat watches a mouse +it is about to pounce upon.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span></p> + +<p>“Wonder where they picked up that tenderfoot,” he +asked aside of Rodney.</p> + +<p>“Don’t know. Perhaps he is going to work on the +new boat.”</p> + +<p>“Mebbe. Say, don’t that miserable top of a Mercer +carry a high head, though?”</p> + +<p>“Higher’n he will to-morrow, according to my calculations. +Say, I have given them stateroom Number +40.”</p> + +<p>“The one with the secret opening?” asked Tim, while +a look of delight swept over his countenance.</p> + +<p>“The same. I do not think I need to tell you what +there is for you to do, if you are going to follow this +matter up.”</p> + +<p>“I am. I’ll take stateroom Number 41,” and the +youthful plotter turned away with a wicked smile on +his lips.</p> + +<p>Keeping far enough away so as not to attract their +attention, he watched the three until they went to their +quarters, when Tim Downey was not seen again for +more than an hour. Then he sought his associate in +crime, Rodney Darringford.</p> + +<p>The <i>Warrior</i> was again moving laboriously toward<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span> +her destination, with a fair prospect of finishing the +trip in safety.</p> + +<p>“Well?” asked Rodney.</p> + +<p>“That secret opening just let me overhear and see all +they said and done,” said Tim. “That strange kid is +the boy of Rob Ellison, whose case has been handled +by ol’ Montague at Millville. It seems they hev got +hold of some papers that are going to clear the kid’s +daddy, and Dean Mercer had ’em, together with a +thousand dollars.”</p> + +<p>“A thousand dollars?” demanded young Darringford, +a look of greed coming into his eyes.</p> + +<p>“Yes. Ye jess wait and hol’ yer tongue, fer there’s +sumthin bigger’n thet coming. Mercer has handed thet +money and ’em papers over to the kid.”</p> + +<p>“We must get the money,” affirmed Rodney, unable +to remain silent.</p> + +<p>“Shet yer jaw,” muttered Tim. “How do you think +I’m going to chin so’s to make mysel’ heard with your +potato trap rattling all the time.”</p> + +<p>This impudent speech succeeded in keeping the other +quiet long enough for Tim to say:</p> + +<p>“Of course we are going to get it, and a bigger bundle<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span> +o’ boodle along with it. Now comes the hair-lifting +part. Dean Mercer has in his pocket, for I see him +put it there a check for eight thousand dollars, with +which to pay for that new boat. Jess think o’ thet—eight +thousand dollars!”</p> + +<p>Tim’s eyes did not show greater expression of greedy +anticipation than did Rodney Darringford, as he caught +him by the arm, saying in a husky tone:</p> + +<p>“Is that all, Tim?”</p> + +<p>“As if thet isn’t enough.”</p> + +<p>“But did you find out how he is pay over this check +and take possession of the boat?”</p> + +<p>“He’s to go to Brown, Sewall and Company, and +pay over the check in the morning. I think he and +that ol’ salt are to stay on the steamer to-night, but the +Ellison kid is to go to his stopping place to-night, as +soon as we get to Springfield.”</p> + +<p>Rodney Darringford was silent for what seemed a +long time to Tim Downey. Then he leaped to his feet, +saying:</p> + +<p>“I have it. Nothing could be easier. We’ll cooper +the whole game.”</p> + +<p>“I’m fixed for the kid,” remarked Tim, who did not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span> +intend that anyone should get ahead of him in schemes +redounding to his benefit.</p> + +<p>“By jove! no better than I am for Dean Mercer. I +once swore the day would come when I would get even +with him for his meddling with my affairs, and that +day, or rather night, has come.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">THE EIGHT-THOUSAND-DOLLAR CHECK.</p> + + +<p>The <i>Warrior</i> reached the city at ten o’clock that +night, two hours overdue, and Jack Carboy and Dean +Mercer left the boat at once.</p> + +<p>“Where going, Dean?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“To a hotel, I guess.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! no, to the boat.”</p> + +<p>“The <i>Spray</i>?”</p> + +<p>“Why not?”</p> + +<p>“You know where it is?”</p> + +<p>“Certain! The engineer is aboard now. I can’t +sleep on land.”</p> + +<p>“It is too late to see the shipbuilder or Mr. Durand, +the lawyer, to-night,” decided Dean. “Yes, we’ll +sleep on the boat to-night. I am very anxious to +see it.”</p> + +<p>“You will come with us, Marcus?”</p> + +<p>“I do not feel as if I could. Mother will be anxious +to see me, and I must hasten home as quickly as +I can.”</p> + +<p>“That is right. You have the papers safely and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span> +the money. I hope there will be no delay in setting +your father free. Can’t you run down and see us in +the morning? The new boat will not start before +nine or ten o’clock.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I will run down; thank you. Good night.”</p> + +<p>“Good night.”</p> + +<p>So the boys parted, little dreaming what would happen +to both of them before they should meet again, and +under what circumstances that meeting would take +place.</p> + +<p>In ignorance of the keen watch kept over their movements +by their enemies they went their ways, while +the young plotters began to hastily carry into action +their plans.</p> + +<p>“You say the kid lives on Grove Street. That is +well out in the suburbs. By cutting across we can +intercept him. You do this and hold him up under +some pretext at the corner of Ash and Midland +Streets. I will be on hand with a couple of officers. +He will just answer the descriptions given of that boy +who has run away from the State school for young +criminals, and we not only turn him over, but get the +reward. That’s what I call making both ends meet.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span></p> + +<p>“Now get busy,” said Tim, when the precious pair +separated to carry out their plans.</p> + +<p>As Tim was about to leave the <i>Warrior</i> he was accosted +by Colonel Darringford. The usually austere +owner of the boat appeared now very much the worse +for his liberal potations of liquor.</p> + +<p>“See here, youngster,” he said, crooking his finger +toward Tim. “I wanner see you minute.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, colonel,” replied Tim promptly, approaching +the spot where the colonel stood.</p> + +<p>The latter was unable to stand alone, and held to the +steamer rail.</p> + +<p>“You boy who tol’ me ’bout new st—sthe—steamer, +hey?”</p> + +<p>“Correct, colonel!”</p> + +<p>“Sure there’s one?”</p> + +<p>“Dead sure!”</p> + +<p>“Mustn’t be ’lowed to ’danger business prospix—pects, +eh, boy?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir.”</p> + +<p>“You said you could stop boat, eh?”</p> + +<p>“I did.”</p> + +<p>“Do it, say nothing, and take the—that!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span></p> + +<p>The colonel made a dive for his pocket, and a lunge +for Tim.</p> + +<p>Tim allowed him to tumble pell-mell to the deck, +once he had secured the roll of banknotes that the +colonel proffered him.</p> + +<p>“I’ll fix the boat, never fear!” cried Tim. “Hooray! +Two hundred! Crackey! I’ll have a time of it!”</p> + +<p>Rodney Darringford, curious to see what his father +could want of his confederate, whom he found useful +but whom he detested as “a lowdown, miserable wharf +rat,” as he often called him, lingered while the above +conversation took place.</p> + +<p>As he saw Tim about to hasten ashore, he called a +deckhand to assist his father to the cabin. A minute +later, he had reached the wharf with Tim Downey.</p> + +<p>“Unlimber yer tongue,” said Tim, as soon as they +reached the narrow street into which Rodney had led +the way.</p> + +<p>“What did the governor say to you?”</p> + +<p>“Ye don’t stop to think that it might be me who +had something to say to him,” replied Tom doggedly.</p> + +<p>To speak the truth, he did not like this interference.</p> + +<p>“You needn’t be so all-fired tongue-tied,” exclaimed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span> +the other. “I guess it is as much for your interest +as it is for mine to be sociable.”</p> + +<p>“Jess as ye say, Rod. Only hadn’t we better ’tend +to the kid fust. I’ll meet ye at Jimson’s ’s soon ’s thet +’fair is done.”</p> + +<p>“You are right, Tim. But don’t fail to be on hand. +You know you will want to get your divvy.”</p> + +<p>Tim muttered something under his breath which +the other did not hear, and the couple separated each +to do his part of the work they had planned.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>“Isn’t she a beauty?”</p> + +<p>The admiring speaker was Jack Carboy, addressing +Dean Mercer, as the twain came in sight of the +new steamer.</p> + +<p>“She is very promising. Won’t they look amazed +at Millville when we reach there to-morrow, Jack? +You say the engineer is aboard?”</p> + +<p>“He should be, lad—I mean admiral,” executing one +of his characteristic salutes.</p> + +<p>“Never mind how you address me, Jack. In fact, +I had rather you would call me plainly by my name. +The judge made his only mistake when he insisted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span> +that I should take command of the new packet. But he +fairly forced me into it.”</p> + +<p>“The jedge may be better at sailing a court than he +is a ship, but he didn’t miss his bearings when he ran +ye inter port. With ol’ Jack at the wheel, ships and +seas! but won’t we swing a breeze when we run inter +th’ basin up yonder?”</p> + +<p>Though less demonstrative than his free-hearted +companion, Dean Mercer felt greatly elated over the +appearance of the new steamer.</p> + +<p>Dean and Jack finally tired of looking the steamer +over, and they sought the captain’s cabin for a few +words regarding their future plans before turning in.</p> + +<p>They were thus engaged when a stranger was +ushered into their presence by the steward of the boat.</p> + +<p>The newcomer was a middle-aged man, well-dressed, +and gentlemanly in his manner.</p> + +<p>“Captain Mercer, I think,” he said, bowing and extending +his right hand. “Glad to meet you, captain. +Hope the new boat pleases you. I am Mr. Sewall, of +the firm of Brown, Sewall and Company. You see I +got a letter this morning from Judge Oglesby, who +said you were en route here, and that by coming here +to the <i>Spray</i> this evening I might save you a lot of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span> +trouble in the morning. He knew you must be pretty +busy.”</p> + +<p>While this announcement came most unexpectedly +to the young commander, he managed to greet the newcomer +politely and invited him to a seat.</p> + +<p>“I was here about sundown, but the <i>Warrior</i> being +late as usual, of course I had my trouble for my pains. +Tell you what it is, Captain Mercer, you are bound +to win with such a boat as this.”</p> + +<p>“I think it is very satisfactory. Did you want me to +pay you, Mr. Sewall?”</p> + +<p>“Why, no; that is, suit your own pleasure. Of +course it would save you a lot of bother in the morning, +when I calculate you will not have much time to +lose. Again, it would be very convenient for us. I +make these as suggestions, you know.”</p> + +<p>Dean could see no harm in settling the matter then +and there. It was true that it would save him considerable +time in the morning, when he would be very +busy.</p> + +<p>“Judge Oglesby gave me a check with which to pay +the amount due you. This I will endorse if you will +give me a receipt running to him in full for the sum.”</p> + +<p>“Very satisfactory. I like your way of doing business,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span> +Captain Mercer. I prophesy that within a year +we shall have an order to build another boat to run on +this line. Two boats would equip the line so that you +could give the service the public demands. Millville +is bound to become a thriving metropolis.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">THE NIGHT FIRE.</p> + + +<p>It was past midnight and the silence of the night +was broken only by the tread of some weary watchman +on duty or the hurried step of some belated traveler.</p> + +<p>At this unusual time for boys to be abroad, Rodney +Darringford and Tim Downey met at the street corner +designated by the former. The first looked anxiously +around him as if he expected to see an enemy suddenly +spring into his path. The second, more hardened +in such nefarious work as they had been doing, showed +little, if any, trepidation, as he faced his companion +with the simple word:</p> + +<p>“Well?”</p> + +<p>“Where you going, Tim?”</p> + +<p>“To a restaurant first to see if I cannot get a bite to +eat, or mebbe a lunch cart will answer us best.”</p> + +<p>“All right; go ahead. I will pay the bill.”</p> + +<p>“Guess I can afford it myself.”</p> + +<p>“You got some money from father?”</p> + +<p>“I stung him for two hundred,” was the cool reply.</p> + +<p>“What’s for?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span></p> + +<p>“That’s telling.”</p> + +<p>“Was it in regard to the new steamer?”</p> + +<p>“Yep.”</p> + +<p>“What about that?”</p> + +<p>“Puff!” was the mysterious reply.</p> + +<p>“Explain,” cried Rodney, catching him by the arm, +while a feeling of terror he could not exactly understand +took possession of him.</p> + +<p>“The <i>Spray</i> goes up in smoke!”</p> + +<p>The troubled look on Rodney’s countenance deepened.</p> + +<p>“Did father want you to do that, Tim?”</p> + +<p>“That’s what he paid me for.”</p> + +<p>“That’s bad work.”</p> + +<p>“What’s the odds? Needn’t trouble ye. ’Twill +burn while ye sleep. Two trusty fellers do the work. +Who’s the wiser?”</p> + +<p>Rodney shook his head, sorry that his father had +fallen into the power of such an unscrupulous person +as his companion. He did not realize yet how completely +he was being drawn into the tangled web of +crime.</p> + +<p>“Let’s get our lunch as soon as we can. I have an +appointment an hour hence.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span></p> + +<p>“With the fellow who was to see Dean Mercer?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>Half an hour later this same precious couple entered +a miserable basement saloon, where even at that unseemly +hour the sound of coarse revelry greeted their +ears.</p> + +<p>A man was waiting for them at the door—the same +person who had met Dean Mercer on the <i>Spray</i> and +obtained Judge Oglesby’s check in payment for the +steamer.</p> + +<p>“Have you got it?” demanded Rodney, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“You bet,” handing the other the strip of paper +which meant so much.</p> + +<p>“Here’s your two hundred.”</p> + +<p>“It’s not enough,” muttered the man. “I want an +extra hundred.”</p> + +<p>“But that is all I agreed to pay you.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t care. It was risky business. Pay me another +hundred or I’ll see——”</p> + +<p>Rodney checked him by handing out a crisp hundred +dollar bill.</p> + +<p>It was fifteen minutes later when Rodney and Tim +came out of the place, and Rodney’s step was decidedly +unsteady. Tim, more used to drinking, walked<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span> +off without showing the effects of his recent potations. +Both were elated over their success.</p> + +<p>“See there!” exclaimed Tim, pointing excitedly +down the street, where a bright blaze illuminated the +night sky.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Rodney.</p> + +<p>“Where are yer eyes? They’ll hev to be sharper +’n they are now to find the <i>Spray</i> in the morning.”</p> + +<p>The truth suddenly dawned upon the clouded mind +of Rodney Darringford. The men hired for the miserable +work had set the new steamer on fire!</p> + +<p>There would be no rival to his father’s old-time +packet.</p> + +<p>The excitement attending this discovery quite overcame +the effects of the liquor, and Rodney felt frightened.</p> + +<p>“Let’s see what that check looks like,” said the +cunning Tim. “I hain’t more’n got a glimmer of it.”</p> + +<p>Glad to have his mind diverted from the object +which had so disconcerted him, Rodney brought forth +from his pocket the envelope which had been handed +him by his accomplice in crime. It was the same one +Judge Olgesby had given Dean before starting for +Springfield.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span></p> + +<p>“I ain’t so big a fool as to give three hundred dollars +for nothing,” declared Rodney, triumphantly, producing +the check.</p> + +<p>“Come under the electric light where we can see it,” +requested Tim, and the other did as he was asked, +though not without some misgivings.</p> + +<p>“What if a policeman should see us?”</p> + +<p>“Reading a check ain’t ag’in the law,” retorted +Tim, his eye running over the narrow strip of paper +as he spoke.</p> + +<p>“Good for a cool eight thousand dollars,” declared +Tim.</p> + +<p>“But the check is payable to Dean Mercer. How +am I to get it?”</p> + +<p>“Easiest thing in the world. Just sign—turn it +over.”</p> + +<p>Rodney did as he requested.</p> + +<p>“It’s signed by Dean Mercer,” said Tim, with a ring +of exultation in his voice.</p> + +<p>“But they won’t recognize me,” said Rodney. “If +they did, I would not dare to put my name on it.”</p> + +<p>“What bank is it payable at?”</p> + +<p>“The Atlas.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span></p> + +<p>“And you are sure they do not know you there?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“If they don’t know ye, it’s as easy as sliding down +a greased pole. Ye are Dean Mercer, see?”</p> + +<p>Rodney either dared not or could not understand +his companion.</p> + +<p>“There’s something else in the envelope. Let me +see.”</p> + +<p>Tim quickly drew forth a sheet carefully folded. It +was the letter Judge Olgesby had written for Dean, +and Tim asked his companion to read it. Rodney then +read in a low tone:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p> +“<span class="smcap">Mr. James Rawlinson</span>, Cashier Atlas Bank, Springfield.<br> +</p> + +<p>“Dear Sir—Allow me to introduce to you the bearer, +Mr. Dean Mercer, my business manager in a new venture +I am about to undertake upon the lake. As he +will doubtless call often to your bank with checks, I +have O. K’d. his signature at the end of this letter so +you will know it.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Under the letter was the name of Dean Mercer in +his own handwriting, verified as genuine by the judge’s +signature below.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you see, everything is as clear as ice,” said +Tim. “You go to the bank in the morning as soon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span> +as it is opened, pretending you are Dean Mercer; get +the money, and we will divide the haul.”</p> + +<p>“I—I think so,” replied Rodney, who had not +reached the condition of mind which his companion +had gained.</p> + +<p>“That’s easy enough, Rod. Now let’s look up a +stopping place, and once there, we will divide the +money got from the kid.”</p> + +<p>“You mean Marcus Ellison? You have that +money?”</p> + +<p>“Every cent—and the papers.”</p> + +<p>“Where’s the boy?”</p> + +<p>“Gone.”</p> + +<p>“Gone where?”</p> + +<p>“Where he won’t trouble you and me any more.”</p> + +<p>“Won’t he be missed?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, mebbe. What if he is?”</p> + +<p>“They will search for him.”</p> + +<p>“But they won’t find him. I do nothing by the +halves, Rod. It was really another blow at Dean +Mercer. He’d no business to be his friend. Then, +there was the money.”</p> + +<p>“What have you done with him?” asked Rodney +for the second time.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span></p> + +<p>“Sometimes it’s better not to know too much,” replied +Tim. “Jess as it is ’bout that burning boat. He’s +gone, and thet settles it. I’ve got the wallet and all +there is in it.”</p> + +<p>“There were papers concerning his father’s trial?”</p> + +<p>“They were not intrusted to me. It is not my +lookout what his old man does or gets done to him. +Come; going to the Raven with me?”</p> + +<p>Five minutes the couple were safely in their room at +the hotel.</p> + +<p>“I do not see any signs of the fire,” commented Tim, +as he prepared to retire for the few hours of the night +left. “But it is safe to say the <i>Spray</i> will not make +that trip to Millville to-morrow. I mean to-day.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">THE MORNING NEWS.</p> + + +<p>The downward course of crime is a rapid descent, +and becomes facile and familiar to the victim of evil, +once he is started on the steep grade.</p> + +<p>At least so Rodney Darringford found it. When +he awoke the morning after the events depicted in the +last chapter, it was in a room at a hotel, and with him +was his companion of the night previous—Tim Downey.</p> + +<p>Rodney had a splitting headache, as he expressed +it. There was a sense of confusing, a frightened, all-gone +feeling; a weight that caused him to close his +eyes and try to imagine what had really occurred to +be a dream.</p> + +<p>Wine! liquor! that he now discerned was the cause +of all his boldness. He had descended to the level of +a common criminal. He had been a party to the guilt +of Tim Downey and his confederates.</p> + +<p>How far had that guilt carried them?</p> + +<p>“The new steamer—they set it on fire,” gasped Rodney,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span> +and then the terror of the law and the enormity +of the crime flashed over his mind with crushing force +and drove him from the bed with a groan.</p> + +<p>“I’ll get away from Tim—I’ll hurry to the boat!” +muttered Rodney. “What a fool I was ever to be led +by him into trouble—when he’d have done it alone!”</p> + +<p>Yes, that was it—not regret or remorse, but dread. +Rodney Darringford recked little that Judge Oglesby’s +property had been destroyed. He simply did not wish +to be mixed up in it himself.</p> + +<p>“Hallo! you awake?”</p> + +<p>Tim was out of bed and dressing himself. He +grinned coolly at Rodney, and his hardened face expressed +none of the pallor or worry that Rodney’s features +bore.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I’m awake.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t be in a hurry.”</p> + +<p>“I want to get back to the boat.”</p> + +<p>“The <i>Warrior</i>?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“It don’t sail until ten o’clock.”</p> + +<p>“Well——”</p> + +<p>“Well, you want to get away from me!” jeered +Tim. “That don’t suit me. Here, you’re trembling<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span> +like a leaf. Take a swig. It will brace up your +nerves.”</p> + +<p>Rodney shuddered with nausea as he bolted a drink +from the flask of fiery liquor that Tim handed him.</p> + +<p>“Feel better?”</p> + +<p>“Warmed up, yes.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right. See here, Rod, don’t get so squeamish.”</p> + +<p>“Tim, I’m scared,” confessed Rodney candidly.</p> + +<p>Tim laughed derisively.</p> + +<p>“What at?” he demanded.</p> + +<p>“At getting caught.”</p> + +<p>“Who by?”</p> + +<p>“The—the police.”</p> + +<p>“What for?”</p> + +<p>“For—for burning the boat.”</p> + +<p>“Did you burn it?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“Did you see anyone burn it?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“Then, don’t worry. All you have to do is to keep +your mouth shut. My pals won’t squeal—never fear. +The job is done. Just exactly all you have to do about<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span> +it is to be friendly to me. Your father hired me to +burn the <i>Spray</i>.”</p> + +<p>Rodney felt a thrill of horror and dread.</p> + +<p>He and his father were both in this unscrupulous +boy’s power completely.</p> + +<p>“There’s no use to squeal now. The job was done +mighty cheap. Yer father’s got no rival now. And +I’ve got rid of the meanest enemy a boy ever had.”</p> + +<p>Tim’s manner seemed to express more than his +words, so that Rodney hastened to ask for an explanation.</p> + +<p>“I don’t mind telling ye, seeing ye and yer dad are +’s deep in the mud ’s I am in the mire. I hain’t afreed +ye’ll blow on me, ’cos if yer do, I’ll drag yer into the +muddle. When the <i>Spray</i> went up in smoke last night, +it carried Dean Mercer with it!”</p> + +<p>Rodney was truly frightened by this statement, made +in the coolest tone imaginable.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” Tim went on; “my men were not only to go +aboard the boat and leave some cotton saturated with +oil to be ignited at the proper time, but they were to +chloroform Dean Mercer and leave him helpless. The +fire would be set in his cabin, so there would be no<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span> +chance to get him out. Oh, I’m a deep one. ’Twas a +big job at a mighty cheap price—two hundred dollars.”</p> + +<p>Again Rodney Darringford shivered. Then a new +thought came into his muddled brain.</p> + +<p>“What if it is known that Dean Mercer was killed +in that fire? How can I get that check cashed?”</p> + +<p>For the first time Tim Downey showed fear.</p> + +<p>“They will not know it—so soon. How can they? +The bank opens at nine. It is now almost that. You +must hurry. To fail in this part will be worse than ’s +if we had not undertaken it at all. Hurry, Rod, or +you will be too late.”</p> + +<p>Liquor had overcome the conscientious scruples of +Colonel Darringford sufficiently to induce him to pay +Tim Downey to burn the new lake steamer, the <i>Spray</i>.</p> + +<p>Liquor also brought the courage of his unworthy +son to a point where he finally agreed to personate +Dean Mercer at the bank.</p> + +<p>“There’s no risk,” affirmed Tim Downey. “I’d go +myself, only I look so ragged and rough. See here, +Rod, no one knows of the burning of the <i>Spray</i>, or +the disappearance of Dean Mercer at Millville yet. Get +the money quick. Leave the rest to me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span></p> + +<p>“But search will be made for him?”</p> + +<p>“As a thief, yes.”</p> + +<p>Rodney started.</p> + +<p>“Oh! that’s it,” he cried, a new light breaking on +his mind.</p> + +<p>“Yes. He disappears. They will probably say that +he burned the boat. He got the check from the judge +cashed and sloped with that, too. See?”</p> + +<p>Yes, Rodney did see. It was a glorious scheme, +a splendid revenge. His rival and enemy, Dean Mercer, +would be disgraced—he would roll in riches!</p> + +<p>It would be believed that Dean himself had drawn +the money at the bank. He, Rodney, was not known +there. Still, he determined to act cautiously.</p> + +<p>When, an hour later, he started for the bank, he +had got Dean Mercer’s signature down to perfection, +and he had bought a pair of spectacles and tried to +throw into his face as much of false expression as was +possible, so as to make his features vague to the +cashier, in view of a later identification.</p> + +<p>The bank was a large and a busy one. The cashier +accepted the check and Judge Oglesby’s letter carelessly, +glanced at them and said:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span></p> + +<p>“Glad to know you, Mr. Mercer. How will you +have the money?”</p> + +<p>Then, as the false Dean Mercer, in a smothered +tone of voice, stated that he would take it in bills of a +large denomination, the cashier waved him to the +paying teller, and passed on to the next customer of +the bank as carelessly as if the payment of eight +thousand dollars was a mere bagatelle in the immense +affairs of the great Atlas Bank.</p> + +<p>Rodney’s heart beat like a trip hammer as he thrust +the big pile of bills into his pocket and turned away +to leave the bank.</p> + +<p>He realized that he was a thief, a forger, as wicked +as Tim Downey. Yes, worse, for he knew better. +Tim had been brought up in the midst of sin.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Mercer,” called out one of the bank officials, +coming forward to the cashier’s window, “that’s a fine +steamer you have had built.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” faltered Rodney.</p> + +<p>“I have been down to see her this morning, and I +assure you there was never her equal on Lake Seneca. +Colonel Darringford’s old tub will be nowhere now. +Well, it is time some one woke up to the situation.”</p> + +<p>Rodney’s heart was in his mouth, and fairly gasping<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span> +for breath, he did not dare to make a reply, but he +hurried out into the open air with quickened steps.</p> + +<p>Chancing to glance down the street he received another +shock greater than the first.</p> + +<p>Crossing the main street he saw Dean Mercer!</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">TIM DEMANDS HIS DUES.</p> + + +<p>Rodney Darringford was never so frightened in his +life. He was puzzled, too.</p> + +<p>Was it possible the <i>Spray</i> had not been burned after +what Tim had said?</p> + +<p>The man in the bank had certainly spoken honestly, +and he said he had been on board that morning.</p> + +<p>If further proof was needed, the fact that Dean +Mercer was alive furnished it.</p> + +<p>Rodney hastened in the direction of the hotel, not +daring to look to the right or left. His hand in his +pocket, he held fast to his ill-gotten gains, wishing he +had never seen it, and yet determined to hold on to it.</p> + +<p>Tim was waiting for him expectantly at the room +at the hotel.</p> + +<p>“Got it?” he demanded breathlessly.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” gasped Rodney, pale and unnerved.</p> + +<p>“All of it?”</p> + +<p>“Every dollar.”</p> + +<p>“Glory! We’re, we’re millionaires! You and I will +divide even. What’s the trouble with ye?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span></p> + +<p>In a few words Rodney told what he had heard and +seen.</p> + +<p>Tim was scarcely less excited than Rodney, as soon +as he had become familiar with the situation.</p> + +<p>“It can’t be that Daley and Spofford hev played me +a trick.”</p> + +<p>“What if Dean Mercer goes to the bank? They +will be after me!”</p> + +<p>“Reckon it won’t be any easy matter for ’em to +prove anything,” muttered Tim. “Fust thing I’m going +to know is if that boat is burned or not. It must +hev burnt and somehow Dean Mercer slipped through +those crazy Rube’s fingers.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” assented Rodney. “It will be best to find out +if the <i>Spray</i> has been burned or not.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll find out in a jiffy. Ye jess stay right here till I +come back.”</p> + +<p>“You will have to hurry, Tim, if we go back on the +<i>Warrior</i>.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t b’lieve I shall go back,” replied Tim.</p> + +<p>The speech pleased Rodney, who felt that he would +gladly get rid of his associate.</p> + +<p>“Will you stay here?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span></p> + +<p>“Not if I know myself. Too tame. I’ll go somewhere +else, and with my money I’ll start in business.”</p> + +<p>“Well, come back and tell me what you learn of the +<i>Spray</i>.”</p> + +<p>“Reckon I shall come back as long as you hev my +money. Let’s divide now.”</p> + +<p>“Wait till you get back. Come! hurry and find out +all you can. Also when the <i>Warrior</i> will start back +to Millville.”</p> + +<p>Tim did not offer any reply to this, but immediately +left the hotel.</p> + +<p>It seemed like a long time to Rodney, as he waited +impatiently and anxiously to learn the truth, before +Tim Downey returned.</p> + +<p>The latter’s countenance told before he had spoken +a word the result of his trip.</p> + +<p>“The <i>Spray</i> hain’t burnt!” he muttered, as he sank +into the nearest chair. “Daley and Spofford that I +paid to do the job got blooming drunk on the money +and are now in the lockup. That blaze we saw was +only an old shed.”</p> + +<p>“Pretty mess you have made of it,” declared Rodney.</p> + +<p>“Give me my share of the money—quick!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span></p> + +<p>“Are the officers coming?” asked Rodney in alarm.</p> + +<p>“Dunno ’bout enny officers. I hain’t ennything to +do with ’em. I’m jess going to get out’n Springfield +without enny longer stay. Don’t like the blamed ol’ +town.”</p> + +<p>Rodney began to count out the money that he had +received from the bank.</p> + +<p>“There’s your half of the check. I ought to have +more than half seeing I did the work, and mighty +risky——”</p> + +<p>“Now, the half of the other,” broke in Tim, almost +savagely. “Ye move awful slow, and the <i>Warrior</i>, I +forgot to tell ye, starts in ten minutes.”</p> + +<p>“Seems to me you are all-fired uppish, seeing I’m +the one who has done all that has been done. Here’s +your divvy on the Ellison haul.”</p> + +<p>Tim Downey did not have much education, but his +natural wit was sharp, and he saw that the other had +not given him an equal division of the money obtained +from Marcus Ellison.</p> + +<p>“Ye hevn’t gin me a square deal, Rod,” he declared.</p> + +<p>Rodney Darringford turned pale, exclaiming:</p> + +<p>“I have, Tim. That is,” he added, “there’s all that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span> +belongs to you. As long as you didn’t burn the <i>Spray</i>, +I have just kept back the two hundred dad paid you. I +will hand that to him.”</p> + +<p>Tim Downey’s face was black with rage.</p> + +<p>“Ye will, will ye?” he gritted fiercely. “Ye hev +nothing to do with the business ’tween yer dad and me. +Hand over that two hundred!”</p> + +<p>Rodney Darringford hesitated, though trembling +with fear. With a single bound Tim Downey was beside +him and his big, dirty hand was about his neck.</p> + +<p>“Hand it over, Rod Darringford, or I’ll choke the +life out’n ye!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes!” stammered Rodney.</p> + +<p>“I want my half of thet divvy, and I’ll hev it, too.”</p> + +<p>He got it.</p> + +<p>But Tim noticed that his companion still held upon +the papers the lawyer had sent. They might not have +any value to him, but the very fact that Rodney was +not disposed to let them go made him suspicious.</p> + +<p>A little later, when their preparations were about +completed for each to go his way, Tim improved an +opportunity when Rodney’s back was turned to slip +the parcel of papers into his own pocket.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span></p> + +<p>Tim next produced a bottle and offered it to Rodney, +who did not hesitate to accept, and no sooner had +he drunk the liquor than his attitude towards his associate +mellowed. He realized that he had money +enough in his pocket to pay off his most pressing obligations.</p> + +<p>A vision of magnificent extravagance overcame him. +He forgot the low estate of his companion in crime.</p> + +<p>“Tim!” he said exuberantly, “what are you going +to do with your money?”</p> + +<p>“Spend it.”</p> + +<p>“Where?”</p> + +<p>“In Columbus. Do you suppose I’d stay in this +dead town?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“No; too risky for me.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll go with you.”</p> + +<p>“Bully!”</p> + +<p>“I’m sick of work on the steamer. Besides, I’m +afraid we might be suspected if we were seen with all +this money.”</p> + +<p>“Right you are!”</p> + +<p>“So I’ll go with you.”</p> + +<p>“When?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span></p> + +<p>“When you say.”</p> + +<p>“To-night?”</p> + +<p>“Can’t you wait until to-morrow?”</p> + +<p>“What for?”</p> + +<p>“I want to see my folks and make some kind of an +excuse for leaving Millville.”</p> + +<p>“All right. I’ll meet you here to-morrow noon, and +we’ll go to Columbus together. I’ll show you what +life is, my boy.”</p> + +<p>So they separated, Rodney to go on board the <i>Warrior</i>, +and Tim to visit one of the saloons of the city.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">A TELEPHONE MESSAGE.</p> + + +<p>Dean Mercer had arisen from his berth early on that +eventful morning, the proudest in his life. As he went +upon the deck of the <i>Spray</i>, realizing that he was its +commander, he felt as if his life work had truly begun.</p> + +<p>Without dreaming of the work of his enemies, he +was extremely happy.</p> + +<p>At his first turn he was greeted by Jack Carboy with +his characteristic salute, and the cheery voice of the old +sailor bidding him a cordial:</p> + +<p>“Fine seas to ye, admiral.”</p> + +<p>“A return of the compliment, Mr. Carboy,” replied +Dean, gravely, purposely imitating the manner +of address of the other.</p> + +<p>“Reef yer sails!” fairly roared Jack. “Ship yer +picter, ain’t I tol’ yer never to <i>mister</i> ol’ Jack Carboy?”</p> + +<p>“Haven’t I told you not to <i>admiral</i> me?”</p> + +<p>“Shiver my toplights, Dean,” cried the old tar, extending +his hand. “My boy, ye air honest and true. +I’ll stand by ye till the seas run dry.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span></p> + +<p>“I know it, Jack,” replied Dean, as he grasped the +sailor’s hand. “You and I will get along famously +together.</p> + +<p>“I suppose we are to start at ten o’clock. Now, that +I have fixed up the matter with the builders of the +<i>Spray</i>, that will not have to be attended to. There +are a few things to look after on shore. I will be back +by nine sharp.”</p> + +<p>“Aye, aye, lad, sharp.”</p> + +<p>Dean felt anxious over the fortunes of Marcus Ellison, +and he resolved to visit him as soon as he had +eaten breakfast at one of the restaurants.</p> + +<p>He had no trouble in finding the humble home of +his friend, and he was met at the door by a sweet-faced +woman whom he quickly learned was Marcus’ +mother.</p> + +<p>She greeted him with extreme kindness as soon as +she had found that he was her son’s friend, but to +Dean’s dismay he was told that Marcus had not come +home.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ellison had not been worried over his non-appearance, +as she would have been had she known the +truth. Attributing his prolonged absence to some +cause connected with his errand to Millville, she had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span> +not felt any great uneasiness. But now she suddenly +became alarmed.</p> + +<p>“Something has happened to him—my boy! He +would have come directly to me if he had been able,” +she declared, and Dean did not doubt the truth of the +assertion.</p> + +<p>“Let us hope he is safe. Perhaps he has gone to +see his father with the good news.”</p> + +<p>“He would have come to me first. Oh, my boy! my +boy!”</p> + +<p>“Can you think of any place where he would be +likely to call? You know we did not get into the city +until nearly midnight.”</p> + +<p>“I can think of no place where he would go before +coming to me,” replied the distracted mother. “Oh, +when will our troubles end? We were so happy a few +years ago, and now——”</p> + +<p>Dean soon started out to see if he could not get +some trace of the missing boy, but at half-past nine +he had not got an inkling of his whereabouts. No +one had seen him after he had left the <i>Warrior</i>, and +his disappearance was shrouded in mystery.</p> + +<p>So Dean Mercer went on board the <i>Spray</i> with a +heavy heart. In the short time he had known Marcus<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span> +Ellison, he had come to regard him as a friend, and +the other’s sad story had awakened his pity.</p> + +<p>News of the new steamer <i>Spray</i> had been heralded +about Springfield and vicinity, so that before seven +o’clock people had begun to throng about the pier, +many of them anxious to make the initial trip, while +the others came as curious onlookers.</p> + +<p>Jack Carboy watched this throng with keen interest, +ever and anon giving expression to his feelings in one +of his quaint expressions. But finally he grew anxious +about Dean, and as the hour began to draw towards +a close without bringing the young commander, he became +excited:</p> + +<p>“By the horn of Neptune!” he stormed, “here’s a +gale! Ship ready to sail and no skipper.”</p> + +<p>“Blow your trumpet, you water-soaked old salt, and +be hanged,” exclaimed a bystander. “Where under +the sun did you get washed in here?”</p> + +<p>Jack Carboy glowered upon the speaker with a look +of contempt, murmuring as he moved away something +about a “pollywog in a mud puddle.”</p> + +<p>Then he hailed with joy the return of “Captain +Mercer,” and preparations for the start of the <i>Spray</i> +was no longer delayed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span></p> + +<p>Amid wild shouts and prolonged huzzas the new +steamer started upon her first trip, carrying with her +not only a big crowd of passengers, but the good +wishes of the thousands who would be only too glad +to know that at last, proper accommodations for travel +had been secured on the lake.</p> + +<p>Colonel Darringford, still under the influence of +liquor, witnessed these demonstrations.</p> + +<p>“That boy!” thinking even then of his bargain with +Tim Downey, “he has betrayed me. Hallo, Rodney! +Where are you going?”</p> + +<p>“On board the <i>Warrior</i>, governor, of course. What +a fuss they make over that new boat. I can’t see that +she is more than an ordinary tub.”</p> + +<p>The <i>Warrior</i> was soon upon her way, following +nearly in the wake of the new steamer, which was soon +lost to the sight of the lookout. Nor did the old boat +again come in sight of her rival upon the trip.</p> + +<p>The <i>Spray</i> fulfilled the expectations of her master +and crew, even Jack Carboy gladly boasting that she +was worthy of “bigger seas than the land-locked +puddle.”</p> + +<p>The grandest sight was when they reached Millville.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span> +While her owner had maintained silence in regard +to his intentions, it was generally known that +the boat would soon be ready for its first trip, and that +morning before Dean had started with the steamer, +a dozen telephone messages had been sent over the +wires, and the town was all agog over the new arrival.</p> + +<p>Some one, determined that a reception fitting the +occasion should be made, hastily got the members of +the local band together, and when the <i>Spray</i> came in +sight of the wharf, it seemed as if the whole town +had poured out to meet it.</p> + +<p>The band was playing “See, the Conquering Hero +Comes!” and everywhere manifestations of pleasure +and rejoicing were to be seen. There were few, indeed, +so stupid that they could not see that a new day +had dawned for Millville.</p> + +<p>In all the town there was no prouder person than +Judge Oglesby, who, from the vantage ground of his +own wide veranda, watched the scene. With him were +his wife and Evaline and Manly. In fact, this little +group had been the first to discover the appearance +of the steamer, as they had looked down the lake +through the glass.</p> + +<p>“Will Dean come up here?” asked Eva.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span></p> + +<p>“Pardon me, my child, but Captain Mercer. Doubtless +he will pay us his respects.”</p> + +<p>“I cannot quite get into the habit of calling Dean +‘captain’,” replied Evaline.</p> + +<p>“How I wish I was down on the shore!” cried +Manly, enthusiastically. “See how many people there +are all along the dock. Hear the band playing. Was +there ever such a day in Millville, papa?”</p> + +<p>“Never, my son, never,” and if there was a ring of +triumph in his voice, the speaker certainly had a right +to feel elated over the success of his plans.</p> + +<p>“You may run down to the shore if you want to, +Manly, and escort the hero up here as soon as he is +at liberty to come.”</p> + +<p>Manly needed no urging to do this. With a cheer +that would not have been received without a rebuke +under ordinary circumstances, he ran down the pathway, +soon disappearing from the view of the watchers.</p> + +<p>It was half an hour later, a half-hour which seemed +very long to the impatient waiters, before Captain +Mercer and his young escort were seen coming +toward the house.</p> + +<p>The crowd had dispersed somewhat from the scene +at the water’s edge, but the band was still playing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span> +as Dean, proud, yet timid in the midst of these honors, +was met by Judge Oglesby and his family.</p> + +<p>“Allow me to congratulate you, Captain Mercer, +upon your successful maiden trip. May it be an example +of the many which are to follow. I felt confident +that we should succeed.”</p> + +<p>“This is the happiest day of my life,” declared Eva, +timidly, as she advanced to offer her congratulations. +“I think that all Millville has joined with us in expressing +their sincere gratitude over this event.”</p> + +<p>Dean murmured his thanks for her kind words, as +he clasped her hands, and felt that her appreciation had +made it the happiest day of <i>his</i> life.</p> + +<p>Before more could be said, Mrs. Oglesby interrupted +them by saying:</p> + +<p>“There is a call at the telephone from Springfield, +Martin.”</p> + +<p>“Some trifling business matter. Do not let it interfere +with the happiness of this occasion while I +answer it.”</p> + +<p>While the judge was gone only a few minutes, when +he returned to join the little group his countenance had +a serious expression in marked contrast to its recent +display of joy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span></p> + +<p>“It seems, Dean, you did not call upon Messrs. +Brown, Sewall and Company in regard to paying for +the steamer as you were intending to do,” he said.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a vague fear came into the heart of Dean +Mercer, as he hastened to reply:</p> + +<p>“I did, Judge Oglesby. That is, one of the firm +came aboard the <i>Spray</i> and I paid him there.”</p> + +<p>“I felt sure you would not neglect so important a +trust. There has been some oversight in the affair. I +will ’phone to them. Who was it called?”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Sewall himself.”</p> + +<p>“Then it must be all right. I will explain.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">UNDER SUSPICION.</p> + + +<p>An ominous silence fell upon the little group while +Judge Oglesby carried on his conversation with the +person in Springfield. One and all listened with deep +interest to the answer he gave to the words of the unseen, +and to them, unheard speaker.</p> + +<p>“Yes, he is here,” finally said the judge. “I will +have him come to the ’phone if you wish.”</p> + +<p>A moment later he said to Dean:</p> + +<p>“They would like to talk with you, Dean. I do +not understand this at all.”</p> + +<p>Dean quickly stepped forward, and as he placed the +receiver to his ear the voice asked:</p> + +<p>“Are you sure Captain Mercer paid the money to +Mr. Sewall?”</p> + +<p>“This is Captain Mercer talking now, sir. I paid +Mr. Sewall the money by a check made payable to me +from Judge Oglesby,” replied Dean. “I endorsed the +check and he gave me a receipt signed by your firm.”</p> + +<p>“Impossible, Captain Mercer. This is Brown talking, +and Mr. Sewall is present. He says he was not on<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span> +board the <i>Spray</i>. We did not think it was necessary +to run after the money, as we knew Judge Oglesby +was able to pay.”</p> + +<p>A five minutes’ conversation followed, but nothing +could be learned to explain the situation. If Messrs. +Brown, Sewell and Company told the truth, as no one +doubted, Dean had been imposed upon by some dishonest +person. It was a trying situation for him.</p> + +<p>“Let me see if I can get any one at the bank,” said +Judge Oglesby. “Though it is not bank hours, some +one may be there.”</p> + +<p>“Hello, is this the Atlas Bank?” he called, a few +minutes later, after securing a connection.</p> + +<p>“It is.”</p> + +<p>“Is Mr. Hume, the cashier, there?”</p> + +<p>“He is. Hold the wire a moment and I will call +him.”</p> + +<p>“We are in luck,” declared the judge aside to Dean. +“If that check has not been presented for payment, I +will stop it and we shall be all right.</p> + +<p>“Hello! I am Mr. Hume, Judge Oglesby. What is +it?” said a voice at the other end of the wire.</p> + +<p>“Has there been a check presented at your bank to-day +signed by me, and endorsed by Dean Mercer?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span></p> + +<p>“There has. Captain Mercer called in person this +morning very soon after the bank was open. He presented +a letter from you, which we have, and received +the cash in large bills at his own request. I hope, +judge, everything is all right.”</p> + +<p>“I am afraid there is something wrong about this. +Captain Mercer is here and says he did not call at +your bank. The person must have been an impostor.”</p> + +<p>“I do not see how that could be, judge. I remember +speaking to him myself, congratulating him on the +fine appearance of the new steamer. If there is anything +wrong we will try and help you straighten it. +Young Mercer was a stranger to us, but your letter +seemed sufficient guarantee of his honesty. Perhaps +he has deceived you.”</p> + +<p>“I am not ready to think that. How long shall +you remain in the bank?”</p> + +<p>“Half an hour.”</p> + +<p>“I may call you up again within that time. +Good-by.”</p> + +<p>“Good-by.”</p> + +<p>“There is something wrong about this, but what, I +cannot tell,” said Judge Oglesby, as he hung up the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span> +receiver and turned to converse with the anxious party +about him.</p> + +<p>“I can see now I did wrong in paying the money to +the man without further proof of his identity,” acknowledged +Dean.</p> + +<p>“His receipt is made out on one of the company’s +blanks,” said the judge. “It is a serious situation, but +until—Whew! here comes Montague. I wonder what +has put him into such a state of excitement.”</p> + +<p>In the changing excitement of the preceding scenes, +Dean had quite forgotten about the disappearance of +Marcus Ellison. But it came back to him very vividly +now, and he anticipated the purpose of the lawyer’s +abrupt appearance.</p> + +<p>“I want to see Dean Mercer, if he is here,” cried +Mr. Montague, as soon as he could get his breath +enough to speak.</p> + +<p>“Here he is to answer for himself,” declared the +judge.</p> + +<p>“Durand has ’phoned me that those papers and +money have not been given to him, Dean,” cried the +lawyer, without stopping to reply to the judge.</p> + +<p>“I know it, Mr. Montague,” replied Dean. “I was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span> +coming to see you as soon as I could. I did not have +time to see Mr. Durand, or ’phone to you.”</p> + +<p>“Why haven’t they been delivered, boy? Every +day in this matter is of vital importance.”</p> + +<p>In as few words as possible Dean then told of the +disappearance of Marcus Ellison with the money and +papers, while his listeners looked upon him in silence +until he had finished.</p> + +<p>It is unnecessary to record the half-hour’s conversation +that followed. Of course, it threw no light upon +the real situation. In this case no blame could be attached +to Dean, though he already felt that, in addition +to the other matter, unless some good reason +should develop explaining Marcus Ellison’s mysterious +disappearance, the two singular and unfortunate incidents +were going to be connected.</p> + +<p>The successful trip of the new steamer was overshadowed +completely by these unexpected matters.</p> + +<p>“I must go down on the <i>Spray</i> to-morrow morning,” +affirmed Judge Oglesby. “I shall sift this affair to +the bottom.”</p> + +<p>“I must go to Springfield, too,” declared Mr. +Montague. “The loss of that money will be a serious +handicap to me. But worse than that is the loss of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span> +those papers, which mean the life of Robert Ellison. +Unless I can find them, he will go to the electric +chair, though he is an innocent man.”</p> + +<p>“I will do all in my power to help in this matter,” +said Dean. “If there is nothing further I can do here, +I must return to the <i>Spray</i>, where I am needed.”</p> + +<p>“Yes; do not fail in your duty there,” said the +judge.</p> + +<p>Though it may have been simply the imagination +of Dean in his nervous state, he could not help thinking +that there was a hidden meaning in the remark to +him.</p> + +<p>The finger of suspicion was pointed at him.</p> + +<p>Eva had disappeared from sight, as he left the house, +but he was pleased to find her waiting for him near +the fountain at the turn of the walk. She advanced +with extended hands, saying:</p> + +<p>“I am so sorry for you, Dean. I do not think papa +really blames you, and we will hope the affair will +be explained soon.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, Miss Eva, for your kind words. Believe +me, I shall do everything in my power to solve the +mystery. It is so strange such misfortunes should +come just as we were getting started.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span></p> + +<p>“Do not anticipate final disappointment, Dean. Remember +misfortunes are but opportunities to test our +ability to conquer.”</p> + +<p>Her words came to him like a prophecy, and through +all of his trials he often recalled them.</p> + +<p>Nothing further was learned to throw any light on +the situation, and promptly the following morning the +<i>Spray</i> was ready to return to her destination at the +other end of the lake.</p> + +<p>Both Judge Oglesby and Mr. Montague were on +hand as passengers, while a good number of others had +secured tickets for the round trip, showing that the +venture was certain to prove a success.</p> + +<p>The day had started in damp and foggy, and in the +bustle of getting under way, Dean had not found opportunity +to say much to the judge, whom he could +see was deeply impressed with the situation.</p> + +<p>“Where is the <i>Warrior</i>? I could not see her as I +came on board,” remarked the judge.</p> + +<p>“For some reason unknown to me,” replied Captain +Mercer, “she started this morning half an hour ahead +of her schedule. It may have been on account of the +fog.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">THE RACE BETWEEN THE STEAMERS.</p> + + +<p>“Confound this infernal fog! Look ahere, pilot, +can you see anything of that new steamer?”</p> + +<p>“Not yet in sight, colonel.”</p> + +<p>“That does not say she is not within beam’s length.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that you are saying, Colonel Darringford?”</p> + +<p>“Is that you, Captain Bumpstead? Say, has the +engineer got on all the steam she will stand? This +seems like a sail’s pace.”</p> + +<p>“The fastest we’ve made, colonel. The <i>Warrior</i> has +behaved unaccountably well so far. God grant she +may hold out until we reach Springfield.”</p> + +<p>“How soon shall we make Landlock?”</p> + +<p>“In an hour, colonel, if we can keep up this speed.”</p> + +<p>“Put on all the steam you can. I have sworn that +we would show the fools at Millville that we have still +the best boat. We win to-day, or Ebenezer Darringford +doesn’t own this boat. Do you hear me, Martin?”</p> + +<p>The officer simply bowed, while the speaker sought +his cabin.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span></p> + +<p>Captain Martin Bumpstead went directly to the +pilot house, muttering something about “when liquor +is in, wit is out.”</p> + +<p>The above conversation took place on the <i>Warrior</i> +in the midst of the greatest excitement that had ever +come upon the old boat.</p> + +<p>Colonel Darringford, in the delirium of drink and +the excitement caused by the appearance of the rival +steamer, had ordered that the <i>Warrior</i> make an early +start in order to keep ahead of the <i>Spray</i> and in reaching +Springfield first to show that she was the equal +of the other.</p> + +<p>But owing to the fog slower progress had been +made than might have been accomplished under more +favorable conditions.</p> + +<p>“Where are we now?” demanded Captain Bumpstead, +as he gained the pilot house.</p> + +<p>“Off Loon Point, sir. We would have been to Landlock +if they had given us all the steam I’ve called for,” +exclaimed the grizzled man at the wheel.</p> + +<p>“More likely we should have been in the air,” declared +the captain. “I tell you, Dan Dame, the old +hulk can’t stand any more.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span></p> + +<p>“I believe I see the new steamer now!” broke in the +lookout at this juncture.</p> + +<p>Captain Bumpstead swore a round oath, as he demanded +where.</p> + +<p>“A mile in our rear.”</p> + +<p>“We’re in for it,” cried the commander. “It all lies +with you, boys.”</p> + +<p>“Give me all the steam I call for and I’ll rip the lake +but I’ll get the ol’ tub in ahead.”</p> + +<p>“The fog is lifting!” cried the lookout.</p> + +<p>“I am afraid that will make it no better for us.”</p> + +<p>“Give me all the steam I want and the fog will not +run this race,” cried the man at the wheel, showing by +his manner that he was laboring under great excitement.</p> + +<p>The <i>Warrior</i> was plowing furiously through the +water.</p> + +<p>The passengers, without dreaming of the peril which +the steamer was madly courting, gathered in groups +upon the decks, trying to penetrate the gloom around +them in vain.</p> + +<p>So fifteen minutes passed without any material +change in the situation, except that the fog had continued +to lift.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span></p> + +<p>The <i>Spray</i> was now in plain sight to the lookout.</p> + +<p>“Is she gaining on us?” asked the captain, “or does +it look so because the light is growing better?”</p> + +<p>“We are holding our own, captain.” Under his +breath he added:</p> + +<p>“But we shan’t long, now the fog has lifted.”</p> + +<p>For the next ten minutes the fog lifted so rapidly +that the <i>Spray</i> was now in plain sight and bearing +swiftly down upon them.</p> + +<p>“She’s gaining on us!” panted Captain Bumpstead.</p> + +<p>“Gaining, did you say?” cried a voice at his elbow, +and he turned to find that Colonel Darringford had +reached the pilot house.</p> + +<p>“This is no place for you at this time, colonel,” said +the captain.</p> + +<p>“It’s just the place for me, and I’m going to stay +here till we have run that hound out of the race.”</p> + +<p>The others knew it would be useless to argue with +the maddened owner of the boat, and so they contented +themselves with their respective duties.</p> + +<p>A silence fell on the speakers, save for the growls of +the man at the wheel as he called down the tube every +other minute for more steam.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span></p> + +<p>“Blow her to perdition and be spiked, but I must +hev more steam.”</p> + +<p>The <i>Spray</i> had begun to show greater life, and it +was apparent to all that she was rapidly overtaking the +older boat. New machinery and improved conditions +made this easy. Had Captain Bumpstead known that +even then the <i>Spray</i> had not shown her best, he might +have been more hopeless.</p> + +<p>“She’ll make the Point first!” he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“Then it will be her ruin!” thundered Colonel Darringford.</p> + +<p>The <i>Warrior</i> was trembling from fore to aft, groaning +like a huge creature in its dying agonies.</p> + +<p>The captain had joined the group on the deck, though +he was watching the twain in the pilot house more +than the oncoming steamer, that even he could not +help denying made a beautiful sight as she swept gracefully +onward, throwing out deep furrows of foaming +water very much as a huge plow would rend and +throw out the mellow soil of the earth.</p> + +<p>Almost before the commander realized it, the <i>Spray</i> +was abreast of the <i>Warrior</i>!</p> + +<p>“We are lost!” he gasped. “She will win the right +of way to the Point.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span></p> + +<p>Aye, at that very moment Jack Carboy had seized +the handle on the cord attached to the whistle, and +was blowing a signal which in navigation language +said:</p> + +<p>“The right of way is mine, and I am to cross your +bows. Change your course or shut down.”</p> + +<p>Dan Dame at his post on the <i>Warrior</i> heard and +understood. As reckless as he was, he shrank from his +foolhardy course.</p> + +<p>At that moment Rodney Darringford reached his +father’s side, and as he realized their awful peril, cried:</p> + +<p>“Come with me, father!”</p> + +<p>The man at the wheel was in the act of signaling to +the engineer to shut off steam and reverse the power, +when Colonel Darringford, as white as a ghost, sprang +forward and dashing Dan Dame aside seized the wheel +in his own frenzied clutch.</p> + +<p>“Port your helm!” shrieked Jack Carboy in a voice +heard by all of the terrified spectators. “Hard-a-port, +or we’ll run you down!”</p> + +<p>The next moment he gasped in a husky voice:</p> + +<p>“That madman will send us to the bottom!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span></p> + +<p>Seeing the inevitable fate in store for both steamers, +Dean Mercer shouted:</p> + +<p>“Shut off the power! Reverse——”</p> + +<p>Jack Carboy, as true as steel, threw his giant strength +to the lever in a wild endeavor to save the steamer.</p> + +<p>Too late!</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">THE FATE OF THE “WARRIOR.”</p> + + +<p>The passengers on board the ill-fated steamers +turned pale with terror. Wild commands were +shouted from both of the boats—commands no man +could obey.</p> + +<p>Jack Carboy did his best to avert the catastrophe, +and the <i>Spray</i> obeyed her master as only a perfect +piece of mechanism could.</p> + +<p>But Colonel Darringford seemed to have suddenly +been changed to a madman. In spite of the iron-clad +rule of navigation that he was breaking; in spite of +the doom that awaited him and all on his steamer, he +bore madly down across the path of the <i>Spray</i>.</p> + +<p>In a moment a terrible crash sounded above the +cries of human beings. A shock—a mighty plunge—a +downward sweep of the bows of the <i>Warrior</i> and +a swift sheering off of the <i>Spray</i>, and the collision +was over.</p> + +<p>The prompt action of the officers and crew of the +new steamer averted what at first seemed certain destruction +to both boats. But as it was the older and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span> +weaker craft was soon struggling helplessly in the +pathway of the other.</p> + +<p>Some of the passengers on the <i>Warrior</i> were flung +headlong into the water; others jumped overboard in +their alarm, while those who remained on the decks +were thrown in heaps together.</p> + +<p>Fortunately none was killed on the <i>Spray</i>, though +many were injured to greater or less extent. The +steamer had received a jagged rent in her port where +the old steamer had struck. But it was nothing that +could not be repaired so they could keep on their +way.</p> + +<p>But it was soon evident that the <i>Warrior</i> would +have to be overhauled before she could run on another +trip.</p> + +<p>Boats were lowered and lines dropped to those in +the water, and so rapidly did the work of rescue +go on that in less than half an hour after the shock +of the collision all of the passengers on the <i>Warrior</i> +had been taken on the <i>Spray</i>.</p> + +<p>As far as could be ascertained no lives had been +lost.</p> + +<p>It was decided to try and get the <i>Warrior</i> into the +dock at Landlock.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span></p> + +<p>Rodney Darringford came on board the <i>Spray</i>, but +his father, who showed that he had recovered from +the influence of the liquor, did not. He was bitter +in his denunciations of the rival boat.</p> + +<p>“I’ll make you pay for this, Judge Oglesby, if there +is law enough in the land to do it. You have ruined +my boat.”</p> + +<p>No reply was made to this threat, and after temporarily +repairing the hole that had been made in the +<i>Spray</i>, the steamer, with her double cargo of passengers, +once more steamed on her way.</p> + +<p>No one censured the conduct of the officers of the +<i>Spray</i>. In fact, many tried to find Captain Mercer +to extend their praise for his gallant conduct.</p> + +<p>He was closeted in his cabin with Judge Oglesby +and Mr. Montague, so that he was not to be seen for +the present.</p> + +<p>“You behaved nobly, Dean,” declared the judge, +dropping the official form of address as he spoke.</p> + +<p>“I do not see that I did anything unusual. If any +praise is deserving it belongs to Jack Carboy. But for +his prompt and intelligent action our steamer must +have received more damage than she has, if not +ruined entirely.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span></p> + +<p>“The old seadog is a diamond in the rough. We +can trust him. This will probably make us an hour +late at Springfield.”</p> + +<p>“Better lose an hour than our lives,” said Mr. Montague, +though he was as anxious to reach the city as +his companions.</p> + +<p>Nothing further occurred to mar the trip to Springfield. +A short stop was made at Landlock, where the +<i>Warrior</i> would have to remain.</p> + +<p>So, leaving the veteran steamer slumbering at her +dock, the <i>Spray</i>, still carrying all of the through passengers, +glided triumphantly on her way.</p> + +<p>“It will be a month at least before the <i>Warrior</i> can +be made serviceable again, if she can be at all,” declared +Judge Oglesby to the young commander. +“Colonel Darringford, through his folly, has sealed +his own ill fortune. Captain Mercer, you have a clear +way now, and if this other matter can be settled satisfactorily, +your success is assured.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose I am foolish,” thought the young captain, +“but somehow I wish Rodney Darringford had +stayed with his father.”</p> + +<p>Colonel Darringford meanwhile, having urged his +son to go to Springfield and find Tim Downey, was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span> +devoting all of his time and energies to swallowing +huge potations of fiery liquor.</p> + +<p>As he drank he grew boisterous, so the men became +alarmed. Near the close of day he was seen to emerge +from his cabin and stagger across the deck to the +gangway.</p> + +<p>Then, drawing his heavy, gold watch from his vest +pocket, he gazed unsteadily at its face for a minute or +more, when he suddenly blurted out:</p> + +<p>“Five o’clock and the steamer at her dock here! +Where is the crew?”</p> + +<p>One of the men who had been left to keep watch +over the boat while the others were ashore upon one +errand or another ventured to approach the delirious +speaker, saying:</p> + +<p>“I am sorry, Colonel Darringford, but there ain’t +no crew here but me and the fireman.”</p> + +<p>“No crew?” fairly roared the colonel. “And the +steamer lying here with all those passengers waiting +to come aboard for a start. Wake up, you idiot! summon +the crew; let on the steam; ye gods! I’ll discharge +every man of you at Springfield!”</p> + +<p>The watchman looked upon the crazed speaker and +then glanced toward the shore. A few boys were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span> +playing about the place, and in the distance he could +see three or four men going about their duties. Further +away he saw faintly the captain of the boat, but +he was beyond his hail. There was not a passenger in +sight.</p> + +<p>Colonel Darringford glowered upon him fiercely, +and then yelled:</p> + +<p>“To your post, you lubber! Order the men to +lower the staging so all those passengers can come +aboard. They have paid their money, and they shall +have passage to their journey’s end.”</p> + +<p>Then, as if a new thought had come into his bewildered +brain, he demanded:</p> + +<p>“Where’s that new boat—that infernal——”</p> + +<p>“You mean the <i>Spray</i>, Colonel? She’s gone on to +Springfield.”</p> + +<p>“And left the only decent boat on the lake here, +with a thousand passengers waiting to come aboard, +and—and—and not—a—not—a—man——”</p> + +<p>His rage making him speechless, Colonel Darringford +made an attempt to reach the watchman, muttering:</p> + +<p>“I’ll choke the life out——”</p> + +<p>In the midst of his incoherent speech he staggered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span> +to and fro, making a vain attempt to maintain his +equilibrium, but a moment later he sank upon the +deck unconscious. From thence he was carried to the +cabin and left there to sleep off the delirium and stupor +of his protracted debauch.</p> + +<p>The whole scene would have been ridiculous had not +its price been a ruined manhood.</p> + +<p>Upon reaching Springfield, the first thing Judge +Oglesby and Dean did was to arrange for the needed +repairs of the <i>Spray</i>, after which they sought the +bank officials to learn about the check that had been +cashed there.</p> + +<p>But that institution had been closed for over two +hours, and the cashier had been called out of town, +and would not be back until the afternoon of the following +day.</p> + +<p>Messrs. Brown and Sewall were found, but they +could throw no light upon the situation. They had +not sent a man to represent them and so it was evident +some one had got possession of the check through deception.</p> + +<p>“I assure you we are not worried about the money, +Judge Oglesby,” said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>But there was more than the loss of money at stake.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span></p> + +<p>While the judge and Dean were trying to solve +this mystery, Mr. Montague was meeting with keener +disappointment elsewhere in his endeavor to find what +had become of Marcus Ellison.</p> + +<p>Late the following evening not a single clew had +been found to settle either of these mooted questions.</p> + +<p>Dean Mercer was fain to return to the steamer to +spend the night, while the judge went to one of the +hotels and Mr. Montague accepted the invitation of his +colleague, Mr. Durand, to go to his home.</p> + +<p>At the small hour of one only a few belated wayfarers +were abroad, and a comparative silence lay upon +the town.</p> + +<p>Then the stillness was suddenly broken by the most +startling cry that robs man of rest:</p> + +<p>“Fire—fire—fire!”</p> + +<p>The alarm had started down by the dock.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">A LINK IN THE CHAIN OF MYSTERY.</p> + + +<p>“The <i>Spray</i> is burning up!”</p> + +<p>This astounding cry awoke Judge Oglesby from a +sound sleep.</p> + +<p>When he finally reached the pier the ill-fated +steamer was beyond hope of being saved.</p> + +<p>“Where is Dean—Captain Mercer?” he asked, excitedly, +as he looked upon the doomed boat which had +held out so much promise to him.</p> + +<p>“He can’t be found!” replied a bystander. “He has +been burned with the steamer.”</p> + +<p>“Shiver yer toplight! Let go the anchor there. +I’ll find the lad if I die in the flames.”</p> + +<p>It took four strong men to hold Jack Carboy from +rushing to what must have proved certain death.</p> + +<p>“Be calm, Jack,” admonished the judge. “We shall +find the boy safe and sound. No doubt he has done +his best——”</p> + +<p>“See him coming ashore,” said a bystander. “He +’peared to be running away like a sneak thief.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span></p> + +<p>“He fired the boat and then skipped,” declared some +one else.</p> + +<p>But many believed that the missing youth had perished +in the fire.</p> + +<p>The <i>Spray</i> burned to the water’s edge, and the following +morning only the charred and dismantled hulk +was left of the proud steamer.</p> + +<p>A search failed to reveal any trace of Dean Mercer.</p> + +<p>One man alone believed fully in the innocence of +Dean. That was Jack Carboy.</p> + +<p>Filled with the wild hope that “his lad” had somehow, +and he could not have explained how, gone home, +he started for Millville.</p> + +<p>Judge Oglesby telephoned home, but, as he had expected, +nothing had been seen or heard of Dean.</p> + +<p>Judge Oglesby arrived at a definite conclusion soon. +The <i>Spray</i> had been burned by an incendiary.</p> + +<p>Who?</p> + +<p>Where was Dean Mercer?</p> + +<p>By nightfall a terrible suspicion assailed the judge’s +mind.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the third day after the fire, all +Millville knew that Dean Mercer had disappeared, taking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span> +with him, it was believed, nine thousand dollars in +stolen money.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the fourth day, officers representing +the judge’s interests, started out to scour the +country around in an endeavor to secure some trace +of the fugitive.</p> + +<p>A reward of a thousand dollars was offered for the +arrest of Dean, and two thousand for the recovery of +the money.</p> + +<p>It took hours, weary and torturing, to fully convince +Judge Oglesby that his young protege, the boy +he had so completely trusted, had proven an ingrate +and a criminal.</p> + +<p>Evaline was dumbfounded—crushed.</p> + +<p>“Oh, papa! it cannot be true!” she had gasped, pale +with horror.</p> + +<p>“He never did it,” affirmed Lawyer Montague +stanchly.</p> + +<p>But clue by clue fastened the network of guilt more +completely around Dean. The judge’s mind passed +through all the graduations of stupefaction, alarm, +grief, and finally, stern, unrelenting justice.</p> + +<p>Even Lawyer Montague at last agreed that the +temptation of money had been too much for Dean<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span> +Mercer. He had been dazzled with the glare of wealth—he +had sold honor and respectability for a fortune, +and forgetting home and friends, had fled to some +remote place to enjoy his stolen plunder.</p> + +<p>“But what did he burn the <i>Spray</i> for?” muttered +the perplexed Montague. “I can’t understand that, +judge?”</p> + +<p>“Maybe he was hired.”</p> + +<p>“Who by?”</p> + +<p>“My rivals in business.”</p> + +<p>“Dean wouldn’t do that.”</p> + +<p>“A boy who would feign honesty and friendship, +and betray a trust, and rob a benefactor, would do anything +evil,” replied Judge Oglesby bitterly. “We have +simply been deceived, and at a terrible cost.”</p> + +<p>“A terrible cost, indeed,” sighed Montague. “I am +comparatively a poor man and the loss of the thousand +dollars will fall heavily upon me. Dear! dear! what +is the world coming to?”</p> + +<p>Yes, Judge Oglesby had lost, but he could afford +it. As to Montague, the missing thousand dollars and +the papers meant beggary. Certainly a severe blow to +his prospects.</p> + +<p>The money represented all that was possessed by<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span> +Robert Ellison, a man who had reposed the most implicit +confidence in him.</p> + +<p>It was a strange and mysterious case. He was +charged with killing his uncle, a miserly relative, who +had led a lonely life back in the hills, and circumstances +almost proved his guilt.</p> + +<p>Ellison had just returned from a two years’ sojourn +to far Western mines. He had left his son, +Marcus, in charge of his uncle.</p> + +<p>When he returned he had accumulated a little over +a thousand dollars. This he intended to invest in +some little business, and take his son in with him.</p> + +<p>To his surprise, when he went to his uncle, James +Conroyd, for his boy, he found Conroyd in the worst +possible humor.</p> + +<p>The latter stated that he had tired of caring for +Marcus Ellison, and had sent him adrift.</p> + +<p>“Why?” asked the amazed Ellison.</p> + +<p>“Because I did not hear from you.”</p> + +<p>“I wrote you and sent money for his care.”</p> + +<p>“I never got your letters!” snapped the ill-natured +Conroyd.</p> + +<p>There was an angry interview, for Ellison was provoked<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span> +at Conroyd’s heartlessness. The crabbed, irritable +nature of the latter became more and more resentful, +as Ellison charged him with heartlessness.</p> + +<p>They had a fierce quarrel, and Conroyd ordered +Ellison out of his house, and Ellison, wild with rage, +vowed to “get even” with him.</p> + +<p>That night, from Millville, he wrote his uncle that +unless he put him on the track of his missing boy he +would make him trouble.</p> + +<p>That night James Conroyd was found shot dead +near his cabin. The next day a pistol that Ellison +had brought from the West with him was discovered +among some bushes near the house.</p> + +<p>One chamber was empty. The missing bullet was +found in James Conroyd’s heart.</p> + +<p>Of course Ellison was at once arrested. Conroyd’s +hired man, a surly, low-browed being named Manseur, +swore that he had seen Ellison lurking around the +cabin.</p> + +<p>The threatening letter that Ellison had written +was also found. People remembered his threats.</p> + +<p>In jail Ellison sent for Lawyer Montague, an old-time +friend, and told him the truth. He was innocent. +Montague believed him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span></p> + +<p>Ellison gave the lawyer his money, and engaged him +to clear him from the crime imputed to him.</p> + +<p>He was taken to the jail at Springfield. Public +opinion was against him, but the shrewd Montague +began to work up clue after clue toward proving his +innocence.</p> + +<p>His suspicions became directed toward the hired +man, Manseur, as the real assassin. He watched +him, questioned him, and discerned that the latter was +beginning to get suspicious of him and uneasy.</p> + +<p>Montague believed that Manseur had murdered his +employer to rob him, and had taken advantage of his +quarrel with Ellison, to involve the latter.</p> + +<p>He saw that when the case came to trial he could +entangle Manseur in contradictory statements and +weaken his fake story of having seen Ellison lurking +near the Conroyd cabin the night of the murder.</p> + +<p>Then, again, he had secured a bit of evidence that +in a measure corroborated Ellison’s claim that the +night of the murder he was forty miles away from +Millville in quest of his missing son, Marcus.</p> + +<p>Old James Conroyd had sent him a letter telling +him that the last he had heard of Marcus was at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span> +Highcliffe, a town some distance away. The letter, +too, spoke of his being sorry for his unreasonable +anger, and it was written evidently only a few hours +previous to the murder.</p> + +<p>This letter, other evidence and the thousand dollars +were contained in the wallet that Lawyer Montague +had given to Dean Mercer to take to Lawyer Durand +at Springfield.</p> + +<p>Montague and everybody else believed that Dean +had made off with the money.</p> + +<p>If he lost or destroyed James Conroyd’s evidence, +or the other papers, Ellison was doomed to the electric +chair.</p> + +<p>Without the money Ellison could not fight his case +successfully, but Montague determined to replace the +thousand dollars, if it beggared him.</p> + +<p>Then anxiously he began to advertise.</p> + +<p>Such items as the following appeared in the city +papers:</p> + +<p>“D. M.—Return the papers and keep the money.”</p> + +<p>“D. M.—You will not be prosecuted if you return +the Conroyd letter and papers.”</p> + +<p>“D. M.—An innocent man is doomed if you lose or<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span> +destroy the Conroyd documents. For the sake of +humanity, return them!”</p> + +<p>Thus a week went by.</p> + +<p>Drinking harder than ever, Colonel Darringford +chuckled over the downfall of a business rival and +kept silent.</p> + +<p>His son, Rodney, and Tim Downey had disappeared +from Millville.</p> + +<p>Judge Oglesby waited and hoped, and finally despaired +of ever recovering his stolen money.</p> + +<p>The officers of the law found not the slightest traces +of Dean Mercer.</p> + +<p>The Conroyd papers were not returned, and Lawyer +Montague gloomily decided that his client was doomed.</p> + +<p>Where was the missing Dean Mercer?</p> + +<p>What had become of the bright-faced, ambitious +boy, who had left Millville one sunshiny day amid +high hopes and golden promises, and had disappeared +as effectually as if the earth had engulfed him?</p> + +<p>Where, indeed? Only the sinister plotters who had +schemed for his ruin could just then disclose the truth, +and they were silent.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">BEHIND PRISON BARS.</p> + + +<p>A series of adventures had befallen Dean Mercer +that seem unaccountable.</p> + +<p>He could not give any intelligent explanation and +awoke, as it were, to the horrible realization that he +was the inmate of what seemed to him a prison, but +which he was soon to find was the State Reform +School.</p> + +<p>A new name had been given him, which was simply +a number, and he had entered upon a new phase of +life hitherto unknown to him and undreamed of.</p> + +<p>To tell how it had come about will involve a brief +narrative that shows cruelty, scheming, audacity, almost +inconceivable in these days of modern progress.</p> + +<p>The reader already knows how Tim Downey decided +to destroy the <i>Spray</i> and how he secured the co-operation +of two former acquaintances and desperate +villains, named Spofford and Daley.</p> + +<p>These men were professional thieves. Tim had +once gone with them on a predatory excursion among<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span> +the farmhouses near Millville, and when he came to +Springfield it was with the intention of joining fortunes +with them again.</p> + +<p>Daley and Spofford, released from the lockup after +their spree, had been found by Tim Downey, and +threatened by him had agreed to do the job for which +they had been hired.</p> + +<p>Tim saw that they did not get anything more to +drink, and they managed to get aboard the <i>Spray</i> +while Dean Mercer slept. The boy was chloroformed, +and while Tim set fire to the boat the others bore the +boy away.</p> + +<p>Dean Mercer knew absolutely nothing for hours +and hours. When he awoke, it was to find himself being +roughly jolted in a wagon.</p> + +<p>His hands and feet were tied, and he lay in a pile +of hay under a seat on which he saw two men.</p> + +<p>“Help! Where am I?”</p> + +<p>One of the men, Daley, leaned back and glared at +Dean with a savage scowl.</p> + +<p>“Shut up!” he ordered.</p> + +<p>“Where am I?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll gag you if you don’t! Drive on, Spofford. +There’s the place yonder, among the trees.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span></p> + +<p>To say that Dean was amazed, would be to express +his emotions faintly.</p> + +<p>He was mystified and alarmed. What had happened? +Where was he? Who were the two men on +the wagon seat? Why was he bound and taken away?</p> + +<p>The manner of Daley boded no good intent in his +movements.</p> + +<p>Dean was silent. He tried to think out the bewildering +mystery of the moment, but vainly.</p> + +<p>“Here, boy, you drink!”</p> + +<p>As the wagon came to a halt, Daley sprang over +the seat and held a flask to Dean’s lips.</p> + +<p>“I am not thirsty.”</p> + +<p>“Drink, I say.”</p> + +<p>“I won’t.”</p> + +<p>“Then I’ll make you.”</p> + +<p>Daley did make him, and Dean wriggled and twisted +vainly as the man forced some burning liquid down +his throat.</p> + +<p>He moaned feebly as his senses seemed reeling once +more, and he knew that some powerful drug had been +administered to him.</p> + +<p>“Is he all right?” asked Spofford.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span></p> + +<p>“I guess so,” replied Daley, who watched Dean +until he saw his heavy eyelids close. “Drive on.”</p> + +<p>“That’s the house ahead?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Will we find Justice Mullern there?”</p> + +<p>“I guess we will. If he is in town we’ll wait for +him. I don’t want to take the case among people.”</p> + +<p>The wagon was driven close to the gateway to quite +a pretentious residence.</p> + +<p>Upon its veranda sat a red-face, stupid-looking man, +and Daley, springing from the wagon, approached +him.</p> + +<p>“Good day, judge,” he said.</p> + +<p>Justice Mullern stared at Daley curiously.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, I know you now,” he said, after a pause. +“You’re Daley.”</p> + +<p>“Daley it is, judge. I’ve got a case for you.”</p> + +<p>“What kind of a case?”</p> + +<p>“Burglary.”</p> + +<p>“Have to bring it to my town office.”</p> + +<p>“That don’t suit me. I’m in a hurry. See here, +judge, you can be accommodating if you want to. I +threw a hundred dollars in your way for discharging +me for larceny some time since.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span></p> + +<p>Mullern flushed slightly.</p> + +<p>“Ahem! Yes, yes, well?”</p> + +<p>“It’s fifty now, and a plain case. In the wagon +there is a boy.”</p> + +<p>“Your boy?”</p> + +<p>“My nephew,” lied Daley glibly.</p> + +<p>“Bad boy?”</p> + +<p>“Terrible!”</p> + +<p>“What’s he been doing?”</p> + +<p>“Stealing. He’s the worst thief you ever saw. I’ve +had to tie him hand and foot to fetch him here. The +evidence is plain—mine and a friend. You just try +the case informally.”</p> + +<p>“It’s sort of irregular?” demurred the justice.</p> + +<p>“Not at all. Who’s going to know the difference? +You’re the law in this district, ain’t you?”</p> + +<p>“I reckon I am.”</p> + +<p>“Take the case to town, and you make a few dollars +in fees?”</p> + +<p>“Ye-es.”</p> + +<p>“Try it here, and it’s a fifty dollar note for you.”</p> + +<p>“There ought to be a jury?”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span></p> + +<p>“I might get in trouble.”</p> + +<p>“How?”</p> + +<p>“Irregular proceedings.”</p> + +<p>“We won’t say so.”</p> + +<p>“The boy?”</p> + +<p>“Send him to the reform school, and that’s the end +of it. There’s your money.”</p> + +<p>The justice’s last qualms of conscience seemed to +vanish at the sight of money.</p> + +<p>He went indoors, and Daley followed him. Mullern +seated himself at a desk and asked Daley to relate +his story. The latter went through the details of the +false charge of theft.</p> + +<p>“Boy’s name?” asked Mullern finally, selecting a +legal blank and a pen.</p> + +<p>“Robert Rawley.”</p> + +<p>“Age?”</p> + +<p>“Sixteen.”</p> + +<p>“Committed——”</p> + +<p>“Till twenty-one.”</p> + +<p>Justice Mullern wrote out a blank.</p> + +<p>“I’ve no court officer here to take the boy,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Just give me the document. I’ll deliver him over +to the reform school authorities.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span></p> + +<p>The justice hesitated, but was finally prevailed upon +to agree to Daley’s desires. The mummery of justice +was completed at last. Without even so much as seeing +the prisoner, the justice had sentenced Dean Mercer +to a living tomb.</p> + +<p>“Got it?” asked Spofford, as Daley returned to the +wagon.</p> + +<p>“Yes. Drive on to Epson Springs—the State Reform +School.”</p> + +<p>They arrived there at dusk. The warden received +the prisoner and the document, Daley explaining that +the former had in some way got liquor, and was stupid +from its effects.</p> + +<p>“He’s a hard case,” he told the warden, “tricky and +deceptive. He’ll tell you a whole batch of his lies +when he wakes up.”</p> + +<p>“We’re used to that.”</p> + +<p>“Watch him closely.”</p> + +<p>“Never fear, we will,” answered the warden +grimly.</p> + +<p>The warden called an officer, and Dean, insensible, +was removed to the solitary—a dark cell, where new +and refractory prisoners are placed in penal institutions.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span></p> + +<p>It was about midnight when he awoke. Not a ray +of light permeated the place, and the confused boy had +no idea of his whereabouts.</p> + +<p>He called aloud for aid, for a light. The cold stone +walls gave back a derisive echo, and no one came to +his aid.</p> + +<p>Then he felt his way around the place. He knew +that he was shut up in a strong barred cell, but had +no idea that it was a prison.</p> + +<p>Dean tried to think, to theorize as to his situation, +but life was a blank for the past seventy-four hours.</p> + +<p>He was anxious, worried about the new steamboat; +he wondered who his enemies could be, for the two +men in the wagon were certainly enemies.</p> + +<p>“What does it all mean—what does it all mean?” +he murmured agonizedly time and time again, and +then, parched with fever, he fell to sleep again.</p> + +<p>The click of a lock awakened him. The door of the +cell, a massive iron gate, swung open.</p> + +<p>Dean groped his way to the threshold. Outside was +a stone-paved corridor. A man in striped convict’s +garb—the same who had unlocked the cell door—was +the only occupant of the place.</p> + +<p>At him Dean stared eagerly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span></p> + +<p>“Where am I? Is this a jail?” he cried.</p> + +<p>For reply, the man placed his fingers to his lips to +indicate silence.</p> + +<p>“But I want to know!” gasped Dean.</p> + +<p>The man pointed to a framed circular. His finger +rested on a certain line.</p> + +<p>Gazing at it, Dean read that it comprised the rules +and regulations for the conduct of the prisoners in +the State Reform School.</p> + +<p>One line read:</p> + +<p>“Any prisoner found conversing or signaling to +others will be punished.”</p> + +<p>And then were enumerated the various penalties +for the offense and its repetition.</p> + +<p>“The State Reform School?” gasped Dean, white +with dread and suspense. “I am fifty miles away from +Springfield!”</p> + +<p>The convict interrupted his excited soliloquy by +touching his shoulder and making a gesture that said:</p> + +<p>“Follow me!”</p> + +<p>Dean, thrilling with vague perturbation, accompanied +him down the corridor. At its end the man +unlocked the door and urged Dean over the threshold.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span></p> + +<p>At a desk sat a man writing, but not in prison uniform. +A second man caught Dean’s arm.</p> + +<p>“New prisoner,” he said.</p> + +<p>“What number?”</p> + +<p>“No. 301.”</p> + +<p>“Prisoner?” gasped Dean. “I am not——”</p> + +<p>“Silence!” ordered the man at the desk, “or we’ll +put you back in the dark cell.”</p> + +<p>“But, sir——”</p> + +<p>“You’ll have a chance to talk all you want to when +you see the warden.”</p> + +<p>“Better keep quiet!” spoke Dean’s companion in a +low tone of warning.</p> + +<p>Dean acted like a person in a dream. The truth +had flashed over his mind with a rude shock.</p> + +<p>Prisoner!</p> + +<p>Prisoner, for what?</p> + +<p>The man measured his height, weighed him, took a +careful description of his personal appearance, and received +from the man at the desk an iron check bearing +the figures, in bronze:</p> + +<p>“301.”</p> + +<p>Then he led Dean to another door, opened it, pushed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span> +him though and handed the iron check to a man in +the room.</p> + +<p>The latter pointed to a barber’s chair. Dean +groaned in anguish of spirit.</p> + +<p>The man began to cut his hair close to his head. +That done, he touched a bell, a man appeared, led +Dean to another room, and here were a row of bath +tubs.</p> + +<p>Dean chafed under the terrible silence of the place. +Everywhere that menacing printed order was displayed. +When he emerged from the bath, to his surprise +his own clothes had been replaced by a striped +suit—the convict’s garb, such as the prisoners he had +seen had worn.</p> + +<p>“I won’t put them on!” he almost shrieked. “I +must talk, if you kill me. I am no convict—no prisoner!”</p> + +<p>His companion was as implacable as stone. He +pointed once again to the clothes. There was a terrible +shadow of severity in his face that awed Dean. +He shuddered as at last he donned the coarse garments.</p> + +<p>“For pity’s sake!” he gasped, “let me see the warden—anybody<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span> +I can talk to. I shall go crazy if you +don’t. It is all a mistake—I am no prisoner!”</p> + +<p>The man handed Dean the iron check and pointed +to a door.</p> + +<p>Dean hastened to it, opened it and came face to +face with a man whose bearing and garb pronounced +him to be some well-fed, indifferent official of the +place.</p> + +<p>“Are you the warden?” queried Dean, trembling +with the emotions of the moment.</p> + +<p>The portly man scowled at Dean, glanced at the +iron check, wrote something in a book, and said:</p> + +<p>“Stand erect, eyes down. You are here to listen, +not to speak. Pay attention!”</p> + +<p>Poor Dean was nearly crying. He dared not speak. +He decided to wait until the man had spoken. Then, +he would appeal to him.</p> + +<p>The warden read several pages from a well-thumbed +book. They were the rules and regulations of the reform +school. Dean scarcely comprehended their import.</p> + +<p>“That’s your guide,” spoke the man finally as he +closed the book. “You will find a copy in your cell.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span> +Behave yourself and you may win good-conduct time +and privileges.”</p> + +<p>“One word, sir!”</p> + +<p>The warden had tapped a bell.</p> + +<p>“Well, what is it?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t understand it all, sir. I don’t know how +I came here. I’m an honest, respectable boy——”</p> + +<p>“Lower tier, north gallery!”</p> + +<p>That was all the warden said. To him the frantic, +incoherent words of Dean Mercer were but a repetition +of those of every new, frightened inmate of the +place.</p> + +<p>“Oh, sir, please listen to me!”</p> + +<p>“Boy, if you want the dark cell again, keep on +breaking the rules,” interrupted the warden sternly.</p> + +<p>Blinded with tears, staggering, anguished, Dean +Mercer followed the convict the warden had summoned.</p> + +<p>They went out into a large yard. Crossing it to +a sombre-looking cell house, a man with a cane, who +was watching a band of about twenty boys picking +oakum, halted the convict.</p> + +<p>“New prisoner?” he asked shortly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span></p> + +<p>“Let him work here then. We’re two short from +sickness.”</p> + +<p>Just then the prison noon bell rang.</p> + +<p>Dean Mercer looked up at the man with the cane.</p> + +<p>“Can I speak to you, sir?”</p> + +<p>“What do you want?”</p> + +<p>“I wish to send word——”</p> + +<p>“Impossible.”</p> + +<p>“Or write a letter——”</p> + +<p>“’Gainst rules. Letter day in three weeks. Form +ranks. March to your cells. Number 301, no dallying +there, or we’ll put you in the solitary.”</p> + +<p>A moan of anguish parted Dean Mercer’s lips, and +then, like one doomed, he followed the prisoners with +leaden steps—a convict.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">HELPLESS AND HOPELESS.</p> + + +<p>The arm of the law is strong—it crushes hope out +of a man’s life sometimes, in the worst class of prisons. +In a reform school it deals even more strictly +than in a penitentiary, for here boyish shrewdness is +feared fully as much as more matured plotting.</p> + +<p>The institution in which Dean Mercer found himself +to be a prisoner was noted for its severe regime.</p> + +<p>Once its doors closed on a convict the warden +claimed that by the legalized act he became dead to +the outside world.</p> + +<p>Until his term expired he was entombed alive, and +the four solid granite walls that encompassed the place +shut him in to all the world he was to know until released.</p> + +<p>They were used to protestations, threats, misrepresentations +at the place, and even had Dean told his +entire story no one would have believed him.</p> + +<p>“I am innocent,” a prisoner would say.</p> + +<p>“Ah! indeed?”</p> + +<p>“Unjustly sent here.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span></p> + +<p>“Sorry; but we are not a court of inquiry. We +don’t try your case.”</p> + +<p>“The judge was bribed to send me here.”</p> + +<p>“Can’t help it. You’re here. Our duty is to see +that you stay here until your term expires.”</p> + +<p>And that ended it.</p> + +<p>Or——</p> + +<p>“Can I write a letter to friends?”</p> + +<p>“On letter day.”</p> + +<p>“It is important.”</p> + +<p>“On letter day.”</p> + +<p>And that ended it, too.</p> + +<p>The first night Dean Mercer slept in the narrow, +confined cell to which he was apportioned, he thought +he would go mad with anxiety.</p> + +<p>He had always led a free, roving life. Imprisonment +was torture.</p> + +<p>Worst of all, he was unjustly incarcerated, and he +saw that he was unable to send word to friends.</p> + +<p>He now knew for a certainty that he was the victim +of a plot, and the possible object and results tormented +him.</p> + +<p>He chafed and wept, and the grim, silent walls +seemed to mock his misery.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span></p> + +<p>Toward morning he slept a few brief moments, and, +wearied and depressed, he heard the bell ring to announce +that a new day of work had begun.</p> + +<p>“Hold your cell door when locking, push it open at +the signal,” sternly ordered a guard to Dean.</p> + +<p>The convicts, some six hundred of them, were +marched to a room with long tables.</p> + +<p>As they passed them by, each boy would seize a +large cup containing coffee, and as much bread as he +cared for.</p> + +<p>Then, returning to their cells, they would dispatch +this rude breakfast.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later they formed in line, and were +marched to the different shops. Dean was taken with +a gang of seventy to the oakum sheds.</p> + +<p>Here a guard with a heavy cane kept a cat-like +watch over the boys under his charge.</p> + +<p>Dean did as he saw the others do, and worked as +a welcome deviation from monotony, to occupy his +mind.</p> + +<p>Finally some visitors passed by. Dean chanced to +glance at them as they passed on.</p> + +<p>“Number 301,” spoke the guard, sternly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span></p> + +<p>“You looked up just now?”</p> + +<p>Dean looked guilty.</p> + +<p>“Next offence—the solitary.”</p> + +<p>That was dreadful. All that day, when not working, +the convicts were required to fold their arms and +sit with eyes cast down on the ground.</p> + +<p>That night Dean was glad to get to his cell. He +was tired, and slept well, and he began to count the +days intervening before letter day.</p> + +<p>Then he would write to his friends and tell them of +his strange imprisonment.</p> + +<p>Ah! they would soon come to the rescue. He would +be free, and his enemies discovered and punished, as +soon as Judge Oglesby or Lawyer Montague knew of +his whereabouts.</p> + +<p>The next day Dean was removed to a new field of +usefulness. He welcomed the change gladly, for the +occupation was more varied and congenial.</p> + +<p>There was a large garden fenced in near the warden’s +house, and here he and four other boys were +set at work weeding, pruning and transplanting.</p> + +<p>There was no guard here. Only the sentinel on the +wall above kept an occasional watch over them.</p> + +<p>Dean thrilled, as about noon the first friendly voice<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span> +he had heard since entering those gloomy walls fell +on his ears.</p> + +<p>A boy near him, while pretending to be tying up +a rose-bush, spoke in a low tone to Dean.</p> + +<p>“You’re the new one!” he whispered.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Thought so. 301?”</p> + +<p>“That’s my number.”</p> + +<p>“What are you in for?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! pshaw.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t; they call it larceny or burglary, but I didn’t +steal anything, or break into anybody’s house.”</p> + +<p>“Didn’t larce?” chuckled the boy.</p> + +<p>“No, I didn’t!”</p> + +<p>“Nor burgle?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know how.”</p> + +<p>“Come off the perch! What are you giving me? +You look a regular tough one.”</p> + +<p>This conversation, slangy and careless, disheartened +Dean.</p> + +<p>His next prison acquaintance struck him more favorably. +He proved to be a pale-faced, sad-looking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span> +boy, who whispered to Dean as the guard walked down +the wall, and they were unobserved.</p> + +<p>“Ain’t you cell 44?”</p> + +<p>“I think so,” responded Dean.</p> + +<p>“I thought so. Are you onto the ventilator?”</p> + +<p>“The ventilator?” asked Dean in surprise. “What +about the ventilator?”</p> + +<p>“It’s up in the corner. You can take it out and talk +to the boy in the next cell. I used to have that cell, +and I tell you it was mighty fine to be able to say a +word or two without being sent to solitary.”</p> + +<p>“Who’s in the next cell?” asked Dean.</p> + +<p>“Don’t know. He’s a new one. Escaped from +some institution, and was caught and brought here.”</p> + +<p>“How do you work the ventilator?”</p> + +<p>“It lifts out. Hist! The guard is watching us.”</p> + +<p>After supper that night Dean sat on his bunk until +the guard had passed. Then he carefully lifted out the +ventilator and peered into the tin aperture.</p> + +<p>“Hist!” he whispered.</p> + +<p>There was no response, and again he called, this +time a trifle louder. Then he heard a slight sound in +the next cell, and a low voice asked:</p> + +<p>“What is it? Who calls?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span></p> + +<p>“Take out your ventilator,” said Dean, “and then +we can talk.”</p> + +<p>The other boy fumbled at the ventilator in the next +cell and presently succeeded in removing it. Dean, +who was peering through the dark hole, managed to +make out dimly a face at the other end of the opening.</p> + +<p>“Hello,” said the unknown.</p> + +<p>“Hello,” replied Dean, “thought you might like to +talk a little. It’s pretty lonely here.”</p> + +<p>“Who are you?” asked the other boy.</p> + +<p>“My name is Dean Mercer.”</p> + +<p>“What! Dean Mercer? How came you here +Dean?” cried the unknown, raising his voice to a dangerous +pitch in his evident excitement.</p> + +<p>“And who are you?” asked Dean quickly realizing +that he was talking with some one who knew him.</p> + +<p>“I’m Marcus Ellison!”</p> + +<p>It was only by a great effort that Dean kept from +crying out in surprise.</p> + +<p>“Marcus,” he whispered. “How came you here?”</p> + +<p>“I was shanghaied and turned over to the police as +a boy who had made his escape from some reformatory, +and I have not been able to make anyone listen +to me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span></p> + +<p>“It’s the same way with me.”</p> + +<p>“What happened?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t know?” said Marcus in surprise.</p> + +<p>“No. I went to sleep on the <i>Spray</i>, and the next +thing I knew I was bound hand and foot in a wagon. +Two men whom I didn’t know were in the wagon, +and one of them forced me to drink some stuff that +put me to sleep again. When I came to I was in this +cell.”</p> + +<p>“Strange. And you do not know who is responsible?”</p> + +<p>“No; as I say, I did not know the men who had me +captive.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t care so much about myself, but it is a +shame that I should have lost those papers and money +of father’s,” said Marcus.</p> + +<p>“You lost them?”</p> + +<p>“They were stolen from me by the men who captured +me.”</p> + +<p>“But they were officers, weren’t they?”</p> + +<p>“No. They pretended to recognize me as the boy +who had escaped, and they turned me over to an officer +and claimed the reward for my capture. Hist!<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span> +I think I hear the guard coming. We better quit +talking for to-night. It would be too bad to have +them find out the ventilator scheme. Want a paper?”</p> + +<p>“A paper?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, a newspaper.”</p> + +<p>“I thought they only let you read the library +books?”</p> + +<p>“One of the boys who works in the warden’s house +manages to swipe a paper now and then, and we pass +it around. This is the Millville <i>Journal</i>, and it may +interest you. I got it from the next cell to-day, and +have not had a chance to look at it yet. But I am +in no hurry, and it will interest you more than it will +me.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">STRANGE MYSTERIES.</p> + + +<p>Dean grasped the newspaper eagerly, replaced the +ventilator and was soon seated on his bunk and looking +over the columns of the journal that was welcome +as a friend from home.</p> + +<p>The gas jet in his cell was burning and he estimated +that it would be half an hour before the regulation +time for its extinguishment would arrive.</p> + +<p>He looked over the paper with deep interest.</p> + +<p>“Hello!” he gasped. “Marcus will see this. It is +worse than ever. What does all this muddle mean?”</p> + +<p>It was veritably a muddle to Dean Mercer, the allusions +in the paper he read to his own case, some +vague, some definite.</p> + +<p>The first thing he saw was an item from Springfield. +It read:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“The case of Robert Ellison, accused of the murder +of James Conroyd, is again postponed for trial. A +claim is now made by the defence that proofs of the +entire innocence of Ellison were sent by a messenger +by Mr. Montague, of Millville, to Mr. Durand, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span> +Springfield lawyer. These proofs, they aver, have disappeared +with the messenger, and time is asked to find +him and procure them.”</p> +</div> + +<p>The next item startled Dean still more deeply. It +appalled him. It seemed as if a network was closing +in upon him.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“The owner of the lake steamer, the <i>Spray</i>, burned +mysteriously night before last at the wharf at Springfield, +will not build a new craft this season. Judge +Oglesby, however, is in the field of lake traffic to stay, +and it is hinted that a railroad around its shores is +contemplated.”</p> +</div> + +<p>“The <i>Spray</i>—burned!” gasped Dean. “Is this another +plot, all these strange happenings? What is +this?”</p> + +<p>It was one of Lawyer Montague’s advertisements:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“D. M.—Keep the money, but for humanity’s sake, +return the proofs of R. E.’s innocence!</p> + +<p class="sig"> +M.”<br> +</p> +</div> + +<p>“My initials, and evidently signed by Montague!” +breathed Dean wildly, more and more mystified. “And +he thinks I have disappeared with the money and papers +purposely. Oh, this must all be some dreadful +plot against me!”</p> + +<p>This last discovery overwhelmed him. He knew the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span> +worst at last—knew the full extent of what had happened +since he last saw the <i>Spray</i>.</p> + +<p>He was a thief, a fugitive—disgraced, condemned +by all reputable people!</p> + +<p>“It’s awful!”</p> + +<p>Yes, and mystifying, too. Dean Mercer felt like +beating at his prison walls and demanding release.</p> + +<p>He was falsely accused; circumstances had encircled +him in the deepest guilt. His good name was gone +forevermore.</p> + +<p>No, no, he was innocent, and all the prison bars and +contumely in Christendom cannot long subdue the noble +soul that, unjustly accused, looks to heaven for +counsel and aid.</p> + +<p>The night must break some time—patience! patience!</p> + +<p>Gradually a calmer sense of hopefulness and confidence +ensued.</p> + +<p>Then, through the long and weary vigils of the +night, Dean Mercer sought to learn whose the evil +hand could be; whence the motive that had wrought all +this ruin and disaster, and had laid it to his charge.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">TALK OF ESCAPE.</p> + + +<p>“No. 301!”</p> + +<p>“That’s me,” murmured Dean.</p> + +<p>“No. 1017!”</p> + +<p>“Here, sir!” spoke Marcus Ellison.</p> + +<p>Both boys looked concerned, and exchanged glances. +They mutually feared that the broken ventilator had +been discovered, but they were mistaken.</p> + +<p>“Report to the warden for duty,” ordered the guard, +and he passed on.</p> + +<p>The two boys went to the office. The warden regarded +them carelessly.</p> + +<p>“You understand gardening, you two,” he said. +“The guard reports excellent work. Do you like it?”</p> + +<p>Marcus answered for both.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Well, so long as you obey rules, you two may have +the exclusive work. When it rains you can patch up +the trellises in the tool shed.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span></p> + +<p>“Thank you, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Deserve the favor, that’s all. It’s the easiest and +pleasantest work in the place.”</p> + +<p>The boys found it so. They were delighted. That +morning they plodded in the garden so faithfully that +the sentinel on the wall ceased to watch them.</p> + +<p>About one o’clock it began to rain. Marcus told +the sentinel of the warden’s order.</p> + +<p>“All right,” he said.</p> + +<p>“What luck!” ejaculated Dean as they entered the +tool shed. “Here we can talk unwatched and undisturbed.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but talk low.”</p> + +<p>“And you sort of watch out for fear some one might +come upon us unexpectedly.”</p> + +<p>They were out of sight completely of the guard. +Dean began to pleat some cord into trellis-nets, and +Marcus sharpened the pruning knives on a whetstone.</p> + +<p>And they talked as they worked, casually at first, +but finally Dean said, in an explosive tone of voice:</p> + +<p>“Marcus!”</p> + +<p>“Well, Dean.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span></p> + +<p>“No chance to smuggle out a letter from here?”</p> + +<p>“I fear not.”</p> + +<p>“We must wait until letter day?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“And that will be?”</p> + +<p>“In three weeks.”</p> + +<p>“And then?”</p> + +<p>“It may or may not go, just as the deputy warden +pleases.”</p> + +<p>Dean looked worried and thoughtful.</p> + +<p>“If it wasn’t for father I shouldn’t care so much,” +said Marcus. “It seems rough on us both; you just +as you were getting started and I with the papers and +money in my possession to clear father.”</p> + +<p>“Who could have robbed you?”</p> + +<p>“It must have been done by enemies of my father. +You, too, are the victim of a plot.”</p> + +<p>“Who could have so worked against me?”</p> + +<p>“I could find your enemies easier than I could +mine.”</p> + +<p>“I have no enemies.”</p> + +<p>“None at all?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span></p> + +<p>“A few boyish foes, maybe, as all boys have.”</p> + +<p>“Who are they?”</p> + +<p>“Why, I suppose about the only boys at Millville +who really dislike me are Abner Littleton——”</p> + +<p>“Much?”</p> + +<p>“He wasn’t very bad, but Rodney Darringford——”</p> + +<p>“Go ahead,” said Marcus thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>“And Tim Downey——”</p> + +<p>“Are they chums?”</p> + +<p>“N-no. Say, Marcus!” exclaimed Dean with a +start, “what makes you ask me that question?”</p> + +<p>“Answer me! Are they chums?”</p> + +<p>“Not exactly; but, come to think of it, they both +owe me a grudge, and they were on the same boat—the +<i>Warrior</i>—that brought Jack Carboy and myself +from Millville to Springfield.”</p> + +<p>“Ah! they were, eh?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Note anything suspicious?”</p> + +<p>“Not particularly.”</p> + +<p>“Anything not particularly?”</p> + +<p>“They spoke to one another.”</p> + +<p>“What else?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span></p> + +<p>“I thought I saw Rodney give Tim some money.”</p> + +<p>“And the Darringfords hate Judge Oglesby, don’t +they?” persisted the shrewd Marcus, a growing suspicion +in his excited eye.</p> + +<p>“They don’t like him.”</p> + +<p>“And his new steamer would hurt their business?”</p> + +<p>“Immensely.”</p> + +<p>“I thought so. Dean Mercer, those boys had a +hand in the burning of the <i>Spray</i>. When we get away +from here we’ll try and find out.”</p> + +<p>“Eh?”</p> + +<p>“When we get away.”</p> + +<p>“When we do!”</p> + +<p>“Which will be soon.”</p> + +<p>“You’re joking!”</p> + +<p>“I ain’t.”</p> + +<p>“Get away from here?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Escape?”</p> + +<p>“Escape.”</p> + +<p>“That will not be very soon, I fear,” sighed Dean +dejectedly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span></p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, it will!” replied Marcus with a strangely +excited face.</p> + +<p>“If we only could!”</p> + +<p>“We can.”</p> + +<p>“But——”</p> + +<p>“Have you pluck?”</p> + +<p>“Lots of it.”</p> + +<p>“Endurance?”</p> + +<p>“Try me.”</p> + +<p>“Then we’ll escape!”</p> + +<p>“When?”</p> + +<p>“To-night!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">DIGGING THEIR WAY OUT.</p> + + +<p>Dean Mercer stared at his companion in startled +wonderment.</p> + +<p>“To-night?” he repeated vaguely. “Escape from +here to-night?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” reaffirmed Marcus deliberately.</p> + +<p>“But the guard—the walls?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll attend to all that. I mean it, Dean! I’ve been +planning at it a score of ways. To-day I made a +great discovery. What you have told me decides me. +My father needs my help. I’m going to escape to try +and find the papers that will prove his innocence. Are +you with me?”</p> + +<p>“Am I?” cried the excited Dean. “Oh! if we only +could escape! Look here!”</p> + +<p>“No; look there!”</p> + +<p>Marcus had pointed to one corner of the tool shed. +A large round wooden cover lay there.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Dean curiously.</p> + +<p>“A well cover.”</p> + +<p>“And the well?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span></p> + +<p>“Was dried up long ago. I peered in to-day. +There’s the first move toward escape!”</p> + +<p>Dean Mercer was greatly excited as Marcus detailed +his hopes and plans.</p> + +<p>The well, he said, was dry at the bottom, twenty feet +down. What he proposed to do was to throw in two +shovels, jump in themselves, and after pulling the +cover back into place, dig.</p> + +<p>“Dig? Where to?” asked the dubious Dean.</p> + +<p>“To liberty.”</p> + +<p>“How?”</p> + +<p>“Straight under the wall of the yard. We are +within ten feet of it. Then, once past it, we dig upward, +burrow to the surface and run for it. Hist! +Some one is coming!”</p> + +<p>A burly form blocked the entrance to the shed a +minute later. It was the warden, and he glanced commendingly +at the two busy boys.</p> + +<p>“Sort of damp and cold here, ain’t it, boys?” he +asked.</p> + +<p>“We don’t feel it, sir,” replied Marcus.</p> + +<p>“Well, there’s a lot of new flower-seeds in the +library to sort; so you can go there and finish the +day at it.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span></p> + +<p>Marcus looked disappointed, and Dean realized that +their schemes were nipped in the bud, for that day at +least.</p> + +<p>There was nothing left but to obey. They passed +through the hospital ward, where the nurse was attending +to one of the sick boy convicts, and put in +the afternoon in grim silence at a table in the library, +sorting out the new garden seeds.</p> + +<p>“Get all the bread you can,” whispered Marcus as +they went for their supper and then to their cells.</p> + +<p>Then they were again at the ventilator, in low and +cautious tones discussing the vital theme of the hour—escape.</p> + +<p>Marcus had a determination that even Dean could +not equal.</p> + +<p>“Get more bread in the morning and stow it in +your clothes,” said Marcus.</p> + +<p>“What for?”</p> + +<p>“We may need it.”</p> + +<p>“In the well?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“What’s your plan?”</p> + +<p>“We will probably be sent to the garden in the +morning.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span></p> + +<p>“I suppose so.”</p> + +<p>“The warden will not follow us to see if we go +there. Then all depends on our reaching the tool +house without the sentinel seeing us.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that for?”</p> + +<p>“If we can slip into the tool house without his seeing +us, he will suppose that we were not sent to work in +the garden.”</p> + +<p>“I understand.”</p> + +<p>“We get into the well with the shovels at once.”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“And begin work.”</p> + +<p>“But we will be missed?”</p> + +<p>“At noon probably.”</p> + +<p>“And search be made?”</p> + +<p>“I expect that.”</p> + +<p>“They may look in the well.”</p> + +<p>“Possibly.”</p> + +<p>“And then?”</p> + +<p>“We can wait, then.”</p> + +<p>“We will be safe in the tunnel we have dug by that +time.”</p> + +<p>“But we can’t escape until dark?”</p> + +<p>“We can wait, then.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span></p> + +<p>“And if they discover us——”</p> + +<p>“We’ve tried our best, that’s all, and that ends it!” +replied Marcus philosophically.</p> + +<p>“To the garden!” was the order of the two boys +the next morning, and Marcus led the way toward it.</p> + +<p>“Wait!” he whispered. “Now, then, the sentinel is +walking in the opposite direction.”</p> + +<p>“To the tool house?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>The boys reached the shed. Glancing from its window +Marcus said:</p> + +<p>“He never saw us. Now then, off with the cover!”</p> + +<p>This was removed.</p> + +<p>“Throw in the shovels.”</p> + +<p>This, too, was done.</p> + +<p>“Get in!”</p> + +<p>“It’s terribly, dark!”</p> + +<p>“So much the better.”</p> + +<p>“And close!”</p> + +<p>“We must stand that!”</p> + +<p>Five minutes later the two boys were at the bottom +of the well, and Marcus had in his descent pulled the +cover into place.</p> + +<p>They at once attacked the side of the well, removing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span> +the loose bricks and mortar, and then digging +west, covered them up with the earth.</p> + +<p>By noon, although nearly suffocated and pained +from their position, they had dug some fifteen feet to +the west.</p> + +<p>Then there was a forced wait and a careful estimate +of time and a wonder as to how far the quest for them +would be pursued.</p> + +<p>They lunched on the bread that Dean had brought, +and crept back to the end of the tunnel nearest to the +well shaft to get as much fresh air as was possible, +and to decide on fading daylight from the chinks +in the well cover.</p> + +<p>No one seemed to visit the well. They had no indication +as to the fact that their escape had been discovered.</p> + +<p>What had really occurred was that the warden had +that day gone away until evening.</p> + +<p>The sentinel supposed that the boys had not been +sent to work in the garden that day, the deputy warden +imagined them to be at work there, and when they +did not appear at dinner, the guard naturally supposed +that they were remaining away under the warden’s +orders.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span></p> + +<p>At six o’clock the warden returned, however, and +the boys were missed.</p> + +<p>The garden was first visited, and the tool shed +glanced into, but nothing more, for the sentinel affirmed +that he had seen nothing of the fugitives in +that locality that day.</p> + +<p>A general alarm was given, a general search made, +every nook and corner of the prison yard was looked +into, but no trace of the boys could be found.</p> + +<p>All the evening the quest was kept up, but it proved +to be a fruitless one.</p> + +<p>About an hour after dusk Marcus Ellison uttered +a gasp of relief and excitement.</p> + +<p>His spade had pierced the ground over his head. +The dirt rained down over them and he looked up +and peered around.</p> + +<p>The grim walls of the prison showed near at hand, +the road beyond, and at its edge a thicket.</p> + +<p>“We must creep or run across the road without the +sentinels on the walls seeing us,” he said to Dean.</p> + +<p>“Can we do it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; the darkness favors us.”</p> + +<p>“I am ready!”</p> + +<p>“Come on!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span></p> + +<p>They made a quick dash across the road and paused +in the shadow of the trees beyond.</p> + +<p>The prison looked silent and serene. Dimly they +made out sentinels here and there on the walls, facing +the blustering wind and partially blinded by it from +viewing the road.</p> + +<p>“Safe!” murmured Marcus in thrilling tones.</p> + +<p>“Free!” breathed Dean wildly.</p> + +<p>Then they sped through the forest, and the distant +lights of the reform school faded further and further +away.</p> + +<p>In the eyes of the law they were fugitive criminals, +seeking to baffle justice.</p> + +<p>In reality they were two brave, undaunted boys, +seeking liberty only to work out a destiny that demanded +their attention—two loyal hearts with a great +motive in life, the righting of a great wrong, a battle +against villainy, in the interests of innocence and the +right!</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">THE FLIGHT FROM PRISON.</p> + + +<p>Dean Mercer was older and better educated than +Marcus Ellison, and yet the latter took the lead in +the first stage of their hurried flight from the vicinity +of the reform school as he had done in the initial +steps of the plan of escape from its gloomy precincts.</p> + +<p>“I’ve thought it all out,” he told Dean as they ran +along. “You just trust in me and we’ll soon be safe +from pursuit.”</p> + +<p>They met no one in their flight. There was a reason +for this. As they came to the end of the thicket a +rocky waste showed, and sterile and difficult to traverse +as it was, Marcus insisted on crossing it.</p> + +<p>“You see, Dean,” he explained, “no one will think +that we went this way. Of course the warden and his +men will search for us, but they will think that we +went citywards.”</p> + +<p>“Or west?”</p> + +<p>“Exactly. Once we cross this waste we come to +the marshy lowlands along the river, and beyond that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span> +is a still more desolate waste. We must try to get +other clothes and gradually change our appearance so +that we wouldn’t be recognized on description. In a +week or two we can dare to venture back to civilization——”</p> + +<p>“A week or two?” repeated the dismayed Dean.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Lose all that time?”</p> + +<p>“From what?”</p> + +<p>“From—from——”</p> + +<p>“I know what you are going to say,” interrupted +Marcus sagely. “You think I ought to be on the +track of those papers and you after your enemies. +Now I think different. What good is it if we are +captured again?”</p> + +<p>“That’s so, but if I could once reach my +friends——”</p> + +<p>“They wouldn’t dare to recapture you?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“You think so?”</p> + +<p>“I do.”</p> + +<p>“You are very much mistaken. You don’t think +far enough, Dean; you believe too fully in human<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span> +nature. Why, your friends all believe you to be a +thief.”</p> + +<p>Dean sighed dejectedly.</p> + +<p>“If you dared to go back to Millville or Springfield +you would at once be arrested.”</p> + +<p>“And convicted?”</p> + +<p>“Circumstances are against you.”</p> + +<p>“But I could prove——”</p> + +<p>“What?”</p> + +<p>“That I was carried away.”</p> + +<p>“How?”</p> + +<p>Aye, how, indeed? Dean Mercer confessed that +his companion had thought further than he had.</p> + +<p>He was in a bad dilemma. He did not know of a +certainty who his enemies were. He could prove that +he had been kept from appearing at Millville because +he was mysteriously a prisoner in the State reform +school.</p> + +<p>But suppose that the same deft plotters who had +undoubtedly placed him there had also so cunningly +covered their tracks that every statement Dean might +make would be refuted by circumstances?</p> + +<p>Who would believe his story? He was adjudged a +thief, and——</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span></p> + +<p>“Oh, what shall I do? What shall I do?” he +moaned in actual distress as his true situation dawned +upon him.</p> + +<p>“Work out your own salvation?” cried Marcus heroically.</p> + +<p>“How?”</p> + +<p>“Just abide by my plans for a few days. I have a +scheme to work light out of darkness. I am as impatient +as you are to aid my father, to see him, but I +know the risk. There is plenty of time. We must +first remove the risk of recapture then we can work.”</p> + +<p>“Can we remove that risk?”</p> + +<p>“You shall see,” replied Marcus confidently.</p> + +<p>It was about two o’clock in the morning when for +the first time since leaving the vicinity of the prison +they rested.</p> + +<p>In the near distance a whole host of fireflies seemed +to line the landscape near the river, but Marcus soon +explained what these were.</p> + +<p>“A charcoal camp,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Where they burn the wood?” asked Dean.</p> + +<p>“Yes. Now, then, you wait here. I want to reconnoiter +a little.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span></p> + +<p>Marcus was gone for over an hour. When he returned +he bore quite a large bundle.</p> + +<p>“Come on,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Where to?”</p> + +<p>“Into the swamp. We mustn’t be seen here.”</p> + +<p>“Weren’t you seen?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“But the bundle?”</p> + +<p>“Clothes.”</p> + +<p>“Clothes?” repeated the mystified Dean.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Where did you get them?”</p> + +<p>“I’m sorry to say that I took them,” replied Marcus +with a grimace. “They’re old and worn out, +black as soot, and no good; but I suppose they belonged +to somebody. I found them near a furnace. +We had to have them, Dean. These prison suits of +ours would betray us, even this far from civilization.”</p> + +<p>Marcus seemed untiring in his resolve to make +escape certain. It was daylight when they waded +through the last of a score of bogs and landed on a +sort of island, well sheltered by reeds and willows.</p> + +<p>“No one likely to follow or find us here,” he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span> +laughed. “We’re safe at last. This is our home for +a day or two, Dean.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll starve!”</p> + +<p>“I guess not. Come! a shelter first, and then sleep. +I’m dead to the world.”</p> + +<p>“So am I.”</p> + +<p>They soon built a sort of hut out of branches and +reeds under a tree, and then sunk into an exhausted +slumber.</p> + +<p>“Noon! Wake up!” cried a cheery voice to Dean, +and he sprung to his feet, aroused from a horrible +dream of recapture and the solitary cell at the reform +school.</p> + +<p>Marcus had matches, and directed Dean how to +make a fire without much smoke.</p> + +<p>Then he went off on an exploring expedition, and +returned with a triumphant shout, bearing some kind +of fowl in his hand.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” queried the amazed Dean.</p> + +<p>“A wild duck.”</p> + +<p>“You killed it?”</p> + +<p>“With a stone. The swamp is full of them. Come, +the rest of the bread and broiled fowl won’t make +such a bad meal, eh, Dean?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span></p> + +<p>They enjoyed the repast immensely.</p> + +<p>“Now, to business,” said Marcus after it was over. +“We will disrobe, put on these charcoal burner’s garments, +burn the old convict suits—shoes, cap and all—for +they might betray us, and grime our faces.”</p> + +<p>An hour later they had indeed altered their personal +appearance wonderfully.</p> + +<p>The old blue canvas suits and begrimed faces gave +the boys the look of regular charcoal burners.</p> + +<p>They saw the last vestige of the shameful livery of +crime, the prison suits, consumed to ashes.</p> + +<p>Before abandoning his, however, Marcus drew from +various pockets several articles.</p> + +<p>He revealed to the amazed Dean evidences of his +patient ingenuity in imprisonment, and his provision +for just such a contingency as the present one.</p> + +<p>“I made them out of bits of hair I picked up in the +prison barber shop,” he explained to Dean. “See; +here are two mustaches and wigs and side whiskers, +and a patch for the eye.”</p> + +<p>The mustaches had been made by pasting individual +pieces of hair upon a piece of buckskin from the prison +glove shop.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span></p> + +<p>Marcus insisted that both he and Dean should wear +one, and after cutting and pasting it, the appearance +of wig and mustache, with the blue clothes and grimed +faces, actually disguised the boys so that even the +prison officials would not have known them.</p> + +<p>“Now, then,” said Marcus, “we had better stay +here until to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>“And then?”</p> + +<p>“Proceed slowly and cautiously west.”</p> + +<p>“Toward Springfield?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, quite near to it, first.”</p> + +<p>“Have you some definite point in view?”</p> + +<p>“I have. Wait till we leave here, and I’ll tell you +all about it.”</p> + +<p>They caught some fish for supper with a thorn fish-hook, +and were undisturbed in their hermit-like occupation +of the island that night.</p> + +<p>“We’ll start on now,” said Marcus the next morning.</p> + +<p>He glanced over a piece of paper in his hand as he +spoke.</p> + +<p>“What’s that, Marcus?” asked Dean curiously.</p> + +<p>“A memoranda from the prison register.”</p> + +<p>“Where did you get it?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span></p> + +<p>“Copied it when I was in the library sorting garden +seeds.”</p> + +<p>“What is it about?”</p> + +<p>“You.”</p> + +<p>“Me!” ejaculated Dean surprisedly.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Why——”</p> + +<p>“It’s the chronicle of your case.”</p> + +<p>“Read it.”</p> + +<p>Marcus did so.</p> + +<p>Dean listened interestedly.</p> + +<p>It ran:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“Convict No. 301: Name, Robert Rawley; charge, +burglary; term, five years; complainant, James Rawley, +uncle; committing officer, Justice Mullern; county, +Wayne; township, Daleford.”</p> +</div> + +<p>“Well, well!” gasped Dean. “Robert Rawley! Does +that mean me?”</p> + +<p>“I reckon it does.”</p> + +<p>“Uncle James Rawley?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“I’m stunned.”</p> + +<p>“I ain’t.”</p> + +<p>“You make it out?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span></p> + +<p>“Plainly, and I’m going to find the man who had +you arrested, and the justice who committed you at +once. How lucky that I know somebody at Daleford. +Once there, Dean Mercer, we are fairly on the trail +of our enemies.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">MARCUS BECOMES A DETECTIVE.</p> + + +<p>Marcus’ manner as well as words showed that he +was in earnest, and Dean felt a higher degree of hope +than he had at any time.</p> + +<p>“Our interests are mutual,” the first resumed, “and +by working together I believe we can outwit our +enemies and obtain justice.”</p> + +<p>“You have some plan, Marcus?”</p> + +<p>“Simply this: We must go back over the trail by +which you were brought here step by step, to discover, +if possible, the men and their motives in taking you +away.”</p> + +<p>“I have no definite idea of even the way we came.”</p> + +<p>“We have a clue. The justice who convicted you +was named Mullern and he lived in Daleford. Then +there was claimed to be an uncle to you in the background. +We must find out if he was a real person or +a guy got up for the occasion. With such clues as +these we shall not go it blind.”</p> + +<p>“Marcus, you are developing traits that are decidedly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span> +of the Sherlock Holmes order. At any rate I am +going to let you take the lead in this matter.”</p> + +<p>“Only for the present. I happen to know a boy +in Daleford, and we will try and find him.”</p> + +<p>At nightfall the two boys reached an eminence, two +miles beyond which lay the peaceful hamlet of Daleford.</p> + +<p>They had not sought to hide from passers-by on +the road thither.</p> + +<p>“We can trust to our disguises,” remarked Marcus +confidently, and to all seeming they were considered to +be poor charcoal burners in quest of work by those +who saw them.</p> + +<p>It was dusk when they reached the town proper, +and Marcus, leaving his companion in a field, went +toward the residence portion of the village.</p> + +<p>“Did you find your friend?” asked Dean anxiously, +when Marcus returned after the lapse of an hour.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and he didn’t know me. He don’t know me +anyway by my right name.”</p> + +<p>“No?”</p> + +<p>“No; I lived with a farmer near here once named +Grant, and people got calling me Bob Grant, my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span> +friend among them, and I never undeceived them so +I run no risk of being seen by him. It’s all arranged. +He will find out all there is to be found out by to-morrow +at noon. He knows the justice, and, best of +all, his hostler got his job through my friend’s father’s +recommendation, so if there’s any tricky work on the +part of the justice we shall soon find him out.</p> + +<p>“You are a trump, Marcus, and I am getting to depend +on you altogether. So go ahead and I will do +what I can to help you.”</p> + +<p>Marcus’ friend loaned them some money, and the +boys bought food at the country store and camped in +the woods at night.</p> + +<p>The time hung pretty heavily on them, and when +the boy did not come as he had promised, Dean began +to fear that he had proved faithless. Then Marcus +went in quest of him, when the suspense grew doubly +hard to bear with Dean.</p> + +<p>When Marcus came back his countenance was +wreathed in smiles.</p> + +<p>“Eureka, Dean!” he said, “I have got good news. +The boy has learned all about the treatment given you +by Justice Mullern through the hostler. The man who<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span> +pretended to be your uncle was a man by the name +of Daley, who lives in Springfield. He had another +man with him whose name was Spofford.”</p> + +<p>“That is news worth waiting for,” declared Dean. +“What next?”</p> + +<p>“I am going to call on this precious scamp who +deals out justice in pieces that you can cut. Have +patience with me long enough to see if I can beard +the lion in his den.”</p> + +<p>Half an hour later Marcus Ellison boldly rang the +door bell of the Mullern mansion.</p> + +<p>A servant answered the summons.</p> + +<p>“I wish to see Justice Mullern,” explained Marcus.</p> + +<p>“This way.”</p> + +<p>The justice sat at his desk in the library writing. +He stared wonderingly at Marcus’ uncouth figure.</p> + +<p>“Well, boy?” he frowned.</p> + +<p>“Are you Judge Mullern?”</p> + +<p>“I am.”</p> + +<p>“I wanted to find a gentleman you know, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Who is he?”</p> + +<p>“His name is Daley.”</p> + +<p>The justice started and looked alarmed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span></p> + +<p>“Who?” he demanded huskily.</p> + +<p>“Daley.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t know him.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, you do, judge,” replied Marcus audaciously.</p> + +<p>“You insolent——”</p> + +<p>“Hold on, judge.”</p> + +<p>“How dare you?”</p> + +<p>“I know you know him, and there’s no use denying +it,” said Marcus firmly. “See here, judge, there’s +trouble.”</p> + +<p>“Trouble—trouble?” stammered Mullern vaguely.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“For who?”</p> + +<p>“For you.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don’t want to give away any secrets, but +I’ve got to see Daley, and quick, too, or the whole +Robert Rawley case will come out on you.”</p> + +<p>Justice Mullern was very pale now. He stammered +and reflected, and then said:</p> + +<p>“Daley lives in Springfield. I think he once told me +at Boyer’s Hotel.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span></p> + +<p>“Thank you, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Hold on.”</p> + +<p>“Well, sir?”</p> + +<p>“What—what trouble is anticipated?” asked Mullern +uneasily.</p> + +<p>“None for you, I reckon, if I see Daley.”</p> + +<p>“Sure?”</p> + +<p>“I reckon not,” and Marcus, with a chuckle of delight, +hastened to the spot where Dean was waiting +for him.</p> + +<p>They chatted cheerily as they followed the road +toward Springfield, which they reached the next morning, +just before daylight.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you feel afraid to go about the streets +here?” asked Dean timidly.</p> + +<p>“No; we’re safer in the busy, crowded city than in +the country,” responded Marcus. “Besides, we are +safe anywhere in our disguise.”</p> + +<p>Marcus at once set about locating Boyer’s Hotel. +It proved to be the very place whence Tim Downey had +brought Daley and Spofford the night of the burning +of the <i>Spray</i>.</p> + +<p>It had an all-night saloon in the basement, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span> +rooms overhead, and both boys decided that it was +a resort for loafers and rough characters.</p> + +<p>They went boldly down into the basement. There +was a sign outside which read: “Coffee, 5 cents; coffee +and rolls, 10 cents.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll buy a lunch just to look around,” said Marcus.</p> + +<p>The place was crowded, and no one seemed to pay +any particular attention to them.</p> + +<p>The boys dispatched their breakfast and then sat +down at a table in a dark corner of the saloon.</p> + +<p>They kept eyes and ears wide open, but an hour +passed by and nothing had occurred to indicate that +the men they sought were in the place.</p> + +<p>“I had better make some inquiries,” said Marcus +finally.</p> + +<p>In an ante-room to the rear they could discern that +a lot of men were playing at cards.</p> + +<p>Finally, just as Marcus was about to speak to +some one in the room about Daley, a man hastened +into the saloon from the street.</p> + +<p>“Where’s Spofford?” he asked of the bartender.</p> + +<p>Marcus and Dean observed the man closely. They +felt an intuition that he would interest them, and his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span> +query for Spofford was indicative of a further +knowledge of Daley.</p> + +<p>“In the cardroom, Daley,” replied the man at the +bar.</p> + +<p>“It’s our man—it’s Daley!” murmured Dean Mercer +excitedly.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">ON THE TRAIL.</p> + + +<p>The man who had entered the basement drinking +place at once centered the attention of both Dean and +Marcus, although he did not appear to notice them.</p> + +<p>He went straight to the door of the room behind +the main apartment and tried the door.</p> + +<p>It was locked, but he knocked vigorously, and then, +as it was opened, he called in to the crowd gathered +about a card table:</p> + +<p>“Spofford, come out here!”</p> + +<p>A man left the inner room somewhat reluctantly, +and the man the boys supposed to be Daley led the +way to a table just around a jog in the wall, from +that at which sat Dean and Marcus.</p> + +<p>Thus the boys could not see the men, but Marcus, +by tilting back in his chair, could hear what they were +saying.</p> + +<p>“You ought to know better, drinking and playing +cards, when we need our wits and cash for the venture +we’re on,” said Daley, rather irritably. “Come +now, Spofford, this won’t do.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span></p> + +<p>“Pshaw! I’ve got to pass the time some way.”</p> + +<p>“Then do it sleeping—you’ll need it before we end +this affair.”</p> + +<p>“Is it settled?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Found your man?”</p> + +<p>“I have.”</p> + +<p>“Where?”</p> + +<p>“Ask no questions. The work will come soon +enough. The last affair about that boy——”</p> + +<p>“Rawley?”</p> + +<p>“The <i>Spray</i> fellow, yes, paid us well enough, but +the money is all gone. Downey gave me a hint about +a rich fellow who always keeps lots of money in the +house.”</p> + +<p>“Near here?”</p> + +<p>“A brief journey. So I’ve made inquiries. I believe +we can break into his strong box and carry off +a fortune.”</p> + +<p>“When do we go?”</p> + +<p>“About noon.”</p> + +<p>“Need tools?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and the best, and a boy, too.”</p> + +<p>Some of this conversation Dean overheard distinctly.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span> +The allusion to Downey, undoubtedly Tim Downey, +startled him greatly. It verified the shrewd suspicions +of Marcus.</p> + +<p>The latter heard all that the two men said, and his +eyes glowed intelligently. He hoped they would talk +more in detail, or allude in more definite terms to “the +boy, Rawley,” but they did not.</p> + +<p>They were bad men, common criminals, and they +now meditated a new crime—burglary!</p> + +<p>They intended, their conversation showed, to break +into some rich man’s house for the purpose of theft.</p> + +<p>Marcus believed that their share in the abduction +of Dean Mercer had been that of hired emissaries. +They were not the principals.</p> + +<p>“We want a boy, eh?” muttered Spofford.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“What for?”</p> + +<p>“To climb in at a window and unfasten the door +to the house we are going to rob.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we can find one.”</p> + +<p>“Where?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, there’s lots of them.”</p> + +<p>“Not experts, and not to be trusted, though,” replied +Daley. “I wish we had Downey.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes, Tim was a good one.”</p> + +<p>“Anyway, you try and find one.”</p> + +<p>“Are you going?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Where?”</p> + +<p>“To get some satchels. I intend to leave the country +if we make a big haul to-night.”</p> + +<p>“When will you return?”</p> + +<p>“About noon.”</p> + +<p>“All right.”</p> + +<p>Daley left the place, and Spofford, after seeing him +fairly away, returned deliberately to the card room.</p> + +<p>The two boys looked at one another curiously. The +parts of the conversation Dean had not heard, his companion +explained to him.</p> + +<p>“We are getting along famously,” declared Marcus. +“Now for a bold push and we will come out with +flying colors.”</p> + +<p>“Shall you have the fellows arrested?” asked Dean.</p> + +<p>“Not ready for that,” replied Marcus. “At this +stage in the game we might not get hold of those +papers. I must have those. No, Dean, I think I +have a better plan.”</p> + +<p>“Name it.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span></p> + +<p>“You notice that precious pair of scamps want to +get a boy to help them. I am going to apply for that +job.”</p> + +<p>“Will it do?”</p> + +<p>“It must. You are afraid I will get mixed up in +something worse than the reform school. Trust me +to keep a level head. Only I would like to have you +near at hand when the crisis comes, as I may need +you in rounding up the rogues.”</p> + +<p>Marcus talked and acted like a skilled detective, instead +of a mere boy. He was bold and venturesome, +and Dean feared too much so, for it seemed as if their +investigations were leading them into peril, uncertainty +and contact with crime in all its hideousness.</p> + +<p>“Wickedness got you in all your trouble,” said Marcus, +“and we must not hesitate to invade its dark domains. +Now, then, you go to some other part of the +room, or even outside.”</p> + +<p>“What for?”</p> + +<p>“So we won’t seem to be together.”</p> + +<p>“Is that necessary?”</p> + +<p>“To my plan, yes. Here is some of my money. +Take it. You may need it. Keep watch of me, but +don’t pretend to know me. If you see me get acquainted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span> +with Spofford, watch out for any note that I +may write you, or follow us wherever we go.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” answered Dean, a little dubious of his +own skill as a detective.</p> + +<p>“I may go away with them.”</p> + +<p>“On their robbing excursion?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“You’ll get in trouble?”</p> + +<p>“No, I won’t. I’ll block their game without their +knowing it. I only want to learn about your enemies, +who has the papers they stole proving my father’s innocence. +Now, then, leave me.”</p> + +<p>Dean went to another portion of the room, and +Marcus sat where he was, watching the door of the +card room for Spofford’s expected appearance.</p> + +<p>Presently the latter came out. He flung himself +into a chair at the next table to that where Marcus sat, +calling to the bartender to bring him a drink of liquor.</p> + +<p>Marcus devised a speedy plan for approaching +Spofford and engaging him in conversation. He took +bold risks, but he succeeded in his venture.</p> + +<p>He went to the next table and sat down opposite +to Spofford.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span></p> + +<p>“Say, mister,” he said, “could you help me to a +few cents?”</p> + +<p>“Eh? Who are you? What did you say?” muttered +Spofford, arousing himself from a fit of abstracted +thought.</p> + +<p>“I’m in hard luck.”</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you work?”</p> + +<p>“What at?”</p> + +<p>“Your trade.”</p> + +<p>“They don’t pick oakum here,” said Marcus.</p> + +<p>“Hey?” and Spofford started intelligently. “So +you’re a graduate, eh?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“From the reform school?”</p> + +<p>“I am, for a fact,” replied Marcus, affecting a +brazen recklessness.</p> + +<p>“Aha! and need money, and out of work?” murmured +Spofford reflectively.</p> + +<p>“That’s just it.”</p> + +<p>Spofford studied the grimed, ragged specimen of +humanity before him keenly.</p> + +<p>Marcus chuckled to himself. He had completely +deceived Spofford, he felt sure, and he knew what the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span> +latter was thinking about—hiring him to help him in +his schemes of robbery just as Marcus had planned.</p> + +<p>“See here, boy,” he said finally, “what’s your +name?”</p> + +<p>“Call me Bob—Bob Grant.”</p> + +<p>“Can a fellow trust you?”</p> + +<p>“What about?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, in a little work.”</p> + +<p>“What kind of work?”</p> + +<p>“Well, making money.”</p> + +<p>“At cracking a box? Ha! ha!”</p> + +<p>“I guess you’ll do,” said Spofford. “Are you willing +to come along with me, help me and ask no questions?”</p> + +<p>“That suits me!” replied Marcus briskly.</p> + +<p>“All right. Be ready at noon. Here’s some change +to buy food if you need it.”</p> + +<p>Then Spofford, after handing Marcus some silver +coins, arose and left the place.</p> + +<p>The latter went over to where Dean was seated, +and explained what he had done.</p> + +<p>“I’m to go with them at noon,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Where?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span></p> + +<p>“Am I to follow you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; keep us in view. Something will develop. +You keep us in sight.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll try to.”</p> + +<p>About eleven o’clock Spofford returned to the place. +He went up to Marcus and said:</p> + +<p>“We’re ready. Come on!”</p> + +<p>They left the place together and Dean followed +them at a distance.</p> + +<p>They walked down the street for several squares, +and then at the corner met the man Daley, who stood +with two satchels in his hands, evidently awaiting +them.</p> + +<p>He glanced sharply at Marcus and then gave him +the satchels to carry, while he walked ahead with Spofford.</p> + +<p>Finally the two men paused and entered a small +shop. In front of it stood a stagecoach, and Dean +at once recognized it.</p> + +<p>It was one of the coaches owned by Squire Littleton, +and ran to and from Springfield and Millville.</p> + +<p>He saw Daley purchase some tickets. Then he +and Spofford and Marcus got into the coach, the latter +placing the satchels near the driver’s seat.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span></p> + +<p>There were several other passengers aboard, and +the man in charge of the stage office seemed to give +directions to the driver to start on his journey.</p> + +<p>Dean was dismayed and anxious. He scarcely +knew what to do. These men were going to Millville, +or at least in that direction.</p> + +<p>It was a dangerous route for Dean. He knew the +driver incidentally, recognized several of the passengers, +and feared that if he attempted also to ride on +the stage he might be seen and recognized.</p> + +<p>In no other way, however, could he keep the men +in sight, as Marcus had told him to do.</p> + +<p>“I’ll risk it!” he said finally. “My disguise must +be a good one. The stage agent knows me well. I’ll +go and buy a ticket to the first station. If he recognizes +me, I won’t venture on the coach. If he don’t +I’ll go.”</p> + +<p>“Ticket to Blue Pond.”</p> + +<p>“Twenty cents.”</p> + +<p>The agent never noticed Dean, except as a stranger.</p> + +<p>Dean went to the coach and boldly clambered on +top. He saw Daley glance out at him carelessly. He +did not evince any interest in him, and if he had ever +seen him before, did not realize it at that moment.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span></p> + +<p>“All aboard!” sang out the driver.</p> + +<p>“Hold on, Jerry.”</p> + +<p>Dean thrilled vaguely.</p> + +<p>From the stage office at that moment a boy, dressed +in the height of fashion, ran out.</p> + +<p>It was Abner Littleton, son of the man who owned +the stagecoach line.</p> + +<p>He knew Dean well, and did not like him over-well, +either. But, to Dean’s relief, he only glanced at +him and then sat down beside the driver.</p> + +<p>The coach started on its journey.</p> + +<p>“Where will this adventure end, I wonder?” mused +the bewildered and anxious Dean.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">AT MILLVILLE AGAIN.</p> + + +<p>The stagecoach left Springfield behind, and reached +the first outlying station without incident.</p> + +<p>At Blue Pond, Daley and his companions did not +leave the coach, and Dean, in order to continue his +journey, was compelled to pay more money.</p> + +<p>He managed to catch a glimpse of the tickets that +the driver had collected, and he saw that three of them +were marked for Millville.</p> + +<p>The discovery worried him. The men were going +to his former home. Their plot led them to the most +dangerous place for Dean that the latter could possibly +venture to.</p> + +<p>“I wonder who they are going to rob? I wonder +if I dare go to Millville?” mused the troubled Dean. +“Abner Littleton did not recognize me, though, and +we’ll reach the town after dark.”</p> + +<p>It took all the money that Marcus had given Dean +to pay the fare of the latter the remainder of the +journey.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span></p> + +<p>At one place, five miles from Blue Pond, Dean had +a great shock.</p> + +<p>It was an academy town, and as the stage passed +the school, four boys and the old steward of the place +glanced up at him.</p> + +<p>They all knew Dean Mercer, but they did not recognize +him, although one of them stared at Dean, as if +puzzled over some familiar token in his appearance.</p> + +<p>“Say, Abner?” Dean heard the driver ask as the +journey was resumed, “Millville is pretty dead nowadays, +eh?”</p> + +<p>Dean pricked up his ears, hoping that the conversation +might afford some information about friends he +longed to hear about.</p> + +<p>It did.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” drawled young Littleton, “since Tim +Downey went away there’s no rows, and since Rodney +Darringford cut out, life ain’t worth living.”</p> + +<p>“Ha! ha! Why not?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, there’s no one for me to annoy with new +clothes and fine jewelry.”</p> + +<p>“Where did Rodney go?”</p> + +<p>“Blamed if I know.”</p> + +<p>“It’s sort of mysterious.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span></p> + +<p>“Not very. You see, since the burning of the new +steamer and the accident to the <i>Warrior</i>, steamboating +has ended on the lake for this season. That is why we +have so many passengers to-day. They say Judge +Oglesby is working for a charter to build a railroad +around the lake.”</p> + +<p>“Sho! but won’t that knock this old stage higher’n +a kite.”</p> + +<p>“It isn’t built yet. That sly covey, Dean Mercer, +kind of knocked the wind out of three or four. Duped +the judge, as shrewd as he is, out of about eight thousand, +and he soaked Montague out of a lot.”</p> + +<p>“Can’t they get any trace of him?”</p> + +<p>“Nope. Oh, he’s sly enough not to come within +a thousand miles of Millville. Gracious! how they’d +like to get sight of him.”</p> + +<p>Dean could scarcely keep still as he listened to the +conversation, learning beyond doubt that everybody at +Millville believed him guilty of the crime which made +him a fugitive from justice.</p> + +<p>It was a sorry homecoming—disguised and disgraced.</p> + +<p>The coach made a more rapid journey than usual,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span> +and due at Millville at eight o’clock, it rounded the +last hill at the limits of the village at dusk.</p> + +<p>“Stop the wagon!” ordered a voice from the inside, +that Dean recognized as that of Daley.</p> + +<p>“Want to get off here?” demanded the driver, +checking the horses.</p> + +<p>“Yes. Hand down the satchels!”</p> + +<p>Dean did not dismount. He decided that such a +move might arouse the suspicions of Daley and Spofford.</p> + +<p>Besides, as he saw them go toward a dilapidated, +deserted shanty near the river, he knew that they must +intend to make a transient rendezvous of it.</p> + +<p>“I’ll ride on to the first line of timber,” he decided, +“and then get off where they cannot see me.”</p> + +<p>“Who are they?” asked Abner Littleton of the +driver.</p> + +<p>“Dunno.”</p> + +<p>“Strangers?”</p> + +<p>“I reckon. Hello! Look there!”</p> + +<p>Dean looked, too.</p> + +<p>Walking in the timber, and with rather unsteady +steps, were two familiar figures.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes,” laughed Abner, “my governor and the colonel.”</p> + +<p>“Why, I thought they were bitter enemies?” exclaimed +the driver amazedly.</p> + +<p>“They were.”</p> + +<p>“But——”</p> + +<p>“Affliction makes friends!”</p> + +<p>“How’s that?”</p> + +<p>“Well, you see, since Judge Oglesby talks of running +a railroad——”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“It means ruin to both the stage line and the lake +steamers.”</p> + +<p>“Sure!”</p> + +<p>“Therefore, dad and the colonel have joined forces +to try and outwit Judge Oglesby.”</p> + +<p>“And seem to have been celebrating it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, they are a little over the bay,” replied Abner, +the graceless. “They are scheming to beat the judge.”</p> + +<p>“Can they do it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“How?”</p> + +<p>“They intend to buy narrow strips of land all +around the lake, and when the judge tries to get the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span> +right of way for his railroad, block him in a dozen +places.”</p> + +<p>“Ho! ho! clever schemers, eh?”</p> + +<p>“I should say so.”</p> + +<p>Dean Mercer dropped from the coach noiselessly, +and glided to the timber.</p> + +<p>Neither the driver nor Abner Littleton noticed his +departure.</p> + +<p>Glancing ahead amid the gathering dusk, Dean +could see Daley, Spofford and his friend Marcus Ellison, +just entering the old hut by the river.</p> + +<p>“I need be in no hurry,” he said. “They probably +intend to stay there for some little time. Hello! I +mustn’t be seen by these men, either.”</p> + +<p>Dean glided behind a tree. Mr. Littleton and the +colonel were coming through the woods, and at that +moment sat down on a fallen tree.</p> + +<p>Both were slightly intoxicated, and turbulent and +maudlin.</p> + +<p>It was a strange sight to Dean to see these old-time +enemies apparently the best of friends. He realized +that it was, however, as Abner had insinuated, the +result of mutual hatred for their new business rival,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span> +and Dean’s best friend and benefactor, Judge Oglesby.</p> + +<p>“Well, squire,” maundered Colonel Darringford. +“It’s all settled, eh?”</p> + +<p>“You bet,” hiccoughed Squire Littleton.</p> + +<p>“We combine to beat the judge?”</p> + +<p>“Anything to beat Judge Oglesby.”</p> + +<p>“He’ll run no railroad.”</p> + +<p>“Not if we know it.”</p> + +<p>“He can’t kill off our valuable business interests?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir-ree.”</p> + +<p>“If he does, squire——”</p> + +<p>“But he won’t.”</p> + +<p>“If he tries it——”</p> + +<p>“Well, colonel?”</p> + +<p>“We’ll—we’ll do something desperate. He tried to +run a boat, ha! ha!”</p> + +<p>“And it was burned.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and Tim Downey——”</p> + +<p>“Hey?”</p> + +<p>“I mean—some one will burn up his railroad, too,” +stammered the colonel. “I won’t have it, squire. I +have friends to help me, and when I say smash +him——”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span></p> + +<p>“Smash he goes.”</p> + +<p>“You bet. No railroad for us.”</p> + +<p>The two men staggered to their feet, and soon left +the woods.</p> + +<p>Dean stood staring reflectively after them.</p> + +<p>“Tim Downey,” he murmured. “Why did Colonel +Darringford speak of him? Is it possible that he +could be bad enough to hire him to burn the <i>Spray</i>? +I can’t believe it.”</p> + +<p>But the more that Dean reflected on the developments +of the day the more suspicious he became.</p> + +<p>He wondered if, after all, he had not been made the +victim of a deep plot, engineered by rich men. In +striking at a rival, they had ruined him.</p> + +<p>“Patience,” he told himself, as he got nearer to the +hut near the river. “I must keep track of Marcus, and +through him Daley and Spofford. We shall surely +learn something to-night.”</p> + +<p>Dean got nearer to the cabin. He could see a light +within it. Then, after an hour, Daley came out and +walked away in the direction of the village.</p> + +<p>Dean secreted himself in a pile of dead brush, and +kept his eyes on the cabin.</p> + +<p>One—two—three hours passed monotonously by.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span></p> + +<p>Then he saw Daley reappear hastily from the direction +of the village. He walked straight to the door of +the hut, but he did not enter it.</p> + +<p>Instead, he seemed to call to Spofford, for that individual +appeared outside a minute later, and with +Daley walked to and fro in front of the cabin, apparently +discussing something of interest and importance.</p> + +<p>“I wish I could hear what they are saying. I wish +I knew their plans,” murmured Dean.</p> + +<p>He decided to attempt to get nearer to them. +Stealthily he crept from bush to bush, from tree to tree, +until he was within ear-shot of the two plotters. Then +he listened intently.</p> + +<p>“No need to tell the boy anything about our plans +until we arrive on the ground,” Daley was saying.</p> + +<p>“Bob Grant?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“All right. Are you ready?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I guess so.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll bring the tools?”</p> + +<p>“We may need them.”</p> + +<p>“Where is the house?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span></p> + +<p>“Over near the lake.”</p> + +<p>“Rich man?”</p> + +<p>“Very.”</p> + +<p>“Money in the house?”</p> + +<p>“Lots of it, Tim said.”</p> + +<p>“Who is he?”</p> + +<p>“Judge Oglesby.”</p> + +<p>Dean Mercer now knew the plans of the robbers.</p> + +<p>They intended to rob his benefactor, the judge.</p> + +<p>By a singular combination of circumstances, Dean +Mercer was enabled to warn and save from pillage the +man he was accused of robbing himself.</p> + +<p>Dean acted on impulse.</p> + +<p>There seemed to be only one correct thing to do—hasten +to the judge’s residence, tell him all his +wretched story, and warn him of the intended robbery +of the night.</p> + +<p>As the men reëntered the cabin, Dean Mercer +dashed off on a keen run in the direction of the palatial +house of Judge Oglesby.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">WORSE AND WORSE.</p> + + +<p>Marcus Ellison had only one thought in view as +he rode in the stagecoach from Springfield with Daley +and Spofford, and later entered the hut near the river +at Millville, and that was to learn what they knew of +the robbery and imprisonment of his friend, Dean +Mercer.</p> + +<p>He saw the latter on the coach, and felt complacent. +During the journey, of course he could not talk to +Spofford, but when they reached the cabin he determined +to question him deftly.</p> + +<p>Daley went away toward the village, after lighting +a lantern taken from one of the satchels.</p> + +<p>Then Spofford produced a lunch, invited Marcus to +partake of it, and then lighting his pipe, proceeded to +examine the contents of the satchels.</p> + +<p>They contained a variety of burglars’ tools for +forcing doors and the like, and Marcus inspected them +curiously.</p> + +<p>Several times he endeavored to engage Spofford in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span> +conversation with a view to leading him to speak of +Tim Downey, but the burglar was engrossed in examining +the tools, and answered gruffly, and finally +stretched himself on the floor and dozed placidly until +Daley returned.</p> + +<p>Then, after a conversation outside with the latter, +he returned to the cabin, took up one of the satchels, +directed Marcus to carry the other, and said:</p> + +<p>“Come on, Bob; we are ready.”</p> + +<p>Marcus was in despair. He had so far utterly failed +of his mission. He was far-sighted enough, too, to +discern that the time for learning anything of the +plot against Dean Mercer from these men had +passed by.</p> + +<p>Furthermore, he was in a bad dilemma. These men +were now on the verge of crime. He had accompanied +them so far, and they would not be likely to +allow him to leave their company until the crime they +meditated was committed.</p> + +<p>Thus he would be forced into crime, as he had not +contemplated.</p> + +<p>The men would execute their iniquitous designs of +burglary, would secure the money they coveted and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span> +then would fly to some remote spot, leaving him behind, +and destroying all trace of their whereabouts and +all clue to the Dean Mercer mystery.</p> + +<p>He had gained nothing by his last bold venture, +Marcus disappointedly confessed. He might get into +very serious trouble. Violence might be necessary. +They might all be arrested.</p> + +<p>“I’ll warn the house at the last moment!” decided +Marcus grimly. “I must go on with these men now. +They’d kill me if I showed treachery, or tried to run +away.”</p> + +<p>So he trudged along with them.</p> + +<p>“Here, boy! carry my coat!” ordered Daley finally. +He tossed Marcus his light overcoat as he spoke. +As he did so, a memorandum book and several letters +fell on the ground.</p> + +<p>Marcus recovered and replaced them in the pocket +of the coat.</p> + +<p>“See here, Daley,” said Spofford.</p> + +<p>“Well?”</p> + +<p>“When we get through here, what’s the programme?”</p> + +<p>“New York—Europe.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span></p> + +<p>“That is, if we get a heap of money?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“And if not?”</p> + +<p>“Springfield again.”</p> + +<p>“Why not Downey?”</p> + +<p>“Tim?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“I never thought of that!”</p> + +<p>Marcus listened intently.</p> + +<p>“There’s money in it, Tim says,” continued Spofford.</p> + +<p>“Yes, his letter to me says so.”</p> + +<p>“Do you believe him?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; he paid us well for the Robert Rawley affair. +We’ll see. We might go to him. We’re near the +place. Yonder it is. That fine mansion among the +trees. Post the boy and scare him, Spofford.”</p> + +<p>Spofford began to talk to Marcus. He showed him +a pistol—told him that he would be made independently +rich if he obeyed them, killed if he attempted +treachery or flight.</p> + +<p>They scaled a fence and approached a house. It +was enveloped in darkness, as if its inmates were +asleep.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span></p> + +<p>“There’s the small window in the pantry,” said +Daley. “The boy is to creep through it and unlock +the door beyond.”</p> + +<p>“In with you, and be cautious,” ordered Spofford.</p> + +<p>Marcus was compelled to obey. He placed the +satchel and the coat on the ground, and was hoisted +through the window.</p> + +<p>Daley held a dark-lantern after him, so that its rays +kept him in sight.</p> + +<p>Marcus’ plan was to open not the door leading to +the outside, but one that led into the living portion +of the house, and dashing through it and out of sight +of his companions, alarm the people.</p> + +<p>In this he was baffled, however, for as he touched +the knob of the inside door he found that it was +locked on the other side, and at the same moment +Daley at the other window called out gruffly:</p> + +<p>“Here! not that door—this one!”</p> + +<p>Marcus unlocked the outside door.</p> + +<p>“You’re a good one!” murmured Daley. “Now go +outside under the window and keep watch, and warn +us if anyone comes.”</p> + +<p>“All right!” replied Marcus relievedly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span></p> + +<p>“You, Spofford, turn the key in the inner door. +Stay here, and I’ll go in quest of the cash.”</p> + +<p>Marcus Ellison, the minute he was outside and out +of sight of the two men, did not delay a moment.</p> + +<p>He seized the satchel and overcoat and dashed as +fast as he could run for the nearest house.</p> + +<p>Its lights showed him the way. Glancing in through +its windows, he saw that some kind of a social gathering +was in progress.</p> + +<p>He did not wait to ring at the front door bell. +Dashing in, he electrified the people in the parlors with +the announcement:</p> + +<p>“Burglars have just broken in at the big house next +here! Hurry up and catch them!”</p> + +<p>A minute later half a dozen excited men were rushing +toward Judge Oglesby’s mansion, Marcus bringing +up the rear, lugging the satchel and Daley’s overcoat, +and wondering what the outcome of the adventures +of the night would be.</p> + +<p>They were tragic for one person at least—Dean +Mercer. He had reached the mansion in advance of +the burglars; but as he gained the garden, and was +about to ring the door bell and arouse the sleeping +Judge Oglesby, he hesitated.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span></p> + +<p>Vague fears assailed him, and he suddenly remembered +that Marcus had warned him duly to follow out +his instructions, keep himself and his companions in +view, and leave it to him to strike a decisive blow.</p> + +<p>By warning the judge, Dean realized now he might +upset all Marcus Ellison’s plans—perhaps involve +Marcus in trouble and arrest.</p> + +<p>So, waveringly, he waited, and as he saw the two +burglars and Marcus appear, trembled with direful +apprehension.</p> + +<p>“They may murder the judge,” gasped Dean.</p> + +<p>He ran around to the library. To his surprise, he +found a window up a few inches, although the inside +blinds were closed.</p> + +<p>Dean pushed the window up and opened the blinds. +He now stood in the library, and began groping his +way about in the dark.</p> + +<p>He had considerable knowledge of the lay-out of the +house, and had an idea of reaching the staircase, +creeping up it, and, gaining the chambers, arouse the +sleeping inmates.</p> + +<p>Halfway across the room he paused. Some one +seemed just to have entered the room.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span></p> + +<p>Dean uttered a startled, cry as this person brushed +against him.</p> + +<p>A hand seized his throat.</p> + +<p>“Who are you?” a gruff voice demanded.</p> + +<p>Then the intruder flashed a dark-lantern from under +his coat.</p> + +<p>It was Daley. The clothes Dean wore were of precisely +the same material as those of Marcus Ellison.</p> + +<p>His appearance completely deceived the excited burglar.</p> + +<p>“I thought I told you to stay outside?” he +growled.</p> + +<p>“I—I——”</p> + +<p>“Be cautious. Follow me, I’ve got the box of +cash.”</p> + +<p>He had put up the lantern again, but not before +Dean saw that in his hand he bore a small tin box.</p> + +<p>A desperate resolve came into Dean’s mind. +Through him, though innocently, Judge Oglesby had +already lost a small fortune.</p> + +<p>The tin box probably contained several thousand +dollars.</p> + +<p>“I’ll rescue it. I’ll give the alarm, come what may,” +breathed Dean excitedly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span></p> + +<p>With a quick move, the venturesome boy placed his +impulsive plan in operation.</p> + +<p>He glided forward and suddenly wrenched the tin +box from the hand of the amazed Daley. Then he +dashed for the next room.</p> + +<p>“You scoundrel! What do you mean?”</p> + +<p>“Thieves! murder! help! help! help!”</p> + +<p>In ringing tones the wild alarm echoed on the silent +air of the house.</p> + +<p>Dean ran recklessly forward. Daley, confused at +his strange proceedings, yet suspicious and alarmed, +stumbled after him.</p> + +<p>Overhead suddenly sounded footsteps and alarmed +voices.</p> + +<p>Crash!</p> + +<p>Dean Mercer came to the floor with a shock. He +was pinned there, held there by some heavy object.</p> + +<p>A light glowed in the hall, then in the next room. +He made out Daley, raving and baffled, hastening from +the house.</p> + +<p>A strange accident had happened to Dean Mercer. +He had run against a marble pedestal, holding a rare +and expensive urn.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span></p> + +<p>This had upset, and falling on him, held him pinned +to the floor.</p> + +<p>He now tried to extricate himself. He tore himself +loose, and clinging to the box of money, arose to +his feet.</p> + +<p>At that moment the judge and several members of +his family, alarmed, terrified, rushed into the room.</p> + +<p>Dean was terribly excited.</p> + +<p>“Judge! judge!” he gasped, “the burglars have +fled.”</p> + +<p>His tones betrayed his identity, as his disguised appearance +would never have done, though the last was +now certain to be another link in the chain of circumstantial +evidence against him.</p> + +<p>“Dean Mercer!” exclaimed Judge Oglesby. “Is it +possible you have sunk to this?”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">DEAN MERCER IN JAIL.</p> + + +<p>It would be impossible to describe the consternation +and alarm that overwhelmed Dean at the words of +Judge Oglesby.</p> + +<p>He essayed to refute the terrible charge, and could +not speak. In a flash, he saw the position he was in.</p> + +<p>Disguised, already branded as a thief, he had been +found by the judge with a box of valuables in his +hand.</p> + +<p>The real thieves had escaped. Who would believe +Dean Mercer’s story of the true facts of the case?</p> + +<p>There had come a thundering knock at the front +door of the house, and the judge hastened to open it, +to admit a half a dozen excited men—the ones Marcus +Ellison had just called to his aid.</p> + +<p>Then there was hubbub and confusion. In horror +they regarded Dean Mercer, and then just as Dean in +a transport of anguish tried to shout out his story and +avow his innocence, he was seized and borne from the +house.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span></p> + +<p>Ten minutes later he was locked up in the corridor +of the little town jail, and in the outer room he could +hear excited voices discussing the events of the night.</p> + +<p>“Worse and worse!” wailed Dean, utterly crushed +and frightened. “Oh, this is terrible!”</p> + +<p>Yes, it was terrible. Circumstances were against +him. He was doubly condemned now, and he sat +down on a bench in the corridor and tried to think +it all over and wonder what the outcome of it all +would be.</p> + +<p>The town marshal came in. He glanced at Dean +with a stern face.</p> + +<p>“Well, boy, you’re in a pretty bad fix,” he said.</p> + +<p>“I am innocent, sir!” he gasped wildly.</p> + +<p>The marshal shrugged his shoulders incredulously. +“Don’t try to lie out of it,” he said harshly.</p> + +<p>“But the real burglars——”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense! a fiction!”</p> + +<p>“Can I see Judge Oglesby?”</p> + +<p>“He don’t want to see you.”</p> + +<p>Dean was left to himself again.</p> + +<p>An hour went by—two. The jail became quiet and +deserted again.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span></p> + +<p>“Hist—Dean! Dean!”</p> + +<p>Dean Mercer could scarcely believe the evidence of +his senses.</p> + +<p>From a barred window some one had spoken his +name. He approached it and peered forth.</p> + +<p>The window looked out on the rear of the jail lot. +There stood Marcus Ellison.</p> + +<p>“Marcus!” gasped Dean.</p> + +<p>“Yes. Hist! don’t talk. We have work to do. I +know all about it. There’s only one thing—escape!”</p> + +<p>“But they believe me guilty?”</p> + +<p>“Stop talking, I tell you,” persisted Marcus. “You +are lost if you don’t escape before daylight.”</p> + +<p>Without fully dreaming of the weight his decision +was to have on his whole future life, Dean Mercer +hesitated before accepting the alternative held out to +him by his friend. It was the crucial moment in his +career.</p> + +<p>While he knew that Marcus Ellison was sincere in +his determination to help him, he did not like the idea +of running away under such circumstances as he must +if he escaped from the jail. It seemed far worse to +him than his flight from the reform school.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span></p> + +<p>“I—I do not believe I had better do it, Marcus,” +he finally said.</p> + +<p>“Do what?”</p> + +<p>“Why, run away from here—break jail.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, fudge! it isn’t breaking jail in the real sense. +You are innocent, you know.”</p> + +<p>“Then I need not fear the result if I stay.”</p> + +<p>“But you can’t prove your innocence at present. +Remember you are leaving here just to get the evidence +you need. I’ve got trace of Tim Downey and +we can run him to earth. Once we’ve got him cornered +the rest will be easy.”</p> + +<p>“But if I leave here in this way, everybody will feel +sure that I am guilty. Marcus, I prefer to remain and +fight it out.”</p> + +<p>“Whew! I didn’t know but you had more common +sense,” replied the other, showing by his words and +manner that he was disgusted by this flat refusal to +accept his assistance.</p> + +<p>“Pardon me, Marcus. I know you mean all right. +But I could never lift up my head again if I should +do it. It seems so cowardly. I know I am already +a fugitive, but I prefer not to try an escape from +here in the way you suggest.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</span></p> + +<p>“It is easy enough. I have the tools with which to +do it. I can saw a couple of bars in short order. +Once you are free, you and I can bend our wits toward +running our enemies to earth. But we are losing +valuable time, and I am taking a lot of risk in doing +this.”</p> + +<p>“I know it, Marcus, and I shall never forget it.”</p> + +<p>“Obey me in this and you will come out O. K. If +you’d done it at the house when they were robbing +the judge, you would not have been in this box.”</p> + +<p>“I know it, Marcus. But don’t take any more +chances for me. I am resolved to stay here and meet +my fate.”</p> + +<p>“Then it’s because you haven’t the sand in you I +thought you had. Good night and pleasant dreams.”</p> + +<p>“Good night, Marcus. I wish you well. Take good +care of yourself.”</p> + +<p>A moment later the form of Marcus disappeared +from the narrow orbit of Dean’s range of vision, and +he knew his last friend had left him alone.</p> + +<p>“The worst of it is he is provoked at my action,” +thought the young prisoner. “I hope I have done +what is for the best. I wonder what will happen to me +next.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</span></p> + +<p>With these far from pleasant thoughts, Dean sank +back upon his rude couch, but not to sleep.</p> + +<p>His mind was too active with the peril hanging over +him. In the long, painful hours that dragged away +on leaden wings he thought of many things.</p> + +<p>Breakfast had been eaten the following morning +at the home of Judge Oglesby and he had repaired +to his study, when Eva and Manly, who were discussing +the new development in regard to Dean +Mercer, discovered a man coming hastily toward the +dwelling.</p> + +<p>A second glance disclosed the identity of the early +caller, as he advanced at the peculiar rolling gait of +one used all his life to being on board of a sailing +vessel.</p> + +<p>“It’s Jack Carboy!” exclaimed Manly. “I am so +glad he is coming.”</p> + +<p>“So am I,” declared Eva. “Among them all he +seems to be the only one who has faith that Dean +Mercer is innocent.”</p> + +<p>“Besides you and me, sister.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Manly. But I can’t understand this last affair.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</span></p> + +<p>“Avast there, shipmates, I mean, lad and lass,” +greeted the newcomer. “These air hard seas to sail.”</p> + +<p>“What is the trouble now, Jack? And what has +brought you here so early?”</p> + +<p>“The b’y, lass. Is it true they hev run down his +sloop and moored him here in this landlocked harbor?”</p> + +<p>“You mean Dean Mercer, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“Ay, ay, miss. I heerd o’ it. He’s in prison. Lass, +he hain’t done nothing to deserve this.”</p> + +<p>“I believe it, Jack. What can be done to save him?”</p> + +<p>“Throw a rope to leeward.”</p> + +<p>“I do not understand you, Jack. Tell us in plain +English what you know about Dean. You have heard +how they have arrested him for breaking into our +house, and that he is now in the lockup. Oh, Jack! +what can we do to save him?”</p> + +<p>Half an hour’s consultation followed during which +Eva got a more complete account from Jack Carboy +of the burning of the <i>Spray</i> than she had ever obtained +before. At its conclusion she said:</p> + +<p>“I tell you what I am going to do. Father is too +much worked up over the whole affair to give Dean +any consideration. So I am going to see Mr. Montague.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</span> +I do not believe he thinks Dean wholly to +blame. Come, Manly, let’s go at once.”</p> + +<p>Having come to this decision Eva started immediately +to visit the lawyer at his office, accompanied by +Manly and Jack.</p> + +<p>They found Mr. Montague alone and willing to talk +with them. In fact the lawyer was glad to have some +one willing to speak of his young friend in a sympathetic +manner.</p> + +<p>“They are all against him,” he declared. “I cannot +yet think he could have been so lost to the teachings +of his good mother, to say nothing of the example set +him by all of us. Go ahead, Miss Oglesby, and tell +me all you know of the unfortunate affair.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">CRAZY MEG’S MARK.</p> + + +<p>Let us see what that pair of young schemers, Tim +Downey and Rodney Darringford, are doing all this +time.</p> + +<p>When the money was received, and after Tim had +paid off Daley and Spofford, he and Rodney decided +to join forces, and go off “on a good time” to Columbus, +a large city west of Springfield.</p> + +<p>“Life is too slow and risky here,” Tim had remarked, +“and we would be suspected if seen with all +this money.”</p> + +<p>It was, indeed, a large amount for two boys to +handle.</p> + +<p>The boys left Springfield with the idea of going to +Columbus, but did not.</p> + +<p>Ten miles from Springfield they made a change in +their plans. Here was located a noted summer resort, +known as Eagle Cliff, and Rodney insisted on spending +a day or two there.</p> + +<p>“What for?” asked Tim.</p> + +<p>“To cut a dash.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</span></p> + +<p>“Who’s there?”</p> + +<p>“A lot of snobs from the academy I used to go to. +I’d just like to show them that I’ve got more cash +than any of them.”</p> + +<p>“All right, I’m willing,” assented Tim.</p> + +<p>Both boys had rigged themselves up in the finest of +clothes, and the amount of gaudy jewelry that Tim +wore was enormous.</p> + +<p>They tired of the humdrum life at Eagle Cliff in a +day, and both decided to go on to Columbus.</p> + +<p>“Suppose we drive there, and take in the fair at +Chester and the races at Dover on the way?” suggested +Tim.</p> + +<p>“All right.”</p> + +<p>The result was that they made an arrangement with +a liveryman to supply a double team, and one morning +they started for Columbus by way of a fine road +lined by charming villages.</p> + +<p>They drove recklessly, and in crossing a narrow +bridge were so precipitate that they crowded several +boys standing there to its extreme edge.</p> + +<p>One little fellow fell over into the stream and was +with difficulty rescued, but the indifferent Tim and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</span> +Rodney only laughed at the anger and indignation of +the boy’s companions.</p> + +<p>Late that afternoon Tim Downey and his companion +arrived at a place called Ridgeton, where they +lingered long enough to get quite intoxicated.</p> + +<p>The tavern keeper bluntly told them that they were +not in a condition to pursue the journey, and that the +horses were nearly exhausted.</p> + +<p>“We’ll load up with a dozen bottles of champagne +and go on to the fair at Chester,” persisted Tim.</p> + +<p>Five miles on the road they became uproariously, +intoxicated and wandered off from the road, finding +themselves pursuing a sandy and yielding course along +the shores of a lake.</p> + +<p>A girl calling home the cows told them that they +had better retrace their way to the road, but they were +stubbornly determined to cross a swampy reach of land +by a short cut, and kept on.</p> + +<p>Darkness overtook them at last. They kept drinking +more and more, quarreled, had a fist fight, and +then Rodney, at last overcome with the wine, lay in +the bottom of the carriage unconscious.</p> + +<p>Tim, angry at the slow progress of the horses,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</span> +lashed them with the whip. The animals became +frightened and unmanageable.</p> + +<p>They tore the reins from his hands, ran away, and +colliding with a tree, the frail vehicle was dashed to +fragments and both boys landed insensible among a +wreck of wood and wine bottles in the swamp.</p> + +<p>It was about midnight when Tim awoke. It was +raining hard, and he lay in a puddle of water. Every +garment he wore was soaked through and through.</p> + +<p>To his stupefied mind, at last came the light, and +he groped around and tried to make out his surroundings.</p> + +<p>He stumbled over a wheel and other portions of the +wrecked carriage, and finally found the lamp that was +formerly attached to the whip socket.</p> + +<p>About the only dry thing about him, except his +parched tongue, was the inside of his tin match safe.</p> + +<p>He managed to light the lamp. Then its rays +showed that the carriage was a hopeless wreck, the +horses gone, and that Rodney Darringford was lying +in a stupid slumber in a water-filled rut near by.</p> + +<p>Four of the bottles in the basket were intact, and +Tim drained one feverishly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</span></p> + +<p>“Here, wake up, Rodney!” he shouted to his companion, +shaking him vigorously.</p> + +<p>“Eh? Lemme be!”</p> + +<p>“Wake up!”</p> + +<p>“Won’t!”</p> + +<p>But Tim maliciously switched Rodney until he +aroused to wakefulness.</p> + +<p>Then he gave him a bottle of wine, pocketed the +two others, and taking up the carriage lamp, said:</p> + +<p>“Come on!”</p> + +<p>“Where are you going?” asked Rodney irritably.</p> + +<p>“To find shelter. We’re in an awful fix.”</p> + +<p>“Yes—clothes are spoiled.”</p> + +<p>“And rig wrecked. It will cost us something.”</p> + +<p>“If the man ever sees us again, yes. Ha! ha!”</p> + +<p>The remaining wine buoyed up the flagging spirits +of the two reckless boys and made them forget the +chill and rain.</p> + +<p>They floundered in and out of the swamp and finally +reached the higher ground.</p> + +<p>No lights showed anywhere.</p> + +<p>Finally, between two hills where the uplands began, +Rodney said:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</span></p> + +<p>“We’ll stay here.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no!”</p> + +<p>“Must; I’m tired.”</p> + +<p>“But it’s raining!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t care.”</p> + +<p>“We must find shelter.”</p> + +<p>“Find it, then! I’m comfortable here,” replied Rodney +obstinately.</p> + +<p>Tim went on a little way. He made a discovery, +and shouted back to his companion:</p> + +<p>“Come on, Rodney!”</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?”</p> + +<p>“Found a cabin.”</p> + +<p>“All right.”</p> + +<p>Rodney staggered after Tim. In a little grove a +dismantled hut showed. It had no door, and the +window apertures were sashless, but it was a shelter.</p> + +<p>Tim entered it. The carriage lamp showed a bare +interior, a broken bench, a stool, a three-legged table +and an enormous fireplace.</p> + +<p>Rodney lay down on the bench with a grunt of relief, +but Tim, shivering with the dampness and cold, +proceeded to gather a lot of wood outside.</p> + +<p>He soon had a rousing fire in the fireplace, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</span> +found the door that had been broken off its hinges +outside and propped it into place to keep out the wind +and rain.</p> + +<p>“Come, Rodney,” he said to his sleepy companion, +“take off some of your clothes and spread them out +to dry.”</p> + +<p>Rodney reluctantly obeyed, and Tim did the same, +and their coats, vests, hats and shoes and stockings +were soon steaming before the fire.</p> + +<p>“Where’s your money, Rodney?” asked Tim.</p> + +<p>“In my pocket.”</p> + +<p>“Hand it out.”</p> + +<p>“What for?”</p> + +<p>“Take it out and see.”</p> + +<p>Rodney did so. He now knew what Tim meant. +The roll of bills and even the interior of the wallet that +contained them were a mass of wet rags, almost reduced +to a pulp.</p> + +<p>The new, crisp bills were matted together and discolored +so much that he looked alarmed.</p> + +<p>“Same way with mine,” said Tim. “We’ll have to +separate and dry them.”</p> + +<p>“You do it. I’m sleepy.”</p> + +<p>“No; you must do your share,” retorted Tim.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</span></p> + +<p>They soon had the broad stone in front of the fireplace +covered with the water-soaked bank notes.</p> + +<p>“Hello! these papers are pretty nearly done for,” +said Tim, as he drew a large envelope containing documents +from his pocket.</p> + +<p>“What’s that, Tim?” asked Rodney curiously.</p> + +<p>“Some papers I took from young Ellison on board +the <i>Spray</i>.”</p> + +<p>“What are they?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, something about the Ellison murder. They’re +no good.”</p> + +<p>“Hold on.”</p> + +<p>Tim had made a motion as if to throw them in the +fire.</p> + +<p>“What’s the trouble?”</p> + +<p>“Don’t destroy them.”</p> + +<p>“Why not?”</p> + +<p>“They may be important.”</p> + +<p>“They’d prove we were thieves if they found them +on us.”</p> + +<p>“Well, dry them with the rest, and I’ll see what they +are in the morning.”</p> + +<p>“Just as you say,” and Tim spread the papers out +to dry alongside of the bank notes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</span></p> + +<p>It was a curious picture that the interior of the rude +cabin presented half an hour later.</p> + +<p>A fortune lay on the hearth, and near it slumbered +the stupefied boys.</p> + +<p>The scene had an outside spectator, although the +boys little suspected it.</p> + +<p>At the window, just as they began talking about the +bank notes and the papers, and spreading them out to +dry, a strange, weird face had appeared.</p> + +<p>A wild pair of eyes gleamed in at the scene, and +the same eyes peered in at the door as it was stealthily +lifted out of place half an hour later.</p> + +<p>At the door appeared a strange figure. It was that +of a woman, old, haggard, with bedraggled attire, +and face and eyes that seemed to indicate that she was +some homeless wanderer, bereft of her reason, and +accidentally strayed here.</p> + +<p>For all that, there seemed to be a purpose in her +visit. She moved about stealthily, and her gleaming +glance was fixed on the papers and bank notes on the +hearth.</p> + +<p>Chuckling, muttering, she gathered up the last one +of them, thrust them into a bundle under her shawl, +and then stole toward the door again.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</span></p> + +<p>Halfway to it she paused. An elfish, crooning +laugh escaped her lips. She drew a bottle filled with +blood-red liquid from beneath her shawl, dipped her +finger in it, and then deliberately marked an X on the +forehead of each of the sleeping boys.</p> + +<p>“Blood!” she muttered. “I’ll mark them, too, for +they spoke that name, Ellison. Money and papers! +ho! ho! Crazy Meg will go to the bad man with the +knife who scared her so, ho! ho!”</p> + +<p>Then the woman disappeared as silently as she had +come to the cabin.</p> + +<p>It was broad daylight when Rodney Darringford +awoke. He gazed around stupidly. The door was out +of place, and the fire was out.</p> + +<p>He looked startled as he glanced at the hearth, and +recalled the night previous.</p> + +<p>“Tim! Tim!” he cried. “Wake up. Say, did you +gather up the money?”</p> + +<p>“What money?”</p> + +<p>“The bank notes we spread on the hearth to dry.”</p> + +<p>“Not I. They’re there.”</p> + +<p>“Well, they ain’t.”</p> + +<p>“What?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</span></p> + +<p>Tim sat bolt upright and stared blankly at the +hearth.</p> + +<p>“You’re joking, Rodney?”</p> + +<p>“I ain’t.”</p> + +<p>“Just wake up?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Wind blew them into the corner of the room.”</p> + +<p>“None there, and the door is down. Some one has +been here.”</p> + +<p>“The money is gone?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, stolen.”</p> + +<p>“We’re beggars.”</p> + +<p>“Worse—thieves!”</p> + +<p>The worst was soon known. The money was gone.</p> + +<p>The only plausible theory was one admitting that +some dishonest prowler had discovered the money, and +taken it.</p> + +<p>The blow was a terrible one to the boys, so much +so, that when Rodney noticed a blazing red X on +Tim’s forehead, he did not even remark it, and Tim +was too dejected and overcome to notice that on his +companion’s brow.</p> + +<p>They donned their coats, and made a hasty scurry<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</span> +around the cabin, but no trace of the thief or booty +was found.</p> + +<p>Then they grew irritable, and fell to quarreling, and +then again began planning what they would do.</p> + +<p>“I’m dying of hunger,” said Tim, “and I’m going +to find some place to get something to eat at.”</p> + +<p>“Where?”</p> + +<p>“Portsmouth must be near here.”</p> + +<p>“Yes; only a few miles, I guess. I’m going back +home.”</p> + +<p>“And leave me?”</p> + +<p>“We’ve got no money. We can’t even get a meal.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, we can. The thief has taken all our money, +but I’ve got my jewelry. I can sell that.”</p> + +<p>The boys finally left the hut. In an hour they came +to a crossroads tavern, beyond which lay the little +hamlet of Portsmouth.</p> + +<p>The tavern keeper was busy at his bar arranging +some bottles, when Tim entered the place, followed by +Rodney.</p> + +<p>“Say, mister,” he said, “can we get a meal here?”</p> + +<p>“I reckon so.”</p> + +<p>“We’ve got no money.”</p> + +<p>“No trust to strangers.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</span></p> + +<p>“But I’ve got a watch and chain here,” pursued +Tim. “We were robbed last night of all our money. +We want to stay here a day or two, and if you’ll give +us a meal and something to drink first, I’ll send my +friend to the town yonder to sell the watch and pay +you.”</p> + +<p>The landlord hesitated, but finally said:</p> + +<p>“I guess it’s all right. No games, now.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no; you can keep the watch for security and +send to town yourself, if you like.”</p> + +<p>“No, I’ll trust you, only one of you stay here while +the other goes for the money.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all right.”</p> + +<p>“Sit down at one of the tables. I’ll order your +breakfast for you.”</p> + +<p>The boys did so, removing their hats.</p> + +<p>As the tavern keeper came back with some dishes, +he stared strangely at them.</p> + +<p>“Hello!” he ejaculated. “So you’ve seen Crazy +Meg, eh?”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">A FRUITLESS SEARCH.</p> + + +<p>The landlord stared first at Tim’s head and then +at that of Rodney Darringford, and both boys at once +discovered that he was very much startled.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” demanded Tim sharply.</p> + +<p>“Crazy Meg, I say. You must have seen her!”</p> + +<p>“Who’s Crazy Meg?”</p> + +<p>“Don’t know her?”</p> + +<p>“I do not.”</p> + +<p>“Never heard of her?”</p> + +<p>“Never.”</p> + +<p>“You must be strangers hereabouts, then?”</p> + +<p>“We are.”</p> + +<p>The landlord smiled.</p> + +<p>“Well,” he said confidently, “you may not have seen +her, but she has seen you. Robbed, too, eh? Up to +her old tricks again. Well, well!”</p> + +<p>Tim Downey started violently. He was shrewd +enough to trace a clue of importance as to the thief +of the bank notes in the tavern keeper’s words, and +he replied eagerly:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes, we were robbed, and you seem to know something +about it.”</p> + +<p>“I can surmise,” laughed the landlord; “anyone +hereabouts could from your appearance.”</p> + +<p>Rodney looked mystified.</p> + +<p>“Our appearance?” he gasped.</p> + +<p>“’Zactly.”</p> + +<p>“How so?”</p> + +<p>“You’ve got the mark.”</p> + +<p>“What mark?”</p> + +<p>“Crazy Meg’s mark.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?”</p> + +<p>“Go, both of you, and look in the mirror yonder and +see.”</p> + +<p>Both boys, impelled by a sense of mystery, hurried +to a large looking-glass near by.</p> + +<p>In amazement they discerned the blood-red X that +showed prominently on their features.</p> + +<p>They instinctively tried to rub it off.</p> + +<p>“You’ll have to scrub to do that,” chuckled the +tavern keeper.</p> + +<p>Tim Downey was consumed with curiosity.</p> + +<p>“See here, landlord!” he said half angrily, “what +does this mean?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</span></p> + +<p>“That Crazy Meg has seen you, I tell you.”</p> + +<p>“But we didn’t see her.”</p> + +<p>“Were you robbed?”</p> + +<p>“We were.”</p> + +<p>“When?”</p> + +<p>“When—when we were asleep in a cabin near here +last night.”</p> + +<p>“That explains it, then.”</p> + +<p>“How?”</p> + +<p>“Well, she discovered you, robbed you and marked +you, as she does everybody she don’t like.”</p> + +<p>Then the man proceeded to tell what he knew of +Crazy Meg.</p> + +<p>She had been known as a wild and harmless wanderer +in the district for years. Where she came from, +no one knew, but it was believed that she had escaped +from some insane asylum.</p> + +<p>The reason of this was that often she would frantically +denounce the bad men who had shut her up in +a stone building with iron bars, whence she had escaped.</p> + +<p>When she owned the world, she said, she would +hire an army to go and tear down all the cruel insane +asylums.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</span></p> + +<p>People would give her money out of charity, and +this she hoarded and secreted in some one of her +many hiding places among the hills, until she should +get enough to hire her boasted army.</p> + +<p>Often, too, she would drive away a whole flock of +geese or chickens, and even cattle, and they would be +found where she had penned them in, at some sequestered +nook among the hills.</p> + +<p>Whenever she met a person she did not like she +would take out a bottle containing some red liquid, +and make just such a mark on their clothing or house +or hand or face as that on the faces of Tim and +Rodney.</p> + +<p>This had only been in the past year, and people said +that she had in her wanderings seen some terrible +crime and been frightened by its perpetrator.</p> + +<p>The landlord told how one night recently Meg had +secretly stolen into the tavern, visited the room of his +two boys and gathered up all their school-books under +her shawl to cart away, when the elder boy had discovered +her.</p> + +<p>Her great mania seemed to be to accumulate a vast +amount of miscellaneous property, and hoard up what +money she could steal or beg, to finally employ to hire<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</span> +her army of men to burn up or tear down all the insane +asylums in the country.</p> + +<p>“She just lives around the hut you say you slept in +out of the storm last night,” said the tavern keeper.</p> + +<p>“Where can we find her?” asked Tim.</p> + +<p>“Ha! ha! find Meg? That’s a hard task, boys. +Whenever she steals anything, she’s shrewd enough to +keep out of the way for a time, and sometimes disappears +for whole weeks. When she is around, she’s +like a sprite, so quick and fleet-footed, and knowing a +score of caves where she can hide when pursued. I +guess the breakfast is cooking,” and the landlord went +back to the kitchen of the tavern to attend to the meal +for his guests.</p> + +<p>The eyes of the two boys met in mutual excited +questioning.</p> + +<p>“Rodney!” exclaimed Tim, “there’s some hope.”</p> + +<p>“About the money?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“You mean?”</p> + +<p>“Crazy Meg.”</p> + +<p>“She certainly took it.”</p> + +<p>“Of course.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</span></p> + +<p>“And we must find her.”</p> + +<p>“We must.”</p> + +<p>They dispatched the meal. Then Tim went off to +Portsmouth, leaving Rodney at the tavern. He managed +to sell what jewelry he had for forty dollars, +and they decided to make their headquarters at the +tavern.</p> + +<p>They now set their wits to work to find Crazy Meg, +as the sole object of their lives.</p> + +<p>They even paid the tavern keeper’s boy ten dollars +to assist them in the quest.</p> + +<p>It proved of no avail. Here and there they got a +trace of the crazy woman, but they could not locate +her.</p> + +<p>So the days drifted by, and then it occurred to Tim +to call to his aid his two trusty friends of the past—Daley +and Spofford.</p> + +<p>He wrote the letter that had been alluded to by +Daley in his conversation with Spofford, and which +now had fallen into the hands of Marcus Ellison.</p> + +<p>“It’s no use,” said Rodney one evening, after a day +of fruitless tramping, “the woman has disappeared.”</p> + +<p>“She’ll come back.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll never get our money.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</span></p> + +<p>“I don’t give up so easily.”</p> + +<p>“I’ve a good mind to go back home.”</p> + +<p>“All right; then you give up all claim on the money +if you do. Wait until my friends, Daley and Spofford, +arrive.”</p> + +<p>“What will they do?”</p> + +<p>“Soon find crazy Meg, you can depend on that.”</p> + +<p>“Two gentlemen to see you, Downey,” said the +tavern keeper, as the boys entered the place an hour +later.</p> + +<p>The landlord indicated a table where two men sat.</p> + +<p>“Daley and Spofford,” murmured Tim joyfully.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">RELEASED ON BAIL.</p> + + +<p>Encouraged by the kind words of Mr. Montague, +Evaline Oglesby began at once to tell the story Jack +Carboy had told her, piecing together the parts the +old sailor had described in his broken, graphic manner.</p> + +<p>“Stop, Miss Eva,” broke in the lawyer, as he listened +with rapt interest to her straightforward recital. +“You say Jack detected the fumes of some +drug?”</p> + +<p>“Didn’t you say so, Jack?” asked Eva.</p> + +<p>“Rock o’ Gibraltar! it struck my bowsprit and +knocked me over seas!”</p> + +<p>“There were indications that some one had set the +fire?”</p> + +<p>“Beyond doubt, Mr. Montague. And the fumes +that so nearly overpowered Jack came from chloroform, +which had been used to overcome Dean.”</p> + +<p>“So you think he was carried off?”</p> + +<p>“I do, Mr. Montague.”</p> + +<p>“Who could have done it?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</span></p> + +<p>“I cannot tell, sir.”</p> + +<p>“How can we find out?”</p> + +<p>“I would suggest that you go and see Dean and hear +his story, Mr. Montague.”</p> + +<p>“But last night’s work looks bad.”</p> + +<p>“Does it look reasonable that he would come back +here to rob his old friend? Does it look reasonable +that Dean Mercer has turned to a common burglar?”</p> + +<p>“I cannot tell. I never thought he would burn the +steamer of his best friend.”</p> + +<p>“Has it been proved that he did?”</p> + +<p>“Miss Eva, you should have been a lawyer. I see +your idea. You would have me see Dean Mercer and +get his account of the affair?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“What then?”</p> + +<p>“Will he be tried to-day?”</p> + +<p>“He will doubtless be given a preliminary hearing +and if found guilty bound over to appear at the higher +court.”</p> + +<p>“And put back in jail?”</p> + +<p>“If he does not get bail.”</p> + +<p>“If he should get bail?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</span></p> + +<p>“He would be allowed his freedom until the time the +court sits.”</p> + +<p>“Will you go and see him?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly. The State will allow him a lawyer. I +will take care of his case.”</p> + +<p>“Please accept my thanks, Mr. Montague. I shall +want to see you as soon as you return.”</p> + +<p>“You can see me here if you wish. I will not be +gone over half an hour.”</p> + +<p>With these words Mr. Montague put on his hat +and left the office to go upon his errand.</p> + +<p>He may not have been gone more than the specified +thirty minutes, but they seemed long ones to the +impatient waiters, but Eva saw by the look of satisfaction +upon the old lawyer’s countenance that he had +good news to impart before he had spoken a word.</p> + +<p>“Well, Mr. Montague?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“I am glad I went,” he replied. “The boy was glad +to see me and I am to defend him.”</p> + +<p>“What about his account of the burning of the +<i>Spray</i>?” she asked eagerly.</p> + +<p>“It is not as clear as I could wish it to be. He does +not seem to have any idea of what happened to him +until he found himself miles away from Springfield.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</span></p> + +<p>“Which shows that my theory was correct. He was +drugged and kidnapped. Didn’t it prove so?”</p> + +<p>“Ye—es. He has been through some thrilling experiences, +but got into an uncomfortable association +with a couple of bad men according to his story. He +appears innocent.”</p> + +<p>“He is. And I am going to make father furnish +his bail.”</p> + +<p>“If you will I will do all in my power to save him.”</p> + +<p>“I thank you, Mr. Montague. I hope you did not +tell him that I sent you to see him.”</p> + +<p>“Not exactly that, Miss Eva. But I did tell him +you thought he was innocent, and that seemed to give +him new courage. The boy has been through a trying +ordeal.”</p> + +<p>“When will the hearing come off?”</p> + +<p>“At ten o’clock.”</p> + +<p>“Then I have no time to lose. I will see you as +soon as I have won father over to our side.”</p> + +<p>“I wish you success.”</p> + +<p>As the old lawyer watched his departing visitors, he +murmured to himself:</p> + +<p>“She is a brave girl, but she has undertaken more<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</span> +now than she can accomplish. Get Judge Oglesby to +sign Dean Mercer’s bond! The idea is absurd, though +I am beginning to think the boy is not guilty of any +wrongdoing.”</p> + +<p>“We shall succeed in getting father interested; we +must!” declared Eva, as she hastened homeward after +leaving Mr. Montague. But she preferred to see her +father alone, so Jack and Manly remained in the background +while she sought the judge in his library.</p> + +<p>It was nearly an hour before Eva reappeared to +join her anxious companions, and then her countenance, +radiant with a look of happiness, told before +she had spoken that she had been successful.</p> + +<p>“I had a long tussle with papa,” she said, “before +he would listen to such ‘a silly idea,’ as he expressed +it. But when I had gone through all of your story, +Jack, and showed him how unreasonable it was to +think that Dean had come back here to rob us, he +relented.”</p> + +<p>“And he will save him?” asked Manly hopefully.</p> + +<p>“He will furnish his bail, which will give Dean his +liberty for a time. I am so anxious to hear his +story.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</span></p> + +<p>A good-sized crowd gathered at the hearing of +Dean Mercer, expecting a sensation in its developments. +Those that did were disappointed, while his +friends were treated to a genuine surprise.</p> + +<p>Mr. Montague appeared as his counsel, and simply +pleaded “not guilty,” waived an examination, with an +appeal to the higher court. Bond was then fixed at +one thousand dollars, when the most unexpected thing +happened.</p> + +<p>Judge Oglesby, who had caused his arrest and was +the complainant, promptly furnished the bail which +gave Dean his freedom.</p> + +<p>The public was agog then, wondering what it meant.</p> + +<p>Dean was the most surprised person of them all.</p> + +<p>“You have only Eva to thank,” said the judge, as +Dean pressed forward to his side to express his thanks +for the other’s generous act. “If you are innocent, +as she believes, you have thirty days in which to prove +it.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, sir, I will.”</p> + +<p>If Dean had desired to speak for a moment with his +deliverer he was accorded the privilege, for he had no +sooner escaped the crowd than he was met by Eva,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</span> +Manly and Jack Carboy, all of whom were profuse in +their congratulations.</p> + +<p>“I could not think you did it, Dean,” declared Eva.</p> + +<p>“I did not, Miss Oglesby, and what is more I hope +to prove it.”</p> + +<p>“I do hope you will. You must not blame father +for still feeling that you are guilty. You must remember +it has cost him dear, for besides losing the money +that was to pay for the steamer he has lost the boat +itself. I finally got him to sign your bail, and he has +done it so you may have time to prove your innocence.”</p> + +<p>“You are both very kind. I appreciate it. I am +so sorry to have caused you so much trouble and anxiety. +But within a month I believe I shall be able to +clear up the whole mystery.”</p> + +<p>“You have my wishes for your success.”</p> + +<p>The others expressed their pleasure, and Dean knew +Jack Carboy felt disappointed when he gently declined +his aid in his effort to ferret out his enemies.</p> + +<p>He felt that he could work better alone, though he +did promise to call on Jack the moment he should be +needed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</span></p> + +<p>Some of the people came forward to speak to him +and Dean was glad when he could break away and +truly feel that he was free.</p> + +<p>The vital question for him to decide upon then was +his method or way of proceeding.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">THE SECRET ENEMY.</p> + + +<p>Among those at the hearing when Dean so unexpectedly +obtained his freedom for a time was Colonel +Darringford, his countenance showing his disappointment +and displeasure as the young prisoner was allowed +his liberty.</p> + +<p>Prefacing his bitter speech with an oath he exclaimed +to a bystander:</p> + +<p>“That’s the biggest piece of imposition I ever heard +of. But it is just like Judge Oglesby, and if he can +stand it I suppose I can. But the people should rise +up in justice and hang the young miscreant.”</p> + +<p>Dean heard this cutting remark, but did not catch +the reply.</p> + +<p>In his anxiety to start upon his quest, he did not +give the matter a second thought, taking it as a natural +product of the enmity of the other.</p> + +<p>He knew the <i>Warrior</i> was undergoing expensive +repairs and had heard that Colonel Darringford +threatened to sue the owner of the ill-fated <i>Spray</i> for +damages, but nothing had come of the threat. In fact,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</span> +it could be shown that the commander of the <i>Warrior</i> +had been in the wrong.</p> + +<p>Two or three small boats plied between Millville +and Landlock, and as the stage had left an hour before, +Dean decided to take passage on one of these boats.</p> + +<p>He found that a small gasoline launch would start +in ten minutes, and having nothing better to do he +went aboard at once.</p> + +<p>Not over ten passengers could be accommodated, +according to the rules, and as Dean made the ninth +person he considered himself fortunate.</p> + +<p>Dean Mercer had been aboard the little craft with +the fanciful name of the <i>Buoyant</i> a few minutes, when +half a dozen persons were seen to be approaching at +rapid steps.</p> + +<p>“They know only one more can be taken on,” remarked +the captain, with a smile, as in common with +the others he began to watch the newcomers. Presently +two were seen to break away from the rest and +approach at a run. Then one of this couple began +to outdistance the other, and soon he was within hearing +of the boat.</p> + +<p>By this time Dean Mercer was excited. The foremost +person was Marcus Ellison!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</span></p> + +<p>“I want passage on the boat!” he cried.</p> + +<p>“No; it belongs to me!” shouted the man close at +his heels.</p> + +<p>“By Jove!” cried the elated commander of the +<i>Buoyant</i>, “it’s a handsome race, but the lad has outrun +you, sir. Old Cap’n Dodge is detarmined to see fair +play. The <i>Buoyant</i> can’t take but one passenger more, +and he must be the boy.”</p> + +<p>The man may not have heard the last portion of this +reply, or if he did he did not heed its meaning, for he +continued to advance without abating his speed.</p> + +<p>Marcus also continued as fast as he could run, and +chuckling over his triumph, no sooner had the youth +gained the boat, than Captain Dodge ordered that the +gangplank be taken up.</p> + +<p>“Full number of passengers; can’t take any more. +Let on the power, engineer.”</p> + +<p>“Hold!” yelled the newcomer, as he heard the command +of Captain Dodge. “Don’t you start that boat +till you have read this order from its owner, Captain +Darringford.”</p> + +<p>The next moment the man came quickly aboard, +and no sooner had he stepped over the rail than the +captain cried:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</span></p> + +<p>“I can’t take you both. It’s agin’ the law.”</p> + +<p>“Put off the boy then!” cried the man. “I must +and shall go. Colonel Darringford says so.”</p> + +<p>This statement evidently had some weight with the +officer, and it seemed as if Marcus would be ordered +to leave the boat. But the youth met him unflinchingly.</p> + +<p>“I was here ahead of him,” cried Marcus, “and if +anybody gets off it must be him.”</p> + +<p>By this time the crowd had reached the dock, and +others, attracted by the cries, had begun to collect upon +the shore.</p> + +<p>Possibly fearing that he might have yet other passengers +to get rid of, Captain Dodge ordered the plank +to be taken up, and in a moment there was no chance +for another to board the <i>Buoyant</i>.</p> + +<p>The engineer had obeyed orders, and the boat was +starting upon her trip.</p> + +<p>“One can’t make much difference,” muttered the +captain. “If there is a complaint I reckon I can show +how you fellers were to blame.”</p> + +<p>Marcus showed no surprise at sight of Dean, though +he did not attempt to get near him and did not speak +to him. Something in his manner warned Dean that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</span> +he had better remain silent, so the greeting he was +about to make was not spoken.</p> + +<p>Wondering what it all could mean, Dean watched +and waited for a word or hint from the other. This +did not come until they had been an hour on the water, +and the little craft was bowling merrily along +her way.</p> + +<p>Marcus had managed to get a seat near to his +friend, and finally he whispered:</p> + +<p>“Glad to see you, Dean, but we have got to be awful +careful how we act and what we say.”</p> + +<p>“What’s up?”</p> + +<p>“Notice that man who came aboard right at my +heels?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“He’s Colonel Darringford’s spy, sent to watch you +and get you into trouble.”</p> + +<p>Dean started slightly, but managed to take the bit +of news without betraying any evidence of having been +surprised.</p> + +<p>“How?”</p> + +<p>Five minutes later, Marcus found opportunity to +whisper:</p> + +<p>“I overheard the colonel telling him he would give<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</span> +this fellow five hundred dollars if he would stop you +in what you are doing. The man has agreed to do it, +if he has to kill you!”</p> + +<p>Another silence between the young friends lasted +longer than before, when Marcus said in the same cautious +tone:</p> + +<p>“After I left you last night I sort of hung round +to see how you would come out. You were right and +I was wrong. But Colonel Darringford is awful mad +to think you are free. I knew you had gone to this +boat, but I got snarled up and couldn’t come as quick +as I wanted to. But it was well I didn’t for I ran +across the colonel and that man, and heard it all fixed +up between them to get rid of you. He is ready to +do anything he can to beat you. You have got to look +out awful sharp when you get to Landlock.”</p> + +<p>“I believe he is watching us,” whispered Dean, and +it was not until they came in sight of their destination +that the boys dared to exchange words again.</p> + +<p>Five minutes later the <i>Buoyant</i> touched lightly at +the pier of Landlock, and the small party of passengers +went hastily ashore, glad to have reached the end of +their trip.</p> + +<p>Dean and Marcus did not fail to see that Darringford’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</span> +spy was watching them closely, though the boys +had not sought each other’s company.</p> + +<p>Dean had not gone far from the landing when the +man accosted him, saying:</p> + +<p>“Pardon me, young man, but may I ask a favor of +you?”</p> + +<p>If surprised by the boldness of this request, Dean +did not show it, while he answered the other politely:</p> + +<p>“Certainly, if it is possible for me to do it.”</p> + +<p>“It is. You will stop in town to-night?”</p> + +<p>“I think I might fare worse, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Good. If you are willing to patronize a friend of +mine, I wish you might stop at the Wilkins House. +I am sure you will be well treated.”</p> + +<p>“I thank you, sir.”</p> + +<p>“I may not be there, as I have considerable to attend +to. If you will walk along with me I will show +you the way.”</p> + +<p>“But I have a little matter that needs my attention +now. A little later I will try and find the place.”</p> + +<p>Dean had discovered a couple of blue-coated officials +in the distance, who seemed to be waiting for some one.</p> + +<p>He quickly imagined that they were lying in wait +for him!</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">MARCUS DISCOVERS A CLUE.</p> + + +<p>Dean Mercer’s heart beat with unwonted rapidity +as he saw the officers and anticipated that they were +intending to arrest him. Arrest again at that stage +of his work meant defeat to all his plans. Instinctively +he glanced around to see if Marcus was near, but +his friend was nowhere in sight.</p> + +<p>“It will take but a minute to go to the house,” said +the man. “Once you have engaged your room you +can attend to—think those officers are after you?”</p> + +<p>The sudden break in his speech was occasioned by +the fact that the officials had started toward them.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the man employed by Colonel Darringford +was afraid his prey would escape him, for, without +further warning, he seized Dean by the collar, hissing +between his clenched teeth:</p> + +<p>“You don’t get away!”</p> + +<p>At this critical moment, just as Dean was about to +try and break away from the clutch of the man, some +one shouted from the next street:</p> + +<p>“Help! murder! thieves!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</span></p> + +<p>The officers stopped, looking wildly in the direction +of the cries:</p> + +<p>“Help! I’ve got him!” came the voice. “Hel—lp!”</p> + +<p>The two officers, thinking it was their quarry, no +doubt, ran in that direction. The hand upon Dean +Mercer’s shoulder relaxed its hold, and in the excitement +Dean slipped away.</p> + +<p>It is surprising how quickly a crowd will collect. +Inside of a minute, as it seemed to the main actors, +a hundred persons had appeared upon the scene.</p> + +<p>Wild questions were asked, one after another, and +wilder answers were given. The appeals for help had +stopped, but some one declared he had seen an individual +fleeing along a cross street. Thither the officers +sped in hot haste.</p> + +<p>Dean had not gone more than a square, when he +heard Marcus say:</p> + +<p>“This way—quick!”</p> + +<p>Dean followed his friend, and the two sped across +the town in the direction taken by the crowd, but soon +running at right angles.</p> + +<p>“There is a boat at the lower landing,” panted Marcus, +“and we can get it by running fast.”</p> + +<p>A launch, somewhat similar to the one they had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</span> +come on from Millville, was just about to clear the +pier.</p> + +<p>“We are barely in time,” said Marcus, as he and +Dean motioned for the boat to wait for them.</p> + +<p>The confusion attending the scene in the other part +of the town had not reached here, and the captain +simply thinking the boys had been sprinting to catch +his launch, willingly waited for them to come aboard.</p> + +<p>“Another minute, boys, and you would have missed +us,” he greeted, cheerily. “Want to go to Springfield?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” replied Marcus.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later, when he felt that they were +safe from pursuit by their enemies, Marcus said aside +to his friend:</p> + +<p>“A close call.”</p> + +<p>“It was,” replied Dean, “and I must confess I do +not understand now just what took place. The officers +were about to arrest me, though for what I do +not know, when that alarm came and in the excitement +I managed to get away.”</p> + +<p>“I created the outcry,” declared Marcus proudly. +“I did it to give you a chance to get away in the confusion. +You see Colonel Darringford had telephoned<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</span> +down here for the officers to be in readiness to arrest +you as an escaped inmate of the reform school.”</p> + +<p>“I did not think of that. I see his scheme. Do you +suppose they will telephone ahead to Springfield?”</p> + +<p>“No doubt; but forewarned is forearmed, you know. +We’ll give them the slip there.”</p> + +<p>The confidence of his companion gave Dean courage, +and they continued their trip to the city with +good courage.</p> + +<p>“By the way,” said Marcus a little later, “I am awfully +sorry for getting mad with you last night when +you would not escape from that old lockup as I wanted +you to do. I can see now that you were wiser than I.”</p> + +<p>“It is all forgiven, Marcus, if there was really anything +to forgive. But have you any plan of action +when we get to Springfield?”</p> + +<p>“No, but I think I have something here that will +help us to lay our plans. I have found out who your +worst enemy is.”</p> + +<p>“Who?”</p> + +<p>“Tim Downey. Here is proof of it in a letter that +Daley dropped on his way to Millville and I picked up. +It is postmarked Portsmouth.”</p> + +<p>“That’s south of here.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes; fifty miles down the river. He writes that he +is in trouble. He says that if Daley will come to +Portsmouth, he will put him in the way of making another +thousand dollars.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think he has spent all of that money?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know what to make of it. Read for yourself +and tell me what you think of it.”</p> + +<p>The letter read:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“You see we were chumps in not going to the city. +We had money enuff to fly high. The cash is safe, +but we haven’t got it, for cash and papers were lost +in a strange way. We know where it is, but you must +come and help us get it.”</p> +</div> + +<p>“We?” said Dean, “then there are two of them?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“And they had the money?”</p> + +<p>“At least a portion of it.”</p> + +<p>“And the papers?”</p> + +<p>“It looks so.”</p> + +<p>“And they are at Portsmouth?”</p> + +<p>“Near there, or there, yes,” replied Marcus.</p> + +<p>“Will we go there?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“When?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</span></p> + +<p>“To-night. Hold on, Dean, read the rest of the +letter.”</p> + +<p>Dean did so.</p> + +<p>It concluded:</p> + +<p>“If you come, do it at once, or else we will go off +on the search for the money alone—me and my friend——”</p> + +<p>“Why!” cried Dean, as he read the name that followed, +“the boy with him is Rodney Darringford!”</p> + +<p>“Yes. They must make a pair of precious scamps. +And we must be on hand by the time Daley and Spofford +arrive. Let us hope that we can round up the +entire gang at once.”</p> + +<p>“If I can dodge the officers at Springfield.”</p> + +<p>“We must manage that somehow. I have an idea +that we had better leave the launch at the small place +a few miles this side of the city. From thence we can +in some way manage to get to Portsmouth. I want to +see mother, but I shall have to put it off. Poor +mother! how much worry I have given her, but I do +not think it was my fault wholly. Somehow things +have gone hard with me, but I hope the end is near. +Once I can get those papers and free father, I can +clear my own name.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</span></p> + +<p>“Success to you, Marcus. We must stand together +a little longer. What’s that the captain is saying? We +are getting close down to Turtle-back.”</p> + +<p>“Where we must leave the boat. We have a long +trip before us, but we must show that we are equal to +it.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXI">CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">WHAT THE BOYS FOUND.</p> + + +<p>The journey to Portsmouth was unmarked by any +incident of importance or excitement. They had, +after abandoning the boat, crossed the country on foot, +and reached the village from which the letter to Daley +had been directed.</p> + +<p>They lost several hours in looking around the village +for some traces of Tim Downey and Rodney Darringford.</p> + +<p>The discovery from Tim’s letter by Dean Mercer +that the latter was Tim’s companion, opened a perfect +gateway of revelation to both the boys.</p> + +<p>Tim Downey might plot against Dean to secure +money, but the knowledge that a representative of +rival business interests to the <i>Spray</i> was in the field, +indicated to Dean that even Colonel Darringford himself +might be in the scheme that had resulted in the +burning of the lake steamer.</p> + +<p>“We’ll soon know,” affirmed Marcus confidently. +“Certain it is that these boys took the money and the +papers.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</span></p> + +<p>“But they have lost them?”</p> + +<p>“All the same they seem to know how to regain +them. We must be prompt and cautious, and we shall +succeed in outwitting them.”</p> + +<p>They finally began to make inquiries at Portsmouth +about two strange boys, and this resulted in the obtaining +of a definite clue to the whereabouts of Tim +and Rodney, for the former had made himself conspicuous +at the village by getting intoxicated, and even had +not attempted to conceal his real name.</p> + +<p>The man who directed Marcus and Dean to the +crossroad tavern, was a woodchopper at the edge of +the town, and he smiled as he said:</p> + +<p>“Downey, eh? He’s a wild one and in considerable +demand just now.”</p> + +<p>“How so?” asked Marcus curiously.</p> + +<p>“Two men looking for him here to-day.”</p> + +<p>“Who were they?”</p> + +<p>“Strangers.”</p> + +<p>“Can you describe them?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll try to.”</p> + +<p>The woodchopper did describe them.</p> + +<p>“Daley and Spofford!” ejaculated Dean as they +walked on.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes, it’s them.”</p> + +<p>“And here.”</p> + +<p>“The four plotters in the case, yes.”</p> + +<p>“We must be very cautious.”</p> + +<p>“I should say so; particularly with those two men,” +replied Marcus. “You see they have come here to +help Downey.”</p> + +<p>“Do what?”</p> + +<p>“Something about the stolen money and papers.”</p> + +<p>“I wish I knew what.”</p> + +<p>“We must find out.”</p> + +<p>They did not venture near the crossroad tavern +until toward dusk.</p> + +<p>Near it Dean waited in a thicket, while Marcus reconnoitered. +He returned shortly, and with a serious +face.</p> + +<p>“Well, they’re there, Dean!” he responded.</p> + +<p>“I supposed they were. Is Rodney Darringford +there?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; he and Tim, and Daley and Spofford. They +are carousing, and seem to be friends with everybody +about the tavern. I couldn’t dare to venture near +enough to them to listen to them. Here, Dean, quick! +Stand a little more out in the road.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</span></p> + +<p>“What’s up, now?”</p> + +<p>“See that boy?”</p> + +<p>“Coming whistling down the road?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Who is he?”</p> + +<p>“One of the tavern keeper’s boys. He must know +something about Tim and Rodney and their plans, for +they’ve been at the tavern several days.”</p> + +<p>“What of it?”</p> + +<p>“Wait and see!”</p> + +<p>The boy came down the road. He stopped whistling +as he observed Marcus and Dean, and stared curiously +at them.</p> + +<p>“I tell you, the name of those two boys is Danvers +and Lance!” cried Marcus in a loud tone of voice. “I’ll +leave it to this boy. Say, bub!”</p> + +<p>“Hello!”</p> + +<p>“Do you know the tavern people?”</p> + +<p>“Belong there.”</p> + +<p>“There’s two boys staying there?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Named Danvers and Lance?”</p> + +<p>“No, they ain’t.”</p> + +<p>“What then?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</span></p> + +<p>“Tim Downey and Rodney.”</p> + +<p>“Rodney what?”</p> + +<p>“Dunno.”</p> + +<p>“Sure that’s their names?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>Marcus had purposely led on to this conversation, to +get the tavern keeper’s boy to talk.</p> + +<p>“Who are they, anyway?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“They come from Springfield, I reckon. They got +robbed near here a few nights ago, and they’re looking +for the thief.”</p> + +<p>“Why, how was that?” asked Marcus.</p> + +<p>“Well, you see, we have a woman living round +here, named Crazy Meg.”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“She robbed them,” and then, to the satisfaction +and delight of Marcus and Dean, the boy volubly detailed +the episode of the cabin as far as he understood +it, and even went on to relate how Tim Downey had +sent for two friends to help him find Crazy Meg.</p> + +<p>Marcus Ellison acted all through the interview as +if he was only casually interested in the boy’s story.</p> + +<p>“I reckon they won’t find Crazy Meg, if a sharp boy +like you couldn’t do it.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</span></p> + +<p>“They’re going to try, anyway,” replied the boy.</p> + +<p>“Indeed!”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“When?”</p> + +<p>“To-night. The two men with the boys think they +know all about the country,” and then the boy walked +on.</p> + +<p>“What luck!” cried Dan delightedly, the moment +they were alone.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Dean, we know all about the case now.”</p> + +<p>“The money and papers are in possession of Crazy +Meg?”</p> + +<p>“It looks so.”</p> + +<p>“And whoever finds her first——”</p> + +<p>“Probably gets them.”</p> + +<p>“We must!”</p> + +<p>“We’ll try,” responded the indomitable Marcus +grimly.</p> + +<p>An hour later four persons, somewhat exhilarated +from too many potations of wine, came from the +tavern and proceeded in the direction of the forest +and hills.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</span></p> + +<p>In their wake, at a safe distance, followed Marcus +and Dean.</p> + +<p>“We must keep them in sight,” remarked the former. +“They are going, the boy said, first to the +cabin of the hunter who may know where Crazy Meg +is, and we must learn what he says.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXII">CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">IN THE VALLEY.</p> + + +<p>“This is the way. Come on, Spofford. You boys +want to hustle if we expect to do any work to-night.”</p> + +<p>Daley spoke, and his auditors were not alone his +three companions.</p> + +<p>They were pursuing a tortuous path along a dry +river course in a valley, and it was not difficult to +keep them in view and be near to them at the same +time, and Marcus and Dean plodded on directly on the +trail of their enemies.</p> + +<p>“The hunter said that we had better go to what he +calls the bowl. He says that Crazy Meg has a regular +haunt near there.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we’re near it now; only a little further, I +reckon,” responded Daley to Spofford’s remark.</p> + +<p>It was less than an hour later when the quartette +of plotters found themselves in a spot that was strange +and weird in the extreme.</p> + +<p>The valley narrowed, then widened, circling out +and forming a place that bore a resemblance to a +sugar bowl.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</span></p> + +<p>Stunted trees and underbrush covered the rocks, +and there was only one path leading to the cliffs above, +a narrow ledge of stone that seemed too frail and irregular +for travel.</p> + +<p>“The hunter said that Meg comes here every night +to talk in her insane way to the witches. We must +hide ourselves and keep perfectly quiet,” said Daley.</p> + +<p>Daley and his companions bestowed themselves +among the shrubbery, and Dean and Marcus just +where the outlet to the indentation was located +crouched down among some vines, their proximity all +unsuspected by the plotters.</p> + +<p>Then there was entire silence for over an hour, during +which Dean and Marcus awaited developments +anxiously.</p> + +<p>They came at last.</p> + +<p>From some near spot on the cliffs overhead, suddenly +and startlingly, rang out a piercing shriek of +insane, mocking laughter.</p> + +<p>Then at the point where the ledge of rocks descended, +appeared a light.</p> + +<p>It was borne by a woman, elfish in face and form—Crazy +Meg.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</span></p> + +<p>She answered the description given of her by the +tavern people too accurately to be mistaken.</p> + +<p>She bore a flaming pine-wood torch in her hand, +and she began to descend the narrow ledge of rocks +with the ease and carelessness of a sure-footed antelope.</p> + +<p>As she did so she waved the torch to and fro slowly +and seemed to chant a weird gibberish-like incantation +to the dark spirits her demented fancy evidently believed +haunted the spot.</p> + +<p>At the lowest and last rock of the ledge and just +within a few feet of the lurking Daley she paused.</p> + +<p>Her eyes gleamed fitfully, and she glanced wildly +all about her.</p> + +<p>“White witch, black witch, red, green, yellow, all +of you, come here!” she cried in shrill, unnatural tones.</p> + +<p>She waved the torch fiercely, and looked around +more quietly as it seemed that she imagined the +witches she had summoned to be near her.</p> + +<p>“Now, then,” she said, “we are all here. Ah, you +love old Crazy Meg, for Meg is sharp and faithful. +Soon her army is to be ready. Soon she will batter +down all the asylum doors. She has her captain to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</span> +lead the men on. Ha! ha! she has her captive, and he +screams for liberty, and begs for liberty, and offers to +pay for liberty, but he cannot go free. Why, my bonny +witches? Because he is just the man to lead an army +to victory. Such a strong arm, such a quick way, +such a bold heart. I saw him kill a man like a flash. +He can kill all the asylum people so, too. I followed +him and made him my captive. Ha! ha! And I have +money now—thousands and thousands of dollars, and +I know great secrets. My captive fears me. I could +send him to the dark, cold jail. Ha! ha! ha! ha!”</p> + +<p>The weird effect of the words on the listening Dean +and Marcus was indescribable.</p> + +<p>They little dreamed the dark mystery that underlay +the rambling soliloquy. They were only startled, +terribly awed at the mystic scene.</p> + +<p>Not so Daley. Evidently he thought only of recovering +the stolen money, and believed that the +moment for action had arrived.</p> + +<p>Of a sudden he sprang up from his covert and +grasped the woman’s arm, with a quick order for help +to his companion.</p> + +<p>“Woman, you are our prisoner.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</span></p> + +<p>A wild cry escaped the lips of Crazy Meg.</p> + +<p>She jerked her arm loose. She dashed the flaming +torch direct in the face of her captor.</p> + +<p>With a scream of pain and rage, Daley recoiled. +Then, like a flash, Crazy Meg dashed up the ledge +and disappeared.</p> + +<p>“After her!” shouted Daley, frenzied with pain.</p> + +<p>“We can’t climb that ledge,” demurred Spofford.</p> + +<p>“Then hasten to the cliffs beyond here. Quick, she +must not escape.”</p> + +<p>So electrified by all the exciting scene had Marcus +and Dean been, that they had not thought of their +enemies coming suddenly their way.</p> + +<p>Before they could move aside or retreat, a strange +thing happened.</p> + +<p>Spofford, rushing away in obedience to Daley’s +orders, fell directly over them, struggled to his feet, +seized them, and with a cry of amazement and suspicion, +dragged them into the flare of the torch, which +had fallen among a lot of dry brush that had blazed +fiercely, illuminating the vicinity plainly.</p> + +<p>“What’s this?” gasped Daley aghast.</p> + +<p>“Spies!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</span></p> + +<p>“No! Hold them! hold them!” shouted Daley, as +Dean and Marcus endeavored to wrest themselves +from Spofford’s strong grasp. “Why, one of them is—you +young traitor. It’s Bob Grant.”</p> + +<p>Marcus Ellison stood condemned. Daley glared +fiercely at him, then in stupefaction at his companion, +so like him in dress.</p> + +<p>“Dean, now run for it.”</p> + +<p>For once, in impulsive excitement, Marcus Ellison +had done two unwise things.</p> + +<p>He had counted confidently on being able to escape.</p> + +<p>He had inadvertently shouted out Dean Mercer’s +real name.</p> + +<p>As he spoke he tried to trip Spofford up. The latter +was too wary for him, however, and the attempt +failed signally.</p> + +<p>“Dean?” repeated Rodney Darringford, coming forward +and staring at the captives. “Tim, look at that +boy.”</p> + +<p>Tim Downey peered sharply into the face of Dean.</p> + +<p>His suspicions aroused by Marcus’ words, he seemed +to recognize him.</p> + +<p>“It’s Dean Mercer!” he gasped.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</span></p> + +<p>“What?” cried Daley, “the boy we sent to the reform +school?”</p> + +<p>“The same.”</p> + +<p>“Impossible!”</p> + +<p>“It’s him,” affirmed Tim stoutly. “My, what a +get up. Say, Rodney, what does this mean, with him, +of all persons, on the same trail as ourselves?”</p> + +<p>The episode of the capture of the boys acted as a +complete divertisement from the quest of the hour, to +the plotters.</p> + +<p>They secured both boys with ropes. They discussed +their capture, the mystery of their being there, +and their possible motives, in low, suspicious tones.</p> + +<p>“We’re in a bad fix, Dean,” whispered Marcus, as +they lay side by side on the ground.</p> + +<p>“I fear so.”</p> + +<p>“Daley does not know which of us gave the alarm +at the judges’s house at Millville, but he does know +that I have played traitor to him.”</p> + +<p>“And that I would not be here if it did not mean +trouble for him and his friends.”</p> + +<p>Daley was indeed, mystified and suspicious. He +could not comprehend how Dean Mercer had escaped +from the reform school.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</span></p> + +<p>He talked with Tim confidentially, while he sent +Spofford and Rodney to scour the cliffs for some trace +of Crazy Meg.</p> + +<p>“See here, Tim,” Marcus heard him say, “what does +this all mean?”</p> + +<p>“What! Those boys?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Trouble. That fellow Mercer has found out all +our plans, that is sure.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe he’s told others?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think he’d dare to—he’s afraid of being +arrested.”</p> + +<p>“What shall we do?”</p> + +<p>“I know what I’m going to do.”</p> + +<p>“What is that?”</p> + +<p>“Make myself scarce.”</p> + +<p>“Not run away?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. Some time the truth will come out, and +of course the burning of the <i>Spray</i> and the robbing of +Mercer will be traced to me. As to Rodney, he must +take care of himself. His father hired me to burn the +<i>Spray</i>, and Rodney cashed the check for the eight +thousand dollars. I shall make myself scarce.”</p> + +<p>“When?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</span></p> + +<p>“As soon as we recover the money from Crazy +Meg.”</p> + +<p>“And these boys?”</p> + +<p>“Keep them prisoners.”</p> + +<p>“We can’t do that very long.”</p> + +<p>“Why not?”</p> + +<p>“It’s too much trouble.”</p> + +<p>“We can for a day or two, until we find this woman +again.”</p> + +<p>“And then?”</p> + +<p>“Send Mercer back to the reform school, and get +some of your friends in Springfield to take care of +the other boy until we are safe out of the country.”</p> + +<p>Just then Spofford and Rodney returned from an +unavailing quest for Crazy Meg.</p> + +<p>“No use to-night, Daley,” said Spofford.</p> + +<p>“We’ll wait till morning, then.”</p> + +<p>Two hours later the quartette was asleep, trusting +to the stout bonds that secured their captives to prevent +their escape.</p> + +<p>The two boys did not sleep, however. They +strained and tugged at their bonds, but it was no use. +They withstood all efforts to sever them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</span></p> + +<p>Finally Dean spoke cautiously.</p> + +<p>“Marcus.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Dean?”</p> + +<p>“Look there.”</p> + +<p>“Where?”</p> + +<p>“On the ledge.”</p> + +<p>“A moving figure?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“It’s the woman.”</p> + +<p>“Yes; it must be Crazy Meg.”</p> + +<p>In the dim light they watched breathlessly the stealthy +form that began to descend the ledge of rocks.</p> + +<p>It reached the last rock, and moved to where the +boys were.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII">CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">IN OLD MEG’S CAVE.</p> + + +<p>“Don’t speak!” whispered a low voice.</p> + +<p>The woman leaned over and bodily seized Marcus, +lifting him in her powerful arms as if he were a mere +child.</p> + +<p>She bore him up the ledge of rocks and disappeared, +reappeared, and carrying Dean quite as easily, landed +him on the cliff overhead by the side of Marcus.</p> + +<p>Both boys were too astonished to speak. The manner +of the woman indicated an entire absence of any +vicious or insane idea. She seemed to be acting from a +friendly and coherent motive.</p> + +<p>She cut their bonds with a knife, and glanced fixedly +at the boys.</p> + +<p>“Do you know me?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied Marcus.</p> + +<p>“Who am I?”</p> + +<p>“They call you Crazy Meg.”</p> + +<p>“Ha! ha! Crazy! Yes, yes, they say so, and those +men who tied you up are bad men?”</p> + +<p>“Terribly bad,” replied Marcus.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</span></p> + +<p>“They want to rob Meg?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. They stole a lot of money and you got it.”</p> + +<p>“Did I? Ha! ha! You must get away from here. +Do you want to?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Then follow me.”</p> + +<p>Meg led the way along a particularly dangerous cliff +path. It ended at a cave-like opening.</p> + +<p>“I have been your friend,” she said, “and to send +you safely out of the way of those men to the other +side of the valley I must take you through one of +Meg’s houses in the hills.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you.”</p> + +<p>“Would you be bad enough to say anything about +it or lead those bad men here?”</p> + +<p>“No, indeed.”</p> + +<p>“Meg will trust you. She had boys once herself, +but they died and it broke her heart, and then they +put her in a cruel asylum. But—ha! ha! Meg will +raise an army to batter down its walls. She has her +captain now.”</p> + +<p>She took up and lit a pine knot, and bade her companions +follow her, leading the way through a dark, +underground corridor.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</span></p> + +<p>Finally it widened, and here, to the amazement of +the boys were evidences of living, for several articles +of furniture and a lot of food on a table showed.</p> + +<p>Piled around, too, were various articles, evidently +the result of Meg’s predatory raids on farmhouses.</p> + +<p>At one side was a small aperture in the rock, and +chained to a ring in the solid stone was a man laying +asleep.</p> + +<p>“Come on! come on!” cried Meg excitedly. “Meg +did not mean that you should see her captain. Come, +hasten!”</p> + +<p>Dean Mercer obeyed readily enough, but Marcus +Ellison was startled. He had recognized the man +chained to the rock, and the fact had been a terrible +revelation to him.</p> + +<p>They finally reached an opening some distance on.</p> + +<p>“You are now far away from the bad men,” said +Meg. “Promise not to betray her secrets.”</p> + +<p>“I promise,” said Marcus. “Can I say a word to +you, Meg?”</p> + +<p>“What is it?”</p> + +<p>“Those bad men locked this boy up in a jail.”</p> + +<p>“Bad, bad. Bars, too?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; in a dark, cold cell.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</span></p> + +<p>Meg shuddered.</p> + +<p>“They stole all his money—the money you got. He +dare not go home to his family; he will be put in jail +again because he cannot get the money.”</p> + +<p>The simple words seemed to affect Meg deeply. She +was silent for several moments.</p> + +<p>“Are you trying to deceive Meg?” she said.</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“It is his money?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and there were some papers,” continued Marcus +earnestly. “Meg, I know your captain; he is a +bad man.”</p> + +<p>“But strong, and he would kill the asylum men +quick.”</p> + +<p>“No, he would kill you, Meg. You know all about +him. You know his secret. You know who killed +James Conroyd. My father, Robert Ellison, is accused +of the crime. I am his son. Won’t you help +me?”</p> + +<p>Dean Mercer stared at Marcus in blank bewilderment. +The scene mystified him.</p> + +<p>Marcus had seized the mad woman’s hand and his +tears fell upon it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</span></p> + +<p>That wild face softened. Meg seemed battling with +strange emotions.</p> + +<p>“Boy,” she said finally, “look around you.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Meg.”</p> + +<p>“Would you know this place again?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Come here to-night at dusk.”</p> + +<p>“I will—I will!”</p> + +<p>“Then, when Meg has talked with the witches she +will see, she will see. Now, go.”</p> + +<p>The boys walked from the spot.</p> + +<p>“Marcus,” cried Dean, “for Mercy’s sake, what +did all your wild talk mean?”</p> + +<p>“About my father?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“The truth.”</p> + +<p>“Meg knows all about James Conroyd’s murder?”</p> + +<p>“I am sure of it.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“Because that prisoner of hers—her captain, she +calls him——”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes?”</p> + +<p>“Is James Conroyd’s old hired man, Manseur, and +his murderer.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</span></p> + +<p>The minute the two boys were gone the demented +woman began feeling in a cranny in the rock near the +exit from the cave.</p> + +<p>Her bright eyes gleamed as she groped about, and +drew forth first parts of some dried meat and then +pieces of string and paper.</p> + +<p>Some birds fluttered away as she did this, as if +they had discovered this cranny in Meg’s storehouse, +and had been pillaging its contents.</p> + +<p>“Gone!” muttered the woman in some dismay. +“The package that had the money and the papers is +not here.”</p> + +<p>She groped vainly in the cavity. Evidently she +had there secreted the money and the papers that she +had taken from Tim and Rodney in the old cabin.</p> + +<p>Now they were gone.</p> + +<p>“Who has taken it?” she gasped. “Ah! maybe +the witches sent the eagles for it. Those boys! they +make me feel sad. But Meg has her captive. Meg +must think of herself and her army.”</p> + +<p>Meantime, the boys had left the vicinity of the cave, +and they thought it best to hide in a thicket near the +road until the time for again seeing Meg arrived.</p> + +<p>Marcus Ellison had explained his suspicions to Dean.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</span></p> + +<p>“That woman certainly knows something about the +murder for which my father has been arrested,” he +said.</p> + +<p>“She may not have known the value of the papers.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I do not judge from that.”</p> + +<p>“What then?”</p> + +<p>“Her talk about crime and her captive.”</p> + +<p>“You are sure you know him?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, James Conroyd’s old hired man.”</p> + +<p>“That’s the man Lawyer Montague believed was +the murderer.”</p> + +<p>“I think so, too.”</p> + +<p>“He tried to cast the guilt on your father?”</p> + +<p>“I know that.”</p> + +<p>“And as soon as Lawyer Montague began watching +him, Manseur ran away.”</p> + +<p>“He didn’t run far, it seems,” remarked Marcus.</p> + +<p>“No, Meg has him.”</p> + +<p>“Yes; and she has some secret about him that she +boasts of, as you heard her. Oh! I am certain she +knows everything about him and Conroyd’s murderer.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV">CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">IN A HARD PLIGHT.</p> + + +<p>They were hungry and sleepy, but about eight +o’clock that morning several vehicles passed down the +road near them, and a boy came by with a basket of +apples, and Dean ventured to steal forth and beg some +of him.</p> + +<p>Then he and Marcus slept until noon. Then they +talked and worried, and finally Marcus said:</p> + +<p>“Dean, I’m going back to the cave.”</p> + +<p>“What for?”</p> + +<p>“To see Meg.”</p> + +<p>“But she said not to come until night.”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid I couldn’t find the way at night.”</p> + +<p>Dean was quite as anxious as Marcus, and they retraced +their way to the hills.</p> + +<p>Without much difficulty they located the entrance to +the cave. Here Marcus paused.</p> + +<p>“What had we better do?” he asked of Dean.</p> + +<p>“Wait here for Meg.”</p> + +<p>“Until night?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; she said so.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</span></p> + +<p>“I’m afraid she’ll forget all about us.”</p> + +<p>“Then let us seek her.”</p> + +<p>“Come on.”</p> + +<p>It was a venturesome and dubious experiment +threading the mazy labyrinths of the cave.</p> + +<p>They groped on and on, and finally emerged into +an open space, but the darkness was intense.</p> + +<p>“I am sure that this is the main room in the cave,” +said Marcus.</p> + +<p>“Have you a match?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Light it.”</p> + +<p>Marcus did so. Its rays revealing some pine knots +near by, he ignited one.</p> + +<p>“Yes; this is the central cave,” he affirmed.</p> + +<p>“Where the captive was?”</p> + +<p>“Exactly.”</p> + +<p>“But he?”</p> + +<p>“Gone. There is the chain and the ring in the +rock.”</p> + +<p>The man Marcus had recognized as Manseur had +disappeared.</p> + +<p>There was, furthermore, no trace of Meg.</p> + +<p>The boys stared wonderingly about the place.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</span></p> + +<p>“Dean,” said Marcus finally, after a pause, “it looks +queer here.”</p> + +<p>“Like a struggle.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, or some one throwing things about.”</p> + +<p>“There’s been some kind of trouble since we were +here.”</p> + +<p>“What do you think?”</p> + +<p>“Those men.”</p> + +<p>“Our enemies?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“You think they have been here?”</p> + +<p>“I fear so,” replied Dean. “It looks as if some +one had been searching for something all over the +cave, and in so doing had disturbed things.”</p> + +<p>“Shall we go on?”</p> + +<p>“I guess so.”</p> + +<p>The boys now pursued the other corridor leading +from the cave toward the witches’ sugar bowl.</p> + +<p>Soon they came to where daylight showed and extinguished +the torch.</p> + +<p>Dean was in the lead, and just as he reached the +opening he started back with a cry of dismay.</p> + +<p>“What is it, Dean?” asked Marcus excitedly.</p> + +<p>“Look yonder.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</span></p> + +<p>“Not the woman?”</p> + +<p>“No, Daley and Tim.”</p> + +<p>Both boys peered toward a little hollow where a +small campfire burned.</p> + +<p>Seated near it were two figures, recognized by the +startled Marcus as Tim Downey and Daley.</p> + +<p>They seemed to be engaged in earnest conversation, +and a grim, resolute expression came into the face of +Marcus Ellison, as he realized that a knowledge of +its details would prove of the utmost importance to +them.</p> + +<p>“You wait here, Dean,” he said.</p> + +<p>“What for; what are you going to do?”</p> + +<p>“Get nearer to those fellows.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t try it, Marcus.”</p> + +<p>“I must.”</p> + +<p>“You’ll certainly be seen.”</p> + +<p>“No, I won’t.”</p> + +<p>“Some of the others may return!”</p> + +<p>“You watch out, and whistle if they do.”</p> + +<p>Marcus crept on the ground to a clump of thick +bushes that lined the hollow, in which sat Tim and +Daley.</p> + +<p>He listened intently, all unsuspected by the talkers.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</span></p> + +<p>The latter was indeed discussing themes of vital interest +to Marcus and Dean.</p> + +<p>“Yes, we’ll leave here,” Daley was saying.</p> + +<p>“When?” asked Tim.</p> + +<p>“As soon as the others return. We’re beat all +around.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Meg is done for.”</p> + +<p>“Drowned, sure! We almost had her.”</p> + +<p>Marcus was filled with dismay.</p> + +<p>Meg drowned!</p> + +<p>If this was true, farewell to all hopes of ever establishing +the innocence of his father.</p> + +<p>“You see,” continued Daley, “we were too precipitate.”</p> + +<p>“We found the cave here and went in. In the +centre we found a man chained to a ring in the solid +rock.”</p> + +<p>“Who was he, I wonder?”</p> + +<p>“Some victim of Meg’s crazy plan,” he said. “Anyway, +he offered to show us all her hiding places he +knew of if we released him, and we did it.”</p> + +<p>“And we searched everywhere?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and found nothing. Then we came outside.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</span> +The man told us of another cave by the river yonder, +and ran away.”</p> + +<p>“We went there.”</p> + +<p>“And found Meg.”</p> + +<p>“She ran.”</p> + +<p>“We pursued her, and she fell over the cliff into the +river. I saw her sink. Spofford and Rodney have +gone to try and find her body, in the hopes that the +stolen money may be on her, but the current is swift, +and I guess it is a hopeless task.”</p> + +<p>“I guess so, too,” replied Tim. “We may as well +say good-by to the money.”</p> + +<p>“Sure!”</p> + +<p>“And we’re paupers?”</p> + +<p>“It looks so.”</p> + +<p>“I’m bound to have money, I’m bound to leave the +country. That fellow Mercer is free, and he certainly +knows our plots. Perhaps he has already gone +to the police with his story.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so,” muttered Daley uneasily.</p> + +<p>“So I say, we must get money and leave the country.”</p> + +<p>“That’s easily said.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</span></p> + +<p>“And easily done.”</p> + +<p>“How?”</p> + +<p>“I have a plan.”</p> + +<p>“To get money?”</p> + +<p>“Lots of it.”</p> + +<p>“Tell it to me. You’re a keen ’un, Tim,” Tim’s +eyes glowed cunningly.</p> + +<p>“Will you help me?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Certainly.”</p> + +<p>“And do as I say?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“I shall scheme to get ten thousand dollars.”</p> + +<p>“That’s a heap.”</p> + +<p>“I intend to get it.”</p> + +<p>“Who from?”</p> + +<p>“Colonel Darringford.”</p> + +<p>Daley started.</p> + +<p>“Rodney’s father?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“How?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell you,” replied Tim with a mysterious +chuckle.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXV">CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">STARTLING ADVENTURES.</p> + + +<p>Tim Downey was full of schemes, and his present +confident manner indicated that he had one that promised +more than ordinary results, to his way of thinking.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got a good one,” he said. “I’ve thought it +all out.”</p> + +<p>“What is it?” queried the eager Daley.</p> + +<p>“I go quietly to Springfield.”</p> + +<p>“Alone?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Necessary?”</p> + +<p>“Particularly so. I keep very shady, for that Mercer +may have the police looking for me; so I dare not +venture to Millville. In the first place, I must have +a quiet and safe room for a day or two.”</p> + +<p>“Take mine.”</p> + +<p>“At Boyer’s Hotel?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Got the key?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</span></p> + +<p>“Here it is, and rent paid ahead for a month.”</p> + +<p>“Good! That just suits me. What’s the matter?”</p> + +<p>Daley looked somewhat troubled, as, after producing +the key, he continued to grope in his pockets.</p> + +<p>“I’ve lost something,” he muttered.</p> + +<p>“What?”</p> + +<p>“My little change-wallet. In the cave, I guess.”</p> + +<p>“Much in it?”</p> + +<p>“No; a few dollars. Go on.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I get the room and write a letter to Colonel +Darringford, at Millville, or to the steamer, in Springfield.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes!”</p> + +<p>“I tell him if he is wise and wishes to save trouble +he will come at once to Boyer’s Hotel.”</p> + +<p>“Will he do it?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll give him a hint that will make him.”</p> + +<p>“And Spofford and I?”</p> + +<p>“Stay here.”</p> + +<p>“And Rodney?”</p> + +<p>“Keep him with you, at all hazards. If he gets +restive and wants to leave, tie him up; but keep him, +for his being here is a part of my plot.”</p> + +<p>“I see.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</span></p> + +<p>“Tell him that I’ve gone to get some money you +had in bank in the city.”</p> + +<p>“All right.”</p> + +<p>“When Colonel Darringford comes to my room I +tell him that I’m in trouble, all on account of him; +make up a great story about Rodney being a forger +and the like, and say that unless I can get money to +leave the country, I shall go to the police and turn +State’s evidence, and swear that he hired me to burn +the <i>Spray</i>, and that Rodney stole the eight thousand +dollars.”</p> + +<p>“Capital!” cried Daley enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>“Then I shall demand——”</p> + +<p>“How much?”</p> + +<p>“Ten thousand dollars.”</p> + +<p>“Will he pay it?”</p> + +<p>“If he don’t, I’ll tell him that a villain——”</p> + +<p>“Meaning me?” grinned Daley.</p> + +<p>“Exactly.”</p> + +<p>“Well, what then?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell him that you have Rodney locked up in a +horrible dungeon, and that you will never release him +except to hand him over to the police as a forger, +unless he pays me the ten thousand dollars.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</span></p> + +<p>“Tim, you’re a genius!” exclaimed Daley admiringly.</p> + +<p>“I guess that will fetch the colonel.”</p> + +<p>“Without a doubt.”</p> + +<p>“You can wait here, and maybe yet find the money.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll try it.”</p> + +<p>“And keep Rodney?”</p> + +<p>“Never fear.”</p> + +<p>“I must have some money.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll give you a hundred.”</p> + +<p>Just then Dean Mercer, peering from the cave opening, +made a discovery.</p> + +<p>Some distance down the valley he saw two forms.</p> + +<p>Spofford and Rodney were returning to the camp +in the hollow.</p> + +<p>Marcus was so engrossed in listening to the conversation +of the two plotters, and so situated that he did +not see their returning allies.</p> + +<p>Dean wished to warn him, but he feared that if he +whistled as agreed upon, it might attract Daley’s attention.</p> + +<p>He groped about for a piece of loose stone to throw +at Marcus.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</span></p> + +<p>As he did so, his fingers clutched at something soft +and yielding lying on the floor of the cave.</p> + +<p>“A purse!” he murmured surprisedly.</p> + +<p>It was Daley’s lost purse.</p> + +<p>Dean pocketed it, and picked up a small stone.</p> + +<p>This he flung with such accuracy at Marcus that +the latter turned in his crouching attitude and looked +at him.</p> + +<p>Dean made violent motions, indicating trouble, and +Marcus crept back to the cave.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Spofford and Rodney are coming.”</p> + +<p>“Glad you warned me. Oh, yes, I see them. Wait; +we are safe to watch them for a time.”</p> + +<p>Dean could see by Marcus’ face that he had discovered +something unfavorable to their plans.</p> + +<p>On the arrival of Spofford and Rodney there was +a conference and then Tim left them, and the other +three came toward the cave as if intending to take up +their quarters there, Daley glancing all about him in +evident quest of the lost purse.</p> + +<p>“Come, Dean,” said Marcus hurriedly, “we must +retreat. They are coming this way.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</span></p> + +<p>The boys did not talk as they hastened back the +way they had come.</p> + +<p>It was only when they had gone clear through the +cave again and come out at its other exit that Marcus +spoke.</p> + +<p>He led the way to a thicket and sat down on a fallen +tree, with a gloomy sigh.</p> + +<p>“You look discouraged, Marcus,” said Dean anxiously.</p> + +<p>“I am.”</p> + +<p>“Bad news?”</p> + +<p>“The very worst.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I hope not.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Meg is dead.”</p> + +<p>“Dead! oh, that cannot be!” cried the startled +Dean.</p> + +<p>“Yes, drowned.”</p> + +<p>“Then our hopes——”</p> + +<p>“Of ever recovering the lost papers and money die +with her. Those scoundrels pursued her and drove +her to her death. They have searched for the money +in the cave and could not find it, and no more might +we, even if they did not intend to remain there for +several days. No, Meg’s body is probably beyond recovering,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</span> +and the papers and money hidden in some +out-of-the-way place, never to be found again.”</p> + +<p>“It’s terrible!” gasped Dean.</p> + +<p>“Yes, for my father. But I must not despair. That +man, Manseur, has fled. I believe him to be the real +murderer of James Conroyd. The trial comes off in +two weeks. Dean, we must separate. You must go +to Springfield at once. There is nothing but heroic +measures left to us now. I must do alone what I can +to aid my father. Failing, I shall appear in court +on the day of the trial, tell my story, and hope to +have some effect upon the decision of the jury.”</p> + +<p>“And me, Marcus?”</p> + +<p>“You must now think only of proving your own innocence +and baffling the villains who have robbed and +disgraced you,” and then, to Dean’s astonishment, +Marcus told of Tim Downey’s latest scheme to secure +money.</p> + +<p>He told Dean what he must do—go to the city +and keep track of Tim, day and night, until he saw +Colonel Darringford.</p> + +<p>At any moment that he thought propitious he was +to have Tim arrested—if possible, when he got the +money from Colonel Darringford.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</span></p> + +<p>He was also to send officers to arrest Daley and +the others at the cave.</p> + +<p>“Arrested, some one of them will confess the truth +to save himself,” said Marcus confidently, “and circumstances +will make your claims plausible.”</p> + +<p>“But I myself will be arrested!”</p> + +<p>“Never fear if you are. I will be on hand later to +add my evidence to yours to convict these villains. +You, at least, will come out triumphant.”</p> + +<p>“And you, Marcus?”</p> + +<p>“If I save you and my father, I don’t care if they +send me back to the reform school for life!” cried +Marcus doughtily.</p> + +<p>They walked on for over a mile. Dean told of +the purse he had found. It contained nearly twenty +dollars in silver.</p> + +<p>“We need it, and we won’t hesitate to use it,” said +Marcus as they divided its contents. “Now then, +Dean, you to the city, I to the quest of Manseur. Be +wary, and act just at the right minute.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll try.”</p> + +<p>They passed some boys quarreling over some stolen +pears in a field, ascended a hill, and at its summit +Marcus said:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</span></p> + +<p>“There’s your road to Springfield, I shall return +to Portsmouth.”</p> + +<p>“Hold on!” exclaimed Dean as they were about to +say adieu. “Look over yonder, Marcus!”</p> + +<p>“Hello! that boy is in trouble.”</p> + +<p>“I should say so!”</p> + +<p>“Shall we help him?”</p> + +<p>“I guess we had better.”</p> + +<p>At the edge of a cliff they discovered a strange and +startling scene.</p> + +<p>Four boys had attempted to reach an eagle’s nest +by lowering a rope over the ledge.</p> + +<p>They had lowered one of their number and he had +just reached the nest when the mother bird came flying +to the spot and attacked him.</p> + +<p>The boys above threw sticks and stones at the bird, +and Dean and Marcus, reaching the spot, helped to +draw the imperilled adventurer, badly frightened, to +the top of the cliff.</p> + +<p>“Couldn’t hold on to the young eagle, the old one +pecked at me so!” he said.</p> + +<p>“I guess you won’t try again, youngster,” laughed +Dean.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes, I will. I saw something else down there.”</p> + +<p>“What was that?”</p> + +<p>“A lot of money.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!”</p> + +<p>“I tell you, I did.”</p> + +<p>“Money?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Gold, you mean?”</p> + +<p>“No, greenbacks.”</p> + +<p>Marcus looked curious and incredulous.</p> + +<p>He peered over the ledge of the cliff:</p> + +<p>“Dean,” he said, “there is certainly a package down +there that looks like money.”</p> + +<p>“But it can’t be.”</p> + +<p>“I’ve a mind to climb down and see.”</p> + +<p>“Take care of the eagle.”</p> + +<p>Marcus grasped a short cudgel in one hand and +descended the rope.</p> + +<p>He uttered a startled cry as he saw lying among +the litter about the rock, a package secured in manilla +paper.</p> + +<p>One end had been pecked out so as to show the ends +of bank notes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</span></p> + +<p>Near it lay a large envelope, discolored and torn, +but he made out on it the address:</p> + +<p>“Mr. Durand, Attorney, Springfield.”</p> + +<p>Near it lay a lot of pieces of paper, evidently its +inclosure, but the eagles had so picked it to pieces that +only fragments of the original papers remained.</p> + +<p>Marcus Ellison gathered up every scrap of paper +and secured them, the envelope and the money package, +in his coat.</p> + +<p>He was very pale as he again reached the cliff.</p> + +<p>He gave one of the boys a silver coin, and said to +Dean:</p> + +<p>“Come on!”</p> + +<p>At a safe distance from the boys, Marcus took out +pieces of paper. Dean watched him in wonderment.</p> + +<p>“Dean,” spoke Marcus huskily at last, “I have found +the papers that prove my father’s innocence.”</p> + +<p>“What?” cried Dean.</p> + +<p>“Yes, but torn to pieces. Here a word, there a +letter. They are useless. That proof has gone forever, +for the eagles have eaten away whole portions of +it, but from the envelope I know that I must be right.”</p> + +<p>Yes, Marcus was right, but the discovery was of no<span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</span> +avail, for the fragments could not be connected, and +with a sigh of despair Marcus threw them away.</p> + +<p>“The eagle must have carried the package here +from some of Meg’s hiding places,” theorized Dean.</p> + +<p>This was true. In the crevice near the exit from +the cave Meg kept a lot of dried meat. In this she had +placed the package for safe-keeping, and the eagle +had rifled it, and strangely brought it to the nest +where Marcus had found it.</p> + +<p>The money was safe, only a few bills being torn. +They counted it—seven thousand two hundred and +fifty dollars.</p> + +<p>Then they discussed new plans. Dean secured the +money in his coat, bade Marcus an unwilling adieu, +and the next day reached Springfield, on the track of +Tim Downey.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI">CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">TIM DOWNEY ARRESTED.</p> + + +<p>Two days later, just at dusk, some startling occurrences +were to be witnessed in the vicinity of Boyer’s +Hotel in Springfield.</p> + +<p>Since the day previous, a strangely dressed boy had +occupied Daley’s room. It was the scheming Tim +Downey.</p> + +<p>Tim had replaced his old clothes with new ones, and +having an opportunity to secure cheap the discarded +suit of a lackey, he presented a decidedly comical appearance +in his attire, and fancied that no one would +recognize him in it.</p> + +<p>He at once wrote a letter to Colonel Darringford +at Millville as soon as he reached the city.</p> + +<p>It was a vaguely worded epistle, and hinted that +the colonel would save serious trouble for himself and +his son by coming alone to a certain room at Boyer’s +Hotel that night.</p> + +<p>At the hotel was a close spy on Tim, although he +little suspected it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</span></p> + +<p>Dean Mercer had acted wisely and cautiously, and +had secured the very next room to that occupied by +Tim.</p> + +<p>He had cut a small hole in the partition between +the two rooms, and so closely did he watch Tim and +overhear his hopeful soliloquies, that he knew that the +latter expected Colonel Darringford that night.</p> + +<p>He did not, however, know where Tim intended +to meet him, and at dusk Dean went to a doorway near +the hotel entrance and lingered there, determined, if +Tim came out, to follow him wherever he went.</p> + +<p>Dean had resolved on a definite plan of action now, +in pursuance of Marcus Ellison’s suggestions.</p> + +<p>He resolved to learn the result of Tim’s interview +with Colonel Darringford, then he would hasten to +the police and demand his arrest, and if the colonel +gave Tim a large sum of money as he expected, its +possession by Tim would go to prove Dean’s assertions.</p> + +<p>Dean lingered in the doorway watching the hotel +entrance, but Tim did not come out.</p> + +<p>“I guess if he expects the colonel it is at his room” +decided Dean at last. “Hello! there is the very +man.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</span></p> + +<p>Yes, Colonel Darringford came slowly down the +street at that moment.</p> + +<p>He was not alone. A companion, who seemed to be +only walking his way, was with him.</p> + +<p>“It’s the town marshal at Millville,” murmured +Dean somewhat concernedly. “They shake hands, +and Morton goes on, but the colonel has entered the +hotel. I must get to my room and see all that goes +on—stop, sir! What do you mean?”</p> + +<p>“Well! well! it is Dean Mercer!”</p> + +<p>Dean struggled in a strong grasp. He had crossed +the road, forgetting all about the town marshal.</p> + +<p>The latter had seen him, stared at him, and now he +held him firmly—a prisoner.</p> + +<p>Dean was too overcome to speak.</p> + +<p>“Disguised yet, eh? But I know you. How lucky +I chanced to walk this way with the colonel from the +steamer!” chuckled Morton. “Dean, you’ve led us a +troublesome chase. But I’ve got you now!”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Morton!” gasped Dean.</p> + +<p>“Well?”</p> + +<p>“You mean to arrest me?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</span></p> + +<p>“Ha! ha! I should say so!” cried the marshal exultantly.</p> + +<p>“Please don’t!”</p> + +<p>“Ho! ho!”</p> + +<p>“That is, just now,” pleaded Dean desperately. “I +won’t try to escape, honest I won’t. I never burned +the <i>Spray</i>, I never robbed Judge Oglesby!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you didn’t? Well, you will come on to jail!”</p> + +<p>“Do you want to learn the truth—do you want to +recover the money that was stolen?” asked Dean.</p> + +<p>“Certainly.”</p> + +<p>“Then come with me, only for a minute, Mr. Morton. +I promise you I won’t try to escape, only you +must come with me into that hotel, and I will prove +to you that I am innocent.”</p> + +<p>The marshal hesitated.</p> + +<p>“No tricks!” he said sternly. “Lead the way.”</p> + +<p>“Cautiously, sir.”</p> + +<p>Morton clutched Dean tighter as the latter led the +way to his room and then to the hole in the partition +that looked into Tim Downey’s room.</p> + +<p>“Now, sir, look and listen!”</p> + +<p>In amazement Morton peered into the adjoining +apartment.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</span></p> + +<p>“Incredible!” he gasped.</p> + +<p>For within the next half-hour he heard Tim Downey +accuse Colonel Darringford of having hired him +to burn the <i>Spray</i>.</p> + +<p>He heard the colonel admit it.</p> + +<p>Tim told how Dean had been drugged and robbed, +and how Rodney had cashed the eight thousand dollar +check.</p> + +<p>The craven colonel promised to pay Tim’s demand +to free his son and remove the possibility of arrest for +his share in the burning of the <i>Spray</i>.</p> + +<p>“The villains!” gasped Morton. “Dean, you are +indeed an innocent, wronged victim of a terrible plot.”</p> + +<p>“Will you arrest them, sir?” asked Dean eagerly.</p> + +<p>“The colonel, no. We must proceed cautiously.”</p> + +<p>“But, Tim?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>Colonel Darringford left the hotel. A minute later +the astounded Tim Downey was confronted by the +Millville marshal.</p> + +<p>He slept in the city jail that night. Before morning +he had confessed everything, under a promise of light +punishment for his share in the plot against Dean +Mercer.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</span></p> + +<p>That night, too, several policemen left Springfield +to arrest Daley, Spofford and Rodney at the cave near +Portsmouth.</p> + +<p>And the next morning a messenger left for Millville +to bring Judge Oglesby and Lawyer Montague at +once to Springfield.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII">CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center">THE RECKONING.</p> + + +<p>The news of the happening of the last few days flew +rapidly, as news good and bad usually does. The +papers in Springfield devoted columns with flaring +headlines, to the developments of affairs which effected +so many.</p> + +<p>“See!” cried pretty Eva Oglesby, running to her +father and mother with the paper in her hand, “Dean +has found out the whole cause of the trouble against +him, and caught the wicked persons.</p> + +<p>“Tim Downey has confessed to his wrongdoings +and confirmed Dean’s story. Rodney Darringford—only +think of it!—was with him in his crimes. And +Colonel Darringford actually hired Tim to burn the +<i>Spray</i>! Can you realize that, papa? Tim hired two +men to do his nasty work, and Dean has captured +them.”</p> + +<p>“A wonderful boy indeed,” said Judge Oglesby, +with a smile, for secretly he felt as glad as his daughter +that his favorite had proved himself of sterling<span class="pagenum" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</span> +truth and worth.</p> + +<p>A few days later the trial of Tim Downey and his +associates came on the docket at Springfield. That is, +Daley and Spofford were tried, but Colonel Darringford +and his son had disappeared and they were never +seen in that vicinity again. So they escaped trial by +the court, but we feel certain they had learned a lesson +which lasted them through life.</p> + +<p>Tim was sent to the reform school and his confederates +to the penitentiary.</p> + +<p>In the midst of this trial Marcus Ellison appeared, +accompanied by the woman who had been known as +Crazy Meg. Manseur, who was wanted so much, had +been found by Marcus, but he was suffering from a +fall and could not come hither. In fact, he had but +a few days to live.</p> + +<p>Marcus had found Meg near to the river nearly +dead and he had nursed her back to life. Her reason +had returned and her story of the murder of James +Conroyd, with the confession of the man who did it, +Manseur, vindicated Robert Ellison of all charges.</p> + +<p>The details of this trial need not be given. It is +sufficient to say that Dean Mercer was shown to be +innocent of any wrongdoing and all charges against +him were removed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</span></p> + +<p>At a sale of the effects of the missing Colonel Darringford, +Judge Oglesby bought the steamer <i>Warrior</i>, +which was then being repaired. He caused the boat to +be given a thorough overhauling and the result was +that Dean Mercer found himself in command of a +steamer that did good service.</p> + +<p>Finding that at last they would be accommodated +satisfactorily, the people began to patronize the boat, +and it wasn’t long before a second was needed.</p> + +<p>Judge Oglesby had prepared for this and the result +was something marvelous to the inhabitants of Millville. +Business immediately revived; summer tourists came +there to spend their vacations, and traffic of one kind and +another immediately sprang up.</p> + +<p>Marcus Ellison was given employment and he joined +with Dean in the upbuilding of the Lake Shore Line.</p> + +<p>Of course Jack Carboy became the man at the wheel +on the <i>Warrior</i>, until he and Captain Mercer were transferred +to the new <i>Spray</i>, which is now in the midst of a +splendid career.</p> + + +<p class="center">THE END.</p> + + +<p class="p2">In No. 176 of the <span class="smcap">Alger Series</span>, entitled “The Young +Steel Worker,” by Frank H. Macdougal, the story of a +young self-made man is told in such an interesting way +that all its readers will enjoy it.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="The_Dealer">The Dealer</h2> +</div> + + +<p>who handles the STREET & SMITH NOVELS +is a man worth patronizing. The fact that he +does handle our books proves that he has considered +the merits of paper-covered lines, and +has decided that the STREET & SMITH +NOVELS are superior to all others.</p> + +<p>He has looked into the question of the morality +of the paper-covered book, for instance, and +feels that he is perfectly safe in handing one of +our novels to any one, because he has our assurance +that nothing except clean, wholesome +literature finds its way into our lines.</p> + +<p>Therefore, the STREET & SMITH NOVEL +dealer is a careful and wise tradesman, and it +is fair to assume selects the other articles he +has for sale with the same degree of intelligence +as he does his paper-covered books.</p> + +<p>Deal with the STREET & SMITH NOVEL +dealer.</p> + + +<p class="center"> +<b>STREET & SMITH CORPORATION</b><br> +<br> +<b>79 Seventh Avenue</b> <b>New York City</b><br> +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="transnote"> +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="Transcribers_Notes">Transcriber’s Notes:</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected.</p> + +<p>Table of contents has been added and placed into the public domain by +the transcriber. +</p> +</div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76812 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/76812-h/images/cover.jpg b/76812-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..60b5f6e --- /dev/null +++ b/76812-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/76812-h/images/i1.jpg b/76812-h/images/i1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1cf1975 --- /dev/null +++ b/76812-h/images/i1.jpg |
