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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/76914-0.txt b/76914-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..88aebdf --- /dev/null +++ b/76914-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5213 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76914 *** + + + + + +[Illustration: Renfro’s hand trembled so that he could hardly pull the +knife from his trousers pocket. It was followed by a note book from +which he tore two sheets of paper. Quickly he opened one blade, the +thinnest of the three in his knife, warmed it with several breaths, +then slipped it under one of the frozen eyebrows on the window pane.] + + + + + THE MYSTERY + + OF THE + + MISSING EYEBROWS + + + By STEPHEN RUDD + + + The Newspaper Boys’ Series + + + Illustrated + + + _Published by the_ + R. H. GORE PUBLISHING CO. + + + + + _Copyright, 1921_ + R. H. GORE PUBLISHING COMPANY + _All rights reserved_ + + + + +RENFRO HORN STORIES + +TO FOLLOW SHORTLY + +By + +THE SAME AUTHOR + + + THE LUCK OF A RAINY NIGHT + THE RISE OF ROUTE 19 + THE WHITE BAG’S SECRET + THE CLUE OF THE TWISTED PAPER + THE LONG LOW WHISTLE + THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE MILK + THE LEAK AT COOGAN’S CHIMNEY + THE GROWL OF THE LOST DOG + THE COURAGE OF RENFRO HORN + THE FALL OF THE EAST SIDE BULLY + THE SCOOP OF THE CUB REPORTER + + + R. H. GORE PUBLISHING CO., + TERRE HAUTE, IND. + + + + +A WORD TO ALL NEWSPAPER BOYS + + +This volume, the “MYSTERY OF THE MISSING EYEBROWS,” is the first of +twelve books written about newspaper boys by an old newspaper boy, +and the picture of Renfro Horn is the likeness of a flesh and blood +newspaper carrier, the real Renfro Horn, who inspired these twelve +books, that the newspaper boys of these United States might understand +the responsibility they bear to the world. + +The newspaper that you take each night to your subscriber’s door plays +a great part in the life of each subscriber. Thru rain and snow and +cold you go, and if you are a good carrier, as all newspaper boys +should be, you will overcome all problems to have your paper there at +the exact time each day, as early as you can get there, regardless +of weather, unmindful of play, striving all the time to be first to +deliver papers in your territory. + +And if you are to succeed later in life, you will constantly strive to +make route gains for your newspaper. A new subscriber each week, a gain +of only one new subscription each week, if you do it regularly, will +mean that you are a good carrier, as good as Renfro Horn and Renfro is +one of the best, for he carried papers on a route for the writer of +this book who is a circulation manager. + +When your subscribers quit, make them give you a good reason. And +collect your bills. When folks do not pay, tell them about the six or +seven times you come to their door each week, and ask them if they can +do you just the one favor, and remind them you bring the biggest value +in the world for the money, the news of the whole world, plus your good +service. + +Newspaper boys are becoming the great men of the world. We have one of +them as president of these United States. Others are in high places. +The newspaper training is valuable, as much so as school, but you must +look about you and make mental notes and you must be a go-getter like +Renfro Horn. And here he is. Read about this newest and greatest Boy +hero, who is just a carrier of newspapers like yourself. And when you +know him as well as we do, you will like him quite as well, and you +will want to follow his many adventures in the other books to come. + + By The Author + +[Illustration: + + Stephen Rudd +] + + The R. H. Gore Publishing Co., + General Offices, Myers Building, + Terre Haute, Ind. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. THE MYSTERIOUS HOUSE 7 + + II. RENFRO WANTS A NEWSPAPER ROUTE 18 + + III. A STRANGE MAN AT A WINDOW 27 + + IV. A NEW DOG AT THE OLD HOUSE 38 + + V. THE STRANGER COMES AGAIN 47 + + VI. HELEN WIER IS KIDNAPED 57 + + VII. RENFRO TAKES THE EYEBROWS 67 + + VIII. RENFRO GETS A SHOCK 76 + + IX. TRACKS AT THE CABIN 86 + + X. THE LIGHT ON THE INDIAN GRAVES 97 + + XI. RENFRO BECOMES A MENTOR 107 + + XII. THE SCRATCHES ON THE WINDOW 117 + + XIII. A TRIP TO THE CABIN 127 + + XIV. THE MAN IN THE HAUNTED HOUSE 137 + + XV. A DEAL IN TURKEYS 147 + + XVI. BOY SCOUTS TO THE RESCUE 156 + + XVII. RENFRO FINDS THE MYSTERY MAN 165 + + XVIII. THREE MEN IN THE PLOT 173 + + XIX. RENFRO IS KIDNAPED 182 + + XX. HIDDEN IN THE CAVE 191 + + XXI. HELEN WIER IS FOUND 199 + + XXII. THE LIGHTS ARE REVEALED 206 + + XXIII. HELEN TALKS TO RENFRO 215 + + XXIV. LANG TAMMY HELPS RENFRO ESCAPE 224 + + XXV. THE GLOBE GETS A SCOOP 233 + + + + +THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING EYEBROWS. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE MYSTERIOUS HOUSE. + + +Renfro Horn was quite sure that Captain Pete would never have spoken +had he not dropped the rabbit. But the sound of its frozen body +striking the hard crust on the top of the snow made the old man turn +around to discover the reason for the sound. And at the same time he +saw the rabbit he saw Renfro. + +“Oh,” he snarled, “Spyin’ on me ag’in--sneakin’ on an old man’s own +grounds.” + +The jerking of his shoulders broke the string which held the other +rabbits to his shoulder. A rattle like falling twigs. They were all +on the top of the snow. With a rush the old man was down on all fours +trying to roll them together. + +Renfro stepped up to help him. And then he saw the three quails and +stopped. One minute he stared at them: the next he stooped and fumbled +with the tops of his shoes. + +When he looked down at the ground again the quails were gone, and the +rabbits in a close heap. Renfro knew what was under the pile, but he +pretended not to have seen them. He remembered the notices the game +marshal had had posted about quail hunting the week before. + +Imprisonment and fine for the first offense. Captain Pete had one of +these notices on his own big front gate. + +“Pretty good luck?” Renfro twisted at the top button on his mackinaw. +“Fourteen rabbits I should guess.” + +“Twenty-two,” Captain Pete was proud of his good fortune. “And all shot +in my own fields. You can go on, buddy. I’ll tote them down to my shack +myself.” + +“Down to the shack?” + +Renfro asked the question. Captain Pete answered it. “Yes, I’m a +stayin’ down there this winter. An old man like me can’t chop wood +enough to keep the big house warm. I didn’t even try to. Moved down to +the shack in September.” + +With a last look at the pile of frozen rabbits Renfro walked slowly +away down toward the road which led back to town. The three quails and +the threatened fine were instantly forgotten. But a big question was in +his mind. + +If Captain Pete had been living in the shack ever since September, then +who had been living in the big house? Four times recently, when he had +been out on late walks like this one, he had seen queer lights spring +from its windows. + +They didn’t stay in one place but seemed to flash from one room to +another. The last time they had been in the right hand room in the +upper story and then suddenly had gone out and flashed in the lower +left hand corner. He had thought it queer then, but had regarded them +as certain proofs of Captain Pete’s queer mind. + +Where the two paths, the short cut and the longer way round +intersected, Renfro paused uncertainly. The short one meant a saving of +at least a quarter of an hour and he would be on time for supper. The +longer one would make him late and bring upon his head the reproofs of +both his mother and father. + +Yet he wouldn’t know about the lights if he chose the short cut. And +he had to know about them tonight. Better risk his family’s wrath than +miss a chance to solve this mystery. + +And Renfro hurried down the long path which led past the big white +house. + +Just after he was out on the road he met Clint Moore, the boy who sold +chestnuts on the Horns’ home street in the early fall. “Who’s living in +the old Hall house?” Renfro asked him. + +Clint whistled, “Just old dippy Captain Pete Hall,” he laughed. “An +he’s worse off his nut than ever this winter. Don’t have no fire nor +nothin’. We’d think he was dead if we didn’t see his lights of nights +once in a while and see him agoin’ huntin’ past the house.” + +Renfro stared at him. The dusk was beginning to get heavy, but he could +still see Clint’s eyes and he knew he was telling the truth. He started +to ask him another question when Clint said, “I’m going your way so +we might just as well walk along together if you don’t mind. There’s +a basket ball game in town tonight and I’m going to go and stay at my +aunt’s.” + +He talked on about the ball game but Renfro wasn’t listening. He was +staring at the big Hall house which was less than a quarter of a mile +ahead of them. It set back off the road another quarter of a mile and +in front of it was a long row of pine trees. + +They almost shut off all view of the old white shell whose original +owners had claimed that it was “a palace with fourteen rooms.” But in +the upper right hand corner of it a light was plainly visible to both +boys and-- + +“There’s the old fellow now.” Clint pointed at the small window, thru +the ragged blind of which were gleams of light. “Don’t see it often but +some times--” + +And then the light suddenly went out. + +Renfro was silent. Captain Pete with his twenty-two rabbits and three +quails was back in the woods. He was sure of that. But who could have +had that light? And did Captain Pete really live in the shack now or +had that been merely a story he had told to take Renfro’s attention +away from the quails? + +Renfro was still wondering about that when they reached the end of +the car line and boarded the car which took them past his home. Clint +would have to transfer at Liberty Avenue. + +They were the only passengers on the car until three paper carriers +with their big bulky paper bags got on a few blocks farther up the +line. When each had finished carrying his own route he had waited for +the others. Riding in together gave them a chance to talk over profits, +new subscribers and the adventures they encountered on their routes. + +Renfro tried to listen to them and to Clint at the same time. His +questions about Captain Pete had reminded Clint of an old hired man +they had once had. He had known Captain Pete Hall before he got to be +so queer. There had been a brother who had been wild to get rich. He +and some confederates from another city had made counterfeit money in +the little shack on the Hall place. + +“Captain Pete found their outfit but he didn’t know his brother was one +of the counterfeiters so he went to the sheriff about it and the whole +gang was arrested. His brother got the stiffest sentence of the whole +lot. + +“He hated Captain Pete then,” Clint went on with his story. “He said +that when he got out he was goin’ to kill him. Worryin’ about that +upset Pete’s mind.” + +When Renfro asked him about the time at which the brother was to be +free again Clint shook his head. The hired man had never told him +anything about the length of the sentence Pete’s brother had gotten. +He had told all of the story he knew. His mother had once said that +Captain Pete’s brother was dead. “Better off that way than the way Pete +is,” he laughed. + +When he got off at the corner several other passengers entered the car. +Renfro studied them--the man with the beetling eyebrows and weak mouth, +the woman with the near seal coat and the genuine diamonds. There was +something queer about them. The papers recently told the story of a +jewelshop theft. Renfro began to wonder. + +The carrier boys jostled against him as they went to leave the car. The +little one was bragging about a ride he had taken on the patrol wagon +the night before. There had been some trouble in the street on which +his route lay and the corner police had taken him along to help give +directions about the location of some houses. + +And then Renfro’s own street was called. With an effort he left the +interesting couple, the lively wide awake carrier boys, and the two men +in uniform. His own avenue lay before him, placid and uninteresting. +The bright street lights made every corner on it as visible as if it +were in the day time. + +He ran up the great stone steps to his own home. He opened the door, +entered the hall and knew he was late for supper. With a dash he was up +stairs and to the bath room to wash his face and hands. + +And down stairs in the dining room his parents were discussing him. His +father, tall and thin and patrician looking, adjusted his horn rimmed +spectacles and said once more that he knew his son was queer. Otherwise +why would he walk alone as he did? If he didn’t go out to some queer +spot he walked around the home yard. Why, once he had counted one +hundred trips Renfro had made around the house, his head down and his +feet moving at a fairly rapid pace. + +Other thirteen year old boys were playing ball or visiting in the drug +stores. It was uncanny--this way he had of walking alone. + +Mrs. Horn, also tall and thin and socially graceful, rustled her stiff +silk dress and frowned. She too, thought Renfro was queer. But she was +sure it was all due to the detective stories he read continually. Mary +had told her that morning of seeing a light under his door at about +three o’clock one night, at half past one on another, and when she had +slipped down there had found that he was reading. + +“They are about horrible crimes,” she shuddered. “It worries me so that +I cannot sleep. I am afraid he will cultivate criminal tendencies. What +he reads will influence him, I’m sure. Now I read of a boy--” + +Mr. Horn shook his head. “Nonsense,” he said shortly. “There’s no +criminals in our families. Renfro is a little queer. None of us boys +was the least bit like him. But he’s clever with all his queer streaks. +Why in that continued story--that detective one he coaxed me to read, +he had the mystery all solved before the last chapter was published.” + +Well, Mrs. Horn was determined of one thing. If Renfro had to read such +queer stories he should not do it in the middle of the night. “I’ll +change his room,” she said with emphasis. “There is that old music room +right across from--” + +“From mine,” Renfro finished in the door way. “And I’d like to have it +for my own library,” he added and walked to the table. + +His unsatisfactory explanation of his walk half angered his father. +But he did not know what to say about it. The report card Renfro had +brought home a few days before had been almost perfect. He couldn’t +command him to hurry from school to study. He was just ready to mention +some errand he had at his office when Mrs. Horn spoke. + +“Renfro,” her voice was fretful and accusing. “I needed you this +afternoon to go out to Captain Pete Hall’s for me. It’s rabbit season +now and I wanted some for dinner tomorrow. I waited over an hour for +you and then I drove out there by myself.” + +She shivered. “It’s an uncanny place--that big house is. The shrubbery +has grown everywhere and the weatherboards and shutters which have +dropped off the house lay just where they have fallen. It was like +working my way thru a maze to get to the door. And what made it worse +it was just getting dark and--” + +“And Captain Pete wasn’t home,” Renfro finished for her remembering +again the three quails, the rabbits and the shack story the old man had +told back in the woods. + +Mrs. Horn gave him a severe look. She allowed no one to interrupt her +without giving them a reproof. + +“Yes, he was,” she snapped back, “but he didn’t have any rabbits for +sale. What was worse he said he wouldn’t have any at all. He mumbled +something about not going to hunt this season and shut the door in my +face.” + +With a gasp Renfro half rose from his chair, stared at his mother, +heard his father’s gruff command to behave himself, and settled back +in his seat again, smoothing out his napkin with a great effort. But +his eyes remained round and his mouth opened and closed several times +before he spoke. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +RENFRO WANTS A NEWSPAPER ROUTE. + + +When Renfro did manage to speak he asked his mother another question. +“What time was that, mother?” + +Mrs. Horn studied a minute. The question annoyed her but she was too +well bred not to answer it. “Oh, about five, I should imagine. I waited +until four thirty for you before I left the house, and I was back at +half past five. Why do you ask, Renfro?” + +Instead of answering her, Renfro asked another question. “Are you sure +it was Captain Pete, mother? You know he is old now and changed and--” +he hesitated and finished lamely, “It might have been some one else.” + +His mother’s high bred voice was impatient. She wanted to dismiss the +subject and discuss finances with her husband, showing him her need for +a larger allowance. “Of course, I am sure it was Captain Pete. Haven’t +I bought turkeys of him for five seasons? Of course, he looks old +now. He looked that way the first time I saw him. And, Renfro, please +be still and let your father and me talk about something much more +important.” + +The steel like edge to her words clipped off any further questions +Renfro wanted to ask. But tho he couldn’t ask them out loud they surged +back and forth in his mind while he ate. Could he have been mistaken +about the time he saw Captain Pete in the woods? Had it taken him and +Clint a longer time to walk to the car line than it did him when he was +alone? + +And if it did, then why was Captain Pete unwilling to sell any of the +twenty-two rabbits? + +Now there had been the three quails. Renfro was sure that Captain Pete +saw him staring at them. Could he have recognized Mrs. Horn and been +afraid that Renfro might tell her about the quails? A denial of having +hunted might throw them off the track should they feel it their duty to +report to the game warden what Renfro had seen. + +But Renfro smiled at his own last conclusion. Captain Pete Hall was too +wise a man to believe that. Also he was too greedy to miss the chance +of selling any of his game. + +But Renfro’s thoughts were diverted from the old hunter and the +inhabitant of the big old house by his father who directed a question +to him. The discussion with his wife over finances reminded Mr. Horn +that his son too had an allowance. “Keeping your book so that it +balances this month?” he clipped out his words, “And did you save +anything last?” + +“Yes sir,” Renfro smiled. “I saved half of my allowance last month. I +want to buy--” + +“Some new detective stories.” Mr. Horn laughed and turned the +conversation back to his wife again. + +Renfro felt as if he could not stand it a minute longer. With a low +apology he rose from the table and then they noticed him. “Renfro,” his +mother spoke sharply, “You are not to go out of the house tonight--not +even to walk around the yard.” + +His father curtly repeated her command. And with sinking heart Renfro +left the room, wandered thru the library and dragged his feet up the +stair way to his own room. It was only half past seven o’clock. And he +did not want to read. + +He walked to the window and opened it. The cold air sharpened his +brain. He looked over to the south. Yes, that was the right direction. +Just three miles from the court house tower was Captain Pete’s tumbling +ancestral mansion and the little shack in which Renfro and the old man, +before he had gotten so grouchy, had once roasted potatoes and meat. + +“I’m sure it was Captain Pete and I’m sure it was about five o’clock +when I saw him. Now mother must have been mistaken--” he began to think +and then stopped. + +Slowly he closed the window. “Mother,” he spoke out loud deliberately, +“saw some one else. Pete has rented that big house or been scared +out of it, or some one who knows how secluded a life Pete lives, has +discovered that he is down in the shack for the winter and is making +the big house his headquarters.” + +His hands went deep into his pockets. His mind began to make definite +plans for ways and means to solve the mystery of the stranger whom he +was sure his mother had seen. He himself would watch the house and also +the shack. There was still the possibility that Captain Pete might +have hurried home and he, Renfro, might have mistaken the time a few +minutes. + +In that case there was something mysterious about the shack and Captain +Pete did not want him to make any more trips or visits there, giving as +an excuse that it was his new home. “But I’m going out there tomorrow +afternoon,” he began, “and every other afternoon and evening I can, +only first I’ll have to find an excuse which will satisfy the folks.” + +For half an hour he worked framing excuses for those trips. And then +Mary, the second maid, brought one directly to his room. Mary was a +woman with imagination and romance, she said, tho in her form she was +fat and homely and of Scotch descent. Cautiously she tapped at Renfro’s +door. + +“Here’s the Evening Globe, Mr. Renfro,” she whispered, thrusting the +folded paper into his hand. “Right on the front page there’s more about +that big jewel robbery. Them hired detectives don’t seem to get nowhere +with their clues and I thought mebbe me, with my imagination, and you +so clever in workin’ out mysteries, we could beat them once. It would +show--” + +But Renfro didn’t hear the rest of her hopes. The paper clasped in his +hand became the master key to the mysterious house. It had reminded him +of the carrier boys, who had ridden home on the car with him. + +They knew their routes like he did his school books. He would buy a +route--this particular suburban route which lay closest to the old Hall +home. None of his trips past it would arouse suspicion then. + +He clapped his hands. He would ask his father’s permission the first +thing in the morning. Experience had taught him that it was no time to +make requests directly after an argument between his father and mother. +But his father’s ill humor didn’t last long. By morning he would be his +dignified, businesslike and his exceedingly fair self again. + +Renfro was right in that surmise. Smiling, almost affable, his father +offered his son half of the morning paper when he entered the dining +room for breakfast. But Renfro shook his head. “I want to talk about a +job, Dad,” he said. “I want your permission to buy a paper route, one +of the Evening Globe’s.” + +His mother answered his request. Such an unheard of thing was out of +the question. None of the boys on their street, none of the sons of the +people in their set, ever thought of such undignified proceedings. And +she would not allow her son to do it either. + +“Well,” his father’s eyes twinkled, “Don’t pay too much for it. Buy a +cheap one and see how well it wears.” + +A direct look at his wife quieted her on the subject. After Renfro had +left the room he explained his stand. “The only way to stop that kid,” +he shook his head, “is to let him have enough of anything. I’ll see he +gets enough of that paper carrier business right in the start. I’ll +stop on my way down and see the circulation manager of The Globe. I’ll +tell him to give Renfro the toughest proposition of a route he has. A +week from now our worries will be over.” + +In the circulation manager’s office an hour later he explained his +errand. “His mother doesn’t want him to carry a route,” said Mr. Horn. +He couldn’t tell his own stand to this shrewd business like young +fellow, “and I promised her I’d see he didn’t carry one long,” he +added. “Give the boy the first one you have which is a tough deal. And +rough it up on him all you can.” + +“Mr. Horn,” George Bruce looked directly into the older man’s eyes, +“we have some routes which don’t need the least bit of roughing up +to make them tough propositions for men like me and even you. One is +vacant right now. The business manager wants me to drop that route, and +I’ve almost decided to do so since it has long been a dead loss on our +hands.” + +He thumped his fist on the table. “I’m going to put your son out there, +and because I still believe that that route can be made into a paying +proposition I’m going to expect him to make good. I’m doing what you +ask me to do--am I not?” + +“And,” he continued after Mr. Horn had given him a hesitant nod, “If he +fails you will have your wish; if he succeeds I’m going to have mine.” + +He didn’t speak again until Mr. Horn was out of the room and then he +swung around in his swivel chair and faced his alert stenographer. +“Miss Newell,” he said, and there was a gleam of interest in his keen +blue eyes, “I’m anxious to see that boy. Mr. Horn’s a king of finance. +Mrs. Horn is a society queen. The young prince--well, let’s see how he +wears the family coronets.” + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A STRANGE MAN AT A WINDOW. + + +Late that afternoon, at four o’clock to be exact, Renfro Horn entered +the circulation manager’s office. Behind him lay a line of offices thru +which he had passed, and a line of men with whom he had argued and +urged his way to this seeming potentate of The Globe. + +“Mr. Bruce doesn’t see applicants for routes” he had been told exactly +seven times. + +But now he was in Mr. Bruce’s office and looking directly at that man, +who was dictating a letter to Miss Newell, his stenographer. Renfro +with his hat in his hand stared around the big room, as simply and well +furnished as his own father’s private office. He liked the pictures +on the walls--some of which were the originals from which the Globe’s +daily cartoons had been made and others, photographs of men famous in +the newspaper world, who had started their careers as route carriers. + +Renfro was studying a photograph of a full faced man with a high +forehead when Mr. Bruce finished his letter and looked at him. And +he liked him immediately for the boyish way he had of smiling, the +cordial gleam in his eyes and the sincere tone of his voice while he +had dictated. + +“I’m Renfro Horn,” he said, “and I want to buy a route if there is one +vacant.” + +Mr. Bruce started. “Oh, yes,” he narrowed his eyes and Renfro realized +that he felt those same shrewd eyes grasping for his past, his present +and future ability all at once. “Any particular part of town, son?” + +“Yes sir, out south whenever there’s a vacancy, Mr.--” + +“Bruce” finished the other. + +“I would like to have the Washington Avenue route--the one farthest +out,” Renfro finished. + +“Who told you it was vacant?” + +Renfro’s eyes flashed. “Is it right now?” he asked and added, “I was +afraid I would have to wait a while for it.” + +“Some fellow has been stringing him on that route,” George Bruce +thought immediately. Out loud he began, “Now, son--” + +Then he remembered the promise he had made Renfro’s father. This was +a worse route even than the one he had in mind when he had talked to +Mr. Horn that morning. It was a dead loss. Pride alone kept George +Bruce from stopping that route. The Globe’s rival paper claimed that +they made money on their paper in that part of town, and until he had +discredited that claim George Bruce was determined to keep that route +alive. + +Yet only that morning Andy Andrews had announced that after today +he would make no more trips on that route. Here before him was his +salvation. Mr. Horn had wanted his boy to make a failure. All day +whenever George Bruce remembered the interview that morning he had +hoped the boy would succeed. Now after he had seen Renfro he wanted him +more than ever to succeed. “And he hasn’t a chance there,” he admitted +to himself. + +“You won’t make much money out there at first, son,” he talked slowly. +“In fact the boy who has been out there has lost so much that he gave +up the route this morning.” + +“I can build it up,” Renfro’s eyes held entreaty. + +George Bruce nodded. “Slowly,” he returned. + +“Do I get it?” + +Robert Bruce looked up and down Renfro’s sturdy body, at his determined +dark blue eyes, at his boyish stern mouth. “Yes,” he answered, “and if +you make good out there you can have your choice of any route in town.” +He turned to Miss Newell. “Call Morrison, please.” + +He was still studying Renfro when Morrison, the route manager, for the +south side of Lindendale entered the office. “This is Renfro Horn, +Morrison,” he told the younger man. “He is to have Old Grief route. +Andrews gave it up this morning.” + +“Yes sir, he was telling me so,” Morrison looked keenly at Renfro. +“He’s waiting now to take some other boy out to teach him the route. +Shall I take him?” he nodded at Renfro. + +“Renfro Horn” the circulation manager supplied the missing name. “Yes, +do, please.” + +In the outer office Renfro asked permission to telephone his father. “I +don’t want them to worry if I’m late” he explained. + +“Oh, you’ll be late all right.” Morrison laughed easily. “Andy’ll tell +you about that.” + +When Renfro came back from the telephone Morrison had completed his +survey of him. “You’ve got good legs, Horn,” he admitted, “and can walk +that route. It’s all over everywhere. Now get good ears, listen to what +Andy tells you tonight and I tell you later. We’ve got lots of tough +customers out there, and I want you to watch them. See?” + +“And say,” he went on before Renfro could answer, “I don’t like your +name. It sounds too much like a map name. Get something human to use +for a carrier name. Ever have a nickname?” + +Another question without an answer--all due to the speed with which he +talked. “I’ll give you a good one--Hooch, if you please--Hooch Horn. +Sounds good--doesn’t it? It has a business like twang to it. So I’ll +just let it go.” + +He hurried “Hooch” out to the hall in which Andy was waiting. He +introduced the two boys, gave them car fare to the station at which +their papers were delivered and hurried them away. “I’m giving you +the east route you asked for, Andy,” he said, “but it will cost you +something rather high. Old Grief is the only route the Globe has to +give away.” + +Andy chatted all the way out to the station. A steady stream of +questions followed his description of what he termed “the poorest +paying and hardest route in the city.” + +Who had wished Old Grief on Renfro? How had Morrison gotten hold of +him? Would he ask for another route as he went broke on Old Grief? And +finally how much experience had he had with route work? + +Renfro, recently christened “Hooch,” evaded all direct answers. It was +almost dusk when they reached the station. He helped Andy tear open +the two packages of papers waiting for them there, stuff them into the +paper bag and carry them down the street. + +“We’ll throw them tonight,” Andy was a virtual dictator this last trip +of his. “But when it’s windy or rainy you want to be sure to get them +on the porch. Nobody wants to come out here to run down complaints.” + +“There’s the worst dead beat in town, Hooch,” he pointed toward a shot +gun house far back in a narrow yard. “He’ll try to get you--does every +new boy. Turn him down. He owes me $1.65.” + +They turned the corner and Andy pointed down the street, “Out there--” +his finger went out directly in a line with his face--“there in that +big old house lives the queerest man in the country. No, not in the +house” he corrected himself, “it’s too rummy a shell for anybody to +live in. But in a cabin out there. I went out last night and bought +six rabbits and every one of ’em was shot clean thru the head--the +prettiest shots I ever saw. Go out some time.” + +“Was he in the shack you say?” + +“Yep,” Andy rolled the paper for the next customer, “I went to the door +but I didn’t get in. It looked interesting but he shut the door while +he hunted out my rabbits. Queer old bird!” + +Renfro wished that their route took them out to the white house so +that he could see whether or not there was a light there tonight. In +the library at noon he had walked past the case of old coins and was +reminded of the counterfeiting story Clint had told him. + +If Captain Pete’s brother had returned he might be making that sort +of coin again. But his thoughts were cut short by an exclamation from +Andy. A heavy set old man leading a dog by a heavy strap, had jostled +into them. The dog barked sharply and tugged at the strap, but the +man quieted him without a jerk or command--just a simple Scotch name +muttered in a tone rich with a Scotch accent “Lang Tammy.” + +And the dog had followed him obediently. + +“That old Bird’s a new inhabitant out here,” Andy stared after the +pair. “Suppose he’ll be wanting to start the paper, Hooch. Look out for +him, and get his money first. Remember what they say about the perils +of parting a Scotchman and his money.” + +Renfro tried to watch the old man with occasional glances over his +shoulder but Andy raced him along. The old man had not turned off the +long street when he disappeared in the dusk. + +“I don’t believe I’ll remember all these places,” Renfro ventured to +remark. + +“Then forget the ones who owe accounts.” Andy laughed facetiously and +hurried still more. “This is a case where I’m not prolonging any fond +farewells,” he ended slyly. “Will you, Hooch, when you leave?” + +“Oh, I’ll stay,” retorted Renfro and again Andy laughed. + +Renfro thought of that laugh the next afternoon as he passed along the +route. And it was a long, slow trip. He had remembered very few houses +at which Andy had left the Evening Globe. After trying to make out +landmarks which he remembered from the night before and failing to do +so Renfro had adopted his own way of locating customers. + +When in doubt he merely went to the front door and asked their names +and what paper they took. + +The street lights were on when he reached Wayne Street--the street Andy +had termed the aristocratic portion of his route. “Everybody takes the +paper here and everybody pays for it,” he had given the information +proudly, “Even to Judge Wier, the old duffer.” + +“Paying promptly is his policy,” Andy tried to be witty. “The fellows +he sentences in court can tell you that, and he gives generous tips +besides payment in full.” + +At the corner Renfro slipped off his gloves and blew on his fingers +to warm them. The wind was losing its volume, but the temperature was +dropping. The ice in the gutter had a hard, unmelting look. Little +flurries of snow played around the light globe like myriads of tiny +bugs in summer. + +“I’ll fold my papers at the drug store tomorrow evening,” Renfro +growled. Andy might have told him that. He might have been a little +more definite, too, in showing him the route. + +A big, wooly dog brushed past him and ran down the street. “Lang Tammy” +Renfro remembered the name the Scotchman had used the afternoon before, +“I wonder if that could be he. He was just about that size. He--” + +And then he stopped abruptly in the middle of the block. Directly +across the street from him was Judge Wier’s old fashioned brick house. +The front room was dark, but the room back of it was lighted and the +window blind raised more than half way. + +The light coming from it struck the shrubbery and showed a dark figure +lurking there. The house next door was dark. Walking slowly on so +as not to arouse the lurking figure’s suspicion, Renfro watched him +stealthily. + +Suddenly the light in the room was dimmed, and the front room became +brilliantly lighted. At the same minute the lurking figure slouched out +of the shrubbery, close to the window with the raised blind and stood +there quietly staring into the room for a few minutes. And then he +slouched back into the shrubbery again. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +A NEW DOG AT THE OLD HOUSE. + + +For a few minutes Renfro Horn stood irresolute. Then he darted back +down the street a short distance, crossed it, slipped along the +sidewalk until forty feet from the shrubbery, dropped onto his hands +and knees and crawled to the spot where the peeper had disappeared. The +mysterious man had vanished. + +A hurried but close search failed to reveal where he had gone. Renfro +did not knock at the door. He had no proof to offer that the man had +been at the window. Telling such a story as that to Judge Wier, reputed +to be the town’s most courageous citizen, would win him a laugh. + +As soon as he had finished the street and incidentally his route, +Renfro walked back to Washington Avenue and down it toward the +Hall house. It was dark but his parents would not be worried if he +were quite late in getting home. They had predicted all sorts of +difficulties for this evening. + +After a little while Renfro slowed down his pace. The big white house, +the cabin a little farther on, Captain Pete and the stranger were only +a short distance away and he had as yet made no reason for coming to +their premises at night. A request for rabbits? He shook his head. + +“I won’t go in. I’ll just peek,” Renfro vowed to himself. “At least +that will give me a beginning for a cue.” + +Directly opposite the three big apple trees which remained of the Hall +orchard, a big airedale came sniffing toward him. Renfro stopped, gave +him a keen look and called softly, “Lang Tammy--here sir--Lang Tammy!” + +The big dog sniffed his way to Renfro. After reaching him he gave a few +more investigating sniffs and then seized Andy’s discarded paper bag +playfully in his teeth. He tugged at it with all his might. Laughing +Renfro tugged back. + +“You’re a peach of a dog, Lang Tammy,” he began, “I’d like--” + +Then the strange voice did more than had the strange appearance. It +frightened the big dog. Turning sharply he ran back to the apple trees. +He wheeled around, gave Renfro a look, a sharp bark, and trotted into +the shrubbery out of sight. + +Lang Tammy was a new possession on the Hall place. Captain Pete had +not had a dog since his collie had been poisoned a year ago. Renfro +chuckled, “I’ll see him and ask him where he got his new dog” he +decided, “that will help some. He’ll either have to claim or deny the +dog. And I know positively that Lang Tammy’s master is somewhere on +this place.” + +He turned off the road, skirted along a rail fence, jumped across a +ditch and stumbled against a rotting stump. Every window in the big +house was dark. He was making his way down to the cabin. The one +opening there was on the other side of the house and Renfro couldn’t be +sure whether or not it was lighted till he came opposite the cabin. + +He scratched both of his hands on some briers. His paper bag--Andy’s +discarded one to be exact,--caught on a paling on the second fence and +tore loose with a ripping sound. The wind rattled the limbs on the old +trees and made queer spectral sounds on the tin roof of the big house +directly opposite the cabin. + +Renfro looked sharply at it again. It was still dark. And then he +stumbled against the cabin, felt his way around it and stood close to +the window. + +Inside there was a small lamp burning. The chimney was smoke stained +and the wick, turned low, made still more smoke. But the light showed +the rude furniture of the room, the meal almost ready on the table. + +Yet no one was in the cabin. + +Up at the big house it was all dark. Captain Pete couldn’t be there. +Renfro shouldered his torn bag and made his way back to the road. It +was interesting here and he wanted to lurk a little longer, but he knew +that if he were too late in getting home his mother would be uneasy. + +“If she worries too much Dad will make me give up the route,” he +thought. + +After which he hurried up the road to the side walk. The houses on +either side of the street were little and in the darkness stood sagging +like the skin of a moldy apple. Some of them were lighted; others were +dark. Andy had said the night before that only about half of them were +tenanted. + +But in them were probable subscribers for the Globe. Just as Renfro had +about decided to canvas here the next Saturday, the street car slowed +to let off a passenger. At the same time Renfro swung on to ride back +to the end of the line and help change the trolley. + +And there sitting opposite him was Old Captain Pete clad in his best +overcoat and hat. A genial smile spread over his face at the sight of +Renfro. “Such rabbit luck,” he ejaculated, “as I’ve had today! Killed +thirty-one and sold ’em every one afore I left Main Street. Your hired +gal bought two.” + +When he expressed surprise about Renfro’s being on the car so late the +carrier showed him his empty paper bag. “I’m coming out to get you for +a new subscriber,” he promised. + +Like a battered sail Captain Pete’s head shook a denial. “I aint got +no use for newspapers,” he was gruff, “Haint read one regular for more +than twenty years.” + +“Not since his brother was sent up,” Renfro remembered the story Clint +had told him. + +Still remembering it he rode into his home avenue. And from the corner +he walked home. + +Mr. and Mrs. Horn were still in the dining room, Mr. Horn was looking +thru the afternoon papers and his wife was toying with some salted +almonds. She rang the bell when Renfro entered, and Mary brought in his +supper. + +Her broad face spread into a grin when she saw Renfro. “Rabbit for +supper,” she whispered sibilantly, “I bought it this afternoon of +Captain Pete Hall myself. Your maw was gone but I took it upon myself +to do it. It’s broiled too.” + +“See Captain Pete, Mary?” he asked while he ate. “Dolled up, wasn’t he?” + +Mary nodded and simpered. “But his buttons was off something fierce, +Renny,” she declared. “A man like him has no business growing up to be +a bachelor.” + +Mr. Horn looked over the top of his paper, first at Renfro and then at +Mary. It wasn’t exactly a look of reproof he gave them but rather of +surprise. However, it was enough to stop their conversation. + +“Get frightened alone?” Mrs. Horn’s voice was full of hope. + +Renfro shook his head. He honestly had not. His interest had been +aroused however. He must talk to Mary alone about Captain Pete and the +rabbits. He must-- + +And then his father reached him an envelope. “This was in the mail,” he +told him, “postmarked The Evening Globe. I suppose it’s your contract.” + +Together he and his wife arose and went into the library. Renfro tore +open the blue envelope, pulled out a card and read it thru before he +fairly understood it. Going back to the beginning he read it again. + +“A full gown turkey to every route carrier who gets ten new subscribers +before Thanksgiving Eve”, he drawled. “Well, it’s up to me to get some +turkeys,” he mused. + +He ate bananas without any cream to save time and slipped into the +kitchen. The cook was out and Mary was reading a novel and washing the +dishes at the same time. Renfro’s entrance startled her so that she +let the soap drop into the water and the shower which rose from the +pan, following the splash, went directly into both her own and Renfro’s +faces. They sputtered and gurgled. + +Finally, Renfro could speak, “Mary,” he began, “do you think you could +cook six turkeys all at once?” + +Mary stared at him, “Six turkeys,” she exclaimed. “Who are you wanting +me to cook for, Renny? Six turkeys, no, I’ll not be cooking turkeys for +all your fine friends! Now in this book here where I was reading, there +is a story about a turkey and a couple what lived on opposite farms +from where it was raised. It was real romantic. The turkey got lost as +turkeys will, and when the girl went to hunt it she found the young man +and they fell in love and were married. It’s just full of mystery and +romance.” + +“Well,” Renfro laughed, “none of my turkeys are going to get anyone in +bad like that, Mary. Sure you’ll cook them--won’t you?” + +“Where’s the turkeys?” Mary was suspicious. + +“Oh,” Renfro smiled a look of mystery in his smile which brought Mary +to her feet. “I’ll have them here all right in time for Thanksgiving +day.” + +“And, Mary,” he slipped close to her and gave her a comradely look, +“There’s something on my mind I have to work out. I may need you to +help me. I’m not telling exactly what it is yet, but it’s got mystery +and maybe some romance in it. And you will help if I need you--won’t +you?” + +Both of Mary’s hands came out of the pan of suds. “Mister Renfro,” she +said solemnly, “Aint I been wantin’ to give up this sort of work and go +into real detective work for years. Why, once I took a correspondence +school course in it. And I’ll--” + +Renfro’s hand was raised in warning, “Just wait, Mary,” he cautioned, +“Just wait until I’m ready to tell you, and then you’ll have your +chance.” + +He sauntered back into the dining room. The telephone on the stand made +him decide to call Andy and tell him that he hadn’t missed a single +customer, that he liked the route and would stick. He wanted to know, +too, if Andy was satisfied with his new route. + +And Renfro took down the receiver. + + + + +Chapter V. + +THE STRANGER COMES AGAIN. + + +It became still colder during that night. Renfro Horn awoke near +midnight to feel a gale blowing around his ears. He got up, shut his +east window and crawled back into bed. “I’ll bet that tin roof is +dancing a regular ghost dance on the big house,” he muttered. + +He turned over, pulled the blankets closer over his ears. The next +minute it was morning, and Mary was calling him. “The pipe’s froze +something fierce,” she began, “And you’ll have to eat in the kitchen +close to the range.” + +“Suits me all right,” Renfro laughed and jumped out of bed. + +At the breakfast table his mother began to worry about his route. +She predicted that he would freeze his feet, and perhaps his hands, +contract pneumonia and lumbago and then her list gave out. His father +looked a trifle uneasy while she talked but said nothing. + +However, as he and Renfro walked down the street together, respectively +toward school and office, he gave his son some warnings. “Better mind +them all too, young man,” he seemed very impatient this morning, “if +you should happen to get sick, bang goes your paper route and no +argument.” + +A shrill yell drew their attention across the street. Two morning paper +carriers, who went to the Grant School, the same one Renfro attended, +were coming in from finishing their delivery. Their paper bags were +drawn around their shoulders, and their caps pulled low over their ears. + +“Jim froze his right ear almost,” sang the taller boy, “and I gave him +first aid. One more merit badge.” + +“You bet,” Jim agreed, “If you need any help tonight call on Bob, +Hooch.” + +“Hooch?” Mr. Horn was amazed. + +“Oh, that’s my nickname,” Renfro affected carelessness. This was no +time he reflected to tell how it had been created, nor how popular +it had become in less than forty-eight hours. So he tried to change +the subject. “Jim Noel’s a first class Boy Scout and he’s trying to +win enough merit badges to get the eagle rank at the Court of Honor +session.” + +Mr. Horn nodded, “That’s all right for the other fellows,” he said, +“but if you freeze your ears you go to a doctor.” + +At that instant Renfro wished he could tell his father--a few +things--how he had had not only his ears but his nose nipped during one +of his hikes on which he was trying to make some discoveries concerning +quail tracks. He himself had bound the snow onto them. And Mary had +helped him with the other applications the first aid book advised. + +But he kept still. + +The weather grew milder during the day. At noon the ice along the +curbing near the Grant School was melting a little, but when four +o’clock came it had frozen again. Renfro and Jim Noel, hurrying along +together discussed a hike and rabbit hunt for Saturday if it stayed +cold. But just as they had their arrangements about finished, Renfro +remembered the turkey contest. + +“Say, Jim,” he broke in suddenly, “I bet a turkey that if I can get off +my route work to go I’ll track down more rabbits than you do.” + +Jim stared at him. “Great guns!” he ejaculated, “A turkey? How come?” + +He stared again when he read the card Renfro showed him. “You’ll never +get sixty subscribers on Old Grief, Hooch,” he declared. “Not unless +you pay for their subscriptions yourself. Abie Lubin had it for a while +and he didn’t make anything, so that’s sure proof it’s no good.” + +But Renfro only whistled. He and Jim separated at the next corner. +Beyond the edge of the big business districts and thru the residential +part of town to his route Renfro hurried. His papers were at the +station. He swung the bag on his back, wagered to himself that it would +be heavier next week, and started on his route. + +He stopped at the most promising houses and asked for new +subscriptions. One woman threatened to have him arrested. Another told +him that the last boy had been crooked and failed to mark two of her +payments, so that the company had sent a collector there; and she added +that if he wanted to be a friend of hers he wouldn’t work for a paper +which stood for such crookedness. + +But Renfro persisted, and before he left her door had her subscription +and a week’s payment in advance. He also secured four other +subscriptions before he turned into his last square. + +“Pretty good, old boy, considering the time you spent in getting warm, +and that you’re a new recruit,” he said and then laughed. He had been +talking out loud and the woman who was hurrying past him turned round +to stare back. + +The wind whipped the tops of the trees and made them crackle and roar. +The air was so cold that flurries of frost seemed to come out of +nowhere but swirl around everywhere. And it was dark except where the +street lights or those in the houses threw long hard gleams out into +the street. + +Suddenly, Renfro stopped. Lurking in the blackness ahead of him was a +low set figure, followed by a big dog--the airedale he had seen the +night before and the night before that. Renfro dropped onto his knees +so that he could be concealed behind the water plug and its shadow, and +he watched. + +A sudden light from an opened door fell on the big dog, and showed it +to be with the short, heavy set man. As soon as the door was closed +Renfro was sure he heard a low growl, saw a threatening movement and +directly afterward the dog rushed past him, running as if frightened to +an unusual degree. + +The light was gone again. Renfro put his hands over his eyes a minute +to accustom them to the darkness again, and then rubbed them vigorously +together. The third and fourth fingers on his left hand felt dull. He +slipped off his glove and rubbed them with snow. + +A half nervous laugh shook him. Suddenly he had remembered, no doubt on +account of the cold water plug against his body, of the time he had put +his tongue against a frozen pipe. + +The shadow across the street lengthened. The heavy man was slouching +down the street again, up to Judge Wier’s shrubbery and then to the +window thru which he had gazed the night before. Renfro was sure that +it was because there was no light in that part of the house. + +But the rest of the house was lighted and if the door were open the +stranger could see into the other room. And he lingered long enough +and close enough to the window to be studying the features of the whole +family if they were there. + +Renfro, stiff from his posture and the cold, could not move. The big +dog had been afraid of the man. He would no doubt half kill Renfro +if he discovered that the boy was following him. Besides, Renfro +reflected, if you want to unravel a mystery you have to follow a clue +to it and not burst into open opposition. + +The lights in Judge Wier’s house changed at that minute. The part +which had been lighted was darkened and the front rooms became bright +instead. And then the lurking stranger again retired to the shrubbery. + +As he had done the night before when he neared the Judge’s house Renfro +dropped onto his hands and knees and crawled to the shrubbery but no +one was there. Still some one had been there and that some one had had +something in mind which would do harm to either the Wier home or family +he was sure. + +Judge Wier has scores of enemies. He was noted as giving the stiffest +sentences of any judge in the city. Auto speeders met with as little +mercy at his hands as did the most dangerous criminals. + +“I--really--ought--to--warn--him,” Renfro chattered, +“but--still--he’ll--laugh.” But he did call a number. A tired central +informed him that she could get no one on that line. It seemed to be +out of order. + +Then Renfro went back to the kitchen and Mary with a determination in +his mind. He would find some sort of an excuse to give his parents for +being very late the next evening. Then he would follow the short, heavy +set stranger. He would see if he took the same direction his dog did +every night--down toward the big house where the tin roof rattled and +made such warning noises. + +An excuse. He frowned, when Mary started to speak but she talked +anyway. “Where’s them six turkeys you wanted me to cook, Renny?” she +began, “If it’s the cleanin’ of them I have to do then I better begin +now and--” + +“And,” Renfro interrupted her laughingly, “Mary, you’re a peach with +the fuzz still on most of the time. But I know the quality of your +mind below.” + +He could hardly keep from dancing. Mary had suggested the excuse +he wanted. The turkeys. Why he had to have them and what better +excuse could he offer his parents than that he was working for new +subscribers. His mother might object but his father would want him to +win any contest he entered. + +But before he told them he wanted to talk to Mary a little longer. +“Mary” he began, “got any more rabbits?” + +She shook her head. “He doesn’t bring them regular.” + +“Then,” Renfro, suggested, “how would you like for me to stop out +there--Captain Pete’s place is just a little distance from the end of +my route--well, let’s say about every other day and buy a couple of +rabbits from the old fellow? Put in sort of a standing order?” + +“Sure Renny, you’re that thoughtful,” Mary beamed, “And speaking of +turkeys, Renny, I read another turkey story today. It has the most +beautiful plot. And romance too. The man was a detective and--” + +“And, Mary, we’re going to have one too,” Renfro added, “but please, +Mary, do be a dear, and don’t call me Renny any more. I’ve got a +business name and I want my real friends to use it. After this to you, +Mary, I’m Hooch--Hooch Horn,” he imitated the route manager’s tone +exactly, “Hooch Horn, if you please, Mary dear.” + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +HELEN WIER IS KIDNAPED. + + +Before Renfro Horn had been awake three minutes the next morning he +heard sounds of great confusion coming up from downstairs. His father +was talking in a loud excited voice, his mother after giving a half +tone scream began asking questions and even Mary was making her share +of the confusion. + +“Another bursted pipe,” Renfro saw the heavy frost on the window, drew +his conclusion and turned over to sleep until they called him. + +Mary’s heavy winter shoes clattered up the stairway, crossed the hall +and came straight to his door. She peeped cautiously into his bedroom, +her head encased in a pink breakfast cap thru which were run blue +ribbons. Her mouth was half open, her eyes big and her whole face a map +of mingled surprise, interest and horror. + +“Renny--Renny,” she called softly and then changed, “Hooch--oh, +Hooch--your pa just brought in the morning paper and Helen Wier was +kidnaped last night right out of her pa’s own home and she aint been +brought back or they don’t know nothin’ about it and--” + +Renfro was sitting bolt upright in bed. “What did you say, Mary?” he +demanded. “Helen Wier kidnaped. When? And how did they find out? Now +answer my questions first.” + +Observing directions, Mary told him. Helen Wier, the judge’s twelve +year old daughter had been studying in the little east library, as was +her custom when the family and two guests went into the back of the +house for coffee and a late lunch. She had been sitting at the table +when they left; when they came back she was gone. That was all Mary +knew. + +The paper told Renfro a little more. There had been no outcry on +Helen’s part--no sound that anyone had heard. The room showed no +evidence of a struggle except that a vase of flowers on the table was +upturned and the books she had been studying, all were on the floor. + +When the family had come back into the library Helen was not there. Her +mother, thinking that she had gone upstairs to bed, had commented on +her going without being told and began to talk of other things when she +noticed the books on the floor and became suspicious. + +Helen Wier loved her books as she did her friends. She was very careful +of them. She never would have left them on the floor behind her, open +with their backs bent to the breaking point as were these. And the +papers out of her notebook were scattered around and under the table. + +Mrs. Wier muttered something to the rest about being sure something was +wrong with Helen, rushed upstairs to her room and then had begun the +search. That she had been kidnaped was an assured fact. The problem +before the police who had been almost instantly summoned was to find +out who did it and where the child had been taken. + +“Weren’t there no note wanting money?” Mary asked the question. + +Mr. Horn who was reading the story shook his head. Mary in turn shook +hers tho more wisely. “Then they’ll be hearin’ from the kidnapers +before night”, she said with conviction. “They’ll be telling how +much they want for her return and where to put it and giving all the +directions. The book I studied in that home correspondence course said +that was the way it always went.” + +She ended her speech triumphantly, but noticing about the same time +that no one was paying any attention to her backed thru the dining room +into the kitchen, where she talked to herself about the “ignorance of +some people”. + +Renfro, after reading the short, and to him, decidedly unsatisfactory +story, followed Mary out into the kitchen. “The paper didn’t say +anything about whether or not the telephone wires were cut,” he began. + +Mary’s homely fat face beamed. She liked to be taken into some one’s +confidence. “Them detectives which are huntin’ for a clue know mighty +little,” she said hotly. “Now what course have any of them ever +studied? They just happened to be in on the side of the political party +which won at the last election, and when the city hall jobs gave out +they just put them on the detective force.” + +Without any doubt Renfro was in a state of confusion. He didn’t know +whether or not to go around to Judge Wier’s house and tell the Judge +what he had seen on the two successive nights when he had been +carrying his papers past their house, or to take his story to the +police. But he did know enough to keep still until he decided what +course to follow. + +But he had come to the kitchen to ask a request of Mary, “For heaven’s +sake, Mary,” he begged, “don’t ever let mother know that place is on +my paper route or it would be goodbye to that route and my new turkey +customers. You won’t, will you?” + +Mary shook her head. “But are you working on some clues, Ren--Hooch?” +she asked. “Now if you are, I could help you a lot with my book +learning on detective work.” + +“Oh, I will need you all right,” Renfro laughed. “Just you wait, Mary, +and keep still a little while and then your chance will come.” + +It was hard work for Renfro at the breakfast table just to ask enough +questions and talk enough about the kidnaping to avoid suspicion, +without telling his parents anything he knew, or ask any of the +questions in his mind. He went directly to the police station from the +breakfast table. He found the chief of detectives a very busy man. + +But still he managed to take time to see Renfro and talked a little +until Renfro began to tell of the man he had seen lurking in the +Wier neighborhood and then he banged his hand on his desk. “You’re +the fifth boy who saw some suspicious looking person lurking in that +neighborhood,” he laughed but there was a note of impatience in his +laugh. “I’ve heard of everything from a colored wash woman to the judge +himself.” + +After storming about how busy he was and how people who bothered busy +people should be given jail sentences, the chief pointed toward the +door thru which he intended Renfro to leave. “If you kids would read +your school books,” he said solemnly, “instead of a lot of detective +stories written by old maids afraid to go out at night, you would have +more sense about clues and everything else in general.” + +Outside Renfro pursed his lips. “All right, Mr. Chief,” he thought to +himself, “I’ll work on my own clue. I’ve one and I hope your men don’t +find out a thing without it.” + +He found the entire Grant School aroused by the kidnaping. Girls, who +had been brought to the building by their fathers under orders not +to leave the building until they came after them, stood in groups +inside the hall and would not have ventured outside the building for +a fortune. Some of the people seemed to think that Helen Wier was the +first one to be taken in a kidnaping plot which was to rob Lindendale +of all its girls. + +Miss Turpin, the English teacher, allowed the members of her classes +to discuss the affair. All sorts of reasons, were offered for the +kidnaping, most of them being that of a ransom. But Renfro kept still. +Judge Wier didn’t have a fortune nor did he have resources to raise one +in a hurry. Unlike Mary he didn’t believe that a note would come in a +few days demanding money, telling under what particular forest log to +hide it and the conditions governing its hiding. + +Miss Turpin herself ventured a suggestion. She too knew that Judge +Wier was far from being a rich man. Now there was soon to come before +the judge for trial a number of men charged with a series of election +frauds. She wondered if they could have taken this course to frighten +Judge Wier from giving them stiff sentences. + +“Well,” Abie Lubin remembered his fine for speeding his father’s car, +“Anybody can’t scare Judge Wier by nothing.” + +That afternoon the chief of detectives, having heard of Miss Turpin’s +suggestion telephoned the Grant building for her to come to his office +after school. Renfro, too, received a telephone message. It was from +Route Manager Morrison of the Evening Globe. He offered to send an +extra boy to help Renfro carry his route in case he should feel uneasy. + +Now that was the last thing Renfro wanted so he laughed at the +suggestion and by so doing rose several notches in Morrison’s mind. He +went directly to the Circulation Manager with his praise. Mr. Bruce in +turn smiled, “I said that boy would make good,” he smiled. “Of course +he won’t make any money on Old Grief, but as soon as we’re sure he’s +what we think he is we’ll give him a regular route. And I shall have +the pleasure of telling his father that he was wrong in his prediction, +and I was right in mine.” + +Renfro fairly rushed along his route that afternoon. Still he searched +for new subscribers. It would be foolish he knew to go out to the big +Hall house and the little shack adjoining it until it was dark. Yet he +was going. + +It was very quiet at Judge Wier’s house. The people who crowded there +in the morning had gone home. The house was darkened so that Mrs. Wier +could be kept quiet. + +Renfro rolled his copy of the Evening Globe, started to throw it onto +the porch and then stopped. Why not take it around to the back door? +That would give him a chance to pass the shrubbery and the window thru +which the man had peeped on two successive nights. He decided to do so. + +The shrubbery was intact. The inside of the window was covered with a +heavy coat of frost. Renfro looked thru it but could see only the green +blind which had been pulled to the very sill. And then he saw something +on the outside of the pane. + +He stepped close to the window, and looked up at the two strange +looking things. They were about two inches apart, white and stiff and +made up of--? + +And then Renfro almost shouted. They were part of a pair of a man’s +eyebrows. Memory of the frozen pipe with his boyish tongue stuck +against it, and the red skin left fast to the pipe, made him understand +this situation. The man who had stood close to the window pane had +pressed his face against the cold glass while he watched the scene +inside the house, his eyebrows had been frozen to the pane more firmly +than he had thought and when he, suddenly frightened, had pulled away +from it he had left these portions of his eyebrows behind him. + +“My first clue” Renfro told himself and reached into his pocket. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +RENFRO TAKES THE EYEBROWS. + + +Renfro’s hand trembled so that he could hardly pull his knife from his +trousers pocket. It was followed by a notebook, from which he tore two +sheets of paper. Quickly he opened the blade, the thinnest of the three +in his knife, warmed it with several breaths and then slipped it under +one of the frozen eyebrows on the window pane. + +Zip! It came off--frozen, intact, as solid as it had been when left +on the frozen pane. Carefully Renfro wrapped it in one of the pieces +of paper. By the same process the other portion of an eyebrow was +likewise treated. With both precious packages of what he considered a +magnificent clue stored safely in his most secure inner pocket Renfro +shouldered his now empty paper bag and started toward home. + +The desire to journey out to the big Hall house was almost overpowering +him. But wisdom warned him against making the trip. It was late--it +would be eight o’clock before he could get home. If he arrived later +than that there would surely be a family conclave held, the decision +of which might mean that tho he continued to carry his paper route he +would be given no time to either get new subscribers or to follow the +clue which fate had thrust into his hand. + +Renfro was almost stunned with his good fortune. In his pocket was the +only clue which, according to the latest reports he had heard, had yet +been found. And he was going to keep it and work it out himself. The +chief of detectives had laughed once, the next laugh would be at his +expense, Renfro vowed, and because he had discovered a clue to the +identity of the person or persons who had kidnaped Helen Wier. + +All the way home on the car he kept his hand pressed over the pocket +in which was the clue. Off the car, walking down the home avenue he +watched surreptitiously for a possible bandit. No lady of rank ever +guarded her jewels any more closely than Renfro Horn did the two +mysterious eyebrows. + +All around him the bitter wind stung and lashed and hurt like a keen +edged knife. It drove white hard clouds across the sky and at times +hid the moon. But still it was a much lighter night than the one +preceding it had been. Neither Helen Wier nor any other girl could be +successfully kidnaped on a night like this. + +“But detectives could follow a clue mighty well,” Renfro turned in at +his own walk, and patted his chest, “only right now they haven’t any +clue.” + +His father who had just come past the police headquarters on his way +home from the office, gave testimony that his conclusion was right. The +clue suggested by Miss Turpin about the men implicated in the election +frauds was being traced down but no one hoped for any results. + +While they were at dinner Mrs. Horn who had been doubly uneasy over +Renfro’s lateness and also his father’s, voiced her complaints in +fretful language. Mr. Horn, provoked as always by his wife’s fussing +moods issued sharp orders to Renfro, “No trips out at night onto that +route,” he said, “and hereafter you be home at six thirty. Do you +understand?” + +Renfro nodded, and reaching into his pocket pulled out the rules +Morrison had given him the first day. “Dad,” he said soberly, “Every +business has its own rules, and the Globe’s carrier system has its own. +You expect your employees to follow yours if they expect to rise in +your business. If I’m to rise to success with the Globe I’ll have to +follow these.” + +His mother’s eyes were distinctly hostile but Renfro looked away from +them straight into his father’s interested ones, then back to his paper +and read his rules in a clear, determined boyish voice-- + +“Never fail to deliver a subscriber. + +“A good carrier will get two new subscribers and increase his route two +each week. + +“Bills must be paid when due. Only lame ducks pay part of their bills.” + +Mrs. Horn sniffed scornfully, caught a gleam of authority in her +husband’s eyes, rose with a rather indifferent apology and strolled +into the library. At a nod from his father Renfro read on-- + +“Collect your route thoroughly once a week. The meanest man in the +world is the man who would beat a newspaper carrier. + +“Tell your customers you come thru the snow and rain and cold six times +a week to their door, for their accommodation, and ask them if they +can’t arrange once a week to have your money for you. + +“Get your delivery thru as quickly as possible. The mothers want to +read the Globe before the fathers come home for supper. + +“And remember the quitters fail while the boys who respond to +responsibility always succeed as boys and as men.” + +When he finished his reading Renfro carefully folded the paper and put +it back into his pocket. He heard his father cough, looked up, caught +his wink and rather low declaration, “I recall my command. These rules +are about the best things I ever heard. Obey them--that’s all.” + +Renfro ventured audible thanks. But he cautiously remained in the +dining room when his father left for the library. He knew that his +father would have it out with his mother and that it would be much +better if he were not a listener to their argument. Besides he wanted +to see Mary. + +With his hands in his pockets he strolled into the kitchen, watched +Mary stir something into a batter and then carelessly asked, “Did you +see Captain Pete today, Mary?” + +To his surprise Mary nodded, “You did, Mary,” he ejaculated, “How did +he look?” + +“Cross--fierce like to be sure,” Mary returned. “I didn’t buy none of +his rabbits. They weren’t fresh like. And he had the nerve to argue +with me that frozen rabbits is allus good even if they wuz froze the +week before last.” + +A straight look at Mary, and a little delay on Renfro’s part. Then he +smiled scornfully at himself. Experience had taught him that no one +could be trusted better than Mary. Slowly he pulled the two pieces of +paper out of his pocket, laid them on the table, unfolded them so as +not to disturb the arrangement of their contents and called Mary. + +In a low, guarded tone he told Mary of the man who had crouched at +Judge Wier’s window, of his trying to follow him and of the finding of +the eyebrows. “They’re my clue, Mary,” he ended proudly, “You’re going +to help me find the man who has these missing eyebrows and who kidnaped +or who helped kidnap Helen Wier--aren’t you?” And he breathed deeply. +“Without the help or knowledge of any member of the detective force.” + +“Yes, yes,” Mary whispered, her sibilant tones high with excitement. +“I’ll help you and just us two will do it. I know how to follow that +clue. Them detective lessons will come in handy now. I was just +beginning to think that mebbe I had wasted my money but now I know +and--” + +“Mary,” Renfro’s hand clasped over her arm, “Did you notice this +afternoon? Were Captain Pete’s eyebrows--” + +“Why I couldn’t see them,” she whispered back. “He had a long scarf +over his head and Hooch, it came clean down to his very eyes. You don’t +think it was him--do you, Hooch?” + +Renfro shook his head. “But we’re going to watch everybody who is old +and who might be a criminal or a maniac or who could have had some +reason for kidnaping Helen Wier. In other words we’ve got to find the +man with the missing eyebrows.” + +Mary nodded vigorously. + +“And, Mary,” Renfro was folding the paper again, “We’ve got to be very +careful of these same missing eyebrows which are our only definite +clue. I’ll hide them away carefully.” + +His mother called him just then to hunt her a book he had been reading +a few days before. She was still decidedly cool in her treatment toward +him. But Renfro was more courteous than usual and before he left the +room to go to bed, she was quite motherly to him. + +In bed Renfro reviewed the day’s happenings and tried to map out a plan +for the rest of the week. He must do his route work first. That was his +job. Then when each day’s work was over he could follow the clue. If +only the detectives failed to find Helen Wier he was sure he could. + +“And I must get my new subscribers,” he was ready to close his eyes. +“The paper says two new subscribers a week, but my record must be five +a day for a time if I get those turkeys. And I must have them. I’ve +promised Mary.” + +Before he left for school the next morning he slipped into the kitchen +and bantered with Mary a minute or two. “I’ve earned two of your +turkeys, Mary,” he told her, “So be finding out ways to dress and cook +them.” + +Then he explained to her the system he was following in order to win +them. At the back door he gave her a last word of advice. “Mary, if +Captain Pete or any mean looking stranger comes to our door, look at +his eyebrows if you have to sit on him to do it,” he smiled. + +“All right, Hooch,” Mary promised in return. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +RENFRO GETS A SHOCK. + + +Not until he was in Miss Turpin’s class did Renfro have an opportunity +to hear anything about the kidnaping of Helen Wier, otherwise than +that which had been in the morning newspaper. And in them had been the +statement that all clues offered by members of the detective force and +members of the Wier family had been followed down and led to nothing. + +But in Miss Turpin’s class a late comer to school brought more news. +Judge Wier had received a letter that morning in the first mail. It was +just a note written by Helen herself, in her girlish scrawl. She was +well she said and comfortable. That was all. + +But the note had been mailed in a city mail box directly across the +street from where Judge Wier lived. That gave the detectives a new +clue. They were-- + +And then Renfro remembered his clue--the missing eyebrows. With great +deliberation last night he had chosen his hiding place--between the +case and the pillow itself. But his father had called him late and he +had forgotten all about his valuable possessions. + +At the close of the recitations he went to the dean, obtained +permission to use her private phone and slipped alone into her inner +office. He talked in a very low tone. First he called his home number. +And then he almost shouted over his own good fortune. Mary had answered +the call. + +“Don’t talk, Mary,” he cautioned, “don’t say anything which would give +me away. It’s Hooch. Has anybody made up my bed yet?” + +Mary herself had--just a little while before. + +“Then you didn’t bother them--my clues,” he almost implored. “You know +what I mean Mary--those eye--eye--you know.” + +Mary knew. + +Then Renfro told her where he had put them. No, Mary hadn’t seen them, +but if he would wait she would run up stairs and see if she could find +them. A long wait followed during which Renfro counted several hundred +digits to make the time hurry and then he heard Mary’s voice once more. + +It was terrible--full of tears, of fear and of grief. They were +gone--Renfro’s leading clues. She had shook his pillows, quite as was +her usual custom, had swept his floor and then and-- + +The rest of her speech was lost. Renfro had dashed the receiver back +onto the hook, slipped as fast as he could to his cloak room, donned +his cap and gloves and was down at the principal’s office. His white +face, his dark staring horror stricken eyes gave proof to his statement +that he was sick and he was excused for the rest of the morning. + +Darting across streets in front of automobiles, down alleys thru which +he had not been in months, panting, puffing, and never stopping, Renfro +rushed into his own back gate, up the walk and into the kitchen where +Mary was weeping copiously. A few questions from him, a few answers +from her and they were both down in the basement, right into the +furnace room. + +No, Mary didn’t remember where she had emptied the sweeper that +morning. She usually did but this morning she had been busy thinking +out excuses she could find for going out to Captain Pete’s and +discovering the condition of the old hunter’s eyebrows. She sobbed +audibly while she talked. Mrs. Horn had gone up town to a sale she +informed Renfro and she could cry loud and get all the comfort she +wanted out of so doing. + +Together they searched thru the trash pile, then all over the basement +floor, and all the way up and down the dark stairway. And then Mary +remembered the garden plot. The ash man had asked her to empty her +sweepings on the ash pile. He often found pins and needles and +interesting knick knacks for his little girl in people’s ash piles. + +And out there Renfro found one folded piece of paper and Mary the +other. They flew into each others arms. Back in the kitchen Mary found +her family Bible and made room in it for Renfro to place the precious +possessions along with the bit of her baby hair and one bridesmaid’s +dress and her long ago admirer’s picture. Mary informed him that +she was going to buy some black paper, some white paint and make a +reproduction of the eyebrows for their everyday use in hunting down +clues. + +“The detective book said to make copies of everything you find in +regard to a crime,” she offered the proof of the wisdom of her +suggestion. + +“Well you guard your Bible, Mary dear, and wait a little while,” Hooch +begged her, now restored to health again and ready to return to school. + +It was Jimmie Noel who at noon suggested to Renfro that he go see his +route manager for suggestions about securing his new subscribers. “He’s +an old hand,” he advised, “and he can give you pointers which will save +you half of your energy.” + +Renfro hesitated. That might mean a loss of time and he had determined +to go out to both Captain Pete’s and the big house that night. Still +“The Globe” was his business and a fellow’s own business came first. +Besides his father had given him permission to stay out late. + +Renfro found Morrison rushing and fuming. Warren, route manager of +the north side, had boasted that his boys were going to win the most +turkeys. “I can’t have that,” Morrison was urging two of his best +carriers whom he had summoned in to act in an emergency. “Fellows, this +is just like a big basket ball game. Are you going to let your enemy’s +team beat you without a struggle?” + +Then he saw Renfro, “Hello, Hooch Horn,” he said genially, “How can I +help you, old man?” + +Renfro’s list of twenty new subscribers went onto the counter in front +of Morrison. “Two turkeys won already,” he smiled. “And I thought +perhaps you could give me some suggestions on how to win four more.” + +A smile spread over Morrison’s face and then it stopped suddenly as he +examined the list of names. “Ward’s no good,” he ejaculated. “Didn’t +Andy tell you? He beat him out of a bill. And Newkirk did the same and +that Patterson woman--” + +“But they all paid in advance,” Renfro interrupted. + +Morrison stared at him. “They did!” he half shouted and drew his hand +across his forehead. “They did! Well how in the thunder did you get +money out of them before they got the paper? Boy, you must have a +wonderful line of talk.” + +Arm in arm he and Renfro walked to the door. “Go to it, Hooch,” was +Morrison’s last advice, “win these turkeys and I’ll put up the best +feed in any hotel you choose. The south side always does take the +prizes. But for Old Grief to win first honors, Hooch, that would be the +surprise of the Globe during the sixty years it has been a paper.” + +“Say,” he called Renfro back, “Bruce said you had guts, when he hired +you.” + +Renfro remembered that statement of Bruce’s as he worked against great +obstacles for subscribers that afternoon. But he stuck, tho there +seemed nothing but obstacles in front of him and finally counted out +his five new names. “Turkey number three,” he laughed and pulled out +his watch. + +Seven-thirty o’clock and a heavy darkness everywhere. The street lights +were dim tonight and there was almost no one out on East Washington. +Judge Wier’s house had been guarded by a detective, not because of the +discovery of a new clue but Mrs. Wier’s nerves from the morning’s note +had demanded one. + +At the little corner grocery Renfro bought a hot dog sandwich and some +weak tea and ate and drank standing close to the door. No one passed +except a colored woman carrying home her “wash.” Out on the street he +hurried down toward the big house and the shack beyond. + +He stumbled thru the underbrush at the side of the road, over the rail +fence and into the lane between the two orchards. A dark form loomed +before him. He held his breath and stood still. A low sniff came to +him, a joyous bark and Lang Tammy was against him, his big shaggy body +almost overturning Renfro. He grabbed one end of the bag and the usual +game of pulling followed. + +“Like to play, old fellow?” Renfro patted his head. “Next time, old +boy, I’ll bring you a hot dog if I have to go without one myself.” + +While he talked to the dog he caught a glimmer of light in the big +house, up on the second floor at the right side in the dormer window +where there were still shutters. It didn’t linger there long and when +it went out the whole house was left in darkness. Nor was it lighted +again. + +Renfro turned his back on the big house and stumbled across the +field toward the shack. The orchard was desolate and rocky with a +few remnants of trees which never bore but in the darkness they were +formidable looking and their roots stumbling blocks. + +After the orchard came the lane again and then the open space around +the shack. A gleam of light from the window told Renfro that Captain +Pete was at home. Before he crossed to the door Renfro ordered Lang +Tammy “to go home” and after a little the big dog slouched away. + +“He’s been taught to mind all right,” Renfro watched the big creature +now an abject object of fear, slinking down the lane, “and he’s been +taught thru terrible cruelty.” + +Captain Pete answered the knock. His shaggy head was uncovered and he +knitted his heavy white eyebrows all of which were intact. No, he did +not have any rabbits. The Elks had come out that afternoon and gotten +all he had for a big supper they were having. But he would have some +the next day for Renfro. + +Then Renfro grew a bit bold. “Sometimes, Captain Pete,” he said +quietly, “I know your old house is haunted or something, for I’ve seen +lights in it. Now tonight--” + +Captain Pete’s head shook a vigorous denial. “There wasn’t anybody +there,” he said. Why it was so full of wide open cracks that nobody +couldn’t stay there. And most of the tin roof was off by this time. + +“Captain Pete may be innocent,” Renfro drawled, back on the road again, +“but he’s sure not ignorant.” + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +TRACKS AT THE CABIN. + + +At the corner of Washington Avenue and Twenty-fifth street Renfro +waited for a car. He shuffled his feet to keep them warm and rolled and +unrolled his paper bag while he watched the next corner for the first +glimpse of a headlight. The street light quivered and went out, came on +again and once more began to grow dim. + +When out of Plum Street sprang a boy in uniform who rushed into +the middle of the street, caught at the long wire hanging from the +flickering light, gave it several jerks and was rewarded by the strong +white light which replaced the flickering one. + +In its light Renfro recognized Jimmie Noel, dressed for a hike, his +provision bag swung over his shoulder, a stout stick in one hand and a +bulky bundle in the other. He gave a shrill whistle. The one which came +in return told that he was recognized. + +The two boys met near the middle of the block. But before they +exchanged spoken greetings Renfro saw the squad of khaki clad boys who +were following Jimmie more than a half square away. They halted under +the street light to view the accomplishment of Jimmie. Two of them in +turn shook the same wire he had. The street light grew even brighter. + +“Bill Larrison’s patrol,--the Black Bears,” Jimmie nodded at the boys +behind him. “They’re going out to Twin Cedar Cabin for the night. Some +of them are getting ready for their second class tests. Pete Northrup’s +going to cook.” + +Renfro’s laugh was eloquent. Pete was the most awkward boy he knew. +Visions of Pete in a kitchen were too much for him. + +“Gee, I’d like to see him,” he began. + +“Come along then,” Jimmie invited. “I’m a sort of a visitor myself. +Going to give some of the tests for Bill. It’ll be exciting too, I tell +you. Queer things happening out at the camp recently, according to what +the scouts tell, who have gone out there on over night hikes. It’ll--” + +But the presence of the eight other scouts, who had caught up with +them, put an end to Jimmie’s flow of confidence. Instead he turned to +the boy who seemed to be leader of the expedition. “Bill,” he began, +“this is Hooch Horn--a pal of mine. I’d like for him to go along.” + +“Sure!” Bill was inclined to want all the company he could get. He had +heard much more about the queer happenings out at the camp than had +Jimmie. Another recruit to his crowd would strengthen its fighting +powers should they be called into use. + +Renfro hesitated. Under ordinary circumstances he could have explained +the situation to his father so that he would have been willing for him +to go. But his mother’s mood, due to his carrying the Washington Globe +route, made him uneasy about his ability to do so now. However, Jimmie, +the quick witted, came to the rescue. + +“Let Ted Bright explain things to your father,” he began. “He often +does that for me when I want to get out. He’s just like his dad--can +talk folks into doing anything he wants them to do.” + +Renfro grinned. “All right,” he agreed, remembering his father’s +opinion of the elder Bright and how anxious he now was to stand in +that man’s good graces. “Dad’s still home I’m sure. He can call him up +from the corner grocery.” + +While Ted was gone the boys told Renfro about the overnight hike they +had made the week before. The one before them tonight was a short +one,--out East Washington to the second road leading down to the river +road. Just beyond the land owned by Captain Pete Hall was that which +the city scouts had bought for a permanent camp site. + +“You know the old cabin out there,” Ward Lane was the speaker now, “the +one with the two big cedar trees in front of it--just above the spring +where the Indian chiefs fought,” he talked rapidly, “we fellows went +out a few weeks ago and repaired it so we could use it for overnight +hikes. Now two patrols have used it but neither one of them will go out +again. They saw--” + +“Oh, Hooch,” Ted’s voice several yards away, was happy, “It’s all +right. I had to talk like sixty tho. And I didn’t tell them we are +going to stay all night in the cabin.” He had reached the group now +and was laughing, “I think your mother believes we’re going to stay all +night in some sort of a hotel or other.” + +“No doubt,” Jimmie laughed too. “With your explanations, Ted, and your +blarney, she might think anything.” + +The patrol fell into regular order and took up its march. Jimmie and +Renfro followed the others. Back over the last part of Renfro’s paper +route they journeyed. Near Judge Wier’s house Jimmie remembered the +kidnaping and wanted to talk about it. Renfro listened, answering +the questions Jimmie asked but taking great care not to show unusual +interest sufficient to arouse Jimmie’s suspicions. + +However, the lack of evident interest on the subject on Renfro’s part +disgusted Jimmie. And soon he began to talk about other subjects. The +deserted house on the Hall place, tall and dark and ghostly, reminded +him of Captain Pete’s skill as a hunter. Jimmie had gone with the old +hunter, whose boast was that he never shot his rabbits thru the body +“ef they had the least part of a head.” + +The patrol slowed its pace and fell back to Jimmie and Renfro. They +were soon singing some lusty marching songs which put an end to the +conversation between the two boys. And Renfro was glad that it did. He +wanted to watch the landmarks along the road they were taking. + +Just beyond the cabin they turned into a road leading to the river. +Six years before it had been kept in good repair for the people who +journeyed down to the fishing camp which was its terminus. But the camp +had been moved, the road was little used and had been allowed to fall +into a bad state. + +Renfro stumbled over huge boulders in one place; in another he +went shoe top deep into a rut of snow. The scouts were having like +difficulties. Bill Larrison dropped his provisions and had quite a +scramble in getting them back into his bag again. + +At the foot of the bluffs they climbed a fence, made of rails and wire, +crossed a field, hurried down a lane at the end of which loomed two +tall cedar trees. The dark blur back of them Renfro knew was the cabin. +Visions of a roaring fire in the big fire place the scouts had told +about building, began to cheer him when the patrol stopped. + +“They’re going to pay their respects to Chief Wampum and Big Eagle,” +Jimmie gave the information. + +He pushed Renfro close to a structure built after the fashion of a pig +pen. “The fellow built it around the graves so that the cattle and +horses couldn’t harm them,” Jimmie continued. “They’re real Indian +chiefs. Tell you about them tonight. The scouts who come out here +always have to pay their respects to them.” + +A long wailing sound came from one of the boys, followed by Bill’s +heavy, gutteral, “Oh, chief, have you anything to say to your braves +tonight?” + +Absolute silence answered his question. A few minutes’ wait and +Bill ordered his patrol to march on to the cabin. The march was +uninterrupted except for a large dog which moved near the boys. One of +them started to drive it away but Renfro intercepted him. “It’s a dog I +know,” he said, and called softy, “Lang Tammie.” + +One minute the dog stopped, hesitated, sniffed, turned and ran back +up the hill. Renfro watched him out of sight. Then he went on to the +cabin, into which most of the boys had already gone. + +Two coal oil wall lamps had been lighted when Renfro entered the room. +From their light he saw that the partitions had been removed and the +cabin thrown into one big room, a mammoth fire place was in the center +of the north wall. Bunks had been built along the south one. + +Several times during the last two years when Renfro had gone on hikes +he had stopped at Twin Cedar Cabin to get a drink from the spring, its +water was noted as being the coldest and clearest in the vicinity. + +Too, Renfro had been interested in the landmarks around the site. He +had heard, years before, the history of the spot and had seen the old +woman about whom they told the weird story which had made the site +famous. When she had been but fifteen years old two Indian chiefs had +seen her, both had wanted her for his squaw and they had fought a duel +at the spring, where both had been wounded. + +Their braves had carried them away. Years afterward they had returned +and paid respects to the white girl for whom they had fought. She was +an old woman then, but had enjoyed the visit and recounted it ever +afterwards with much pleasure. + +“And when they were dead,” Jimmie, as if reading Renfro’s thought, +suddenly said, “their braves brought them back and buried them near the +spring. Those were the graves you passed tonight.” + +Renfro was inclined to be incredulous. “Queer I never heard about those +graves before,” he said. + +“Yes, it is queer,” Jimmie grinned. + +Bill was grumbling over near the fireplace. “Somebody’s been at the +provisions again,” he said. “The soap’s all gone. Why,” he shook an +empty bucket, “so’s the lard--” farther investigation--“and the eggs +you brought out yesterday, Hank, and--” he looked at some prints on the +floor--“whoever it was had a dog.” + +Big prints on the floor made him decide it was a large dog. Except for +grumbling over the loss of the provisions, the other scouts paid little +attention to the prints, but to Renfro they held intense interest. +While they built a roaring fire in the fireplace he took his flashlight +to add to the light furnished by the coal oil lamps and examined the +prints closely. + +Yes, they had evidently been made by an airedale dog. But close to them +were the muddy prints of a large shoe, the sort worn by a man who was +accustomed to hunting. Smaller tracks were confusing. They might have +been made by a small scout, but still they were narrow enough to have +been made by a girl’s sport oxford. + +Renfro put some newspapers over one and on top of them put his paper +bag and mackinaw. The other boys had piled their mackinaws and +provision kits on the floor. In his heart was one hope--namely that +they would not remove his things. He had laid them down so carefully +that he was sure the footprints would remain intact and he could study +them more closely in the morning. + +Yes, it was possible. Helen Wier’s kidnapers might have brought her to +this cabin the night they took her. They might have kept her there +until morning and then gone on down the river. They might-- + +“Out with the lights.” Bill Larrison’s voice became a low growl. “Out +with your lights, fellows and in a body move to the window.” + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE LIGHT ON THE INDIAN GRAVES. + + +Renfro grasped one of the wall lamps, lifted it from its socket and +with all the power of his lungs blew down the chimney. The blaze was +instantly extinguished and left one smoking wick. At the same moment +Scout Brown had extinguished the other. Outside there sounded faint +footsteps. But when the boys reached the window no one was outside. The +door was opened, the scouts circled the cabin, and even journeyed to +the spring but no one was there. + +“Bill’s excited,” Jimmie confided to Renfro, “He’s watching for the +lights at the grave.” + +“What?” Renfro was amazed. + +“Oh, last summer when we were out here, one of the scoutmasters, who +knew all the old men and women around here, told the boys that once +every ten years the two chiefs would come back to again fight by the +spring. And they believed it. The other two troops which were out here +said that at midnight queer lights played around the graves and word +has gone out that this is nearing the time for the two braves to +appear.” + +Renfro laughed and moved close to the fire. “Of course,” he smiled, +“you don’t believe it.” + +Jimmie in turn asked a question. “You heard those steps--didn’t you?” + +Renfro nodded and smiled. “But you didn’t see anything nor anyone,” +Jimmie continued. + +Another nod from Renfro. “And Hooch,” Jimmie moved closer to him. “You +saw those footprints.” + +This time he excited Renfro’s interest. He was intensely concerned in +those footprints. He could hardly wait for morning to come to give him +an opportunity to study them. He felt that an answer was due Jimmie, +“Yes, I saw them,” he said, “And they are sure big ones.” + +“Now I tell you--” + +But Jimmie didn’t get to tell Renfro anything more. The patrol was +back in the room. Some of the boys had made weather observations +while out of the cabin and they were anxious to mark them on their +charts. A discussion on cooking meat followed their work and then the +ceremonials for the evening began. + +They had just gotten to the most interesting part when Jimmie announced +that it was bedtime. One of the rules of the cabin committee, in order +to keep a strong friendship with the parents of the scouts, required +the hikers to go to bed at a certain hour. And like good scouts they +observed that rule. + +The boys rolled up in blankets on the bunks. Several of them whispered. +Jack Burton next to Renfro, insisted upon telling both Jimmie and +Renfro of how his high school brother got angry every time he came out +to the cabin. The fraternity to which he belonged had wanted to buy +the cabin; but the scouts had offered a larger sum for it than did the +fraternity. “We beat them to it,” the little fellow finished, “and +every boy in that frat hates me ’cause I told the committee they was +wantin’ it and--” + +He trailed on and on but Jimmie’s snores told that he was asleep and +Renfro’s mind was bent on other things. He saw again Captain Pete--the +big cabin--the dog--Lang Tammie, and then the many foot prints on Twin +Cedars’ floor. In the morning-- + +But in the morning he didn’t make his investigation. For hardly had +Renfro gotten to sleep when he was awakened by a low, warning voice. +Sibilant whispers went from one bunk to the other. “The light, the +light!” the boys whispered. “It’s on the graves now.” + +Renfro raised on his elbow and saw that he was directly in range of the +window and of the enclosure on the graves. And the boys were right. A +weird unearthly blue light was playing over some of the boards of the +fence and over the two mounds inside the enclosure. + +With quick breaths the boys watched it. Jimmie and Renfro went to the +window. For several minutes the lights, alternating from purple to +blue, played along the graves and then suddenly they went out. + +“I’m in favor of investigating them,” Renfro began, turned away from +the window, struck the bench with his foot and fell headlong to the +floor. Something on which he landed slipped, he felt a soft wooly, mass +and realized with a start that he had fallen on his own coat. + +“And on the foot prints,” he thought with a start. + +“Light the lamp, Jim,” he called. “I want to see what I’ve done.” + +“Hurt?” Jimmie Noel’s voice was full of hope. A chance for first aid +was not to be despised. + +He carried the lamp to where Renfro lay. The other boys followed him. +And with a sinking heart Renfro feared that if he had not destroyed the +contour of the footprints the boys had. + +Slowly and carefully he raised himself from the floor. He lifted +the coat, his paper bag and then the paper. Below, it was just an +indistinguishable lot of soil which had once been mud brought in on +shoes--the shape of which Renfro would have given a small fortune to +have been able to have told. + +But now he knew that it was impossible. + + * * * * * + +The next morning Jimmie, Bill and Renfro made a trip to the two graves +while the other boys cooked breakfast in camp style. There were +no marks around the grave, no sign of destruction nor any kind of +invasion. Jimmie crawled over both mounds feeling his way carefully. + +“It’s mighty queer,” was the only remark he made when his investigation +was finished. + +And Renfro and Bill nodded. + +Back in the cabin the other boys were discussing the same happening. +Before they left the cabin they made a vow to tell none of their +experiences to the rest of the scouts but to have weekly overnight +hikes out to the cabin. “Investigation hikes,” Bill dubbed them. + +On the way back to town the boys overtook a solitary driver in a low +spring wagon. It was Captain Pete and he gave them a genial invitation +to ride back with him. “Good hunting weather,” he told them and +laughed, “but I don’t notice you fellows brought in anything.” + +“We were making a hike,” Bill answered for the crowd. “We camped out at +Twin Cedar cabin last night.” + +Captain Pete chuckled. “Where did you git them Indian mounds?” he +insisted. + +The boys looked at Jimmie but that worthy did not even offer to answer. +Instead he changed the conversation back to rabbit hunting and got +Captain Pete into a monologue again. While he talked, Renfro studied +him--his face across which there were long scratches and his shifting +eyes. Sometimes they were as gentle as a woman’s and again when he was +angry they were cruel. + +As the boys clambered out of the wagon, he gave a shrewd chuckle, +“Didn’t see anything queer out there last night--did you?” he asked. +“Some of the scouts did last week, ’cordin’ to what one of their +mothers told me. Didn’t see nothin’--you fellows--did you?” + +And they disdained to even answer. + +From the little restaurant where he went to supplement his camp +breakfast, Renfro telephoned home before he went on to school. His +father answered the telephone and he was in a very agreeable mood. He +asked Renfro if he had enjoyed his trip and then gave him a telephone +number which had been left for him the night before. + +Renfro recognized the number as that of Morrison’s telephone. The clock +on the restaurant wall told him that he had time to go past the office +on his way to school. Better talk face to face with Morrison than over +the telephone, he decided. + +The morning paper on the table had big headlines about the Wier +kidnaping. The story it contained was almost a repetition of the one +the Globe had had the evening before. No new clues had been discovered, +according to the detectives. He also admitted that if any were +uncovered they would be kept secret. + +Then followed detailed interviews from all of the Wier servants, none +of whom could or would add a bit of information to the stories already +told. Renfro read them thoroughly. And while he ate his buck-wheat +cakes, he wondered whether or not the cabin at Twin Cedars had harbored +any of the kidnapers. + +The lights outside the cabin had interested but not disturbed him. +Now he was inclined to give them more attention. Of course, it was +ridiculous to think that they were made by returning spirits, as some +of the younger scouts seemed to think. But still these lights did not +just happen to come to the grave. + +Back of their coming was some weird purpose, Renfro was sure. “I’ll +keep them in mind the next time I go out that way,” he decided. “Jim’s +so interested in them that he’ll ask me to go with him again I’m sure. +They may--” + +With a rush of cold air the front door opened and Jimmie Noel entered +the room. He had stopped at the office to see if his brother had +carried his route on time. “No complaints,” he said cheerfully to +Renfro. “Going past home?” + +Renfro shook his head. “Have to see Morrison,” he returned. + +“I’m not going that way,” Jimmie warmed his hands at the radiator. +“Have to go by home. But I want you to go back to the cabin soon, +Hooch, with me. There’s something back of those lights--something +mysterious. You’re a bear at working out mysteries. And for the good of +Twin Cedar camp I want that one solved. If something isn’t found out to +prove those lights aren’t ghostly things, that camp will be about as +popular as a water snaked swimming hole for the scouts. You’ll go with +me--won’t you, Hooch?” + +“You bet!” Renfro smiled. He was surely glad Jimmie had not connected +the cabin with the kidnaping. He didn’t want to share honors with +Jimmie even in working out his kidnaping clues. And besides he wasn’t +sure that the Twin Cedar cabin held any part in the episode. Yet he +wished he had not fallen and himself destroyed the footprints. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +RENFRO BECOMES A MENTOR. + + +Morrison was at his desk. He jerked out a surly answer to Renfro’s +pleasant, “Good morning.” + +In the same mood he turned in his chair and saw Renfro. The frown +by some mysterious manner was jerked into a smile. “Hello Horn,” he +beamed. “Got my message--didn’t you?” In rapid jerks he continued, +“Needn’t have bothered to come in. Could have told you over the wire. +Want you to take a pupil on Old Grief.” + +A look of dismay on Renfro’s face answered him. “Oh, no--haven’t the +least idea of taking it away from you,” he hastened to reassure Renfro. +“I want you to take Merle Riker out there with you this afternoon and +teach him how you get new customers.” + +He pointed to a chair and Renfro dropped into it. But there was no +break in Morrison’s conversation. “Good kid, but lacks pep--Mother’s +a widow--needs the money--gave him one of our best routes. He’s good +to collect, because the people are all good pay. He doesn’t lose a +subscriber. Doesn’t get any new ones either. Just keeps the route the +way it is. And he’s got the best route for new customers in town--all +except Old Grief,” he winked. “Now the Riker family will need a +Christmas turkey and the Globe needs new subscribers out there. See?” + +“Yes sir,” Renfro got in an answer this time. + +“I’ll send a sub out in Merle’s place this afternoon and you take him +with you,” Morrison continued. “Keep still about it. Don’t want to make +a precedent out of this--unusual case--feel sorry for the family. All +the kid needs is some pep. Inspire it. Get me, Horn?” + +Renfro nodded. “I’ll do my best,” he promised. + +And he kept his word. When he reached the station that night, a slender +boy with a face which was molded along feminine lines, and whose +clothes were well worn met him. Renfro studied him a minute before he +began talking. As he studied he decided that like Morrison, he was +going to like this boy. He lacked enterprise. But Renfro believed that +this was on account of shyness due to his poverty. + +For when the boy lifted his eye lashes there was a quality of steel +in his gray eyes. His mouth too had a firmness at the corners that +promised much. He walked along the street in quick long steps, which +matched those taken by Renfro and he was ever in an alert, ready to +listen attitude. + +“We’ll try some new subscribers first,” Renfro volunteered. “Then you +can help me throw my papers and if we have time we’ll get a few more.” + +“All right,” the steel quality was also in the boy’s voice. + +Renfro consulted his book, found a number three doors away and led the +way to a little L shaped cottage. A big, burly man came to the door. +“Do you read the Globe?” Renfro began in a pleasant way. + +The man started to shut the door with a gruff, “No,” when Renfro’s foot +slipped just inside enough to prevent that. “I am the new carrier on +this route,” he began. “I have taken it for several years’ service, so +I wanted all the people to know me.” + +The man stared at him more kindly and opened the door a bit farther +himself. “I don’t like the Globe,” he said, the surliness still in his +voice. “It comes too late in the evening and--” + +“It came too late in the evening,” Renfro smiled. “I bring it before +any other carrier on this route brings the other evening papers. And I +can prove it. You ask any of the people on my route.” + +The man hesitated. Renfro reached into his bag and brought out a paper. +“I’ll leave one now and stop on my way home to get your order,” he +smiled. + +The man took the paper and laughed. “I’ll see,” he promised. “I’m going +to call up the grocer on the corner and see if you are the first boy +out with your papers,” he added. “My wife wants an early paper, so she +can read it before she starts getting the supper.” + +Renfro turned to Merle as they walked toward the street. “After that +I have to be prompt,” he said. “We’ll carry my papers now. From now +on--I’ll carry my route before I try to get a single new subscriber.” + +Merle nodded. “Yes, Hooch,” he agreed. “I’ll remember that, too.” + +He reached out his arm for the papers and Renfro gave him half the +bundle. Together they traversed Old Grief, with its pawn shops, second +hand stores, lunch wagons, cheap butcher stores, army supply store and +dozens of other “imitation places of business”. Then they came into the +poorer residence district, where the children fought for the honor of +carrying the paper to the door. From this they passed into the street +on which lived the old residents of Lindendale, who would not leave +their ancestral homes. + +“There,” Renfro nodded toward the big house surrounded with shrubbery +which needed trimming, “is where Judge Wier lives--Helen Wier’s father.” + +Merle Riker stared. “Judge Wier helped my mother,” he said simply, “I +hope some one finds his daughter. He’s a kind man.” + +Renfro laughed. “Most people don’t know it,” he added. + +At one house Renfro stopped to collect. The woman had not had her money +Saturday and was inclined to show an ugly disposition because Renfro +had stopped for it in the middle of the week instead of waiting until +the next Saturday. + +“It isn’t convenient for me to pay every time,” she said in a cross +voice, “and if you’re afraid to trust me, I’ll get another paper.” + +Renfro looked straight at her. “I have to pay for my papers every +week,” he said. “And I come every evening thru the rain and snow and +cold, right on time, because it’s my job. And you--” + +“I suppose you were going to say mine is to pay you on time too,” the +woman was still surly though she saw Renfro’s logic before he had time +to utter it all. “Wait.” + +She went into the house and returned with twenty cents. + +“She’ll pay next Saturday,” Merle spoke before Renfro could. “She saw +what you meant and knew you were right, too.” + +The route finished, Renfro again consulted his red book, in which +all his prospective subscribers were listed. “Want to try a place of +business?” he asked, “Or, are all the people on your route families.” + +Merle shook his head and explained that he had three blocks of the +east side stores in his route, though few of the merchants who kept +them were regular subscribers. “They buy the papers on the street,” he +explained, “so I don’t think it’s much difference whether or not I have +them.” + +“Means more money for you,” Renfro gave the best reason first, the one +which he knew would appeal to a boy needing money. “Then, too, when +they want a paper they buy most any one. If the boy they meet doesn’t +have the Globe they may ask another boy for one, but if the second one +doesn’t happen to have one then the chances are even that they will buy +another paper. Get me?” + +Merle nodded. + +So back to the pawn shop, and second hand clothing store district they +went. It was a butcher shop, however, into which Renfro led the way. +He smiled at the man behind the block and waited until the customer +had been served and departed with his bundle. “Read the paper I left +yesterday?” he asked, “and how did you like the market report?” + +The butcher came around from behind the block to discuss the market +report. He admitted that he had liked the report in the Globe. “But +I can buy it off the street boy who comes in every evening,” he +volunteered. “I don’t need to bother to subscribe. It wastes my time.” + +“Oh, no,” Renfro shook his head but was very courteous, “It won’t take +you nearly so much time to pay me once a week as it does to pay the +boys on the street every day. And sometimes they forget to come in or +you have a customer and they can’t wait, then you have to go to the +door and hunt one up.” + +The man grinned. “Oh, beat it,” he laughed good naturedly, “you want my +subscription. Is it a prize?” + +“I want to save you time,” Renfro was still serious, “and money. +Sometimes you can’t get the Globe when you go out after it, because the +boys may be sold out. Then you have to take another paper and you have +a different market report. And you may lose money because the other +will not be so thorough.” + +“Yes,” the butcher was serious now. “You are a good talker, and I will +subscribe to save time. It is just as you say, though I never thought +of it before. You make out a card and I’ll pay now and you bring it +tomorrow. Early!” + +“Yes, sir,” Renfro began making out the card. + +The next prospective subscriber was a woman, one of the +have-to-be-convinced of everything sort. Renfro had left her a paper +the evening before and she had read it but yet she couldn’t see much +difference between it and the evening paper she had taken for five +years. Renfro opened one of his papers, carried it to the library +table, showed her the Woman’s page, explained the information which it +contained, talked about the features, the editorials, and knowing the +nature of most women, ended with its strong society column. + +“I’ll try it,” she agreed. “I’ll take it a week and then if every copy +is as good as your two samples, I’ll subscribe regularly.” + +“Every copy is just like the sample.” Renfro was sober then. + +But outside he and Merle chuckled. “She thinks we get out extra good +papers for samples,” they laughed and laughed. + +“I’d like to go back to the first man you gave the sample paper,” Merle +said at the sidewalk. “I think I understand now how to get customers +but I’d like to see what he does.” + +Back to the little L shaped house they went. The man was ready for +them. “The man at the corner says you are all right. What I want is an +early evening paper, so I’ll sign your subscription card.” + +“That is the secret of getting subscriptions,” Renfro confided to Merle +when they were alone again. “Find out what your prospective subscribers +want and then show them that your paper is the one which gives them +exactly that--from early papers to those which are carefully folded and +put in a convenient place on the front porch.” + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE SCRATCHES ON THE WINDOW. + + +Mary was in the kitchen when Renfro stormed in the back entrance at his +home that evening. He heard her begin to rattle pans and he knew that +she was going to see to it that he got an extra good supper. “Another +turkey, Mary,” he sang out while he hung his paper bag and cap on the +hooks she had given to him. + +Cautiously she came to the door. “There’s company in the living room +with your paw and maw,” she whispered sibilantly. “They’re talking +about the kidnaping. I’ve been lying down close to the door--face and +stomach to the floor,” she confided. “I crawled backwards when I heard +you comin’ and Glory be, I got clean thru the dining room without +knockin’ anything over.” + +Renfro followed her into the kitchen. “Gee, but I’m hungry,” he +sniffed. “Mary, love, what have you to feed me?” + +Mary became stern. “A pretty detective you are, Mr. Renny,” she refused +to use his manly nickname at the hour of his failure in her eyes. +“Aint I been throwin’ clues in the shapes of hints at you ever since +I begin talkin’? Aint I done got down off my own dignity and told you +how downcast I was on that floor? And what’s to prevent you but a empty +stomach from followin’ my example and learnin’ things your paw and maw +never would tell you?” + +“Aw, Mary, don’t be so hard on a fellow,” Renfro’s voice was pleading. +“I was so hungry and I couldn’t grasp any kind of a hint. Course I’m +going to go in there. Only, for goodness sake, have my supper ready +when the talk changes to other subjects!” + +But Mary seized his shoulders. “You’re goin’ to do no such thing!” she +commanded. “Your supper is in the warming closet. Take it out and eat +it with the other things on the kitchen table. It’s meself who’s goin’ +back. If anybody starts into the room, distract them, Hooch.” + +The next minute she was down on the floor and wriggling her way across +the dark dining room. A big red and green snake could not have made any +more twists and turns than she did in getting across the room. Renfro +knew that she was so bulky that she was afraid to try to lie down in +the dining room, so she had instead taken this way of getting to the +door. + +He held his hands to his sides to keep from laughing so that she could +hear him. “Bulky but ambitious,” he laughed, “and a good pal,” he +finished soberly. + +Back he went to the supper, rattling the pans and dishes unnecessarily +so that his parents knowing that he was home would be more comfortable. +Straight thru oyster soup, roast mutton and peach pie he waded. He was +just ready to venture on a second cup of coffee when he heard Mary +nearing the kitchen door. + +Just outside the door she straightened. Disgustedly she spoke, “If them +Wiers aint goin’ to have some detectives from Chicago, and us with such +a good clue.” + +Renfro’s face fell. This then would probably be the end of his hopes +to solve the mystery. Still there was a chance for him. No one except +himself and Mary knew of the missing eyebrows. + +Then he told Mary about his visit to Captain Pete’s cabin and the +conversation. “Mary!” Renfro stood up in his excitement, “Pete’s face +was a dead give away when I mentioned the lights in the big house. His +eyes were as scared as a kid’s. He knows that somebody is there, and +I’m going to find out who that somebody is and just where the rest of +those missing eyebrows are.” + +Mary nodded her head. “Our part of them, Renfro, are still in my +Bible,” she assured him. “I’ve looked at them every hour to see they +don’t fade away. And I bought me a blackboard to reproduce them as your +pa says, for our observation--so as to keep ’em in our mind night and +day.” + +In the library Mr. Horn was telling the visiting lawyer about Renfro’s +experience with a paper route when the youngster entered the room. He +boasted of his new subscribers to his mother’s chagrin. “If she knew I +was working for Thanksgiving turkeys she would die,” Renfro laughed to +himself. “I’ve half a notion to spring it on her now.” + +But he didn’t. He lingered long enough to be sure that they were not +going to talk about the kidnaping any more, and then he went up to his +own room. For a half hour he worked checking up on his new subscribers +and collections. This done he took up the new magazine on his desk and +tore off the cover. It had been on his desk three days unopened--a +happening which had never before occurred. And all because of his +interest in the turkey contest and the Missing Eyebrow Mystery. + +He read the last chapter of the serial. And then he sought Mary again. +“It ended just the way I said it would,” he told her waving the +magazine in front of her. “The two fellows who took the jewels were +Fred and Manuel and they hid them--” + +Mary’s hand was raised imperatively. “Listen Hooch,” she said. “I’ve +been making plans myself. Tomorrow night is my regular choir practice. +Before I go to it I’ll come out on Washington and we’ll both go to +them different places--one of us to the shack and the other to the big +house. Then we’ll see who is in both places at the same time. That way +they’ll have no chance to send signals or communicate to each other.” + +“Fine, fine, Mary!” Renfro’s enthusiasm was all that Mary could ask. +She murmured something about the pity being that Renfro too had not +taken a correspondence course in detective work and her bosom heaved +with pride. + +“But, Mary,” Renfro hesitated, “are you sure you won’t mind missing +choir practice?” + +Missing choir practice was one of Mary’s greatest horrors. In all the +fifteen years that she had sung alto in the mission church, she had not +missed one practice. And now she was planning to deliberately miss one. + +But she wasn’t. The next minute she set Renfro to rights on that. “I +said I might be late,” she said severely, “I’m countin’ on us workin’ +fast. I’m not going to miss nothin’ I tell you.” + +But she did miss something. Then next morning at exactly five o’clock +the Horn telephone rang. Mary, calling down maledictions on the head of +whoever would call at that hour, listened to the conversation at the +other end of the wire and with a changed mien proceeded to Renfro’s +door. + +It was Jimmie who called. The carrier boy whose Morning Post route was +adjoining his had badly frozen his foot the night before. His first aid +work had relieved him somewhat the night before but this morning he +could not walk. And Jimmie wanted Renfro to help him carry the other +boy’s route. + +“I told him you would,” Mary was hunting Renfro’s heaviest coat. “It’s +not so cold as it was last night, Renny. And I knew you would want to +be a good scout and help a carrier out. Now that’s the way I am. When +the soprano soloist was sick and out of church for a whole week once, I +sang high soprano when it was the most important part in the songs and +then dropped right back to alto when the low parts were most important. +There’s nothin’--” + +But Renfro was motioning her to the door. “I’ve got to dress in a +hurry,” he told her. “You explain to father and let him make it right +with mother. Now, Mary, for heaven’s sake keep still before mother and +don’t get her started. Let dad--” + +A few minutes later he was off, buttoning his coat collar as he ran +toward the station at which Jimmie got his papers. And there he found +Jimmie waiting for him. “Hooch Horn,” he said impressively, “you’re +a good scout. I called up six fellows’ houses before I did yours and +every place I got Hail Columbia, Happy Land for waking up the family. +And you--” + +“And I, Jimmie,” Renfro said impressively, “I tell you the reason you +didn’t get the same dope at the seventh house was because Mary Dugan, +good old scout, answered the phone.” + +And so flustered was Mary that morning with extra breakfasts and +avoiding any mix-ups with her mistress that she forgot to read the +morning paper. Renfro in turn did not have time to even think of such a +feast. As he folded the papers he had glanced at the headlines, which +told of Judge Wier’s summoning the Chicago detectives and Mrs. Wier’s +getting another note from Helen, it also asserting that she was safe. + +So she was frightened half “into fits” as she expressed it when Renfro +rushed into the kitchen in the middle of the morning. “Mary, where is +mother?” he demanded in a loud whisper. + +Mary answered that she was out. + +“Then I can talk,” he added, “Mary, we are lost; or our clue is--no, +I mean discovered by some one else. I borrowed a morning paper last +hour and there what do you think? Yesterday Mrs. Wier, while walking up +and down the library happened to look at the window from which most of +the ice had melted and discovered some little scratches I made with my +knife when I scraped off those eyebrows.” + +He caught his breath. “Of course she doesn’t know they’re mine,” he +added. “But she showed them to the detectives and vowed they were not +there before--that the windows were put in new this fall and were +perfect and--” + +His teeth chattering. Mary’s big, strong, red hand went over his +trembling ones. “Hooch Horn,” she said sternly, “You aint worrying half +so much over them finding a clue like ourn as you are because you’re +skeert they’ll think you had something to do with that kidnaping! Now +aint you?” + +Before Renfro could answer she stormed on, “Well, they won’t. You and +me is too small fry to even be considered. They know you aint got sense +enough to plan such a thing. If they thought we was workin’ on a clue +they would give us the horse collar. And that’s why we got to work +this plot out. See?” + +She shook him soundly. “We’ll go out there tonight as we planned. And +you git back to school. Pretty soon you’ll have that sick excuse worn +clean out. Git back, I say, in a hurry so that I can read the newspaper +and see for myself just what they do know about them winder scratches.” + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A TRIP TO THE CABIN. + + +It was exactly a quarter of seven o’clock that night and Renfro with +his paper bag almost empty had just turned the corner into South +Washington Street when he ran plump--into Mary Dugan. She was puffing +as one who had been undergoing great exertion. + +“Hello, Hooch!” she managed a casual greeting and then burst straight +into a monologue on the difficulties of her journey. She had hired her +sister to come over to the Horn house to serve the dinner, and the +sister had been late. Mary had boarded the wrong car and had had to +transfer on her way out and-- + +“But Mary,” Renfro exclaimed, “You’re too early! Something broke down +with the press, we got our papers late. I haven’t got a single new +subscriber and I have two more blocks to deliver.” + +“On both sides of the street?” Mary’s question was direct. + +“Sure!” Renfro was impatient. + +“Then gimme me half of them,” Mary held out her hands on which were +gray cotton gloves and which looked like veritable apparitions in the +darkness. “Now don’t say I won’t know where to leave ’em. I know I +won’t. But we kin work skilful--can’t we? I’ll start right across the +street from you and you whistle at every house where I’m to stop.” + +“Some girl, Mary Dugan,” Renfro began to count out papers into her +hands, “Now where did you learn--” + +“Hooch Horn,” Mary interrupted him almost dropping her papers in her +eagerness to explain. “You aint learned yet half the clues I learned in +that detective course.” + +The papers tumbled again, and would have fallen had not Hooch caught +them. “It’s them gloves,” Mary was quick to realize the impediments the +bulky cotton gloves were in the paper carrying art. Her right one came +off with a dash and was thrust into her coat pocket. + +“Now gimme the part of the street you know best,” she commanded. “Your +whistler will be saved some that way.” + +A wave of Renfro’s hand and Mary darted across the street. Without any +sign, or any communication except the keen whistles from Renfro, they +finished the two blocks in record breaking time. And then they met at +the end of the block. + +“But I haven’t got any new subscribers, Mary,” Renfro hesitated, “I +made my daily quota out several days ago and I can’t break it, you +know.” + +“And I made my rule agin’ bein’ late at choir practice several years +ago,” Mary’s alto voice was very dry, “but I’m thinkin’ this here +business is worth breakin’ anything. This here affair of our goin’ down +there tonight means either you miss your subscribers or I miss my choir +practice and--” + +“Mary,” Hooch’s hand went on her arm. “Since you are so good a sport, I +can make up my subscribers Saturday and Monday.” + +“You ought to be gettin’ them other subscribers from our own part of +town, Hooch,” Mary offered advice, “They’d be easier landed and--” + +“But it doesn’t seem fair to get into some other fellow’s territory,” +Hooch began. “Now--” + +Mary interrupted him in a determined voice. “Foolishness! Them +circulars you had at home said for you to go anywhere. If you had a +good route them other boys would be a comin’ to it mighty fast. And if +you have any business sense like the Horns all have, you’ll follow my +plan.” + +“All right,” Renfro was very meek. Experience had taught him that it +was folly to argue with Mary. “We go down this road, Mary, down the +middle. It’s as slick as glass and I expect we’d better hold on to each +other. We don’t want any broken arms.” + +Mary clutched Renfro’s arm with her mittened hand. Together they +slipped, they slid, then fumbled, and nearly fell on their way toward +the lane which marked the turning off place for the big house, and the +little shack. + +The sky was clear, there were few trees along the road, and there was a +half moon. So Mary and Hooch had no trouble finding the best place to +scale the log fence. Mary refused all offers of help. She had climbed +rail fences when she was a girl and knew the exact art with which such +a crossing was effected. Moreover she added with emphasis that she “was +not an old lady yet by any manner of means.” + +Still she had not counted on the rails being coated with ice. And no +sooner was she at the top of the fence than she was at the bottom on +the other side. Fortunately it was on the opposite side of the fence +she had landed and when Renfro scrambled over and stood beside her she +was on her feet again. + +She held herself with dignity and Renfro realizing that there are some +things which it would cause a calamity to discuss was silent. She was +the first one to speak. “You go to the shack and I’ll go to the big +house,” she was the general again though great had been her fall. “It +would be suspicious looking to Captain Pete for me, a single maiden +lady to come knockin’ at his door this time of night.” + +“Yes,” Renfro’s voice was meek. Mary never suspected that he was +literally holding his sides to keep from bursting into gales of +laughter. + +“And,” Mary was all dignity again. “I don’t want any man to be buildin’ +up false hopes on me. It is not Mary Dugan who has yet brought ruin to +a man from raisin’ their expectations and she don’t begin now with an +old time soldier.” + +“No, Mary,” Renfro managed another sober response. + +Just then there was a crackling and half roaring sound over in the +shrubbery of the orchard. Just as Mary and Renfro stopped and clutched +at each other a dark form came out with a rush and threw itself against +Renfro’s legs. + +Mary stumbled, almost fell and then ejaculated a word which she had not +used since she had become a choir singer, but Renfro patted the big dog +and soothed him. “Lang Tammy, Lang Tammy,” he crooned, and then he felt +a broken strap on the dog’s neck, “they’ve had you tied up tonight and +you wanted to see me--didn’t you?” + +“Whose dog is he?” Mary demanded with asperity, thinking that Renfro +had kept something from her. + +But Renfro reminded her of the dog which had been with the old man whom +he suspected of being Captain Pete’s brother, and who he was sure knew +a great deal about the affair. “Yes, I remember,” Mary was the general +once again. “You’d better get rid of him if you can. Havin’ him with us +would be suspicious.” + +Lang Tammy was tugging at Renfro’s bag. For a few seconds Renfro played +with him, and while he did Mary fumbled in her pocket. She dropped +something on the ice. “Some of my peppermints,” she explained. “My +Brother Sam--he allus says if you wants to be friends with a dog just +give him some candy.” + +And then Renfro uttered a short, sharp command and Lang Tammy was back +in the orchard again. Renfro was aware that the big dog would not show +up again that night. The afternoon’s tying had offended him. And he +would stay away from the big house to get even with his master. + +He watched the dark form in the orchard while they went up the lane, +and he took the opposite direction from the one in which the big house +lay. A few more rods of slipping and sliding and he and Mary arrived at +their place of parting. He gave her some instructions about making her +way around the big house. + +“The main thing, Mary dear,” Renfro was solicitous again, “the main +thing is not to fall, you know.” + +“Yes, I know,” there was a touch of humor in Mary’s voice, “Me father +used to say that I had the most trouble in keepin’ my head but tonight +it’s a case of whin me worst trouble is keepin’ me feet I’m thinkin’.” + +And then they separated. + +Renfro found Captain Pete’s door. The old man unbarred it, held high +his little old lamp with the blackened chimney, identified his visitor +and gruffly commanded him to come in. The rabbits were ready, but for +the life of him he couldn’t see any use of Renfro’s coming so late. +When he was young parents didn’t allow their sons to be out so late, +and-- + +“But I had to carry my paper route,” Renfro spoke pleasantly, and the +captain thawed to an extent. + +When he went to wrap the rabbits in an old newspaper he muttered +something about being short on paper and Renfro brought his two extra +papers out of his bag. “Seeing you won’t be a regular customer without +being shown the advantage of a newspaper, Captain Pete,” Renfro smiled +a winning smile, “I’m going to sample you for a while as the boys say. +Every night I have an extra paper I’ll bring it down to you and soon +I’ll warrant you’ll be a regular customer. I always carry an extra so +that if I get a new customer, I can leave the paper right then.” + +Pete shook his head. He muttered something about it being too far for +a boy to come alone. All of which only made Renfro more determined to +visit him. As he had declared the night before the actions of Captain +Pete were evident that though innocent himself perhaps, he was not +ignorant altogether about the kidnaping of Helen Wier. + +Outside of the shack Renfro circled around to avoid suspicion, should +Captain Pete happen to open the door again, and worked his way back to +the meeting place he and Mary had appointed. He waited, he counted the +minutes, he fumed, he fretted and still no Mary arrived. He pulled out +his watch with its radio face and saw that it was a quarter after eight +o’clock. + +“Mary won’t get to sing alto tonight,” he murmured to himself. “We’ll +get back to town just about the time it’s over.” + +And then Mary came. She clutched at his arm. “I can’t be stoppin’ to +talk,” she was hurrying him toward the fence. “I’ve promised the leader +I’d get there in time to practice the Sunday anthem and I will keep me +promise too. You can go with me on the car, Hooch.” + +“And say,” they were at the fence again, “I’ve got a few clues of my +own. And,” Mary put her foot on the first rail, “You help me all you +can. That falling down sort of affected my constitution, Hooch.” + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE MAN IN THE HAUNTED HOUSE. + + +Mary was the first one to speak and then it was to reassure Renfro, +“You needn’t worry about your folks askin’ any questions,” she told +him. “They went to the show unexpected like and won’t know what time +you get home. I heard your paw tell your maw he’s got the tickets and +he bought only two for he thought you needed to go to bed early after +bein’ out so late with your route.” + +Renfro nodded and felt a bit of relief. He and Mary were near the +center of the car. Mary had chosen that spot because there were few +passengers there and they could talk without being afraid some one +could hear them. + +All the passengers and even the conductor had stared at the odd pair +when they boarded the car. Several had smiled broadly and Renfro had +been indignant until he had happened to look at Mary and someway in her +downfall at the fence she had gotten her hat turned completely around. +The big red rose directly on the back of her hat was too much for him. +And he too giggled. + +“Mary,” he whispered, “Your hat’s back slided and--” + +Mary Dugan laughed heartily. “Don’t make much difference,” she added, +“Me nose and face is so bloomin’ red tonight I don’t need the rose for +any further touch of color to me make up.” + +And then she began to tell about her experiences. She had moved close +to the big house at the corner at which she had arrived, keeping a +close look out for the big airedale which she felt sure would turn up +at the most unexpected minute. Carefully she had worked her way around +the house--the west side, the south side, the east and there she had +discovered her first sign of life in the big house. + +A glimmer of light thru a torn place in the heavy blind over the +window. She had realized in a minute that thru those thick blinds she +would not discover anything. So she had felt her way around to the +north, found a loose weatherboard, pulled it off and worked the blade +of her knife, which she always carried, thru the plastering. A few +vigorous, skilful twists and she had worked a hole which made a good +peeping place for her right eye. + +Her homely face became alight with the joy of success. She had chosen +that spot well. It gave her a view into the lighted room. Cautiously +then she had worked out another peep hole for the left eye and then she +had studied every move in the adjoining room. + +After a time she had discovered that there was but one occupant and +that he was exceedingly cautious. He moved always so that he was not +near the window. He had passed the doorway only three or four times and +each of these times Mary had studied him closely. He was short, heavy +set, his hair was gray, his clothes of an ancient style and he was what +Mary termed “uncouth” getting an “ou” sound which Renfro felt that he +would always remember. + +But he had never once turned his face toward the open doorway and Mary +had not seen his face. So, of course, she knew nothing of the condition +of his eyebrows. But she felt sure that they would be missing. His hair +had been white. Naturally his eyebrows would be too. His hair looked as +if it were very coarse. + +And the eyebrows in captivity back in her Bible were so coarse that had +they been scattered on the floor they would hardly have been taken for +human hair. + +Moreover the man was in hiding. That was plainly evident. And Captain +Pete? Didn’t that wily old fellow show by his actions that he was +helping to conceal some one in the big house? + +Renfro clutched his paper bag in which were the rabbits. Yes, indeed, +he would watch Captain Pete. But Mary was not thinking much of watching +Captain Pete. They must find some way to see that man’s face. No use +to knock. They would have to plan some better ruse than that. She +would think about it over night, she assured Renfro, re-read some of +her correspondence course in “detectiveness” and be ready to have a +conference with him on the next day. + +“Some plan, partner,” Renfro slapped Mary boyishly on the back +completely dislodging her hat. “You’re a brick, a gold one, and a +jeweled one and--” + +“A plain chimney one,” Mary laughed while she twisted and turned her +hat until she felt that from the way it set on her head that the red +rose was either directly in front or behind. A cautious search with her +fingers made her mind easy on that, and she continued her conversation. +“All right, Hooch, only don’t never call me a brick for a foundation. +It’ll make me think of that fence and my downfall. All the way to that +house I was so frivolous like, that I kept humming over and over. ‘How +firm a foundation, Ye Saints of the Lord’, and laughin’ because I, one +of the Saints, couldn’t git over a wobbly log fence, and wonderin’ what +I would do should I strike a firm foundation in my path.” + +They had reached the mission, now, and the choir was in full force of +rehearsal. The bass was leading much to Mary’s disgust. She snorted +derisively and assured Renfro that when she got in there they wouldn’t +ever hear that insurance agent, who put on airs, sing. + +At the door when he turned to go home she suddenly clutched at his +coat. “Oh. Hooch,” she whispered, “I clean forgot to tell you something +very disturbin’ I read. When them detectives looked at them scratches +on the window they said right away they had been done by a knife and +then they found two of them coarse hairs. They didn’t think much of +them, the paper says, but still they are keeping them. And” she pushed +him down the steps, “that means we have got to work fast.” + +Renfro found that he was trembling when he reached the foot of the +steps--not from fear of being apprehended himself but of some other +person discovering the kidnapers before he could. His only hope lay in +the fact that the detectives had all based their search on the idea +that Helen Wier had been kidnaped by persons who would either soon +demand a ransom or by some one who wanted to have revenge on Judge Wier. + +And neither Captain Pete nor his brother could have that motive in +mind he was sure. He had investigated some old newspapers at the Globe +office that evening and found that Judge Wier had been a mere stripling +of a lawyer when Captain Pete’s brother had been found guilty of +counterfeiting and been sent to prison. Also he had not had anything to +do with the prosecution. + +He looked back over his shoulder, and saw the light in the windows of +Mary’s church even down to the basement. It was all a brilliant blaze. +“A fire!” He gasped and started to run back. + +Then he remembered. Mary had said that the charitable women of the +church were going to work there that night to fix Thanksgiving baskets +for the poor. They were making clothes for them. The other members of +the church would have to donate the food and clothing. + +Renfro gave a sudden jump. It was followed by another, and then a wild +Highland fling. “I have it, I have it, I have it!” he yelled out loud. + +A door opened directly in front of him. An inquisitive head was thrust +out, a fretful voice asked, “What’s the matter?” + +And Renfro fled. + +Half way down the block he stopped to laugh. “But it was worth making +some one think I was insane,” he laughed. “And I’ll do it, too.” + +Early in the morning he would go to the minister of the church which +his mother, his father and himself attended. He would tell him about +the turkeys. He would offer three of them to the poor, which the +church would feed at Thanksgiving time. There were many people in that +wealthy church who bought The Globe on the street instead of being +regular subscribers. He would add some of them to his list. + +“I’ll do it--I will,” he whispered this time. + +But his whisper was full of ardor. “And wait until next week when I see +Morrison’s face. Six of those turkeys are mine.” + +Just then he decided to go into a little lunch room hardly bigger than +the lunch wagons in the west part of town, and get himself something +warm to drink. There was one near the corner at which the car stopped. +He looked through the door, saw the steaming “hot dogs” on an iron +grate and entered. + +The place was deserted except for the old man doing the cooking and a +dog lying close to his little stove. The big dog was a collie and a +very suspicious creature for he barked at Renfro as he entered. The man +quieted him with a hoarse growl, took Renfro’s order and filled it all +the time frowning sullenly as if he considered a customer an insult. + +He was tall and thin and bent and broken. Evidence of a hard life were +written all over him. His shrewd eyes spoke volumes about bartering. +Renfro was wondering about the methods he used when there sounded on +the back door an imperative tapping and the man went back to answer it. + +Renfro watched him swing some rabbits into view, heard him quarrel +about the shots being in their bodies instead of their heads, and +smiled when he paid the person who was selling the rabbits with a +handful of small coins. “Seems to lower the price that way,” he thought. + +And then he listened closely. The restaurant man has said something +about the thickets west of town being full of rabbits and that a fellow +who had access to them ought to be a little cheaper on his rabbits to a +poor restaurant man than was this old man. + +With a careful, quiet movement he was off his stool, and had started +toward the front door. But the big dog intercepted his progress, had +given a series of growls and stood in a menacing position till the +owner slammed the door and came to Renfro’s rescue. + +The man was half way down the street before Renfro was to the front +door. And it was evident he did not intend taking a car so Renfro +skirted around a block and passed him farther down, face to face. + +At least Renfro’s face was toward the other’s, whose visage was shaded +by a heavy pair of goggles. + +But Renfro knew one thing. The man was not Captain Pete. And he was +almost sure of another. That he was the man whom he had met face to +face the first time he had seen Lang Tammy. But of one thing he was +uncertain. Mary had seen a stranger in the big house a short time +before. Then how could he have gotten across the town on foot in such a +short time? + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A DEAL IN TURKEYS. + + +Saturday was almost over before Renfro got to see the Rev. Mr. +Bottleman, who was the clergyman in charge of the church which he and +his parents attended. He had made his first trip to the parsonage early +in the morning, before he had time to tell Mary about the stranger at +the little lunch room on the night before. + +And Mr. Bottleman had been out making some early morning calls on the +sick. But his wife, a very friendly woman giggled and blushed like a +young girl, assured Renfro that he would be back at noon and urged him +to come then as she always considered the time, during which a man was +eating, the best time to make a request. + +She and Renfro had been friends since Renfro’s dog had ruined the +garden of the deacon, whose wife criticized the parsonage lady for the +length or rather the lack of length to her street costume. Though she +didn’t have any idea what sort of a request he was going to make of her +minister husband she determined to help obtain it if she could. + +From there Renfro had gone direct to a meeting of Morrison’s carriers. +Morrison usually had meetings only on great occasions such as giving +out Christmas presents or the bestowing of prizes won by his boys or +for other events of that order, but this time he felt that one was +necessary to stimulate all the carriers in his district to carry away +Thanksgiving turkeys. + +It was the first time Renfro had seen the boys who worked in his part +of town together. They filled Morrison’s room, Boy Scouts in uniform, +tall boys out of uniform, little ones in corduroy suits and fat ones in +heavy overcoats. The boy next Renfro was a Freshman in high school and +the son in a family of eight children, all the boys in which were then +or had been newspaper carriers. + +“It’s just like joining the army,” he informed Renfro. “Once it gets in +your blood you have to enlist. And we kids had to work to pay our way +thru high school.” + +Morrison began talking. He told them how nearly to the winning mark +several carriers on other routes were. Then he gave the rating of the +boys in his own section. Renfro smiled when his name was read first on +the list. Now if his Sunday idea worked out all right he was sure that +he would move up miles ahead by Monday. + +“Hooch Horn,” Morrison beamed on Renfro, “has Old Grief, and he got +every one of his subscribers out there on that route.” + +The boy who had carried the route in the spring laughed derisively. +“Gettin’ subscriptions out there,” he said, “is as easy as eatin’ +pancakes on a cold morning. But collecting the money for them is just +the same as eatin’ them same pancakes when it’s hot in July.” + +Renfro stared at him but was silent. He knew that Morrison would tell +him how many subscriptions had been paid in advance. And Morrison did. +He had big hopes for Hooch he said. + +After the talk Renfro noticed that the older carrier boys eyed him +with respect. It was a new experience for him to be rated according +to his own work and not just according to his father’s reputation, +and he liked it. None of the boys there knew whether his father was a +financier or a butcher; but they all did know that he was a successful +route carrier for The Globe and that was what counted. + +The meeting over, Renfro called up the parsonage again but the minister +was still away. There was no use for him to come out there to wait, +Mrs. Bottleman told him, for her husband had telephoned that he was +going out to a country parishioner’s home after some supplies for a +poor family. + +“He went with the doctor, and his car is pretty much out of order these +cold days,” she laughed, “so you just call from time to time today and +I’ll let you know when he comes.” + +Back at his home Renfro ate his dinner and talked a short time to Mary. +The staff of detectives following a clue which they had obtained were +leaving for another city, the name of which was a secret. Some of Judge +Wier’s enemies had been tracked there. + +There had been no more letters from Helen, so they were sure that she +was out of town and that these, the family had received, had been +brought back to town before they were mailed to avoid suspicion. Mrs. +Wier had given up hope of ever seeing her daughter again but the Judge +with his grim determination still believed that she would be found. + +“And the guilty parties shall be punished,” he ended his declaration +sternly. Even his wife’s entreaties and the detectives’ advice to avoid +threats could not influence him. + +Mary considered this news good news. But as to the man who had been +selling rabbits to the restaurant keeper the night before she didn’t +believe he would throw any light on their mystery. The town was full of +low heavy set men. And did Hooch see his eyebrows? + +Hooch had not. He had worn heavy goggles. But still Mary was skeptical. +She had definitely arranged in her mind, following more research in her +correspondence school books, that the guilty parties would be lodged in +the haunted Hall house. Of course, she didn’t expect Helen Wier to be +found there. Like the detectives, she believed that the child had been +spirited out of the city, but she knew positively that the Hall men +knew something about the kidnaping, “Well, all about it,” she added. + +That afternoon, the minister still being an absent personage, Renfro +canvassed his route for new customers and got just three. “A third of +a turkey, almost,” he laughed to himself. + +Saturday’s paper was out early so he was thru delivering it by +four-thirty. He made it a rule to collect in the mornings. Straight +from Washington Street he went across the town to the Methodist +parsonage in which the Rev. Bottleman lived. And there he found that +that gentleman had just returned. + +His smile when he shook his hands with Renfro was encouraging. With +spirits rising Renfro put forth a direct question, “Would you like to +help get some turkeys for three poor families in your church?” + +The minister didn’t smile. “You bet!” he agreed boyishly. + +Renfro plunged immediately into the story of the Globe’s offer of a +turkey for every ten new subscribers their carrier boys secured. “I’ve +made up my mind to have six,” his mouth closed in the firm decisive +line Henry Horn’s did when starting a business venture, “And I need +some more subscribers.” + +“Yes,” Mr. Bottleman raised his eyebrows. + +“I want you to announce my proposition to your parishioners after +church tomorrow morning. Tell them that the poor get the turkeys. I get +the business. That’s what I want.” + +“Sure I’ll do it,” a gleam of amusement crossed the minister’s face but +Renfro didn’t see it. And immediately the pastor began talking. + +“You stand at the little table just inside the outer door as the +congregation leaves the church,” he gave definite directions. “Exactly +as I do, following a missionary sermon, and preceding the missionary +collection. You’ll get some new subscribers I’m sure.” + +Back home Renfro ate his supper and planned to have a quiet evening. +But there came a complaint from the office. Mr. Bruce had given +directions that each boy, on whose route there came any complaint of a +missing paper, was to see that that paper was properly delivered. + +And there were two missing on Old Grief. + +Renfro brought his skates and with them over his shoulder made his way +to the street. With the papers in his overcoat pocket he skated out to +the two little cottages at whose doors he had left papers earlier in +the evening. Either a neighbor’s dog or a neighbor’s boy he felt sure +had gotten the papers. + +“Gee, I hope this doesn’t last all winter,” John Lehman, the carrier of +the best route in town, met Renfro on Main Street with a whole stack of +papers in his arms. “I think that the kidnapers must have decided to +steal newspapers instead of lawyer’s kids. I’m so dead tired I won’t go +to church in the morning,” he complained. + +Renfro was glad of that for John went to Dr. Bottleman’s church. +And the next morning as he sat in the pew next his mother he looked +around and did not see a single Globe carrier whom he knew. He waited +impatiently all thru the sermon for Dr. Bottleman’s announcement about +the turkey proposition. When it did come he felt that he was blushing +to the roots of his hair and wondered why his mother did not put out +her hand and say that he could not do that. + +But his mother was amazed along with several other members over the +peculiar announcement. Nor did she notice when he slipped out of the +pew and took his stand at the church door. + +He saw neither of his parents until near the end of the processional +of people leaving the church. And then he was so excited over his good +luck in having gotten enough subscriptions, lacking one, to have won +the turkeys. He was counting the list when he happened to look up and +see his parents. + +His mother’s face was fiery but his father was smiling. Gravely he took +out his pocket book and counted out the money for a subscription. “Have +it sent to Mary’s mother,” he said, “I heard her say the other day that +she wished they could afford the paper at her home.” + +Renfro took the money, gravely counted it and then looked up at his +father, his eyes twinkling, “Dad,” he said boyishly, “You’re the fellow +who put the finishing touches on the flock. Your subscription makes me +have the necessary sixty. The turkeys are mine!” + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +BOY SCOUTS TO THE RESCUE. + + +Twenty-four hours passed and Mary Dugan knew nothing about the winning +of the turkeys. On the way home from church Renfro had asked his father +and mother not to mention his success to Mary. “Afraid she’ll kick on +cooking the whole lot?” Mr. Horn laughed. + +Mrs. Horn stared at her husband with hauteur. He was in admirable humor +over the whole affair. The Rev. Mr. Bottleman had shook his hand after +he and Renfro had had a little talk over the success of the scheme. +“Another king of industry, Horn,” the minister had laughed. + +Renfro had touched his arm. “Will you have your three names ready for +the charity turkeys?” he asked. “I’d like to deliver them in a few +days.” + +“I’ll get them to you tomorrow night,” the minister promised. “I want +to do some looking around to be sure that they are delivered at the +homes where there are the most children.” He put out his hands. “Come +again, when you have another deal like this one,” he said gravely. + +And then the Horn family had gone out to their car and started home. +Mr. Horn, sensing the mood of his wife from the lofty elevation of her +chin, did a monologue on the sermon; and Renfro was trying to picture +Morrison’s pride in the morning when he heard that six turkeys would go +to one of his carriers. + +When suddenly Mrs. Horn gave a moan and grabbed her husband’s arm. +“Oh,” she began, “what if there happened to be a reporter at the +church. We’ll be the laughing stock of the town all because you gave +your permission for him to carry that detestable route and--” + +“We’ll be the victims of three funerals tomorrow if you grab my arm +like that again,” Mr. Horn said hotly, “Didn’t you see how close I ran +to that telephone pole?” + +Then Renfro reassured his mother. The Globe would not use the story +without Mr. Bruce’s permission, he knew. Also no other paper would +carry one line of it because that would mean free advertising for the +Globe. “And newspapers aren’t run that way,” he ended. + +But Mrs. Horn was not convinced. + +However, she soon forgot her worries. A knot of neighbors on the corner +caused Mr. Horn to stop his car. He found the group discussing new +turns in the Wier kidnaping. The detectives in a town half way across +the state had ordered the arrest of a man, one of the gangsters, who +had been indicted in the election fraud case and had left the town the +night Helen was kidnaped. + +They would arrive in town that night. The man’s actions had been +mysterious for several days before the kidnaping, in fact enough so +for the police to send word out to watch him. “But as usual with our +police,” said the doctor on the corner, who himself having been robbed +during the fall, was vindictive, “no watching was done.” + +That afternoon Renfro called Morrison for news of the Wier kidnaping, +verifying what news in regard to the story he had heard that morning. +It seemed to be an assured fact that this man had been arrested and +that he was being brought back tonight. + +Renfro too heard stories about the scratched window pane. But the +workman who put in the new windows at the Wier house offered evidence +which seemed to make all these no clues at all. Very seldom he said +were a set of windows ever installed in a new home without some of them +being scratched by the workmen. + +Most of the work done involved the use of knives. And these scratches +were knife made. The chief of detectives, hearing this had laughed and +promptly put in his desk the two gray hairs he had been guarding since +a short time before. + +Monday morning papers told of the return of the man believed to have +some knowledge of the crime and his incarceration in the city jail. +Mrs. Wier’s condition, according to the story, was improving. Another +letter had come to the Wier home, this one sent from a nearby city, +written in the child’s handwriting, assuring her mother that she was +well and comfortable. + +On his way to school Renfro telephoned Morrison. And that executive had +been very jubilant. “How did you do it?” he demanded, “and are you +sure all your subscriptions are acceptable?” + +“Sure,” Renfro laughed back, “I’ve got the money in advance.” + +Then came a conversation with Bruce, and Renfro was ordered to come +around past the office that afternoon early enough to have his picture +snapped with the prize turkeys. Renfro had laughed to himself, “mother +will die,” he imagined her horror when she saw the picture, “But I +can’t help it. Business is business, and mothers have to expect some +publicity if their sons are successful.” + +At the office that afternoon he stood very straight while his picture +was being made. The six turkeys were magnificent birds. The boys, who +owned routes for several months, and those, who had been carriers for +more than a year, were very envious. And also eager to hear how Renfro +had secured his subscriptions. + +Mr. Bruce called Renfro into his office, and to him and Morrison, +Renfro told the story of his business deal with the minister, and of +its success. Mr. Bruce had then held out his hand. “Congratulations +old man,” he had beamed. “You’re one of the fellows I need right at the +post. There are going to be some vacancies in some dandy routes. You’ll +have first choice at any of them.” + +“I protest,” Morrison was all dignity, “Mr. Bruce, Hooch belongs to +my bunch. He can’t be sent in any other district route manager’s +territory.” + +It was then Renfro spoke, “If you please, Morrison,” he was quite in +earnest, “I would like to keep Old Grief.” + +And both Morrison and Bruce were speechless. + +A little later, Renfro decided to take his turkeys home before he +carried his route. That would make him later and he would have a better +chance of investigating his eyebrow mystery. And after he straightened +his shoulders and thought to himself, “The turkeys are won and I’ve got +to solve that mystery in the same way I won them.” + +It was Macauley who suggested that Renfro drive the turkeys +home--Macauley, who had a twinkle in his eye and a rich brogue, both +of which should have made most people suspicious but they rarely did. +He had lived on a farm in his youth. He had helped care for turkeys, +“the most recreant birds in the category of farm animals,” and he +laughed boyishly, “and always they wandered away daily while I hunted +them daily and drove them miles. All you need, Hooch, is two or three +fellows to help you, and to remember this bit of advice. KEEP TO THE +ALLEYS FOR FEAR YOU MIGHT FRIGHTEN THE LADIES.” + +Three boys started out to help Renfro drive his brood home--among them +the little carrier whose route was next Renfro’s and who had rushed +into the office the minute he had heard that Old Grief had won Renfro +six birds. Jimmy Noel called in a rush to be ready to offer first aid +and have a chance to win more merit badges, and after him a little +colored boy who had been playing in the alley back of the Globe office. + +The birds trotted down the first stretch of alley in a beautiful manner +and then they crossed the street with the same precision. The second +alley would have been a quiet course had it not been for the washwoman +who was carrying a bundle of clothes toward the oncoming flock. +Thinking these turkeys were runaway birds and scenting an easy way to +get a Thanksgiving dinner she dropped her washing and started after the +largest bird. + +And then came the stampede. Jimmy, Renfro and Bill, the other route +boy kept after the turkeys which perched on buildings, ran in all +directions and made a medley of noises which could never be described. +But the little colored boy took after the woman of his own race and +after she had given up the chase of the turkey he kept up his pursuit, +shouting at the top of his voice. + +At the corner Jimmy sighted some other scouts starting on a five mile +hike. He signaled them with all the authority of a patrol leader in +his troop and they, being good scouts, joined in the chase. Two little +girls who had wished for boyish adventure recognized this as a great +opportunity and came to the throng. + +Such chasing, such climbing, such squawking as followed. But before +long the entire six were back in a group in the arms of six sturdy +scouts. “One good turn today,” they informed Renfro, “Better let us +help you get them home.” + +And Renfro agreed. At the next corner they were met by a colony of +colored people, the old washwoman gesticulating and protesting, while +the little chap who had pursued her was also talking vehemently. Renfro +gasped at the bunch. It was their evident determination to accompany +himself and the scouts to the Horn residence. + +He raked his mind. And then he talked to Jimmy. “Mother’s club is +meeting tonight,” he said. “If this bunch would follow me home well--” + +And Jimmy, the general, was quick to size up the situation. “Give the +kid a turkey,” he suggested. “You can’t cook them all, anyway, and he +sure has run some. Besides he isn’t a scout and doesn’t have to do a +good turn for us other fellows.” + +So Renfro handed the little colored chap a turkey. And to their +amazement the little colored boy and the big colored woman whom he had +been pursuing, straightway made up all their differences and went away +carrying the turkey between them. + +“Well, Jimmy,” he laughed, “I’ll change my mind. He’s a good scout +after all.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +RENFRO FINDS THE MYSTERY MAN. + + +Like a patrol of victorious soldiers, the Boy Scouts in khaki, with +the big turkeys perched on their shoulders, entered the Hall domain +from the alley entrance. Jimmy’s decisive “Halt!” brought them all +to attention--all except the turkey, on the head of which was the +responsibility for the alley episode, and he flapped his wings and +started all the other turkeys to doing likewise. + +There was no law in all the list of the manual which told how to +control a recreant turkey. So Jimmy forgot his dignity as a patrol +leader and clutched one of the birds by the neck. She screamed no +longer. But her big wings flapped, her body twisted, and even her tail +seemed to go into convulsions. + +Convulsions which caught Mary Dugan’s attention as she passed by the +window with a bowl of thousand island dressing in process of completion +for the salad for the Hyacinth Reading Club now in session in the Horn +library. The bowl went into the kitchen table, and Mary Dugan out thru +the back door, across the porch, and right into the midst of the group. + +“The saints be praised!” Mary Dugan forgot what she called “The Horn +Decorum” and reverted to her own home ways. “And now that you’ve +surprised me by winnin’ ’em all on a Monday here you’re goin’ to choke +’em to death before I can have the pick of the one I want to cook.” + +She flew to the big garage door, threw it open, and gave stentorian +orders, “Here,--put ’em in here--let ’em roost in peace till I’ve +finished my supper. Then I mix ’em a bit of dough for refreshment +followin’ a soldier party.” + +She bowed to the boy scouts and opened the rear gate for their +departure as soon as the turkeys were inside the garage and the big +door swung shut again. Her gesture was imperative. With Jimmy hastening +them on, they did not mark time but did “double quick” steps down the +town’s best alley. + +Then Mary Dugan looked at Renfro, “There be only five,” she accused +him. “You don’t mean to tell me all them boys let a turkey get loose.” + +“No, Mary,” Renfro was impatient. “It was really a salvage article in a +worth while conflict. But I’ll tell you all about it and how I happened +to get them so soon and everything--new clues and all,” he promised, +“only I’m late as the dickens with my route now and there’ll be a dozen +complaints and I have to go.” + +Now whatever else could be said of Mary Dugan the fact remained that +she was always a good scout and without another question she swung open +the alley gate once more, watched Renfro through it and shouted down +the alley after him. “There be three kinds of cake and striped ice +cream for the reading club. I’ll save all kinds for you.” + +Again Renfro chose an alley route through town. It was the quickest +way to reach Washington Street and the drug store. Once there he saw +something unusual. All the packages of papers except his own were gone. +Swish! That was the sound of tearing the paper which bound them. Clash! +They were going into his bag. And clatter--he was off down the street +to the front porch of his first customer. + +Up one street, around a corner into another, and back and forth on it +he went. It was dark, the thaw predicted by the weather man had set in +early in the afternoon, and there were places where it was so slippery +from the melting ice that he had to walk very slowly and carefully. He +did not complain. Old Grief had become the first rung of his ladder to +success. And a mighty good rung she had been. + +At the corner, nearing the Wier house, Renfro brushed against a +stooped, old woman of the type usually seen around pawn shops and +cheap restaurants. She was carrying a lot of bundles, but it was not +these Renfro noticed. Around her neck with both ends flapping free and +showing plainly in the glow from the light in the middle of the corner +intersection was the peculiar looking scarf the old man whom he had +passed outside the sandwich shop last Friday night had worn. + +“Humph!” Renfro laughed at his own exclamation days later. But he was +too amazed then to say anything else. It was possible for two people to +have as odd scarfs as were these, but hardly possible he thought. And +then--well then, he decided to do a little investigating. + +He sauntered a little farther down the street, stepped behind a +tree and watched the old woman journey slowly down Washington +street--still more slowly, and still more slowly, but always in the +same direction,--the one taken by everyone of the queer looking +individuals who journeyed out to the big old house, which everyone said +was haunted--everyone except Captain Pete who declared that claim all +tomfoolishness. + +Renfro looked back to his own surroundings. He was directly across the +street from Judge Wier’s house. The blinds were drawn to the bottoms +of the windows. The afternoon papers had said that Mrs. Wier was very +despondent again. There had been no letter from Helen that day. She had +declared that she knew the child was dead and wished that she too would +die. + +The man in the county jail had been questioned and sweated, and sweated +and questioned, but still stuck to his original statement that he knew +nothing about the kidnaping. Though the chief of police declared that +it was a foolish waste of time the detectives were off on the trail of +his confederates. + +“And Helen’s not two miles from this very spot,” Renfro declared +vehemently to himself. “And perhaps she is suffering though she wrote +that she wasn’t. Well, I’m going out to the shack and the big house +tonight and I’m not going to come home until I know something much more +definite than anything I’ve seen up to this time.” + +He half ran to finish the remaining few houses on his route, then +hurried down the road, crashed across the orchard and down to Captain +Pete’s little cabin. Once he heard a queer suspicious noise in the +undergrowth just beyond the orchard, but he felt sure it was Lang Tammy +come to jump on him and play a game of tug-of-war with his paper bag. + +Near the cabin he stopped a minute to listen. He looked around the +corner. Everything was quiet. He stopped, listened intently and then +heard voices. Two men, talking in rather loud tones as if they were +having an argument. Something sounded like the thwack of a fist on a +table and then Renfro walked to the cabin door. + +He knocked with a decisive, determined air. Captain Pete called out, +“Who is there?” + +But Renfro answered with another knock, more determined than the first. +He heard the growl of a dog and then stopped as if some one had choked +the creature into silence. And then he did a veritable tattoo of knocks +on the big, heavy door. + +And stamping angrily across the floor Captain Pete came to open it. The +heavy door jerked on its hinges with the force of an angry host and +Captain Pete’s grizzled face seemed to fill the door way but not quite-- + +For back in the shadow of the room sat a man, stooped over something--a +man who was heavy set and short and who looked exactly like the +stranger, whose shadow Renfro had seen so often on the curtain of the +window at the big house across the deserted orchard and lane of Captain +Pete’s domain, again on the coming out of the back of the restaurant +stand and several times on Washington Street. + +“I told ye I didn’t want the paper,” Captain Pete growled. + +Then Renfro did the thing which surprised Captain Pete too much for +him to realize in time to object to what he was doing. He stepped into +the room, around the table and up to the stooped, old man, “Would you +like to have a sample copy of The Globe?” he asked. + +The question, the boy so near him and everything, seemed to frighten +the old man out of his self possession. He shifted his feet, shook his +head and then raised it enough so that Renfro could see his eyes, and-- + +ABOVE THEM THE OTHER HALF OF THE MISSING EYEBROWS. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THREE MEN IN THE PLOT. + + +One instant Renfro stood staring--the next he gave a quick jump. For, +with a threatening growl the heavy old man had sprung forward, his fist +raised menacingly. Past Captain Pete out thru the open door Renfro +jumped and ran together. + +Behind him he heard the old man swearing, heard a loud growl, a series +of barks, imperative orders “Get him, Tam,” and ran behind the first +shelter which offered itself--a low old ash hopper, which had stood +near the cabin since pioneer days. + +He was not afraid of the big airedale dog but he did have an idea that +the old man--might shoot if he happened to be able to get hold of any +of the arms Captain Pete kept hanging on the wall, all loaded as he had +told Renfro, ready for the first rabbit which would cross his track. + +The big airedale shot around the ash hopper. Renfro dropped on his +knees to be out of sight. But against Renfro he only sniffed, rubbed +his head over his rough mackinaw and whined like a happy child over +the joy of finding a playmate once more. + +From the open door came sounds of quarreling. Renfro listened, heard +Captain Pete tell the other man to call his dog back, that the boy was +a friend of his and was not to be harmed. + +“But ye warned me agin’ him yourself,” the other growled. + +“Call yer dog back!” Captain Pete was determined. + +“I aint,” the other’s voice was dogged. + +“Then I’ll--” there was a break in Captain Pete’s speech, and Renfro +raised on his knees so that he could see the inside of the cabin. +Captain Pete was reaching for one of his guns. The other man slouched +toward the door and called gruffly. “Lang Tammy, come here,--come here!” + +But Captain Pete still held his gun. And Renfro, fearing violence on +Captain Pete’s part, softly commanded Lang Tammy to go back into the +house. With dragging feet and hanging tail the big dog obeyed his +command. Once inside the door, the dog gave a yelp of pain. Renfro rose +angrily to his feet but the big door was swung shut. + +“Well, I’ll not bring any more papers here without observing the rule +of preparedness first,” he declared as he crouched close to the fence +and worked his way back to the lane again. + +He talked to himself all the way. “And one sure thing, Lang Tammy’s my +friend. He even deserts his master for me. But no wonder the way he +yelped when he went back into the cabin. Poor doggie.” + +At the fence he stopped. Yes, there across the deserted orchard in the +lower west window of the big house was a dim light, and moving back and +forth across the blind a dim shape. Some one was in the deserted house. + +Two men in Captain Pete’s shack! That was the Captain and his brother, +Renfro had felt sure of that. But there was another in the big house. +“There was a woman,” he remembered the old woman who had carried the +supplies and worn the scarf. + +Well, he would cross to the house, peep in the window and make sure +that it was she. It might-- + +He stopped--it might be Helen Wier shut in that little room, left +alone in the big house while her captor visited at the cabin. + +But--he shook his head. That wasn’t probable. They would be afraid +she might escape. It must be the old woman whom he had passed back on +Washington Street. He would make sure. + +Cautiously, he worked his way across the orchard, around the house, +close to the west window, and with his face as near the window as he +dared place it. But hardly had he gotten it there until the light went +out and the noise of footsteps told him that the person inside had gone +across into the other room. + +With a joyous exclamation Renfro found the peep holes, which he had cut +out a few nights before with his knife. Carefully, he put his eyes to +the two holes, stared thru them, waited a long time, and then his watch +was rewarded. + +For with great deliberation an old man, the exact counterpart of +Captain Pete carried a lamp to the little table, spent much effort in +adjusting it, brought to the table some sort of a little melting pot, +under which he lighted a fire and then moved away again. + +Renfro remembered the stories he had heard about Captain Pete’s brother +being a counterfeiter. Here he was, evidently getting ready to ply +his counterfeiting trade again. The little melting pot, and array of +instruments he was collecting and bringing to the table. The lamp under +the melting pot burned dully. The old man tested the something in it, +shook his head, indicating that everything was all right and went away +again. + +When he returned he carried a large tea kettle, which he proceeded to +settle on his knees. Then with the soldering he took from the pot on a +long soldering iron he began to mend a hole in its side near the spout. + +It was a relieved but disappointed laugh Renfro gave. The old man was +doing the most ordinary thing in the world--the old man who looked so +much like Captain Pete that no one could doubt their relationship. + +Slowly Renfro journeyed down the lane toward the road, Washington +Avenue and home again. The old lady had not been in evidence again. The +old man in the house was a simple old soul whose part in the crime if +he had any was of an unsuspecting accessory. + +Again, no doubt Captain Pete knew much, though he might have been +innocent of any part of it. But the man with the missing eyebrows? Yes, +indeed he was the fellow, and Renfro knew that it was up to him to move +quickly and with well thought plans if he got him before he escaped. + +He rode home on the car. He was so hungry that he felt that his ribs +were caving into his stomach. With home in sight his spirits began +to soar. Mary was sure to have him a good warm supper and a good +cold dessert to top it off--Mary would be ready to listen to all his +adventures and to pat him on the back and urge him to greater effort. +Mary was-- + +And then the light outside the garage door went on and Mary was out +there with Renfro’s father gesticulating, talking in loud tones, +protesting against his opening the door any wider and trying to command +and explain at the same time. Renfro grasped the situation in a minute. +He rushed to Mary’s aid. + +“Don’t open it wide, Dad, or they’ll all come out,” he begged. “My +prize turkeys you know. They are all in the garage but the one I had +to give the colored boy for chasing the old woman who would have stolen +it anyway--” + +“But I have to have my car,” Mr. Horn was impatient. “And besides the +garage is no place for these infernal birds anyway. Your mother had no +better judgement than to tell all those women I would take them home in +the car and I want it in a hurry before the lodge meeting is over.” + +He motioned Mary to one side and Renfro to the other. “Can’t you two +keep them in the corner while I drive out,” he began. + +His hand reached the switch. A button was pressed and the garage was +flooded with light. And there on the top of the big Marmon sat a sleepy +red and bronze and black mixture of feathers and skin--the largest +of Renfro’s prize turkeys. Another was on the hood, the third on the +gasoline tank, the fourth on a wheel. The fifth was not in evidence. + +Not until he stepped in front of the car did Mr. Horn discover the +whereabout of the fifth turkey. Silently and with a gesture which not +only accused but did so vehemently, he pointed through the windshield. +There on the steering wheel, as if guarding the wheel of state, sat the +fifth of the big birds. + +“Who ever heard of putting turkeys in the garage?” he began, “You don’t +seem to have any sense as to the proper way of doing things. Your +mother--” + +“Mister Horn,” Mary was the sly strategist again, “Mrs. Horn’s a +waitin’ in there for this machine to be takin’ her company home. She’s +got the head ache and you know--” + +With rapidity then, the work of getting the turkeys into the corner +huddled together and Mary’s guarding them, was finished. Mr. Horn +backed the machine out. Mary and Renfro followed him and the door was +closed. + +Outside Mr. Horn’s good humor returned. Mrs. Willis, the wittiest woman +in the community, he often said, and the wife of his best friend was on +the porch. Before either Mary or Renfro realized what he was doing Mr. +Horn had her to the garage, had showed her the turkeys in the corner, +told her of the sight which had greeted him when he had opened the door +and was laughing about the surprise he had received at the church the +day before. + +Then it was impossible to keep Mrs. Willis out of the living room where +she retold the story to the other members of the Hyacinth Club and led +in the laughter which followed. She declared that she was bowed down +with admiration for Renfro and wanted him brought before her. So out of +the kitchen he was half dragged, the napkin Mary had fastened around +his neck still there and the best of his supper back on the table +melting. + +But when they were thru feteing him and praising him he went back to +it, not the least minding the terrible condition in which it then was. +For he really believed that his mother, excited by the admiration of +the other women, had become proud of him. + +“Mary Dugan,” he interrupted Mary who was out of sorts over the large +pile of unwashed dishes before her. “Now if you were a fellow whose +praise would you rather have--the fellows or your mother’s?” + +And Mary being out of patience with all mothers who belonged to +Hyacinth Club and made extra work for the “hired help” replied with +alacrity, “Why the fellows, of course.” + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +RENFRO IS KIDNAPED. + + +Renfro’s next question brought Mary Dugan to her feet. “Were there any +Complaint calls in?” he asked. “Did Morrison or any one call up from +the office or--” + +“Hooch,” Mary was herself again in spite of her weariness, in spite +of the pile of dishes, and the excitement thru which she had passed. +“There were several calls for you and all from the office, and I told +them a plenty too, how you’d won the turkeys and had to be allowed to +bring them home in peace, and then when they just kept a callin’ I just +took the receiver and left it off the hook without paying any attention +to the buzzer till your maw heard and came and put it on the hook.” + +“But that settled them,” Mary’s voice was full of pride. “For none of +them called again.” + +“Oh, well they all got their papers all right--even Captain Pete,” +Renfro’s voice was weary. “But I do hate to have a lot of complaints go +into the office like must have gone in tonight.” + +[Illustration: + +There were two people doing the work. Renfro knew that, because one +tied his feet while the other bound his hands. They worked in the +hedge. ] + +Then he remembered something else. “Did the minister send the addresses +where he wanted the turkeys delivered?” + +Mary had to hear the story of the way the turkeys had been won so early +in the game. When Renfro told her that a great deal of credit was due +her, that her going to choir practice Friday night made him think of +the help of the church, she beamed at him. + +And then she told him of some new plans she had made for working +together on the kidnaping mystery. The Hyacinth Reading Club with its +extra cooking had taken all of her time that day. Captain Pete had gone +next door with rabbits. The cook there had told her of his arrival and +his departure with more than a half dozen of the same. + +“Now allus before he’s come here when he had even a rabbit left,” Mary +was convinced. “So I know he is suspicious of us.” + +Renfro was thinking of the experiences he had had that night, and was +making decisions. No, he wouldn’t tell Mary about them yet. He wanted +to be sure the man at Captain Pete’s was his man; he wanted to see him +either in daylight or in a light which would show his eyebrows up a +little better. He wanted to be sure they matched with the missing parts. + +And then he rose and went to his room. Very slowly he undressed, waited +until it was quiet below, slipped down stairs and to the drawer in the +kitchen cupboard, in which Mary kept her Bible. Then he took out the +two packages containing the missing eyebrows. + +Yes, it would be better for him to carry them for a few days. He might +meet the man on the street, or in a store and after seeing him while +memory was still strong, he wanted to compare with it the parts of the +eyebrows which he had taken from the windows of Judge Wier’s home. + +He turned his trousers pockets inside out, then those of his coat, +surveyed the motley collection in each, replaced the different articles +in them and shook his head. His eyebrows would not be safe in such a +lot of things as these. He looked around the room and then he saw his +cap. + +With a bound he had it in his hand. The band inside was deep and strong +and loose--all just the way he wanted it to be for a good hiding +place. He knew that telegraph messenger boys carried messages in their +caps. With great care he sewed an envelope inside that band in which he +had sealed the two smaller packages. + +Before he went to bed that night he did several little things he had +wanted to do for a long time--wrote a letter to a chum in another +town, counted up his balance in the bank and made out his Christmas +shopping list. He even straightened his dresser, made a memorandum +about delivering the charity turkeys, went to the window, and looked +out at the neighborhood for a time. He felt queer--neither elated nor +depressed, but quite as if a different sort of an experience from any +he had known, loomed before him. + +He was glad they had taken his picture at the office. If anything +happened to him-- + +He laughed boyishly. If he did happen to find the place where Helen +Wier was being kept then they too would be glad they had his picture. +That happy thought sent him to bed and to sleep so fast that it was +quite late when he awoke. + +The day seemed to rush by. His mind was on one thing though he heard +of many others. His fame in winning the turkeys had spread thru Grant +high school, thanks to Jimmy Noel and his crew of helpers. The teachers +congratulated him; the boys praised him, and some of the girls he knew +best were inclined to try to twit him. + +But he hardly heard them. Before him there loomed the big house in +which the old man had mended the tea kettle, the cabin in which Captain +Pete and his strange guest had quarreled, and the old woman, whose +wearing the scarf had made her have some connection with the mystery. +And always each picture showed to him the fierce, cruel face the old +man assumed when his anger was aroused. + +He was early on his route that night and delivered all his papers with +precision. Directly after supper he was going to tell Mary the whole +story and see if she would go with him to the cabin and big house once +more. That was the best he was sure. + +But he didn’t get to tell Mary. While he was at the supper table there +was a call from the office for him--a complaint from on his route. +He took the number, went back to the table to finish his dessert and +to listen to his mother give a monologue on the dangers of carrying a +paper route. + +Carrying complaints on such nights as this was sure to give him +pneumonia some time she argued. People were careless with their papers. +No doubt the boys often left them at these complainers’ homes and then +they-- + +Renfro started at her charge. Why he remembered now that he had left +a paper at that number they had given him at the office. That was the +number of the house where the little crippled girl sat at the window +and watched for him--a long, low house without any paint and with a tin +roof on the front porch, which roof was about in the same condition as +that of the big house at which the mystery was deepening. + +He went back to the telephone, called the office, and asked for the +number again. He might have heard wrong he thought. Exactly the same +number was given him again. He wanted to tell the manager he remembered +leaving the paper there. The little crippled girl had herself opened +the window that evening for it, but he knew that an argument would only +make his mother more uneasy, more set against his continuing with Old +Grief. + +Now that he had been successful she declared he should have a better +route, his own home or one in the business part of town. If once she +conferred with Mr. Bruce who had offered him such a route, Renfro knew +it would be very hard for him to continue with Old Grief. + +“And,” he told himself, “I don’t want to leave there until I have the +circulation worked up to 80% of the number of residents on that route.” + +He stepped out into the dark street, fumbled his way around the house +to the side porch where his bicycle had been left, but did not take +it. There was a puncture in the front tire and it was flat. He walked +to the corner and here took a car. Car fare was a minor consideration +now that he needed time. He would hurry back, tell Mary about the story +and perhaps then when she had all her work out of the way she would go +scouting with him. + +He dropped off the car at the nearest corner, and with the paper under +his arm scurried down the street. Past the big house, next door to the +little one he hurried, and then in sight of the one with the tin roof +and the little crippled girl. His feet suddenly slipped on something +which felt like a carpet of banana skins; down he went clutching at a +hedge to break his fall, and then someone clutched him. + +Something strong--it felt like a band of leather was passed over his +mouth. Both of his hands were caught behind him and a sharp thong +passed around his legs. But his eyes were left free. As they tied his +hands behind his back he wondered why he had not been blindfolded. And +a little later he learned. + +There were two people doing the work. Renfro knew that,--because one +tied his feet while the other bound his hands. They worked in the hedge. + +Renfro wondered then why the city council had allowed all the tall +hedges to stand in this old part of the town. Had they never seen the +possibilities they offered to thieves and people like these? Evidently +these men had realized them fully, for in giving a number from which +to send a complaint they had chosen one next door to one of these +hedges. + +And then he realized that one of his captors was a woman. She moved in +front of him and her skirts swished against his knees. That discovery +made him more furious than ever. He twisted his body, shoved with his +shoulders, and pushed against her with all his might. The next minute +he was firmly lifted by the other captor, from whose strength he knew +was a man, carried out into the street and deposited on a small wagon +there. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +HIDDEN IN THE CAVE. + + +He was placed on the floor of the wagon, face downward. As the wagon +started it went with a jolt which thrust his face against a rough board +and cut his nose and cheek. More jerks did a series of bruises on his +forehead, his chin and his nose. By almost superhuman effort he managed +to roll over on his side and then on his back. + +By the time this was accomplished they had traveled down a dark road +quite a distance. It was so dark Renfro could not see three feet ahead +of his face at first. But his eyes soon got accustomed to the darkness. +And little by little, he began to recognize the tops of the trees and +by the feeling of surroundings to know that they were on the road which +ran off East Washington. + +Instinct, more than anything else, told him that they turned off at +the second lane of the first on the Hall place. The first one was only +used by pedestrians. The second was for wagons, but it had been used +so little that it was in a horrible condition. The jolting sensation +was terrible. Renfro realized that his face would have been cut beyond +recognition had he not managed to turn over. + +They jolted close to trees, through a lot of low underbrush which +ground against the wheels of the wagon and across a little bridge. The +limbs on one low hanging tree struck his face and scratched it still +more. + +The silence, which the couple had maintained in town and along the +road, was now broken. The old woman, whose voice was almost as gruff as +her companion’s complained of the way he drove. He in turn offered to +share the privilege with her if she so desired to seize it. + +An imperative “whoa” stopped the horse, suddenly. The man clambered +out, thrashed around the wagon, seemed to be tugging at a door. A +squeaking of rusty hinges followed his efforts, and he called out +gruffly, “Drive on in Maggie, and remember the log on the east side. +You hit it the last time.” + +Renfro hoped that Maggie would not hit it this time. He held his breath +while the wagon jolted thru the door into a dark, dilapidated building +which was full of moldy odors. And there the horse stopped. He had to +lie still while they unhitched the horse, all done in the darkness. +They discussed the harness which seemed to be needing repairs from what +they said. + +The old man told Maggie to get some food at a bin, but she replied that +she couldn’t find it by just feeling around. She wanted to light the +lantern but he wouldn’t allow her. A trifle crossly she refused to even +try to help farther. And he said surlily, “If you had them 15 years in +the darkness I did, you’d be able to find anything by feel.” + +After that she was more patient and seemed to help all she could with +the finishing of the feeding. She came with the old man to the wagon, +and stayed with him while he took out a knife and cut the strap which +tied his legs. + +“You walk with me, just as I tell you, or you’ll know what you’ll get,” +the man’s surly voice was charged with a threat which Renfro knew he +would not hesitate to keep. + +So he meekly followed his directions and walked between the two of +them. The old woman who seemed to have a more human disposition than +the man, helped Renfro along by holding his arm. They went across +decaying vegetable matter, through a door, close to a manger, and then +into another room, smaller and close and possessing much more moldy +odors than had the others. + +There the old man lifted some sort of a door in the side of what seemed +to be a banked part of the barn and they all stepped into a place so +dark that Renfro could not see at all. While the old woman closed the +door, her companion lighted a lantern. + +For several minutes the light, though it was dim, blinded Renfro. Then +his eyes gradually became accustomed to the light, and saw that they +were in a narrow passage way. A few feet along it, and they came to +some steps. They went down them--down, down, down, into an opening +which seemed to be a cave. And there Renfro with his hands tied, and +his mouth still bandaged was thrust into another and darker place and +the door, which had been opened to allow him being pushed through, was +shut again. + +His first sensation was that he was on solid ground. Then his feet +seemed to give away under him and he fell heavily, his head striking +something sharp and hard. A quick pain, worse than any he had felt +during the short ride, and then Renfro drifted into unconsciousness. + +When he came to, it seemed that hours had passed, but it had really +been only a period of some twenty minutes. He was lying on a pallet of +mouldy smelling rugs and comforters. They were full of hard knots which +sent shooting pains through his bruised body. + +The room was not entirely dark now. There was a dim light and Renfro +turned a little onto his side, saw that it came from a coal oil +lantern, which emitted much more bad smelling smoke than it did light. + +The bandage had been taken from his mouth. But the stout cords were +still on his wrists, and others had again been tied around his ankles. +They were tied in such a manner that if he lay perfectly still they +were comfortable, but if he twisted or attempted to move, they cut into +his flesh like circular knives. + +But in spite of the pain caused by his moving, Renfro managed to twist +himself until he could see the nature of the room in which he was +imprisoned. It was cold and damp and mouldy. Odors like those coming +from a musty cellar, in which vegetables had long been stored, were +strong around him. + +There was some one in the room but Renfro could not see who it was. +Heavy, rapid breathing behind him--in the direction he felt sure was +the door through which he had been thrown--proved that. He watched +directly above him and to the side of the room he was facing. + +And after a little looking he realized that it wasn’t a room at all but +a cave in which he was a captive. The rough jagged wall and ceiling +were of rock, from which hung stalactites now stained and discolored +by the rain and smoke of fires, which had been kept burning in a rusty +coal oil stove. + +There was a fire in the stove now, and Renfro was getting some heat +from it. Besides it and the pallet, on which he was lying, Renfro could +see no other furniture in the room. The lantern was flat on the floor. + +Renfro shivered. He was cold to the marrow of his bones. He shivered +again and then a long, hard sneeze came out of his nose and throat. It +was followed by another of the same, and then a whole series. + +The person behind him stirred and came around the pallet until Renfro +could see her--a swarthy, heavy set woman with a sour, disappointed +visage and stooped, weary shoulders. Over her head she wore the odd +colored scarf Renfro had seen twice on the street--first outside the +little hot dog restaurant and next on East Washington Street. + +She looked down at Renfro and he saw that her eyes were not half as +hard and sour looking as her face. Her lips drawn in a straight line +seemed to relax a little in their severity while she looked. And then +she opened them and asked one short word, “Cold?” + +“Yes, Ma’am,” Renfro sneezed again. + +With her free hand, the other was holding something under the scarf, +she pulled the coal oil stove closer to his pallet and then she opened +a door, slipped through it and closed it after her, and Renfro was left +alone--but not for long. When the door opened again, it was the old man +who entered this time, a heavy, horse blanket in his arms. + +On his head was the hunting cap with the sharp, low hanging bill. +He spread the blanket over Renfro, gruffly asked him if he wanted +something to eat and, after receiving a negative answer, squatted on +the floor and looked close at the boy. + +And Renfro looked back at him. There was instant recognition on the +part of both, the old man who had been in Captain Pete’s cabin and the +boy who had burst in and handed him a sample copy of the Globe. + +For quite a time they stared at each other and then the old man +realized that his attempts to frighten Renfro had failed. He gave a +short chuckle, which was more disagreeable than anything else, and then +jerked off his cap. + +And in the dim light to which Renfro’s eyes had grown accustomed, was +plainly visible the remainder of the eyebrows, half of each of which +had been left sticking to Judge Wier’s frozen window pane. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +HELEN WEIR IS FOUND. + + +The old man’s first words came in the form of a question. “Where are +the rest of ’em?” + +Renfro did not attempt to answer. To force an issue the old fellow was +tempted to use gruffness but a look deep into Renfro’s steely blue eyes +told him that would be a waste of time. The boy couldn’t be frightened +into telling anything. Better treat him as he would a man. + +“You scraped them off the window pane?” + +This time Renfro answered, “Yes.” + +“I knew some one had when I read the newspaper about the knife +scratches,” the old fellow was talking like a human being, and not in +the gruff disagreeable tone he had used up to this time. To be exact +he seemed to be getting some pleasure out of talking to some one who +had recently come from town and who knew the town’s version of the +kidnaping affair. + +“And I knew it was you,” the talker was measuring wits with Renfro, “as +soon as I saw you staring at me, out at that hot dog shop.” + +His voice was triumphant. He rose from his half sitting, half kneeling +posture and came over to Renfro. Turning him over roughly he went into +his pockets, pulled out all of the contents, and carried them to the +lantern. He was so busy examining them, that he could not see the look +of elation on Renfro’s face, followed by one of apprehension toward his +cap which was on the floor not far from his pallet. + +With a surge of joy Renfro realized that it was muddy and dilapidated +and torn. In that condition it would not receive any attention. No, the +hiding place of the missing eyebrows was safe. + +The fact that his search was unsuccessful made the old man quite angry. +He threw the things he had taken out of Renfro’s pockets to the floor, +and came back to the boy. “You didn’t destroy them.” There was no +question but just a simple statement. + +Renfro was silent. “Well you’ll tell me where they are and I’m goin’ to +git them tomorrow.” + +Again silence. For some reason or other the old man did not seem to +care to argue. He merely stared at Renfro, curiosity keen in his deep +eyes. And was it imagination or did Renfro actually see a gleam of +admiration in them as he stood and stared? + +The door opened and the old woman’s voice, now weary and fretful, put +forth a question, “Does he want anything to eat, Bart?” + +Renfro answered for himself--a courteous “No, ma’am--I thank you.” + +The same voice with its touch of queerness mumbled something about it +bein’ late, and she was sleepy, and for Bart to come out and leave the +boy alone. Then Bart threw another cover on Renfro, took the coal oil +stove in one hand, the lantern in the other and followed her through +the door. + +And Renfro was left in black darkness. The cover on him warmed him and +he began to feel drowsy. He was too tired to wonder what the folks were +doing at home now that it was time for him to be missed, or to regret +the fact that he had not taken time to tell Mary of the find he had +made in Captain Pete’s cabin the night before. + +He didn’t wonder whether or not they would start a search for him. +He was thinking of his route. Who would Morrison send out tomorrow to +carry it for him? And would he find his list of new customers? And +would they remember to take the three charity turkeys to the parsonage +and-- + +There was a sharp bark in the next room. Renfro’s heart surged with +joy. He was not alone in the cave. He had a friend as a fellow +prisoner. That bark came from Lang Tammy. And after it a girlish voice +said sharply, “Can’t you see Tammy’s half starved to death? He wants +milk--don’t you, Tammy?” + +And Renfro twisted until the throngs cut down into his flesh. That +voice belonged to no one else but Helen Wier. She was in the cave +too--just on the other side of the partition from Renfro. + +At exactly the same time Judge Wier and Henry Horn were in council with +the detectives at the police station. After Renfro had gone an hour +from the Horn home a search had been instituted for him. Inquiry at the +Globe office had failed to give them any evidence except the number of +the house from which the complaint had been sent. + +A hurried trip out there and Mr. Horn and Morrison, who had come to +his aid in looking for Renfro, discovered that the complaint call had +been cleverly faked. Their suspicions were fully established. But still +they did not give up hope. They called up all the homes of Renfro’s +friends, they had both the house and office of the Globe ready to send +out relief calls if Renfro should happen to appear. + +But hours passed, and there came to the two men no news. And then they +had gone to the police station. Judge Wier was summoned and the two +fathers went into close conference. + +They, with the detectives, decided that for the sake of their search, +after both Helen and Renfro, that it was best not to let the town +know of Renfro’s disappearance until evening--not even Mrs. Horn. The +detectives wanted a chance to start a well organized search. + +Early attempts to hunt Helen had been hindered by the crowd of people +who had collected as soon as the news of her kidnaping had spread. +Scores of foot tracks around the fateful house, all made by the curious +persons, had made it impossible for footprints to furnish a clue. + +Cleverly Mr. Horn concocted a story for his wife about Renfro’s going +home with Morrison to do some extra work, early in the morning. When he +told her about it she was very much out of humor and condemned paper +routes in biting language. + +“If she only knew the truth,” Mr. Horn thought to himself and trembled. +Some time the next day she would know the truth. + +Mary Dugan, dead tired, heard the story and believed it without a +qualm. She was sorry Renfro had to do the extra work. That meant just +one more day for her to feed the turkeys, which he had said belonged to +the church. + +Morrison in turn had gone out to the Bruce home, and Bruce, after +hearing the story, had gone straight to the city editor. Together they +mapped out the course they would follow. Their noon edition would +contain a story of the kidnaping--that would be their scoop, and early +in the afternoon they would send more detectives to help the local ones +in the search. + +Then Bruce and Morrison departed to their individual homes and went to +bed. + +But neither Henry Horn nor Mary Dugan slept much that night. The +detectives had assured Mr. Horn that they would soon find Renfro, that +his kidnaping had given them definite proof that Helen Wier had been +taken by local criminals. They would start an investigation from a new +angle. + +In the morning, of course, he would not go to work, just seemingly do +that, so as not to disturb his wife. He would show those kidnapers that +he was not a slow man to deal with like Judge Wier had been. He would +prove to them they couldn’t-- + +And directly above them Mary Dugan had hunted her Bible, read her +Golden Text for next Sunday and was fumbling with the family pictures. +And then she remembered the missing eyebrows. She opened the book at +page 222, the one next to which she had put them. + +And then she fell back with a low cry. The packages were gone. There +was not even one white hair left. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE LIGHTS ARE REVEALED. + + +Merle Riker carried the names of his six new subscribers to Morrison’s +office only to discover that Morrison was out. Wearily he sat down +into the big chair to wait. He had accomplished what had seemed to him +impossible a few days before. And he wanted Morrison’s approval. And +after that he wanted Renfro Horn’s. + +“He taught me how to do it,” Merle had told Jimmie Noel on his way to +the office. “Renfro Horn is a good sport.” + +“He’s a good scout,” Jimmie added soberly, “And that reminds me. I +haven’t seen Renfro all day. Let’s go out there tonight and have a talk +with him.” + +Merle promised. “My mother doesn’t care for me being out at nights when +I’m with a boy like Renfro Horn,” he explained. “Meet at the corner +drug store?” + +Jimmie had agreed to that meeting place. Just as soon as Morrison came, +Merle decided he would rush home, announce to the Riker family they +had a Thanksgiving turkey, eat a hurried supper and come back to the +meeting place and then go to the Horn home. + +But Morrison didn’t come. The clock struck six-thirty, seven, and then +Merle rose. He went straight to the corner drug store, met Jimmie, and +took him home with him. So Jimmie heard Merle’s announcement about the +Thanksgiving turkey and witnessed the joy it created. And as soon as +Merle had eaten his supper they started back to the Horn residence. + +But there they faced another disappointment. Mary Dugan told them +Renfro wasn’t home, was still out on his route and that they could walk +out to meet him if they wanted to see him. + +“She isn’t cross usually,” Jimmie volunteered. “But she’s tired out or +something. Usually it’s as Hooch says, ‘Mary Dugan is the best scout of +them all.’” + +Together the two boys walked out toward East Washington Street, but +though they watched every corner and every car they didn’t see Renfro. +“Might as well give it up,” Merle was disappointed, “and go home. I’ll +tell him in the morning.” + +“We’re near the Globe office,” Jimmie offered. “We might go past and +stop in to see if Morrison’s back. You’d like to tell him, if he’s +there--wouldn’t you?” + +They went to the carrier’s room, found it empty but the door to +Morrison’s was ajar. Jimmie started toward it and stopped, his +attention suddenly riveted by voices he heard. “But his mother must not +know.” It was Mr. Horn talking. + +He recognized Bruce answering. Morrison too chimed in. And little by +little Jimmie learned the whole story--of how Renfro had been kidnaped, +of how they were keeping it a secret and of how they hoped in this way +to get a quicker solution of the kidnaping mystery. + +Jimmie, when he learned all the particulars, pushed Merle back out onto +the street again. “How much did you hear?” he there demanded. + +“Not enough to understand anything except that Renfro has been +kidnaped, too, just like Helen Wier,” Merle was inclined to be gloomy, +“and they were both my friends.” + +“And we’re not to tell a word we heard,” Jimmie caught Merle’s arm and +shook him. “Do you understand? Telling this would hurt Renfro. It +would lessen their chances to find him. We’ve got to keep still and--” + +“Help find him,” Merle answered, the steel in his eyes shining so that +Jimmie could see it as he never had before. + +Jimmie Noel stopped. “Wait,” he commanded, “Wait a minute. I have to +think.” + +For fifteen minutes Merle waited. Then Jimmie drew him toward the +corner. “Can you stay out very late?” he asked. “It may be all night. I +have an idea. It may be nothing and again it may reveal to us where and +how Renfro was kidnaped. Can you go out to ‘Twin Cedar Cabin’ with me? +And stay all night?” + +Merle nodded. “I’ll call mother. If I tell her we’re going out there to +see Renfro, she’ll be all right,” he explained, “and that is what we +are going to do if he’s there--isn’t it?” + +“You bet!” Jimmie’s spirits were soaring, “I’ll telephone, too. And +I’ll tell Jack Burton we’re going. I won’t tell him about Renfro but +I’ll ask him to go along. He has some sense and he may help out some.” + +They separated and a little later they met, having deemed it more safe +to use different telephones. “Jack can’t go,” Jimmie explained. “His +brother raised a row against him going and so he has to stay at home.” + +On the way out to the camp, Jimmie explained many things to Merle--of +how when the cabin had been purchased and he had heard the story of the +two chiefs who had fought for the hand of the pretty white girl, he +and one of the young scout masters had decided to add to the lure of +the place for all good scouts. They had gone out secretly and dug two +graves, burying two old skeletons which had been in the trash room of +the high school. + +“It wasn’t hard to believe those skeletons belonged to Indians,” Jimmie +laughed, “so we named the graves those of Wampum and Big Eagle.” + +And then he told about the odd lights which they had seen on the nights +they had been there. “Now I was suspicious,” he added, “and began to +study ways those lights might have been made. And I just discovered the +other day. Someone who wanted to keep anyone away from that cabin could +have placed a number of batteries there and then operate them from +quite a distance. I believe that is just what someone is doing.” + +He drew a deep breath. “Every time any of the fellows go out to the +cabin to stay all night they watch for the lights and they are not +disappointed about seeing them either. So it stands to reason that they +are being operated to keep scouts away from that cabin. Now, tonight +we’ll lay for those fellows. I have a hunch we’ll find a fellow who is +connected with Renfro’s kidnaping.” + +Merle listened while Jimmie made his plans. They would go to the cabin, +light the lamps, and build a roaring big fire in the fire place. Then +Merle would stay in the cabin while he--Jimmie would go to the graves, +hide near there and watch for some sign of life. + +They reached the cabin safely. The lamps were lighted, the fire made, +and then Jimmie slipped out of the cabin. A little later, Merle, +following directions, extinguished the lamps and crept to the window. + +He looked down toward the mounds. And soon his watch was rewarded. +Violet and blue lights alternately played over the graves. They left +for a little while and then they came back. For about fifteen minutes +they lingered this time and then they suddenly went dark again. + +Merle waited. Minutes passed, and then longer minutes. But the lights +did not come back. Nor did Jimmie. This was a hard wait for Merle. He +began to wonder if anything could have happened to Jimmie. He had been +told before Jimmie left not to dare leave the cabin but just stay there +and watch. Something of unusual importance might happen right there. + +And just as he was about to throw Jimmie’s commands to the winds and +leave the cabin to search for him, Jimmie appeared. He was a ruffled, +muddy Jimmie. “Great Scott!” he ejaculated, “I was never so disgusted +in my life. If I hadn’t had that club in my hand and given them a dozen +or more healthy raps I would feel like batting my head in the hope I +could get some more brains into it.” + +He went to the fireplace and sat down. “It was just as I thought,” he +said. “Those lights came from electric batteries. Only they belonged +to the high school boys who want this cabin. They tried to get it when +the scouts got it but we had the most money. Jack Burton’s brother +led the gang. Whenever Jack would start out here they would come and +operate their battery system. They thought they would scare us out +pretty soon.” + +Merle was quite as disappointed as Jimmie. He came over and sat down +beside him. “I ran into the whole nest of them,” Jimmie continued, “and +I knocked them right and left with my club. I think they thought I was +a score of scouts for they ran--FROM ONE BOY,” he laughed. + +Merle laughed with him. “But that doesn’t help us with Renfro,” he +began suddenly. + +“No,” Jimmie shook his head, “Poor old Hooch! Wouldn’t he have liked to +be in on this tonight?” + +Later they snuggled up in their blankets and went to sleep. And when it +was morning they soberly went back to town, both of them with one great +determination and one secret in their minds. They were going to keep +still about Renfro Horn’s being gone and at the same time they were +going to help hunt him. + +“Tonight, I’m going to walk over his route after I carry mine,” Merle +assured Jimmie, “and hunt out every suspicious looking person on it. +Want to go along?” + +“Yes, sir,” Jimmie was emphatic. + +“And keep still all day?” + +“You bet!” Jimmie’s lips went close together. + +“Then tonight at six o’clock,” Merle had the last word, “and meet me at +Flaherty’s butcher shop.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +HELEN TALKS TO RENFRO. + + +Renfro awoke early the next morning. The room of the cave in which +he was confined was dark and the air seemed colder, more mouldy than +on the night before. He wished that they had left the foul smelling +lantern in his room, though the evening before he had hoped it would be +removed. + +His wrists and ankles felt numb. Last night they had ached for quite +a long time. He decided while he lay alone in the dark that when Bart +or Maggie came in he would ask them to ease the cords a bit. But when, +after more than an hour, the old man, still wearing the low brimmed cap +and surly air of the night before, came into the room Renfro decided +not to even mention the tightness of the cords. + +It was the same smoking, ill smelling lantern of the night before that +he swung in his hand. He set it down near the bed, looked at Renfro, +and then felt of the cord around his wrist. “Not so bad as that--not +that bad, though it was a long time,” he muttered to himself. + +He rose heavily and fumbled his way through the door back into the +other room. This time as he had done every time before he closed the +door after him. “No use doing that,” Renfro thought, “I’ve already +heard Helen’s voice.” + +The old woman came back with him. She carried a bowl of steaming stew +in which onions were one of the principal ingredients. That was evident +from the odor. And with it were several slices of toasted bread. + +“Do you want some coffee?” + +Renfro decided that her voice was not gruff through a habitual +bad disposition but exposure and poor food and it might have been +suffering. He forced a smile when he assured her that he would rather +have some milk if she could give him some. + +“After a while,” she promised, “presently when I go up to the grocery.” + +When it was evident that he was going to eat the stew, the old man +helped him raise himself to a sitting posture. Then he cut the cords on +his wrists. “Now eat,” he said and spoke without any surliness. “And +when the door is fixed a little more you won’t be tied any more.” + +A grim smile came onto his face. “You are too smart a boy to have loose +for a time,” he said. + +Renfro was interested in the way he spoke. At least it was evident from +what he said that he was to be kept in captivity quite a time. While he +ate the stew which was not a disagreeable mess, he wondered what sort +of confusion was raging back in Lindendale. Would the detectives decide +that it was a kidnaping plot? Would they set out on another trip to a +far off city for more evidence? + +He was sure they would not do that. There was Mary, who had shared with +him conjectures concerning the identity of the owner of the missing +eyebrows. She would tell them about the trips to Captain Pete’s, to the +big house, and from there he was sure it would be easy for detectives +to work their way to the old barn. + +He smiled contentedly and ate on until the bowl was almost empty. If he +had known that Mary thought him safe at the home of one of his friends, +that his mother believed the same, that full charge of the secret +investigation had been given over to the detectives he would have been +discouraged to the despair point. + +After he was through eating, old Bart fastened new bandages, much wider +but stronger than the others on his wrists. But they were a distinct +advantage, for they did not hurt half as badly as had the others. And +when he had changed the narrow ones around his ankles to the wide +variety, Renfro, though far from being in a pleasant posture, was not +uncomfortable. + +As soon as they made the discovery that he was going to be agreeable +and not cry or abuse them over his imprisonment, the old couple became +much less hostile. Renfro knew from their attitude that they did not +want to hurt or punish him--but merely to keep him shut up until they +had made some plans concerning Helen Wier. + +“Well if it’s money they’re after, they’ll sure ask dad for some +too, as soon as they discover who I am,” he began to think and then +remembering Mary, decided that they wouldn’t get far with their plans +before they were discovered. + +After promising to bring him something to read the old man took up +the dilapidated lantern and followed his wife, who had gone back into +the other room several minutes before. Renfro heard him lock the door +between the two rooms of the cave; and later give some commands to his +wife and Lang Tammy, who was once more in the cave. + +Though the lantern was gone the cave was not so dark as it had been. +Renfro moved until he discovered the source of the light. It came from +over the top of an old door--the one, he felt sure--that the old man +had spoken about nailing more firmly before he should be turned loose. + +He twisted at his thongs. They were tied too tight to ever be torn +loose. He tried them with his teeth but they were too tough for him +to make more than an impression on them. And making impressions would +only harm him, for once discovered they would be responsible for closer +watch than ever being put over him. + +Quietly he lay back on his pallet and waited. In the other room they +were talking in muffled tones. A long conversation followed, a bustling +noise, and then silence. + +And finally out of it came a voice which Renfro knew. “Who is in +there?” it demanded. “Is it any one who knows me? I’m Helen Wier.” + +Renfro could have shouted for joy. “I’m Renfro Horn,” he answered. +“Where are they gone?” + +“Up town,” Helen was just outside the locked door. “I’m not tied like +they say you are, but I’m locked in. Tell me everything you know--about +mother and father and everything. And why don’t they find me?” + +Renfro had to pitch his voice loud and make it peculiarly piercing to +reach her through the heavy door and the big room of the cave. He told +her of everything he knew, how her letters had reassured her mother and +kept her well. + +“Yes, they let me write them,” Helen’s voice seemed changed, more +piercing, more strident. Renfro decided that it was from her life in +the cave. “They’re not mean to me--and they don’t want money. They’re +keeping me, to get even with father.” + +Quietly and without any emotion she told her story. Bart had been +sentenced to fifteen years in the penitentiary by her father years +ago. He had served most of those fifteen long years which had meant +separation from his family. While there he brooded over the loneliness +of himself and became almost a maniac, with one purpose in mind--namely +to get even with the judge who had sentenced him. + +At first he had decided to kidnap the judge himself. He had kept that +thought in mind for years. When his old cellmate had gone free one day +and they had given him another he had been given a chance to plan for +the future, Captain Pete’s brother had been put in his cell and he, in +time, told of his home, of his crime, and the hidden cave in which he +and his confederates had at first made the counterfeit money. + +Getting bolder the counterfeiters had moved into the cellar of the big +house and been discovered. But only the part of the story which was +concerned with the cave had interested Bart. From that time on he made +his plans. As soon as he was free he would come back to Lindendale, +kidnap Judge Wier and imprison him for months in this hidden cave. +Separation from his family for that time would give him just a hint of +what Bart had served on account of his sentence. + +“Maggie told me all this,” Helen put her lips close to the key hole for +her throat was getting tired through talking so loud. “She wants me to +know all of it so that when they let me back to father I can tell him +all of it and understand exactly how and why Bart got even with him.” + +“But isn’t Captain Pete in it?” Renfro persisted in asking a question +though Helen was still talking. + +“No, neither he nor his brother. They just happened to discover the +cave and then they knew where I had been hidden. They’re afraid of +Bart. They won’t ever tell until I’m safe back home and Bart and Maggie +are away and safe in another part of the country, and happy because +they’ve had revenge.” + +She talked a little while longer about the life in the cave. She +and Renfro conjectured together on the probable time they would be +imprisoned. And Renfro didn’t tell her of Mary Dugan’s knowledge of all +his clues and his hope of rescue from her. A surprise he decided would +be a good thing for Helen Wier. + +After a time they, following Helen’s fear that the old woman would +return, lapsed into silence. Renfro sat and studied the door around +which came in small shafts of light. Now if he could only manage to get +loose before that door was made more secure he felt that he could work +his way through the door. But if-- + +And in the other room there came confusing sounds. Bart and Maggie had +returned, and a scuffling and barking and cavorting around told him +that they had brought with them Lang Tammy. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +LANG TAMMY HELPS RENFRO ESCAPE. + + +Old Bart, true to his promise, brought Renfro a book and the lantern +to furnish him light for the reading. Maggie, also considerate, had +polished the lantern shade, until now it gave a light which made the +cave a definite room and was bright enough that Renfro could easily +read. + +But first he looked around the room. The stalactites, which had been +specters in the half darkness, became things of beauty in the bright +light. Renfro had heard that there were limestone deposits in the +ground under the Hall farm. Now he was sure of it. Why this cave was +very beautiful and full of promise. + +“If old Jake--” Helen had told him the name of Captain Pete’s +brother--“had only known it,” he thought, “there was a wealth on his +own land much larger than any he could counterfeit during a lifetime.” + +Bart was examining the lock on the door. He had brought in with him +a package which when opened revealed another lock that he tried to +adjust. But it was soon evident from his swearing that the new one was +too small for the door. + +Carefully the old man wrapped it up. Angry over his failure he turned +upon Renfro. “You needn’t be grinning,” he said, “I’ll get a better one +this afternoon.” + +By slipping over on his stomach and with his hands under him Renfro +could manage to read out of the book of pioneer stories Bart had +fetched from the Hall library. He turned the pages with his tongue. But +between pages he thought hard. If he could get loose by hook or crook +he could get that old door open he was sure. + +He remembered the story he had read in the detective magazine of a very +wiry man who had managed to use a knife with his teeth. In Renfro’s +pocket had been a sharp knife. Bart had taken it out. Had he carried it +away or left it with the other things on the floor? + +“While he’s gone this afternoon I’ll roll over there and see,” Renfro +made his plans definitely. + +A little later Maggie brought him his dinner, milk and other things she +had considered delicacies which a boy of Renfro’s breeding was sure to +like. She was unusually kind and Renfro felt sorry that she should be +so deluded as she was. + +He was so restless that he could hardly wait until Bart should start +away again and he could roll over after the knife. That would take time +and he must be free from the fear of discovery. He breathed a sigh of +relief when he heard Bart begin to make preparations to leave. He heard +Maggie argue with him about some things she wanted from her little +home, back in town. + +Bart refused to go after them, telling her that if she wanted them +badly enough she would go herself. And after a little while she decided +to go along. Better and better Renfro decided. Now he could do his work +with alacrity, perfectly safe from any fear of discovery at all. + +Bart came in after the lantern, carried it out, refilled it and brought +it back. This time he left the door slightly ajar and while he was at +work Renfro saw a big form slip in, crawl into the farthest corner and +lay there. It was Lang Tammy and he was hiding because of the whipping +Maggie had given him for tearing the binding on her coat. + +Not until they were gone did Renfro call Lang Tammy and then he came, +crawling and pleading exactly like a dog which has recently been +beaten. But as he reached Renfro and made sure that it was his friend +he became joyous and barked joyfully and frantically. And then he made +ready for a game of tug. + +Joyously he seized one end of the free bandage on Renfro’s hands. He +gave it a pull which cut into the boy’s wrists cruelly. Another pull, +another cut, and Renfro tried to stop him. But the big dog was intent +on the game which was now a winning one for him. Another tug, this time +a long tearing one, and something slipped, the knot the old man had +tied so firmly that morning. Renfro jerked at his hands and Tammy was +onto the bandage again. + +And then it came loose. Renfro could have hurrahed from joy. Instead +he rolled over quickly to his pile of articles taken from his pocket, +found his knife, cut the thongs around his legs and stood tottering, +his legs stiff and aching. With a bound he was to the door working +at the lock. Indeed it was old and rusty. It gave way before his +onslaught and he stood free to go out into the open. + +He flew back to the other door. “Helen,” he called softly, “I’m free +and you’ll be in a little while. If they come back before help comes, +be sick or do anything you can to keep them interested and away from my +door.” + +Outside he stood in a new world which he soon identified as being +the thicket below the hill on the Hall farm. He found the lower road +and fairly flew to the edge of town, boarded a waiting car and rode +directly to the office of the Globe. + +The big building looked like paradise to him. Straight through the +outer door, into the hall and back to the door marked “Route Manager, +Morrison,” he hurried. And inside it he fell into Morrison’s arms. + +“That wasn’t a complaint, Morrison!” he burst out. “That was a fake +call! I went--” + +“You--Hooch, you--you!” Morrison gasped like a drowning man, seized +Renfro, and half carried, half dragged him into Circulation Manager +Bruce’s office. The office was deserted except for that worthy and his +stenographer. He looked up at the confusion, jumped to his feet and +caught Renfro in the curve of his arm. + +And to him Renfro began his story once more. “That wasn’t a complaint +call last night at all. It was just a fake. I was kidnaped. It was a +cave. And I found Helen Wier and--and--” + +“You found Helen Wier?” Bruce shouted his question. Then before it +could be answered he had dragged him to the door. And there he decided +that the boy was not going fast enough. Up into his arms he lifted him. +Through the hall to the elevator cage he went, Morrison following. + +“Car up!” Bruce was still shouting. “Can’t wait.” + +Up the steps he ran. At the landing he ducked but Renfro’s head struck +the ceiling a hard whack, in spite of that, Renfro merely winced. At +the top of the steps Bruce made a sharp turn, rushed against the door +marked “Managing Editor” and threw it open with the weight of his big +body. + +Morrison, puffing and trying to obtain answers to a whole chain of +questions he was hurling at Renfro, still perched perilously near the +top of Bruce’s shoulders, followed. He saw Bruce drop Renfro, grab a +little man who was having a discussion with Mr. North, The Globe’s +managing editor, pull him to the door, shove him through and then lock +the door after him. + +“What in the--” North jumped to the floor, scattering proof sheets in +all directions. “What--” + +The little man who had been forcibly ejected was beating and pounding +his protest on the panels of the big oak door but Bruce didn’t mind +him. “North,” he jerked North so that he faced Renfro, “This is Renfro +Horn.” + +“And,” Morrison would not be ignored, “he has found Helen Wier.” + +“When--where--how?” North was all editor. + +“In a cave! I was there too. They kidnaped me last night,” Renfro burst +out. “She’s there now! Locked in! Bart and Maggie are up town. Let’s +get her before they come back.” + +North pushed Morrison toward the door. “Get a taxi,” he ordered, “and +keep your mouth shut.” + +He jerked open his desk, took his revolver from a drawer and thrust it +in his pocket. Five steps carried him to the locked door. He jerked it +open, breaking the lock. “Warriner,” he called. “We’re making a trip. +Big story! Extra edition! Get the presses ready for it. I’ll take Figg +with me.” + +The man sitting at the table on the front of which was printed “City +Editor,” jumped to his feet. “Figg!” he bawled, “Figg!” + +While they waited North demanded Warriner’s revolver and handed it to +Bruce. “You’re going too,” he said. + +Figg came out of the cubby hole which bore the name Sporting +Editor--big, burly and aggressive in every step and gesture. No one +ever mentioned a gun to Figg. With the first word of “Big story,” he +had his gun out of his desk and in his pocket. + +No one mentioned elevator this time. They made their descent down the +steps. Through the hall, a curious crowd stopping at sight of the odd +procession, they rushed. Morrison outside had the taxi door open and +into it they sprang, Bruce, North, Figg and Renfro. Morrison thinking +that he was to be left behind clung to the running board. + +Renfro’s directions were shouted to the driver by North. Out of town, +breaking all traffic rules they went. A sharp turn by the tile factory +took them down the river road. Beyond it they rode a few yards, made +another turn, jolted up a deserted lane and came to an abrupt stop. + +Around the shrubbery to the passage to the open door Renfro led them. +Inside the room Lang Tammy sat in a dejected attitude. Bristling every +hair he jumped at the intruders, saw Renfro and sprang on him with a +joyful bark. + +But a girlish voice sounded above all the confusion. “Renfro, have them +hurry! It’s time for Maggie and Bart any minute.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE GLOBE GETS A SCOOP. + + +Not until the taxicab turned into Elm Street back in town once more did +Helen Wier speak. She simply crouched in one corner of the taxicab and +stared out of the window. There she clutched at Figg’s arm. “That’s my +street,” she pointed at the one they left. “I have to see my mother +right away. I do,” she was emphatic, jerking his arm savagely, “I do!” + +Then North became the cunning editor. “Not immediately,” he spoke in +conciliatory tones. “The shock would kill her. She has to be prepared. +We’ll attend to that at the Globe office.” + +Renfro stared at Helen. How white and thin she looked! Her voice had +sounded hollow back there in the cave. Now as he afterwards described +it, she looked hollow, too. Leaning against his knees, Lang Tammy was +staring up at him with happy eyes. From time to time he kissed his hand +and gave Figg hostile growls. + +Everything at the Globe was waiting for them. Outside a long line of +newsboys was waiting for the extras to be shot through the presses and +out to them on the street in a few minutes. + +A crowd of girls from the business office stared through the windows +at the motley procession. The elevator man, watching outside his cage, +rushed in again and seized the lever. They shot up to the editorial +floor and rushed into the room where Warriner had his star writer at +his machine and his copy boys ready. + +He looked at the crowd. “Shoot!” he commanded. “The girl first.” + +And Helen Wier encouraged by North told her story in weary, strained +gasps. “I was in the library alone reading that night. I heard a noise. +There was somebody in the room. He had a gun pointed at me. He said he +would kill me if I screamed. He said there was some one in the other +room who would kill my mother if I didn’t come with him. His forehead +was bleeding. Something was wrong with his eyebrows--” + +“Oh, yes,” Renfro jumped forward and jerking off his cap, turned down +the band. “His eyebrows were missing. They froze to the window pane. +He jerked them off and I found them on the pane. That’s how I found +Helen.” + +North jerked him over to one side. “Your time next,” he commanded, and +nodded at Helen. + +“Outside the house, he made me walk into the shrubbery. I was afraid +they would shoot my mother.” Helen’s tone was full of worry. “They +didn’t--did they?” + +“No, no, she’s safe,” North clipped out his words. + +The typewriter stopped its clicking. The feature writer rolled out one +sheet, Warriner grabbed it and another one was in its place. + +“Shoot!” + +Warriner gave the command again. “They gagged me then. A woman helped +him. She was Maggie. And they put me in a wagon. We rode miles. It was +cold and I didn’t have any coat--just an old rug they put around me. We +went through some buildings. And then down into the cave.” + +It was Renfro whom North asked to give a description of Bart and +Maggie. He told his own story first--of the first night he had seen +the stranger peering into the Wier home, the second experience, his +attempt to telephone the Judge, of the line out of order, and then of +his finding the eyebrows frozen to the window pane. + +The reporters moved closer to him while he talked. North interrupted +to ask questions. Warriner gave orders to copy boys, to the writers at +their machines, through a telephone to the press room and through it +all managed to hear every word of the story. + +When Renfro at the close of his story again took off his cap, +pulled down the band and exhibited his specimens--The Missing +Eyebrows--carefully opened one of the square packages and took one +look, held it to North, and then handed it to one of the men. “Have +them photographed and a plate made,” he ordered. + +And then he was down to the press room. North once more took +command--got more detailed stories from both Renfro and Helen, had +half a dozen reporters writing at once--descriptions of the cave, of +the rooms there, of Maggie and Bart and then one of Lang Tammy who was +still by Renfro’s side, his nose firmly clutched by one of the boy’s +muscular hands. + +There was a shout below. Morrison and Bruce both jumped. “The paper’s +off the press,” the reporter nearest the chute yelled and North turned +to Helen, “Get ready to go home,” he said kindly, “I’ll telephone your +mother.” + +“Telephone mine,” for the first time Renfro remembered his parents. “I +can’t get home and back before it’s time to carry my route.” + +North motioned to the cub reporter. “Tell Bruce to send some other boy +out on Horn’s route tonight,” he commanded. “I want to take Horn home +myself.” + +The trip down the stairway was made more slowly this time. North +noticed that Renfro was limping. He reached out his hand and steadied +him. “Best story of the year,” he muttered. “And we scooped them all.” + +And Renfro understood him. But he didn’t say anything except to nod at +Lang Tammy. “I’m going to keep him,” he said, “I wonder if they’ve got +Bart and Maggie yet.” + +“Figg will tend to them,” North smiled. “I sent him back with some of +the boys to get the story for the next edition.” + +At the door his editor’s mantle seemed to drop. He looked first at +Helen and then at Renfro. He had several children out at his home. +“You’re great kids!” he grinned. + +But there was a volume in that grin and both of them realized it. In +the taxi he was quite as laconic. “Your folks will about die! I talked +to both of your dads.” + +Yet it was Helen’s mother who was waiting on the porch when the taxi +drove up in front of the Wier home. She rushed down the walk as Helen +rushed toward the house. Half way they met. + +North turned his head. But he heard Mrs. Wier talking. She had taken +Renfro’s hand. The tears from her eyes dropped on it but she talked +bravely, and in a collected manner, giving him the greatest eulogy he +had ever received. + +The judge too talked to the boy, as one man does to another. Helen left +her mother’s arm to come over to him. “But you won’t be hard on Bart, +daddy,” she begged. “You--see--now--we know--how--cruel--it--is to be +away from the people we love.” + +Judge Wier nodded his head. He looked up at North. “I will attend to +them,” he smiled, “but still I feel it would not be best to quote me on +that. Just say that I shall not be too harsh on these people.” + +Mrs. Wier nodded. Then she looked at Renfro. “His mother is waiting,” +she said. + +And North took Renfro back to the taxi in which Lang Tammy was waiting. +As they crossed town, Renfro nodded toward the street. “This is my +route,” he said. “They call it Old Grief.” + +“The turkey route,” North laughed. “We’re going to use that story +tomorrow in our Thanksgiving number.” + +He nodded at some of the dilapidated buildings on a cross street. “Want +to change it?” he asked. + +“No sir!” Renfro’s answer was emphatic. + +Mary Dugan was standing out close to the curbing, a clean white apron +tied around her expansive waist. Her hand reached out and grasped +Renfro’s with all the force a man gives an obstinate pump handle. And +she shook it manfully. + +Now, Mary Dugan was of the kissing type, but she respected manhood. +And in fifteen minutes Renfro had grown from a boy to a man in her +estimation. Nor did she weep though she had shed copious tears when +she had heard the story. “I missed them eyebrows last night,” she +said, “and I’ve dressed both of them turkeys which was left. The three +charity ones I carried out to the preacher’s parsonage myself. I told +them to eat one themselves, as he did the free advertisin’ for you.” + +Proudly she led the way to the house after she had delivered her +speech. Renfro’s mother caught him in her arms in the most genuine, +motherly embrace he had known for a long time. She sobbed and sobbed +and could not talk. But he knew without her saying a word how happy she +was. + +Mr. Horn laughed nervously to North. “I’ve been through Hell a thousand +times during the last twenty-four hours,” he said. “But thank Heaven I +had the courage to go through alone. I never told my wife a word about +Renfro’s being gone until you told me that he was safe. She thought he +was visiting.” + +He managed a few fatherly hugs in spite of his wife’s constant clinging +to Renfro. His eyes were charged with love and beyond that a look +of pride. He started to say something directly to Renfro about his +feelings but with a great effort Renfro managed to wriggle out of his +mother’s arm and start toward the dining room. + +“Where are you going, Hooch?” Mary Dugan sprang to her feet with the +suspicion in her mind that Renfro was hungry. + +But Renfro waved her aside. “I’m going to call up the office,” he +returned. “I want to find out of Morrison if there have been any +complaints on my route.” + + +THE END. + + +The next RENFRO HORN book will be + + _THE LUCK OF A RAINY NIGHT_ + + + + +THE LUCK OF A RAINY NIGHT + +or + +Renfro Horn Wins the $10,000 Reward + + +In this second book of the Renfro Horn series of Newspaper Boys’ +stories, Renfro Horn wins the enmity of the carrier on Route No. +19, because Renfro is held up as a model carrier by the Circulation +management of the Globe. + +And on the darkest, rainiest night of the year, the carrier of Route +No. 19 plans to lure Renfro to a desolate place where he hopes to +give him a beating. But Renfro, who has been keen on the trail of the +Insurance Mystery, stumbles on the body of the man who is supposed to +be dead, and he wins the reward which the Insurance company has offered +for the location of Clyde Truesdale. + + + + +THE RISE OF ROUTE 19 + +or + +Renfro Gets a Regular Detective Badge + + +“Old Grief” has now been made a respectable route under Renfro Horn’s +careful carrier service, and the Globe has the largest number of +subscribers in that section of the city, so to test Renfro Horn’s +fighting spirit, Bruce, the circulation manager, offers Renfro Route +19, one of the bad routes along the river front, where the house boats +are moored, and a better route in a better part of the city. + +But Renfro Horn, being in quest of success and excitement takes Route +19 and thus begins an interesting series of adventures for this boy +carrier, who is the peer of the city’s best detectives. It ends with +the Mayor of the city pinning on his coat lapel a regular detective +badge, because Renfro has found the stolen finger prints. + + + + +THE WHITE BAG’S SECRET + +or + +Renfro Horn Trails Down the Thieving Dog. + +By Stephen Rudd. + + +The jewels of Mrs. Laidlaw Garth have mysteriously disappeared. Mary +Dugan’s cousin, Bridget O’Hara, is the maid in the house and is under +suspicion. + +Renfro and Mary believe she is innocent. Through the location of one of +his old paper bags, Renfro gets a clue which leads him to believe that +Mrs. Garth’s dog, “Bluff,” stole the jewels. He and Mary set out to +find them, and they are successful, of course. + +But there is thrill in this story for any red blooded boy. + +Published by the R. H. Gore Publishing Co. + + + + +THE CLUE OF THE TWISTED PAPER + +or + +The Mystery of the Lost Girl. + +By Stephen Rudd. + + +Can a paper, which a newspaper carrier boy twists into a roll and +throws on a porch, contain a clue to the identity of the girl who has +forgotten who she is or where she comes from? Renfro Horn, the carrier +boy detective, proves this can be done. + +He and Mary Dugan do it. + +And the lost girl--well she is a wonder child. But read all about this +absorbing mystery in “The Clue of the Twisted Paper.” It’s coming soon. + + +Published by the R. H. Gore Publishing Co. + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber’s note + + +Typos fixed; non-standard spelling and dialect retained. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76914 *** diff --git a/76914-h/76914-h.htm b/76914-h/76914-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..af958bf --- /dev/null +++ b/76914-h/76914-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7630 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + The mystery of the missing eyebrows | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + +hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 47.5%; margin-right: 47.5%;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} +table.autotable { border-collapse: collapse; } +table.autotable td, +table.autotable th { padding: 0.25em; } + +.tdl {text-align: left;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} /* page numbers */ + +blockquote { + margin-top: 0; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +figcaption {font-weight: bold;} +figcaption p {margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: .2em; text-align: inherit;} + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} +/* comment out next line and uncomment the following one for floating figright on ebookmaker output */ +.x-ebookmaker .figright {float: none; text-align: center; margin-left: 0;} +/* .x-ebookmaker .figright {float: right;} */ + +.author { + text-align: right; + margin-right: 20% + } + +.x-ebookmaker body {margin: 0;} +.x-ebookmaker-drop {color: inherit;} + +.ph2, .ph3, .ph4 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } +.ph2 { font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; } +.ph3 { font-size: large; margin: .83em auto; } +.ph4 { font-size: medium; margin: 1.12em auto; } + +.tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; +padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; padding-left: .5em; +padding-right: .5em;} + +.indent { + margin-left: 10em; +} + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowp43 {width: 43%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp43 {width: 100%;} +.illowp100 {width: 100%;} +.illowp41 {width: 41%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp41 {width: 100%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76914 ***</div> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp43" id="frontis" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/frontis.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Renfro’s hand trembled so that he could hardly pull + the knife from his trousers pocket. It was followed by a + note book from which he tore two sheets of paper. Quickly + he opened one blade, the thinnest of the three in his knife, + warmed it with several breaths, then slipped it under + one of the frozen eyebrows on the window pane. + </figcaption> +</figure> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h1> + THE MYSTERY<br> + <br> + OF THE<br> + <br> + MISSING EYEBROWS</h1> + <br> + <p class="ph3"> + By STEPHEN RUDD</p> + <br> + <p class="ph2"> + The Newspaper Boys’ Series</p> + <br> + <p class="ph4"> + Illustrated</p> + <br> + <p class="ph3"> + <i>Published by the</i><br> + <span class="smcap">R. H. Gore Publishing Co.</span> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="ph3"> + <i>Copyright, 1921</i><br> + <span class="smcap">R. H. Gore Publishing Company</span><br> + <i>All rights reserved</i> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="ph2">RENFRO HORN STORIES<br> + <br> + TO FOLLOW SHORTLY + <br> + By + <br> + THE SAME AUTHOR +</p> +</div> + +<p class="indent"> + THE LUCK OF A RAINY NIGHT<br> + THE RISE OF ROUTE 19<br> + THE WHITE BAG’S SECRET<br> + THE CLUE OF THE TWISTED PAPER<br> + THE LONG LOW WHISTLE<br> + THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE MILK<br> + THE LEAK AT COOGAN’S CHIMNEY<br> + THE GROWL OF THE LOST DOG<br> + THE COURAGE OF RENFRO HORN<br> + THE FALL OF THE EAST SIDE BULLY<br> + THE SCOOP OF THE CUB REPORTER +</p> + +<p class="ph3"> + <span class="smcap">R. H. Gore Publishing Co.</span>,<br> + TERRE HAUTE, IND. +</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="A_WORD_TO_ALL"> + A WORD TO ALL + NEWSPAPER BOYS + </h2> +</div> + +<p>This volume, the “MYSTERY OF THE MISSING +EYEBROWS,” is the first of twelve books written about +newspaper boys by an old newspaper boy, and the picture +of Renfro Horn is the likeness of a flesh and blood newspaper +carrier, the real Renfro Horn, who inspired these +twelve books, that the newspaper boys of these United +States might understand the responsibility they bear to +the world.</p> + +<p>The newspaper that you take each night to your subscriber’s +door plays a great part in the life of each subscriber. +Thru rain and snow and cold you go, and if you +are a good carrier, as all newspaper boys should be, you +will overcome all problems to have your paper there at +the exact time each day, as early as you can get there, regardless +of weather, unmindful of play, striving all the +time to be first to deliver papers in your territory.</p> + +<p>And if you are to succeed later in life, you will constantly +strive to make route gains for your newspaper. A +new subscriber each week, a gain of only one new subscription +each week, if you do it regularly, will mean that +you are a good carrier, as good as Renfro Horn and Renfro +is one of the best, for he carried papers on a route for +the writer of this book who is a circulation manager.</p> + +<p>When your subscribers quit, make them give you a +good reason. And collect your bills. When folks do not +pay, tell them about the six or seven times you come to +their door each week, and ask them if they can do you just +the one favor, and remind them you bring the biggest +value in the world for the money, the news of the whole +world, plus your good service.</p> + +<p>Newspaper boys are becoming the great men of the +world. We have one of them as president of these United +States. Others are in high places. The newspaper training +is valuable, as much so as school, but you must look +about you and make mental notes and you must be a go-getter +like Renfro Horn. And here he is. Read about +this newest and greatest Boy hero, who is just a carrier of +newspapers like yourself. And when you know him as +well as we do, you will like him quite as well, and you will +want to follow his many adventures in the other books to +come.</p> + +<p class="author"> + By The Author +</p> + +<figure class="figright illowp100" id="signature" style="max-width: 18.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/signature.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Stephen Rudd + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p> + The R. H. Gore Publishing Co.,<br> + <span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">General Offices, Myers Building,</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">Terre Haute, Ind.</span> +</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS"> + CONTENTS. + </h2> +</div> + + +<table class="autotable"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">CHAPTER</td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr">PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">I.</td> +<td class="tdl">THE MYSTERIOUS HOUSE</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_7">7</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">II.</td> +<td class="tdl">RENFRO WANTS A NEWSPAPER ROUTE</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_18">18</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">III.</td> +<td class="tdl">A STRANGE MAN AT A WINDOW</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">IV.</td> +<td class="tdl">A NEW DOG AT THE OLD HOUSE</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_38">38</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">V.</td> +<td class="tdl">THE STRANGER COMES AGAIN</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_47">47</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">VI.</td> +<td class="tdl">HELEN WIER IS KIDNAPED</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">VII.</td> +<td class="tdl">RENFRO TAKES THE EYEBROWS</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_67">67</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">VIII.</td> +<td class="tdl">RENFRO GETS A SHOCK</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">IX.</td> +<td class="tdl">TRACKS AT THE CABIN</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_86">86</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">X.</td> +<td class="tdl">THE LIGHT ON THE INDIAN GRAVES</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_97">97</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">XI.</td> +<td class="tdl">RENFRO BECOMES A MENTOR</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_107">107</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">XII.</td> +<td class="tdl">THE SCRATCHES ON THE WINDOW</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">XIII.</td> +<td class="tdl">A TRIP TO THE CABIN</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_127">127</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">XIV.</td> +<td class="tdl">THE MAN IN THE HAUNTED HOUSE</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_137">137</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">XV.</td> +<td class="tdl">A DEAL IN TURKEYS</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_147">147</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">XVI.</td> +<td class="tdl">BOY SCOUTS TO THE RESCUE</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">XVII.</td> +<td class="tdl">RENFRO FINDS THE MYSTERY MAN</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_165">165</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">XVIII.</td> +<td class="tdl">THREE MEN IN THE PLOT</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_173">173</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">XIX.</td> +<td class="tdl">RENFRO IS KIDNAPED</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_182">182</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">XX.</td> +<td class="tdl">HIDDEN IN THE CAVE</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_191">191</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">XXI.</td> +<td class="tdl">HELEN WIER IS FOUND</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_199">199</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">XXII.</td> +<td class="tdl">THE LIGHTS ARE REVEALED</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_206">206</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">XXIII.</td> +<td class="tdl">HELEN TALKS TO RENFRO</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_215">215</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">XXIV.</td> +<td class="tdl">LANG TAMMY HELPS RENFRO ESCAPE</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_224">224</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +<td class="tdr"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdr">XXV.</td> +<td class="tdl">THE GLOBE GETS A SCOOP</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_233">233</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span></p> + + <p class="ph2"> + THE MYSTERY OF THE + MISSING EYEBROWS. + </p> + + +<hr class="r5"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I"> + CHAPTER I. + <br> + THE MYSTERIOUS HOUSE. +</h2> +</div> + +<p>Renfro Horn was quite sure that Captain +Pete would never have spoken had +he not dropped the rabbit. But the +sound of its frozen body striking the hard crust +on the top of the snow made the old man turn +around to discover the reason for the sound. +And at the same time he saw the rabbit he saw +Renfro.</p> + +<p>“Oh,” he snarled, “Spyin’ on me ag’in—sneakin’ +on an old man’s own grounds.”</p> + +<p>The jerking of his shoulders broke the string +which held the other rabbits to his shoulder. +A rattle like falling twigs. They were all on +the top of the snow. With a rush the old man +was down on all fours trying to roll them together.</p> + +<p>Renfro stepped up to help him. And then he +saw the three quails and stopped. One minute +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span>he stared at them: the next he stooped and +fumbled with the tops of his shoes.</p> + +<p>When he looked down at the ground again +the quails were gone, and the rabbits in a close +heap. Renfro knew what was under the pile, +but he pretended not to have seen them. He +remembered the notices the game marshal had +had posted about quail hunting the week before.</p> + +<p>Imprisonment and fine for the first offense. +Captain Pete had one of these notices on his +own big front gate.</p> + +<p>“Pretty good luck?” Renfro twisted at the +top button on his mackinaw. “Fourteen rabbits +I should guess.”</p> + +<p>“Twenty-two,” Captain Pete was proud of +his good fortune. “And all shot in my own +fields. You can go on, buddy. I’ll tote them +down to my shack myself.”</p> + +<p>“Down to the shack?”</p> + +<p>Renfro asked the question. Captain Pete +answered it. “Yes, I’m a stayin’ down there +this winter. An old man like me can’t chop +wood enough to keep the big house warm. I +didn’t even try to. Moved down to the shack +in September.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span></p> + +<p>With a last look at the pile of frozen rabbits +Renfro walked slowly away down toward the +road which led back to town. The three quails +and the threatened fine were instantly forgotten. +But a big question was in his mind.</p> + +<p>If Captain Pete had been living in the shack +ever since September, then who had been living +in the big house? Four times recently, when +he had been out on late walks like this one, he +had seen queer lights spring from its windows.</p> + +<p>They didn’t stay in one place but seemed to +flash from one room to another. The last time +they had been in the right hand room in the +upper story and then suddenly had gone out +and flashed in the lower left hand corner. He +had thought it queer then, but had regarded +them as certain proofs of Captain Pete’s queer +mind.</p> + +<p>Where the two paths, the short cut and the +longer way round intersected, Renfro paused +uncertainly. The short one meant a saving of at +least a quarter of an hour and he would be on +time for supper. The longer one would make +him late and bring upon his head the reproofs +of both his mother and father.</p> + +<p>Yet he wouldn’t know about the lights if he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span>chose the short cut. And he had to know about +them tonight. Better risk his family’s wrath +than miss a chance to solve this mystery.</p> + +<p>And Renfro hurried down the long path +which led past the big white house.</p> + +<p>Just after he was out on the road he met +Clint Moore, the boy who sold chestnuts on +the Horns’ home street in the early fall. +“Who’s living in the old Hall house?” Renfro +asked him.</p> + +<p>Clint whistled, “Just old dippy Captain Pete +Hall,” he laughed. “An he’s worse off his nut +than ever this winter. Don’t have no fire nor +nothin’. We’d think he was dead if we didn’t +see his lights of nights once in a while and see +him agoin’ huntin’ past the house.”</p> + +<p>Renfro stared at him. The dusk was beginning +to get heavy, but he could still see Clint’s +eyes and he knew he was telling the truth. He +started to ask him another question when Clint +said, “I’m going your way so we might just +as well walk along together if you don’t mind. +There’s a basket ball game in town tonight and +I’m going to go and stay at my aunt’s.”</p> + +<p>He talked on about the ball game but Renfro +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span>wasn’t listening. He was staring at the big +Hall house which was less than a quarter of a +mile ahead of them. It set back off the road +another quarter of a mile and in front of it +was a long row of pine trees.</p> + +<p>They almost shut off all view of the old white +shell whose original owners had claimed that +it was “a palace with fourteen rooms.” But +in the upper right hand corner of it a light +was plainly visible to both boys and—</p> + +<p>“There’s the old fellow now.” Clint pointed +at the small window, thru the ragged blind of +which were gleams of light. “Don’t see it often +but some times—”</p> + +<p>And then the light suddenly went out.</p> + +<p>Renfro was silent. Captain Pete with his +twenty-two rabbits and three quails was back +in the woods. He was sure of that. But who +could have had that light? And did Captain +Pete really live in the shack now or had that +been merely a story he had told to take Renfro’s +attention away from the quails?</p> + +<p>Renfro was still wondering about that when +they reached the end of the car line and boarded +the car which took them past his home. Clint +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span>would have to transfer at Liberty Avenue.</p> + +<p>They were the only passengers on the car +until three paper carriers with their big bulky +paper bags got on a few blocks farther up the +line. When each had finished carrying his own +route he had waited for the others. Riding in +together gave them a chance to talk over profits, +new subscribers and the adventures they encountered +on their routes.</p> + +<p>Renfro tried to listen to them and to Clint +at the same time. His questions about Captain +Pete had reminded Clint of an old hired man +they had once had. He had known Captain +Pete Hall before he got to be so queer. There +had been a brother who had been wild to get +rich. He and some confederates from another +city had made counterfeit money in the little +shack on the Hall place.</p> + +<p>“Captain Pete found their outfit but he didn’t +know his brother was one of the counterfeiters +so he went to the sheriff about it and the whole +gang was arrested. His brother got the stiffest +sentence of the whole lot.</p> + +<p>“He hated Captain Pete then,” Clint went +on with his story. “He said that when he got +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span>out he was goin’ to kill him. Worryin’ about +that upset Pete’s mind.”</p> + +<p>When Renfro asked him about the time at +which the brother was to be free again Clint +shook his head. The hired man had never told +him anything about the length of the sentence +Pete’s brother had gotten. He had told all of +the story he knew. His mother had once said +that Captain Pete’s brother was dead. “Better +off that way than the way Pete is,” he +laughed.</p> + +<p>When he got off at the corner several other +passengers entered the car. Renfro studied +them—the man with the beetling eyebrows and +weak mouth, the woman with the near seal coat +and the genuine diamonds. There was something +queer about them. The papers recently +told the story of a jewelshop theft. Renfro began +to wonder.</p> + +<p>The carrier boys jostled against him as they +went to leave the car. The little one was bragging +about a ride he had taken on the patrol +wagon the night before. There had been some +trouble in the street on which his route lay +and the corner police had taken him along to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span>help give directions about the location of some +houses.</p> + +<p>And then Renfro’s own street was called. +With an effort he left the interesting couple, +the lively wide awake carrier boys, and the two +men in uniform. His own avenue lay before +him, placid and uninteresting. The bright street +lights made every corner on it as visible as if +it were in the day time.</p> + +<p>He ran up the great stone steps to his own +home. He opened the door, entered the hall +and knew he was late for supper. With a dash +he was up stairs and to the bath room to wash +his face and hands.</p> + +<p>And down stairs in the dining room his parents +were discussing him. His father, tall and +thin and patrician looking, adjusted his horn +rimmed spectacles and said once more that he +knew his son was queer. Otherwise why would +he walk alone as he did? If he didn’t go out +to some queer spot he walked around the home +yard. Why, once he had counted one hundred +trips Renfro had made around the house, his +head down and his feet moving at a fairly rapid +pace.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span></p> + +<p>Other thirteen year old boys were playing +ball or visiting in the drug stores. It was uncanny—this +way he had of walking alone.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horn, also tall and thin and socially +graceful, rustled her stiff silk dress and +frowned. She too, thought Renfro was queer. +But she was sure it was all due to the detective +stories he read continually. Mary had told her +that morning of seeing a light under his door +at about three o’clock one night, at half past +one on another, and when she had slipped down +there had found that he was reading.</p> + +<p>“They are about horrible crimes,” she shuddered. +“It worries me so that I cannot sleep. +I am afraid he will cultivate criminal tendencies. +What he reads will influence him, I’m +sure. Now I read of a boy—”</p> + +<p>Mr. Horn shook his head. “Nonsense,” he +said shortly. “There’s no criminals in our +families. Renfro is a little queer. None of us +boys was the least bit like him. But he’s clever +with all his queer streaks. Why in that continued +story—that detective one he coaxed me +to read, he had the mystery all solved before +the last chapter was published.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span></p> + +<p>Well, Mrs. Horn was determined of one +thing. If Renfro had to read such queer stories +he should not do it in the middle of the night. +“I’ll change his room,” she said with emphasis. +“There is that old music room right across +from—”</p> + +<p>“From mine,” Renfro finished in the door +way. “And I’d like to have it for my own library,” +he added and walked to the table.</p> + +<p>His unsatisfactory explanation of his walk +half angered his father. But he did not know +what to say about it. The report card Renfro +had brought home a few days before had been +almost perfect. He couldn’t command him to +hurry from school to study. He was just ready +to mention some errand he had at his office +when Mrs. Horn spoke.</p> + +<p>“Renfro,” her voice was fretful and accusing. +“I needed you this afternoon to go out +to Captain Pete Hall’s for me. It’s rabbit +season now and I wanted some for dinner tomorrow. +I waited over an hour for you and +then I drove out there by myself.”</p> + +<p>She shivered. “It’s an uncanny place—that +big house is. The shrubbery has grown everywhere +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span>and the weatherboards and shutters +which have dropped off the house lay just where +they have fallen. It was like working my way +thru a maze to get to the door. And what made +it worse it was just getting dark and—”</p> + +<p>“And Captain Pete wasn’t home,” Renfro +finished for her remembering again the three +quails, the rabbits and the shack story the old +man had told back in the woods.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horn gave him a severe look. She allowed +no one to interrupt her without giving +them a reproof.</p> + +<p>“Yes, he was,” she snapped back, “but he +didn’t have any rabbits for sale. What was +worse he said he wouldn’t have any at all. He +mumbled something about not going to hunt this +season and shut the door in my face.”</p> + +<p>With a gasp Renfro half rose from his chair, +stared at his mother, heard his father’s gruff +command to behave himself, and settled back +in his seat again, smoothing out his napkin with +a great effort. But his eyes remained round +and his mouth opened and closed several times +before he spoke.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II"> + CHAPTER II. + <br> + RENFRO WANTS A NEWSPAPER ROUTE. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>When Renfro did manage to speak he +asked his mother another question. +“What time was that, mother?”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horn studied a minute. The question +annoyed her but she was too well bred not to +answer it. “Oh, about five, I should imagine. +I waited until four thirty for you before I left +the house, and I was back at half past five. Why +do you ask, Renfro?”</p> + +<p>Instead of answering her, Renfro asked another +question. “Are you sure it was Captain +Pete, mother? You know he is old now and +changed and—” he hesitated and finished lamely, +“It might have been some one else.”</p> + +<p>His mother’s high bred voice was impatient. +She wanted to dismiss the subject and discuss +finances with her husband, showing him her +need for a larger allowance. “Of course, I am +sure it was Captain Pete. Haven’t I bought +turkeys of him for five seasons? Of course, +he looks old now. He looked that way the first +time I saw him. And, Renfro, please be still +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span>and let your father and me talk about something +much more important.”</p> + +<p>The steel like edge to her words clipped off +any further questions Renfro wanted to ask. +But tho he couldn’t ask them out loud they +surged back and forth in his mind while he +ate. Could he have been mistaken about the +time he saw Captain Pete in the woods? Had +it taken him and Clint a longer time to walk +to the car line than it did him when he was +alone?</p> + +<p>And if it did, then why was Captain Pete +unwilling to sell any of the twenty-two rabbits?</p> + +<p>Now there had been the three quails. Renfro +was sure that Captain Pete saw him staring +at them. Could he have recognized Mrs. Horn +and been afraid that Renfro might tell her +about the quails? A denial of having hunted +might throw them off the track should they +feel it their duty to report to the game warden +what Renfro had seen.</p> + +<p>But Renfro smiled at his own last conclusion. +Captain Pete Hall was too wise a man to believe +that. Also he was too greedy to miss the +chance of selling any of his game.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span></p> + +<p>But Renfro’s thoughts were diverted from +the old hunter and the inhabitant of the big old +house by his father who directed a question +to him. The discussion with his wife over finances +reminded Mr. Horn that his son too +had an allowance. “Keeping your book so that +it balances this month?” he clipped out his +words, “And did you save anything last?”</p> + +<p>“Yes sir,” Renfro smiled. “I saved half +of my allowance last month. I want to buy—”</p> + +<p>“Some new detective stories.” Mr. Horn +laughed and turned the conversation back to +his wife again.</p> + +<p>Renfro felt as if he could not stand it a +minute longer. With a low apology he rose +from the table and then they noticed him. +“Renfro,” his mother spoke sharply, “You are +not to go out of the house tonight—not even +to walk around the yard.”</p> + +<p>His father curtly repeated her command. +And with sinking heart Renfro left the room, +wandered thru the library and dragged his feet +up the stair way to his own room. It was only +half past seven o’clock. And he did not want +to read.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span></p> + +<p>He walked to the window and opened it. The +cold air sharpened his brain. He looked over +to the south. Yes, that was the right direction. +Just three miles from the court house tower +was Captain Pete’s tumbling ancestral mansion +and the little shack in which Renfro and the +old man, before he had gotten so grouchy, had +once roasted potatoes and meat.</p> + +<p>“I’m sure it was Captain Pete and I’m sure +it was about five o’clock when I saw him. Now +mother must have been mistaken—” he began +to think and then stopped.</p> + +<p>Slowly he closed the window. “Mother,” he +spoke out loud deliberately, “saw some one +else. Pete has rented that big house or been +scared out of it, or some one who knows how +secluded a life Pete lives, has discovered that +he is down in the shack for the winter and is +making the big house his headquarters.”</p> + +<p>His hands went deep into his pockets. His +mind began to make definite plans for ways +and means to solve the mystery of the stranger +whom he was sure his mother had seen. He +himself would watch the house and also the +shack. There was still the possibility that Captain +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span>Pete might have hurried home and he, +Renfro, might have mistaken the time a few +minutes.</p> + +<p>In that case there was something mysterious +about the shack and Captain Pete did not want +him to make any more trips or visits there, +giving as an excuse that it was his new home. +“But I’m going out there tomorrow afternoon,” +he began, “and every other afternoon and evening +I can, only first I’ll have to find an excuse +which will satisfy the folks.”</p> + +<p>For half an hour he worked framing excuses +for those trips. And then Mary, the second +maid, brought one directly to his room. Mary +was a woman with imagination and romance, +she said, tho in her form she was fat and homely +and of Scotch descent. Cautiously she tapped +at Renfro’s door.</p> + +<p>“Here’s the Evening Globe, Mr. Renfro,” +she whispered, thrusting the folded paper into +his hand. “Right on the front page there’s +more about that big jewel robbery. Them hired +detectives don’t seem to get nowhere with their +clues and I thought mebbe me, with my imagination, +and you so clever in workin’ out mysteries, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>we could beat them once. It would +show—”</p> + +<p>But Renfro didn’t hear the rest of her hopes. +The paper clasped in his hand became the +master key to the mysterious house. It had +reminded him of the carrier boys, who had +ridden home on the car with him.</p> + +<p>They knew their routes like he did his school +books. He would buy a route—this particular +suburban route which lay closest to the old +Hall home. None of his trips past it would +arouse suspicion then.</p> + +<p>He clapped his hands. He would ask his +father’s permission the first thing in the morning. +Experience had taught him that it was +no time to make requests directly after an argument +between his father and mother. But his +father’s ill humor didn’t last long. By morning +he would be his dignified, businesslike and +his exceedingly fair self again.</p> + +<p>Renfro was right in that surmise. Smiling, +almost affable, his father offered his son half +of the morning paper when he entered the dining +room for breakfast. But Renfro shook his +head. “I want to talk about a job, Dad,” he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span>said. “I want your permission to buy a paper +route, one of the Evening Globe’s.”</p> + +<p>His mother answered his request. Such an +unheard of thing was out of the question. None +of the boys on their street, none of the sons of +the people in their set, ever thought of such +undignified proceedings. And she would not +allow her son to do it either.</p> + +<p>“Well,” his father’s eyes twinkled, “Don’t +pay too much for it. Buy a cheap one and see +how well it wears.”</p> + +<p>A direct look at his wife quieted her on the +subject. After Renfro had left the room he +explained his stand. “The only way to stop +that kid,” he shook his head, “is to let him +have enough of anything. I’ll see he gets enough +of that paper carrier business right in the start. +I’ll stop on my way down and see the circulation +manager of The Globe. I’ll tell him to give +Renfro the toughest proposition of a route he +has. A week from now our worries will be +over.”</p> + +<p>In the circulation manager’s office an hour +later he explained his errand. “His mother +doesn’t want him to carry a route,” said Mr. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span>Horn. He couldn’t tell his own stand to this +shrewd business like young fellow, “and I +promised her I’d see he didn’t carry one long,” +he added. “Give the boy the first one you +have which is a tough deal. And rough +it up on him all you can.”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Horn,” George Bruce looked directly +into the older man’s eyes, “we have some routes +which don’t need the least bit of roughing up +to make them tough propositions for men like +me and even you. One is vacant right now. The +business manager wants me to drop that route, +and I’ve almost decided to do so since it has +long been a dead loss on our hands.”</p> + +<p>He thumped his fist on the table. “I’m going +to put your son out there, and because I still +believe that that route can be made into a paying +proposition I’m going to expect him to +make good. I’m doing what you ask me to do—am +I not?”</p> + +<p>“And,” he continued after Mr. Horn had +given him a hesitant nod, “If he fails you will +have your wish; if he succeeds I’m going to +have mine.”</p> + +<p>He didn’t speak again until Mr. Horn was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span>out of the room and then he swung around in +his swivel chair and faced his alert stenographer. +“Miss Newell,” he said, and there was +a gleam of interest in his keen blue eyes, “I’m +anxious to see that boy. Mr. Horn’s a king +of finance. Mrs. Horn is a society queen. The +young prince—well, let’s see how he wears the +family coronets.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III"> + CHAPTER III. + <br> + A STRANGE MAN AT A WINDOW. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>Late that afternoon, at four o’clock to be +exact, Renfro Horn entered the circulation +manager’s office. Behind him lay +a line of offices thru which he had passed, and +a line of men with whom he had argued and +urged his way to this seeming potentate of The +Globe.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Bruce doesn’t see applicants for +routes” he had been told exactly seven times.</p> + +<p>But now he was in Mr. Bruce’s office and +looking directly at that man, who was dictating +a letter to Miss Newell, his stenographer. Renfro +with his hat in his hand stared around the +big room, as simply and well furnished as his +own father’s private office. He liked the pictures +on the walls—some of which were the +originals from which the Globe’s daily cartoons +had been made and others, photographs of men +famous in the newspaper world, who had started +their careers as route carriers.</p> + +<p>Renfro was studying a photograph of a full +faced man with a high forehead when Mr. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span>Bruce finished his letter and looked at him. And +he liked him immediately for the boyish way +he had of smiling, the cordial gleam in his eyes +and the sincere tone of his voice while he had +dictated.</p> + +<p>“I’m Renfro Horn,” he said, “and I want +to buy a route if there is one vacant.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Bruce started. “Oh, yes,” he narrowed +his eyes and Renfro realized that he felt those +same shrewd eyes grasping for his past, his +present and future ability all at once. “Any +particular part of town, son?”</p> + +<p>“Yes sir, out south whenever there’s a vacancy, +Mr.—”</p> + +<p>“Bruce” finished the other.</p> + +<p>“I would like to have the Washington Avenue +route—the one farthest out,” Renfro finished.</p> + +<p>“Who told you it was vacant?”</p> + +<p>Renfro’s eyes flashed. “Is it right now?” +he asked and added, “I was afraid I would +have to wait a while for it.”</p> + +<p>“Some fellow has been stringing him on that +route,” George Bruce thought immediately. +Out loud he began, “Now, son—”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span></p> + +<p>Then he remembered the promise he had +made Renfro’s father. This was a worse route +even than the one he had in mind when he had +talked to Mr. Horn that morning. It was a +dead loss. Pride alone kept George Bruce from +stopping that route. The Globe’s rival paper +claimed that they made money on their paper +in that part of town, and until he had discredited +that claim George Bruce was determined +to keep that route alive.</p> + +<p>Yet only that morning Andy Andrews had +announced that after today he would make no +more trips on that route. Here before him was +his salvation. Mr. Horn had wanted his boy +to make a failure. All day whenever George +Bruce remembered the interview that morning +he had hoped the boy would succeed. Now +after he had seen Renfro he wanted him more +than ever to succeed. “And he hasn’t a chance +there,” he admitted to himself.</p> + +<p>“You won’t make much money out there at +first, son,” he talked slowly. “In fact the boy +who has been out there has lost so much that +he gave up the route this morning.”</p> + +<p>“I can build it up,” Renfro’s eyes held entreaty.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span></p> + +<p>George Bruce nodded. “Slowly,” he returned.</p> + +<p>“Do I get it?”</p> + +<p>Robert Bruce looked up and down Renfro’s +sturdy body, at his determined dark blue eyes, +at his boyish stern mouth. “Yes,” he answered, +“and if you make good out there you can have +your choice of any route in town.” He turned +to Miss Newell. “Call Morrison, please.”</p> + +<p>He was still studying Renfro when Morrison, +the route manager, for the south side of Lindendale +entered the office. “This is Renfro Horn, +Morrison,” he told the younger man. “He is +to have Old Grief route. Andrews gave it up +this morning.”</p> + +<p>“Yes sir, he was telling me so,” Morrison +looked keenly at Renfro. “He’s waiting now to +take some other boy out to teach him the route. +Shall I take him?” he nodded at Renfro.</p> + +<p>“Renfro Horn” the circulation manager supplied +the missing name. “Yes, do, please.”</p> + +<p>In the outer office Renfro asked permission +to telephone his father. “I don’t want them to +worry if I’m late” he explained.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span></p> + +<p>“Oh, you’ll be late all right.” Morrison +laughed easily. “Andy’ll tell you about that.”</p> + +<p>When Renfro came back from the telephone +Morrison had completed his survey of him. +“You’ve got good legs, Horn,” he admitted, +“and can walk that route. It’s all over everywhere. +Now get good ears, listen to what Andy +tells you tonight and I tell you later. We’ve +got lots of tough customers out there, and I +want you to watch them. See?”</p> + +<p>“And say,” he went on before Renfro could +answer, “I don’t like your name. It sounds +too much like a map name. Get something human +to use for a carrier name. Ever have a +nickname?”</p> + +<p>Another question without an answer—all due +to the speed with which he talked. “I’ll give +you a good one—Hooch, if you please—Hooch +Horn. Sounds good—doesn’t it? It has a +business like twang to it. So I’ll just let it go.”</p> + +<p>He hurried “Hooch” out to the hall in which +Andy was waiting. He introduced the two +boys, gave them car fare to the station at which +their papers were delivered and hurried them +away. “I’m giving you the east route you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span>asked for, Andy,” he said, “but it will cost you +something rather high. Old Grief is the only +route the Globe has to give away.”</p> + +<p>Andy chatted all the way out to the station. +A steady stream of questions followed his description +of what he termed “the poorest paying +and hardest route in the city.”</p> + +<p>Who had wished Old Grief on Renfro? How +had Morrison gotten hold of him? Would he +ask for another route as he went broke on Old +Grief? And finally how much experience had he +had with route work?</p> + +<p>Renfro, recently christened “Hooch,” evaded +all direct answers. It was almost dusk when +they reached the station. He helped Andy tear +open the two packages of papers waiting for +them there, stuff them into the paper bag and +carry them down the street.</p> + +<p>“We’ll throw them tonight,” Andy was a virtual +dictator this last trip of his. “But when +it’s windy or rainy you want to be sure to get +them on the porch. Nobody wants to come out +here to run down complaints.”</p> + +<p>“There’s the worst dead beat in town, +Hooch,” he pointed toward a shot gun house far +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span>back in a narrow yard. “He’ll try to get you—does +every new boy. Turn him down. He owes +me $1.65.”</p> + +<p>They turned the corner and Andy pointed +down the street, “Out there—” his finger went +out directly in a line with his face—“there +in that big old house lives the queerest man in +the country. No, not in the house” he corrected +himself, “it’s too rummy a shell for anybody +to live in. But in a cabin out there. I went out +last night and bought six rabbits and every +one of ’em was shot clean thru the head—the +prettiest shots I ever saw. Go out some time.”</p> + +<p>“Was he in the shack you say?”</p> + +<p>“Yep,” Andy rolled the paper for the next +customer, “I went to the door but I didn’t get +in. It looked interesting but he shut the door +while he hunted out my rabbits. Queer old +bird!”</p> + +<p>Renfro wished that their route took them out +to the white house so that he could see whether +or not there was a light there tonight. In the +library at noon he had walked past the case of +old coins and was reminded of the counterfeiting +story Clint had told him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span></p> + +<p>If Captain Pete’s brother had returned he +might be making that sort of coin again. But +his thoughts were cut short by an exclamation +from Andy. A heavy set old man leading a +dog by a heavy strap, had jostled into them. +The dog barked sharply and tugged at the strap, +but the man quieted him without a jerk or command—just +a simple Scotch name muttered in +a tone rich with a Scotch accent “Lang +Tammy.”</p> + +<p>And the dog had followed him obediently.</p> + +<p>“That old Bird’s a new inhabitant out here,” +Andy stared after the pair. “Suppose he’ll be +wanting to start the paper, Hooch. Look out +for him, and get his money first. Remember +what they say about the perils of parting a +Scotchman and his money.”</p> + +<p>Renfro tried to watch the old man with occasional +glances over his shoulder but Andy +raced him along. The old man had not turned +off the long street when he disappeared in the +dusk.</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe I’ll remember all these +places,” Renfro ventured to remark.</p> + +<p>“Then forget the ones who owe accounts.” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span>Andy laughed facetiously and hurried still +more. “This is a case where I’m not prolonging +any fond farewells,” he ended slyly. “Will +you, Hooch, when you leave?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’ll stay,” retorted Renfro and again +Andy laughed.</p> + +<p>Renfro thought of that laugh the next afternoon +as he passed along the route. And it was +a long, slow trip. He had remembered very few +houses at which Andy had left the Evening +Globe. After trying to make out landmarks +which he remembered from the night before +and failing to do so Renfro had adopted his +own way of locating customers.</p> + +<p>When in doubt he merely went to the front +door and asked their names and what paper +they took.</p> + +<p>The street lights were on when he reached +Wayne Street—the street Andy had termed the +aristocratic portion of his route. “Everybody +takes the paper here and everybody pays for +it,” he had given the information proudly, +“Even to Judge Wier, the old duffer.”</p> + +<p>“Paying promptly is his policy,” Andy tried +to be witty. “The fellows he sentences in court +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span>can tell you that, and he gives generous tips +besides payment in full.”</p> + +<p>At the corner Renfro slipped off his gloves +and blew on his fingers to warm them. The +wind was losing its volume, but the temperature +was dropping. The ice in the gutter had a hard, +unmelting look. Little flurries of snow played +around the light globe like myriads of tiny bugs +in summer.</p> + +<p>“I’ll fold my papers at the drug store tomorrow +evening,” Renfro growled. Andy +might have told him that. He might have been +a little more definite, too, in showing him the +route.</p> + +<p>A big, wooly dog brushed past him and ran +down the street. “Lang Tammy” Renfro remembered +the name the Scotchman had used the +afternoon before, “I wonder if that could be +he. He was just about that size. He—”</p> + +<p>And then he stopped abruptly in the middle +of the block. Directly across the street from +him was Judge Wier’s old fashioned brick +house. The front room was dark, but the room +back of it was lighted and the window blind +raised more than half way.</p> + +<p>The light coming from it struck the shrubbery +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span>and showed a dark figure lurking there. The +house next door was dark. Walking slowly on +so as not to arouse the lurking figure’s suspicion, +Renfro watched him stealthily.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the light in the room was dimmed, +and the front room became brilliantly lighted. +At the same minute the lurking figure slouched +out of the shrubbery, close to the window with +the raised blind and stood there quietly staring +into the room for a few minutes. And then he +slouched back into the shrubbery again.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV"> + CHAPTER IV. + <br> + A NEW DOG AT THE OLD HOUSE. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>For a few minutes Renfro Horn stood irresolute. +Then he darted back down the +street a short distance, crossed it, slipped +along the sidewalk until forty feet from the +shrubbery, dropped onto his hands and knees +and crawled to the spot where the peeper had +disappeared. The mysterious man had vanished.</p> + +<p>A hurried but close search failed to reveal +where he had gone. Renfro did not knock at the +door. He had no proof to offer that the man +had been at the window. Telling such a story +as that to Judge Wier, reputed to be the town’s +most courageous citizen, would win him a laugh.</p> + +<p>As soon as he had finished the street and incidentally +his route, Renfro walked back to +Washington Avenue and down it toward the +Hall house. It was dark but his parents would +not be worried if he were quite late in getting +home. They had predicted all sorts of difficulties +for this evening.</p> + +<p>After a little while Renfro slowed down his +pace. The big white house, the cabin a little farther +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span>on, Captain Pete and the stranger were +only a short distance away and he had as yet +made no reason for coming to their premises at +night. A request for rabbits? He shook his head.</p> + +<p>“I won’t go in. I’ll just peek,” Renfro +vowed to himself. “At least that will give me a +beginning for a cue.”</p> + +<p>Directly opposite the three big apple trees +which remained of the Hall orchard, a big airedale +came sniffing toward him. Renfro stopped, +gave him a keen look and called softly, “Lang +Tammy—here sir—Lang Tammy!”</p> + +<p>The big dog sniffed his way to Renfro. After +reaching him he gave a few more investigating +sniffs and then seized Andy’s discarded paper +bag playfully in his teeth. He tugged at it with +all his might. Laughing Renfro tugged back.</p> + +<p>“You’re a peach of a dog, Lang Tammy,” he +began, “I’d like—”</p> + +<p>Then the strange voice did more than had +the strange appearance. It frightened the big +dog. Turning sharply he ran back to the apple +trees. He wheeled around, gave Renfro a look, +a sharp bark, and trotted into the shrubbery out +of sight.</p> + +<p>Lang Tammy was a new possession on the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span>Hall place. Captain Pete had not had a dog +since his collie had been poisoned a year ago. +Renfro chuckled, “I’ll see him and ask him +where he got his new dog” he decided, “that +will help some. He’ll either have to claim or +deny the dog. And I know positively that Lang +Tammy’s master is somewhere on this place.”</p> + +<p>He turned off the road, skirted along a rail +fence, jumped across a ditch and stumbled +against a rotting stump. Every window in the +big house was dark. He was making his way +down to the cabin. The one opening there was +on the other side of the house and Renfro couldn’t +be sure whether or not it was lighted till he +came opposite the cabin.</p> + +<p>He scratched both of his hands on some +briers. His paper bag—Andy’s discarded one +to be exact,—caught on a paling on the second +fence and tore loose with a ripping sound. The +wind rattled the limbs on the old trees and made +queer spectral sounds on the tin roof of the +big house directly opposite the cabin.</p> + +<p>Renfro looked sharply at it again. It was +still dark. And then he stumbled against the +cabin, felt his way around it and stood close to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span>the window.</p> + +<p>Inside there was a small lamp burning. The +chimney was smoke stained and the wick, turned +low, made still more smoke. But the light +showed the rude furniture of the room, the meal +almost ready on the table.</p> + +<p>Yet no one was in the cabin.</p> + +<p>Up at the big house it was all dark. Captain +Pete couldn’t be there. Renfro shouldered his +torn bag and made his way back to the road. +It was interesting here and he wanted to lurk +a little longer, but he knew that if he were too +late in getting home his mother would be uneasy.</p> + +<p>“If she worries too much Dad will make me +give up the route,” he thought.</p> + +<p>After which he hurried up the road to the +side walk. The houses on either side of the +street were little and in the darkness stood sagging +like the skin of a moldy apple. Some of +them were lighted; others were dark. Andy +had said the night before that only about half +of them were tenanted.</p> + +<p>But in them were probable subscribers for the +Globe. Just as Renfro had about decided to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>canvas here the next Saturday, the street car +slowed to let off a passenger. At the same time +Renfro swung on to ride back to the end of the +line and help change the trolley.</p> + +<p>And there sitting opposite him was Old Captain +Pete clad in his best overcoat and hat. A +genial smile spread over his face at the sight of +Renfro. “Such rabbit luck,” he ejaculated, +“as I’ve had today! Killed thirty-one and sold +’em every one afore I left Main Street. Your +hired gal bought two.”</p> + +<p>When he expressed surprise about Renfro’s +being on the car so late the carrier showed him +his empty paper bag. “I’m coming out to get +you for a new subscriber,” he promised.</p> + +<p>Like a battered sail Captain Pete’s head +shook a denial. “I aint got no use for newspapers,” +he was gruff, “Haint read one regular +for more than twenty years.”</p> + +<p>“Not since his brother was sent up,” Renfro +remembered the story Clint had told him.</p> + +<p>Still remembering it he rode into his home +avenue. And from the corner he walked home.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Horn were still in the dining +room, Mr. Horn was looking thru the afternoon +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span>papers and his wife was toying with some salted +almonds. She rang the bell when Renfro entered, +and Mary brought in his supper.</p> + +<p>Her broad face spread into a grin when she +saw Renfro. “Rabbit for supper,” she whispered +sibilantly, “I bought it this afternoon of +Captain Pete Hall myself. Your maw was gone +but I took it upon myself to do it. It’s broiled +too.”</p> + +<p>“See Captain Pete, Mary?” he asked while he +ate. “Dolled up, wasn’t he?”</p> + +<p>Mary nodded and simpered. “But his buttons +was off something fierce, Renny,” she declared. +“A man like him has no business growing +up to be a bachelor.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Horn looked over the top of his paper, +first at Renfro and then at Mary. It wasn’t +exactly a look of reproof he gave them but rather +of surprise. However, it was enough to stop +their conversation.</p> + +<p>“Get frightened alone?” Mrs. Horn’s voice +was full of hope.</p> + +<p>Renfro shook his head. He honestly had not. +His interest had been aroused however. He +must talk to Mary alone about Captain Pete +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>and the rabbits. He must—</p> + +<p>And then his father reached him an envelope. +“This was in the mail,” he told him, “postmarked +The Evening Globe. I suppose it’s +your contract.”</p> + +<p>Together he and his wife arose and went into +the library. Renfro tore open the blue envelope, +pulled out a card and read it thru before he fairly +understood it. Going back to the beginning +he read it again.</p> + +<p>“A full gown turkey to every route carrier +who gets ten new subscribers before Thanksgiving +Eve”, he drawled. “Well, it’s up to me +to get some turkeys,” he mused.</p> + +<p>He ate bananas without any cream to save +time and slipped into the kitchen. The cook +was out and Mary was reading a novel and +washing the dishes at the same time. Renfro’s +entrance startled her so that she let the soap +drop into the water and the shower which rose +from the pan, following the splash, went directly +into both her own and Renfro’s faces. They +sputtered and gurgled.</p> + +<p>Finally, Renfro could speak, “Mary,” he +began, “do you think you could cook six turkeys +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>all at once?”</p> + +<p>Mary stared at him, “Six turkeys,” she exclaimed. +“Who are you wanting me to cook +for, Renny? Six turkeys, no, I’ll not be cooking +turkeys for all your fine friends! Now in +this book here where I was reading, there is a +story about a turkey and a couple what lived on +opposite farms from where it was raised. It +was real romantic. The turkey got lost as +turkeys will, and when the girl went to hunt it +she found the young man and they fell in love +and were married. It’s just full of mystery and +romance.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” Renfro laughed, “none of my turkeys +are going to get anyone in bad like that, +Mary. Sure you’ll cook them—won’t you?”</p> + +<p>“Where’s the turkeys?” Mary was suspicious.</p> + +<p>“Oh,” Renfro smiled a look of mystery in his +smile which brought Mary to her feet. “I’ll +have them here all right in time for Thanksgiving +day.”</p> + +<p>“And, Mary,” he slipped close to her and +gave her a comradely look, “There’s something +on my mind I have to work out. I may need +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span>you to help me. I’m not telling exactly what it is +yet, but it’s got mystery and maybe some romance +in it. And you will help if I need you—won’t +you?”</p> + +<p>Both of Mary’s hands came out of the pan +of suds. “Mister Renfro,” she said solemnly, +“Aint I been wantin’ to give up this sort of +work and go into real detective work for years. +Why, once I took a correspondence school +course in it. And I’ll—”</p> + +<p>Renfro’s hand was raised in warning, “Just +wait, Mary,” he cautioned, “Just wait until +I’m ready to tell you, and then you’ll have your +chance.”</p> + +<p>He sauntered back into the dining room. The +telephone on the stand made him decide to call +Andy and tell him that he hadn’t missed a single +customer, that he liked the route and would +stick. He wanted to know, too, if Andy was +satisfied with his new route.</p> + +<p>And Renfro took down the receiver.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="Chapter_V"> + Chapter V. + <br> + THE STRANGER COMES AGAIN. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>It became still colder during that night. Renfro +Horn awoke near midnight to feel a +gale blowing around his ears. He got up, +shut his east window and crawled back into bed. +“I’ll bet that tin roof is dancing a regular +ghost dance on the big house,” he muttered.</p> + +<p>He turned over, pulled the blankets closer +over his ears. The next minute it was morning, +and Mary was calling him. “The pipe’s froze +something fierce,” she began, “And you’ll have +to eat in the kitchen close to the range.”</p> + +<p>“Suits me all right,” Renfro laughed and +jumped out of bed.</p> + +<p>At the breakfast table his mother began to +worry about his route. She predicted that he +would freeze his feet, and perhaps his hands, +contract pneumonia and lumbago and then her +list gave out. His father looked a trifle uneasy +while she talked but said nothing.</p> + +<p>However, as he and Renfro walked down the +street together, respectively toward school and +office, he gave his son some warnings. “Better +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span>mind them all too, young man,” he seemed very +impatient this morning, “if you should happen +to get sick, bang goes your paper route and no +argument.”</p> + +<p>A shrill yell drew their attention across the +street. Two morning paper carriers, who went +to the Grant School, the same one Renfro attended, +were coming in from finishing their delivery. +Their paper bags were drawn around +their shoulders, and their caps pulled low over +their ears.</p> + +<p>“Jim froze his right ear almost,” sang the +taller boy, “and I gave him first aid. One more +merit badge.”</p> + +<p>“You bet,” Jim agreed, “If you need any +help tonight call on Bob, Hooch.”</p> + +<p>“Hooch?” Mr. Horn was amazed.</p> + +<p>“Oh, that’s my nickname,” Renfro affected +carelessness. This was no time he reflected to +tell how it had been created, nor how popular +it had become in less than forty-eight hours. +So he tried to change the subject. “Jim Noel’s +a first class Boy Scout and he’s trying to win +enough merit badges to get the eagle rank at the +Court of Honor session.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span></p> + +<p>Mr. Horn nodded, “That’s all right for the +other fellows,” he said, “but if you freeze your +ears you go to a doctor.”</p> + +<p>At that instant Renfro wished he could tell +his father—a few things—how he had had not +only his ears but his nose nipped during one of +his hikes on which he was trying to make some +discoveries concerning quail tracks. He himself +had bound the snow onto them. And Mary +had helped him with the other applications the +first aid book advised.</p> + +<p>But he kept still.</p> + +<p>The weather grew milder during the day. +At noon the ice along the curbing near the +Grant School was melting a little, but when +four o’clock came it had frozen again. Renfro +and Jim Noel, hurrying along together discussed +a hike and rabbit hunt for Saturday if it +stayed cold. But just as they had their arrangements +about finished, Renfro remembered the +turkey contest.</p> + +<p>“Say, Jim,” he broke in suddenly, “I bet a +turkey that if I can get off my route work to +go I’ll track down more rabbits than you do.”</p> + +<p>Jim stared at him. “Great guns!” he ejaculated, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span>“A turkey? How come?”</p> + +<p>He stared again when he read the card Renfro +showed him. “You’ll never get sixty subscribers +on Old Grief, Hooch,” he declared. +“Not unless you pay for their subscriptions +yourself. Abie Lubin had it for a while and he +didn’t make anything, so that’s sure proof it’s +no good.”</p> + +<p>But Renfro only whistled. He and Jim separated +at the next corner. Beyond the edge +of the big business districts and thru the residential +part of town to his route Renfro hurried. +His papers were at the station. He swung the +bag on his back, wagered to himself that it +would be heavier next week, and started on his +route.</p> + +<p>He stopped at the most promising houses and +asked for new subscriptions. One woman +threatened to have him arrested. Another told +him that the last boy had been crooked and +failed to mark two of her payments, so that the +company had sent a collector there; and she +added that if he wanted to be a friend of hers he +wouldn’t work for a paper which stood for such +crookedness.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span></p> + +<p>But Renfro persisted, and before he left her +door had her subscription and a week’s payment +in advance. He also secured four other +subscriptions before he turned into his last +square.</p> + +<p>“Pretty good, old boy, considering the time +you spent in getting warm, and that you’re a +new recruit,” he said and then laughed. He +had been talking out loud and the woman who +was hurrying past him turned round to stare +back.</p> + +<p>The wind whipped the tops of the trees and +made them crackle and roar. The air was so +cold that flurries of frost seemed to come out +of nowhere but swirl around everywhere. And +it was dark except where the street lights or +those in the houses threw long hard gleams out +into the street.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, Renfro stopped. Lurking in the +blackness ahead of him was a low set figure, +followed by a big dog—the airedale he had seen +the night before and the night before that. Renfro +dropped onto his knees so that he could be +concealed behind the water plug and its shadow, +and he watched.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span></p> + +<p>A sudden light from an opened door fell on +the big dog, and showed it to be with the short, +heavy set man. As soon as the door was closed +Renfro was sure he heard a low growl, saw a +threatening movement and directly afterward +the dog rushed past him, running as if frightened +to an unusual degree.</p> + +<p>The light was gone again. Renfro put his +hands over his eyes a minute to accustom them +to the darkness again, and then rubbed them +vigorously together. The third and fourth +fingers on his left hand felt dull. He slipped +off his glove and rubbed them with snow.</p> + +<p>A half nervous laugh shook him. Suddenly +he had remembered, no doubt on account of the +cold water plug against his body, of the time +he had put his tongue against a frozen pipe.</p> + +<p>The shadow across the street lengthened. The +heavy man was slouching down the street again, +up to Judge Wier’s shrubbery and then to the +window thru which he had gazed the night before. +Renfro was sure that it was because there +was no light in that part of the house.</p> + +<p>But the rest of the house was lighted and if +the door were open the stranger could see into +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span>the other room. And he lingered long enough +and close enough to the window to be studying +the features of the whole family if they were +there.</p> + +<p>Renfro, stiff from his posture and the cold, +could not move. The big dog had been afraid +of the man. He would no doubt half kill Renfro +if he discovered that the boy was following him. +Besides, Renfro reflected, if you want to unravel +a mystery you have to follow a clue to it +and not burst into open opposition.</p> + +<p>The lights in Judge Wier’s house changed at +that minute. The part which had been lighted +was darkened and the front rooms became +bright instead. And then the lurking stranger +again retired to the shrubbery.</p> + +<p>As he had done the night before when he +neared the Judge’s house Renfro dropped onto +his hands and knees and crawled to the shrubbery +but no one was there. Still some one had +been there and that some one had had something +in mind which would do harm to either +the Wier home or family he was sure.</p> + +<p>Judge Wier has scores of enemies. He was +noted as giving the stiffest sentences of any +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span>judge in the city. Auto speeders met with as +little mercy at his hands as did the most dangerous +criminals.</p> + +<p>“I—really—ought—to—warn—him,” Renfro +chattered, “but—still—he’ll—laugh.” But he +did call a number. A tired central informed +him that she could get no one on that line. It +seemed to be out of order.</p> + +<p>Then Renfro went back to the kitchen and +Mary with a determination in his mind. He +would find some sort of an excuse to give his +parents for being very late the next evening. +Then he would follow the short, heavy set +stranger. He would see if he took the same +direction his dog did every night—down toward +the big house where the tin roof rattled and +made such warning noises.</p> + +<p>An excuse. He frowned, when Mary started +to speak but she talked anyway. “Where’s +them six turkeys you wanted me to cook, +Renny?” she began, “If it’s the cleanin’ of +them I have to do then I better begin now +and—”</p> + +<p>“And,” Renfro interrupted her laughingly, +“Mary, you’re a peach with the fuzz still on +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span>most of the time. But I know the quality of +your mind below.”</p> + +<p>He could hardly keep from dancing. Mary +had suggested the excuse he wanted. The turkeys. +Why he had to have them and what better +excuse could he offer his parents than that +he was working for new subscribers. His mother +might object but his father would want him +to win any contest he entered.</p> + +<p>But before he told them he wanted to talk to +Mary a little longer. “Mary” he began, “got +any more rabbits?”</p> + +<p>She shook her head. “He doesn’t bring them +regular.”</p> + +<p>“Then,” Renfro, suggested, “how would you +like for me to stop out there—Captain Pete’s +place is just a little distance from the end of my +route—well, let’s say about every other day and +buy a couple of rabbits from the old fellow? +Put in sort of a standing order?”</p> + +<p>“Sure Renny, you’re that thoughtful,” Mary +beamed, “And speaking of turkeys, Renny, I +read another turkey story today. It has the +most beautiful plot. And romance too. The +man was a detective and—”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span></p> + +<p>“And, Mary, we’re going to have one too,” +Renfro added, “but please, Mary, do be a dear, +and don’t call me Renny any more. I’ve got a +business name and I want my real friends to +use it. After this to you, Mary, I’m Hooch—Hooch +Horn,” he imitated the route manager’s +tone exactly, “Hooch Horn, if you please, Mary +dear.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI"> + CHAPTER VI. + <br> + HELEN WIER IS KIDNAPED. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>Before Renfro Horn had been awake +three minutes the next morning he heard +sounds of great confusion coming up +from downstairs. His father was talking in a +loud excited voice, his mother after giving a +half tone scream began asking questions and +even Mary was making her share of the confusion.</p> + +<p>“Another bursted pipe,” Renfro saw the +heavy frost on the window, drew his conclusion +and turned over to sleep until they called him.</p> + +<p>Mary’s heavy winter shoes clattered up the +stairway, crossed the hall and came straight to +his door. She peeped cautiously into his bedroom, +her head encased in a pink breakfast cap +thru which were run blue ribbons. Her mouth +was half open, her eyes big and her whole face +a map of mingled surprise, interest and horror.</p> + +<p>“Renny—Renny,” she called softly and then +changed, “Hooch—oh, Hooch—your pa just +brought in the morning paper and Helen Wier +was kidnaped last night right out of her pa’s +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span>own home and she aint been brought back or +they don’t know nothin’ about it and—”</p> + +<p>Renfro was sitting bolt upright in bed. +“What did you say, Mary?” he demanded. +“Helen Wier kidnaped. When? And how did +they find out? Now answer my questions first.”</p> + +<p>Observing directions, Mary told him. Helen +Wier, the judge’s twelve year old daughter had +been studying in the little east library, as was +her custom when the family and two guests +went into the back of the house for coffee and a +late lunch. She had been sitting at the table +when they left; when they came back she was +gone. That was all Mary knew.</p> + +<p>The paper told Renfro a little more. There +had been no outcry on Helen’s part—no sound +that anyone had heard. The room showed no +evidence of a struggle except that a vase of +flowers on the table was upturned and the books +she had been studying, all were on the floor.</p> + +<p>When the family had come back into the +library Helen was not there. Her mother, +thinking that she had gone upstairs to bed, had +commented on her going without being told and +began to talk of other things when she noticed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span>the books on the floor and became suspicious.</p> + +<p>Helen Wier loved her books as she did her +friends. She was very careful of them. She +never would have left them on the floor behind +her, open with their backs bent to the breaking +point as were these. And the papers out of her +notebook were scattered around and under the +table.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wier muttered something to the rest +about being sure something was wrong with +Helen, rushed upstairs to her room and then +had begun the search. That she had been kidnaped +was an assured fact. The problem before +the police who had been almost instantly +summoned was to find out who did it and where +the child had been taken.</p> + +<p>“Weren’t there no note wanting money?” +Mary asked the question.</p> + +<p>Mr. Horn who was reading the story shook +his head. Mary in turn shook hers tho more +wisely. “Then they’ll be hearin’ from the +kidnapers before night”, she said with conviction. +“They’ll be telling how much they want +for her return and where to put it and giving +all the directions. The book I studied in that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span>home correspondence course said that was the +way it always went.”</p> + +<p>She ended her speech triumphantly, but noticing +about the same time that no one was paying +any attention to her backed thru the dining +room into the kitchen, where she talked to herself +about the “ignorance of some people”.</p> + +<p>Renfro, after reading the short, and to him, +decidedly unsatisfactory story, followed Mary +out into the kitchen. “The paper didn’t say +anything about whether or not the telephone +wires were cut,” he began.</p> + +<p>Mary’s homely fat face beamed. She liked +to be taken into some one’s confidence. “Them +detectives which are huntin’ for a clue know +mighty little,” she said hotly. “Now what +course have any of them ever studied? They +just happened to be in on the side of the political +party which won at the last election, and +when the city hall jobs gave out they just put +them on the detective force.”</p> + +<p>Without any doubt Renfro was in a state of +confusion. He didn’t know whether or not to +go around to Judge Wier’s house and tell the +Judge what he had seen on the two successive +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span>nights when he had been carrying his papers +past their house, or to take his story to the +police. But he did know enough to keep still +until he decided what course to follow.</p> + +<p>But he had come to the kitchen to ask a request +of Mary, “For heaven’s sake, Mary,” he +begged, “don’t ever let mother know that place +is on my paper route or it would be goodbye to +that route and my new turkey customers. You +won’t, will you?”</p> + +<p>Mary shook her head. “But are you working +on some clues, Ren—Hooch?” she asked. +“Now if you are, I could help you a lot with my +book learning on detective work.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I will need you all right,” Renfro laughed. +“Just you wait, Mary, and keep still a +little while and then your chance will come.”</p> + +<p>It was hard work for Renfro at the breakfast +table just to ask enough questions and talk +enough about the kidnaping to avoid suspicion, +without telling his parents anything he knew, +or ask any of the questions in his mind. He +went directly to the police station from the +breakfast table. He found the chief of detectives +a very busy man.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span></p> + +<p>But still he managed to take time to see Renfro +and talked a little until Renfro began to tell +of the man he had seen lurking in the Wier +neighborhood and then he banged his hand on +his desk. “You’re the fifth boy who saw some +suspicious looking person lurking in that neighborhood,” +he laughed but there was a note of +impatience in his laugh. “I’ve heard of everything +from a colored wash woman to the judge +himself.”</p> + +<p>After storming about how busy he was and +how people who bothered busy people should be +given jail sentences, the chief pointed toward +the door thru which he intended Renfro to leave. +“If you kids would read your school books,” +he said solemnly, “instead of a lot of detective +stories written by old maids afraid to go out +at night, you would have more sense about clues +and everything else in general.”</p> + +<p>Outside Renfro pursed his lips. “All right, +Mr. Chief,” he thought to himself, “I’ll work +on my own clue. I’ve one and I hope your men +don’t find out a thing without it.”</p> + +<p>He found the entire Grant School aroused by +the kidnaping. Girls, who had been brought to +the building by their fathers under orders not to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span>leave the building until they came after them, +stood in groups inside the hall and would not +have ventured outside the building for a fortune. +Some of the people seemed to think that Helen +Wier was the first one to be taken in a kidnaping +plot which was to rob Lindendale of all +its girls.</p> + +<p>Miss Turpin, the English teacher, allowed the +members of her classes to discuss the affair. +All sorts of reasons, were offered for the kidnaping, +most of them being that of a ransom. +But Renfro kept still. Judge Wier didn’t have +a fortune nor did he have resources to raise one +in a hurry. Unlike Mary he didn’t believe that +a note would come in a few days demanding +money, telling under what particular forest log +to hide it and the conditions governing its hiding.</p> + +<p>Miss Turpin herself ventured a suggestion. +She too knew that Judge Wier was far from +being a rich man. Now there was soon to come +before the judge for trial a number of men +charged with a series of election frauds. She +wondered if they could have taken this course +to frighten Judge Wier from giving them stiff +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span>sentences.</p> + +<p>“Well,” Abie Lubin remembered his fine for +speeding his father’s car, “Anybody can’t scare +Judge Wier by nothing.”</p> + +<p>That afternoon the chief of detectives, having +heard of Miss Turpin’s suggestion telephoned +the Grant building for her to come to his office +after school. Renfro, too, received a telephone +message. It was from Route Manager Morrison +of the Evening Globe. He offered to send +an extra boy to help Renfro carry his route in +case he should feel uneasy.</p> + +<p>Now that was the last thing Renfro wanted +so he laughed at the suggestion and by so doing +rose several notches in Morrison’s mind. He +went directly to the Circulation Manager with +his praise. Mr. Bruce in turn smiled, “I said +that boy would make good,” he smiled. “Of +course he won’t make any money on Old Grief, +but as soon as we’re sure he’s what we think +he is we’ll give him a regular route. And I +shall have the pleasure of telling his father that +he was wrong in his prediction, and I was right +in mine.”</p> + +<p>Renfro fairly rushed along his route that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span>afternoon. Still he searched for new subscribers. +It would be foolish he knew to go out to +the big Hall house and the little shack adjoining +it until it was dark. Yet he was going.</p> + +<p>It was very quiet at Judge Wier’s house. The +people who crowded there in the morning had +gone home. The house was darkened so that +Mrs. Wier could be kept quiet.</p> + +<p>Renfro rolled his copy of the Evening Globe, +started to throw it onto the porch and then stopped. +Why not take it around to the back door? +That would give him a chance to pass the shrubbery +and the window thru which the man had +peeped on two successive nights. He decided +to do so.</p> + +<p>The shrubbery was intact. The inside of the +window was covered with a heavy coat of frost. +Renfro looked thru it but could see only the +green blind which had been pulled to the very +sill. And then he saw something on the outside +of the pane.</p> + +<p>He stepped close to the window, and looked +up at the two strange looking things. They +were about two inches apart, white and stiff +and made up of—?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span></p> + +<p>And then Renfro almost shouted. They were +part of a pair of a man’s eyebrows. Memory +of the frozen pipe with his boyish tongue stuck +against it, and the red skin left fast to the pipe, +made him understand this situation. The man +who had stood close to the window pane had +pressed his face against the cold glass while he +watched the scene inside the house, his eyebrows +had been frozen to the pane more firmly than +he had thought and when he, suddenly frightened, +had pulled away from it he had left these +portions of his eyebrows behind him.</p> + +<p>“My first clue” Renfro told himself and +reached into his pocket.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII"> + CHAPTER VII. + <br> + RENFRO TAKES THE EYEBROWS. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>Renfro’s hand trembled so that he +could hardly pull his knife from his +trousers pocket. It was followed by a +notebook, from which he tore two sheets of +paper. Quickly he opened the blade, the +thinnest of the three in his knife, warmed it +with several breaths and then slipped it under +one of the frozen eyebrows on the window pane.</p> + +<p>Zip! It came off—frozen, intact, as solid +as it had been when left on the frozen pane. +Carefully Renfro wrapped it in one of the +pieces of paper. By the same process the other +portion of an eyebrow was likewise treated. +With both precious packages of what he considered +a magnificent clue stored safely in his +most secure inner pocket Renfro shouldered +his now empty paper bag and started toward +home.</p> + +<p>The desire to journey out to the big Hall +house was almost overpowering him. But wisdom +warned him against making the trip. It +was late—it would be eight o’clock before he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span>could get home. If he arrived later than that +there would surely be a family conclave held, +the decision of which might mean that tho he +continued to carry his paper route he would +be given no time to either get new subscribers +or to follow the clue which fate had thrust into +his hand.</p> + +<p>Renfro was almost stunned with his good +fortune. In his pocket was the only clue which, +according to the latest reports he had heard, +had yet been found. And he was going to keep +it and work it out himself. The chief of detectives +had laughed once, the next laugh +would be at his expense, Renfro vowed, and +because he had discovered a clue to the identity +of the person or persons who had kidnaped +Helen Wier.</p> + +<p>All the way home on the car he kept his hand +pressed over the pocket in which was the clue. +Off the car, walking down the home avenue he +watched surreptitiously for a possible bandit. +No lady of rank ever guarded her jewels any +more closely than Renfro Horn did the two +mysterious eyebrows.</p> + +<p>All around him the bitter wind stung and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span>lashed and hurt like a keen edged knife. It drove +white hard clouds across the sky and at times +hid the moon. But still it was a much lighter +night than the one preceding it had been. +Neither Helen Wier nor any other girl could +be successfully kidnaped on a night like this.</p> + +<p>“But detectives could follow a clue mighty +well,” Renfro turned in at his own walk, and +patted his chest, “only right now they haven’t +any clue.”</p> + +<p>His father who had just come past the police +headquarters on his way home from the +office, gave testimony that his conclusion was +right. The clue suggested by Miss Turpin +about the men implicated in the election frauds +was being traced down but no one hoped for +any results.</p> + +<p>While they were at dinner Mrs. Horn who +had been doubly uneasy over Renfro’s lateness +and also his father’s, voiced her complaints +in fretful language. Mr. Horn, provoked +as always by his wife’s fussing moods +issued sharp orders to Renfro, “No trips out +at night onto that route,” he said, “and hereafter +you be home at six thirty. Do you understand?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span></p> + +<p>Renfro nodded, and reaching into his pocket +pulled out the rules Morrison had given him +the first day. “Dad,” he said soberly, “Every +business has its own rules, and the Globe’s carrier +system has its own. You expect your employees +to follow yours if they expect to rise +in your business. If I’m to rise to success with +the Globe I’ll have to follow these.”</p> + +<p>His mother’s eyes were distinctly hostile but +Renfro looked away from them straight into his +father’s interested ones, then back to his paper +and read his rules in a clear, determined boyish +voice—</p> + +<p>“Never fail to deliver a subscriber.</p> + +<p>“A good carrier will get two new subscribers +and increase his route two each week.</p> + +<p>“Bills must be paid when due. Only lame +ducks pay part of their bills.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horn sniffed scornfully, caught a gleam +of authority in her husband’s eyes, rose with a +rather indifferent apology and strolled into the +library. At a nod from his father Renfro read +on—</p> + +<p>“Collect your route thoroughly once a week. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span>The meanest man in the world is the man who +would beat a newspaper carrier.</p> + +<p>“Tell your customers you come thru the snow +and rain and cold six times a week to their +door, for their accommodation, and ask them if +they can’t arrange once a week to have your +money for you.</p> + +<p>“Get your delivery thru as quickly as possible. +The mothers want to read the Globe +before the fathers come home for supper.</p> + +<p>“And remember the quitters fail while the +boys who respond to responsibility always succeed +as boys and as men.”</p> + +<p>When he finished his reading Renfro carefully +folded the paper and put it back into his +pocket. He heard his father cough, looked up, +caught his wink and rather low declaration, “I +recall my command. These rules are about the +best things I ever heard. Obey them—that’s +all.”</p> + +<p>Renfro ventured audible thanks. But he cautiously +remained in the dining room when his +father left for the library. He knew that his +father would have it out with his mother and +that it would be much better if he were not a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span>listener to their argument. Besides he +wanted to see Mary.</p> + +<p>With his hands in his pockets he strolled +into the kitchen, watched Mary stir something +into a batter and then carelessly asked, “Did +you see Captain Pete today, Mary?”</p> + +<p>To his surprise Mary nodded, “You did, +Mary,” he ejaculated, “How did he look?”</p> + +<p>“Cross—fierce like to be sure,” Mary returned. +“I didn’t buy none of his rabbits. +They weren’t fresh like. And he had the nerve +to argue with me that frozen rabbits is allus +good even if they wuz froze the week before +last.”</p> + +<p>A straight look at Mary, and a little delay +on Renfro’s part. Then he smiled scornfully +at himself. Experience had taught him that no +one could be trusted better than Mary. Slowly +he pulled the two pieces of paper out of his +pocket, laid them on the table, unfolded them +so as not to disturb the arrangement of their +contents and called Mary.</p> + +<p>In a low, guarded tone he told Mary of the +man who had crouched at Judge Wier’s window, +of his trying to follow him and of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span>finding of the eyebrows. “They’re my clue, +Mary,” he ended proudly, “You’re going to +help me find the man who has these missing eyebrows +and who kidnaped or who helped kidnap +Helen Wier—aren’t you?” And he +breathed deeply. “Without the help or knowledge +of any member of the detective force.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes,” Mary whispered, her sibilant +tones high with excitement. “I’ll help you and +just us two will do it. I know how to follow +that clue. Them detective lessons will come in +handy now. I was just beginning to think +that mebbe I had wasted my money but now +I know and—”</p> + +<p>“Mary,” Renfro’s hand clasped over her +arm, “Did you notice this afternoon? Were +Captain Pete’s eyebrows—”</p> + +<p>“Why I couldn’t see them,” she whispered +back. “He had a long scarf over his head and +Hooch, it came clean down to his very eyes. +You don’t think it was him—do you, Hooch?”</p> + +<p>Renfro shook his head. “But we’re going +to watch everybody who is old and who might +be a criminal or a maniac or who could have had +some reason for kidnaping Helen Wier. In +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span>other words we’ve got to find the man with the +missing eyebrows.”</p> + +<p>Mary nodded vigorously.</p> + +<p>“And, Mary,” Renfro was folding the paper +again, “We’ve got to be very careful of these +same missing eyebrows which are our only definite +clue. I’ll hide them away carefully.”</p> + +<p>His mother called him just then to hunt her +a book he had been reading a few days before. +She was still decidedly cool in her treatment +toward him. But Renfro was more courteous +than usual and before he left the room to go to +bed, she was quite motherly to him.</p> + +<p>In bed Renfro reviewed the day’s happenings +and tried to map out a plan for the rest of +the week. He must do his route work first. +That was his job. Then when each day’s work +was over he could follow the clue. If only the +detectives failed to find Helen Wier he was sure +he could.</p> + +<p>“And I must get my new subscribers,” he +was ready to close his eyes. “The paper +says two new subscribers a week, but my record +must be five a day for a time if I get those turkeys. +And I must have them. I’ve promised +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span>Mary.”</p> + +<p>Before he left for school the next morning +he slipped into the kitchen and bantered with +Mary a minute or two. “I’ve earned two of +your turkeys, Mary,” he told her, “So be finding +out ways to dress and cook them.”</p> + +<p>Then he explained to her the system he was +following in order to win them. At the back +door he gave her a last word of advice. +“Mary, if Captain Pete or any mean looking +stranger comes to our door, look at his eyebrows +if you have to sit on him to do it,” he +smiled.</p> + +<p>“All right, Hooch,” Mary promised in return.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII"> + CHAPTER VIII. + <br> + RENFRO GETS A SHOCK. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>Not until he was in Miss Turpin’s +class did Renfro have an opportunity +to hear anything about the kidnaping +of Helen Wier, otherwise than that which had +been in the morning newspaper. And in them +had been the statement that all clues offered by +members of the detective force and members of +the Wier family had been followed down and led +to nothing.</p> + +<p>But in Miss Turpin’s class a late comer to +school brought more news. Judge Wier had +received a letter that morning in the first mail. +It was just a note written by Helen herself, in +her girlish scrawl. She was well she said and +comfortable. That was all.</p> + +<p>But the note had been mailed in a city mail +box directly across the street from where Judge +Wier lived. That gave the detectives a new +clue. They were—</p> + +<p>And then Renfro remembered his clue—the +missing eyebrows. With great deliberation +last night he had chosen his hiding place—between +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span>the case and the pillow itself. But his +father had called him late and he had forgotten +all about his valuable possessions.</p> + +<p>At the close of the recitations he went to the +dean, obtained permission to use her private +phone and slipped alone into her inner office. +He talked in a very low tone. First he called +his home number. And then he almost shouted +over his own good fortune. Mary had answered +the call.</p> + +<p>“Don’t talk, Mary,” he cautioned, “don’t +say anything which would give me away. It’s +Hooch. Has anybody made up my bed yet?”</p> + +<p>Mary herself had—just a little while before.</p> + +<p>“Then you didn’t bother them—my clues,” +he almost implored. “You know what I mean +Mary—those eye—eye—you know.”</p> + +<p>Mary knew.</p> + +<p>Then Renfro told her where he had put them. +No, Mary hadn’t seen them, but if he would +wait she would run up stairs and see if she +could find them. A long wait followed during +which Renfro counted several hundred digits +to make the time hurry and then he heard +Mary’s voice once more.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span></p> + +<p>It was terrible—full of tears, of fear and of +grief. They were gone—Renfro’s leading +clues. She had shook his pillows, quite as was +her usual custom, had swept his floor and then +and—</p> + +<p>The rest of her speech was lost. Renfro had +dashed the receiver back onto the hook, slipped +as fast as he could to his cloak room, donned his +cap and gloves and was down at the principal’s +office. His white face, his dark staring horror +stricken eyes gave proof to his statement that +he was sick and he was excused for the rest of +the morning.</p> + +<p>Darting across streets in front of automobiles, +down alleys thru which he had not been +in months, panting, puffing, and never stopping, +Renfro rushed into his own back gate, up the +walk and into the kitchen where Mary was +weeping copiously. A few questions from him, +a few answers from her and they were both +down in the basement, right into the furnace +room.</p> + +<p>No, Mary didn’t remember where she had +emptied the sweeper that morning. She usually +did but this morning she had been busy thinking +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span>out excuses she could find for going out to +Captain Pete’s and discovering the condition +of the old hunter’s eyebrows. She sobbed audibly +while she talked. Mrs. Horn had gone up +town to a sale she informed Renfro and she +could cry loud and get all the comfort she +wanted out of so doing.</p> + +<p>Together they searched thru the trash pile, +then all over the basement floor, and all the +way up and down the dark stairway. And then +Mary remembered the garden plot. The ash +man had asked her to empty her sweepings on +the ash pile. He often found pins and needles +and interesting knick knacks for his little girl +in people’s ash piles.</p> + +<p>And out there Renfro found one folded piece +of paper and Mary the other. They flew into +each others arms. Back in the kitchen Mary +found her family Bible and made room in it +for Renfro to place the precious possessions +along with the bit of her baby hair and one +bridesmaid’s dress and her long ago admirer’s +picture. Mary informed him that she was going +to buy some black paper, some white paint and +make a reproduction of the eyebrows for their +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span>everyday use in hunting down clues.</p> + +<p>“The detective book said to make copies of +everything you find in regard to a crime,” she +offered the proof of the wisdom of her suggestion.</p> + +<p>“Well you guard your Bible, Mary dear, and +wait a little while,” Hooch begged her, now +restored to health again and ready to return +to school.</p> + +<p>It was Jimmie Noel who at noon suggested +to Renfro that he go see his route manager +for suggestions about securing his new subscribers. +“He’s an old hand,” he advised, +“and he can give you pointers which will save +you half of your energy.”</p> + +<p>Renfro hesitated. That might mean a loss +of time and he had determined to go out to +both Captain Pete’s and the big house that +night. Still “The Globe” was his business and +a fellow’s own business came first. Besides his +father had given him permission to stay out +late.</p> + +<p>Renfro found Morrison rushing and fuming. +Warren, route manager of the north side, had +boasted that his boys were going to win +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span>the most turkeys. “I can’t have that,” Morrison +was urging two of his best carriers whom +he had summoned in to act in an emergency. +“Fellows, this is just like a big basket ball +game. Are you going to let your enemy’s team +beat you without a struggle?”</p> + +<p>Then he saw Renfro, “Hello, Hooch Horn,” +he said genially, “How can I help you, old +man?”</p> + +<p>Renfro’s list of twenty new subscribers went +onto the counter in front of Morrison. “Two +turkeys won already,” he smiled. “And I +thought perhaps you could give me some suggestions +on how to win four more.”</p> + +<p>A smile spread over Morrison’s face and +then it stopped suddenly as he examined the +list of names. “Ward’s no good,” he ejaculated. +“Didn’t Andy tell you? He beat him +out of a bill. And Newkirk did the same and +that Patterson woman—”</p> + +<p>“But they all paid in advance,” Renfro interrupted.</p> + +<p>Morrison stared at him. “They did!” he half +shouted and drew his hand across his forehead. +“They did! Well how in the thunder did you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span>get money out of them before they got the +paper? Boy, you must have a wonderful line +of talk.”</p> + +<p>Arm in arm he and Renfro walked to the +door. “Go to it, Hooch,” was Morrison’s last +advice, “win these turkeys and I’ll put up the +best feed in any hotel you choose. The south +side always does take the prizes. But for Old +Grief to win first honors, Hooch, that would be +the surprise of the Globe during the sixty years +it has been a paper.”</p> + +<p>“Say,” he called Renfro back, “Bruce said +you had guts, when he hired you.”</p> + +<p>Renfro remembered that statement of +Bruce’s as he worked against great obstacles +for subscribers that afternoon. But he stuck, +tho there seemed nothing but obstacles in front +of him and finally counted out his five new +names. “Turkey number three,” he laughed +and pulled out his watch.</p> + +<p>Seven-thirty o’clock and a heavy darkness +everywhere. The street lights were dim tonight +and there was almost no one out on East Washington. +Judge Wier’s house had been guarded +by a detective, not because of the discovery of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span>a new clue but Mrs. Wier’s nerves from the +morning’s note had demanded one.</p> + +<p>At the little corner grocery Renfro bought +a hot dog sandwich and some weak tea and ate +and drank standing close to the door. No one +passed except a colored woman carrying home +her “wash.” Out on the street he hurried down +toward the big house and the shack beyond.</p> + +<p>He stumbled thru the underbrush at the side +of the road, over the rail fence and into the +lane between the two orchards. A dark form +loomed before him. He held his breath and +stood still. A low sniff came to him, a joyous +bark and Lang Tammy was against him, his +big shaggy body almost overturning Renfro. +He grabbed one end of the bag and the usual +game of pulling followed.</p> + +<p>“Like to play, old fellow?” Renfro patted +his head. “Next time, old boy, I’ll bring you +a hot dog if I have to go without one myself.”</p> + +<p>While he talked to the dog he caught a glimmer +of light in the big house, up on the second +floor at the right side in the dormer window +where there were still shutters. It didn’t linger +there long and when it went out the whole house +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span>was left in darkness. Nor was it lighted again.</p> + +<p>Renfro turned his back on the big house and +stumbled across the field toward the shack. The +orchard was desolate and rocky with a few remnants +of trees which never bore but in the darkness +they were formidable looking and their +roots stumbling blocks.</p> + +<p>After the orchard came the lane again and +then the open space around the shack. A gleam +of light from the window told Renfro that Captain +Pete was at home. Before he crossed to +the door Renfro ordered Lang Tammy “to +go home” and after a little the big dog slouched +away.</p> + +<p>“He’s been taught to mind all right,” Renfro +watched the big creature now an abject object +of fear, slinking down the lane, “and he’s been +taught thru terrible cruelty.”</p> + +<p>Captain Pete answered the knock. His shaggy +head was uncovered and he knitted his heavy +white eyebrows all of which were intact. No, +he did not have any rabbits. The Elks had +come out that afternoon and gotten all he had +for a big supper they were having. But he +would have some the next day for Renfro.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span></p> + +<p>Then Renfro grew a bit bold. “Sometimes, +Captain Pete,” he said quietly, “I know your +old house is haunted or something, for I’ve +seen lights in it. Now tonight—”</p> + +<p>Captain Pete’s head shook a vigorous denial. +“There wasn’t anybody there,” he said. +Why it was so full of wide open cracks that +nobody couldn’t stay there. And most of the +tin roof was off by this time.</p> + +<p>“Captain Pete may be innocent,” Renfro +drawled, back on the road again, “but he’s sure +not ignorant.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX"> + CHAPTER IX. + <br> + TRACKS AT THE CABIN. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>At the corner of Washington Avenue and +Twenty-fifth street Renfro waited for a +car. He shuffled his feet to keep them +warm and rolled and unrolled his paper bag +while he watched the next corner for the first +glimpse of a headlight. The street light quivered +and went out, came on again and once more +began to grow dim.</p> + +<p>When out of Plum Street sprang a boy in uniform +who rushed into the middle of the street, +caught at the long wire hanging from the flickering +light, gave it several jerks and was rewarded +by the strong white light which replaced +the flickering one.</p> + +<p>In its light Renfro recognized Jimmie Noel, +dressed for a hike, his provision bag swung +over his shoulder, a stout stick in one hand +and a bulky bundle in the other. He gave a +shrill whistle. The one which came in return +told that he was recognized.</p> + +<p>The two boys met near the middle of the +block. But before they exchanged spoken +greetings Renfro saw the squad of khaki clad +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span>boys who were following Jimmie more than +a half square away. They halted under the +street light to view the accomplishment of +Jimmie. Two of them in turn shook the same +wire he had. The street light grew even +brighter.</p> + +<p>“Bill Larrison’s patrol,—the Black Bears,” +Jimmie nodded at the boys behind him. +“They’re going out to Twin Cedar Cabin for +the night. Some of them are getting ready +for their second class tests. Pete Northrup’s +going to cook.”</p> + +<p>Renfro’s laugh was eloquent. Pete was the +most awkward boy he knew. Visions of Pete +in a kitchen were too much for him.</p> + +<p>“Gee, I’d like to see him,” he began.</p> + +<p>“Come along then,” Jimmie invited. “I’m +a sort of a visitor myself. Going to give some +of the tests for Bill. It’ll be exciting too, I tell +you. Queer things happening out at the camp +recently, according to what the scouts tell, who +have gone out there on over night hikes. +It’ll—”</p> + +<p>But the presence of the eight other scouts, +who had caught up with them, put an end to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span>Jimmie’s flow of confidence. Instead he turned +to the boy who seemed to be leader of the expedition. +“Bill,” he began, “this is Hooch Horn—a +pal of mine. I’d like for him to go along.”</p> + +<p>“Sure!” Bill was inclined to want all the +company he could get. He had heard much +more about the queer happenings out at the +camp than had Jimmie. Another recruit to his +crowd would strengthen its fighting powers +should they be called into use.</p> + +<p>Renfro hesitated. Under ordinary circumstances +he could have explained the situation +to his father so that he would have been willing +for him to go. But his mother’s mood, due +to his carrying the Washington Globe route, +made him uneasy about his ability to do so +now. However, Jimmie, the quick witted, came +to the rescue.</p> + +<p>“Let Ted Bright explain things to your +father,” he began. “He often does that for +me when I want to get out. He’s just like his +dad—can talk folks into doing anything he +wants them to do.”</p> + +<p>Renfro grinned. “All right,” he agreed, remembering +his father’s opinion of the elder +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span>Bright and how anxious he now was to stand +in that man’s good graces. “Dad’s still home +I’m sure. He can call him up from the corner +grocery.”</p> + +<p>While Ted was gone the boys told Renfro +about the overnight hike they had made the week +before. The one before them tonight was a +short one,—out East Washington to the second +road leading down to the river road. Just beyond +the land owned by Captain Pete Hall was +that which the city scouts had bought for a +permanent camp site.</p> + +<p>“You know the old cabin out there,” Ward +Lane was the speaker now, “the one with the +two big cedar trees in front of it—just above +the spring where the Indian chiefs fought,” +he talked rapidly, “we fellows went out a few +weeks ago and repaired it so we could use +it for overnight hikes. Now two patrols have +used it but neither one of them will go out +again. They saw—”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Hooch,” Ted’s voice several yards +away, was happy, “It’s all right. I had to talk +like sixty tho. And I didn’t tell them we are +going to stay all night in the cabin.” He had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span>reached the group now and was laughing, “I +think your mother believes we’re going to stay +all night in some sort of a hotel or other.”</p> + +<p>“No doubt,” Jimmie laughed too. “With +your explanations, Ted, and your blarney, she +might think anything.”</p> + +<p>The patrol fell into regular order and took +up its march. Jimmie and Renfro followed the +others. Back over the last part of Renfro’s +paper route they journeyed. Near Judge Wier’s +house Jimmie remembered the kidnaping and +wanted to talk about it. Renfro listened, answering +the questions Jimmie asked but taking +great care not to show unusual interest sufficient +to arouse Jimmie’s suspicions.</p> + +<p>However, the lack of evident interest on the +subject on Renfro’s part disgusted Jimmie. +And soon he began to talk about other subjects. +The deserted house on the Hall place, tall and +dark and ghostly, reminded him of Captain +Pete’s skill as a hunter. Jimmie had gone with +the old hunter, whose boast was that he never +shot his rabbits thru the body “ef they had +the least part of a head.”</p> + +<p>The patrol slowed its pace and fell back to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span>Jimmie and Renfro. They were soon singing +some lusty marching songs which put an end +to the conversation between the two boys. And +Renfro was glad that it did. He wanted to +watch the landmarks along the road they were +taking.</p> + +<p>Just beyond the cabin they turned into a +road leading to the river. Six years before it +had been kept in good repair for the people +who journeyed down to the fishing camp which +was its terminus. But the camp had been +moved, the road was little used and had been +allowed to fall into a bad state.</p> + +<p>Renfro stumbled over huge boulders in one +place; in another he went shoe top deep into +a rut of snow. The scouts were having like +difficulties. Bill Larrison dropped his provisions +and had quite a scramble in getting them +back into his bag again.</p> + +<p>At the foot of the bluffs they climbed a fence, +made of rails and wire, crossed a field, hurried +down a lane at the end of which loomed two +tall cedar trees. The dark blur back of them +Renfro knew was the cabin. Visions of a roaring +fire in the big fire place the scouts had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span>told about building, began to cheer him when +the patrol stopped.</p> + +<p>“They’re going to pay their respects to +Chief Wampum and Big Eagle,” Jimmie gave +the information.</p> + +<p>He pushed Renfro close to a structure built +after the fashion of a pig pen. “The fellow +built it around the graves so that the cattle +and horses couldn’t harm them,” Jimmie continued. +“They’re real Indian chiefs. Tell you +about them tonight. The scouts who come out +here always have to pay their respects to +them.”</p> + +<p>A long wailing sound came from one of the +boys, followed by Bill’s heavy, gutteral, “Oh, +chief, have you anything to say to your braves +tonight?”</p> + +<p>Absolute silence answered his question. A +few minutes’ wait and Bill ordered his patrol +to march on to the cabin. The march was uninterrupted +except for a large dog which moved +near the boys. One of them started to drive it +away but Renfro intercepted him. “It’s a dog +I know,” he said, and called softy, “Lang +Tammie.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span></p> + +<p>One minute the dog stopped, hesitated, +sniffed, turned and ran back up the hill. Renfro +watched him out of sight. Then he went +on to the cabin, into which most of the boys +had already gone.</p> + +<p>Two coal oil wall lamps had been lighted +when Renfro entered the room. From their +light he saw that the partitions had been removed +and the cabin thrown into one big room, +a mammoth fire place was in the center of the +north wall. Bunks had been built along the +south one.</p> + +<p>Several times during the last two years when +Renfro had gone on hikes he had stopped at +Twin Cedar Cabin to get a drink from the +spring, its water was noted as being the coldest +and clearest in the vicinity.</p> + +<p>Too, Renfro had been interested in the landmarks +around the site. He had heard, years +before, the history of the spot and had seen the +old woman about whom they told the weird +story which had made the site famous. When +she had been but fifteen years old two Indian +chiefs had seen her, both had wanted her for +his squaw and they had fought a duel at the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span>spring, where both had been wounded.</p> + +<p>Their braves had carried them away. Years +afterward they had returned and paid respects +to the white girl for whom they had fought. +She was an old woman then, but had enjoyed +the visit and recounted it ever afterwards with +much pleasure.</p> + +<p>“And when they were dead,” Jimmie, as if +reading Renfro’s thought, suddenly said, “their +braves brought them back and buried them +near the spring. Those were the graves you +passed tonight.”</p> + +<p>Renfro was inclined to be incredulous. “Queer +I never heard about those graves before,” he +said.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is queer,” Jimmie grinned.</p> + +<p>Bill was grumbling over near the fireplace. +“Somebody’s been at the provisions again,” he +said. “The soap’s all gone. Why,” he shook +an empty bucket, “so’s the lard—” farther investigation—“and +the eggs you brought out +yesterday, Hank, and—” he looked at some +prints on the floor—“whoever it was had a +dog.”</p> + +<p>Big prints on the floor made him decide it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span>was a large dog. Except for grumbling over the +loss of the provisions, the other scouts paid little +attention to the prints, but to Renfro they held +intense interest. While they built a roaring fire +in the fireplace he took his flashlight to add to +the light furnished by the coal oil lamps and examined +the prints closely.</p> + +<p>Yes, they had evidently been made by an airedale +dog. But close to them were the muddy +prints of a large shoe, the sort worn by a man +who was accustomed to hunting. Smaller tracks +were confusing. They might have been made by +a small scout, but still they were narrow enough +to have been made by a girl’s sport oxford.</p> + +<p>Renfro put some newspapers over one and on +top of them put his paper bag and mackinaw. +The other boys had piled their mackinaws and +provision kits on the floor. In his heart was +one hope—namely that they would not remove +his things. He had laid them down so carefully +that he was sure the footprints would remain +intact and he could study them more closely in +the morning.</p> + +<p>Yes, it was possible. Helen Wier’s kidnapers +might have brought her to this cabin the night +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span>they took her. They might have kept her there +until morning and then gone on down the river. +They might—</p> + +<p>“Out with the lights.” Bill Larrison’s voice +became a low growl. “Out with your lights, fellows +and in a body move to the window.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X"> + CHAPTER X. + <br> + THE LIGHT ON THE INDIAN GRAVES. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>Renfro grasped one of the wall lamps, +lifted it from its socket and with all the +power of his lungs blew down the chimney. +The blaze was instantly extinguished and +left one smoking wick. At the same moment +Scout Brown had extinguished the other. Outside +there sounded faint footsteps. But when +the boys reached the window no one was outside. +The door was opened, the scouts circled the +cabin, and even journeyed to the spring but no +one was there.</p> + +<p>“Bill’s excited,” Jimmie confided to Renfro, +“He’s watching for the lights at the grave.”</p> + +<p>“What?” Renfro was amazed.</p> + +<p>“Oh, last summer when we were out here, one +of the scoutmasters, who knew all the old men +and women around here, told the boys that once +every ten years the two chiefs would come back +to again fight by the spring. And they believed +it. The other two troops which were out here +said that at midnight queer lights played +around the graves and word has gone out that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span>this is nearing the time for the two braves to +appear.”</p> + +<p>Renfro laughed and moved close to the fire. +“Of course,” he smiled, “you don’t believe it.”</p> + +<p>Jimmie in turn asked a question. “You +heard those steps—didn’t you?”</p> + +<p>Renfro nodded and smiled. “But you didn’t +see anything nor anyone,” Jimmie continued.</p> + +<p>Another nod from Renfro. “And Hooch,” +Jimmie moved closer to him. “You saw those +footprints.”</p> + +<p>This time he excited Renfro’s interest. He +was intensely concerned in those footprints. He +could hardly wait for morning to come to give +him an opportunity to study them. He felt that +an answer was due Jimmie, “Yes, I saw them,” +he said, “And they are sure big ones.”</p> + +<p>“Now I tell you—”</p> + +<p>But Jimmie didn’t get to tell Renfro anything +more. The patrol was back in the room. +Some of the boys had made weather observations +while out of the cabin and they were anxious +to mark them on their charts. A discussion +on cooking meat followed their work and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span>then the ceremonials for the evening began.</p> + +<p>They had just gotten to the most interesting +part when Jimmie announced that it was bedtime. +One of the rules of the cabin committee, +in order to keep a strong friendship with the +parents of the scouts, required the hikers to go +to bed at a certain hour. And like good scouts +they observed that rule.</p> + +<p>The boys rolled up in blankets on the +bunks. Several of them whispered. Jack Burton +next to Renfro, insisted upon telling both Jimmie +and Renfro of how his high school brother +got angry every time he came out to the cabin. +The fraternity to which he belonged had wanted +to buy the cabin; but the scouts had offered a +larger sum for it than did the fraternity. “We +beat them to it,” the little fellow finished, “and +every boy in that frat hates me ’cause I told the +committee they was wantin’ it and—”</p> + +<p>He trailed on and on but Jimmie’s snores +told that he was asleep and Renfro’s mind was +bent on other things. He saw again Captain +Pete—the big cabin—the dog—Lang Tammie, +and then the many foot prints on Twin Cedars’ +floor. In the morning—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span></p> + +<p>But in the morning he didn’t make his investigation. +For hardly had Renfro gotten to sleep +when he was awakened by a low, warning voice. +Sibilant whispers went from one bunk to the +other. “The light, the light!” the boys whispered. +“It’s on the graves now.”</p> + +<p>Renfro raised on his elbow and saw that he +was directly in range of the window and of the +enclosure on the graves. And the boys were +right. A weird unearthly blue light was playing +over some of the boards of the fence and +over the two mounds inside the enclosure.</p> + +<p>With quick breaths the boys watched it. +Jimmie and Renfro went to the window. For +several minutes the lights, alternating from +purple to blue, played along the graves and then +suddenly they went out.</p> + +<p>“I’m in favor of investigating them,” Renfro +began, turned away from the window, struck +the bench with his foot and fell headlong to the +floor. Something on which he landed slipped, he +felt a soft wooly, mass and realized with a start +that he had fallen on his own coat.</p> + +<p>“And on the foot prints,” he thought with a +start.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span></p> + +<p>“Light the lamp, Jim,” he called. “I want +to see what I’ve done.”</p> + +<p>“Hurt?” Jimmie Noel’s voice was full of +hope. A chance for first aid was not to be despised.</p> + +<p>He carried the lamp to where Renfro lay. The +other boys followed him. And with a sinking +heart Renfro feared that if he had not destroyed +the contour of the footprints the boys had.</p> + +<p>Slowly and carefully he raised himself from +the floor. He lifted the coat, his paper bag and +then the paper. Below, it was just an indistinguishable +lot of soil which had once been mud +brought in on shoes—the shape of which Renfro +would have given a small fortune to have been +able to have told.</p> + +<p>But now he knew that it was impossible.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The next morning Jimmie, Bill and Renfro +made a trip to the two graves while the other +boys cooked breakfast in camp style. There +were no marks around the grave, no sign of +destruction nor any kind of invasion. Jimmie +crawled over both mounds feeling his way carefully.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span></p> + +<p>“It’s mighty queer,” was the only remark he +made when his investigation was finished.</p> + +<p>And Renfro and Bill nodded.</p> + +<p>Back in the cabin the other boys were discussing +the same happening. Before they left the +cabin they made a vow to tell none of their experiences +to the rest of the scouts but to have +weekly overnight hikes out to the cabin. “Investigation +hikes,” Bill dubbed them.</p> + +<p>On the way back to town the boys overtook a +solitary driver in a low spring wagon. It was +Captain Pete and he gave them a genial invitation +to ride back with him. “Good hunting +weather,” he told them and laughed, “but I +don’t notice you fellows brought in anything.”</p> + +<p>“We were making a hike,” Bill answered for +the crowd. “We camped out at Twin Cedar +cabin last night.”</p> + +<p>Captain Pete chuckled. “Where did you git +them Indian mounds?” he insisted.</p> + +<p>The boys looked at Jimmie but that worthy +did not even offer to answer. Instead he changed +the conversation back to rabbit hunting and +got Captain Pete into a monologue again. While +he talked, Renfro studied him—his face across +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span>which there were long scratches and his shifting +eyes. Sometimes they were as gentle as a woman’s +and again when he was angry they were +cruel.</p> + +<p>As the boys clambered out of the wagon, he +gave a shrewd chuckle, “Didn’t see anything +queer out there last night—did you?” he asked. +“Some of the scouts did last week, ’cordin’ to +what one of their mothers told me. Didn’t see +nothin’—you fellows—did you?”</p> + +<p>And they disdained to even answer.</p> + +<p>From the little restaurant where he went to +supplement his camp breakfast, Renfro telephoned +home before he went on to school. His +father answered the telephone and he was in a +very agreeable mood. He asked Renfro if he +had enjoyed his trip and then gave him a telephone +number which had been left for him the +night before.</p> + +<p>Renfro recognized the number as that of +Morrison’s telephone. The clock on the restaurant +wall told him that he had time to go +past the office on his way to school. Better +talk face to face with Morrison than over the +telephone, he decided.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span></p> + +<p>The morning paper on the table had big headlines +about the Wier kidnaping. The story it +contained was almost a repetition of the one the +Globe had had the evening before. No new clues +had been discovered, according to the detectives. +He also admitted that if any were uncovered +they would be kept secret.</p> + +<p>Then followed detailed interviews from all of +the Wier servants, none of whom could or would +add a bit of information to the stories already +told. Renfro read them thoroughly. And while +he ate his buck-wheat cakes, he wondered +whether or not the cabin at Twin Cedars had +harbored any of the kidnapers.</p> + +<p>The lights outside the cabin had interested but +not disturbed him. Now he was inclined to give +them more attention. Of course, it was ridiculous +to think that they were made by returning +spirits, as some of the younger scouts seemed to +think. But still these lights did not just happen +to come to the grave.</p> + +<p>Back of their coming was some weird purpose, +Renfro was sure. “I’ll keep them in mind the +next time I go out that way,” he decided. +“Jim’s so interested in them that he’ll ask me +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span>to go with him again I’m sure. They may—”</p> + +<p>With a rush of cold air the front door opened +and Jimmie Noel entered the room. He had +stopped at the office to see if his brother had +carried his route on time. “No complaints,” he +said cheerfully to Renfro. “Going past home?”</p> + +<p>Renfro shook his head. “Have to see Morrison,” +he returned.</p> + +<p>“I’m not going that way,” Jimmie warmed +his hands at the radiator. “Have to go by home. +But I want you to go back to the cabin soon, +Hooch, with me. There’s something back of +those lights—something mysterious. You’re a +bear at working out mysteries. And for the good +of Twin Cedar camp I want that one solved. If +something isn’t found out to prove those lights +aren’t ghostly things, that camp will be about as +popular as a water snaked swimming hole for +the scouts. You’ll go with me—won’t you, +Hooch?”</p> + +<p>“You bet!” Renfro smiled. He was surely +glad Jimmie had not connected the cabin with +the kidnaping. He didn’t want to share honors +with Jimmie even in working out his kidnaping +clues. And besides he wasn’t sure that the Twin +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span>Cedar cabin held any part in the episode. Yet +he wished he had not fallen and himself destroyed +the footprints.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI"> + CHAPTER XI. + <br> + RENFRO BECOMES A MENTOR. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>Morrison was at his desk. He jerked +out a surly answer to Renfro’s pleasant, +“Good morning.”</p> + +<p>In the same mood he turned in his chair and +saw Renfro. The frown by some mysterious +manner was jerked into a smile. “Hello Horn,” +he beamed. “Got my message—didn’t you?” +In rapid jerks he continued, “Needn’t have +bothered to come in. Could have told you over +the wire. Want you to take a pupil on Old +Grief.”</p> + +<p>A look of dismay on Renfro’s face answered +him. “Oh, no—haven’t the least idea of taking +it away from you,” he hastened to reassure Renfro. +“I want you to take Merle Riker out there +with you this afternoon and teach him how you +get new customers.”</p> + +<p>He pointed to a chair and Renfro dropped +into it. But there was no break in Morrison’s +conversation. “Good kid, but lacks pep—Mother’s +a widow—needs the money—gave him +one of our best routes. He’s good to collect, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span>because the people are all good pay. He doesn’t +lose a subscriber. Doesn’t get any new ones +either. Just keeps the route the way it is. And +he’s got the best route for new customers in +town—all except Old Grief,” he winked. “Now +the Riker family will need a Christmas turkey +and the Globe needs new subscribers out there. +See?”</p> + +<p>“Yes sir,” Renfro got in an answer this time.</p> + +<p>“I’ll send a sub out in Merle’s place this afternoon +and you take him with you,” Morrison continued. +“Keep still about it. Don’t want to +make a precedent out of this—unusual case—feel +sorry for the family. All the kid needs is +some pep. Inspire it. Get me, Horn?”</p> + +<p>Renfro nodded. “I’ll do my best,” he promised.</p> + +<p>And he kept his word. When he reached the +station that night, a slender boy with a face +which was molded along feminine lines, and +whose clothes were well worn met him. Renfro +studied him a minute before he began talking. +As he studied he decided that like Morrison, he +was going to like this boy. He lacked enterprise. +But Renfro believed that this was on account +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span>of shyness due to his poverty.</p> + +<p>For when the boy lifted his eye lashes there +was a quality of steel in his gray eyes. His +mouth too had a firmness at the corners that +promised much. He walked along the street in +quick long steps, which matched those taken by +Renfro and he was ever in an alert, ready to +listen attitude.</p> + +<p>“We’ll try some new subscribers first,” Renfro +volunteered. “Then you can help me throw +my papers and if we have time we’ll get a few +more.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” the steel quality was also in the +boy’s voice.</p> + +<p>Renfro consulted his book, found a number +three doors away and led the way to a little L +shaped cottage. A big, burly man came to the +door. “Do you read the Globe?” Renfro began +in a pleasant way.</p> + +<p>The man started to shut the door with a +gruff, “No,” when Renfro’s foot slipped just +inside enough to prevent that. “I am the new +carrier on this route,” he began. “I have +taken it for several years’ service, so I wanted +all the people to know me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span></p> + +<p>The man stared at him more kindly and opened +the door a bit farther himself. “I don’t like +the Globe,” he said, the surliness still in his +voice. “It comes too late in the evening and—”</p> + +<p>“It came too late in the evening,” Renfro +smiled. “I bring it before any other carrier on +this route brings the other evening papers. +And I can prove it. You ask any of the people +on my route.”</p> + +<p>The man hesitated. Renfro reached into his +bag and brought out a paper. “I’ll leave one +now and stop on my way home to get your +order,” he smiled.</p> + +<p>The man took the paper and laughed. “I’ll +see,” he promised. “I’m going to call up the +grocer on the corner and see if you are the first +boy out with your papers,” he added. “My +wife wants an early paper, so she can read it +before she starts getting the supper.”</p> + +<p>Renfro turned to Merle as they walked toward +the street. “After that I have to be prompt,” +he said. “We’ll carry my papers now. From +now on—I’ll carry my route before I try to get +a single new subscriber.”</p> + +<p>Merle nodded. “Yes, Hooch,” he agreed. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span>“I’ll remember that, too.”</p> + +<p>He reached out his arm for the papers and +Renfro gave him half the bundle. Together they +traversed Old Grief, with its pawn shops, second +hand stores, lunch wagons, cheap butcher +stores, army supply store and dozens of other +“imitation places of business”. Then they +came into the poorer residence district, where +the children fought for the honor of carrying +the paper to the door. From this they passed +into the street on which lived the old residents +of Lindendale, who would not leave their ancestral +homes.</p> + +<p>“There,” Renfro nodded toward the big +house surrounded with shrubbery which needed +trimming, “is where Judge Wier lives—Helen +Wier’s father.”</p> + +<p>Merle Riker stared. “Judge Wier helped my +mother,” he said simply, “I hope some one +finds his daughter. He’s a kind man.”</p> + +<p>Renfro laughed. “Most people don’t know +it,” he added.</p> + +<p>At one house Renfro stopped to collect. The +woman had not had her money Saturday and +was inclined to show an ugly disposition because +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span>Renfro had stopped for it in the middle +of the week instead of waiting until the next +Saturday.</p> + +<p>“It isn’t convenient for me to pay every time,” +she said in a cross voice, “and if you’re afraid +to trust me, I’ll get another paper.”</p> + +<p>Renfro looked straight at her. “I have to pay +for my papers every week,” he said. “And I +come every evening thru the rain and snow and +cold, right on time, because it’s my job. And +you—”</p> + +<p>“I suppose you were going to say mine is to +pay you on time too,” the woman was still +surly though she saw Renfro’s logic before he +had time to utter it all. “Wait.”</p> + +<p>She went into the house and returned with +twenty cents.</p> + +<p>“She’ll pay next Saturday,” Merle spoke before +Renfro could. “She saw what you meant +and knew you were right, too.”</p> + +<p>The route finished, Renfro again consulted +his red book, in which all his prospective subscribers +were listed. “Want to try a place of +business?” he asked, “Or, are all the people on +your route families.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span></p> + +<p>Merle shook his head and explained that he +had three blocks of the east side stores in his +route, though few of the merchants who kept +them were regular subscribers. “They buy the +papers on the street,” he explained, “so I don’t +think it’s much difference whether or not I have +them.”</p> + +<p>“Means more money for you,” Renfro gave +the best reason first, the one which he knew +would appeal to a boy needing money. “Then, +too, when they want a paper they buy most any +one. If the boy they meet doesn’t have the +Globe they may ask another boy for one, but if +the second one doesn’t happen to have one then +the chances are even that they will buy another +paper. Get me?”</p> + +<p>Merle nodded.</p> + +<p>So back to the pawn shop, and second hand +clothing store district they went. It was a +butcher shop, however, into which Renfro led the +way. He smiled at the man behind the block +and waited until the customer had been served +and departed with his bundle. “Read the +paper I left yesterday?” he asked, “and how +did you like the market report?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span></p> + +<p>The butcher came around from behind the +block to discuss the market report. He admitted +that he had liked the report in the Globe. +“But I can buy it off the street boy who comes +in every evening,” he volunteered. “I don’t +need to bother to subscribe. It wastes my +time.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no,” Renfro shook his head but was +very courteous, “It won’t take you nearly so +much time to pay me once a week as it does to +pay the boys on the street every day. And +sometimes they forget to come in or you have +a customer and they can’t wait, then you have +to go to the door and hunt one up.”</p> + +<p>The man grinned. “Oh, beat it,” he +laughed good naturedly, “you want my subscription. +Is it a prize?”</p> + +<p>“I want to save you time,” Renfro was still +serious, “and money. Sometimes you can’t +get the Globe when you go out after it, because +the boys may be sold out. Then you have to take +another paper and you have a different market +report. And you may lose money because the +other will not be so thorough.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” the butcher was serious now. “You +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span>are a good talker, and I will subscribe to save +time. It is just as you say, though I never +thought of it before. You make out a card and +I’ll pay now and you bring it tomorrow. +Early!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” Renfro began making out the card.</p> + +<p>The next prospective subscriber was a woman, +one of the have-to-be-convinced of everything +sort. Renfro had left her a paper the evening +before and she had read it but yet she couldn’t +see much difference between it and the evening +paper she had taken for five years. Renfro +opened one of his papers, carried it to the library +table, showed her the Woman’s page, explained +the information which it contained, +talked about the features, the editorials, and +knowing the nature of most women, ended with +its strong society column.</p> + +<p>“I’ll try it,” she agreed. “I’ll take it a week +and then if every copy is as good as your two +samples, I’ll subscribe regularly.”</p> + +<p>“Every copy is just like the sample.” Renfro +was sober then.</p> + +<p>But outside he and Merle chuckled. “She +thinks we get out extra good papers for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span>samples,” they laughed and laughed.</p> + +<p>“I’d like to go back to the first man you gave +the sample paper,” Merle said at the sidewalk. +“I think I understand now how to get customers +but I’d like to see what he does.”</p> + +<p>Back to the little L shaped house they went. +The man was ready for them. “The man at +the corner says you are all right. What I +want is an early evening paper, so I’ll sign your +subscription card.”</p> + +<p>“That is the secret of getting subscriptions,” +Renfro confided to Merle when they were alone +again. “Find out what your prospective subscribers +want and then show them that your +paper is the one which gives them exactly that—from +early papers to those which are carefully +folded and put in a convenient place on the +front porch.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII"> + CHAPTER XII. + <br> + THE SCRATCHES ON THE WINDOW. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>Mary was in the kitchen when Renfro +stormed in the back entrance at his +home that evening. He heard her begin +to rattle pans and he knew that she was going +to see to it that he got an extra good supper. +“Another turkey, Mary,” he sang out while +he hung his paper bag and cap on the hooks +she had given to him.</p> + +<p>Cautiously she came to the door. “There’s +company in the living room with your paw and +maw,” she whispered sibilantly. “They’re talking +about the kidnaping. I’ve been lying down +close to the door—face and stomach to the +floor,” she confided. “I crawled backwards +when I heard you comin’ and Glory be, I got +clean thru the dining room without knockin’ +anything over.”</p> + +<p>Renfro followed her into the kitchen. “Gee, +but I’m hungry,” he sniffed. “Mary, love, what +have you to feed me?”</p> + +<p>Mary became stern. “A pretty detective you +are, Mr. Renny,” she refused to use his manly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span>nickname at the hour of his failure in her eyes. +“Aint I been throwin’ clues in the shapes of +hints at you ever since I begin talkin’? Aint +I done got down off my own dignity and told +you how downcast I was on that floor? And +what’s to prevent you but a empty stomach +from followin’ my example and learnin’ things +your paw and maw never would tell you?”</p> + +<p>“Aw, Mary, don’t be so hard on a fellow,” +Renfro’s voice was pleading. “I was so hungry +and I couldn’t grasp any kind of a hint. Course +I’m going to go in there. Only, for goodness +sake, have my supper ready when the talk +changes to other subjects!”</p> + +<p>But Mary seized his shoulders. “You’re goin’ +to do no such thing!” she commanded. “Your +supper is in the warming closet. Take it out +and eat it with the other things on the kitchen +table. It’s meself who’s goin’ back. If anybody +starts into the room, distract them, +Hooch.”</p> + +<p>The next minute she was down on the floor +and wriggling her way across the dark dining +room. A big red and green snake could not +have made any more twists and turns than she +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span>did in getting across the room. Renfro knew +that she was so bulky that she was afraid to +try to lie down in the dining room, so she had +instead taken this way of getting to the door.</p> + +<p>He held his hands to his sides to keep from +laughing so that she could hear him. “Bulky +but ambitious,” he laughed, “and a good pal,” +he finished soberly.</p> + +<p>Back he went to the supper, rattling the +pans and dishes unnecessarily so that his parents +knowing that he was home would be +more comfortable. Straight thru oyster soup, +roast mutton and peach pie he waded. He was +just ready to venture on a second cup of coffee +when he heard Mary nearing the kitchen door.</p> + +<p>Just outside the door she straightened. Disgustedly +she spoke, “If them Wiers aint goin’ +to have some detectives from Chicago, and us +with such a good clue.”</p> + +<p>Renfro’s face fell. This then would probably +be the end of his hopes to solve the mystery. +Still there was a chance for him. No one +except himself and Mary knew of the missing +eyebrows.</p> + +<p>Then he told Mary about his visit to Captain +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span>Pete’s cabin and the conversation. “Mary!” +Renfro stood up in his excitement, “Pete’s face +was a dead give away when I mentioned the +lights in the big house. His eyes were as scared +as a kid’s. He knows that somebody is there, +and I’m going to find out who that somebody +is and just where the rest of those missing +eyebrows are.”</p> + +<p>Mary nodded her head. “Our part of them, +Renfro, are still in my Bible,” she assured +him. “I’ve looked at them every hour to see +they don’t fade away. And I bought me a blackboard +to reproduce them as your pa says, for +our observation—so as to keep ’em in our mind +night and day.”</p> + +<p>In the library Mr. Horn was telling the visiting +lawyer about Renfro’s experience with a +paper route when the youngster entered the +room. He boasted of his new subscribers to +his mother’s chagrin. “If she knew I was working +for Thanksgiving turkeys she would die,” +Renfro laughed to himself. “I’ve half a notion +to spring it on her now.”</p> + +<p>But he didn’t. He lingered long enough to +be sure that they were not going to talk about +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span>the kidnaping any more, and then he went up +to his own room. For a half hour he worked +checking up on his new subscribers and collections. +This done he took up the new magazine +on his desk and tore off the cover. It had been +on his desk three days unopened—a happening +which had never before occurred. And all because +of his interest in the turkey contest and +the Missing Eyebrow Mystery.</p> + +<p>He read the last chapter of the serial. And +then he sought Mary again. “It ended just +the way I said it would,” he told her waving +the magazine in front of her. “The two fellows +who took the jewels were Fred and Manuel +and they hid them—”</p> + +<p>Mary’s hand was raised imperatively. “Listen +Hooch,” she said. “I’ve been making plans +myself. Tomorrow night is my regular choir +practice. Before I go to it I’ll come out on +Washington and we’ll both go to them different +places—one of us to the shack and the other to +the big house. Then we’ll see who is in both +places at the same time. That way they’ll have +no chance to send signals or communicate to +each other.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span></p> + +<p>“Fine, fine, Mary!” Renfro’s enthusiasm was +all that Mary could ask. She murmured something +about the pity being that Renfro too +had not taken a correspondence course in detective +work and her bosom heaved with pride.</p> + +<p>“But, Mary,” Renfro hesitated, “are you +sure you won’t mind missing choir practice?”</p> + +<p>Missing choir practice was one of Mary’s +greatest horrors. In all the fifteen years that +she had sung alto in the mission church, she +had not missed one practice. And now she was +planning to deliberately miss one.</p> + +<p>But she wasn’t. The next minute she set +Renfro to rights on that. “I said I might be +late,” she said severely, “I’m countin’ on us +workin’ fast. I’m not going to miss nothin’ I +tell you.”</p> + +<p>But she did miss something. Then next morning +at exactly five o’clock the Horn telephone +rang. Mary, calling down maledictions on the +head of whoever would call at that hour, listened +to the conversation at the other end of the +wire and with a changed mien proceeded to +Renfro’s door.</p> + +<p>It was Jimmie who called. The carrier boy +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span>whose Morning Post route was adjoining his +had badly frozen his foot the night before. His +first aid work had relieved him somewhat the +night before but this morning he could not +walk. And Jimmie wanted Renfro to help him +carry the other boy’s route.</p> + +<p>“I told him you would,” Mary was hunting +Renfro’s heaviest coat. “It’s not so cold as it +was last night, Renny. And I knew you would +want to be a good scout and help a carrier out. +Now that’s the way I am. When the soprano +soloist was sick and out of church for a whole +week once, I sang high soprano when it was the +most important part in the songs and then +dropped right back to alto when the low parts +were most important. There’s nothin’—”</p> + +<p>But Renfro was motioning her to the door. +“I’ve got to dress in a hurry,” he told her. +“You explain to father and let him make it +right with mother. Now, Mary, for heaven’s +sake keep still before mother and don’t get +her started. Let dad—”</p> + +<p>A few minutes later he was off, buttoning +his coat collar as he ran toward the station +at which Jimmie got his papers. And there he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span>found Jimmie waiting for him. “Hooch Horn,” +he said impressively, “you’re a good scout. I +called up six fellows’ houses before I did yours +and every place I got Hail Columbia, Happy +Land for waking up the family. And you—”</p> + +<p>“And I, Jimmie,” Renfro said impressively, +“I tell you the reason you didn’t get the same +dope at the seventh house was because Mary +Dugan, good old scout, answered the phone.”</p> + +<p>And so flustered was Mary that morning with +extra breakfasts and avoiding any mix-ups with +her mistress that she forgot to read the morning +paper. Renfro in turn did not have time +to even think of such a feast. As he folded the +papers he had glanced at the headlines, which +told of Judge Wier’s summoning the Chicago +detectives and Mrs. Wier’s getting another note +from Helen, it also asserting that she was safe.</p> + +<p>So she was frightened half “into fits” as she +expressed it when Renfro rushed into the +kitchen in the middle of the morning. “Mary, +where is mother?” he demanded in a loud +whisper.</p> + +<p>Mary answered that she was out.</p> + +<p>“Then I can talk,” he added, “Mary, we are +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span>lost; or our clue is—no, I mean discovered by +some one else. I borrowed a morning paper +last hour and there what do you think? Yesterday +Mrs. Wier, while walking up and down the +library happened to look at the window from +which most of the ice had melted and discovered +some little scratches I made with my knife when +I scraped off those eyebrows.”</p> + +<p>He caught his breath. “Of course she doesn’t +know they’re mine,” he added. “But she +showed them to the detectives and vowed they +were not there before—that the windows were +put in new this fall and were perfect and—”</p> + +<p>His teeth chattering. Mary’s big, strong, red +hand went over his trembling ones. “Hooch +Horn,” she said sternly, “You aint worrying +half so much over them finding a clue like ourn +as you are because you’re skeert they’ll think +you had something to do with that kidnaping! +Now aint you?”</p> + +<p>Before Renfro could answer she stormed on, +“Well, they won’t. You and me is too small +fry to even be considered. They know you aint +got sense enough to plan such a thing. If they +thought we was workin’ on a clue they would +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span>give us the horse collar. And that’s why we +got to work this plot out. See?”</p> + +<p>She shook him soundly. “We’ll go out there +tonight as we planned. And you git back to +school. Pretty soon you’ll have that sick excuse +worn clean out. Git back, I say, in a hurry +so that I can read the newspaper and see for +myself just what they do know about them +winder scratches.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII"> + CHAPTER XIII. + <br> + A TRIP TO THE CABIN. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>It was exactly a quarter of seven o’clock +that night and Renfro with his paper bag +almost empty had just turned the corner +into South Washington Street when he ran +plump—into Mary Dugan. She was puffing +as one who had been undergoing great exertion.</p> + +<p>“Hello, Hooch!” she managed a casual greeting +and then burst straight into a monologue on +the difficulties of her journey. She had hired +her sister to come over to the Horn house to +serve the dinner, and the sister had been late. +Mary had boarded the wrong car and had had +to transfer on her way out and—</p> + +<p>“But Mary,” Renfro exclaimed, “You’re +too early! Something broke down with the +press, we got our papers late. I haven’t got a +single new subscriber and I have two more +blocks to deliver.”</p> + +<p>“On both sides of the street?” Mary’s question +was direct.</p> + +<p>“Sure!” Renfro was impatient.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span></p> + +<p>“Then gimme me half of them,” Mary held +out her hands on which were gray cotton gloves +and which looked like veritable apparitions in +the darkness. “Now don’t say I won’t know +where to leave ’em. I know I won’t. But we +kin work skilful—can’t we? I’ll start right +across the street from you and you whistle at +every house where I’m to stop.”</p> + +<p>“Some girl, Mary Dugan,” Renfro began to +count out papers into her hands, “Now where +did you learn—”</p> + +<p>“Hooch Horn,” Mary interrupted him almost +dropping her papers in her eagerness to +explain. “You aint learned yet half the clues +I learned in that detective course.”</p> + +<p>The papers tumbled again, and would have +fallen had not Hooch caught them. “It’s them +gloves,” Mary was quick to realize the impediments +the bulky cotton gloves were in the paper +carrying art. Her right one came off with a +dash and was thrust into her coat pocket.</p> + +<p>“Now gimme the part of the street you know +best,” she commanded. “Your whistler will be +saved some that way.”</p> + +<p>A wave of Renfro’s hand and Mary darted +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span>across the street. Without any sign, or any +communication except the keen whistles from +Renfro, they finished the two blocks in record +breaking time. And then they met at the end of +the block.</p> + +<p>“But I haven’t got any new subscribers, +Mary,” Renfro hesitated, “I made my daily +quota out several days ago and I can’t break +it, you know.”</p> + +<p>“And I made my rule agin’ bein’ late at choir +practice several years ago,” Mary’s alto voice +was very dry, “but I’m thinkin’ this here business +is worth breakin’ anything. This here +affair of our goin’ down there tonight means +either you miss your subscribers or I miss my +choir practice and—”</p> + +<p>“Mary,” Hooch’s hand went on her arm. +“Since you are so good a sport, I can make +up my subscribers Saturday and Monday.”</p> + +<p>“You ought to be gettin’ them other subscribers +from our own part of town, Hooch,” +Mary offered advice, “They’d be easier landed +and—”</p> + +<p>“But it doesn’t seem fair to get into +some other fellow’s territory,” Hooch began. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span>“Now—”</p> + +<p>Mary interrupted him in a determined voice. +“Foolishness! Them circulars you had at home +said for you to go anywhere. If you had a +good route them other boys would be a comin’ +to it mighty fast. And if you have any business +sense like the Horns all have, you’ll follow +my plan.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” Renfro was very meek. Experience +had taught him that it was folly to +argue with Mary. “We go down this road, +Mary, down the middle. It’s as slick as glass +and I expect we’d better hold on to each other. +We don’t want any broken arms.”</p> + +<p>Mary clutched Renfro’s arm with her mittened +hand. Together they slipped, they slid, then +fumbled, and nearly fell on their way toward +the lane which marked the turning off place for +the big house, and the little shack.</p> + +<p>The sky was clear, there were few trees along +the road, and there was a half moon. So Mary +and Hooch had no trouble finding the best place +to scale the log fence. Mary refused all offers +of help. She had climbed rail fences when she +was a girl and knew the exact art with which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span>such a crossing was effected. Moreover she +added with emphasis that she “was not an old +lady yet by any manner of means.”</p> + +<p>Still she had not counted on the rails being +coated with ice. And no sooner was she at the +top of the fence than she was at the bottom on +the other side. Fortunately it was on the opposite +side of the fence she had landed and when +Renfro scrambled over and stood beside her +she was on her feet again.</p> + +<p>She held herself with dignity and Renfro +realizing that there are some things which it +would cause a calamity to discuss was silent. +She was the first one to speak. “You go to the +shack and I’ll go to the big house,” she was the +general again though great had been her fall. +“It would be suspicious looking to Captain Pete +for me, a single maiden lady to come knockin’ +at his door this time of night.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” Renfro’s voice was meek. Mary +never suspected that he was literally holding +his sides to keep from bursting into gales of +laughter.</p> + +<p>“And,” Mary was all dignity again. “I +don’t want any man to be buildin’ up false hopes +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span>on me. It is not Mary Dugan who has yet +brought ruin to a man from raisin’ their expectations +and she don’t begin now with an old +time soldier.”</p> + +<p>“No, Mary,” Renfro managed another sober +response.</p> + +<p>Just then there was a crackling and half roaring +sound over in the shrubbery of the orchard. +Just as Mary and Renfro stopped and clutched +at each other a dark form came out with a rush +and threw itself against Renfro’s legs.</p> + +<p>Mary stumbled, almost fell and then ejaculated +a word which she had not used since she had +become a choir singer, but Renfro patted the big +dog and soothed him. “Lang Tammy, Lang +Tammy,” he crooned, and then he felt a broken +strap on the dog’s neck, “they’ve had you tied +up tonight and you wanted to see me—didn’t +you?”</p> + +<p>“Whose dog is he?” Mary demanded with +asperity, thinking that Renfro had kept something +from her.</p> + +<p>But Renfro reminded her of the dog which +had been with the old man whom he suspected +of being Captain Pete’s brother, and who he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span>was sure knew a great deal about the affair. +“Yes, I remember,” Mary was the general once +again. “You’d better get rid of him if you can. +Havin’ him with us would be suspicious.”</p> + +<p>Lang Tammy was tugging at Renfro’s bag. +For a few seconds Renfro played with him, and +while he did Mary fumbled in her pocket. She +dropped something on the ice. “Some of my +peppermints,” she explained. “My Brother +Sam—he allus says if you wants to be friends +with a dog just give him some candy.”</p> + +<p>And then Renfro uttered a short, sharp command +and Lang Tammy was back in the orchard +again. Renfro was aware that the big dog +would not show up again that night. The afternoon’s +tying had offended him. And he would +stay away from the big house to get even with +his master.</p> + +<p>He watched the dark form in the orchard +while they went up the lane, and he took the opposite +direction from the one in which the big +house lay. A few more rods of slipping and +sliding and he and Mary arrived at their place +of parting. He gave her some instructions +about making her way around the big house.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span></p> + +<p>“The main thing, Mary dear,” Renfro was +solicitous again, “the main thing is not to fall, +you know.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I know,” there was a touch of humor +in Mary’s voice, “Me father used to say that +I had the most trouble in keepin’ my head but +tonight it’s a case of whin me worst trouble is +keepin’ me feet I’m thinkin’.”</p> + +<p>And then they separated.</p> + +<p>Renfro found Captain Pete’s door. The old +man unbarred it, held high his little old lamp +with the blackened chimney, identified his +visitor and gruffly commanded him to come in. +The rabbits were ready, but for the life of him +he couldn’t see any use of Renfro’s coming so +late. When he was young parents didn’t allow +their sons to be out so late, and—</p> + +<p>“But I had to carry my paper route,” Renfro +spoke pleasantly, and the captain thawed to an +extent.</p> + +<p>When he went to wrap the rabbits in an old +newspaper he muttered something about being +short on paper and Renfro brought his two +extra papers out of his bag. “Seeing you +won’t be a regular customer without being +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span>shown the advantage of a newspaper, Captain +Pete,” Renfro smiled a winning smile, “I’m +going to sample you for a while as the boys say. +Every night I have an extra paper I’ll bring it +down to you and soon I’ll warrant you’ll be a +regular customer. I always carry an extra so +that if I get a new customer, I can leave the +paper right then.”</p> + +<p>Pete shook his head. He muttered something +about it being too far for a boy to come alone. +All of which only made Renfro more determined +to visit him. As he had declared the night before +the actions of Captain Pete were evident +that though innocent himself perhaps, he was +not ignorant altogether about the kidnaping of +Helen Wier.</p> + +<p>Outside of the shack Renfro circled around +to avoid suspicion, should Captain Pete happen +to open the door again, and worked his way +back to the meeting place he and Mary had appointed. +He waited, he counted the minutes, +he fumed, he fretted and still no Mary arrived. +He pulled out his watch with its radio face and +saw that it was a quarter after eight o’clock.</p> + +<p>“Mary won’t get to sing alto tonight,” he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span>murmured to himself. “We’ll get back to town +just about the time it’s over.”</p> + +<p>And then Mary came. She clutched at his +arm. “I can’t be stoppin’ to talk,” she was +hurrying him toward the fence. “I’ve promised +the leader I’d get there in time to practice the +Sunday anthem and I will keep me promise too. +You can go with me on the car, Hooch.”</p> + +<p>“And say,” they were at the fence again, +“I’ve got a few clues of my own. And,” Mary +put her foot on the first rail, “You help me all +you can. That falling down sort of affected my +constitution, Hooch.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV"> + CHAPTER XIV. + <br> + THE MAN IN THE HAUNTED HOUSE. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>Mary was the first one to speak and then +it was to reassure Renfro, “You needn’t +worry about your folks askin’ any +questions,” she told him. “They went to +the show unexpected like and won’t know what +time you get home. I heard your paw tell your +maw he’s got the tickets and he bought only two +for he thought you needed to go to bed early +after bein’ out so late with your route.”</p> + +<p>Renfro nodded and felt a bit of relief. He +and Mary were near the center of the car. Mary +had chosen that spot because there were few +passengers there and they could talk without +being afraid some one could hear them.</p> + +<p>All the passengers and even the conductor +had stared at the odd pair when they boarded +the car. Several had smiled broadly and Renfro +had been indignant until he had happened +to look at Mary and someway in her downfall +at the fence she had gotten her hat turned completely +around. The big red rose directly on the +back of her hat was too much for him. And he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span>too giggled.</p> + +<p>“Mary,” he whispered, “Your hat’s back +slided and—”</p> + +<p>Mary Dugan laughed heartily. “Don’t make +much difference,” she added, “Me nose and +face is so bloomin’ red tonight I don’t need the +rose for any further touch of color to me make +up.”</p> + +<p>And then she began to tell about her experiences. +She had moved close to the big house at +the corner at which she had arrived, keeping a +close look out for the big airedale which she +felt sure would turn up at the most unexpected +minute. Carefully she had worked her way +around the house—the west side, the south side, +the east and there she had discovered her first +sign of life in the big house.</p> + +<p>A glimmer of light thru a torn place in the +heavy blind over the window. She had realized +in a minute that thru those thick blinds she +would not discover anything. So she had felt +her way around to the north, found a loose +weatherboard, pulled it off and worked the +blade of her knife, which she always carried, +thru the plastering. A few vigorous, skilful +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span>twists and she had worked a hole which made a +good peeping place for her right eye.</p> + +<p>Her homely face became alight with the joy +of success. She had chosen that spot well. It +gave her a view into the lighted room. Cautiously +then she had worked out another peep +hole for the left eye and then she had studied +every move in the adjoining room.</p> + +<p>After a time she had discovered that there +was but one occupant and that he was exceedingly +cautious. He moved always so that he was +not near the window. He had passed the doorway +only three or four times and each of these +times Mary had studied him closely. He was +short, heavy set, his hair was gray, his clothes +of an ancient style and he was what Mary termed +“uncouth” getting an “ou” sound which +Renfro felt that he would always remember.</p> + +<p>But he had never once turned his face toward +the open doorway and Mary had not seen his +face. So, of course, she knew nothing of the +condition of his eyebrows. But she felt sure +that they would be missing. His hair had been +white. Naturally his eyebrows would be too. +His hair looked as if it were very coarse.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span></p> + +<p>And the eyebrows in captivity back in her +Bible were so coarse that had they been scattered +on the floor they would hardly have been +taken for human hair.</p> + +<p>Moreover the man was in hiding. That was +plainly evident. And Captain Pete? Didn’t +that wily old fellow show by his actions that he +was helping to conceal some one in the big +house?</p> + +<p>Renfro clutched his paper bag in which were +the rabbits. Yes, indeed, he would watch Captain +Pete. But Mary was not thinking much +of watching Captain Pete. They must find some +way to see that man’s face. No use to knock. +They would have to plan some better ruse than +that. She would think about it over night, she +assured Renfro, re-read some of her correspondence +course in “detectiveness” and be ready +to have a conference with him on the next day.</p> + +<p>“Some plan, partner,” Renfro slapped Mary +boyishly on the back completely dislodging her +hat. “You’re a brick, a gold one, and a jeweled +one and—”</p> + +<p>“A plain chimney one,” Mary laughed while +she twisted and turned her hat until she felt +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span>that from the way it set on her head that the +red rose was either directly in front or behind. +A cautious search with her fingers made her +mind easy on that, and she continued her conversation. +“All right, Hooch, only don’t never +call me a brick for a foundation. It’ll make +me think of that fence and my downfall. All +the way to that house I was so frivolous like, +that I kept humming over and over. ‘How firm +a foundation, Ye Saints of the Lord’, and +laughin’ because I, one of the Saints, couldn’t +git over a wobbly log fence, and wonderin’ what +I would do should I strike a firm foundation in +my path.”</p> + +<p>They had reached the mission, now, and the +choir was in full force of rehearsal. The bass +was leading much to Mary’s disgust. She snorted +derisively and assured Renfro that when she +got in there they wouldn’t ever hear that insurance +agent, who put on airs, sing.</p> + +<p>At the door when he turned to go home she +suddenly clutched at his coat. “Oh. Hooch,” +she whispered, “I clean forgot to tell you something +very disturbin’ I read. When them detectives +looked at them scratches on the window +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span>they said right away they had been done by a +knife and then they found two of them coarse +hairs. They didn’t think much of them, the +paper says, but still they are keeping them. +And” she pushed him down the steps, “that +means we have got to work fast.”</p> + +<p>Renfro found that he was trembling when he +reached the foot of the steps—not from fear of +being apprehended himself but of some other +person discovering the kidnapers before he +could. His only hope lay in the fact that the +detectives had all based their search on the idea +that Helen Wier had been kidnaped by persons +who would either soon demand a ransom or by +some one who wanted to have revenge on Judge +Wier.</p> + +<p>And neither Captain Pete nor his brother +could have that motive in mind he was sure. He +had investigated some old newspapers at the +Globe office that evening and found that Judge +Wier had been a mere stripling of a lawyer when +Captain Pete’s brother had been found guilty +of counterfeiting and been sent to prison. Also +he had not had anything to do with the prosecution.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span></p> + +<p>He looked back over his shoulder, and saw +the light in the windows of Mary’s church even +down to the basement. It was all a brilliant +blaze. “A fire!” He gasped and started to +run back.</p> + +<p>Then he remembered. Mary had said that +the charitable women of the church were going +to work there that night to fix Thanksgiving +baskets for the poor. They were making clothes +for them. The other members of the church +would have to donate the food and clothing.</p> + +<p>Renfro gave a sudden jump. It was followed +by another, and then a wild Highland fling. “I +have it, I have it, I have it!” he yelled out loud.</p> + +<p>A door opened directly in front of him. An +inquisitive head was thrust out, a fretful voice +asked, “What’s the matter?”</p> + +<p>And Renfro fled.</p> + +<p>Half way down the block he stopped to laugh. +“But it was worth making some one think I was +insane,” he laughed. “And I’ll do it, too.”</p> + +<p>Early in the morning he would go to the minister +of the church which his mother, his father +and himself attended. He would tell him about +the turkeys. He would offer three of them to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span>the poor, which the church would feed at +Thanksgiving time. There were many people +in that wealthy church who bought The Globe +on the street instead of being regular subscribers. +He would add some of them to his list.</p> + +<p>“I’ll do it—I will,” he whispered this time.</p> + +<p>But his whisper was full of ardor. “And wait +until next week when I see Morrison’s face. +Six of those turkeys are mine.”</p> + +<p>Just then he decided to go into a little lunch +room hardly bigger than the lunch wagons in the +west part of town, and get himself something +warm to drink. There was one near the corner +at which the car stopped. He looked through +the door, saw the steaming “hot dogs” on an +iron grate and entered.</p> + +<p>The place was deserted except for the old +man doing the cooking and a dog lying close to +his little stove. The big dog was a collie and a +very suspicious creature for he barked at Renfro +as he entered. The man quieted him with a +hoarse growl, took Renfro’s order and filled it +all the time frowning sullenly as if he considered +a customer an insult.</p> + +<p>He was tall and thin and bent and broken. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span>Evidence of a hard life were written all over +him. His shrewd eyes spoke volumes about +bartering. Renfro was wondering about the +methods he used when there sounded on the +back door an imperative tapping and the man +went back to answer it.</p> + +<p>Renfro watched him swing some rabbits into +view, heard him quarrel about the shots being +in their bodies instead of their heads, and smiled +when he paid the person who was selling the +rabbits with a handful of small coins. “Seems +to lower the price that way,” he thought.</p> + +<p>And then he listened closely. The restaurant +man has said something about the thickets west +of town being full of rabbits and that a fellow +who had access to them ought to be a little +cheaper on his rabbits to a poor restaurant man +than was this old man.</p> + +<p>With a careful, quiet movement he was off +his stool, and had started toward the front door. +But the big dog intercepted his progress, had +given a series of growls and stood in a menacing +position till the owner slammed the door +and came to Renfro’s rescue.</p> + +<p>The man was half way down the street before +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span>Renfro was to the front door. And it was evident +he did not intend taking a car so Renfro +skirted around a block and passed him farther +down, face to face.</p> + +<p>At least Renfro’s face was toward the +other’s, whose visage was shaded by a heavy +pair of goggles.</p> + +<p>But Renfro knew one thing. The man was +not Captain Pete. And he was almost sure of +another. That he was the man whom he had +met face to face the first time he had seen Lang +Tammy. But of one thing he was uncertain. +Mary had seen a stranger in the big house a +short time before. Then how could he have gotten +across the town on foot in such a short time?</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV"> + CHAPTER XV. + <br> + A DEAL IN TURKEYS. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>Saturday was almost over before Renfro +got to see the Rev. Mr. Bottleman, +who was the clergyman in charge of the +church which he and his parents attended. He +had made his first trip to the parsonage early +in the morning, before he had time to tell Mary +about the stranger at the little lunch room on +the night before.</p> + +<p>And Mr. Bottleman had been out making some +early morning calls on the sick. But his wife, +a very friendly woman giggled and blushed like +a young girl, assured Renfro that he would be +back at noon and urged him to come then as she +always considered the time, during which a man +was eating, the best time to make a request.</p> + +<p>She and Renfro had been friends since Renfro’s +dog had ruined the garden of the deacon, +whose wife criticized the parsonage lady for the +length or rather the lack of length to her street +costume. Though she didn’t have any idea +what sort of a request he was going to make of +her minister husband she determined to help +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span>obtain it if she could.</p> + +<p>From there Renfro had gone direct to a meeting +of Morrison’s carriers. Morrison usually +had meetings only on great occasions such as +giving out Christmas presents or the bestowing +of prizes won by his boys or for other events of +that order, but this time he felt that one was +necessary to stimulate all the carriers in his +district to carry away Thanksgiving turkeys.</p> + +<p>It was the first time Renfro had seen the boys +who worked in his part of town together. They +filled Morrison’s room, Boy Scouts in uniform, +tall boys out of uniform, little ones in corduroy +suits and fat ones in heavy overcoats. The boy +next Renfro was a Freshman in high school and +the son in a family of eight children, all the boys +in which were then or had been newspaper +carriers.</p> + +<p>“It’s just like joining the army,” he informed +Renfro. “Once it gets in your blood +you have to enlist. And we kids had to work +to pay our way thru high school.”</p> + +<p>Morrison began talking. He told them how +nearly to the winning mark several carriers on +other routes were. Then he gave the rating of +the boys in his own section. Renfro smiled +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span>when his name was read first on the list. Now +if his Sunday idea worked out all right he was +sure that he would move up miles ahead by Monday.</p> + +<p>“Hooch Horn,” Morrison beamed on Renfro, +“has Old Grief, and he got every one of his subscribers +out there on that route.”</p> + +<p>The boy who had carried the route in the +spring laughed derisively. “Gettin’ subscriptions +out there,” he said, “is as easy as eatin’ +pancakes on a cold morning. But collecting +the money for them is just the same as eatin’ +them same pancakes when it’s hot in July.”</p> + +<p>Renfro stared at him but was silent. He +knew that Morrison would tell him how many +subscriptions had been paid in advance. And +Morrison did. He had big hopes for Hooch he +said.</p> + +<p>After the talk Renfro noticed that the older +carrier boys eyed him with respect. It was a +new experience for him to be rated according to +his own work and not just according to his +father’s reputation, and he liked it. None of +the boys there knew whether his father was a +financier or a butcher; but they all did know +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span>that he was a successful route carrier for The +Globe and that was what counted.</p> + +<p>The meeting over, Renfro called up the parsonage +again but the minister was still away. +There was no use for him to come out there to +wait, Mrs. Bottleman told him, for her husband +had telephoned that he was going out to a country +parishioner’s home after some supplies for +a poor family.</p> + +<p>“He went with the doctor, and his car is +pretty much out of order these cold days,” she +laughed, “so you just call from time to time today +and I’ll let you know when he comes.”</p> + +<p>Back at his home Renfro ate his dinner and +talked a short time to Mary. The staff of detectives +following a clue which they had obtained +were leaving for another city, the name +of which was a secret. Some of Judge Wier’s +enemies had been tracked there.</p> + +<p>There had been no more letters from Helen, +so they were sure that she was out of town and +that these, the family had received, had been +brought back to town before they were mailed +to avoid suspicion. Mrs. Wier had given up +hope of ever seeing her daughter again but the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span>Judge with his grim determination still believed +that she would be found.</p> + +<p>“And the guilty parties shall be punished,” +he ended his declaration sternly. Even his +wife’s entreaties and the detectives’ advice to +avoid threats could not influence him.</p> + +<p>Mary considered this news good news. But +as to the man who had been selling rabbits to +the restaurant keeper the night before she +didn’t believe he would throw any light on +their mystery. The town was full of low heavy +set men. And did Hooch see his eyebrows?</p> + +<p>Hooch had not. He had worn heavy goggles. +But still Mary was skeptical. She had definitely +arranged in her mind, following more research +in her correspondence school books, that +the guilty parties would be lodged in the +haunted Hall house. Of course, she didn’t expect +Helen Wier to be found there. Like the +detectives, she believed that the child had been +spirited out of the city, but she knew positively +that the Hall men knew something about the +kidnaping, “Well, all about it,” she added.</p> + +<p>That afternoon, the minister still being an +absent personage, Renfro canvassed his route +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span>for new customers and got just three. “A +third of a turkey, almost,” he laughed to himself.</p> + +<p>Saturday’s paper was out early so he was +thru delivering it by four-thirty. He made it +a rule to collect in the mornings. Straight from +Washington Street he went across the town to +the Methodist parsonage in which the Rev. +Bottleman lived. And there he found that that +gentleman had just returned.</p> + +<p>His smile when he shook his hands with Renfro +was encouraging. With spirits rising Renfro +put forth a direct question, “Would you +like to help get some turkeys for three poor +families in your church?”</p> + +<p>The minister didn’t smile. “You bet!” he +agreed boyishly.</p> + +<p>Renfro plunged immediately into the story +of the Globe’s offer of a turkey for every ten +new subscribers their carrier boys secured. +“I’ve made up my mind to have six,” his +mouth closed in the firm decisive line Henry +Horn’s did when starting a business venture, +“And I need some more subscribers.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” Mr. Bottleman raised his eyebrows.</p> + +<p>“I want you to announce my proposition to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span>your parishioners after church tomorrow morning. +Tell them that the poor get the turkeys. +I get the business. That’s what I want.”</p> + +<p>“Sure I’ll do it,” a gleam of amusement +crossed the minister’s face but Renfro didn’t +see it. And immediately the pastor began talking.</p> + +<p>“You stand at the little table just inside the +outer door as the congregation leaves the +church,” he gave definite directions. “Exactly +as I do, following a missionary sermon, and +preceding the missionary collection. You’ll +get some new subscribers I’m sure.”</p> + +<p>Back home Renfro ate his supper and planned +to have a quiet evening. But there came a complaint +from the office. Mr. Bruce had given +directions that each boy, on whose route there +came any complaint of a missing paper, was to +see that that paper was properly delivered.</p> + +<p>And there were two missing on Old Grief.</p> + +<p>Renfro brought his skates and with them +over his shoulder made his way to the street. +With the papers in his overcoat pocket he skated +out to the two little cottages at whose doors he +had left papers earlier in the evening. Either +a neighbor’s dog or a neighbor’s boy he felt +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span>sure had gotten the papers.</p> + +<p>“Gee, I hope this doesn’t last all winter,” +John Lehman, the carrier of the best route in +town, met Renfro on Main Street with a whole +stack of papers in his arms. “I think that the +kidnapers must have decided to steal newspapers +instead of lawyer’s kids. I’m so dead +tired I won’t go to church in the morning,” he +complained.</p> + +<p>Renfro was glad of that for John went to Dr. +Bottleman’s church. And the next morning as +he sat in the pew next his mother he looked +around and did not see a single Globe carrier +whom he knew. He waited impatiently all thru +the sermon for Dr. Bottleman’s announcement +about the turkey proposition. When it did +come he felt that he was blushing to the roots +of his hair and wondered why his mother did +not put out her hand and say that he could not +do that.</p> + +<p>But his mother was amazed along with +several other members over the peculiar announcement. +Nor did she notice when he +slipped out of the pew and took his stand at the +church door.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span></p> + +<p>He saw neither of his parents until near the +end of the processional of people leaving the +church. And then he was so excited over his +good luck in having gotten enough subscriptions, +lacking one, to have won the turkeys. He +was counting the list when he happened to look +up and see his parents.</p> + +<p>His mother’s face was fiery but his father +was smiling. Gravely he took out his pocket +book and counted out the money for a subscription. +“Have it sent to Mary’s mother,” he +said, “I heard her say the other day that she +wished they could afford the paper at her +home.”</p> + +<p>Renfro took the money, gravely counted it +and then looked up at his father, his eyes twinkling, +“Dad,” he said boyishly, “You’re the fellow +who put the finishing touches on the flock. +Your subscription makes me have the necessary +sixty. The turkeys are mine!”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI"> + CHAPTER XVI. + <br> + BOY SCOUTS TO THE RESCUE. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>Twenty-four hours passed and Mary +Dugan knew nothing about the winning +of the turkeys. On the way home from +church Renfro had asked his father and mother +not to mention his success to Mary. “Afraid +she’ll kick on cooking the whole lot?” Mr. +Horn laughed.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horn stared at her husband with hauteur. +He was in admirable humor over the whole affair. +The Rev. Mr. Bottleman had shook his +hand after he and Renfro had had a little talk +over the success of the scheme. “Another king +of industry, Horn,” the minister had laughed.</p> + +<p>Renfro had touched his arm. “Will you +have your three names ready for the charity +turkeys?” he asked. “I’d like to deliver them +in a few days.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll get them to you tomorrow night,” the +minister promised. “I want to do some looking +around to be sure that they are delivered at +the homes where there are the most children.” +He put out his hands. “Come again, when you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span>have another deal like this one,” he said +gravely.</p> + +<p>And then the Horn family had gone out to +their car and started home. Mr. Horn, sensing +the mood of his wife from the lofty elevation +of her chin, did a monologue on the sermon; +and Renfro was trying to picture Morrison’s +pride in the morning when he heard that six +turkeys would go to one of his carriers.</p> + +<p>When suddenly Mrs. Horn gave a moan and +grabbed her husband’s arm. “Oh,” she began, +“what if there happened to be a reporter at the +church. We’ll be the laughing stock of the +town all because you gave your permission for +him to carry that detestable route and—”</p> + +<p>“We’ll be the victims of three funerals +tomorrow if you grab my arm like that again,” +Mr. Horn said hotly, “Didn’t you see how close +I ran to that telephone pole?”</p> + +<p>Then Renfro reassured his mother. The +Globe would not use the story without Mr. +Bruce’s permission, he knew. Also no other +paper would carry one line of it because that +would mean free advertising for the Globe. +“And newspapers aren’t run that way,” he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span>ended.</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Horn was not convinced.</p> + +<p>However, she soon forgot her worries. A +knot of neighbors on the corner caused Mr. +Horn to stop his car. He found the group discussing +new turns in the Wier kidnaping. The +detectives in a town half way across the state +had ordered the arrest of a man, one of the +gangsters, who had been indicted in the election +fraud case and had left the town the night +Helen was kidnaped.</p> + +<p>They would arrive in town that night. The +man’s actions had been mysterious for several +days before the kidnaping, in fact enough so +for the police to send word out to watch him. +“But as usual with our police,” said the doctor +on the corner, who himself having been robbed +during the fall, was vindictive, “no watching +was done.”</p> + +<p>That afternoon Renfro called Morrison for +news of the Wier kidnaping, verifying what +news in regard to the story he had heard that +morning. It seemed to be an assured fact that +this man had been arrested and that he was +being brought back tonight.</p> + +<p>Renfro too heard stories about the scratched +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span>window pane. But the workman who put in +the new windows at the Wier house offered +evidence which seemed to make all these no +clues at all. Very seldom he said were a set +of windows ever installed in a new home without +some of them being scratched by the workmen.</p> + +<p>Most of the work done involved the use of +knives. And these scratches were knife +made. The chief of detectives, hearing this had +laughed and promptly put in his desk the two +gray hairs he had been guarding since a short +time before.</p> + +<p>Monday morning papers told of the return of +the man believed to have some knowledge of the +crime and his incarceration in the city jail. +Mrs. Wier’s condition, according to the story, +was improving. Another letter had come to +the Wier home, this one sent from a nearby +city, written in the child’s handwriting, assuring +her mother that she was well and comfortable.</p> + +<p>On his way to school Renfro telephoned Morrison. +And that executive had been very jubilant. +“How did you do it?” he demanded, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span>“and are you sure all your subscriptions are +acceptable?”</p> + +<p>“Sure,” Renfro laughed back, “I’ve got the +money in advance.”</p> + +<p>Then came a conversation with Bruce, and +Renfro was ordered to come around past the +office that afternoon early enough to have his +picture snapped with the prize turkeys. Renfro +had laughed to himself, “mother will die,” he +imagined her horror when she saw the picture, +“But I can’t help it. Business is business, and +mothers have to expect some publicity if their +sons are successful.”</p> + +<p>At the office that afternoon he stood very +straight while his picture was being made. +The six turkeys were magnificent birds. The +boys, who owned routes for several months, and +those, who had been carriers for more than a +year, were very envious. And also eager to +hear how Renfro had secured his subscriptions.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bruce called Renfro into his office, and +to him and Morrison, Renfro told the story of +his business deal with the minister, and of its +success. Mr. Bruce had then held out his hand. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span>“Congratulations old man,” he had beamed. +“You’re one of the fellows I need right at the +post. There are going to be some vacancies +in some dandy routes. You’ll have first choice +at any of them.”</p> + +<p>“I protest,” Morrison was all dignity, “Mr. +Bruce, Hooch belongs to my bunch. He can’t +be sent in any other district route manager’s +territory.”</p> + +<p>It was then Renfro spoke, “If you please, +Morrison,” he was quite in earnest, “I would +like to keep Old Grief.”</p> + +<p>And both Morrison and Bruce were speechless.</p> + +<p>A little later, Renfro decided to take his turkeys +home before he carried his route. That +would make him later and he would have a better +chance of investigating his eyebrow mystery. +And after he straightened his shoulders +and thought to himself, “The turkeys are won +and I’ve got to solve that mystery in the same +way I won them.”</p> + +<p>It was Macauley who suggested that Renfro +drive the turkeys home—Macauley, who had a +twinkle in his eye and a rich brogue, both of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span>which should have made most people suspicious +but they rarely did. He had lived on a farm in +his youth. He had helped care for turkeys, +“the most recreant birds in the category of +farm animals,” and he laughed boyishly, “and +always they wandered away daily while I hunted +them daily and drove them miles. All you need, +Hooch, is two or three fellows to help you, and +to remember this bit of advice. KEEP TO +THE ALLEYS FOR FEAR YOU MIGHT +FRIGHTEN THE LADIES.”</p> + +<p>Three boys started out to help Renfro drive +his brood home—among them the little carrier +whose route was next Renfro’s and who had +rushed into the office the minute he had heard +that Old Grief had won Renfro six birds. Jimmy +Noel called in a rush to be ready to offer +first aid and have a chance to win more merit +badges, and after him a little colored boy who +had been playing in the alley back of the Globe +office.</p> + +<p>The birds trotted down the first stretch of alley +in a beautiful manner and then they crossed +the street with the same precision. The second +alley would have been a quiet course had it not +been for the washwoman who was carrying a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span>bundle of clothes toward the oncoming flock. +Thinking these turkeys were runaway birds and +scenting an easy way to get a Thanksgiving +dinner she dropped her washing and started +after the largest bird.</p> + +<p>And then came the stampede. Jimmy, Renfro +and Bill, the other route boy kept after the +turkeys which perched on buildings, ran in all +directions and made a medley of noises which +could never be described. But the little colored +boy took after the woman of his own race and +after she had given up the chase of the turkey +he kept up his pursuit, shouting at the top of +his voice.</p> + +<p>At the corner Jimmy sighted some other +scouts starting on a five mile hike. He signaled +them with all the authority of a patrol +leader in his troop and they, being good scouts, +joined in the chase. Two little girls who had +wished for boyish adventure recognized this as +a great opportunity and came to the throng.</p> + +<p>Such chasing, such climbing, such squawking +as followed. But before long the entire six +were back in a group in the arms of six sturdy +scouts. “One good turn today,” they informed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span>Renfro, “Better let us help you get them home.”</p> + +<p>And Renfro agreed. At the next corner they +were met by a colony of colored people, the old +washwoman gesticulating and protesting, while +the little chap who had pursued her was also +talking vehemently. Renfro gasped at the +bunch. It was their evident determination to +accompany himself and the scouts to the Horn +residence.</p> + +<p>He raked his mind. And then he talked to +Jimmy. “Mother’s club is meeting tonight,” +he said. “If this bunch would follow me home +well—”</p> + +<p>And Jimmy, the general, was quick to size up +the situation. “Give the kid a turkey,” he suggested. +“You can’t cook them all, anyway, +and he sure has run some. Besides he isn’t a +scout and doesn’t have to do a good turn for us +other fellows.”</p> + +<p>So Renfro handed the little colored chap a +turkey. And to their amazement the little colored +boy and the big colored woman whom he +had been pursuing, straightway made up all +their differences and went away carrying the +turkey between them.</p> + +<p>“Well, Jimmy,” he laughed, “I’ll change my +mind. He’s a good scout after all.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII"> + CHAPTER XVII. + <br> + RENFRO FINDS THE MYSTERY MAN. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>Like a patrol of victorious soldiers, the +Boy Scouts in khaki, with the big turkeys +perched on their shoulders, entered the +Hall domain from the alley entrance. Jimmy’s +decisive “Halt!” brought them all to attention—all +except the turkey, on the head of which +was the responsibility for the alley episode, and +he flapped his wings and started all the other +turkeys to doing likewise.</p> + +<p>There was no law in all the list of the manual +which told how to control a recreant turkey. +So Jimmy forgot his dignity as a patrol leader +and clutched one of the birds by the neck. She +screamed no longer. But her big wings flapped, +her body twisted, and even her tail seemed to go +into convulsions.</p> + +<p>Convulsions which caught Mary Dugan’s attention +as she passed by the window with a +bowl of thousand island dressing in process of +completion for the salad for the Hyacinth Reading +Club now in session in the Horn library. +The bowl went into the kitchen table, and Mary +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span>Dugan out thru the back door, across the porch, +and right into the midst of the group.</p> + +<p>“The saints be praised!” Mary Dugan forgot +what she called “The Horn Decorum” and +reverted to her own home ways. “And now +that you’ve surprised me by winnin’ ’em all on +a Monday here you’re goin’ to choke ’em to +death before I can have the pick of the one I +want to cook.”</p> + +<p>She flew to the big garage door, threw it open, +and gave stentorian orders, “Here,—put ’em +in here—let ’em roost in peace till I’ve finished +my supper. Then I mix ’em a bit of dough for +refreshment followin’ a soldier party.”</p> + +<p>She bowed to the boy scouts and opened the +rear gate for their departure as soon as the +turkeys were inside the garage and the big door +swung shut again. Her gesture was imperative. +With Jimmy hastening them on, they did not +mark time but did “double quick” steps down +the town’s best alley.</p> + +<p>Then Mary Dugan looked at Renfro, “There +be only five,” she accused him. “You don’t +mean to tell me all them boys let a turkey get +loose.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span></p> + +<p>“No, Mary,” Renfro was impatient. “It was +really a salvage article in a worth while conflict. +But I’ll tell you all about it and how I +happened to get them so soon and everything—new +clues and all,” he promised, “only I’m late +as the dickens with my route now and there’ll +be a dozen complaints and I have to go.”</p> + +<p>Now whatever else could be said of Mary +Dugan the fact remained that she was always +a good scout and without another question she +swung open the alley gate once more, watched +Renfro through it and shouted down the alley +after him. “There be three kinds of cake and +striped ice cream for the reading club. I’ll save +all kinds for you.”</p> + +<p>Again Renfro chose an alley route through +town. It was the quickest way to reach Washington +Street and the drug store. Once there +he saw something unusual. All the packages +of papers except his own were gone. Swish! +That was the sound of tearing the paper which +bound them. Clash! They were going into his +bag. And clatter—he was off down the street +to the front porch of his first customer.</p> + +<p>Up one street, around a corner into another, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span>and back and forth on it he went. It was dark, +the thaw predicted by the weather man had set +in early in the afternoon, and there were places +where it was so slippery from the melting ice +that he had to walk very slowly and carefully. +He did not complain. Old Grief had become the +first rung of his ladder to success. And a +mighty good rung she had been.</p> + +<p>At the corner, nearing the Wier house, Renfro +brushed against a stooped, old woman of +the type usually seen around pawn shops and +cheap restaurants. She was carrying a lot of +bundles, but it was not these Renfro noticed. +Around her neck with both ends flapping free +and showing plainly in the glow from the light +in the middle of the corner intersection was the +peculiar looking scarf the old man whom he had +passed outside the sandwich shop last Friday +night had worn.</p> + +<p>“Humph!” Renfro laughed at his own exclamation +days later. But he was too amazed +then to say anything else. It was possible for +two people to have as odd scarfs as were these, +but hardly possible he thought. And then—well +then, he decided to do a little investigating.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span></p> + +<p>He sauntered a little farther down the street, +stepped behind a tree and watched the old +woman journey slowly down Washington street—still +more slowly, and still more slowly, but +always in the same direction,—the one taken +by everyone of the queer looking individuals +who journeyed out to the big old house, which +everyone said was haunted—everyone except +Captain Pete who declared that claim all tomfoolishness.</p> + +<p>Renfro looked back to his own surroundings. +He was directly across the street from Judge +Wier’s house. The blinds were drawn to the +bottoms of the windows. The afternoon papers +had said that Mrs. Wier was very despondent +again. There had been no letter from Helen +that day. She had declared that she knew the +child was dead and wished that she too would +die.</p> + +<p>The man in the county jail had been questioned +and sweated, and sweated and questioned, +but still stuck to his original statement that he +knew nothing about the kidnaping. Though the +chief of police declared that it was a foolish +waste of time the detectives were off on the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span>trail of his confederates.</p> + +<p>“And Helen’s not two miles from this very +spot,” Renfro declared vehemently to himself. +“And perhaps she is suffering though she wrote +that she wasn’t. Well, I’m going out to the +shack and the big house tonight and I’m not going +to come home until I know something much +more definite than anything I’ve seen up to this +time.”</p> + +<p>He half ran to finish the remaining few houses +on his route, then hurried down the road, crashed +across the orchard and down to Captain +Pete’s little cabin. Once he heard a queer suspicious +noise in the undergrowth just beyond +the orchard, but he felt sure it was Lang +Tammy come to jump on him and play a game +of tug-of-war with his paper bag.</p> + +<p>Near the cabin he stopped a minute to listen. +He looked around the corner. Everything was +quiet. He stopped, listened intently and then +heard voices. Two men, talking in rather loud +tones as if they were having an argument. +Something sounded like the thwack of a fist on +a table and then Renfro walked to the cabin +door.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span></p> + +<p>He knocked with a decisive, determined air. +Captain Pete called out, “Who is there?”</p> + +<p>But Renfro answered with another knock, +more determined than the first. He heard the +growl of a dog and then stopped as if some one +had choked the creature into silence. And then +he did a veritable tattoo of knocks on the big, +heavy door.</p> + +<p>And stamping angrily across the floor Captain +Pete came to open it. The heavy door jerked +on its hinges with the force of an angry host +and Captain Pete’s grizzled face seemed to fill +the door way but not quite—</p> + +<p>For back in the shadow of the room sat a +man, stooped over something—a man who was +heavy set and short and who looked exactly like +the stranger, whose shadow Renfro had seen +so often on the curtain of the window at the +big house across the deserted orchard and lane +of Captain Pete’s domain, again on the coming +out of the back of the restaurant stand and +several times on Washington Street.</p> + +<p>“I told ye I didn’t want the paper,” Captain +Pete growled.</p> + +<p>Then Renfro did the thing which surprised +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span>Captain Pete too much for him to realize in time +to object to what he was doing. He stepped into +the room, around the table and up to the +stooped, old man, “Would you like to have a +sample copy of The Globe?” he asked.</p> + +<p>The question, the boy so near him and everything, +seemed to frighten the old man out of +his self possession. He shifted his feet, shook +his head and then raised it enough so that Renfro +could see his eyes, and—</p> + +<p>ABOVE THEM THE OTHER HALF OF +THE MISSING EYEBROWS.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"> + CHAPTER XVIII. + <br> + THREE MEN IN THE PLOT. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>One instant Renfro stood staring—the +next he gave a quick jump. For, with +a threatening growl the heavy old man +had sprung forward, his fist raised menacingly. +Past Captain Pete out thru the open door Renfro +jumped and ran together.</p> + +<p>Behind him he heard the old man swearing, +heard a loud growl, a series of barks, imperative +orders “Get him, Tam,” and ran behind the +first shelter which offered itself—a low old ash +hopper, which had stood near the cabin since +pioneer days.</p> + +<p>He was not afraid of the big airedale dog but +he did have an idea that the old man—might +shoot if he happened to be able to get hold of +any of the arms Captain Pete kept hanging on +the wall, all loaded as he had told Renfro, ready +for the first rabbit which would cross his track.</p> + +<p>The big airedale shot around the ash hopper. +Renfro dropped on his knees to be out of sight. +But against Renfro he only sniffed, rubbed his +head over his rough mackinaw and whined like +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span>a happy child over the joy of finding a playmate +once more.</p> + +<p>From the open door came sounds of quarreling. +Renfro listened, heard Captain Pete tell +the other man to call his dog back, that the boy +was a friend of his and was not to be harmed.</p> + +<p>“But ye warned me agin’ him yourself,” the +other growled.</p> + +<p>“Call yer dog back!” Captain Pete was determined.</p> + +<p>“I aint,” the other’s voice was dogged.</p> + +<p>“Then I’ll—” there was a break in Captain +Pete’s speech, and Renfro raised on his knees +so that he could see the inside of the cabin. +Captain Pete was reaching for one of his guns. +The other man slouched toward the door and +called gruffly. “Lang Tammy, come here,—come +here!”</p> + +<p>But Captain Pete still held his gun. And +Renfro, fearing violence on Captain Pete’s part, +softly commanded Lang Tammy to go back into +the house. With dragging feet and hanging +tail the big dog obeyed his command. Once inside +the door, the dog gave a yelp of pain. +Renfro rose angrily to his feet but the big door +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span>was swung shut.</p> + +<p>“Well, I’ll not bring any more papers here +without observing the rule of preparedness +first,” he declared as he crouched close to the +fence and worked his way back to the lane again.</p> + +<p>He talked to himself all the way. “And one +sure thing, Lang Tammy’s my friend. He even +deserts his master for me. But no wonder the +way he yelped when he went back into the cabin. +Poor doggie.”</p> + +<p>At the fence he stopped. Yes, there across +the deserted orchard in the lower west window +of the big house was a dim light, and moving +back and forth across the blind a dim shape. +Some one was in the deserted house.</p> + +<p>Two men in Captain Pete’s shack! That was +the Captain and his brother, Renfro had felt +sure of that. But there was another in the big +house. “There was a woman,” he remembered +the old woman who had carried the supplies +and worn the scarf.</p> + +<p>Well, he would cross to the house, peep in the +window and make sure that it was she. It +might—</p> + +<p>He stopped—it might be Helen Wier shut in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span>that little room, left alone in the big house while +her captor visited at the cabin.</p> + +<p>But—he shook his head. That wasn’t probable. +They would be afraid she might escape. +It must be the old woman whom he had passed +back on Washington Street. He would make +sure.</p> + +<p>Cautiously, he worked his way across the orchard, +around the house, close to the west window, +and with his face as near the window as +he dared place it. But hardly had he gotten it +there until the light went out and the noise of +footsteps told him that the person inside had +gone across into the other room.</p> + +<p>With a joyous exclamation Renfro found the +peep holes, which he had cut out a few nights +before with his knife. Carefully, he put his +eyes to the two holes, stared thru them, waited +a long time, and then his watch was rewarded.</p> + +<p>For with great deliberation an old man, the +exact counterpart of Captain Pete carried a +lamp to the little table, spent much effort in adjusting +it, brought to the table some sort of a +little melting pot, under which he lighted a fire +and then moved away again.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span></p> + +<p>Renfro remembered the stories he had heard +about Captain Pete’s brother being a counterfeiter. +Here he was, evidently getting ready +to ply his counterfeiting trade again. The little +melting pot, and array of instruments he was +collecting and bringing to the table. The lamp +under the melting pot burned dully. The old +man tested the something in it, shook his head, +indicating that everything was all right and +went away again.</p> + +<p>When he returned he carried a large tea +kettle, which he proceeded to settle on his knees. +Then with the soldering he took from the pot +on a long soldering iron he began to mend a hole +in its side near the spout.</p> + +<p>It was a relieved but disappointed laugh Renfro +gave. The old man was doing the most ordinary +thing in the world—the old man who looked +so much like Captain Pete that no one could +doubt their relationship.</p> + +<p>Slowly Renfro journeyed down the lane toward +the road, Washington Avenue and home +again. The old lady had not been in evidence +again. The old man in the house was a simple +old soul whose part in the crime if he had any +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span>was of an unsuspecting accessory.</p> + +<p>Again, no doubt Captain Pete knew much, +though he might have been innocent of any part +of it. But the man with the missing eyebrows? +Yes, indeed he was the fellow, and Renfro knew +that it was up to him to move quickly and with +well thought plans if he got him before he +escaped.</p> + +<p>He rode home on the car. He was so hungry +that he felt that his ribs were caving into his +stomach. With home in sight his spirits began +to soar. Mary was sure to have him a good +warm supper and a good cold dessert to top it +off—Mary would be ready to listen to all his +adventures and to pat him on the back and urge +him to greater effort. Mary was—</p> + +<p>And then the light outside the garage door +went on and Mary was out there with Renfro’s +father gesticulating, talking in loud tones, protesting +against his opening the door any wider +and trying to command and explain at the same +time. Renfro grasped the situation in a minute. +He rushed to Mary’s aid.</p> + +<p>“Don’t open it wide, Dad, or they’ll all come +out,” he begged. “My prize turkeys you know. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span>They are all in the garage but the one I had +to give the colored boy for chasing the old +woman who would have stolen it anyway—”</p> + +<p>“But I have to have my car,” Mr. Horn was +impatient. “And besides the garage is no place +for these infernal birds anyway. Your mother +had no better judgement than to tell all those +women I would take them home in the car and +I want it in a hurry before the lodge meeting is +over.”</p> + +<p>He motioned Mary to one side and Renfro to +the other. “Can’t you two keep them in the +corner while I drive out,” he began.</p> + +<p>His hand reached the switch. A button was +pressed and the garage was flooded with light. +And there on the top of the big Marmon sat a +sleepy red and bronze and black mixture of +feathers and skin—the largest of Renfro’s prize +turkeys. Another was on the hood, the third +on the gasoline tank, the fourth on a wheel. +The fifth was not in evidence.</p> + +<p>Not until he stepped in front of the car did +Mr. Horn discover the whereabout of the fifth +turkey. Silently and with a gesture which not +only accused but did so vehemently, he pointed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span>through the windshield. There on the steering +wheel, as if guarding the wheel of state, sat the +fifth of the big birds.</p> + +<p>“Who ever heard of putting turkeys in the +garage?” he began, “You don’t seem to have +any sense as to the proper way of doing things. +Your mother—”</p> + +<p>“Mister Horn,” Mary was the sly strategist +again, “Mrs. Horn’s a waitin’ in there for this +machine to be takin’ her company home. She’s +got the head ache and you know—”</p> + +<p>With rapidity then, the work of getting the +turkeys into the corner huddled together and +Mary’s guarding them, was finished. Mr. Horn +backed the machine out. Mary and Renfro followed +him and the door was closed.</p> + +<p>Outside Mr. Horn’s good humor returned. +Mrs. Willis, the wittiest woman in the community, +he often said, and the wife of his best friend +was on the porch. Before either Mary or Renfro +realized what he was doing Mr. Horn had +her to the garage, had showed her the turkeys +in the corner, told her of the sight which had +greeted him when he had opened the door and +was laughing about the surprise he had received +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span>at the church the day before.</p> + +<p>Then it was impossible to keep Mrs. Willis +out of the living room where she retold the story +to the other members of the Hyacinth Club and +led in the laughter which followed. She declared +that she was bowed down with admiration for +Renfro and wanted him brought before her. So +out of the kitchen he was half dragged, the +napkin Mary had fastened around his neck +still there and the best of his supper back on the +table melting.</p> + +<p>But when they were thru feteing him and +praising him he went back to it, not the least +minding the terrible condition in which it then +was. For he really believed that his mother, +excited by the admiration of the other women, +had become proud of him.</p> + +<p>“Mary Dugan,” he interrupted Mary who +was out of sorts over the large pile of unwashed +dishes before her. “Now if you were a fellow +whose praise would you rather have—the fellows +or your mother’s?”</p> + +<p>And Mary being out of patience with all +mothers who belonged to Hyacinth Club and +made extra work for the “hired help” replied +with alacrity, “Why the fellows, of course.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX"> + CHAPTER XIX + <br> + RENFRO IS KIDNAPED. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>Renfro’s next question brought Mary +Dugan to her feet. “Were there any +Complaint calls in?” he asked. “Did +Morrison or any one call up from the office +or—”</p> + +<p>“Hooch,” Mary was herself again in spite of +her weariness, in spite of the pile of dishes, and +the excitement thru which she had passed. +“There were several calls for you and all from +the office, and I told them a plenty too, how +you’d won the turkeys and had to be allowed to +bring them home in peace, and then when they +just kept a callin’ I just took the receiver and +left it off the hook without paying any attention +to the buzzer till your maw heard and came +and put it on the hook.”</p> + +<p>“But that settled them,” Mary’s voice was +full of pride. “For none of them called again.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well they all got their papers all right—even +Captain Pete,” Renfro’s voice was weary. +“But I do hate to have a lot of complaints go +into the office like must have gone in tonight.”</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp41" id="p182" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/p182.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + There were two people doing the work. Renfro knew + that, because one tied his feet while the other bound + his hands. They worked in the hedge. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span></p> + +<p>Then he remembered something else. “Did +the minister send the addresses where he +wanted the turkeys delivered?”</p> + +<p>Mary had to hear the story of the way the turkeys +had been won so early in the game. When +Renfro told her that a great deal of credit was +due her, that her going to choir practice Friday +night made him think of the help of the church, +she beamed at him.</p> + +<p>And then she told him of some new plans she +had made for working together on the kidnaping +mystery. The Hyacinth Reading Club +with its extra cooking had taken all of her time +that day. Captain Pete had gone next door +with rabbits. The cook there had told her of +his arrival and his departure with more than a +half dozen of the same.</p> + +<p>“Now allus before he’s come here when he +had even a rabbit left,” Mary was convinced. +“So I know he is suspicious of us.”</p> + +<p>Renfro was thinking of the experiences he had +had that night, and was making decisions. No, he +wouldn’t tell Mary about them yet. He wanted +to be sure the man at Captain Pete’s was his +man; he wanted to see him either in daylight or +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span>in a light which would show his eyebrows up a +little better. He wanted to be sure they matched +with the missing parts.</p> + +<p>And then he rose and went to his room. +Very slowly he undressed, waited until it was +quiet below, slipped down stairs and to the +drawer in the kitchen cupboard, in which Mary +kept her Bible. Then he took out the two +packages containing the missing eyebrows.</p> + +<p>Yes, it would be better for him to carry them +for a few days. He might meet the man on the +street, or in a store and after seeing him while +memory was still strong, he wanted to compare +with it the parts of the eyebrows which he had +taken from the windows of Judge Wier’s home.</p> + +<p>He turned his trousers pockets inside out, +then those of his coat, surveyed the motley collection +in each, replaced the different articles +in them and shook his head. His eyebrows +would not be safe in such a lot of things as +these. He looked around the room and then he +saw his cap.</p> + +<p>With a bound he had it in his hand. The +band inside was deep and strong and loose—all +just the way he wanted it to be for a good +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span>hiding place. He knew that telegraph messenger +boys carried messages in their caps. +With great care he sewed an envelope inside +that band in which he had sealed the two +smaller packages.</p> + +<p>Before he went to bed that night he did +several little things he had wanted to do for a +long time—wrote a letter to a chum in another +town, counted up his balance in the bank and +made out his Christmas shopping list. He even +straightened his dresser, made a memorandum +about delivering the charity turkeys, went to +the window, and looked out at the neighborhood +for a time. He felt queer—neither elated nor depressed, +but quite as if a different sort of an +experience from any he had known, loomed before +him.</p> + +<p>He was glad they had taken his picture at the +office. If anything happened to him—</p> + +<p>He laughed boyishly. If he did happen to +find the place where Helen Wier was being kept +then they too would be glad they had his picture. +That happy thought sent him to bed and +to sleep so fast that it was quite late when he +awoke.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span></p> + +<p>The day seemed to rush by. His mind was +on one thing though he heard of many others. +His fame in winning the turkeys had spread +thru Grant high school, thanks to Jimmy Noel +and his crew of helpers. The teachers congratulated +him; the boys praised him, and some of +the girls he knew best were inclined to try to +twit him.</p> + +<p>But he hardly heard them. Before him +there loomed the big house in which the old man +had mended the tea kettle, the cabin in which +Captain Pete and his strange guest had +quarreled, and the old woman, whose wearing +the scarf had made her have some connection +with the mystery. And always each picture +showed to him the fierce, cruel face the old man +assumed when his anger was aroused.</p> + +<p>He was early on his route that night and +delivered all his papers with precision. Directly +after supper he was going to tell Mary the +whole story and see if she would go with him to +the cabin and big house once more. That was +the best he was sure.</p> + +<p>But he didn’t get to tell Mary. While he was +at the supper table there was a call from the office +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span>for him—a complaint from on his route. +He took the number, went back to the table to +finish his dessert and to listen to his mother +give a monologue on the dangers of carrying a +paper route.</p> + +<p>Carrying complaints on such nights as this +was sure to give him pneumonia some time she +argued. People were careless with their papers. +No doubt the boys often left them at +these complainers’ homes and then they—</p> + +<p>Renfro started at her charge. Why he remembered +now that he had left a paper at that +number they had given him at the office. That +was the number of the house where the little +crippled girl sat at the window and watched +for him—a long, low house without any paint +and with a tin roof on the front porch, which +roof was about in the same condition as that of +the big house at which the mystery was deepening.</p> + +<p>He went back to the telephone, called the office, +and asked for the number again. He might +have heard wrong he thought. Exactly the +same number was given him again. He wanted +to tell the manager he remembered leaving the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span>paper there. The little crippled girl had herself +opened the window that evening for it, but +he knew that an argument would only make +his mother more uneasy, more set against his +continuing with Old Grief.</p> + +<p>Now that he had been successful she declared +he should have a better route, his own home +or one in the business part of town. If once she +conferred with Mr. Bruce who had offered him +such a route, Renfro knew it would be very hard +for him to continue with Old Grief.</p> + +<p>“And,” he told himself, “I don’t want to +leave there until I have the circulation worked +up to 80% of the number of residents on that +route.”</p> + +<p>He stepped out into the dark street, fumbled +his way around the house to the side porch +where his bicycle had been left, but did not +take it. There was a puncture in the front tire +and it was flat. He walked to the corner and +here took a car. Car fare was a minor consideration +now that he needed time. He would +hurry back, tell Mary about the story and perhaps +then when she had all her work out of the +way she would go scouting with him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span></p> + +<p>He dropped off the car at the nearest corner, +and with the paper under his arm scurried +down the street. Past the big house, next door +to the little one he hurried, and then in sight of +the one with the tin roof and the little crippled +girl. His feet suddenly slipped on something +which felt like a carpet of banana skins; down +he went clutching at a hedge to break his fall, +and then someone clutched him.</p> + +<p>Something strong—it felt like a band of +leather was passed over his mouth. Both of his +hands were caught behind him and a sharp +thong passed around his legs. But his eyes +were left free. As they tied his hands behind +his back he wondered why he had not been +blindfolded. And a little later he learned.</p> + +<p>There were two people doing the work. Renfro +knew that,—because one tied his feet while +the other bound his hands. They worked in +the hedge.</p> + +<p>Renfro wondered then why the city council +had allowed all the tall hedges to stand in this +old part of the town. Had they never seen the +possibilities they offered to thieves and people +like these? Evidently these men had realized +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span>them fully, for in giving a number from which +to send a complaint they had chosen one next +door to one of these hedges.</p> + +<p>And then he realized that one of his captors +was a woman. She moved in front of him and +her skirts swished against his knees. That +discovery made him more furious than ever. +He twisted his body, shoved with his shoulders, +and pushed against her with all his might. +The next minute he was firmly lifted by the +other captor, from whose strength he knew was +a man, carried out into the street and deposited +on a small wagon there.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX"> + CHAPTER XX. + <br> + HIDDEN IN THE CAVE. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>He was placed on the floor of the wagon, +face downward. As the wagon started +it went with a jolt which thrust his face +against a rough board and cut his nose and +cheek. More jerks did a series of bruises on +his forehead, his chin and his nose. By almost +superhuman effort he managed to roll over on +his side and then on his back.</p> + +<p>By the time this was accomplished they had +traveled down a dark road quite a distance. It +was so dark Renfro could not see three feet +ahead of his face at first. But his eyes soon +got accustomed to the darkness. And little by +little, he began to recognize the tops of the trees +and by the feeling of surroundings to know that +they were on the road which ran off East Washington.</p> + +<p>Instinct, more than anything else, told him +that they turned off at the second lane of the +first on the Hall place. The first one was only +used by pedestrians. The second was for +wagons, but it had been used so little that it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span>was in a horrible condition. The jolting sensation +was terrible. Renfro realized that his +face would have been cut beyond recognition +had he not managed to turn over.</p> + +<p>They jolted close to trees, through a lot of +low underbrush which ground against the +wheels of the wagon and across a little bridge. +The limbs on one low hanging tree struck his +face and scratched it still more.</p> + +<p>The silence, which the couple had maintained +in town and along the road, was now broken. +The old woman, whose voice was almost as +gruff as her companion’s complained of the way +he drove. He in turn offered to share the privilege +with her if she so desired to seize it.</p> + +<p>An imperative “whoa” stopped the horse, +suddenly. The man clambered out, thrashed +around the wagon, seemed to be tugging at a +door. A squeaking of rusty hinges followed his +efforts, and he called out gruffly, “Drive on in +Maggie, and remember the log on the east side. +You hit it the last time.”</p> + +<p>Renfro hoped that Maggie would not hit it +this time. He held his breath while the wagon +jolted thru the door into a dark, dilapidated +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span>building which was full of moldy odors. And +there the horse stopped. He had to lie still +while they unhitched the horse, all done in the +darkness. They discussed the harness which +seemed to be needing repairs from what they +said.</p> + +<p>The old man told Maggie to get some food at +a bin, but she replied that she couldn’t find it +by just feeling around. She wanted to light +the lantern but he wouldn’t allow her. A +trifle crossly she refused to even try to help +farther. And he said surlily, “If you had +them 15 years in the darkness I did, you’d be +able to find anything by feel.”</p> + +<p>After that she was more patient and seemed +to help all she could with the finishing of the +feeding. She came with the old man to the +wagon, and stayed with him while he took out a +knife and cut the strap which tied his legs.</p> + +<p>“You walk with me, just as I tell you, or +you’ll know what you’ll get,” the man’s surly +voice was charged with a threat which Renfro +knew he would not hesitate to keep.</p> + +<p>So he meekly followed his directions and +walked between the two of them. The old woman +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span>who seemed to have a more human disposition +than the man, helped Renfro along by +holding his arm. They went across decaying +vegetable matter, through a door, close to a +manger, and then into another room, smaller +and close and possessing much more moldy +odors than had the others.</p> + +<p>There the old man lifted some sort of a door +in the side of what seemed to be a banked part +of the barn and they all stepped into a place so +dark that Renfro could not see at all. While +the old woman closed the door, her companion +lighted a lantern.</p> + +<p>For several minutes the light, though it was +dim, blinded Renfro. Then his eyes gradually +became accustomed to the light, and saw that +they were in a narrow passage way. A few +feet along it, and they came to some steps. +They went down them—down, down, down, into +an opening which seemed to be a cave. And +there Renfro with his hands tied, and his mouth +still bandaged was thrust into another and +darker place and the door, which had been +opened to allow him being pushed through, was +shut again.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span></p> + +<p>His first sensation was that he was on solid +ground. Then his feet seemed to give away +under him and he fell heavily, his head striking +something sharp and hard. A quick pain, worse +than any he had felt during the short ride, and +then Renfro drifted into unconsciousness.</p> + +<p>When he came to, it seemed that hours had +passed, but it had really been only a period of +some twenty minutes. He was lying on a pallet +of mouldy smelling rugs and comforters. They +were full of hard knots which sent shooting +pains through his bruised body.</p> + +<p>The room was not entirely dark now. There +was a dim light and Renfro turned a little +onto his side, saw that it came from a coal oil +lantern, which emitted much more bad smelling +smoke than it did light.</p> + +<p>The bandage had been taken from his mouth. +But the stout cords were still on his wrists, and +others had again been tied around his ankles. +They were tied in such a manner that if he lay +perfectly still they were comfortable, but if he +twisted or attempted to move, they cut into his +flesh like circular knives.</p> + +<p>But in spite of the pain caused by his moving, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span>Renfro managed to twist himself until he could +see the nature of the room in which he was imprisoned. +It was cold and damp and mouldy. +Odors like those coming from a musty cellar, in +which vegetables had long been stored, were +strong around him.</p> + +<p>There was some one in the room but Renfro +could not see who it was. Heavy, rapid breathing +behind him—in the direction he felt sure +was the door through which he had been thrown—proved +that. He watched directly above him +and to the side of the room he was facing.</p> + +<p>And after a little looking he realized that it +wasn’t a room at all but a cave in which he was +a captive. The rough jagged wall and ceiling +were of rock, from which hung stalactites now +stained and discolored by the rain and smoke of +fires, which had been kept burning in a rusty +coal oil stove.</p> + +<p>There was a fire in the stove now, and Renfro +was getting some heat from it. Besides it and +the pallet, on which he was lying, Renfro could +see no other furniture in the room. The lantern +was flat on the floor.</p> + +<p>Renfro shivered. He was cold to the marrow +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span>of his bones. He shivered again and then a long, +hard sneeze came out of his nose and throat. It +was followed by another of the same, and then +a whole series.</p> + +<p>The person behind him stirred and came +around the pallet until Renfro could see her—a +swarthy, heavy set woman with a sour, disappointed +visage and stooped, weary shoulders. +Over her head she wore the odd colored scarf +Renfro had seen twice on the street—first outside +the little hot dog restaurant and next on +East Washington Street.</p> + +<p>She looked down at Renfro and he saw that +her eyes were not half as hard and sour looking +as her face. Her lips drawn in a straight line +seemed to relax a little in their severity while +she looked. And then she opened them and asked +one short word, “Cold?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Ma’am,” Renfro sneezed again.</p> + +<p>With her free hand, the other was holding +something under the scarf, she pulled the coal +oil stove closer to his pallet and then she opened +a door, slipped through it and closed it after her, +and Renfro was left alone—but not for long. +When the door opened again, it was the old man +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span>who entered this time, a heavy, horse blanket +in his arms.</p> + +<p>On his head was the hunting cap with the +sharp, low hanging bill. He spread the blanket +over Renfro, gruffly asked him if he wanted +something to eat and, after receiving a negative +answer, squatted on the floor and looked close +at the boy.</p> + +<p>And Renfro looked back at him. There was +instant recognition on the part of both, the old +man who had been in Captain Pete’s cabin and +the boy who had burst in and handed him a +sample copy of the Globe.</p> + +<p>For quite a time they stared at each other and +then the old man realized that his attempts to +frighten Renfro had failed. He gave a short +chuckle, which was more disagreeable than anything +else, and then jerked off his cap.</p> + +<p>And in the dim light to which Renfro’s eyes +had grown accustomed, was plainly visible the +remainder of the eyebrows, half of each of which +had been left sticking to Judge Wier’s frozen +window pane.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI"> + CHAPTER XXI. + <br> + HELEN WEIR IS FOUND. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>The old man’s first words came in the +form of a question. “Where are the +rest of ’em?”</p> + +<p>Renfro did not attempt to answer. To force +an issue the old fellow was tempted to use +gruffness but a look deep into Renfro’s steely +blue eyes told him that would be a waste of +time. The boy couldn’t be frightened into telling +anything. Better treat him as he would a +man.</p> + +<p>“You scraped them off the window pane?”</p> + +<p>This time Renfro answered, “Yes.”</p> + +<p>“I knew some one had when I read the newspaper +about the knife scratches,” the old fellow +was talking like a human being, and not in the +gruff disagreeable tone he had used up to this +time. To be exact he seemed to be getting some +pleasure out of talking to some one who had recently +come from town and who knew the town’s +version of the kidnaping affair.</p> + +<p>“And I knew it was you,” the talker was +measuring wits with Renfro, “as soon as I saw +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span>you staring at me, out at that hot dog shop.”</p> + +<p>His voice was triumphant. He rose from his +half sitting, half kneeling posture and came +over to Renfro. Turning him over roughly he +went into his pockets, pulled out all of the contents, +and carried them to the lantern. He was +so busy examining them, that he could not see +the look of elation on Renfro’s face, followed +by one of apprehension toward his cap which +was on the floor not far from his pallet.</p> + +<p>With a surge of joy Renfro realized that it +was muddy and dilapidated and torn. In that +condition it would not receive any attention. No, +the hiding place of the missing eyebrows was +safe.</p> + +<p>The fact that his search was unsuccessful +made the old man quite angry. He threw the +things he had taken out of Renfro’s pockets to +the floor, and came back to the boy. “You +didn’t destroy them.” There was no question +but just a simple statement.</p> + +<p>Renfro was silent. “Well you’ll tell me where +they are and I’m goin’ to git them tomorrow.”</p> + +<p>Again silence. For some reason or other the +old man did not seem to care to argue. He merely +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span>stared at Renfro, curiosity keen in his deep +eyes. And was it imagination or did Renfro +actually see a gleam of admiration in them as he +stood and stared?</p> + +<p>The door opened and the old woman’s voice, +now weary and fretful, put forth a question, +“Does he want anything to eat, Bart?”</p> + +<p>Renfro answered for himself—a courteous +“No, ma’am—I thank you.”</p> + +<p>The same voice with its touch of queerness +mumbled something about it bein’ late, and she +was sleepy, and for Bart to come out and leave +the boy alone. Then Bart threw another cover +on Renfro, took the coal oil stove in one hand, +the lantern in the other and followed her +through the door.</p> + +<p>And Renfro was left in black darkness. The +cover on him warmed him and he began to feel +drowsy. He was too tired to wonder what the +folks were doing at home now that it was time +for him to be missed, or to regret the fact that +he had not taken time to tell Mary of the find +he had made in Captain Pete’s cabin the night +before.</p> + +<p>He didn’t wonder whether or not they would +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span>start a search for him. He was thinking of his +route. Who would Morrison send out tomorrow +to carry it for him? And would he find his list +of new customers? And would they remember +to take the three charity turkeys to the parsonage +and—</p> + +<p>There was a sharp bark in the next room. +Renfro’s heart surged with joy. He was not +alone in the cave. He had a friend as a fellow +prisoner. That bark came from Lang Tammy. +And after it a girlish voice said sharply, “Can’t +you see Tammy’s half starved to death? He +wants milk—don’t you, Tammy?”</p> + +<p>And Renfro twisted until the throngs cut +down into his flesh. That voice belonged to no +one else but Helen Wier. She was in the cave +too—just on the other side of the partition from +Renfro.</p> + +<p>At exactly the same time Judge Wier and +Henry Horn were in council with the detectives +at the police station. After Renfro had gone +an hour from the Horn home a search had been +instituted for him. Inquiry at the Globe office +had failed to give them any evidence except the +number of the house from which the complaint +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span>had been sent.</p> + +<p>A hurried trip out there and Mr. Horn and +Morrison, who had come to his aid in looking for +Renfro, discovered that the complaint call had +been cleverly faked. Their suspicions were +fully established. But still they did not give up +hope. They called up all the homes of Renfro’s +friends, they had both the house and office of +the Globe ready to send out relief calls if Renfro +should happen to appear.</p> + +<p>But hours passed, and there came to the two +men no news. And then they had gone to the +police station. Judge Wier was summoned and +the two fathers went into close conference.</p> + +<p>They, with the detectives, decided that for the +sake of their search, after both Helen and Renfro, +that it was best not to let the town know of +Renfro’s disappearance until evening—not even +Mrs. Horn. The detectives wanted a chance to +start a well organized search.</p> + +<p>Early attempts to hunt Helen had been hindered +by the crowd of people who had collected +as soon as the news of her kidnaping had +spread. Scores of foot tracks around the fateful +house, all made by the curious persons, had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span>made it impossible for footprints to furnish a +clue.</p> + +<p>Cleverly Mr. Horn concocted a story for his +wife about Renfro’s going home with Morrison +to do some extra work, early in the morning. +When he told her about it she was very much +out of humor and condemned paper routes in +biting language.</p> + +<p>“If she only knew the truth,” Mr. Horn +thought to himself and trembled. Some time +the next day she would know the truth.</p> + +<p>Mary Dugan, dead tired, heard the story and +believed it without a qualm. She was sorry Renfro +had to do the extra work. That meant just +one more day for her to feed the turkeys, which +he had said belonged to the church.</p> + +<p>Morrison in turn had gone out to the Bruce +home, and Bruce, after hearing the story, had +gone straight to the city editor. Together they +mapped out the course they would follow. Their +noon edition would contain a story of the kidnaping—that +would be their scoop, and early in +the afternoon they would send more detectives to +help the local ones in the search.</p> + +<p>Then Bruce and Morrison departed to their +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span>individual homes and went to bed.</p> + +<p>But neither Henry Horn nor Mary Dugan +slept much that night. The detectives had +assured Mr. Horn that they would soon find +Renfro, that his kidnaping had given them definite +proof that Helen Wier had been taken by +local criminals. They would start an investigation +from a new angle.</p> + +<p>In the morning, of course, he would not go to +work, just seemingly do that, so as not to disturb +his wife. He would show those kidnapers +that he was not a slow man to deal with like +Judge Wier had been. He would prove to them +they couldn’t—</p> + +<p>And directly above them Mary Dugan had +hunted her Bible, read her Golden Text for +next Sunday and was fumbling with the family +pictures. And then she remembered the missing +eyebrows. She opened the book at page +222, the one next to which she had put them.</p> + +<p>And then she fell back with a low cry. The +packages were gone. There was not even one +white hair left.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII"> + CHAPTER XXII. + <br> + THE LIGHTS ARE REVEALED. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>Merle Riker carried the names of his +six new subscribers to Morrison’s office +only to discover that Morrison was +out. Wearily he sat down into the big chair to +wait. He had accomplished what had seemed to +him impossible a few days before. And he wanted +Morrison’s approval. And after that he +wanted Renfro Horn’s.</p> + +<p>“He taught me how to do it,” Merle had +told Jimmie Noel on his way to the office. +“Renfro Horn is a good sport.”</p> + +<p>“He’s a good scout,” Jimmie added soberly, +“And that reminds me. I haven’t seen Renfro +all day. Let’s go out there tonight and have +a talk with him.”</p> + +<p>Merle promised. “My mother doesn’t care +for me being out at nights when I’m with a boy +like Renfro Horn,” he explained. “Meet at the +corner drug store?”</p> + +<p>Jimmie had agreed to that meeting place. +Just as soon as Morrison came, Merle decided he +would rush home, announce to the Riker family +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span>they had a Thanksgiving turkey, eat a hurried +supper and come back to the meeting place and +then go to the Horn home.</p> + +<p>But Morrison didn’t come. The clock struck +six-thirty, seven, and then Merle rose. +He went straight to the corner drug store, met +Jimmie, and took him home with him. So +Jimmie heard Merle’s announcement about the +Thanksgiving turkey and witnessed the joy it +created. And as soon as Merle had eaten his +supper they started back to the Horn residence.</p> + +<p>But there they faced another disappointment. +Mary Dugan told them Renfro wasn’t +home, was still out on his route and that they +could walk out to meet him if they wanted to +see him.</p> + +<p>“She isn’t cross usually,” Jimmie volunteered. +“But she’s tired out or something. +Usually it’s as Hooch says, ‘Mary Dugan is the +best scout of them all.’”</p> + +<p>Together the two boys walked out toward +East Washington Street, but though they +watched every corner and every car they +didn’t see Renfro. “Might as well give it up,” +Merle was disappointed, “and go home. I’ll tell +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span>him in the morning.”</p> + +<p>“We’re near the Globe office,” Jimmie offered. +“We might go past and stop in to see +if Morrison’s back. You’d like to tell him, if +he’s there—wouldn’t you?”</p> + +<p>They went to the carrier’s room, found it +empty but the door to Morrison’s was ajar. +Jimmie started toward it and stopped, his attention +suddenly riveted by voices he heard. +“But his mother must not know.” It was Mr. +Horn talking.</p> + +<p>He recognized Bruce answering. Morrison +too chimed in. And little by little Jimmie +learned the whole story—of how Renfro had +been kidnaped, of how they were keeping it a +secret and of how they hoped in this way to +get a quicker solution of the kidnaping mystery.</p> + +<p>Jimmie, when he learned all the particulars, +pushed Merle back out onto the street again. +“How much did you hear?” he there demanded.</p> + +<p>“Not enough to understand anything except +that Renfro has been kidnaped, too, just like +Helen Wier,” Merle was inclined to be gloomy, +“and they were both my friends.”</p> + +<p>“And we’re not to tell a word we heard,” +Jimmie caught Merle’s arm and shook him. “Do +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span>you understand? Telling this would hurt Renfro. +It would lessen their chances to find him. +We’ve got to keep still and—”</p> + +<p>“Help find him,” Merle answered, the steel +in his eyes shining so that Jimmie could see it +as he never had before.</p> + +<p>Jimmie Noel stopped. “Wait,” he commanded, +“Wait a minute. I have to think.”</p> + +<p>For fifteen minutes Merle waited. Then +Jimmie drew him toward the corner. “Can you +stay out very late?” he asked. “It may be all +night. I have an idea. It may be nothing and +again it may reveal to us where and how Renfro +was kidnaped. Can you go out to ‘Twin Cedar +Cabin’ with me? And stay all night?”</p> + +<p>Merle nodded. “I’ll call mother. If I tell +her we’re going out there to see Renfro, she’ll +be all right,” he explained, “and that is what +we are going to do if he’s there—isn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“You bet!” Jimmie’s spirits were soaring, +“I’ll telephone, too. And I’ll tell Jack Burton +we’re going. I won’t tell him about Renfro but +I’ll ask him to go along. He has some sense +and he may help out some.”</p> + +<p>They separated and a little later they met, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span>having deemed it more safe to use different +telephones. “Jack can’t go,” Jimmie explained. +“His brother raised a row against him going +and so he has to stay at home.”</p> + +<p>On the way out to the camp, Jimmie explained +many things to Merle—of how when the cabin +had been purchased and he had heard the story +of the two chiefs who had fought for the hand +of the pretty white girl, he and one of the young +scout masters had decided to add to the lure of +the place for all good scouts. They had gone +out secretly and dug two graves, burying two +old skeletons which had been in the trash room +of the high school.</p> + +<p>“It wasn’t hard to believe those skeletons belonged +to Indians,” Jimmie laughed, “so we +named the graves those of Wampum and Big +Eagle.”</p> + +<p>And then he told about the odd lights which +they had seen on the nights they had been there. +“Now I was suspicious,” he added, “and began +to study ways those lights might have been +made. And I just discovered the other day. +Someone who wanted to keep anyone away from +that cabin could have placed a number of batteries +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span>there and then operate them from quite a distance. +I believe that is just what someone is +doing.”</p> + +<p>He drew a deep breath. “Every time any +of the fellows go out to the cabin to stay all +night they watch for the lights and they are not +disappointed about seeing them either. So it +stands to reason that they are being operated +to keep scouts away from that cabin. Now, +tonight we’ll lay for those fellows. I have a +hunch we’ll find a fellow who is connected with +Renfro’s kidnaping.”</p> + +<p>Merle listened while Jimmie made his plans. +They would go to the cabin, light the lamps, and +build a roaring big fire in the fire place. Then +Merle would stay in the cabin while he—Jimmie +would go to the graves, hide near there and +watch for some sign of life.</p> + +<p>They reached the cabin safely. The lamps +were lighted, the fire made, and then Jimmie +slipped out of the cabin. A little later, Merle, +following directions, extinguished the lamps +and crept to the window.</p> + +<p>He looked down toward the mounds. And +soon his watch was rewarded. Violet and blue +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span>lights alternately played over the graves. They +left for a little while and then they came back. +For about fifteen minutes they lingered this +time and then they suddenly went dark again.</p> + +<p>Merle waited. Minutes passed, and then +longer minutes. But the lights did not come +back. Nor did Jimmie. This was a hard wait for +Merle. He began to wonder if anything could +have happened to Jimmie. He had been told +before Jimmie left not to dare leave the cabin +but just stay there and watch. Something of +unusual importance might happen right there.</p> + +<p>And just as he was about to throw Jimmie’s +commands to the winds and leave the cabin to +search for him, Jimmie appeared. He was a +ruffled, muddy Jimmie. “Great Scott!” he +ejaculated, “I was never so disgusted in my +life. If I hadn’t had that club in my hand and +given them a dozen or more healthy raps I +would feel like batting my head in the hope I +could get some more brains into it.”</p> + +<p>He went to the fireplace and sat down. “It +was just as I thought,” he said. “Those lights +came from electric batteries. Only they belonged +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span>to the high school boys who want this +cabin. They tried to get it when the scouts got +it but we had the most money. Jack Burton’s +brother led the gang. Whenever Jack would +start out here they would come and operate +their battery system. They thought they would +scare us out pretty soon.”</p> + +<p>Merle was quite as disappointed as Jimmie. +He came over and sat down beside him. “I ran +into the whole nest of them,” Jimmie continued, +“and I knocked them right and left with +my club. I think they thought I was a score +of scouts for they ran—FROM ONE BOY,” he +laughed.</p> + +<p>Merle laughed with him. “But that doesn’t +help us with Renfro,” he began suddenly.</p> + +<p>“No,” Jimmie shook his head, “Poor old +Hooch! Wouldn’t he have liked to be in on this +tonight?”</p> + +<p>Later they snuggled up in their blankets and +went to sleep. And when it was morning they +soberly went back to town, both of them with +one great determination and one secret in their +minds. They were going to keep still about +Renfro Horn’s being gone and at the same time +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span>they were going to help hunt him.</p> + +<p>“Tonight, I’m going to walk over his route +after I carry mine,” Merle assured Jimmie, +“and hunt out every suspicious looking person +on it. Want to go along?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” Jimmie was emphatic.</p> + +<p>“And keep still all day?”</p> + +<p>“You bet!” Jimmie’s lips went close together.</p> + +<p>“Then tonight at six o’clock,” Merle had the +last word, “and meet me at Flaherty’s butcher +shop.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"> + CHAPTER XXIII. + <br> + HELEN TALKS TO RENFRO. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>Renfro awoke early the next morning. +The room of the cave in which he was +confined was dark and the air seemed +colder, more mouldy than on the night before. +He wished that they had left the foul smelling +lantern in his room, though the evening before +he had hoped it would be removed.</p> + +<p>His wrists and ankles felt numb. Last night +they had ached for quite a long time. He decided +while he lay alone in the dark that when +Bart or Maggie came in he would ask them to +ease the cords a bit. But when, after more +than an hour, the old man, still wearing the +low brimmed cap and surly air of the night +before, came into the room Renfro decided not +to even mention the tightness of the cords.</p> + +<p>It was the same smoking, ill smelling lantern +of the night before that he swung in his hand. +He set it down near the bed, looked at Renfro, +and then felt of the cord around his wrist. “Not +so bad as that—not that bad, though it was a +long time,” he muttered to himself.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span></p> + +<p>He rose heavily and fumbled his way through +the door back into the other room. This time +as he had done every time before he closed the +door after him. “No use doing that,” Renfro +thought, “I’ve already heard Helen’s voice.”</p> + +<p>The old woman came back with him. She +carried a bowl of steaming stew in which onions +were one of the principal ingredients. That was +evident from the odor. And with it were several +slices of toasted bread.</p> + +<p>“Do you want some coffee?”</p> + +<p>Renfro decided that her voice was not gruff +through a habitual bad disposition but exposure +and poor food and it might have been suffering. +He forced a smile when he assured her +that he would rather have some milk if she +could give him some.</p> + +<p>“After a while,” she promised, “presently +when I go up to the grocery.”</p> + +<p>When it was evident that he was going to +eat the stew, the old man helped him raise himself +to a sitting posture. Then he cut the cords +on his wrists. “Now eat,” he said and spoke +without any surliness. “And when the door is +fixed a little more you won’t be tied any more.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span></p> + +<p>A grim smile came onto his face. “You are +too smart a boy to have loose for a time,” he +said.</p> + +<p>Renfro was interested in the way he spoke. +At least it was evident from what he said that +he was to be kept in captivity quite a time. +While he ate the stew which was not a disagreeable +mess, he wondered what sort of confusion +was raging back in Lindendale. Would the detectives +decide that it was a kidnaping plot? +Would they set out on another trip to a far off +city for more evidence?</p> + +<p>He was sure they would not do that. There +was Mary, who had shared with him conjectures +concerning the identity of the owner of +the missing eyebrows. She would tell them +about the trips to Captain Pete’s, to the big +house, and from there he was sure it would be +easy for detectives to work their way to the +old barn.</p> + +<p>He smiled contentedly and ate on until the +bowl was almost empty. If he had known that +Mary thought him safe at the home of one of +his friends, that his mother believed the same, +that full charge of the secret investigation had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span>been given over to the detectives he would have +been discouraged to the despair point.</p> + +<p>After he was through eating, old Bart fastened +new bandages, much wider but stronger than +the others on his wrists. But they were a distinct +advantage, for they did not hurt half as +badly as had the others. And when he had +changed the narrow ones around his ankles to +the wide variety, Renfro, though far from being +in a pleasant posture, was not uncomfortable.</p> + +<p>As soon as they made the discovery that he +was going to be agreeable and not cry or abuse +them over his imprisonment, the old couple became +much less hostile. Renfro knew from their +attitude that they did not want to hurt or +punish him—but merely to keep him shut up +until they had made some plans concerning +Helen Wier.</p> + +<p>“Well if it’s money they’re after, they’ll +sure ask dad for some too, as soon as they +discover who I am,” he began to think and +then remembering Mary, decided that they +wouldn’t get far with their plans before they +were discovered.</p> + +<p>After promising to bring him something to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span>read the old man took up the dilapidated lantern +and followed his wife, who had gone back +into the other room several minutes before. +Renfro heard him lock the door between the +two rooms of the cave; and later give some +commands to his wife and Lang Tammy, who +was once more in the cave.</p> + +<p>Though the lantern was gone the cave was +not so dark as it had been. Renfro moved until +he discovered the source of the light. It came +from over the top of an old door—the one, he +felt sure—that the old man had spoken about +nailing more firmly before he should be turned +loose.</p> + +<p>He twisted at his thongs. They were tied too +tight to ever be torn loose. He tried them with +his teeth but they were too tough for him to +make more than an impression on them. And +making impressions would only harm him, for +once discovered they would be responsible for +closer watch than ever being put over him.</p> + +<p>Quietly he lay back on his pallet and waited. +In the other room they were talking in muffled +tones. A long conversation followed, a bustling +noise, and then silence.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span></p> + +<p>And finally out of it came a voice which Renfro +knew. “Who is in there?” it demanded. +“Is it any one who knows me? I’m Helen +Wier.”</p> + +<p>Renfro could have shouted for joy. “I’m +Renfro Horn,” he answered. “Where are they +gone?”</p> + +<p>“Up town,” Helen was just outside the +locked door. “I’m not tied like they say you +are, but I’m locked in. Tell me everything you +know—about mother and father and everything. +And why don’t they find me?”</p> + +<p>Renfro had to pitch his voice loud and make +it peculiarly piercing to reach her through the +heavy door and the big room of the cave. He +told her of everything he knew, how her letters +had reassured her mother and kept her well.</p> + +<p>“Yes, they let me write them,” Helen’s +voice seemed changed, more piercing, more +strident. Renfro decided that it was from her +life in the cave. “They’re not mean to me—and +they don’t want money. They’re keeping +me, to get even with father.”</p> + +<p>Quietly and without any emotion she told +her story. Bart had been sentenced to fifteen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</span>years in the penitentiary by her father years +ago. He had served most of those fifteen long +years which had meant separation from his +family. While there he brooded over the loneliness +of himself and became almost a maniac, +with one purpose in mind—namely to get even +with the judge who had sentenced him.</p> + +<p>At first he had decided to kidnap the judge +himself. He had kept that thought in mind for +years. When his old cellmate had gone free +one day and they had given him another he had +been given a chance to plan for the future, Captain +Pete’s brother had been put in his cell and +he, in time, told of his home, of his crime, and +the hidden cave in which he and his confederates +had at first made the counterfeit money.</p> + +<p>Getting bolder the counterfeiters had moved +into the cellar of the big house and been discovered. +But only the part of the story which +was concerned with the cave had interested +Bart. From that time on he made his plans. As +soon as he was free he would come back to Lindendale, +kidnap Judge Wier and imprison him +for months in this hidden cave. Separation from +his family for that time would give him just +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</span>a hint of what Bart had served on account of +his sentence.</p> + +<p>“Maggie told me all this,” Helen put her +lips close to the key hole for her throat was +getting tired through talking so loud. “She +wants me to know all of it so that when they +let me back to father I can tell him all of it +and understand exactly how and why Bart got +even with him.”</p> + +<p>“But isn’t Captain Pete in it?” Renfro persisted +in asking a question though Helen was +still talking.</p> + +<p>“No, neither he nor his brother. They just +happened to discover the cave and then they +knew where I had been hidden. They’re afraid +of Bart. They won’t ever tell until I’m safe +back home and Bart and Maggie are away and +safe in another part of the country, and happy +because they’ve had revenge.”</p> + +<p>She talked a little while longer about the +life in the cave. She and Renfro conjectured +together on the probable time they would be +imprisoned. And Renfro didn’t tell her of Mary +Dugan’s knowledge of all his clues and his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</span>hope of rescue from her. A surprise he decided +would be a good thing for Helen Wier.</p> + +<p>After a time they, following Helen’s fear +that the old woman would return, lapsed into +silence. Renfro sat and studied the door around +which came in small shafts of light. Now if +he could only manage to get loose before that +door was made more secure he felt that he +could work his way through the door. But if—</p> + +<p>And in the other room there came confusing +sounds. Bart and Maggie had returned, and a +scuffling and barking and cavorting around +told him that they had brought with them Lang +Tammy.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"> + CHAPTER XXIV. + <br> + LANG TAMMY HELPS RENFRO ESCAPE. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>Old Bart, true to his promise, brought +Renfro a book and the lantern to furnish +him light for the reading. Maggie, also +considerate, had polished the lantern shade, +until now it gave a light which made the cave +a definite room and was bright enough that +Renfro could easily read.</p> + +<p>But first he looked around the room. The +stalactites, which had been specters in the half +darkness, became things of beauty in the bright +light. Renfro had heard that there were limestone +deposits in the ground under the Hall +farm. Now he was sure of it. Why this cave +was very beautiful and full of promise.</p> + +<p>“If old Jake—” Helen had told him the +name of Captain Pete’s brother—“had only +known it,” he thought, “there was a wealth +on his own land much larger than any he could +counterfeit during a lifetime.”</p> + +<p>Bart was examining the lock on the door. He +had brought in with him a package which when +opened revealed another lock that he tried to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</span>adjust. But it was soon evident from his swearing +that the new one was too small for the door.</p> + +<p>Carefully the old man wrapped it up. Angry +over his failure he turned upon Renfro. “You +needn’t be grinning,” he said, “I’ll get a better +one this afternoon.”</p> + +<p>By slipping over on his stomach and with +his hands under him Renfro could manage to +read out of the book of pioneer stories Bart +had fetched from the Hall library. He turned +the pages with his tongue. But between pages +he thought hard. If he could get loose by hook +or crook he could get that old door open he +was sure.</p> + +<p>He remembered the story he had read in the +detective magazine of a very wiry man who +had managed to use a knife with his teeth. In +Renfro’s pocket had been a sharp knife. Bart +had taken it out. Had he carried it away or left +it with the other things on the floor?</p> + +<p>“While he’s gone this afternoon I’ll roll over +there and see,” Renfro made his plans definitely.</p> + +<p>A little later Maggie brought him his dinner, +milk and other things she had considered delicacies +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</span>which a boy of Renfro’s breeding was +sure to like. She was unusually kind and Renfro +felt sorry that she should be so deluded as +she was.</p> + +<p>He was so restless that he could hardly wait +until Bart should start away again and he could +roll over after the knife. That would take time +and he must be free from the fear of discovery. +He breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Bart +begin to make preparations to leave. He heard +Maggie argue with him about some things she +wanted from her little home, back in town.</p> + +<p>Bart refused to go after them, telling her +that if she wanted them badly enough she would +go herself. And after a little while she decided +to go along. Better and better Renfro decided. +Now he could do his work with alacrity, perfectly +safe from any fear of discovery at all.</p> + +<p>Bart came in after the lantern, carried it out, +refilled it and brought it back. This time he +left the door slightly ajar and while he was at +work Renfro saw a big form slip in, crawl into +the farthest corner and lay there. It was +Lang Tammy and he was hiding because of the +whipping Maggie had given him for tearing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</span>the binding on her coat.</p> + +<p>Not until they were gone did Renfro call +Lang Tammy and then he came, crawling and +pleading exactly like a dog which has recently +been beaten. But as he reached Renfro and +made sure that it was his friend he became +joyous and barked joyfully and frantically. +And then he made ready for a game of tug.</p> + +<p>Joyously he seized one end of the free bandage +on Renfro’s hands. He gave it a pull +which cut into the boy’s wrists cruelly. Another +pull, another cut, and Renfro tried to stop him. +But the big dog was intent on the game which +was now a winning one for him. Another tug, +this time a long tearing one, and something +slipped, the knot the old man had tied so firmly +that morning. Renfro jerked at his hands and +Tammy was onto the bandage again.</p> + +<p>And then it came loose. Renfro could have +hurrahed from joy. Instead he rolled over +quickly to his pile of articles taken from his +pocket, found his knife, cut the thongs around +his legs and stood tottering, his legs stiff and +aching. With a bound he was to the door working +at the lock. Indeed it was old and rusty. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</span>It gave way before his onslaught and he stood +free to go out into the open.</p> + +<p>He flew back to the other door. “Helen,” he +called softly, “I’m free and you’ll be in a little +while. If they come back before help comes, be +sick or do anything you can to keep them interested +and away from my door.”</p> + +<p>Outside he stood in a new world which he +soon identified as being the thicket below the +hill on the Hall farm. He found the lower road +and fairly flew to the edge of town, boarded a +waiting car and rode directly to the office of +the Globe.</p> + +<p>The big building looked like paradise to him. +Straight through the outer door, into the hall +and back to the door marked “Route Manager, +Morrison,” he hurried. And inside it he fell +into Morrison’s arms.</p> + +<p>“That wasn’t a complaint, Morrison!” he +burst out. “That was a fake call! I went—”</p> + +<p>“You—Hooch, you—you!” Morrison gasped +like a drowning man, seized Renfro, and half +carried, half dragged him into Circulation Manager +Bruce’s office. The office was deserted +except for that worthy and his stenographer. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</span>He looked up at the confusion, jumped to his +feet and caught Renfro in the curve of his arm.</p> + +<p>And to him Renfro began his story once more. +“That wasn’t a complaint call last night at all. +It was just a fake. I was kidnaped. It was a +cave. And I found Helen Wier and—and—”</p> + +<p>“You found Helen Wier?” Bruce shouted +his question. Then before it could be answered +he had dragged him to the door. And there he +decided that the boy was not going fast enough. +Up into his arms he lifted him. Through the +hall to the elevator cage he went, Morrison following.</p> + +<p>“Car up!” Bruce was still shouting. “Can’t +wait.”</p> + +<p>Up the steps he ran. At the landing he ducked +but Renfro’s head struck the ceiling a hard +whack, in spite of that, Renfro merely winced. +At the top of the steps Bruce made a sharp +turn, rushed against the door marked “Managing +Editor” and threw it open with the +weight of his big body.</p> + +<p>Morrison, puffing and trying to obtain answers +to a whole chain of questions he was +hurling at Renfro, still perched perilously near +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</span>the top of Bruce’s shoulders, followed. He saw +Bruce drop Renfro, grab a little man who was +having a discussion with Mr. North, The Globe’s +managing editor, pull him to the door, shove +him through and then lock the door after him.</p> + +<p>“What in the—” North jumped to the floor, +scattering proof sheets in all directions. +“What—”</p> + +<p>The little man who had been forcibly ejected +was beating and pounding his protest on the +panels of the big oak door but Bruce didn’t +mind him. “North,” he jerked North so that +he faced Renfro, “This is Renfro Horn.”</p> + +<p>“And,” Morrison would not be ignored, “he +has found Helen Wier.”</p> + +<p>“When—where—how?” North was all editor.</p> + +<p>“In a cave! I was there too. They kidnaped +me last night,” Renfro burst out. “She’s there +now! Locked in! Bart and Maggie are up town. +Let’s get her before they come back.”</p> + +<p>North pushed Morrison toward the door. +“Get a taxi,” he ordered, “and keep your +mouth shut.”</p> + +<p>He jerked open his desk, took his revolver +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</span>from a drawer and thrust it in his pocket. Five +steps carried him to the locked door. He jerked +it open, breaking the lock. “Warriner,” he +called. “We’re making a trip. Big story! Extra +edition! Get the presses ready for it. I’ll +take Figg with me.”</p> + +<p>The man sitting at the table on the front of +which was printed “City Editor,” jumped to +his feet. “Figg!” he bawled, “Figg!”</p> + +<p>While they waited North demanded Warriner’s +revolver and handed it to Bruce. “You’re +going too,” he said.</p> + +<p>Figg came out of the cubby hole which bore +the name Sporting Editor—big, burly and aggressive +in every step and gesture. No one +ever mentioned a gun to Figg. With the first +word of “Big story,” he had his gun out of +his desk and in his pocket.</p> + +<p>No one mentioned elevator this time. They +made their descent down the steps. Through +the hall, a curious crowd stopping at sight of +the odd procession, they rushed. Morrison outside +had the taxi door open and into it they +sprang, Bruce, North, Figg and Renfro. Morrison +thinking that he was to be left behind +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</span>clung to the running board.</p> + +<p>Renfro’s directions were shouted to the driver +by North. Out of town, breaking all traffic +rules they went. A sharp turn by the tile factory +took them down the river road. Beyond +it they rode a few yards, made another turn, +jolted up a deserted lane and came to an abrupt +stop.</p> + +<p>Around the shrubbery to the passage to the +open door Renfro led them. Inside the room +Lang Tammy sat in a dejected attitude. Bristling +every hair he jumped at the intruders, saw +Renfro and sprang on him with a joyful bark.</p> + +<p>But a girlish voice sounded above all the +confusion. “Renfro, have them hurry! It’s +time for Maggie and Bart any minute.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXV"> + CHAPTER XXV. + <br> + THE GLOBE GETS A SCOOP. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>Not until the taxicab turned into Elm +Street back in town once more did +Helen Wier speak. She simply crouched +in one corner of the taxicab and stared out of +the window. There she clutched at Figg’s arm. +“That’s my street,” she pointed at the one +they left. “I have to see my mother right +away. I do,” she was emphatic, jerking his +arm savagely, “I do!”</p> + +<p>Then North became the cunning editor. “Not +immediately,” he spoke in conciliatory tones. +“The shock would kill her. She has to be prepared. +We’ll attend to that at the Globe office.”</p> + +<p>Renfro stared at Helen. How white and thin +she looked! Her voice had sounded hollow back +there in the cave. Now as he afterwards described +it, she looked hollow, too. Leaning +against his knees, Lang Tammy was staring up +at him with happy eyes. From time to time he +kissed his hand and gave Figg hostile growls.</p> + +<p>Everything at the Globe was waiting for +them. Outside a long line of newsboys was waiting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</span>for the extras to be shot through the presses +and out to them on the street in a few minutes.</p> + +<p>A crowd of girls from the business office +stared through the windows at the motley procession. +The elevator man, watching outside +his cage, rushed in again and seized the lever. +They shot up to the editorial floor and rushed +into the room where Warriner had his star +writer at his machine and his copy boys ready.</p> + +<p>He looked at the crowd. “Shoot!” he commanded. +“The girl first.”</p> + +<p>And Helen Wier encouraged by North told +her story in weary, strained gasps. “I was in +the library alone reading that night. I heard +a noise. There was somebody in the room. He +had a gun pointed at me. He said he would kill +me if I screamed. He said there was some one +in the other room who would kill my mother if +I didn’t come with him. His forehead was +bleeding. Something was wrong with his eyebrows—”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes,” Renfro jumped forward and jerking +off his cap, turned down the band. “His +eyebrows were missing. They froze to the +window pane. He jerked them off and I found +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</span>them on the pane. That’s how I found +Helen.”</p> + +<p>North jerked him over to one side. “Your +time next,” he commanded, and nodded at +Helen.</p> + +<p>“Outside the house, he made me walk into +the shrubbery. I was afraid they would shoot +my mother.” Helen’s tone was full of worry. +“They didn’t—did they?”</p> + +<p>“No, no, she’s safe,” North clipped out his +words.</p> + +<p>The typewriter stopped its clicking. The +feature writer rolled out one sheet, Warriner +grabbed it and another one was in its place.</p> + +<p>“Shoot!”</p> + +<p>Warriner gave the command again. “They +gagged me then. A woman helped him. She +was Maggie. And they put me in a wagon. We +rode miles. It was cold and I didn’t have any +coat—just an old rug they put around me. We +went through some buildings. And then down +into the cave.”</p> + +<p>It was Renfro whom North asked to give a +description of Bart and Maggie. He told his +own story first—of the first night he had seen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</span>the stranger peering into the Wier home, the +second experience, his attempt to telephone the +Judge, of the line out of order, and then of +his finding the eyebrows frozen to the window +pane.</p> + +<p>The reporters moved closer to him while he +talked. North interrupted to ask questions. +Warriner gave orders to copy boys, to the +writers at their machines, through a telephone +to the press room and through it all managed +to hear every word of the story.</p> + +<p>When Renfro at the close of his story again +took off his cap, pulled down the band and exhibited +his specimens—The Missing Eyebrows—carefully +opened one of the square packages +and took one look, held it to North, and then +handed it to one of the men. “Have them photographed +and a plate made,” he ordered.</p> + +<p>And then he was down to the press room. +North once more took command—got more detailed +stories from both Renfro and Helen, had +half a dozen reporters writing at once—descriptions +of the cave, of the rooms there, of Maggie +and Bart and then one of Lang Tammy who +was still by Renfro’s side, his nose firmly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</span>clutched by one of the boy’s muscular hands.</p> + +<p>There was a shout below. Morrison and +Bruce both jumped. “The paper’s off the +press,” the reporter nearest the chute yelled +and North turned to Helen, “Get ready to go +home,” he said kindly, “I’ll telephone your +mother.”</p> + +<p>“Telephone mine,” for the first time Renfro +remembered his parents. “I can’t get home and +back before it’s time to carry my route.”</p> + +<p>North motioned to the cub reporter. “Tell +Bruce to send some other boy out on Horn’s +route tonight,” he commanded. “I want to +take Horn home myself.”</p> + +<p>The trip down the stairway was made more +slowly this time. North noticed that Renfro was +limping. He reached out his hand and steadied +him. “Best story of the year,” he muttered. +“And we scooped them all.”</p> + +<p>And Renfro understood him. But he didn’t +say anything except to nod at Lang Tammy. +“I’m going to keep him,” he said, “I wonder +if they’ve got Bart and Maggie yet.”</p> + +<p>“Figg will tend to them,” North smiled. “I +sent him back with some of the boys to get the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</span>story for the next edition.”</p> + +<p>At the door his editor’s mantle seemed to +drop. He looked first at Helen and then at +Renfro. He had several children out at his +home. “You’re great kids!” he grinned.</p> + +<p>But there was a volume in that grin and both +of them realized it. In the taxi he was quite +as laconic. “Your folks will about die! I +talked to both of your dads.”</p> + +<p>Yet it was Helen’s mother who was waiting +on the porch when the taxi drove up in front +of the Wier home. She rushed down the walk +as Helen rushed toward the house. Half way +they met.</p> + +<p>North turned his head. But he heard Mrs. +Wier talking. She had taken Renfro’s hand. +The tears from her eyes dropped on it but she +talked bravely, and in a collected manner, giving +him the greatest eulogy he had ever received.</p> + +<p>The judge too talked to the boy, as one man +does to another. Helen left her mother’s arm +to come over to him. “But you won’t be hard +on Bart, daddy,” she begged. “You—see—now—we +know—how—cruel—it—is to be away +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</span>from the people we love.”</p> + +<p>Judge Wier nodded his head. He looked up +at North. “I will attend to them,” he smiled, +“but still I feel it would not be best to quote +me on that. Just say that I shall not be too +harsh on these people.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wier nodded. Then she looked at Renfro. +“His mother is waiting,” she said.</p> + +<p>And North took Renfro back to the taxi in +which Lang Tammy was waiting. As they +crossed town, Renfro nodded toward the street. +“This is my route,” he said. “They call it Old +Grief.”</p> + +<p>“The turkey route,” North laughed. “We’re +going to use that story tomorrow in our Thanksgiving +number.”</p> + +<p>He nodded at some of the dilapidated buildings +on a cross street. “Want to change it?” +he asked.</p> + +<p>“No sir!” Renfro’s answer was emphatic.</p> + +<p>Mary Dugan was standing out close to the +curbing, a clean white apron tied around her +expansive waist. Her hand reached out and +grasped Renfro’s with all the force a man gives +an obstinate pump handle. And she shook it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</span>manfully.</p> + +<p>Now, Mary Dugan was of the kissing type, +but she respected manhood. And in fifteen minutes +Renfro had grown from a boy to a man +in her estimation. Nor did she weep though +she had shed copious tears when she had heard +the story. “I missed them eyebrows last night,” +she said, “and I’ve dressed both of them turkeys +which was left. The three charity ones +I carried out to the preacher’s parsonage myself. +I told them to eat one themselves, as he +did the free advertisin’ for you.”</p> + +<p>Proudly she led the way to the house after +she had delivered her speech. Renfro’s mother +caught him in her arms in the most genuine, +motherly embrace he had known for a long +time. She sobbed and sobbed and could not +talk. But he knew without her saying a word +how happy she was.</p> + +<p>Mr. Horn laughed nervously to North. “I’ve +been through Hell a thousand times during the +last twenty-four hours,” he said. “But thank +Heaven I had the courage to go through alone. +I never told my wife a word about Renfro’s +being gone until you told me that he was safe. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</span>She thought he was visiting.”</p> + +<p>He managed a few fatherly hugs in spite of +his wife’s constant clinging to Renfro. His eyes +were charged with love and beyond that a look +of pride. He started to say something directly +to Renfro about his feelings but with a great +effort Renfro managed to wriggle out of his +mother’s arm and start toward the dining room.</p> + +<p>“Where are you going, Hooch?” Mary Dugan +sprang to her feet with the suspicion in +her mind that Renfro was hungry.</p> + +<p>But Renfro waved her aside. “I’m going to +call up the office,” he returned. “I want to +find out of Morrison if there have been any +complaints on my route.”</p> + +<p class="ph3">THE END.</p> + +<p>The next <span class="smcap">Renfro Horn</span> book will be</p> + +<p class="ph3"> + <i>THE LUCK OF A RAINY NIGHT</i> +</p> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</span></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_243"></a>[Pg 243]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_LUCK_OF_A_RAINY_NIGHT"> + THE LUCK OF A RAINY NIGHT + <br> + or + <br> + Renfro Horn Wins the $10,000 Reward + </h2> +</div> + +<p>In this second book of the Renfro Horn +series of Newspaper Boys’ stories, Renfro Horn +wins the enmity of the carrier on Route No. 19, +because Renfro is held up as a model carrier by +the Circulation management of the Globe.</p> + +<p>And on the darkest, rainiest night of the +year, the carrier of Route No. 19 plans to lure +Renfro to a desolate place where he hopes to +give him a beating. But Renfro, who has been +keen on the trail of the Insurance Mystery, +stumbles on the body of the man who is supposed +to be dead, and he wins the reward which +the Insurance company has offered for the location +of Clyde Truesdale.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_RISE_OF_ROUTE_19"> + THE RISE OF ROUTE 19 + <br> + or + <br> + Renfro Gets a Regular Detective Badge + </h2> +</div> + +<p>“Old Grief” has now been made a respectable +route under Renfro Horn’s careful carrier +service, and the Globe has the largest number +of subscribers in that section of the city, so to +test Renfro Horn’s fighting spirit, Bruce, the +circulation manager, offers Renfro Route 19, +one of the bad routes along the river front, +where the house boats are moored, and a better +route in a better part of the city.</p> + +<p>But Renfro Horn, being in quest of success +and excitement takes Route 19 and thus begins +an interesting series of adventures for this boy +carrier, who is the peer of the city’s best detectives. +It ends with the Mayor of the city pinning +on his coat lapel a regular detective badge, +because Renfro has found the stolen finger +prints.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_WHITE_BAGS_SECRET"> + THE WHITE BAG’S SECRET + <br> + or + <br> + Renfro Horn Trails Down the Thieving Dog. + <br> + By Stephen Rudd. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>The jewels of Mrs. Laidlaw Garth have +mysteriously disappeared. Mary Dugan’s +cousin, Bridget O’Hara, is the maid in the +house and is under suspicion.</p> + +<p>Renfro and Mary believe she is innocent. +Through the location of one of his old paper +bags, Renfro gets a clue which leads him to +believe that Mrs. Garth’s dog, “Bluff,” stole the +jewels. He and Mary set out to find them, and +they are successful, of course.</p> + +<p>But there is thrill in this story for any red +blooded boy.</p> + +<p class="center">Published by the R. H. Gore Publishing Co.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_CLUE_OF_THE_TWISTED_PAPER"> + THE CLUE OF THE TWISTED PAPER + <br> + or + <br> + The Mystery of the Lost Girl. + <br> + By Stephen Rudd. + </h2> +</div> + +<p>Can a paper, which a newspaper carrier boy +twists into a roll and throws on a porch, contain +a clue to the identity of the girl who has +forgotten who she is or where she comes from? +Renfro Horn, the carrier boy detective, proves +this can be done.</p> + +<p>He and Mary Dugan do it.</p> + +<p>And the lost girl—well she is a wonder child. +But read all about this absorbing mystery in +“The Clue of the Twisted Paper.” It’s coming +soon.</p> + +<p class="center">Published by the R. H. Gore Publishing Co.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="tnote"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="Transcribers_note"> + Transcriber’s note + </h2> + +<p>Typos fixed; non-standard spelling and dialect retained.</p> + +</div> +</div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76914 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/76914-h/images/cover.jpg b/76914-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cba9806 --- /dev/null +++ b/76914-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/76914-h/images/frontis.jpg b/76914-h/images/frontis.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4b7e4b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/76914-h/images/frontis.jpg diff --git a/76914-h/images/p182.jpg b/76914-h/images/p182.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c8ce55c --- /dev/null +++ b/76914-h/images/p182.jpg diff --git a/76914-h/images/signature.jpg b/76914-h/images/signature.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..42bb965 --- /dev/null +++ b/76914-h/images/signature.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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