WHAT THE BOYS FOUND.
The journey to Portsmouth was unmarked by any incident of importance or
excitement. They had, after abandoning the boat, crossed the country on
foot, and reached the village from which the letter to Daley had been
directed.
They lost several hours in looking around the village for some traces
of Tim Downey and Rodney Darringford.
The discovery from Tim’s letter by Dean Mercer that the latter was
Tim’s companion, opened a perfect gateway of revelation to both the
boys.
Tim Downey might plot against Dean to secure money, but the knowledge
that a representative of rival business interests to the _Spray_ was
in the field, indicated to Dean that even Colonel Darringford himself
might be in the scheme that had resulted in the burning of the lake
steamer.
“We’ll soon know,” affirmed Marcus confidently. “Certain it is that
these boys took the money and the papers.”
“But they have lost them?”
“All the same they seem to know how to regain them. We must be prompt
and cautious, and we shall succeed in outwitting them.”
They finally began to make inquiries at Portsmouth about two strange
boys, and this resulted in the obtaining of a definite clue to the
whereabouts of Tim and Rodney, for the former had made himself
conspicuous at the village by getting intoxicated, and even had not
attempted to conceal his real name.
The man who directed Marcus and Dean to the crossroad tavern, was a
woodchopper at the edge of the town, and he smiled as he said:
“Downey, eh? He’s a wild one and in considerable demand just now.”
“How so?” asked Marcus curiously.
“Two men looking for him here to-day.”
“Who were they?”
“Strangers.”
“Can you describe them?”
“I’ll try to.”
The woodchopper did describe them.
“Daley and Spofford!” ejaculated Dean as they walked on.
“Yes, it’s them.”
“And here.”
“The four plotters in the case, yes.”
“We must be very cautious.”
“I should say so; particularly with those two men,” replied Marcus.
“You see they have come here to help Downey.”
“Do what?”
“Something about the stolen money and papers.”
“I wish I knew what.”
“We must find out.”
They did not venture near the crossroad tavern until toward dusk.
Near it Dean waited in a thicket, while Marcus reconnoitered. He
returned shortly, and with a serious face.
“Well, they’re there, Dean!” he responded.
“I supposed they were. Is Rodney Darringford there?”
“Yes; he and Tim, and Daley and Spofford. They are carousing, and seem
to be friends with everybody about the tavern. I couldn’t dare to
venture near enough to them to listen to them. Here, Dean, quick! Stand
a little more out in the road.”
“What’s up, now?”
“See that boy?”
“Coming whistling down the road?”
“Yes.”
“Who is he?”
“One of the tavern keeper’s boys. He must know something about Tim and
Rodney and their plans, for they’ve been at the tavern several days.”
“What of it?”
“Wait and see!”
The boy came down the road. He stopped whistling as he observed Marcus
and Dean, and stared curiously at them.
“I tell you, the name of those two boys is Danvers and Lance!” cried
Marcus in a loud tone of voice. “I’ll leave it to this boy. Say, bub!”
“Hello!”
“Do you know the tavern people?”
“Belong there.”
“There’s two boys staying there?”
“Yes.”
“Named Danvers and Lance?”
“No, they ain’t.”
“What then?”
“Tim Downey and Rodney.”
“Rodney what?”
“Dunno.”
“Sure that’s their names?”
“Yes.”
Marcus had purposely led on to this conversation, to get the tavern
keeper’s boy to talk.
“Who are they, anyway?” he asked.
“They come from Springfield, I reckon. They got robbed near here a few
nights ago, and they’re looking for the thief.”
“Why, how was that?” asked Marcus.
“Well, you see, we have a woman living round here, named Crazy Meg.”
“Yes.”
“She robbed them,” and then, to the satisfaction and delight of Marcus
and Dean, the boy volubly detailed the episode of the cabin as far as
he understood it, and even went on to relate how Tim Downey had sent
for two friends to help him find Crazy Meg.
Marcus Ellison acted all through the interview as if he was only
casually interested in the boy’s story.
“I reckon they won’t find Crazy Meg, if a sharp boy like you couldn’t
do it.”
“They’re going to try, anyway,” replied the boy.
“Indeed!”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“To-night. The two men with the boys think they know all about the
country,” and then the boy walked on.
“What luck!” cried Dan delightedly, the moment they were alone.
“Yes, Dean, we know all about the case now.”
“The money and papers are in possession of Crazy Meg?”
“It looks so.”
“And whoever finds her first----”
“Probably gets them.”
“We must!”
“We’ll try,” responded the indomitable Marcus grimly.
An hour later four persons, somewhat exhilarated from too many
potations of wine, came from the tavern and proceeded in the direction
of the forest and hills.
In their wake, at a safe distance, followed Marcus and Dean.
“We must keep them in sight,” remarked the former. “They are going, the
boy said, first to the cabin of the hunter who may know where Crazy Meg
is, and we must learn what he says.”