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diff --git a/76812-0.txt b/76812-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e59854c --- /dev/null +++ b/76812-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9414 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76812 *** + + + + + + “_The true test is when they buy it a second time_” + + ALGER SERIES No. 175 + + Fighting _for_ + Fortune + + + _By_ ROY FRANKLIN + + [Illustration] + + STREET & SMITH CORP. + PUBLISHERS · NEW YORK + + + + +BOOKS THAT NEVER GROW OLD + +Alger Series + +Clean Adventure Stories for Boys + +The Most Complete List Published + + +The following list does not contain all the books that Horatio Alger +wrote, but it contains most of them, and certainly the best. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +_ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT_ + +By HORATIO ALGER, Jr. + + 1--Driven from Home + 2--A Cousin’s Conspiracy + 3--Ned Newton + 4--Andy Gordon + 5--Tony, the Tramp + 6--The Five Hundred Dollar Check + 7--Helping Himself + 8--Making His Way + 9--Try and Trust + 10--Only an Irish Boy + 11--Jed, the Poorhouse Boy + 12--Chester Rand + 13--Grit, the Young Boatman of Pine Point + 14--Joe’s Luck + 15--From Farm Boy to Senator + 16--The Young Outlaw + 17--Jack’s Ward + 18--Dean Dunham + 19--In a New World + 20--Both Sides of the Continent + 21--The Store Boy + 22--Brave and Bold + 23--A New York Boy + 24--Bob Burton + 25--The Young Adventurer + 26--Julius, the Street Boy + 27--Adrift in New York + 28--Tom Brace + 29--Struggling Upward + 30--The Adventures of a New York Telegraph Boy + 31--Tom Tracy + 32--The Young Acrobat + 33--Bound to Rise + 34--Hector’s Inheritance + 35--Do and Dare + 36--The Tin Box + 37--Tom, the Bootblack + 38--Risen from the Ranks + 39--Shifting for Himself + 40--Walt and Hope + 41--Sam’s Chance + 42--Striving for Fortune + 43--Phil, the Fiddler + 44--Slow and Sure + 45--Walter Sherwood’s Probation + 46--The Trials and Triumphs of Mark Mason + 47--The Young Salesman + 48--Andy Grant’s Pluck + 49--Facing the World + 50--Luke Walton + 51--Strive and Succeed + 52--From Canal Boy to President + 53--The Erie Train Boy + 54--Paul, the Peddler + 55--The Young Miner + 56--Charlie Codman’s Cruise + 57--A Debt of Honor + 58--The Young Explorer + 59--Ben’s Nugget + 60--The Errand Boy + 61--Frank and Fearless + 62--Frank Hunter’s Peril + 63--Adrift in the City + 64--Tom Thatcher’s Fortune + 65--Tom Turner’s Legacy + 66--Dan, the Newsboy + 67--Digging for Gold + 68--Lester’s Luck + 69--In Search of Treasure + 70--Frank’s Campaign + 71--Bernard Brook’s Adventures + 72--Robert Coverdale’s Struggles + 73--Paul Prescott’s Charge + 74--Mark Manning’s Mission + 75--Rupert’s Ambition + 76--Sink or Swim + 77--The Backwoods Boy + 78--Tom Temple’s Career + 79--Ben Bruce + 80--The Young Musician + 81--The Telegraph Boy + 82--Work and Win + 83--The Train Boy + 84--The Cash Boy + 85--Herbert Carter’s Legacy + 86--Strong and Steady + 87--Lost at Sea + 88--From Farm to Fortune + 89--Young Captain Jack + 90--Joe, the Hotel Boy + 91--Out for Business + 92--Falling in with Fortune + 93--Nelson, the Newsboy + 94--Randy of the River + 95--Jerry, the Backwoods Boy + 96--Ben Logan’s Triumph + 97--The Young Book Agent + + +By EDWARD STRATEMEYER + + 98--The Last Cruise of _The Spitfire_ + 99--Reuben Stone’s Discovery + 100--True to Himself + 101--Richard Dare’s Venture + 102--Oliver Bright’s Search + 103--To Alaska for Gold + 104--The Young Auctioneer + 105--Bound to Be an Electrician + 106--Shorthand Tom + 107--Fighting for His Own + 108--Joe, the Surveyor + 109--Larry, the Wanderer + 110--The Young Ranchman + 111--The Young Lumberman + 112--The Young Explorers + 113--Boys of the Wilderness + 114--Boys of the Great Northwest + 115--Boys of the Gold Field + 116--For His Country + 117--Comrades in Peril + 118--The Young Pearl Hunters + 119--The Young Bandmaster + 120--Boys of the Fort + 121--On Fortune’s Trail + 122--Lost in the Land of Ice + 123--Bob, the Photographer + + +By OLIVER OPTIC + + 124--Among the Missing + 125--His Own Helper + 126--Honest Kit Dunstable + 127--Every Inch a Boy + 128--The Young Pilot + 129--Always in Luck + 130--Rich and Humble + 131--In School and Out + 132--Watch and Wait + 133--Work and Win + 134--Hope and Have + 135--Haste and Waste + 136--Royal Tarr’s Pluck + 137--The Prisoners of the Cave + 138--Louis Chiswick’s Mission + 139--The Professor’s Son + 140--The Young Hermit + 141--The Cruise of _The Dandy_ + 142--Building Himself Up + 143--Lyon Hart’s Heroism + 144--Three Young Silver Kings + 145--Making a Man of Himself + 146--Striving for His Own + 147--Through by Daylight + 148--Lightning Express + 149--On Time + 150--Switch Off + 151--Brake Up + 152--Bear and Forbear + 153--The “Starry Flag” + 154--Breaking Away + 155--Seek and Find + 156--Freaks of Fortune + 157--Make or Break + 158--Down the River + 159--The Boat Club + 160--All Aboard + 161--Now or Never + 162--Try Again + + * * * * * + +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. + + * * * * * + +To be published in July, 1926. + + 163--Poor and Proud By Oliver Optic + 164--Little by Little By Oliver Optic + 165--The Sailor Boy By Oliver Optic + + +To be published in August, 1926. + + 166--The Yankee Middy By Oliver Optic + 167--Brave Old Salt By Oliver Optic + + +To be published in September, 1926. + + 168--Luck and Pluck By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 169--Ragged Dick By Horatio Alger, Jr. + + +To be published in October, 1926. + + 170--Fame and Fortune By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 171--Mark, the Match Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. + + +To be published in November, 1926. + + 172--Rough and Ready By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 173--Ben, the Luggage Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. + + +To be published in December, 1926. + + 174--Rufus and Rose By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 175--Fighting for Fortune By Roy Franklin + 176--The Young Steel Worker By Frank H. MacDougal + + + + +A CARNIVAL OF ACTION + +ADVENTURE LIBRARY + +Splendid, Interesting, Big Stories + + +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. + +The authors of these books are experienced in the art of writing, and +know just what the up-to-date American reader wants. + + +_ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT_ + +By WILLIAM WALLACE COOK + + 1--The Desert Argonaut + 2--A Quarter to Four + 3--Thorndyke of the Bonita + 4--A Round Trip to the Year 2000 + 5--The Gold Gleaners + 6--The Spur of Necessity + 7--The Mysterious Mission + 8--The Goal of a Million + 9--Marooned in 1492 + 10--Running the Signal + 11--His Friend the Enemy + 12--In the Web + 13--A Deep Sea Game + 14--The Paymaster’s Special + 15--Adrift in the Unknown + 16--Jim Dexter, Cattleman + 17--Juggling with Liberty + 18--Back from Bedlam + 19--A River Tangle + 20--Billionaire Pro Tem + 21--In the Wake of the Scimitar + 22--His Audacious Highness + 23--At Daggers Drawn + 24--The Eighth Wonder + 25--The Cat’s-paw + 26--The Cotton Bag + 27--Little Miss Vassar + 28--Cast Away at the Pole + 29--The Testing of Noyes + 30--The Fateful Seventh + 31--Montana + 32--The Deserter + 33--The Sheriff of Broken Bow + 34--Wanted: A Highwayman + 35--Frisbie of San Antone + 36--His Last Dollar + 37--Fools for Luck + 38--Dare of Darling & Co. + +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. + + +To be published in July, 1926. + + 39--Trailing _The Josephine_ By William Wallace Cook + 40--The Snapshot Chap By Bertram Lebhar + + +To be published in August, 1926. + + 41--Brothers of the Thin Wire By Franklin Pitt + 42--Jungle Intrigue By Edmond Lawrence + 43--His Snapshot Lordship By Bertram Lebhar + + +To be published in September, 1926. + + 44--Folly Lode By James F. Dorrance + 45--The Forest Rogue By Julian G. Wharton + + +To be published in October, 1926. + + 46--Snapshot Artillery By Bertram Lebhar + 47--Stanley Holt, Thoroughbred By Ralph Boston + + +To be published in November, 1926. + + 48--The Riddle and the Ring By Gordon MacLaren + 49--The Black Eye Snapshot By Bertram Lebhar + + +To be published in December, 1926. + + 50--Bainbridge of Bangor By Julian G. Wharton + 51--Amid Crashing Hills By Edmond Lawrence + + + + + Fighting for Fortune + + OR, + + Making a Place for Himself + + BY + + ROY FRANKLIN + + Author of “The Lost Mine,” “On Fortune’s Trail,” + “Winning by Courage,” et cetera. + + + [Illustration] + + + (Printed in the U. S. A.) + + + STREET & SMITH CORPORATION + PUBLISHERS + 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York + + + + +Copyright, 1909 + +By STREET & SMITH + +Fighting for Fortune + + +(Printed In the U. S. A.) + +All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign +languages, including the Scandinavian. + + + + +FIGHTING FOR FORTUNE. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER I. A BOYISH CHOICE. + CHAPTER II. LEFT BEHIND. + CHAPTER III. THE SLY HAND OF THE ENEMY. + CHAPTER IV. “MAN OVERBOARD!” + CHAPTER V. AN AMAZING DISCOVERY. + CHAPTER VI. THE EIGHT-THOUSAND-DOLLAR CHECK. + CHAPTER VII. THE NIGHT FIRE. + CHAPTER VIII. THE MORNING NEWS. + CHAPTER IX. TIM DEMANDS HIS DUES. + CHAPTER X. A TELEPHONE MESSAGE. + CHAPTER XI. UNDER SUSPICION. + CHAPTER XII. THE RACE BETWEEN THE STEAMERS. + CHAPTER XIII. THE FATE OF THE “WARRIOR.” + CHAPTER XIV. A LINK IN THE CHAIN OF MYSTERY. + CHAPTER XV. BEHIND PRISON BARS. + CHAPTER XVI. HELPLESS AND HOPELESS. + CHAPTER XVII. STRANGE MYSTERIES. + CHAPTER XVIII. TALK OF ESCAPE. + CHAPTER XIX. DIGGING THEIR WAY OUT. + CHAPTER XX. THE FLIGHT FROM PRISON. + CHAPTER XXI. MARCUS BECOMES A DETECTIVE. + CHAPTER XXII. ON THE TRAIL. + CHAPTER XXIII. AT MILLVILLE AGAIN. + CHAPTER XXIV. WORSE AND WORSE. + CHAPTER XXV. DEAN MERCER IN JAIL. + CHAPTER XXVI. CRAZY MEG’S MARK. + CHAPTER XXVII. A FRUITLESS SEARCH. + CHAPTER XXVIII. RELEASED ON BAIL. + CHAPTER XXIX. THE SECRET ENEMY. + CHAPTER XXX. MARCUS DISCOVERS A CLUE. + CHAPTER XXXI. WHAT THE BOYS FOUND. + CHAPTER XXXII. IN THE VALLEY. + CHAPTER XXXIII. IN OLD MEG’S CAVE. + CHAPTER XXXIV. IN A HARD PLIGHT. + CHAPTER XXXV. STARTLING ADVENTURES. + CHAPTER XXXVI. TIM DOWNEY ARRESTED. + CHAPTER XXXVII. THE RECKONING. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A BOYISH CHOICE. + + +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. + +“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! + +“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 favor. I am grateful to him for his six months’ kindly +supervision of my fate, as he put it. + +“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.” + +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. + +Suddenly a look of concern swept over his face, and he started on a +smart run toward the lake shore, murmuring as he ran: + +“The _Warrior_ is about to start. I shall miss my passage.” + +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: + +“Is the _Warrior_ about to start, Captain Weymouth?” + +“Start? Bless you, lad, did you ever know the _Warrior_ to start on +time? It will be a good two hours before we leave our moorings.” + +“Thank you, sir.” + +Then Dean added to himself: + +“I shall have ample time to see Judge Oglesby, as I ought to, before +leaving for Springfield. Hello! what’s going on over yonder?” + +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. + +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. + +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: + +“Stung again!” + +Biff--whack--biff! rang on the air, mingled with the cries for “help!” + +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 ground a boy of nearly his age, but considerably +smaller, and was pummelling him most unmercifully. + +“Sass me, will ye?” half questioned, half answered the belligerent +bully, continuing to pound his victim with unremitting vengeance. + +“Stop, Tim Downey!” fairly shouted Dean, who had quickly recognized the +bully. + +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. + +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. + +“Has he hurt you very much?” asked Dean. + +“Broke me all up,” replied the latter. “And I was just walking along +without speaking to any one. I----” + +“You crib every durned word you lisp!” cried Tim Downey fiercely, +regaining his feet at this juncture. + +Then seeing and recognizing Dean, he snapped: + +“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!” + +Tim had clenched his fists and was about to spring on Dean, when the +latter said, in a clear, ringing tone: + +“Lay a hand on me if you dare, Tim Downey.” + +“I do dare!” yelled the bully, suddenly making a dash for the other. + +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. + +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. + +“You look like a stranger in Millville?” + +“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.” + +“Never fear for that.” + +Seeing that the strange youth was anxious to be going his way, Dean +said nothing further to him, while he again faced his enemy. + +“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. + +“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.” + +Dean then came out from the dark corner into the main street which ran +nearly parallel with the waterline. + +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. + +Situated at the head of one of the most beautiful sheets of water in +our fair land, its broad bosom dotted 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. + +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. + +“Whew!” panted the lawyer, quite out of breath with his exertions, “I +was afraid I should miss you, Dean.” + +“A delay in the starting of the steamer leaves me here, Mr. Montague. +Is there anything I can do for you?” + +“You are going to Springfield?” + +“Yes, sir.” + +“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.” + +“Anything I can do for you, Mr. Montague, I will gladly do.” + +“I thought you would. Come with me to a side street. It is something +important and confidential.” + +Dean followed his friend away from the main thoroughfare, though not a +person was in sight at that moment. + +“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?” + +“Yes. You mean the Robert Ellison who was tried for murder?” + +“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.” + +“I will guard it with my life, Mr. Montague.” + +“I know I can trust you, Dean. And I hope you will have reconsidered +your hasty leave of me, and resume your law studies.” + +“I do not believe I ever shall, Mr. Montague.” + +“Time will show. Everything is made clear in those papers, but if +Mr. Durand wants me, I will come to Springfield upon short notice. +Good-day. The _Warrior_ must be about to start.” + +“Good-day, sir.” + +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: + +“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.” + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +LEFT BEHIND. + + +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. + +His parents were worthless, dissolute characters, who lived on the +sands north of the village, where a low community of squatters and +fishermen resided. + +Tim had been twice in jail for stealing, and was avoided by all +respectable boys in Millville. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +At sight of the newcomer, the active youngster called out with boyish +friendliness that put to rout all pretension to polite manners: + +“Hello, Dean! Papa is waiting for you.” + +Nodding to the youthful speaker, Dean bowed courteously to the sister, +as he met her gaze with a look of admiration. + +“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.” + +“Indeed, Miss Eva. Did you learn his name?” + +“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----” + +“He yelled like a pirate to the servants: ‘Avast there, you lubbers! +Ship ahoy!’” broke in the boy, with enthusiasm. + +“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.” + +“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.” + +As she did not seem inclined to reply to this, Dean continued his +approach to the fine residence of his wealthy friend. + +The owner must have been watching for him, as he met him at the door +and ushered him into his spacious library without delay. + +“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 _Spray_, who is just now in the dining room doing justice to +the viands spread before him. You have notified Mr. Montague of your +intentions?” + +“I have, Mr. Oglesby, and I shall go down to Springfield on the +_Warrior_, which will start in a short time.” + +“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?” + +“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.” + +“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 _we_ that are +doing this.” + +If Dean had made a bold assertion when he had said that Millville was +owned body and soul by two men, there were not many in the town who +would have denied its truth. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Mr. Montague had spoken of this to Dean before the latter had left him: + +“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. + +“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. + +“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.” + +Judge Oglesby showed that he had been thinking of Mr. Montague when he +next spoke, saying: + +“Mr. Montague has become a bit old-fashioned in 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.” + +“I will, Judge Oglesby,” replied Dean firmly. + +“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 _Warrior_ for considerable. The +_Spray_ must be brought up in the morning. There are important reasons +for this.” + +“I await your directions, sir.” + +“Please be seated while I write a letter for you to take along. Then we +will talk over our business.” + +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 +before him. In fact, all days were busy ones with Judge Oglesby. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +“There you are, Dean, at last,” he said, folding carefully the letter +he had written, and placing, not only that, but a check, in the +envelope, which he handed, unsealed, to him. The superscription read, +written in a bold hand: + + BROWN, SEWALL & CO., + Shipbuilders, + Springfield. + + By Dean Mercer. + +“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.” + +“I understand, sir. But I did not know I was to go alone.” + +“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----” + +Before Judge Oglesby had finished his sentence, the 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. + +“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. + +“Your new commander, who is to manage our enterprise,” said the judge. +“Mr. Mercer, allow me to introduce to you Mr. Jack Carboy, who----” + +“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.” + +“Your pardon, Jack,” said the judge good naturedly. “If your new +captain is young, he is quick to learn.” + +“So he’s the skipper, is he?” + +“Yes, Jack.” + +Carboy tugged at a stray lock at his brow and scraped his foot backward +in grotesque politeness. + +“Captain, sir!” he said half inquiringly. + +“No, no!” laughed Dean. + +“Yes, yes!” replied the judge spiritedly. “He’ll need a little +posting, Jack, but you and he must combine efforts and help each other +along.” + +“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!” + +Judge Oglesby talked with the twain for about five minutes. + +“Now, then,” he said, “we understand just what is to be done, don’t we?” + +“I think so, sir,” replied Dean. “The men to man the new steamer are +waiting for us at Springfield.” + +“Exactly. You will find the _Spray_ all ready for you.” + +“What’s that--what’s that, sir?” cried Carboy, with a start of dismay. + +“The _Spray_.” + +“Is that the name of the steamer?” + +“It is.” + +“Sorry!” and Jack shook his head lugubriously. + +“Why, Jack?” exclaimed the amazed judge. + +“It’s a bad name.” + +“Bad name?” + +“Yes.” + +“How so, Jack?” + +“Because I’ve sailed on two _Sprays_--one to Australia, one to China, +and both were wrecked at sea.” + +Judge Oglesby smiled at Carboy’s superstitious fears. + +“This is a lake, Jack,” he said reassuringly. + +But Carboy looked glum. + +“You’ve got the check safe, Dean?” asked the judge. + +“Yes, sir.” + +“Then, good-by. I shall expect to see you back here by to-morrow night.” + +“Surely, sir,” replied Jack Carboy. “Come, captain, we’re started on +the voyage at last!” + +Seeing no reason for further delay in starting for the pier, Dean +suggested that they go aboard the _Warrior_ at once. Accordingly, he +and his quaint companion bade the judge adieu and started toward the +lake shore at a rapid pace. + +They had barely got in sight of the pier when Dean stopped with a low +exclamation of surprise. + +“Look! See! We are too late!” he cried. “The _Warrior_ has left her +moorings and is headed down the lake!” + +“Ship ahoy!” bellowed Jack Carboy at the top of his stentorian lungs, +while he dashed madly toward the shore, closely followed by Dean Mercer. + +A crowd of boys witnessed their hasty advance, and shouted after them +in derision and mirth. + +“Hie, there, or your feet will run away with your heads!” + +“See old brine roll along!” + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE SLY HAND OF THE ENEMY. + + +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. + +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: + +“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.” + +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, the _Warrior_ carried considerable freight and +many passengers on its afternoon trip to Springfield. + +“Hey, boy! come here!” + +Tim had addressed a keen-eyed, ragged urchin. + +“What is it?” demanded the latter, eying Tim with no great favor. + +“Want to earn a nickel?” + +“Yes, I do, but you haven’t got one!” + +“Haven’t I? See here!” and Tim produced the designated coin. “Come with +me.” + +He led the way to where a pile of lumber shut out a view of the boat. + +“Now, then,” he said, “you go aboard the steamer.” + +“What for?” + +“And find Rodney Darringford.” + +“All right, I know him!” + +“Tell him that Tim Downey wants to see him, and bring him here.” + +“All right. Gimme the nickel.” + +“There it is.” + +The urchin scampered off. Tim sat down and waited patiently for the +result of his experiment. + +The place was secluded from the sight of people on the pier, the only +persons in sight being some children down the beach, playing with an +old box that had floated ashore. + +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. + +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. + +It was Rodney Darringford, the son of the wealthy colonel, and clerk of +the steamer _Warrior_. + +Rodney Darringford had of late been given employment by his father as +clerk of the _Warrior_, and Dean, knowing this, was not at all in love +with the idea of a sail down the lake in his company. + +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. + +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!” + +Rodney’s brow was drawn in a deep furrow, and he looked angry enough to +fight Tim then and there. + +“Well!” he ejaculated coarsely, “Tim Downey?” + +“Yes, Tim Downey!” chuckled Tim, a little aggressively and defiantly, +at Rodney’s contemptuous words and manner. + +“You haven’t got any check, have you!” + +“Oh! enough to carry me through, I guess!” replied Tim carelessly. + +“What did you send for me for?” + +“Business!” + +“I have none with you!” + +“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.” + +“Well, get it.” + +“I intend to, and because I wanted to go to Springfield.” + +“Well, go!” + +“I intend to--on the _Warrior_. I want ten dollars and a free ride to +Springfield, and I want ’em from you, and no back talk about it!” + +Tim Downey’s face grew sullen as he noticed the deepening scowl on +Rodney’s face. + +“See here!” cried the latter angrily. + +“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.” + +“Shut up, you idiot,” gasped Rodney, with an alarmed glance about them. + +“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.” + +Rodney Darringford stood pale and trembling with fear and rage, silent +for some moments. + +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. + +Secretly he chafed like a caged lion. He could scarcely speak for +anger, but he said finally: + +“All right, Tim Downey. You have got me in your power, and I suppose +you intend to keep me there; but 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.” + +“All right--and the money?” + +“I’ll slip it to you during the trip. I hope you’re going to +Springfield to stay.” + +“Well, I ain’t,” grinned Tim maliciously. + +“Ain’t what?” + +“Going to Springfield to stay.” + +“What are you going for, then?” + +“To get work.” + +“You work!” sneered Rodney contemptuously. + +“Yes; me work!” + +“At what?” + +“Steamboating.” + +Rodney Darringford regarded Tim contemptuously. + +“Who’ll hire you?” + +“The new steamboat company.” + +“Oh, at Springfield--down the river?” + +“No; at Millville,” mimicked Tim, with the keenest satisfaction at +tormenting Rodney--“up the lake.” + +“What!” ejaculated Rodney. + +“Yes; up the lake.” + +“The new steamboat company?” + +“Precisely.” + +“There ain’t any.” + +“Ain’t there?” + +“Not that I heard of.” + +“You ain’t in the secret.” + +“Are you?” + +“Yes.” + +“A new company?” + +“With new boats. Judge Oglesby owns it, and your dearest friend, Dean +Mercer, is to be captain of the first steamer, the _Spray_.” + +Rodney Darringford stared at Tim Downey as if he found it impossible to +credit his amazing story. + +He listened with an excited face as Tim proceeded to tell how he had +overheard the talk of the judge and Dean and Carboy. + +“It ruins your business,” he said. + +“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. + +Tim Downey chuckled. He enjoyed witnessing the downfall of those above +him. + +“You young scoundrel. Is it you that my boy came to see?” + +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. + +At the same moment that the harsh tones sounded on his hearing, a rough +hand grasped his arm. + +Tim looked up, somewhat startled. Colonel Ebenezer Darringford, +pompous, red-faced, and unmistakably intoxicated, glared down at him. + +“Hello, colonel!” muttered Tim. + +“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?” + +“He did, colonel.” + +“What about?” + +Tim drew a breath of relief. The colonel, then, had not overheard their +conversation. + +“About--well, you see, I’m only a poor boy!” whined Tim hypocritically. + +“A thief and vagabond, you mean.” + +“Yes, sir,” murmured Tim humbly, dropping the 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.” + +“Hum! You work! What else? Out with it, you reprobate. I can see by +your eye that you are lying to me.” + +“Well, sir, I told him about the new line of steamers,” and in voluble +words, Tim Downey revealed Judge Oglesby’s scheme entire. + +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. + +If the son had been amazed, the father was fairly petrified. He gasped, +roared and raved. + +“A new line of steamers--Judge Oglesby--the interloper, the scoundrel!” +yelled the colonel, the liquor he had drunk making a madman of him. + +He became quieted at last. Then he questioned Tim closely. + +About to go, Tim approached him with an air of mystery. He decided to +make a bold move. + +“Colonel,” he said, “if the new steamers run on the lake, it’s bad for +you, ain’t it?” + +“Bad? it’s ruin!” groaned the colonel. + +“All right, sir. You know your business. I know mine. You give me two +hundred dollars afore we reach Springfield, and the _Spray_ don’t sail +to-morrow, nor next day, nor never.” + +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. + +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. + +“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. + +Fuming over what he had heard from Tim Downey, no sooner had Colonel +Darringford gained the boat than he ordered that the _Warrior_ start +without longer delay. + +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. + +This was how the boat left her pier before Dean Mercer had expected her +to start. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +“MAN OVERBOARD!” + + +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. + +The _Warrior_ was already moving steadily down the lake and beyond +their recall. + +“Shiver my timbers!” yelled Jack, “ye hev shipped without your crew, ye +blasted shell o’ a land-locked sea.” + +While Jack was greatly disturbed over the disappointment of losing +passage on the _Warrior_, Dean felt his defeat more keenly. + +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. + +They were expected to bring up the new boat, and to fail at the outset +portended failure rather than success in their undertaking. + +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 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. + +The successful man is he who can act quickly in an emergency. That is +the one great secret of success. + +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. + +“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.” + +“Avast there, younker--I mean high admiral!” and Jack, instead of +completing his sentence, executed a salute in token of his blunder. + +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. + +But the latter soon found himself unequal to the gait set him by his +young companion, and, stopping short in his laborious advance, he +bellowed at the top of his lungs: + +“Ship ahoy! reef yer topsails or this ol’ craft’ll ground!” + +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. + +“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.” + +“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.” + +“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.” + +“Hello, Dean!” called out a familiar voice at Dean’s elbow, before he +could reply. “We’re in luck. But what’s up?” + +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. + +“Excuse me, Mr. Montague. We have missed the _Warrior_, and we are on +our way to catch the stage for Landlock.” + +“Missed the _Warrior_?” asked the lawyer incredulously. “That’s a +pretty go.” + +“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.” + +“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.” + +Marcus Ellison held out his hand, saying frankly: + +“I remember you, Mr. Mercer, if you do not me. I am the boy you saved +from the pummelling of that wharf bully.” + +“I am glad to meet you again, and under more pleasant circumstances, +Mr. Ellison.” + +“I told Marcus the papers were with you, and now I turn him over to +your care.” + +“We will get to Springfield all right, Mr. Montague. I will now hand +the papers and money over to him.” + +“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. + +“I will see that you have them safely. But if Jack’s recovered his +wind, we’ll start again for the stage.” + +“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.” + +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. + +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. + +“There’s the stage just starting!” he cried. + +Marcus Ellison saw a lumbering vehicle drawn by a pair of horses +coming out of the yard in front of the dilapidated old stable. + +“Here, driver! hold up a moment,” shouted Dean. + +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. + +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. + +“We want passage to Landlock, Jim,” explained Dean. + +“The hull of you?” asked the driver, as he ran his eye over the +approaching three. + +“Yes, Jim. You can take us?” + +“Not more’n one on ye. Stage full to running over now.” + +From a hasty survey Dean saw that he had four passengers, which left +room for at least three more. + +“You surely can take us all, Jim? We must all go.” + +“Hang yer ‘musts’! I ain’t obleeged to take more passengers ’n I +wanter.” + +“This is a public conveyance and you----” + +“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!” + +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. + +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. + +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: + +“Ahoy! lay to, yer land lubbers.” + +“Stop, Jim!” called out Dean smartly. “My friend has got to get to +Landlock with us. You can take us as well as not.” + +Seeing that he was dealing with one who would not be stopped, muttering +over something about “hot-headed boys!” the stager pulled up his +horses to wait for the old sailor. + +Puffing and snorting his rage over the race he had had, Jack Carboy +soon reached the side of the coach. + +“Throw the life line,” he cried. “Blast yer picters, how’s a-one going +to get aboard this craft?” + +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. + +“This seems like business,” declared Dean. “Here we go, Jack.” + +Jack Carboy, clinging to his seat with both hands, made no reply. + +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 determined to get his revenge, proof of +which was given in his muttered words: + +“I’ll gin ’em ’nough on’t. As if I didn’t know when I had load ’nough.” + +“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!” + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Seeing his doubled-up form flying through the space, Jack Carboy bawled: + +“Hi, there, skipper! man overboard!” + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +AN AMAZING DISCOVERY. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +“Avast there, ye dumbfounded landlubber! I say, a man overboard!” + +Still that headlong gait was kept up. + +Seizing upon the reins, Jack jerked them from the old stager’s grasp, +at the same time yelling: + +“Throw over the anchor!” + +Putting action to words, the excited sailor, half rising in his seat, +tossed the reins out over the dashboard into space. + +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. + +The vehicle was upset, so the passengers inside were flung into the +midst of the débris with fearful force. + +The driver was thrown completely under the heels of the horses, while +Jack Carboy was a-straddle of the neck of the nigh horse. + +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. + +“Port yer helm!” cried Jack. “We’re on the breakers!” + +“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.” + +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. + +Inside of as many minutes the three had freed the animals, when they +staggered to their feet, where they stood trembling and dazed. + +“Drat that infernal ijit! Let me get my paw on him,” cried the driver, +starting toward Jack Carboy, who had precipitated the catastrophe. + +It is difficult to say what would have happened had not Dean sprang +between the two. + +“This is no time for personal quarrels,” he said. “We must see how it +has fared with those inside the coach, Mr. Dolittle.” + +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. + +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. + +“I think you can attend to them,” said Dean. “I must see what has +happened to the boy who was on top of the coach. I am afraid he has +been killed.” + +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. + +“He is dead,” he thought, as he broke his way through the undergrowth +to the side of the unconscious youth. + +“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!” + +Dean managed to drag the other out into a small, cleared spot, where he +began a hasty examination of him. + +Marcus was showing signs of recovering his senses, and in a few minutes +he lifted his head and stared around him. + +“Where am I?” he murmured. + +“Safe,” replied Dean, “and I hope suffering no more serious mishap +than sore joints and possibly a headache.” + +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. + +Jack was calling to them, so Dean dashed back into the road to answer +the summons. + +“If you feel like it we had better join them,” said Dean. + +“I do. In fact, I shall soon feel as well as ever.” + +On their way to rejoin the group about the stage, Dean told Marcus what +had taken place. + +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. + +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 the stage, so inside of fifteen minutes they +were ready to resume their journey. + +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.” + +“Blamed if the fool shall set on the driver’s seat!” muttered the +stager. + +“Shiver my toplights, if Ol’ Jack Carboy straddles the lookout o’ thet +craft,” exclaimed the other. + +A compromise was effected by having Jack stand on the step of the near +side, which he declared was more “shipshape.” + +The balance of the trip to Landlock had to be made at a slow gait; so +slow that Dean and Marcus worried lest the _Warrior_ should leave the +place before they could get there. + +So she would if it had not been that her usual ill fortune followed the +_Warrior_. + +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. + +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.” + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +“Wonder where they picked up that tenderfoot,” he asked aside of Rodney. + +“Don’t know. Perhaps he is going to work on the new boat.” + +“Mebbe. Say, don’t that miserable top of a Mercer carry a high head, +though?” + +“Higher’n he will to-morrow, according to my calculations. Say, I have +given them stateroom Number 40.” + +“The one with the secret opening?” asked Tim, while a look of delight +swept over his countenance. + +“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.” + +“I am. I’ll take stateroom Number 41,” and the youthful plotter turned +away with a wicked smile on his lips. + +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. + +The _Warrior_ was again moving laboriously toward her destination, +with a fair prospect of finishing the trip in safety. + +“Well?” asked Rodney. + +“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.” + +“A thousand dollars?” demanded young Darringford, a look of greed +coming into his eyes. + +“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.” + +“We must get the money,” affirmed Rodney, unable to remain silent. + +“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.” + +This impudent speech succeeded in keeping the other quiet long enough +for Tim to say: + +“Of course we are going to get it, and a bigger bundle 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!” + +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: + +“Is that all, Tim?” + +“As if thet isn’t enough.” + +“But did you find out how he is pay over this check and take possession +of the boat?” + +“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.” + +Rodney Darringford was silent for what seemed a long time to Tim +Downey. Then he leaped to his feet, saying: + +“I have it. Nothing could be easier. We’ll cooper the whole game.” + +“I’m fixed for the kid,” remarked Tim, who did not intend that anyone +should get ahead of him in schemes redounding to his benefit. + +“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.” + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE EIGHT-THOUSAND-DOLLAR CHECK. + + +The _Warrior_ reached the city at ten o’clock that night, two hours +overdue, and Jack Carboy and Dean Mercer left the boat at once. + +“Where going, Dean?” asked Jack. + +“To a hotel, I guess.” + +“Oh! no, to the boat.” + +“The _Spray_?” + +“Why not?” + +“You know where it is?” + +“Certain! The engineer is aboard now. I can’t sleep on land.” + +“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.” + +“You will come with us, Marcus?” + +“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.” + +“That is right. You have the papers safely and 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.” + +“Yes, I will run down; thank you. Good night.” + +“Good night.” + +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. + +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. + +“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.” + +“Now get busy,” said Tim, when the precious pair separated to carry out +their plans. + +As Tim was about to leave the _Warrior_ 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. + +“See here, youngster,” he said, crooking his finger toward Tim. “I +wanner see you minute.” + +“Yes, colonel,” replied Tim promptly, approaching the spot where the +colonel stood. + +The latter was unable to stand alone, and held to the steamer rail. + +“You boy who tol’ me ’bout new st--sthe--steamer, hey?” + +“Correct, colonel!” + +“Sure there’s one?” + +“Dead sure!” + +“Mustn’t be ’lowed to ’danger business prospix--pects, eh, boy?” + +“No, sir.” + +“You said you could stop boat, eh?” + +“I did.” + +“Do it, say nothing, and take the--that!” + +The colonel made a dive for his pocket, and a lunge for Tim. + +Tim allowed him to tumble pell-mell to the deck, once he had secured +the roll of banknotes that the colonel proffered him. + +“I’ll fix the boat, never fear!” cried Tim. “Hooray! Two hundred! +Crackey! I’ll have a time of it!” + +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. + +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. + +“Unlimber yer tongue,” said Tim, as soon as they reached the narrow +street into which Rodney had led the way. + +“What did the governor say to you?” + +“Ye don’t stop to think that it might be me who had something to say to +him,” replied Tom doggedly. + +To speak the truth, he did not like this interference. + +“You needn’t be so all-fired tongue-tied,” exclaimed the other. “I +guess it is as much for your interest as it is for mine to be sociable.” + +“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.” + +“You are right, Tim. But don’t fail to be on hand. You know you will +want to get your divvy.” + +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. + + * * * * * + +“Isn’t she a beauty?” + +The admiring speaker was Jack Carboy, addressing Dean Mercer, as the +twain came in sight of the new steamer. + +“She is very promising. Won’t they look amazed at Millville when we +reach there to-morrow, Jack? You say the engineer is aboard?” + +“He should be, lad--I mean admiral,” executing one of his +characteristic salutes. + +“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 that I should take command of the new packet. But he fairly +forced me into it.” + +“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?” + +Though less demonstrative than his free-hearted companion, Dean Mercer +felt greatly elated over the appearance of the new steamer. + +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. + +They were thus engaged when a stranger was ushered into their presence +by the steward of the boat. + +The newcomer was a middle-aged man, well-dressed, and gentlemanly in +his manner. + +“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 _Spray_ this evening I might save +you a lot of trouble in the morning. He knew you must be pretty busy.” + +While this announcement came most unexpectedly to the young commander, +he managed to greet the newcomer politely and invited him to a seat. + +“I was here about sundown, but the _Warrior_ 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.” + +“I think it is very satisfactory. Did you want me to pay you, Mr. +Sewall?” + +“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.” + +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. + +“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.” + +“Very satisfactory. I like your way of doing business, 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.” + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE NIGHT FIRE. + + +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. + +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: + +“Well?” + +“Where you going, Tim?” + +“To a restaurant first to see if I cannot get a bite to eat, or mebbe a +lunch cart will answer us best.” + +“All right; go ahead. I will pay the bill.” + +“Guess I can afford it myself.” + +“You got some money from father?” + +“I stung him for two hundred,” was the cool reply. + +“What’s for?” + +“That’s telling.” + +“Was it in regard to the new steamer?” + +“Yep.” + +“What about that?” + +“Puff!” was the mysterious reply. + +“Explain,” cried Rodney, catching him by the arm, while a feeling of +terror he could not exactly understand took possession of him. + +“The _Spray_ goes up in smoke!” + +The troubled look on Rodney’s countenance deepened. + +“Did father want you to do that, Tim?” + +“That’s what he paid me for.” + +“That’s bad work.” + +“What’s the odds? Needn’t trouble ye. ’Twill burn while ye sleep. Two +trusty fellers do the work. Who’s the wiser?” + +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. + +“Let’s get our lunch as soon as we can. I have an appointment an hour +hence.” + +“With the fellow who was to see Dean Mercer?” + +“Yes.” + +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. + +A man was waiting for them at the door--the same person who had met +Dean Mercer on the _Spray_ and obtained Judge Oglesby’s check in +payment for the steamer. + +“Have you got it?” demanded Rodney, eagerly. + +“You bet,” handing the other the strip of paper which meant so much. + +“Here’s your two hundred.” + +“It’s not enough,” muttered the man. “I want an extra hundred.” + +“But that is all I agreed to pay you.” + +“Don’t care. It was risky business. Pay me another hundred or I’ll +see----” + +Rodney checked him by handing out a crisp hundred dollar bill. + +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 off without showing the effects of his recent potations. Both +were elated over their success. + +“See there!” exclaimed Tim, pointing excitedly down the street, where a +bright blaze illuminated the night sky. + +“What is it?” asked Rodney. + +“Where are yer eyes? They’ll hev to be sharper ’n they are now to find +the _Spray_ in the morning.” + +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! + +There would be no rival to his father’s old-time packet. + +The excitement attending this discovery quite overcame the effects of +the liquor, and Rodney felt frightened. + +“Let’s see what that check looks like,” said the cunning Tim. “I hain’t +more’n got a glimmer of it.” + +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. + +“I ain’t so big a fool as to give three hundred dollars for nothing,” +declared Rodney, triumphantly, producing the check. + +“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. + +“What if a policeman should see us?” + +“Reading a check ain’t ag’in the law,” retorted Tim, his eye running +over the narrow strip of paper as he spoke. + +“Good for a cool eight thousand dollars,” declared Tim. + +“But the check is payable to Dean Mercer. How am I to get it?” + +“Easiest thing in the world. Just sign--turn it over.” + +Rodney did as he requested. + +“It’s signed by Dean Mercer,” said Tim, with a ring of exultation in +his voice. + +“But they won’t recognize me,” said Rodney. “If they did, I would not +dare to put my name on it.” + +“What bank is it payable at?” + +“The Atlas.” + +“And you are sure they do not know you there?” + +“Yes.” + +“If they don’t know ye, it’s as easy as sliding down a greased pole. Ye +are Dean Mercer, see?” + +Rodney either dared not or could not understand his companion. + +“There’s something else in the envelope. Let me see.” + +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: + + “MR. JAMES RAWLINSON, Cashier Atlas Bank, Springfield. + + “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.” + +Under the letter was the name of Dean Mercer in his own handwriting, +verified as genuine by the judge’s signature below. + +“Don’t you see, everything is as clear as ice,” said Tim. “You go to +the bank in the morning as soon as it is opened, pretending you are +Dean Mercer; get the money, and we will divide the haul.” + +“I--I think so,” replied Rodney, who had not reached the condition of +mind which his companion had gained. + +“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.” + +“You mean Marcus Ellison? You have that money?” + +“Every cent--and the papers.” + +“Where’s the boy?” + +“Gone.” + +“Gone where?” + +“Where he won’t trouble you and me any more.” + +“Won’t he be missed?” + +“Oh, mebbe. What if he is?” + +“They will search for him.” + +“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.” + +“What have you done with him?” asked Rodney for the second time. + +“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.” + +“There were papers concerning his father’s trial?” + +“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?” + +Five minutes the couple were safely in their room at the hotel. + +“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 +_Spray_ will not make that trip to Millville to-morrow. I mean to-day.” + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE MORNING NEWS. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +How far had that guilt carried them? + +“The new steamer--they set it on fire,” gasped Rodney, 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. + +“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!” + +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. + +“Hallo! you awake?” + +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. + +“Yes, I’m awake.” + +“Don’t be in a hurry.” + +“I want to get back to the boat.” + +“The _Warrior_?” + +“Yes.” + +“It don’t sail until ten o’clock.” + +“Well----” + +“Well, you want to get away from me!” jeered Tim. “That don’t suit me. +Here, you’re trembling like a leaf. Take a swig. It will brace up your +nerves.” + +Rodney shuddered with nausea as he bolted a drink from the flask of +fiery liquor that Tim handed him. + +“Feel better?” + +“Warmed up, yes.” + +“That’s right. See here, Rod, don’t get so squeamish.” + +“Tim, I’m scared,” confessed Rodney candidly. + +Tim laughed derisively. + +“What at?” he demanded. + +“At getting caught.” + +“Who by?” + +“The--the police.” + +“What for?” + +“For--for burning the boat.” + +“Did you burn it?” + +“No.” + +“Did you see anyone burn it?” + +“No.” + +“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 it is to be friendly to me. Your father hired me to +burn the _Spray_.” + +Rodney felt a thrill of horror and dread. + +He and his father were both in this unscrupulous boy’s power completely. + +“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.” + +Tim’s manner seemed to express more than his words, so that Rodney +hastened to ask for an explanation. + +“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 _Spray_ went up in smoke last +night, it carried Dean Mercer with it!” + +Rodney was truly frightened by this statement, made in the coolest tone +imaginable. + +“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 chance to get him +out. Oh, I’m a deep one. ’Twas a big job at a mighty cheap price--two +hundred dollars.” + +Again Rodney Darringford shivered. Then a new thought came into his +muddled brain. + +“What if it is known that Dean Mercer was killed in that fire? How can +I get that check cashed?” + +For the first time Tim Downey showed fear. + +“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.” + +Liquor had overcome the conscientious scruples of Colonel Darringford +sufficiently to induce him to pay Tim Downey to burn the new lake +steamer, the _Spray_. + +Liquor also brought the courage of his unworthy son to a point where he +finally agreed to personate Dean Mercer at the bank. + +“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 +_Spray_, or the disappearance of Dean Mercer at Millville yet. Get the +money quick. Leave the rest to me.” + +“But search will be made for him?” + +“As a thief, yes.” + +Rodney started. + +“Oh! that’s it,” he cried, a new light breaking on his mind. + +“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?” + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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: + +“Glad to know you, Mr. Mercer. How will you have the money?” + +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. + +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. + +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. + +“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.” + +“Yes, sir,” faltered Rodney. + +“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.” + +Rodney’s heart was in his mouth, and fairly gasping for breath, he did +not dare to make a reply, but he hurried out into the open air with +quickened steps. + +Chancing to glance down the street he received another shock greater +than the first. + +Crossing the main street he saw Dean Mercer! + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +TIM DEMANDS HIS DUES. + + +Rodney Darringford was never so frightened in his life. He was puzzled, +too. + +Was it possible the _Spray_ had not been burned after what Tim had said? + +The man in the bank had certainly spoken honestly, and he said he had +been on board that morning. + +If further proof was needed, the fact that Dean Mercer was alive +furnished it. + +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. + +Tim was waiting for him expectantly at the room at the hotel. + +“Got it?” he demanded breathlessly. + +“Yes,” gasped Rodney, pale and unnerved. + +“All of it?” + +“Every dollar.” + +“Glory! We’re, we’re millionaires! You and I will divide even. What’s +the trouble with ye?” + +In a few words Rodney told what he had heard and seen. + +Tim was scarcely less excited than Rodney, as soon as he had become +familiar with the situation. + +“It can’t be that Daley and Spofford hev played me a trick.” + +“What if Dean Mercer goes to the bank? They will be after me!” + +“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.” + +“Yes,” assented Rodney. “It will be best to find out if the _Spray_ has +been burned or not.” + +“I’ll find out in a jiffy. Ye jess stay right here till I come back.” + +“You will have to hurry, Tim, if we go back on the _Warrior_.” + +“Don’t b’lieve I shall go back,” replied Tim. + +The speech pleased Rodney, who felt that he would gladly get rid of his +associate. + +“Will you stay here?” + +“Not if I know myself. Too tame. I’ll go somewhere else, and with my +money I’ll start in business.” + +“Well, come back and tell me what you learn of the _Spray_.” + +“Reckon I shall come back as long as you hev my money. Let’s divide +now.” + +“Wait till you get back. Come! hurry and find out all you can. Also +when the _Warrior_ will start back to Millville.” + +Tim did not offer any reply to this, but immediately left the hotel. + +It seemed like a long time to Rodney, as he waited impatiently and +anxiously to learn the truth, before Tim Downey returned. + +The latter’s countenance told before he had spoken a word the result of +his trip. + +“The _Spray_ 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.” + +“Pretty mess you have made of it,” declared Rodney. + +“Give me my share of the money--quick!” + +“Are the officers coming?” asked Rodney in alarm. + +“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.” + +Rodney began to count out the money that he had received from the bank. + +“There’s your half of the check. I ought to have more than half seeing +I did the work, and mighty risky----” + +“Now, the half of the other,” broke in Tim, almost savagely. “Ye move +awful slow, and the _Warrior_, I forgot to tell ye, starts in ten +minutes.” + +“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.” + +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. + +“Ye hevn’t gin me a square deal, Rod,” he declared. + +Rodney Darringford turned pale, exclaiming: + +“I have, Tim. That is,” he added, “there’s all that belongs to you. +As long as you didn’t burn the _Spray_, I have just kept back the two +hundred dad paid you. I will hand that to him.” + +Tim Downey’s face was black with rage. + +“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!” + +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. + +“Hand it over, Rod Darringford, or I’ll choke the life out’n ye!” + +“Yes, yes!” stammered Rodney. + +“I want my half of thet divvy, and I’ll hev it, too.” + +He got it. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +A vision of magnificent extravagance overcame him. He forgot the low +estate of his companion in crime. + +“Tim!” he said exuberantly, “what are you going to do with your money?” + +“Spend it.” + +“Where?” + +“In Columbus. Do you suppose I’d stay in this dead town?” + +“No.” + +“No; too risky for me.” + +“I’ll go with you.” + +“Bully!” + +“I’m sick of work on the steamer. Besides, I’m afraid we might be +suspected if we were seen with all this money.” + +“Right you are!” + +“So I’ll go with you.” + +“When?” + +“When you say.” + +“To-night?” + +“Can’t you wait until to-morrow?” + +“What for?” + +“I want to see my folks and make some kind of an excuse for leaving +Millville.” + +“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.” + +So they separated, Rodney to go on board the _Warrior_, and Tim to +visit one of the saloons of the city. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A TELEPHONE MESSAGE. + + +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 _Spray_, +realizing that he was its commander, he felt as if his life work had +truly begun. + +Without dreaming of the work of his enemies, he was extremely happy. + +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: + +“Fine seas to ye, admiral.” + +“A return of the compliment, Mr. Carboy,” replied Dean, gravely, +purposely imitating the manner of address of the other. + +“Reef yer sails!” fairly roared Jack. “Ship yer picter, ain’t I tol’ +yer never to _mister_ ol’ Jack Carboy?” + +“Haven’t I told you not to _admiral_ me?” + +“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.” + +“I know it, Jack,” replied Dean, as he grasped the sailor’s hand. “You +and I will get along famously together. + +“I suppose we are to start at ten o’clock. Now, that I have fixed up +the matter with the builders of the _Spray_, 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.” + +“Aye, aye, lad, sharp.” + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 not felt +any great uneasiness. But now she suddenly became alarmed. + +“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. + +“Let us hope he is safe. Perhaps he has gone to see his father with the +good news.” + +“He would have come to me first. Oh, my boy! my boy!” + +“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.” + +“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----” + +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 _Warrior_, and +his disappearance was shrouded in mystery. + +So Dean Mercer went on board the _Spray_ with a heavy heart. In the +short time he had known Marcus Ellison, he had come to regard him as a +friend, and the other’s sad story had awakened his pity. + +News of the new steamer _Spray_ 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. + +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: + +“By the horn of Neptune!” he stormed, “here’s a gale! Ship ready to +sail and no skipper.” + +“Blow your trumpet, you water-soaked old salt, and be hanged,” +exclaimed a bystander. “Where under the sun did you get washed in here?” + +Jack Carboy glowered upon the speaker with a look of contempt, +murmuring as he moved away something about a “pollywog in a mud puddle.” + +Then he hailed with joy the return of “Captain Mercer,” and +preparations for the start of the _Spray_ was no longer delayed. + +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. + +Colonel Darringford, still under the influence of liquor, witnessed +these demonstrations. + +“That boy!” thinking even then of his bargain with Tim Downey, “he has +betrayed me. Hallo, Rodney! Where are you going?” + +“On board the _Warrior_, governor, of course. What a fuss they make +over that new boat. I can’t see that she is more than an ordinary tub.” + +The _Warrior_ 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. + +The _Spray_ 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.” + +The grandest sight was when they reached Millville. 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. + +Some one, determined that a reception fitting the occasion should be +made, hastily got the members of the local band together, and when the +_Spray_ came in sight of the wharf, it seemed as if the whole town had +poured out to meet it. + +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. + +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. + +“Will Dean come up here?” asked Eva. + +“Pardon me, my child, but Captain Mercer. Doubtless he will pay us his +respects.” + +“I cannot quite get into the habit of calling Dean ‘captain’,” replied +Evaline. + +“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?” + +“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. + +“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.” + +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. + +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. + +The crowd had dispersed somewhat from the scene at the water’s edge, +but the band was still playing as Dean, proud, yet timid in the midst +of these honors, was met by Judge Oglesby and his family. + +“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.” + +“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.” + +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 _his_ +life. + +Before more could be said, Mrs. Oglesby interrupted them by saying: + +“There is a call at the telephone from Springfield, Martin.” + +“Some trifling business matter. Do not let it interfere with the +happiness of this occasion while I answer it.” + +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. + +“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. + +Suddenly a vague fear came into the heart of Dean Mercer, as he +hastened to reply: + +“I did, Judge Oglesby. That is, one of the firm came aboard the _Spray_ +and I paid him there.” + +“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?” + +“Mr. Sewall himself.” + +“Then it must be all right. I will explain.” + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +UNDER SUSPICION. + + +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. + +“Yes, he is here,” finally said the judge. “I will have him come to the +’phone if you wish.” + +A moment later he said to Dean: + +“They would like to talk with you, Dean. I do not understand this at +all.” + +Dean quickly stepped forward, and as he placed the receiver to his ear +the voice asked: + +“Are you sure Captain Mercer paid the money to Mr. Sewall?” + +“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.” + +“Impossible, Captain Mercer. This is Brown talking, and Mr. Sewall is +present. He says he was not on board the _Spray_. We did not think it +was necessary to run after the money, as we knew Judge Oglesby was able +to pay.” + +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. + +“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.” + +“Hello, is this the Atlas Bank?” he called, a few minutes later, after +securing a connection. + +“It is.” + +“Is Mr. Hume, the cashier, there?” + +“He is. Hold the wire a moment and I will call him.” + +“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. + +“Hello! I am Mr. Hume, Judge Oglesby. What is it?” said a voice at the +other end of the wire. + +“Has there been a check presented at your bank to-day signed by me, and +endorsed by Dean Mercer?” + +“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.” + +“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.” + +“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.” + +“I am not ready to think that. How long shall you remain in the bank?” + +“Half an hour.” + +“I may call you up again within that time. Good-by.” + +“Good-by.” + +“There is something wrong about this, but what, I cannot tell,” said +Judge Oglesby, as he hung up the receiver and turned to converse with +the anxious party about him. + +“I can see now I did wrong in paying the money to the man without +further proof of his identity,” acknowledged Dean. + +“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.” + +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. + +“I want to see Dean Mercer, if he is here,” cried Mr. Montague, as soon +as he could get his breath enough to speak. + +“Here he is to answer for himself,” declared the judge. + +“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. + +“I know it, Mr. Montague,” replied Dean. “I was coming to see you as +soon as I could. I did not have time to see Mr. Durand, or ’phone to +you.” + +“Why haven’t they been delivered, boy? Every day in this matter is of +vital importance.” + +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. + +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. + +The successful trip of the new steamer was overshadowed completely by +these unexpected matters. + +“I must go down on the _Spray_ to-morrow morning,” affirmed Judge +Oglesby. “I shall sift this affair to the bottom.” + +“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 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.” + +“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 _Spray_, +where I am needed.” + +“Yes; do not fail in your duty there,” said the judge. + +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. + +The finger of suspicion was pointed at him. + +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: + +“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.” + +“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.” + +“Do not anticipate final disappointment, Dean. Remember misfortunes are +but opportunities to test our ability to conquer.” + +Her words came to him like a prophecy, and through all of his trials he +often recalled them. + +Nothing further was learned to throw any light on the situation, and +promptly the following morning the _Spray_ was ready to return to her +destination at the other end of the lake. + +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. + +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. + +“Where is the _Warrior_? I could not see her as I came on board,” +remarked the judge. + +“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.” + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE RACE BETWEEN THE STEAMERS. + + +“Confound this infernal fog! Look ahere, pilot, can you see anything of +that new steamer?” + +“Not yet in sight, colonel.” + +“That does not say she is not within beam’s length.” + +“What’s that you are saying, Colonel Darringford?” + +“Is that you, Captain Bumpstead? Say, has the engineer got on all the +steam she will stand? This seems like a sail’s pace.” + +“The fastest we’ve made, colonel. The _Warrior_ has behaved +unaccountably well so far. God grant she may hold out until we reach +Springfield.” + +“How soon shall we make Landlock?” + +“In an hour, colonel, if we can keep up this speed.” + +“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?” + +The officer simply bowed, while the speaker sought his cabin. + +Captain Martin Bumpstead went directly to the pilot house, muttering +something about “when liquor is in, wit is out.” + +The above conversation took place on the _Warrior_ in the midst of the +greatest excitement that had ever come upon the old boat. + +Colonel Darringford, in the delirium of drink and the excitement caused +by the appearance of the rival steamer, had ordered that the _Warrior_ +make an early start in order to keep ahead of the _Spray_ and in +reaching Springfield first to show that she was the equal of the other. + +But owing to the fog slower progress had been made than might have been +accomplished under more favorable conditions. + +“Where are we now?” demanded Captain Bumpstead, as he gained the pilot +house. + +“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. + +“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.” + +“I believe I see the new steamer now!” broke in the lookout at this +juncture. + +Captain Bumpstead swore a round oath, as he demanded where. + +“A mile in our rear.” + +“We’re in for it,” cried the commander. “It all lies with you, boys.” + +“Give me all the steam I call for and I’ll rip the lake but I’ll get +the ol’ tub in ahead.” + +“The fog is lifting!” cried the lookout. + +“I am afraid that will make it no better for us.” + +“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. + +The _Warrior_ was plowing furiously through the water. + +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. + +So fifteen minutes passed without any material change in the situation, +except that the fog had continued to lift. + +The _Spray_ was now in plain sight to the lookout. + +“Is she gaining on us?” asked the captain, “or does it look so because +the light is growing better?” + +“We are holding our own, captain.” Under his breath he added: + +“But we shan’t long, now the fog has lifted.” + +For the next ten minutes the fog lifted so rapidly that the _Spray_ was +now in plain sight and bearing swiftly down upon them. + +“She’s gaining on us!” panted Captain Bumpstead. + +“Gaining, did you say?” cried a voice at his elbow, and he turned to +find that Colonel Darringford had reached the pilot house. + +“This is no place for you at this time, colonel,” said the captain. + +“It’s just the place for me, and I’m going to stay here till we have +run that hound out of the race.” + +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. + +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. + +“Blow her to perdition and be spiked, but I must hev more steam.” + +The _Spray_ 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 _Spray_ had not shown her best, he might have been more +hopeless. + +“She’ll make the Point first!” he exclaimed. + +“Then it will be her ruin!” thundered Colonel Darringford. + +The _Warrior_ was trembling from fore to aft, groaning like a huge +creature in its dying agonies. + +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. + +Almost before the commander realized it, the _Spray_ was abreast of the +_Warrior_! + +“We are lost!” he gasped. “She will win the right of way to the Point.” + +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: + +“The right of way is mine, and I am to cross your bows. Change your +course or shut down.” + +Dan Dame at his post on the _Warrior_ heard and understood. As reckless +as he was, he shrank from his foolhardy course. + +At that moment Rodney Darringford reached his father’s side, and as he +realized their awful peril, cried: + +“Come with me, father!” + +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. + +“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!” + +The next moment he gasped in a husky voice: + +“That madman will send us to the bottom!” + +Seeing the inevitable fate in store for both steamers, Dean Mercer +shouted: + +“Shut off the power! Reverse----” + +Jack Carboy, as true as steel, threw his giant strength to the lever in +a wild endeavor to save the steamer. + +Too late! + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE FATE OF THE “WARRIOR.” + + +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. + +Jack Carboy did his best to avert the catastrophe, and the _Spray_ +obeyed her master as only a perfect piece of mechanism could. + +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 _Spray_. + +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 _Warrior_ +and a swift sheering off of the _Spray_, and the collision was over. + +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 weaker craft was soon struggling helplessly in the +pathway of the other. + +Some of the passengers on the _Warrior_ were flung headlong into the +water; others jumped overboard in their alarm, while those who remained +on the decks were thrown in heaps together. + +Fortunately none was killed on the _Spray_, 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. + +But it was soon evident that the _Warrior_ would have to be overhauled +before she could run on another trip. + +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 _Warrior_ +had been taken on the _Spray_. + +As far as could be ascertained no lives had been lost. + +It was decided to try and get the _Warrior_ into the dock at Landlock. + +Rodney Darringford came on board the _Spray_, 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. + +“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.” + +No reply was made to this threat, and after temporarily repairing the +hole that had been made in the _Spray_, the steamer, with her double +cargo of passengers, once more steamed on her way. + +No one censured the conduct of the officers of the _Spray_. In fact, +many tried to find Captain Mercer to extend their praise for his +gallant conduct. + +He was closeted in his cabin with Judge Oglesby and Mr. Montague, so +that he was not to be seen for the present. + +“You behaved nobly, Dean,” declared the judge, dropping the official +form of address as he spoke. + +“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.” + +“The old seadog is a diamond in the rough. We can trust him. This will +probably make us an hour late at Springfield.” + +“Better lose an hour than our lives,” said Mr. Montague, though he was +as anxious to reach the city as his companions. + +Nothing further occurred to mar the trip to Springfield. A short stop +was made at Landlock, where the _Warrior_ would have to remain. + +So, leaving the veteran steamer slumbering at her dock, the _Spray_, +still carrying all of the through passengers, glided triumphantly on +her way. + +“It will be a month at least before the _Warrior_ 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.” + +“I suppose I am foolish,” thought the young captain, “but somehow I +wish Rodney Darringford had stayed with his father.” + +Colonel Darringford meanwhile, having urged his son to go to +Springfield and find Tim Downey, was devoting all of his time and +energies to swallowing huge potations of fiery liquor. + +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. + +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: + +“Five o’clock and the steamer at her dock here! Where is the crew?” + +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: + +“I am sorry, Colonel Darringford, but there ain’t no crew here but me +and the fireman.” + +“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!” + +The watchman looked upon the crazed speaker and then glanced toward the +shore. A few boys were 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. + +Colonel Darringford glowered upon him fiercely, and then yelled: + +“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.” + +Then, as if a new thought had come into his bewildered brain, he +demanded: + +“Where’s that new boat--that infernal----” + +“You mean the _Spray_, Colonel? She’s gone on to Springfield.” + +“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----” + +His rage making him speechless, Colonel Darringford made an attempt to +reach the watchman, muttering: + +“I’ll choke the life out----” + +In the midst of his incoherent speech he staggered 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. + +The whole scene would have been ridiculous had not its price been a +ruined manhood. + +Upon reaching Springfield, the first thing Judge Oglesby and Dean did +was to arrange for the needed repairs of the _Spray_, after which they +sought the bank officials to learn about the check that had been cashed +there. + +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. + +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. + +“I assure you we are not worried about the money, Judge Oglesby,” said +Mr. Brown. + +But there was more than the loss of money at stake. + +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. + +Late the following evening not a single clew had been found to settle +either of these mooted questions. + +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. + +At the small hour of one only a few belated wayfarers were abroad, and +a comparative silence lay upon the town. + +Then the stillness was suddenly broken by the most startling cry that +robs man of rest: + +“Fire--fire--fire!” + +The alarm had started down by the dock. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A LINK IN THE CHAIN OF MYSTERY. + + +“The _Spray_ is burning up!” + +This astounding cry awoke Judge Oglesby from a sound sleep. + +When he finally reached the pier the ill-fated steamer was beyond hope +of being saved. + +“Where is Dean--Captain Mercer?” he asked, excitedly, as he looked upon +the doomed boat which had held out so much promise to him. + +“He can’t be found!” replied a bystander. “He has been burned with the +steamer.” + +“Shiver yer toplight! Let go the anchor there. I’ll find the lad if I +die in the flames.” + +It took four strong men to hold Jack Carboy from rushing to what must +have proved certain death. + +“Be calm, Jack,” admonished the judge. “We shall find the boy safe and +sound. No doubt he has done his best----” + +“See him coming ashore,” said a bystander. “He ’peared to be running +away like a sneak thief.” + +“He fired the boat and then skipped,” declared some one else. + +But many believed that the missing youth had perished in the fire. + +The _Spray_ burned to the water’s edge, and the following morning only +the charred and dismantled hulk was left of the proud steamer. + +A search failed to reveal any trace of Dean Mercer. + +One man alone believed fully in the innocence of Dean. That was Jack +Carboy. + +Filled with the wild hope that “his lad” had somehow, and he could not +have explained how, gone home, he started for Millville. + +Judge Oglesby telephoned home, but, as he had expected, nothing had +been seen or heard of Dean. + +Judge Oglesby arrived at a definite conclusion soon. The _Spray_ had +been burned by an incendiary. + +Who? + +Where was Dean Mercer? + +By nightfall a terrible suspicion assailed the judge’s mind. + +On the morning of the third day after the fire, all Millville knew that +Dean Mercer had disappeared, taking with him, it was believed, nine +thousand dollars in stolen money. + +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. + +A reward of a thousand dollars was offered for the arrest of Dean, and +two thousand for the recovery of the money. + +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. + +Evaline was dumbfounded--crushed. + +“Oh, papa! it cannot be true!” she had gasped, pale with horror. + +“He never did it,” affirmed Lawyer Montague stanchly. + +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. + +Even Lawyer Montague at last agreed that the temptation of money had +been too much for Dean 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. + +“But what did he burn the _Spray_ for?” muttered the perplexed +Montague. “I can’t understand that, judge?” + +“Maybe he was hired.” + +“Who by?” + +“My rivals in business.” + +“Dean wouldn’t do that.” + +“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.” + +“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?” + +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. + +The money represented all that was possessed by Robert Ellison, a man +who had reposed the most implicit confidence in him. + +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. + +Ellison had just returned from a two years’ sojourn to far Western +mines. He had left his son, Marcus, in charge of his uncle. + +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. + +To his surprise, when he went to his uncle, James Conroyd, for his boy, +he found Conroyd in the worst possible humor. + +The latter stated that he had tired of caring for Marcus Ellison, and +had sent him adrift. + +“Why?” asked the amazed Ellison. + +“Because I did not hear from you.” + +“I wrote you and sent money for his care.” + +“I never got your letters!” snapped the ill-natured Conroyd. + +There was an angry interview, for Ellison was provoked at Conroyd’s +heartlessness. The crabbed, irritable nature of the latter became more +and more resentful, as Ellison charged him with heartlessness. + +They had a fierce quarrel, and Conroyd ordered Ellison out of his +house, and Ellison, wild with rage, vowed to “get even” with him. + +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. + +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. + +One chamber was empty. The missing bullet was found in James Conroyd’s +heart. + +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. + +The threatening letter that Ellison had written was also found. People +remembered his threats. + +In jail Ellison sent for Lawyer Montague, an old-time friend, and told +him the truth. He was innocent. Montague believed him. + +Ellison gave the lawyer his money, and engaged him to clear him from +the crime imputed to him. + +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. + +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. + +Montague believed that Manseur had murdered his employer to rob him, +and had taken advantage of his quarrel with Ellison, to involve the +latter. + +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. + +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. + +Old James Conroyd had sent him a letter telling him that the last he +had heard of Marcus was at 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. + +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. + +Montague and everybody else believed that Dean had made off with the +money. + +If he lost or destroyed James Conroyd’s evidence, or the other papers, +Ellison was doomed to the electric chair. + +Without the money Ellison could not fight his case successfully, but +Montague determined to replace the thousand dollars, if it beggared him. + +Then anxiously he began to advertise. + +Such items as the following appeared in the city papers: + +“D. M.--Return the papers and keep the money.” + +“D. M.--You will not be prosecuted if you return the Conroyd letter and +papers.” + +“D. M.--An innocent man is doomed if you lose or destroy the Conroyd +documents. For the sake of humanity, return them!” + +Thus a week went by. + +Drinking harder than ever, Colonel Darringford chuckled over the +downfall of a business rival and kept silent. + +His son, Rodney, and Tim Downey had disappeared from Millville. + +Judge Oglesby waited and hoped, and finally despaired of ever +recovering his stolen money. + +The officers of the law found not the slightest traces of Dean Mercer. + +The Conroyd papers were not returned, and Lawyer Montague gloomily +decided that his client was doomed. + +Where was the missing Dean Mercer? + +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? + +Where, indeed? Only the sinister plotters who had schemed for his ruin +could just then disclose the truth, and they were silent. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +BEHIND PRISON BARS. + + +A series of adventures had befallen Dean Mercer that seem unaccountable. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The reader already knows how Tim Downey decided to destroy the _Spray_ +and how he secured the co-operation of two former acquaintances and +desperate villains, named Spofford and Daley. + +These men were professional thieves. Tim had once gone with them on a +predatory excursion among the farmhouses near Millville, and when he +came to Springfield it was with the intention of joining fortunes with +them again. + +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. + +Tim saw that they did not get anything more to drink, and they managed +to get aboard the _Spray_ while Dean Mercer slept. The boy was +chloroformed, and while Tim set fire to the boat the others bore the +boy away. + +Dean Mercer knew absolutely nothing for hours and hours. When he awoke, +it was to find himself being roughly jolted in a wagon. + +His hands and feet were tied, and he lay in a pile of hay under a seat +on which he saw two men. + +“Help! Where am I?” + +One of the men, Daley, leaned back and glared at Dean with a savage +scowl. + +“Shut up!” he ordered. + +“Where am I?” + +“I’ll gag you if you don’t! Drive on, Spofford. There’s the place +yonder, among the trees.” + +To say that Dean was amazed, would be to express his emotions faintly. + +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? + +The manner of Daley boded no good intent in his movements. + +Dean was silent. He tried to think out the bewildering mystery of the +moment, but vainly. + +“Here, boy, you drink!” + +As the wagon came to a halt, Daley sprang over the seat and held a +flask to Dean’s lips. + +“I am not thirsty.” + +“Drink, I say.” + +“I won’t.” + +“Then I’ll make you.” + +Daley did make him, and Dean wriggled and twisted vainly as the man +forced some burning liquid down his throat. + +He moaned feebly as his senses seemed reeling once more, and he knew +that some powerful drug had been administered to him. + +“Is he all right?” asked Spofford. + +“I guess so,” replied Daley, who watched Dean until he saw his heavy +eyelids close. “Drive on.” + +“That’s the house ahead?” + +“Yes.” + +“Will we find Justice Mullern there?” + +“I guess we will. If he is in town we’ll wait for him. I don’t want to +take the case among people.” + +The wagon was driven close to the gateway to quite a pretentious +residence. + +Upon its veranda sat a red-face, stupid-looking man, and Daley, +springing from the wagon, approached him. + +“Good day, judge,” he said. + +Justice Mullern stared at Daley curiously. + +“Oh, yes, I know you now,” he said, after a pause. “You’re Daley.” + +“Daley it is, judge. I’ve got a case for you.” + +“What kind of a case?” + +“Burglary.” + +“Have to bring it to my town office.” + +“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.” + +Mullern flushed slightly. + +“Ahem! Yes, yes, well?” + +“It’s fifty now, and a plain case. In the wagon there is a boy.” + +“Your boy?” + +“My nephew,” lied Daley glibly. + +“Bad boy?” + +“Terrible!” + +“What’s he been doing?” + +“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.” + +“It’s sort of irregular?” demurred the justice. + +“Not at all. Who’s going to know the difference? You’re the law in this +district, ain’t you?” + +“I reckon I am.” + +“Take the case to town, and you make a few dollars in fees?” + +“Ye-es.” + +“Try it here, and it’s a fifty dollar note for you.” + +“There ought to be a jury?” + +“Nonsense!” + +“I might get in trouble.” + +“How?” + +“Irregular proceedings.” + +“We won’t say so.” + +“The boy?” + +“Send him to the reform school, and that’s the end of it. There’s your +money.” + +The justice’s last qualms of conscience seemed to vanish at the sight +of money. + +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. + +“Boy’s name?” asked Mullern finally, selecting a legal blank and a pen. + +“Robert Rawley.” + +“Age?” + +“Sixteen.” + +“Committed----” + +“Till twenty-one.” + +Justice Mullern wrote out a blank. + +“I’ve no court officer here to take the boy,” he said. + +“Just give me the document. I’ll deliver him over to the reform school +authorities.” + +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. + +“Got it?” asked Spofford, as Daley returned to the wagon. + +“Yes. Drive on to Epson Springs--the State Reform School.” + +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. + +“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.” + +“We’re used to that.” + +“Watch him closely.” + +“Never fear, we will,” answered the warden grimly. + +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. + +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. + +He called aloud for aid, for a light. The cold stone walls gave back a +derisive echo, and no one came to his aid. + +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. + +Dean tried to think, to theorize as to his situation, but life was a +blank for the past seventy-four hours. + +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. + +“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. + +The click of a lock awakened him. The door of the cell, a massive iron +gate, swung open. + +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. + +At him Dean stared eagerly. + +“Where am I? Is this a jail?” he cried. + +For reply, the man placed his fingers to his lips to indicate silence. + +“But I want to know!” gasped Dean. + +The man pointed to a framed circular. His finger rested on a certain +line. + +Gazing at it, Dean read that it comprised the rules and regulations for +the conduct of the prisoners in the State Reform School. + +One line read: + +“Any prisoner found conversing or signaling to others will be punished.” + +And then were enumerated the various penalties for the offense and its +repetition. + +“The State Reform School?” gasped Dean, white with dread and suspense. +“I am fifty miles away from Springfield!” + +The convict interrupted his excited soliloquy by touching his shoulder +and making a gesture that said: + +“Follow me!” + +Dean, thrilling with vague perturbation, accompanied him down the +corridor. At its end the man unlocked the door and urged Dean over the +threshold. + +At a desk sat a man writing, but not in prison uniform. A second man +caught Dean’s arm. + +“New prisoner,” he said. + +“What number?” + +“No. 301.” + +“Prisoner?” gasped Dean. “I am not----” + +“Silence!” ordered the man at the desk, “or we’ll put you back in the +dark cell.” + +“But, sir----” + +“You’ll have a chance to talk all you want to when you see the warden.” + +“Better keep quiet!” spoke Dean’s companion in a low tone of warning. + +Dean acted like a person in a dream. The truth had flashed over his +mind with a rude shock. + +Prisoner! + +Prisoner, for what? + +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: + +“301.” + +Then he led Dean to another door, opened it, pushed him though and +handed the iron check to a man in the room. + +The latter pointed to a barber’s chair. Dean groaned in anguish of +spirit. + +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. + +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. + +“I won’t put them on!” he almost shrieked. “I must talk, if you kill +me. I am no convict--no prisoner!” + +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. + +“For pity’s sake!” he gasped, “let me see the warden--anybody I can +talk to. I shall go crazy if you don’t. It is all a mistake--I am no +prisoner!” + +The man handed Dean the iron check and pointed to a door. + +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. + +“Are you the warden?” queried Dean, trembling with the emotions of the +moment. + +The portly man scowled at Dean, glanced at the iron check, wrote +something in a book, and said: + +“Stand erect, eyes down. You are here to listen, not to speak. Pay +attention!” + +Poor Dean was nearly crying. He dared not speak. He decided to wait +until the man had spoken. Then, he would appeal to him. + +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. + +“That’s your guide,” spoke the man finally as he closed the book. +“You will find a copy in your cell. Behave yourself and you may win +good-conduct time and privileges.” + +“One word, sir!” + +The warden had tapped a bell. + +“Well, what is it?” + +“I don’t understand it all, sir. I don’t know how I came here. I’m an +honest, respectable boy----” + +“Lower tier, north gallery!” + +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. + +“Oh, sir, please listen to me!” + +“Boy, if you want the dark cell again, keep on breaking the rules,” +interrupted the warden sternly. + +Blinded with tears, staggering, anguished, Dean Mercer followed the +convict the warden had summoned. + +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. + +“New prisoner?” he asked shortly. + +“Yes, sir.” + +“Let him work here then. We’re two short from sickness.” + +Just then the prison noon bell rang. + +Dean Mercer looked up at the man with the cane. + +“Can I speak to you, sir?” + +“What do you want?” + +“I wish to send word----” + +“Impossible.” + +“Or write a letter----” + +“’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.” + +A moan of anguish parted Dean Mercer’s lips, and then, like one doomed, +he followed the prisoners with leaden steps--a convict. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +HELPLESS AND HOPELESS. + + +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. + +The institution in which Dean Mercer found himself to be a prisoner was +noted for its severe regime. + +Once its doors closed on a convict the warden claimed that by the +legalized act he became dead to the outside world. + +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. + +They were used to protestations, threats, misrepresentations at the +place, and even had Dean told his entire story no one would have +believed him. + +“I am innocent,” a prisoner would say. + +“Ah! indeed?” + +“Unjustly sent here.” + +“Sorry; but we are not a court of inquiry. We don’t try your case.” + +“The judge was bribed to send me here.” + +“Can’t help it. You’re here. Our duty is to see that you stay here +until your term expires.” + +And that ended it. + +Or---- + +“Can I write a letter to friends?” + +“On letter day.” + +“It is important.” + +“On letter day.” + +And that ended it, too. + +The first night Dean Mercer slept in the narrow, confined cell to which +he was apportioned, he thought he would go mad with anxiety. + +He had always led a free, roving life. Imprisonment was torture. + +Worst of all, he was unjustly incarcerated, and he saw that he was +unable to send word to friends. + +He now knew for a certainty that he was the victim of a plot, and the +possible object and results tormented him. + +He chafed and wept, and the grim, silent walls seemed to mock his +misery. + +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. + +“Hold your cell door when locking, push it open at the signal,” sternly +ordered a guard to Dean. + +The convicts, some six hundred of them, were marched to a room with +long tables. + +As they passed them by, each boy would seize a large cup containing +coffee, and as much bread as he cared for. + +Then, returning to their cells, they would dispatch this rude breakfast. + +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. + +Here a guard with a heavy cane kept a cat-like watch over the boys +under his charge. + +Dean did as he saw the others do, and worked as a welcome deviation +from monotony, to occupy his mind. + +Finally some visitors passed by. Dean chanced to glance at them as they +passed on. + +“Number 301,” spoke the guard, sternly. + +“Yes, sir.” + +“You looked up just now?” + +Dean looked guilty. + +“Next offence--the solitary.” + +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. + +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. + +Then he would write to his friends and tell them of his strange +imprisonment. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +There was no guard here. Only the sentinel on the wall above kept an +occasional watch over them. + +Dean thrilled, as about noon the first friendly voice he had heard +since entering those gloomy walls fell on his ears. + +A boy near him, while pretending to be tying up a rose-bush, spoke in a +low tone to Dean. + +“You’re the new one!” he whispered. + +“Yes.” + +“Thought so. 301?” + +“That’s my number.” + +“What are you in for?” + +“I don’t know.” + +“Oh! pshaw.” + +“I don’t; they call it larceny or burglary, but I didn’t steal +anything, or break into anybody’s house.” + +“Didn’t larce?” chuckled the boy. + +“No, I didn’t!” + +“Nor burgle?” + +“I don’t know how.” + +“Come off the perch! What are you giving me? You look a regular tough +one.” + +This conversation, slangy and careless, disheartened Dean. + +His next prison acquaintance struck him more favorably. He proved to +be a pale-faced, sad-looking boy, who whispered to Dean as the guard +walked down the wall, and they were unobserved. + +“Ain’t you cell 44?” + +“I think so,” responded Dean. + +“I thought so. Are you onto the ventilator?” + +“The ventilator?” asked Dean in surprise. “What about the ventilator?” + +“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.” + +“Who’s in the next cell?” asked Dean. + +“Don’t know. He’s a new one. Escaped from some institution, and was +caught and brought here.” + +“How do you work the ventilator?” + +“It lifts out. Hist! The guard is watching us.” + +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. + +“Hist!” he whispered. + +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: + +“What is it? Who calls?” + +“Take out your ventilator,” said Dean, “and then we can talk.” + +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. + +“Hello,” said the unknown. + +“Hello,” replied Dean, “thought you might like to talk a little. It’s +pretty lonely here.” + +“Who are you?” asked the other boy. + +“My name is Dean Mercer.” + +“What! Dean Mercer? How came you here Dean?” cried the unknown, raising +his voice to a dangerous pitch in his evident excitement. + +“And who are you?” asked Dean quickly realizing that he was talking +with some one who knew him. + +“I’m Marcus Ellison!” + +It was only by a great effort that Dean kept from crying out in +surprise. + +“Marcus,” he whispered. “How came you here?” + +“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.” + +“It’s the same way with me.” + +“What happened?” + +“I don’t know.” + +“Don’t know?” said Marcus in surprise. + +“No. I went to sleep on the _Spray_, 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.” + +“Strange. And you do not know who is responsible?” + +“No; as I say, I did not know the men who had me captive.” + +“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. + +“You lost them?” + +“They were stolen from me by the men who captured me.” + +“But they were officers, weren’t they?” + +“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! 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?” + +“A paper?” + +“Yes, a newspaper.” + +“I thought they only let you read the library books?” + +“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 +_Journal_, 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.” + +“Thank you.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +STRANGE MYSTERIES. + + +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. + +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. + +He looked over the paper with deep interest. + +“Hello!” he gasped. “Marcus will see this. It is worse than ever. What +does all this muddle mean?” + +It was veritably a muddle to Dean Mercer, the allusions in the paper he +read to his own case, some vague, some definite. + +The first thing he saw was an item from Springfield. It read: + + “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 Springfield lawyer. + These proofs, they aver, have disappeared with the messenger, and time + is asked to find him and procure them.” + +The next item startled Dean still more deeply. It appalled him. It +seemed as if a network was closing in upon him. + + “The owner of the lake steamer, the _Spray_, 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.” + +“The _Spray_--burned!” gasped Dean. “Is this another plot, all these +strange happenings? What is this?” + +It was one of Lawyer Montague’s advertisements: + + “D. M.--Keep the money, but for humanity’s sake, return the proofs of + R. E.’s innocence! + + M.” + +“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!” + +This last discovery overwhelmed him. He knew the worst at last--knew +the full extent of what had happened since he last saw the _Spray_. + +He was a thief, a fugitive--disgraced, condemned by all reputable +people! + +“It’s awful!” + +Yes, and mystifying, too. Dean Mercer felt like beating at his prison +walls and demanding release. + +He was falsely accused; circumstances had encircled him in the deepest +guilt. His good name was gone forevermore. + +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. + +The night must break some time--patience! patience! + +Gradually a calmer sense of hopefulness and confidence ensued. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +TALK OF ESCAPE. + + +“No. 301!” + +“That’s me,” murmured Dean. + +“No. 1017!” + +“Here, sir!” spoke Marcus Ellison. + +Both boys looked concerned, and exchanged glances. They mutually feared +that the broken ventilator had been discovered, but they were mistaken. + +“Report to the warden for duty,” ordered the guard, and he passed on. + +The two boys went to the office. The warden regarded them carelessly. + +“You understand gardening, you two,” he said. “The guard reports +excellent work. Do you like it?” + +Marcus answered for both. + +“Yes, sir.” + +“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.” + +“Thank you, sir.” + +“Deserve the favor, that’s all. It’s the easiest and pleasantest work +in the place.” + +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. + +About one o’clock it began to rain. Marcus told the sentinel of the +warden’s order. + +“All right,” he said. + +“What luck!” ejaculated Dean as they entered the tool shed. “Here we +can talk unwatched and undisturbed.” + +“Yes, but talk low.” + +“And you sort of watch out for fear some one might come upon us +unexpectedly.” + +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. + +And they talked as they worked, casually at first, but finally Dean +said, in an explosive tone of voice: + +“Marcus!” + +“Well, Dean.” + +“No chance to smuggle out a letter from here?” + +“I fear not.” + +“We must wait until letter day?” + +“Yes.” + +“And that will be?” + +“In three weeks.” + +“And then?” + +“It may or may not go, just as the deputy warden pleases.” + +Dean looked worried and thoughtful. + +“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.” + +“Who could have robbed you?” + +“It must have been done by enemies of my father. You, too, are the +victim of a plot.” + +“Who could have so worked against me?” + +“I could find your enemies easier than I could mine.” + +“I have no enemies.” + +“None at all?” + +“A few boyish foes, maybe, as all boys have.” + +“Who are they?” + +“Why, I suppose about the only boys at Millville who really dislike me +are Abner Littleton----” + +“Much?” + +“He wasn’t very bad, but Rodney Darringford----” + +“Go ahead,” said Marcus thoughtfully. + +“And Tim Downey----” + +“Are they chums?” + +“N-no. Say, Marcus!” exclaimed Dean with a start, “what makes you ask +me that question?” + +“Answer me! Are they chums?” + +“Not exactly; but, come to think of it, they both owe me a grudge, and +they were on the same boat--the _Warrior_--that brought Jack Carboy and +myself from Millville to Springfield.” + +“Ah! they were, eh?” + +“Yes.” + +“Note anything suspicious?” + +“Not particularly.” + +“Anything not particularly?” + +“They spoke to one another.” + +“What else?” + +“I thought I saw Rodney give Tim some money.” + +“And the Darringfords hate Judge Oglesby, don’t they?” persisted the +shrewd Marcus, a growing suspicion in his excited eye. + +“They don’t like him.” + +“And his new steamer would hurt their business?” + +“Immensely.” + +“I thought so. Dean Mercer, those boys had a hand in the burning of the +_Spray_. When we get away from here we’ll try and find out.” + +“Eh?” + +“When we get away.” + +“When we do!” + +“Which will be soon.” + +“You’re joking!” + +“I ain’t.” + +“Get away from here?” + +“Yes.” + +“Escape?” + +“Escape.” + +“That will not be very soon, I fear,” sighed Dean dejectedly. + +“Oh, yes, it will!” replied Marcus with a strangely excited face. + +“If we only could!” + +“We can.” + +“But----” + +“Have you pluck?” + +“Lots of it.” + +“Endurance?” + +“Try me.” + +“Then we’ll escape!” + +“When?” + +“To-night!” + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +DIGGING THEIR WAY OUT. + + +Dean Mercer stared at his companion in startled wonderment. + +“To-night?” he repeated vaguely. “Escape from here to-night?” + +“Yes,” reaffirmed Marcus deliberately. + +“But the guard--the walls?” + +“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?” + +“Am I?” cried the excited Dean. “Oh! if we only could escape! Look +here!” + +“No; look there!” + +Marcus had pointed to one corner of the tool shed. A large round wooden +cover lay there. + +“What is it?” asked Dean curiously. + +“A well cover.” + +“And the well?” + +“Was dried up long ago. I peered in to-day. There’s the first move +toward escape!” + +Dean Mercer was greatly excited as Marcus detailed his hopes and plans. + +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. + +“Dig? Where to?” asked the dubious Dean. + +“To liberty.” + +“How?” + +“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!” + +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. + +“Sort of damp and cold here, ain’t it, boys?” he asked. + +“We don’t feel it, sir,” replied Marcus. + +“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.” + +Marcus looked disappointed, and Dean realized that their schemes were +nipped in the bud, for that day at least. + +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. + +“Get all the bread you can,” whispered Marcus as they went for their +supper and then to their cells. + +Then they were again at the ventilator, in low and cautious tones +discussing the vital theme of the hour--escape. + +Marcus had a determination that even Dean could not equal. + +“Get more bread in the morning and stow it in your clothes,” said +Marcus. + +“What for?” + +“We may need it.” + +“In the well?” + +“Yes.” + +“What’s your plan?” + +“We will probably be sent to the garden in the morning.” + +“I suppose so.” + +“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.” + +“What’s that for?” + +“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.” + +“I understand.” + +“We get into the well with the shovels at once.” + +“Yes.” + +“And begin work.” + +“But we will be missed?” + +“At noon probably.” + +“And search be made?” + +“I expect that.” + +“They may look in the well.” + +“Possibly.” + +“And then?” + +“We can wait, then.” + +“We will be safe in the tunnel we have dug by that time.” + +“But we can’t escape until dark?” + +“We can wait, then.” + +“And if they discover us----” + +“We’ve tried our best, that’s all, and that ends it!” replied Marcus +philosophically. + +“To the garden!” was the order of the two boys the next morning, and +Marcus led the way toward it. + +“Wait!” he whispered. “Now, then, the sentinel is walking in the +opposite direction.” + +“To the tool house?” + +“Yes.” + +The boys reached the shed. Glancing from its window Marcus said: + +“He never saw us. Now then, off with the cover!” + +This was removed. + +“Throw in the shovels.” + +This, too, was done. + +“Get in!” + +“It’s terribly, dark!” + +“So much the better.” + +“And close!” + +“We must stand that!” + +Five minutes later the two boys were at the bottom of the well, and +Marcus had in his descent pulled the cover into place. + +They at once attacked the side of the well, removing the loose bricks +and mortar, and then digging west, covered them up with the earth. + +By noon, although nearly suffocated and pained from their position, +they had dug some fifteen feet to the west. + +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. + +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. + +No one seemed to visit the well. They had no indication as to the fact +that their escape had been discovered. + +What had really occurred was that the warden had that day gone away +until evening. + +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. + +At six o’clock the warden returned, however, and the boys were missed. + +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. + +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. + +All the evening the quest was kept up, but it proved to be a fruitless +one. + +About an hour after dusk Marcus Ellison uttered a gasp of relief and +excitement. + +His spade had pierced the ground over his head. The dirt rained down +over them and he looked up and peered around. + +The grim walls of the prison showed near at hand, the road beyond, and +at its edge a thicket. + +“We must creep or run across the road without the sentinels on the +walls seeing us,” he said to Dean. + +“Can we do it?” + +“Yes; the darkness favors us.” + +“I am ready!” + +“Come on!” + +They made a quick dash across the road and paused in the shadow of the +trees beyond. + +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. + +“Safe!” murmured Marcus in thrilling tones. + +“Free!” breathed Dean wildly. + +Then they sped through the forest, and the distant lights of the reform +school faded further and further away. + +In the eyes of the law they were fugitive criminals, seeking to baffle +justice. + +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! + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE FLIGHT FROM PRISON. + + +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. + +“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.” + +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. + +“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.” + +“Or west?” + +“Exactly. Once we cross this waste we come to the marshy lowlands along +the river, and beyond that 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----” + +“A week or two?” repeated the dismayed Dean. + +“Yes.” + +“Lose all that time?” + +“From what?” + +“From--from----” + +“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?” + +“That’s so, but if I could once reach my friends----” + +“They wouldn’t dare to recapture you?” + +“No.” + +“You think so?” + +“I do.” + +“You are very much mistaken. You don’t think far enough, Dean; you +believe too fully in human nature. Why, your friends all believe you +to be a thief.” + +Dean sighed dejectedly. + +“If you dared to go back to Millville or Springfield you would at once +be arrested.” + +“And convicted?” + +“Circumstances are against you.” + +“But I could prove----” + +“What?” + +“That I was carried away.” + +“How?” + +Aye, how, indeed? Dean Mercer confessed that his companion had thought +further than he had. + +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. + +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? + +Who would believe his story? He was adjudged a thief, and---- + +“Oh, what shall I do? What shall I do?” he moaned in actual distress as +his true situation dawned upon him. + +“Work out your own salvation?” cried Marcus heroically. + +“How?” + +“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.” + +“Can we remove that risk?” + +“You shall see,” replied Marcus confidently. + +It was about two o’clock in the morning when for the first time since +leaving the vicinity of the prison they rested. + +In the near distance a whole host of fireflies seemed to line the +landscape near the river, but Marcus soon explained what these were. + +“A charcoal camp,” he said. + +“Where they burn the wood?” asked Dean. + +“Yes. Now, then, you wait here. I want to reconnoiter a little.” + +Marcus was gone for over an hour. When he returned he bore quite a +large bundle. + +“Come on,” he said. + +“Where to?” + +“Into the swamp. We mustn’t be seen here.” + +“Weren’t you seen?” + +“No.” + +“But the bundle?” + +“Clothes.” + +“Clothes?” repeated the mystified Dean. + +“Yes.” + +“Where did you get them?” + +“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.” + +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. + +“No one likely to follow or find us here,” he laughed. “We’re safe at +last. This is our home for a day or two, Dean.” + +“We’ll starve!” + +“I guess not. Come! a shelter first, and then sleep. I’m dead to the +world.” + +“So am I.” + +They soon built a sort of hut out of branches and reeds under a tree, +and then sunk into an exhausted slumber. + +“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. + +Marcus had matches, and directed Dean how to make a fire without much +smoke. + +Then he went off on an exploring expedition, and returned with a +triumphant shout, bearing some kind of fowl in his hand. + +“What is it?” queried the amazed Dean. + +“A wild duck.” + +“You killed it?” + +“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?” + +They enjoyed the repast immensely. + +“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.” + +An hour later they had indeed altered their personal appearance +wonderfully. + +The old blue canvas suits and begrimed faces gave the boys the look of +regular charcoal burners. + +They saw the last vestige of the shameful livery of crime, the prison +suits, consumed to ashes. + +Before abandoning his, however, Marcus drew from various pockets +several articles. + +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. + +“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.” + +The mustaches had been made by pasting individual pieces of hair upon a +piece of buckskin from the prison glove shop. + +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. + +“Now, then,” said Marcus, “we had better stay here until to-morrow.” + +“And then?” + +“Proceed slowly and cautiously west.” + +“Toward Springfield?” + +“Yes, quite near to it, first.” + +“Have you some definite point in view?” + +“I have. Wait till we leave here, and I’ll tell you all about it.” + +They caught some fish for supper with a thorn fish-hook, and were +undisturbed in their hermit-like occupation of the island that night. + +“We’ll start on now,” said Marcus the next morning. + +He glanced over a piece of paper in his hand as he spoke. + +“What’s that, Marcus?” asked Dean curiously. + +“A memoranda from the prison register.” + +“Where did you get it?” + +“Copied it when I was in the library sorting garden seeds.” + +“What is it about?” + +“You.” + +“Me!” ejaculated Dean surprisedly. + +“Yes.” + +“Why----” + +“It’s the chronicle of your case.” + +“Read it.” + +Marcus did so. + +Dean listened interestedly. + +It ran: + + “Convict No. 301: Name, Robert Rawley; charge, burglary; term, five + years; complainant, James Rawley, uncle; committing officer, Justice + Mullern; county, Wayne; township, Daleford.” + +“Well, well!” gasped Dean. “Robert Rawley! Does that mean me?” + +“I reckon it does.” + +“Uncle James Rawley?” + +“Yes.” + +“I’m stunned.” + +“I ain’t.” + +“You make it out?” + +“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.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +MARCUS BECOMES A DETECTIVE. + + +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. + +“Our interests are mutual,” the first resumed, “and by working together +I believe we can outwit our enemies and obtain justice.” + +“You have some plan, Marcus?” + +“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.” + +“I have no definite idea of even the way we came.” + +“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.” + +“Marcus, you are developing traits that are decidedly of the Sherlock +Holmes order. At any rate I am going to let you take the lead in this +matter.” + +“Only for the present. I happen to know a boy in Daleford, and we will +try and find him.” + +At nightfall the two boys reached an eminence, two miles beyond which +lay the peaceful hamlet of Daleford. + +They had not sought to hide from passers-by on the road thither. + +“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. + +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. + +“Did you find your friend?” asked Dean anxiously, when Marcus returned +after the lapse of an hour. + +“Yes, and he didn’t know me. He don’t know me anyway by my right name.” + +“No?” + +“No; I lived with a farmer near here once named Grant, and people got +calling me Bob Grant, my 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. + +“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.” + +Marcus’ friend loaned them some money, and the boys bought food at the +country store and camped in the woods at night. + +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. + +When Marcus came back his countenance was wreathed in smiles. + +“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 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.” + +“That is news worth waiting for,” declared Dean. “What next?” + +“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.” + +Half an hour later Marcus Ellison boldly rang the door bell of the +Mullern mansion. + +A servant answered the summons. + +“I wish to see Justice Mullern,” explained Marcus. + +“This way.” + +The justice sat at his desk in the library writing. He stared +wonderingly at Marcus’ uncouth figure. + +“Well, boy?” he frowned. + +“Are you Judge Mullern?” + +“I am.” + +“I wanted to find a gentleman you know, sir.” + +“Who is he?” + +“His name is Daley.” + +The justice started and looked alarmed. + +“Who?” he demanded huskily. + +“Daley.” + +“Don’t know him.” + +“Oh, yes, you do, judge,” replied Marcus audaciously. + +“You insolent----” + +“Hold on, judge.” + +“How dare you?” + +“I know you know him, and there’s no use denying it,” said Marcus +firmly. “See here, judge, there’s trouble.” + +“Trouble--trouble?” stammered Mullern vaguely. + +“Yes, sir.” + +“For who?” + +“For you.” + +“What do you mean?” + +“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.” + +Justice Mullern was very pale now. He stammered and reflected, and then +said: + +“Daley lives in Springfield. I think he once told me at Boyer’s Hotel.” + +“Thank you, sir.” + +“Hold on.” + +“Well, sir?” + +“What--what trouble is anticipated?” asked Mullern uneasily. + +“None for you, I reckon, if I see Daley.” + +“Sure?” + +“I reckon not,” and Marcus, with a chuckle of delight, hastened to the +spot where Dean was waiting for him. + +They chatted cheerily as they followed the road toward Springfield, +which they reached the next morning, just before daylight. + +“Don’t you feel afraid to go about the streets here?” asked Dean +timidly. + +“No; we’re safer in the busy, crowded city than in the country,” +responded Marcus. “Besides, we are safe anywhere in our disguise.” + +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 _Spray_. + +It had an all-night saloon in the basement, and rooms overhead, and +both boys decided that it was a resort for loafers and rough characters. + +They went boldly down into the basement. There was a sign outside which +read: “Coffee, 5 cents; coffee and rolls, 10 cents.” + +“We’ll buy a lunch just to look around,” said Marcus. + +The place was crowded, and no one seemed to pay any particular +attention to them. + +The boys dispatched their breakfast and then sat down at a table in a +dark corner of the saloon. + +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. + +“I had better make some inquiries,” said Marcus finally. + +In an ante-room to the rear they could discern that a lot of men were +playing at cards. + +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. + +“Where’s Spofford?” he asked of the bartender. + +Marcus and Dean observed the man closely. They felt an intuition that +he would interest them, and his query for Spofford was indicative of a +further knowledge of Daley. + +“In the cardroom, Daley,” replied the man at the bar. + +“It’s our man--it’s Daley!” murmured Dean Mercer excitedly. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +ON THE TRAIL. + + +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. + +He went straight to the door of the room behind the main apartment and +tried the door. + +It was locked, but he knocked vigorously, and then, as it was opened, +he called in to the crowd gathered about a card table: + +“Spofford, come out here!” + +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. + +Thus the boys could not see the men, but Marcus, by tilting back in his +chair, could hear what they were saying. + +“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.” + +“Pshaw! I’ve got to pass the time some way.” + +“Then do it sleeping--you’ll need it before we end this affair.” + +“Is it settled?” + +“Yes.” + +“Found your man?” + +“I have.” + +“Where?” + +“Ask no questions. The work will come soon enough. The last affair +about that boy----” + +“Rawley?” + +“The _Spray_ 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.” + +“Near here?” + +“A brief journey. So I’ve made inquiries. I believe we can break into +his strong box and carry off a fortune.” + +“When do we go?” + +“About noon.” + +“Need tools?” + +“Yes, and the best, and a boy, too.” + +Some of this conversation Dean overheard distinctly. The allusion to +Downey, undoubtedly Tim Downey, startled him greatly. It verified the +shrewd suspicions of Marcus. + +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. + +They were bad men, common criminals, and they now meditated a new +crime--burglary! + +They intended, their conversation showed, to break into some rich man’s +house for the purpose of theft. + +Marcus believed that their share in the abduction of Dean Mercer had +been that of hired emissaries. They were not the principals. + +“We want a boy, eh?” muttered Spofford. + +“Yes.” + +“What for?” + +“To climb in at a window and unfasten the door to the house we are +going to rob.” + +“Well, we can find one.” + +“Where?” + +“Oh, there’s lots of them.” + +“Not experts, and not to be trusted, though,” replied Daley. “I wish we +had Downey.” + +“Yes, Tim was a good one.” + +“Anyway, you try and find one.” + +“Are you going?” + +“Yes.” + +“Where?” + +“To get some satchels. I intend to leave the country if we make a big +haul to-night.” + +“When will you return?” + +“About noon.” + +“All right.” + +Daley left the place, and Spofford, after seeing him fairly away, +returned deliberately to the card room. + +The two boys looked at one another curiously. The parts of the +conversation Dean had not heard, his companion explained to him. + +“We are getting along famously,” declared Marcus. “Now for a bold push +and we will come out with flying colors.” + +“Shall you have the fellows arrested?” asked Dean. + +“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.” + +“Name it.” + +“You notice that precious pair of scamps want to get a boy to help +them. I am going to apply for that job.” + +“Will it do?” + +“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.” + +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. + +“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.” + +“What for?” + +“So we won’t seem to be together.” + +“Is that necessary?” + +“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 with Spofford, watch out for any note that I may write you, +or follow us wherever we go.” + +“All right,” answered Dean, a little dubious of his own skill as a +detective. + +“I may go away with them.” + +“On their robbing excursion?” + +“Yes.” + +“You’ll get in trouble?” + +“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.” + +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. + +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. + +Marcus devised a speedy plan for approaching Spofford and engaging him +in conversation. He took bold risks, but he succeeded in his venture. + +He went to the next table and sat down opposite to Spofford. + +“Say, mister,” he said, “could you help me to a few cents?” + +“Eh? Who are you? What did you say?” muttered Spofford, arousing +himself from a fit of abstracted thought. + +“I’m in hard luck.” + +“Why don’t you work?” + +“What at?” + +“Your trade.” + +“They don’t pick oakum here,” said Marcus. + +“Hey?” and Spofford started intelligently. “So you’re a graduate, eh?” + +“Yes.” + +“From the reform school?” + +“I am, for a fact,” replied Marcus, affecting a brazen recklessness. + +“Aha! and need money, and out of work?” murmured Spofford reflectively. + +“That’s just it.” + +Spofford studied the grimed, ragged specimen of humanity before him +keenly. + +Marcus chuckled to himself. He had completely deceived Spofford, he +felt sure, and he knew what the latter was thinking about--hiring him +to help him in his schemes of robbery just as Marcus had planned. + +“See here, boy,” he said finally, “what’s your name?” + +“Call me Bob--Bob Grant.” + +“Can a fellow trust you?” + +“What about?” + +“Oh, in a little work.” + +“What kind of work?” + +“Well, making money.” + +“At cracking a box? Ha! ha!” + +“I guess you’ll do,” said Spofford. “Are you willing to come along with +me, help me and ask no questions?” + +“That suits me!” replied Marcus briskly. + +“All right. Be ready at noon. Here’s some change to buy food if you +need it.” + +Then Spofford, after handing Marcus some silver coins, arose and left +the place. + +The latter went over to where Dean was seated, and explained what he +had done. + +“I’m to go with them at noon,” he said. + +“Where?” + +“I don’t know.” + +“Am I to follow you?” + +“Yes; keep us in view. Something will develop. You keep us in sight.” + +“I’ll try to.” + +About eleven o’clock Spofford returned to the place. He went up to +Marcus and said: + +“We’re ready. Come on!” + +They left the place together and Dean followed them at a distance. + +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. + +He glanced sharply at Marcus and then gave him the satchels to carry, +while he walked ahead with Spofford. + +Finally the two men paused and entered a small shop. In front of it +stood a stagecoach, and Dean at once recognized it. + +It was one of the coaches owned by Squire Littleton, and ran to and +from Springfield and Millville. + +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. + +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. + +Dean was dismayed and anxious. He scarcely knew what to do. These men +were going to Millville, or at least in that direction. + +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. + +In no other way, however, could he keep the men in sight, as Marcus had +told him to do. + +“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.” + +“Ticket to Blue Pond.” + +“Twenty cents.” + +The agent never noticed Dean, except as a stranger. + +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. + +“All aboard!” sang out the driver. + +“Hold on, Jerry.” + +Dean thrilled vaguely. + +From the stage office at that moment a boy, dressed in the height of +fashion, ran out. + +It was Abner Littleton, son of the man who owned the stagecoach line. + +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. + +The coach started on its journey. + +“Where will this adventure end, I wonder?” mused the bewildered and +anxious Dean. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +AT MILLVILLE AGAIN. + + +The stagecoach left Springfield behind, and reached the first outlying +station without incident. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +“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.” + +It took all the money that Marcus had given Dean to pay the fare of the +latter the remainder of the journey. + +At one place, five miles from Blue Pond, Dean had a great shock. + +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. + +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. + +“Say, Abner?” Dean heard the driver ask as the journey was resumed, +“Millville is pretty dead nowadays, eh?” + +Dean pricked up his ears, hoping that the conversation might afford +some information about friends he longed to hear about. + +It did. + +“Yes,” drawled young Littleton, “since Tim Downey went away there’s no +rows, and since Rodney Darringford cut out, life ain’t worth living.” + +“Ha! ha! Why not?” + +“Oh, there’s no one for me to annoy with new clothes and fine jewelry.” + +“Where did Rodney go?” + +“Blamed if I know.” + +“It’s sort of mysterious.” + +“Not very. You see, since the burning of the new steamer and the +accident to the _Warrior_, 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.” + +“Sho! but won’t that knock this old stage higher’n a kite.” + +“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.” + +“Can’t they get any trace of him?” + +“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.” + +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. + +It was a sorry homecoming--disguised and disgraced. + +The coach made a more rapid journey than usual, and due at Millville +at eight o’clock, it rounded the last hill at the limits of the village +at dusk. + +“Stop the wagon!” ordered a voice from the inside, that Dean recognized +as that of Daley. + +“Want to get off here?” demanded the driver, checking the horses. + +“Yes. Hand down the satchels!” + +Dean did not dismount. He decided that such a move might arouse the +suspicions of Daley and Spofford. + +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. + +“I’ll ride on to the first line of timber,” he decided, “and then get +off where they cannot see me.” + +“Who are they?” asked Abner Littleton of the driver. + +“Dunno.” + +“Strangers?” + +“I reckon. Hello! Look there!” + +Dean looked, too. + +Walking in the timber, and with rather unsteady steps, were two +familiar figures. + +“Yes,” laughed Abner, “my governor and the colonel.” + +“Why, I thought they were bitter enemies?” exclaimed the driver +amazedly. + +“They were.” + +“But----” + +“Affliction makes friends!” + +“How’s that?” + +“Well, you see, since Judge Oglesby talks of running a railroad----” + +“Yes.” + +“It means ruin to both the stage line and the lake steamers.” + +“Sure!” + +“Therefore, dad and the colonel have joined forces to try and outwit +Judge Oglesby.” + +“And seem to have been celebrating it?” + +“Yes, they are a little over the bay,” replied Abner, the graceless. +“They are scheming to beat the judge.” + +“Can they do it?” + +“Yes.” + +“How?” + +“They intend to buy narrow strips of land all around the lake, and when +the judge tries to get the right of way for his railroad, block him in +a dozen places.” + +“Ho! ho! clever schemers, eh?” + +“I should say so.” + +Dean Mercer dropped from the coach noiselessly, and glided to the +timber. + +Neither the driver nor Abner Littleton noticed his departure. + +Glancing ahead amid the gathering dusk, Dean could see Daley, Spofford +and his friend Marcus Ellison, just entering the old hut by the river. + +“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.” + +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. + +Both were slightly intoxicated, and turbulent and maudlin. + +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, +and Dean’s best friend and benefactor, Judge Oglesby. + +“Well, squire,” maundered Colonel Darringford. “It’s all settled, eh?” + +“You bet,” hiccoughed Squire Littleton. + +“We combine to beat the judge?” + +“Anything to beat Judge Oglesby.” + +“He’ll run no railroad.” + +“Not if we know it.” + +“He can’t kill off our valuable business interests?” + +“No, sir-ree.” + +“If he does, squire----” + +“But he won’t.” + +“If he tries it----” + +“Well, colonel?” + +“We’ll--we’ll do something desperate. He tried to run a boat, ha! ha!” + +“And it was burned.” + +“Yes, and Tim Downey----” + +“Hey?” + +“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----” + +“Smash he goes.” + +“You bet. No railroad for us.” + +The two men staggered to their feet, and soon left the woods. + +Dean stood staring reflectively after them. + +“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 +_Spray_? I can’t believe it.” + +But the more that Dean reflected on the developments of the day the +more suspicious he became. + +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. + +“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.” + +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. + +Dean secreted himself in a pile of dead brush, and kept his eyes on the +cabin. + +One--two--three hours passed monotonously by. + +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. + +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. + +“I wish I could hear what they are saying. I wish I knew their plans,” +murmured Dean. + +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. + +“No need to tell the boy anything about our plans until we arrive on +the ground,” Daley was saying. + +“Bob Grant?” + +“Yes.” + +“All right. Are you ready?” + +“Yes, I guess so.” + +“We’ll bring the tools?” + +“We may need them.” + +“Where is the house?” + +“Over near the lake.” + +“Rich man?” + +“Very.” + +“Money in the house?” + +“Lots of it, Tim said.” + +“Who is he?” + +“Judge Oglesby.” + +Dean Mercer now knew the plans of the robbers. + +They intended to rob his benefactor, the judge. + +By a singular combination of circumstances, Dean Mercer was enabled to +warn and save from pillage the man he was accused of robbing himself. + +Dean acted on impulse. + +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. + +As the men reëntered the cabin, Dean Mercer dashed off on a keen run in +the direction of the palatial house of Judge Oglesby. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +WORSE AND WORSE. + + +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. + +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. + +Daley went away toward the village, after lighting a lantern taken from +one of the satchels. + +Then Spofford produced a lunch, invited Marcus to partake of it, and +then lighting his pipe, proceeded to examine the contents of the +satchels. + +They contained a variety of burglars’ tools for forcing doors and the +like, and Marcus inspected them curiously. + +Several times he endeavored to engage Spofford in 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. + +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: + +“Come on, Bob; we are ready.” + +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. + +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. + +Thus he would be forced into crime, as he had not contemplated. + +The men would execute their iniquitous designs of burglary, would +secure the money they coveted and 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. + +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. + +“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.” + +So he trudged along with them. + +“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. + +Marcus recovered and replaced them in the pocket of the coat. + +“See here, Daley,” said Spofford. + +“Well?” + +“When we get through here, what’s the programme?” + +“New York--Europe.” + +“That is, if we get a heap of money?” + +“Yes.” + +“And if not?” + +“Springfield again.” + +“Why not Downey?” + +“Tim?” + +“Yes.” + +“I never thought of that!” + +Marcus listened intently. + +“There’s money in it, Tim says,” continued Spofford. + +“Yes, his letter to me says so.” + +“Do you believe him?” + +“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.” + +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. + +They scaled a fence and approached a house. It was enveloped in +darkness, as if its inmates were asleep. + +“There’s the small window in the pantry,” said Daley. “The boy is to +creep through it and unlock the door beyond.” + +“In with you, and be cautious,” ordered Spofford. + +Marcus was compelled to obey. He placed the satchel and the coat on the +ground, and was hoisted through the window. + +Daley held a dark-lantern after him, so that its rays kept him in sight. + +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. + +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: + +“Here! not that door--this one!” + +Marcus unlocked the outside door. + +“You’re a good one!” murmured Daley. “Now go outside under the window +and keep watch, and warn us if anyone comes.” + +“All right!” replied Marcus relievedly. + +“You, Spofford, turn the key in the inner door. Stay here, and I’ll go +in quest of the cash.” + +Marcus Ellison, the minute he was outside and out of sight of the two +men, did not delay a moment. + +He seized the satchel and overcoat and dashed as fast as he could run +for the nearest house. + +Its lights showed him the way. Glancing in through its windows, he saw +that some kind of a social gathering was in progress. + +He did not wait to ring at the front door bell. Dashing in, he +electrified the people in the parlors with the announcement: + +“Burglars have just broken in at the big house next here! Hurry up and +catch them!” + +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. + +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. + +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. + +By warning the judge, Dean realized now he might upset all Marcus +Ellison’s plans--perhaps involve Marcus in trouble and arrest. + +So, waveringly, he waited, and as he saw the two burglars and Marcus +appear, trembled with direful apprehension. + +“They may murder the judge,” gasped Dean. + +He ran around to the library. To his surprise, he found a window up a +few inches, although the inside blinds were closed. + +Dean pushed the window up and opened the blinds. He now stood in the +library, and began groping his way about in the dark. + +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. + +Halfway across the room he paused. Some one seemed just to have entered +the room. + +Dean uttered a startled, cry as this person brushed against him. + +A hand seized his throat. + +“Who are you?” a gruff voice demanded. + +Then the intruder flashed a dark-lantern from under his coat. + +It was Daley. The clothes Dean wore were of precisely the same material +as those of Marcus Ellison. + +His appearance completely deceived the excited burglar. + +“I thought I told you to stay outside?” he growled. + +“I--I----” + +“Be cautious. Follow me, I’ve got the box of cash.” + +He had put up the lantern again, but not before Dean saw that in his +hand he bore a small tin box. + +A desperate resolve came into Dean’s mind. Through him, though +innocently, Judge Oglesby had already lost a small fortune. + +The tin box probably contained several thousand dollars. + +“I’ll rescue it. I’ll give the alarm, come what may,” breathed Dean +excitedly. + +With a quick move, the venturesome boy placed his impulsive plan in +operation. + +He glided forward and suddenly wrenched the tin box from the hand of +the amazed Daley. Then he dashed for the next room. + +“You scoundrel! What do you mean?” + +“Thieves! murder! help! help! help!” + +In ringing tones the wild alarm echoed on the silent air of the house. + +Dean ran recklessly forward. Daley, confused at his strange +proceedings, yet suspicious and alarmed, stumbled after him. + +Overhead suddenly sounded footsteps and alarmed voices. + +Crash! + +Dean Mercer came to the floor with a shock. He was pinned there, held +there by some heavy object. + +A light glowed in the hall, then in the next room. He made out Daley, +raving and baffled, hastening from the house. + +A strange accident had happened to Dean Mercer. He had run against a +marble pedestal, holding a rare and expensive urn. + +This had upset, and falling on him, held him pinned to the floor. + +He now tried to extricate himself. He tore himself loose, and clinging +to the box of money, arose to his feet. + +At that moment the judge and several members of his family, alarmed, +terrified, rushed into the room. + +Dean was terribly excited. + +“Judge! judge!” he gasped, “the burglars have fled.” + +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. + +“Dean Mercer!” exclaimed Judge Oglesby. “Is it possible you have sunk +to this?” + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +DEAN MERCER IN JAIL. + + +It would be impossible to describe the consternation and alarm that +overwhelmed Dean at the words of Judge Oglesby. + +He essayed to refute the terrible charge, and could not speak. In a +flash, he saw the position he was in. + +Disguised, already branded as a thief, he had been found by the judge +with a box of valuables in his hand. + +The real thieves had escaped. Who would believe Dean Mercer’s story of +the true facts of the case? + +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. + +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. + +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. + +“Worse and worse!” wailed Dean, utterly crushed and frightened. “Oh, +this is terrible!” + +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. + +The town marshal came in. He glanced at Dean with a stern face. + +“Well, boy, you’re in a pretty bad fix,” he said. + +“I am innocent, sir!” he gasped wildly. + +The marshal shrugged his shoulders incredulously. “Don’t try to lie out +of it,” he said harshly. + +“But the real burglars----” + +“Nonsense! a fiction!” + +“Can I see Judge Oglesby?” + +“He don’t want to see you.” + +Dean was left to himself again. + +An hour went by--two. The jail became quiet and deserted again. + +“Hist--Dean! Dean!” + +Dean Mercer could scarcely believe the evidence of his senses. + +From a barred window some one had spoken his name. He approached it and +peered forth. + +The window looked out on the rear of the jail lot. There stood Marcus +Ellison. + +“Marcus!” gasped Dean. + +“Yes. Hist! don’t talk. We have work to do. I know all about it. +There’s only one thing--escape!” + +“But they believe me guilty?” + +“Stop talking, I tell you,” persisted Marcus. “You are lost if you +don’t escape before daylight.” + +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. + +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. + +“I--I do not believe I had better do it, Marcus,” he finally said. + +“Do what?” + +“Why, run away from here--break jail.” + +“Oh, fudge! it isn’t breaking jail in the real sense. You are innocent, +you know.” + +“Then I need not fear the result if I stay.” + +“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.” + +“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.” + +“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. + +“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.” + +“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.” + +“I know it, Marcus, and I shall never forget it.” + +“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.” + +“I know it, Marcus. But don’t take any more chances for me. I am +resolved to stay here and meet my fate.” + +“Then it’s because you haven’t the sand in you I thought you had. Good +night and pleasant dreams.” + +“Good night, Marcus. I wish you well. Take good care of yourself.” + +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. + +“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.” + +With these far from pleasant thoughts, Dean sank back upon his rude +couch, but not to sleep. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +“It’s Jack Carboy!” exclaimed Manly. “I am so glad he is coming.” + +“So am I,” declared Eva. “Among them all he seems to be the only one +who has faith that Dean Mercer is innocent.” + +“Besides you and me, sister.” + +“Yes, Manly. But I can’t understand this last affair.” + +“Avast there, shipmates, I mean, lad and lass,” greeted the newcomer. +“These air hard seas to sail.” + +“What is the trouble now, Jack? And what has brought you here so early?” + +“The b’y, lass. Is it true they hev run down his sloop and moored him +here in this landlocked harbor?” + +“You mean Dean Mercer, Jack?” + +“Ay, ay, miss. I heerd o’ it. He’s in prison. Lass, he hain’t done +nothing to deserve this.” + +“I believe it, Jack. What can be done to save him?” + +“Throw a rope to leeward.” + +“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?” + +Half an hour’s consultation followed during which Eva got a more +complete account from Jack Carboy of the burning of the _Spray_ than +she had ever obtained before. At its conclusion she said: + +“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. I do not believe he thinks Dean wholly to blame. Come, +Manly, let’s go at once.” + +Having come to this decision Eva started immediately to visit the +lawyer at his office, accompanied by Manly and Jack. + +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. + +“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.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +CRAZY MEG’S MARK. + + +Let us see what that pair of young schemers, Tim Downey and Rodney +Darringford, are doing all this time. + +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. + +“Life is too slow and risky here,” Tim had remarked, “and we would be +suspected if seen with all this money.” + +It was, indeed, a large amount for two boys to handle. + +The boys left Springfield with the idea of going to Columbus, but did +not. + +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. + +“What for?” asked Tim. + +“To cut a dash.” + +“Who’s there?” + +“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.” + +“All right, I’m willing,” assented Tim. + +Both boys had rigged themselves up in the finest of clothes, and the +amount of gaudy jewelry that Tim wore was enormous. + +They tired of the humdrum life at Eagle Cliff in a day, and both +decided to go on to Columbus. + +“Suppose we drive there, and take in the fair at Chester and the races +at Dover on the way?” suggested Tim. + +“All right.” + +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. + +They drove recklessly, and in crossing a narrow bridge were so +precipitate that they crowded several boys standing there to its +extreme edge. + +One little fellow fell over into the stream and was with difficulty +rescued, but the indifferent Tim and Rodney only laughed at the anger +and indignation of the boy’s companions. + +Late that afternoon Tim Downey and his companion arrived at a place +called Ridgeton, where they lingered long enough to get quite +intoxicated. + +The tavern keeper bluntly told them that they were not in a condition +to pursue the journey, and that the horses were nearly exhausted. + +“We’ll load up with a dozen bottles of champagne and go on to the fair +at Chester,” persisted Tim. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Tim, angry at the slow progress of the horses, lashed them with the +whip. The animals became frightened and unmanageable. + +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. + +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. + +To his stupefied mind, at last came the light, and he groped around and +tried to make out his surroundings. + +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. + +About the only dry thing about him, except his parched tongue, was the +inside of his tin match safe. + +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. + +Four of the bottles in the basket were intact, and Tim drained one +feverishly. + +“Here, wake up, Rodney!” he shouted to his companion, shaking him +vigorously. + +“Eh? Lemme be!” + +“Wake up!” + +“Won’t!” + +But Tim maliciously switched Rodney until he aroused to wakefulness. + +Then he gave him a bottle of wine, pocketed the two others, and taking +up the carriage lamp, said: + +“Come on!” + +“Where are you going?” asked Rodney irritably. + +“To find shelter. We’re in an awful fix.” + +“Yes--clothes are spoiled.” + +“And rig wrecked. It will cost us something.” + +“If the man ever sees us again, yes. Ha! ha!” + +The remaining wine buoyed up the flagging spirits of the two reckless +boys and made them forget the chill and rain. + +They floundered in and out of the swamp and finally reached the higher +ground. + +No lights showed anywhere. + +Finally, between two hills where the uplands began, Rodney said: + +“We’ll stay here.” + +“Oh, no!” + +“Must; I’m tired.” + +“But it’s raining!” + +“Don’t care.” + +“We must find shelter.” + +“Find it, then! I’m comfortable here,” replied Rodney obstinately. + +Tim went on a little way. He made a discovery, and shouted back to his +companion: + +“Come on, Rodney!” + +“What’s the matter?” + +“Found a cabin.” + +“All right.” + +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. + +Tim entered it. The carriage lamp showed a bare interior, a broken +bench, a stool, a three-legged table and an enormous fireplace. + +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. + +He soon had a rousing fire in the fireplace, and found the door that +had been broken off its hinges outside and propped it into place to +keep out the wind and rain. + +“Come, Rodney,” he said to his sleepy companion, “take off some of your +clothes and spread them out to dry.” + +Rodney reluctantly obeyed, and Tim did the same, and their coats, +vests, hats and shoes and stockings were soon steaming before the fire. + +“Where’s your money, Rodney?” asked Tim. + +“In my pocket.” + +“Hand it out.” + +“What for?” + +“Take it out and see.” + +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. + +The new, crisp bills were matted together and discolored so much that +he looked alarmed. + +“Same way with mine,” said Tim. “We’ll have to separate and dry them.” + +“You do it. I’m sleepy.” + +“No; you must do your share,” retorted Tim. + +They soon had the broad stone in front of the fireplace covered with +the water-soaked bank notes. + +“Hello! these papers are pretty nearly done for,” said Tim, as he drew +a large envelope containing documents from his pocket. + +“What’s that, Tim?” asked Rodney curiously. + +“Some papers I took from young Ellison on board the _Spray_.” + +“What are they?” + +“Oh, something about the Ellison murder. They’re no good.” + +“Hold on.” + +Tim had made a motion as if to throw them in the fire. + +“What’s the trouble?” + +“Don’t destroy them.” + +“Why not?” + +“They may be important.” + +“They’d prove we were thieves if they found them on us.” + +“Well, dry them with the rest, and I’ll see what they are in the +morning.” + +“Just as you say,” and Tim spread the papers out to dry alongside of +the bank notes. + +It was a curious picture that the interior of the rude cabin presented +half an hour later. + +A fortune lay on the hearth, and near it slumbered the stupefied boys. + +The scene had an outside spectator, although the boys little suspected +it. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +“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!” + +Then the woman disappeared as silently as she had come to the cabin. + +It was broad daylight when Rodney Darringford awoke. He gazed around +stupidly. The door was out of place, and the fire was out. + +He looked startled as he glanced at the hearth, and recalled the night +previous. + +“Tim! Tim!” he cried. “Wake up. Say, did you gather up the money?” + +“What money?” + +“The bank notes we spread on the hearth to dry.” + +“Not I. They’re there.” + +“Well, they ain’t.” + +“What?” + +“No.” + +Tim sat bolt upright and stared blankly at the hearth. + +“You’re joking, Rodney?” + +“I ain’t.” + +“Just wake up?” + +“Yes.” + +“Wind blew them into the corner of the room.” + +“None there, and the door is down. Some one has been here.” + +“The money is gone?” + +“Yes, stolen.” + +“We’re beggars.” + +“Worse--thieves!” + +The worst was soon known. The money was gone. + +The only plausible theory was one admitting that some dishonest prowler +had discovered the money, and taken it. + +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. + +They donned their coats, and made a hasty scurry around the cabin, but +no trace of the thief or booty was found. + +Then they grew irritable, and fell to quarreling, and then again began +planning what they would do. + +“I’m dying of hunger,” said Tim, “and I’m going to find some place to +get something to eat at.” + +“Where?” + +“Portsmouth must be near here.” + +“Yes; only a few miles, I guess. I’m going back home.” + +“And leave me?” + +“We’ve got no money. We can’t even get a meal.” + +“Yes, we can. The thief has taken all our money, but I’ve got my +jewelry. I can sell that.” + +The boys finally left the hut. In an hour they came to a crossroads +tavern, beyond which lay the little hamlet of Portsmouth. + +The tavern keeper was busy at his bar arranging some bottles, when Tim +entered the place, followed by Rodney. + +“Say, mister,” he said, “can we get a meal here?” + +“I reckon so.” + +“We’ve got no money.” + +“No trust to strangers.” + +“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.” + +The landlord hesitated, but finally said: + +“I guess it’s all right. No games, now.” + +“Oh, no; you can keep the watch for security and send to town yourself, +if you like.” + +“No, I’ll trust you, only one of you stay here while the other goes for +the money.” + +“That’s all right.” + +“Sit down at one of the tables. I’ll order your breakfast for you.” + +The boys did so, removing their hats. + +As the tavern keeper came back with some dishes, he stared strangely at +them. + +“Hello!” he ejaculated. “So you’ve seen Crazy Meg, eh?” + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +A FRUITLESS SEARCH. + + +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. + +“What’s that?” demanded Tim sharply. + +“Crazy Meg, I say. You must have seen her!” + +“Who’s Crazy Meg?” + +“Don’t know her?” + +“I do not.” + +“Never heard of her?” + +“Never.” + +“You must be strangers hereabouts, then?” + +“We are.” + +The landlord smiled. + +“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!” + +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: + +“Yes, we were robbed, and you seem to know something about it.” + +“I can surmise,” laughed the landlord; “anyone hereabouts could from +your appearance.” + +Rodney looked mystified. + +“Our appearance?” he gasped. + +“’Zactly.” + +“How so?” + +“You’ve got the mark.” + +“What mark?” + +“Crazy Meg’s mark.” + +“What do you mean?” + +“Go, both of you, and look in the mirror yonder and see.” + +Both boys, impelled by a sense of mystery, hurried to a large +looking-glass near by. + +In amazement they discerned the blood-red X that showed prominently on +their features. + +They instinctively tried to rub it off. + +“You’ll have to scrub to do that,” chuckled the tavern keeper. + +Tim Downey was consumed with curiosity. + +“See here, landlord!” he said half angrily, “what does this mean?” + +“That Crazy Meg has seen you, I tell you.” + +“But we didn’t see her.” + +“Were you robbed?” + +“We were.” + +“When?” + +“When--when we were asleep in a cabin near here last night.” + +“That explains it, then.” + +“How?” + +“Well, she discovered you, robbed you and marked you, as she does +everybody she don’t like.” + +Then the man proceeded to tell what he knew of Crazy Meg. + +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. + +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. + +When she owned the world, she said, she would hire an army to go and +tear down all the cruel insane asylums. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 her army of men to burn up or tear down all +the insane asylums in the country. + +“She just lives around the hut you say you slept in out of the storm +last night,” said the tavern keeper. + +“Where can we find her?” asked Tim. + +“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. + +The eyes of the two boys met in mutual excited questioning. + +“Rodney!” exclaimed Tim, “there’s some hope.” + +“About the money?” + +“Yes.” + +“You mean?” + +“Crazy Meg.” + +“She certainly took it.” + +“Of course.” + +“And we must find her.” + +“We must.” + +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. + +They now set their wits to work to find Crazy Meg, as the sole object +of their lives. + +They even paid the tavern keeper’s boy ten dollars to assist them in +the quest. + +It proved of no avail. Here and there they got a trace of the crazy +woman, but they could not locate her. + +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. + +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. + +“It’s no use,” said Rodney one evening, after a day of fruitless +tramping, “the woman has disappeared.” + +“She’ll come back.” + +“We’ll never get our money.” + +“I don’t give up so easily.” + +“I’ve a good mind to go back home.” + +“All right; then you give up all claim on the money if you do. Wait +until my friends, Daley and Spofford, arrive.” + +“What will they do?” + +“Soon find crazy Meg, you can depend on that.” + +“Two gentlemen to see you, Downey,” said the tavern keeper, as the boys +entered the place an hour later. + +The landlord indicated a table where two men sat. + +“Daley and Spofford,” murmured Tim joyfully. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +RELEASED ON BAIL. + + +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. + +“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?” + +“Didn’t you say so, Jack?” asked Eva. + +“Rock o’ Gibraltar! it struck my bowsprit and knocked me over seas!” + +“There were indications that some one had set the fire?” + +“Beyond doubt, Mr. Montague. And the fumes that so nearly overpowered +Jack came from chloroform, which had been used to overcome Dean.” + +“So you think he was carried off?” + +“I do, Mr. Montague.” + +“Who could have done it?” + +“I cannot tell, sir.” + +“How can we find out?” + +“I would suggest that you go and see Dean and hear his story, Mr. +Montague.” + +“But last night’s work looks bad.” + +“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?” + +“I cannot tell. I never thought he would burn the steamer of his best +friend.” + +“Has it been proved that he did?” + +“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?” + +“Yes.” + +“What then?” + +“Will he be tried to-day?” + +“He will doubtless be given a preliminary hearing and if found guilty +bound over to appear at the higher court.” + +“And put back in jail?” + +“If he does not get bail.” + +“If he should get bail?” + +“He would be allowed his freedom until the time the court sits.” + +“Will you go and see him?” + +“Certainly. The State will allow him a lawyer. I will take care of his +case.” + +“Please accept my thanks, Mr. Montague. I shall want to see you as soon +as you return.” + +“You can see me here if you wish. I will not be gone over half an hour.” + +With these words Mr. Montague put on his hat and left the office to go +upon his errand. + +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. + +“Well, Mr. Montague?” she asked. + +“I am glad I went,” he replied. “The boy was glad to see me and I am to +defend him.” + +“What about his account of the burning of the _Spray_?” she asked +eagerly. + +“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.” + +“Which shows that my theory was correct. He was drugged and kidnapped. +Didn’t it prove so?” + +“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.” + +“He is. And I am going to make father furnish his bail.” + +“If you will I will do all in my power to save him.” + +“I thank you, Mr. Montague. I hope you did not tell him that I sent you +to see him.” + +“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.” + +“When will the hearing come off?” + +“At ten o’clock.” + +“Then I have no time to lose. I will see you as soon as I have won +father over to our side.” + +“I wish you success.” + +As the old lawyer watched his departing visitors, he murmured to +himself: + +“She is a brave girl, but she has undertaken more 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.” + +“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. + +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. + +“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.” + +“And he will save him?” asked Manly hopefully. + +“He will furnish his bail, which will give Dean his liberty for a time. +I am so anxious to hear his story.” + +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. + +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. + +Judge Oglesby, who had caused his arrest and was the complainant, +promptly furnished the bail which gave Dean his freedom. + +The public was agog then, wondering what it meant. + +Dean was the most surprised person of them all. + +“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.” + +“Thank you, sir, I will.” + +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, Manly and Jack Carboy, all of whom were profuse in +their congratulations. + +“I could not think you did it, Dean,” declared Eva. + +“I did not, Miss Oglesby, and what is more I hope to prove it.” + +“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.” + +“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.” + +“You have my wishes for your success.” + +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. + +He felt that he could work better alone, though he did promise to call +on Jack the moment he should be needed. + +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. + +The vital question for him to decide upon then was his method or way of +proceeding. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE SECRET ENEMY. + + +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. + +Prefacing his bitter speech with an oath he exclaimed to a bystander: + +“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.” + +Dean heard this cutting remark, but did not catch the reply. + +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. + +He knew the _Warrior_ was undergoing expensive repairs and had heard +that Colonel Darringford threatened to sue the owner of the ill-fated +_Spray_ for damages, but nothing had come of the threat. In fact, it +could be shown that the commander of the _Warrior_ had been in the +wrong. + +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. + +He found that a small gasoline launch would start in ten minutes, and +having nothing better to do he went aboard at once. + +Not over ten passengers could be accommodated, according to the rules, +and as Dean made the ninth person he considered himself fortunate. + +Dean Mercer had been aboard the little craft with the fanciful name of +the _Buoyant_ a few minutes, when half a dozen persons were seen to be +approaching at rapid steps. + +“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. + +By this time Dean Mercer was excited. The foremost person was Marcus +Ellison! + +“I want passage on the boat!” he cried. + +“No; it belongs to me!” shouted the man close at his heels. + +“By Jove!” cried the elated commander of the _Buoyant_, “it’s a +handsome race, but the lad has outrun you, sir. Old Cap’n Dodge is +detarmined to see fair play. The _Buoyant_ can’t take but one passenger +more, and he must be the boy.” + +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. + +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. + +“Full number of passengers; can’t take any more. Let on the power, +engineer.” + +“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.” + +The next moment the man came quickly aboard, and no sooner had he +stepped over the rail than the captain cried: + +“I can’t take you both. It’s agin’ the law.” + +“Put off the boy then!” cried the man. “I must and shall go. Colonel +Darringford says so.” + +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. + +“I was here ahead of him,” cried Marcus, “and if anybody gets off it +must be him.” + +By this time the crowd had reached the dock, and others, attracted by +the cries, had begun to collect upon the shore. + +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 _Buoyant_. + +The engineer had obeyed orders, and the boat was starting upon her trip. + +“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.” + +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 he had better remain silent, so the greeting he was +about to make was not spoken. + +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. + +Marcus had managed to get a seat near to his friend, and finally he +whispered: + +“Glad to see you, Dean, but we have got to be awful careful how we act +and what we say.” + +“What’s up?” + +“Notice that man who came aboard right at my heels?” + +“Yes.” + +“He’s Colonel Darringford’s spy, sent to watch you and get you into +trouble.” + +Dean started slightly, but managed to take the bit of news without +betraying any evidence of having been surprised. + +“How?” + +Five minutes later, Marcus found opportunity to whisper: + +“I overheard the colonel telling him he would give 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!” + +Another silence between the young friends lasted longer than before, +when Marcus said in the same cautious tone: + +“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.” + +“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. + +Five minutes later the _Buoyant_ 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. + +Dean and Marcus did not fail to see that Darringford’s spy was +watching them closely, though the boys had not sought each other’s +company. + +Dean had not gone far from the landing when the man accosted him, +saying: + +“Pardon me, young man, but may I ask a favor of you?” + +If surprised by the boldness of this request, Dean did not show it, +while he answered the other politely: + +“Certainly, if it is possible for me to do it.” + +“It is. You will stop in town to-night?” + +“I think I might fare worse, sir.” + +“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.” + +“I thank you, sir.” + +“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.” + +“But I have a little matter that needs my attention now. A little later +I will try and find the place.” + +Dean had discovered a couple of blue-coated officials in the distance, +who seemed to be waiting for some one. + +He quickly imagined that they were lying in wait for him! + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +MARCUS DISCOVERS A CLUE. + + +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. + +“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?” + +The sudden break in his speech was occasioned by the fact that the +officials had started toward them. + +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: + +“You don’t get away!” + +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: + +“Help! murder! thieves!” + +The officers stopped, looking wildly in the direction of the cries: + +“Help! I’ve got him!” came the voice. “Hel--lp!” + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Dean had not gone more than a square, when he heard Marcus say: + +“This way--quick!” + +Dean followed his friend, and the two sped across the town in the +direction taken by the crowd, but soon running at right angles. + +“There is a boat at the lower landing,” panted Marcus, “and we can get +it by running fast.” + +A launch, somewhat similar to the one they had come on from Millville, +was just about to clear the pier. + +“We are barely in time,” said Marcus, as he and Dean motioned for the +boat to wait for them. + +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. + +“Another minute, boys, and you would have missed us,” he greeted, +cheerily. “Want to go to Springfield?” + +“Yes, sir,” replied Marcus. + +A few minutes later, when he felt that they were safe from pursuit by +their enemies, Marcus said aside to his friend: + +“A close call.” + +“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.” + +“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 down here for the officers to be in readiness to arrest you +as an escaped inmate of the reform school.” + +“I did not think of that. I see his scheme. Do you suppose they will +telephone ahead to Springfield?” + +“No doubt; but forewarned is forearmed, you know. We’ll give them the +slip there.” + +The confidence of his companion gave Dean courage, and they continued +their trip to the city with good courage. + +“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.” + +“It is all forgiven, Marcus, if there was really anything to forgive. +But have you any plan of action when we get to Springfield?” + +“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.” + +“Who?” + +“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.” + +“That’s south of here.” + +“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.” + +“Do you think he has spent all of that money?” + +“I don’t know what to make of it. Read for yourself and tell me what +you think of it.” + +The letter read: + + “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.” + +“We?” said Dean, “then there are two of them?” + +“Yes.” + +“And they had the money?” + +“At least a portion of it.” + +“And the papers?” + +“It looks so.” + +“And they are at Portsmouth?” + +“Near there, or there, yes,” replied Marcus. + +“Will we go there?” + +“Yes, sir.” + +“When?” + +“To-night. Hold on, Dean, read the rest of the letter.” + +Dean did so. + +It concluded: + +“If you come, do it at once, or else we will go off on the search for +the money alone--me and my friend----” + +“Why!” cried Dean, as he read the name that followed, “the boy with him +is Rodney Darringford!” + +“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.” + +“If I can dodge the officers at Springfield.” + +“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.” + +“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.” + +“Where we must leave the boat. We have a long trip before us, but we +must show that we are equal to it.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +WHAT THE BOYS FOUND. + + +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. + +They lost several hours in looking around the village for some traces +of Tim Downey and Rodney Darringford. + +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. + +Tim Downey might plot against Dean to secure money, but the knowledge +that a representative of rival business interests to the _Spray_ 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. + +“We’ll soon know,” affirmed Marcus confidently. “Certain it is that +these boys took the money and the papers.” + +“But they have lost them?” + +“All the same they seem to know how to regain them. We must be prompt +and cautious, and we shall succeed in outwitting them.” + +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. + +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: + +“Downey, eh? He’s a wild one and in considerable demand just now.” + +“How so?” asked Marcus curiously. + +“Two men looking for him here to-day.” + +“Who were they?” + +“Strangers.” + +“Can you describe them?” + +“I’ll try to.” + +The woodchopper did describe them. + +“Daley and Spofford!” ejaculated Dean as they walked on. + +“Yes, it’s them.” + +“And here.” + +“The four plotters in the case, yes.” + +“We must be very cautious.” + +“I should say so; particularly with those two men,” replied Marcus. +“You see they have come here to help Downey.” + +“Do what?” + +“Something about the stolen money and papers.” + +“I wish I knew what.” + +“We must find out.” + +They did not venture near the crossroad tavern until toward dusk. + +Near it Dean waited in a thicket, while Marcus reconnoitered. He +returned shortly, and with a serious face. + +“Well, they’re there, Dean!” he responded. + +“I supposed they were. Is Rodney Darringford there?” + +“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.” + +“What’s up, now?” + +“See that boy?” + +“Coming whistling down the road?” + +“Yes.” + +“Who is he?” + +“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.” + +“What of it?” + +“Wait and see!” + +The boy came down the road. He stopped whistling as he observed Marcus +and Dean, and stared curiously at them. + +“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!” + +“Hello!” + +“Do you know the tavern people?” + +“Belong there.” + +“There’s two boys staying there?” + +“Yes.” + +“Named Danvers and Lance?” + +“No, they ain’t.” + +“What then?” + +“Tim Downey and Rodney.” + +“Rodney what?” + +“Dunno.” + +“Sure that’s their names?” + +“Yes.” + +Marcus had purposely led on to this conversation, to get the tavern +keeper’s boy to talk. + +“Who are they, anyway?” he asked. + +“They come from Springfield, I reckon. They got robbed near here a few +nights ago, and they’re looking for the thief.” + +“Why, how was that?” asked Marcus. + +“Well, you see, we have a woman living round here, named Crazy Meg.” + +“Yes.” + +“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. + +Marcus Ellison acted all through the interview as if he was only +casually interested in the boy’s story. + +“I reckon they won’t find Crazy Meg, if a sharp boy like you couldn’t +do it.” + +“They’re going to try, anyway,” replied the boy. + +“Indeed!” + +“Yes.” + +“When?” + +“To-night. The two men with the boys think they know all about the +country,” and then the boy walked on. + +“What luck!” cried Dan delightedly, the moment they were alone. + +“Yes, Dean, we know all about the case now.” + +“The money and papers are in possession of Crazy Meg?” + +“It looks so.” + +“And whoever finds her first----” + +“Probably gets them.” + +“We must!” + +“We’ll try,” responded the indomitable Marcus grimly. + +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. + +In their wake, at a safe distance, followed Marcus and Dean. + +“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.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +IN THE VALLEY. + + +“This is the way. Come on, Spofford. You boys want to hustle if we +expect to do any work to-night.” + +Daley spoke, and his auditors were not alone his three companions. + +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. + +“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.” + +“Well, we’re near it now; only a little further, I reckon,” responded +Daley to Spofford’s remark. + +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. + +The valley narrowed, then widened, circling out and forming a place +that bore a resemblance to a sugar bowl. + +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. + +“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. + +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. + +Then there was entire silence for over an hour, during which Dean and +Marcus awaited developments anxiously. + +They came at last. + +From some near spot on the cliffs overhead, suddenly and startlingly, +rang out a piercing shriek of insane, mocking laughter. + +Then at the point where the ledge of rocks descended, appeared a light. + +It was borne by a woman, elfish in face and form--Crazy Meg. + +She answered the description given of her by the tavern people too +accurately to be mistaken. + +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. + +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. + +At the lowest and last rock of the ledge and just within a few feet of +the lurking Daley she paused. + +Her eyes gleamed fitfully, and she glanced wildly all about her. + +“White witch, black witch, red, green, yellow, all of you, come here!” +she cried in shrill, unnatural tones. + +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. + +“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 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!” + +The weird effect of the words on the listening Dean and Marcus was +indescribable. + +They little dreamed the dark mystery that underlay the rambling +soliloquy. They were only startled, terribly awed at the mystic scene. + +Not so Daley. Evidently he thought only of recovering the stolen money, +and believed that the moment for action had arrived. + +Of a sudden he sprang up from his covert and grasped the woman’s arm, +with a quick order for help to his companion. + +“Woman, you are our prisoner.” + +A wild cry escaped the lips of Crazy Meg. + +She jerked her arm loose. She dashed the flaming torch direct in the +face of her captor. + +With a scream of pain and rage, Daley recoiled. Then, like a flash, +Crazy Meg dashed up the ledge and disappeared. + +“After her!” shouted Daley, frenzied with pain. + +“We can’t climb that ledge,” demurred Spofford. + +“Then hasten to the cliffs beyond here. Quick, she must not escape.” + +So electrified by all the exciting scene had Marcus and Dean been, that +they had not thought of their enemies coming suddenly their way. + +Before they could move aside or retreat, a strange thing happened. + +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. + +“What’s this?” gasped Daley aghast. + +“Spies!” + +“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.” + +Marcus Ellison stood condemned. Daley glared fiercely at him, then in +stupefaction at his companion, so like him in dress. + +“Dean, now run for it.” + +For once, in impulsive excitement, Marcus Ellison had done two unwise +things. + +He had counted confidently on being able to escape. + +He had inadvertently shouted out Dean Mercer’s real name. + +As he spoke he tried to trip Spofford up. The latter was too wary for +him, however, and the attempt failed signally. + +“Dean?” repeated Rodney Darringford, coming forward and staring at the +captives. “Tim, look at that boy.” + +Tim Downey peered sharply into the face of Dean. + +His suspicions aroused by Marcus’ words, he seemed to recognize him. + +“It’s Dean Mercer!” he gasped. + +“What?” cried Daley, “the boy we sent to the reform school?” + +“The same.” + +“Impossible!” + +“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?” + +The episode of the capture of the boys acted as a complete +divertisement from the quest of the hour, to the plotters. + +They secured both boys with ropes. They discussed their capture, the +mystery of their being there, and their possible motives, in low, +suspicious tones. + +“We’re in a bad fix, Dean,” whispered Marcus, as they lay side by side +on the ground. + +“I fear so.” + +“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.” + +“And that I would not be here if it did not mean trouble for him and +his friends.” + +Daley was indeed, mystified and suspicious. He could not comprehend how +Dean Mercer had escaped from the reform school. + +He talked with Tim confidentially, while he sent Spofford and Rodney to +scour the cliffs for some trace of Crazy Meg. + +“See here, Tim,” Marcus heard him say, “what does this all mean?” + +“What! Those boys?” + +“Yes.” + +“Trouble. That fellow Mercer has found out all our plans, that is sure.” + +“Maybe he’s told others?” + +“I don’t think he’d dare to--he’s afraid of being arrested.” + +“What shall we do?” + +“I know what I’m going to do.” + +“What is that?” + +“Make myself scarce.” + +“Not run away?” + +“Yes. Some time the truth will come out, and of course the burning +of the _Spray_ 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 +_Spray_, and Rodney cashed the check for the eight thousand dollars. I +shall make myself scarce.” + +“When?” + +“As soon as we recover the money from Crazy Meg.” + +“And these boys?” + +“Keep them prisoners.” + +“We can’t do that very long.” + +“Why not?” + +“It’s too much trouble.” + +“We can for a day or two, until we find this woman again.” + +“And then?” + +“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.” + +Just then Spofford and Rodney returned from an unavailing quest for +Crazy Meg. + +“No use to-night, Daley,” said Spofford. + +“We’ll wait till morning, then.” + +Two hours later the quartette was asleep, trusting to the stout bonds +that secured their captives to prevent their escape. + +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. + +Finally Dean spoke cautiously. + +“Marcus.” + +“Yes, Dean?” + +“Look there.” + +“Where?” + +“On the ledge.” + +“A moving figure?” + +“Yes.” + +“It’s the woman.” + +“Yes; it must be Crazy Meg.” + +In the dim light they watched breathlessly the stealthy form that began +to descend the ledge of rocks. + +It reached the last rock, and moved to where the boys were. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +IN OLD MEG’S CAVE. + + +“Don’t speak!” whispered a low voice. + +The woman leaned over and bodily seized Marcus, lifting him in her +powerful arms as if he were a mere child. + +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. + +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. + +She cut their bonds with a knife, and glanced fixedly at the boys. + +“Do you know me?” she asked. + +“Yes,” replied Marcus. + +“Who am I?” + +“They call you Crazy Meg.” + +“Ha! ha! Crazy! Yes, yes, they say so, and those men who tied you up +are bad men?” + +“Terribly bad,” replied Marcus. + +“They want to rob Meg?” + +“Yes. They stole a lot of money and you got it.” + +“Did I? Ha! ha! You must get away from here. Do you want to?” + +“Yes.” + +“Then follow me.” + +Meg led the way along a particularly dangerous cliff path. It ended at +a cave-like opening. + +“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.” + +“Thank you.” + +“Would you be bad enough to say anything about it or lead those bad men +here?” + +“No, indeed.” + +“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.” + +She took up and lit a pine knot, and bade her companions follow her, +leading the way through a dark, underground corridor. + +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. + +Piled around, too, were various articles, evidently the result of Meg’s +predatory raids on farmhouses. + +At one side was a small aperture in the rock, and chained to a ring in +the solid stone was a man laying asleep. + +“Come on! come on!” cried Meg excitedly. “Meg did not mean that you +should see her captain. Come, hasten!” + +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. + +They finally reached an opening some distance on. + +“You are now far away from the bad men,” said Meg. “Promise not to +betray her secrets.” + +“I promise,” said Marcus. “Can I say a word to you, Meg?” + +“What is it?” + +“Those bad men locked this boy up in a jail.” + +“Bad, bad. Bars, too?” + +“Yes; in a dark, cold cell.” + +Meg shuddered. + +“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.” + +The simple words seemed to affect Meg deeply. She was silent for +several moments. + +“Are you trying to deceive Meg?” she said. + +“No.” + +“It is his money?” + +“Yes, and there were some papers,” continued Marcus earnestly. “Meg, I +know your captain; he is a bad man.” + +“But strong, and he would kill the asylum men quick.” + +“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?” + +Dean Mercer stared at Marcus in blank bewilderment. The scene mystified +him. + +Marcus had seized the mad woman’s hand and his tears fell upon it. + +That wild face softened. Meg seemed battling with strange emotions. + +“Boy,” she said finally, “look around you.” + +“Yes, Meg.” + +“Would you know this place again?” + +“Yes.” + +“Come here to-night at dusk.” + +“I will--I will!” + +“Then, when Meg has talked with the witches she will see, she will see. +Now, go.” + +The boys walked from the spot. + +“Marcus,” cried Dean, “for Mercy’s sake, what did all your wild talk +mean?” + +“About my father?” + +“Yes.” + +“The truth.” + +“Meg knows all about James Conroyd’s murder?” + +“I am sure of it.” + +“Why?” + +“Because that prisoner of hers--her captain, she calls him----” + +“Yes, yes?” + +“Is James Conroyd’s old hired man, Manseur, and his murderer.” + +The minute the two boys were gone the demented woman began feeling in a +cranny in the rock near the exit from the cave. + +Her bright eyes gleamed as she groped about, and drew forth first parts +of some dried meat and then pieces of string and paper. + +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. + +“Gone!” muttered the woman in some dismay. “The package that had the +money and the papers is not here.” + +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. + +Now they were gone. + +“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.” + +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. + +Marcus Ellison had explained his suspicions to Dean. + +“That woman certainly knows something about the murder for which my +father has been arrested,” he said. + +“She may not have known the value of the papers.” + +“Oh, I do not judge from that.” + +“What then?” + +“Her talk about crime and her captive.” + +“You are sure you know him?” + +“Yes, James Conroyd’s old hired man.” + +“That’s the man Lawyer Montague believed was the murderer.” + +“I think so, too.” + +“He tried to cast the guilt on your father?” + +“I know that.” + +“And as soon as Lawyer Montague began watching him, Manseur ran away.” + +“He didn’t run far, it seems,” remarked Marcus. + +“No, Meg has him.” + +“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.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +IN A HARD PLIGHT. + + +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. + +Then he and Marcus slept until noon. Then they talked and worried, and +finally Marcus said: + +“Dean, I’m going back to the cave.” + +“What for?” + +“To see Meg.” + +“But she said not to come until night.” + +“I’m afraid I couldn’t find the way at night.” + +Dean was quite as anxious as Marcus, and they retraced their way to the +hills. + +Without much difficulty they located the entrance to the cave. Here +Marcus paused. + +“What had we better do?” he asked of Dean. + +“Wait here for Meg.” + +“Until night?” + +“Yes; she said so.” + +“I’m afraid she’ll forget all about us.” + +“Then let us seek her.” + +“Come on.” + +It was a venturesome and dubious experiment threading the mazy +labyrinths of the cave. + +They groped on and on, and finally emerged into an open space, but the +darkness was intense. + +“I am sure that this is the main room in the cave,” said Marcus. + +“Have you a match?” + +“Yes.” + +“Light it.” + +Marcus did so. Its rays revealing some pine knots near by, he ignited +one. + +“Yes; this is the central cave,” he affirmed. + +“Where the captive was?” + +“Exactly.” + +“But he?” + +“Gone. There is the chain and the ring in the rock.” + +The man Marcus had recognized as Manseur had disappeared. + +There was, furthermore, no trace of Meg. + +The boys stared wonderingly about the place. + +“Dean,” said Marcus finally, after a pause, “it looks queer here.” + +“Like a struggle.” + +“Yes, or some one throwing things about.” + +“There’s been some kind of trouble since we were here.” + +“What do you think?” + +“Those men.” + +“Our enemies?” + +“Yes.” + +“You think they have been here?” + +“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.” + +“Shall we go on?” + +“I guess so.” + +The boys now pursued the other corridor leading from the cave toward +the witches’ sugar bowl. + +Soon they came to where daylight showed and extinguished the torch. + +Dean was in the lead, and just as he reached the opening he started +back with a cry of dismay. + +“What is it, Dean?” asked Marcus excitedly. + +“Look yonder.” + +“Not the woman?” + +“No, Daley and Tim.” + +Both boys peered toward a little hollow where a small campfire burned. + +Seated near it were two figures, recognized by the startled Marcus as +Tim Downey and Daley. + +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. + +“You wait here, Dean,” he said. + +“What for; what are you going to do?” + +“Get nearer to those fellows.” + +“Don’t try it, Marcus.” + +“I must.” + +“You’ll certainly be seen.” + +“No, I won’t.” + +“Some of the others may return!” + +“You watch out, and whistle if they do.” + +Marcus crept on the ground to a clump of thick bushes that lined the +hollow, in which sat Tim and Daley. + +He listened intently, all unsuspected by the talkers. + +The latter was indeed discussing themes of vital interest to Marcus and +Dean. + +“Yes, we’ll leave here,” Daley was saying. + +“When?” asked Tim. + +“As soon as the others return. We’re beat all around.” + +“Yes, Meg is done for.” + +“Drowned, sure! We almost had her.” + +Marcus was filled with dismay. + +Meg drowned! + +If this was true, farewell to all hopes of ever establishing the +innocence of his father. + +“You see,” continued Daley, “we were too precipitate.” + +“We found the cave here and went in. In the centre we found a man +chained to a ring in the solid rock.” + +“Who was he, I wonder?” + +“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.” + +“And we searched everywhere?” + +“Yes, and found nothing. Then we came outside. The man told us of +another cave by the river yonder, and ran away.” + +“We went there.” + +“And found Meg.” + +“She ran.” + +“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.” + +“I guess so, too,” replied Tim. “We may as well say good-by to the +money.” + +“Sure!” + +“And we’re paupers?” + +“It looks so.” + +“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.” + +“That’s so,” muttered Daley uneasily. + +“So I say, we must get money and leave the country.” + +“That’s easily said.” + +“And easily done.” + +“How?” + +“I have a plan.” + +“To get money?” + +“Lots of it.” + +“Tell it to me. You’re a keen ’un, Tim,” Tim’s eyes glowed cunningly. + +“Will you help me?” he asked. + +“Certainly.” + +“And do as I say?” + +“Yes.” + +“I shall scheme to get ten thousand dollars.” + +“That’s a heap.” + +“I intend to get it.” + +“Who from?” + +“Colonel Darringford.” + +Daley started. + +“Rodney’s father?” + +“Yes.” + +“How?” + +“I’ll tell you,” replied Tim with a mysterious chuckle. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +STARTLING ADVENTURES. + + +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. + +“I’ve got a good one,” he said. “I’ve thought it all out.” + +“What is it?” queried the eager Daley. + +“I go quietly to Springfield.” + +“Alone?” + +“Yes.” + +“Necessary?” + +“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.” + +“Take mine.” + +“At Boyer’s Hotel?” + +“Yes.” + +“Got the key?” + +“Here it is, and rent paid ahead for a month.” + +“Good! That just suits me. What’s the matter?” + +Daley looked somewhat troubled, as, after producing the key, he +continued to grope in his pockets. + +“I’ve lost something,” he muttered. + +“What?” + +“My little change-wallet. In the cave, I guess.” + +“Much in it?” + +“No; a few dollars. Go on.” + +“Well, I get the room and write a letter to Colonel Darringford, at +Millville, or to the steamer, in Springfield.” + +“Yes, yes!” + +“I tell him if he is wise and wishes to save trouble he will come at +once to Boyer’s Hotel.” + +“Will he do it?” + +“I’ll give him a hint that will make him.” + +“And Spofford and I?” + +“Stay here.” + +“And Rodney?” + +“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.” + +“I see.” + +“Tell him that I’ve gone to get some money you had in bank in the city.” + +“All right.” + +“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 _Spray_, and that Rodney stole +the eight thousand dollars.” + +“Capital!” cried Daley enthusiastically. + +“Then I shall demand----” + +“How much?” + +“Ten thousand dollars.” + +“Will he pay it?” + +“If he don’t, I’ll tell him that a villain----” + +“Meaning me?” grinned Daley. + +“Exactly.” + +“Well, what then?” + +“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.” + +“Tim, you’re a genius!” exclaimed Daley admiringly. + +“I guess that will fetch the colonel.” + +“Without a doubt.” + +“You can wait here, and maybe yet find the money.” + +“We’ll try it.” + +“And keep Rodney?” + +“Never fear.” + +“I must have some money.” + +“I’ll give you a hundred.” + +Just then Dean Mercer, peering from the cave opening, made a discovery. + +Some distance down the valley he saw two forms. + +Spofford and Rodney were returning to the camp in the hollow. + +Marcus was so engrossed in listening to the conversation of the two +plotters, and so situated that he did not see their returning allies. + +Dean wished to warn him, but he feared that if he whistled as agreed +upon, it might attract Daley’s attention. + +He groped about for a piece of loose stone to throw at Marcus. + +As he did so, his fingers clutched at something soft and yielding lying +on the floor of the cave. + +“A purse!” he murmured surprisedly. + +It was Daley’s lost purse. + +Dean pocketed it, and picked up a small stone. + +This he flung with such accuracy at Marcus that the latter turned in +his crouching attitude and looked at him. + +Dean made violent motions, indicating trouble, and Marcus crept back to +the cave. + +“What is it?” he asked. + +“Spofford and Rodney are coming.” + +“Glad you warned me. Oh, yes, I see them. Wait; we are safe to watch +them for a time.” + +Dean could see by Marcus’ face that he had discovered something +unfavorable to their plans. + +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. + +“Come, Dean,” said Marcus hurriedly, “we must retreat. They are coming +this way.” + +The boys did not talk as they hastened back the way they had come. + +It was only when they had gone clear through the cave again and come +out at its other exit that Marcus spoke. + +He led the way to a thicket and sat down on a fallen tree, with a +gloomy sigh. + +“You look discouraged, Marcus,” said Dean anxiously. + +“I am.” + +“Bad news?” + +“The very worst.” + +“Oh, I hope not.” + +“Yes, Meg is dead.” + +“Dead! oh, that cannot be!” cried the startled Dean. + +“Yes, drowned.” + +“Then our hopes----” + +“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, and the papers and money hidden in +some out-of-the-way place, never to be found again.” + +“It’s terrible!” gasped Dean. + +“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.” + +“And me, Marcus?” + +“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. + +He told Dean what he must do--go to the city and keep track of Tim, day +and night, until he saw Colonel Darringford. + +At any moment that he thought propitious he was to have Tim +arrested--if possible, when he got the money from Colonel Darringford. + +He was also to send officers to arrest Daley and the others at the cave. + +“Arrested, some one of them will confess the truth to save himself,” +said Marcus confidently, “and circumstances will make your claims +plausible.” + +“But I myself will be arrested!” + +“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.” + +“And you, Marcus?” + +“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. + +They walked on for over a mile. Dean told of the purse he had found. It +contained nearly twenty dollars in silver. + +“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.” + +“I’ll try.” + +They passed some boys quarreling over some stolen pears in a field, +ascended a hill, and at its summit Marcus said: + +“There’s your road to Springfield, I shall return to Portsmouth.” + +“Hold on!” exclaimed Dean as they were about to say adieu. “Look over +yonder, Marcus!” + +“Hello! that boy is in trouble.” + +“I should say so!” + +“Shall we help him?” + +“I guess we had better.” + +At the edge of a cliff they discovered a strange and startling scene. + +Four boys had attempted to reach an eagle’s nest by lowering a rope +over the ledge. + +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. + +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. + +“Couldn’t hold on to the young eagle, the old one pecked at me so!” he +said. + +“I guess you won’t try again, youngster,” laughed Dean. + +“Yes, I will. I saw something else down there.” + +“What was that?” + +“A lot of money.” + +“Nonsense!” + +“I tell you, I did.” + +“Money?” + +“Yes.” + +“Gold, you mean?” + +“No, greenbacks.” + +Marcus looked curious and incredulous. + +He peered over the ledge of the cliff: + +“Dean,” he said, “there is certainly a package down there that looks +like money.” + +“But it can’t be.” + +“I’ve a mind to climb down and see.” + +“Take care of the eagle.” + +Marcus grasped a short cudgel in one hand and descended the rope. + +He uttered a startled cry as he saw lying among the litter about the +rock, a package secured in manilla paper. + +One end had been pecked out so as to show the ends of bank notes. + +Near it lay a large envelope, discolored and torn, but he made out on +it the address: + +“Mr. Durand, Attorney, Springfield.” + +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. + +Marcus Ellison gathered up every scrap of paper and secured them, the +envelope and the money package, in his coat. + +He was very pale as he again reached the cliff. + +He gave one of the boys a silver coin, and said to Dean: + +“Come on!” + +At a safe distance from the boys, Marcus took out pieces of paper. Dean +watched him in wonderment. + +“Dean,” spoke Marcus huskily at last, “I have found the papers that +prove my father’s innocence.” + +“What?” cried Dean. + +“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.” + +Yes, Marcus was right, but the discovery was of no avail, for the +fragments could not be connected, and with a sigh of despair Marcus +threw them away. + +“The eagle must have carried the package here from some of Meg’s hiding +places,” theorized Dean. + +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. + +The money was safe, only a few bills being torn. They counted it--seven +thousand two hundred and fifty dollars. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +TIM DOWNEY ARRESTED. + + +Two days later, just at dusk, some startling occurrences were to be +witnessed in the vicinity of Boyer’s Hotel in Springfield. + +Since the day previous, a strangely dressed boy had occupied Daley’s +room. It was the scheming Tim Downey. + +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. + +He at once wrote a letter to Colonel Darringford at Millville as soon +as he reached the city. + +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. + +At the hotel was a close spy on Tim, although he little suspected it. + +Dean Mercer had acted wisely and cautiously, and had secured the very +next room to that occupied by Tim. + +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. + +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. + +Dean had resolved on a definite plan of action now, in pursuance of +Marcus Ellison’s suggestions. + +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. + +Dean lingered in the doorway watching the hotel entrance, but Tim did +not come out. + +“I guess if he expects the colonel it is at his room” decided Dean at +last. “Hello! there is the very man.” + +Yes, Colonel Darringford came slowly down the street at that moment. + +He was not alone. A companion, who seemed to be only walking his way, +was with him. + +“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?” + +“Well! well! it is Dean Mercer!” + +Dean struggled in a strong grasp. He had crossed the road, forgetting +all about the town marshal. + +The latter had seen him, stared at him, and now he held him firmly--a +prisoner. + +Dean was too overcome to speak. + +“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!” + +“Mr. Morton!” gasped Dean. + +“Well?” + +“You mean to arrest me?” + +“Ha! ha! I should say so!” cried the marshal exultantly. + +“Please don’t!” + +“Ho! ho!” + +“That is, just now,” pleaded Dean desperately. “I won’t try to escape, +honest I won’t. I never burned the _Spray_, I never robbed Judge +Oglesby!” + +“Oh, you didn’t? Well, you will come on to jail!” + +“Do you want to learn the truth--do you want to recover the money that +was stolen?” asked Dean. + +“Certainly.” + +“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.” + +The marshal hesitated. + +“No tricks!” he said sternly. “Lead the way.” + +“Cautiously, sir.” + +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. + +“Now, sir, look and listen!” + +In amazement Morton peered into the adjoining apartment. + +“Incredible!” he gasped. + +For within the next half-hour he heard Tim Downey accuse Colonel +Darringford of having hired him to burn the _Spray_. + +He heard the colonel admit it. + +Tim told how Dean had been drugged and robbed, and how Rodney had +cashed the eight thousand dollar check. + +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 +_Spray_. + +“The villains!” gasped Morton. “Dean, you are indeed an innocent, +wronged victim of a terrible plot.” + +“Will you arrest them, sir?” asked Dean eagerly. + +“The colonel, no. We must proceed cautiously.” + +“But, Tim?” + +“Yes.” + +Colonel Darringford left the hotel. A minute later the astounded Tim +Downey was confronted by the Millville marshal. + +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. + +That night, too, several policemen left Springfield to arrest Daley, +Spofford and Rodney at the cave near Portsmouth. + +And the next morning a messenger left for Millville to bring Judge +Oglesby and Lawyer Montague at once to Springfield. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +THE RECKONING. + + +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. + +“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. + +“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 _Spray_! +Can you realize that, papa? Tim hired two men to do his nasty work, and +Dean has captured them.” + +“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 truth and worth. + +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. + +Tim was sent to the reform school and his confederates to the +penitentiary. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +At a sale of the effects of the missing Colonel Darringford, Judge +Oglesby bought the steamer _Warrior_, 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. + +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. + +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. + +Marcus Ellison was given employment and he joined with Dean in the +upbuilding of the Lake Shore Line. + +Of course Jack Carboy became the man at the wheel on the _Warrior_, +until he and Captain Mercer were transferred to the new _Spray_, which +is now in the midst of a splendid career. + + +THE END. + + +In No. 176 of the ALGER SERIES, 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. + + + + +The Dealer + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Deal with the STREET & SMITH NOVEL dealer. + + + =STREET & SMITH CORPORATION= + + =79 Seventh Avenue= =New York City= + + + + +Transcriber’s Notes: + + +Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. + +Table of contents has been added and placed into the public domain by +the transcriber. + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76812 *** |