THE COMING OF THE HOUNDS
Frank dropped like a flash to the ground. At the same instant he turned
over several times, whirling away from the spot where the two men had
banged their heads together in the effort to seize him.
Now the boy was up and running off as fast as he could go, but limping
despite his determined efforts. The two men started after him. Neither
of them indulged in shouts, because they had no desire to draw
attention to the spot. There was a grim earnestness to the pursuit
however, that impressed the boy, accustomed as he was to boisterous
contests.
They began to rapidly overhaul him. That injured leg proved even less
reliable than Frank had expected. He realized that there was scant hope
of eluding his enemies for any great length of time; but that did not
prevent him from keeping up his dodging game as long as possible.
Three times he slipped from under the extended hands of the men. They
began to show signs of anger, and Frank felt considerable uneasiness
about how they might treat him once they caught him again.
"Stand still, you fool!" called Martin, savagely at length.
Frank was thrilled to see that he had something shiny in his hand, for
he suspected that it might be a pistol. Such desperate men as these
robbers of jewelry stores would be very apt to go armed.
Of course after that there was nothing else to do but give in. He
stopped and turned toward the men, trying to smile as he held out his
hands.
"Tie them up again, if you want; only this time don't tempt me by
leaving the loop loose," he said, lightly.
Joey struck him a smart blow on the shoulder that caused the boy to
breathe hard and look daggers at him.
"That's a brave thing to do, isn't it? Two men against one boy, and
even then you hit him when he can't answer back. I'd be willing to take
chances with either of you, given a square show!" he said impetuously.
"Let up on that, Joey. The boy's right. Reckon we can handle him
without knocking him that way. Got some more of that string handy? This
time we'll slip a loop around his legs as well, and truss him up like
a chicken for the oven. Just keep still, Frank, if you don't want to
get hurted."
They began to fasten his ankles together.
"What's this for; going to carry me now?" he asked, humorously.
"Not any, son. You're going to stay right here a bit, till we're good
and ready to make use of you," replied Martin, as he finished the job
of securing the prisoner.
Frank could hardly keep a smile away from his face. Why, what could be
better, when he saw some of those white scraps of paper within five
feet of the very spot where he sat among the bushes? Soon there would
be a scurrying of many flying feet, as the hounds came silently along
the paper trail. Oh! if he could only be in a condition to cry out, and
bring them to the spot to assist in his rescue!
"Now look here, boy, what's to hinder you telling us what became of
them things you took out of that bag when you put the rocks in? A slick
trick for anybody to play. It fooled Joey here when he slipped up and
grabbed the bag out of the buggy from the back. We never knowed what
was in it till more'n an hour after. What did you put the boodle in,
hey?" asked Martin, standing before Frank.
"A newspaper," replied the other readily enough.
"What d'ye think of that, Joey? Here's a cute one for you. Why did you
want to do that same thing, son," continued the man, fixing his cold
gray eyes on the boy who sat there, bound hand and foot, yet smiling.
"Well, I'll tell you how it was. We wanted a ride, and started to
ask you to give us a lift, when you cut and run, thinking we were
officers," began Frank.
"Which is the truth as it goes. We was a couple of fools all right, as
I told Joey here, and deserved to get left. Go on, boy, what next?"
"Why when we found ourselves in possession of a rig we hardly knew what
to do at first. Then, in poking around, I found that bag and opened it,
just as any boy would have done."
"Sure, or any man either, for that matter. Guessed what it meant as
soon as you found what was in her, hey?" said Martin.
"Of course we understood that you must have come by so many watches and
things in some crooked way. I was afraid that you would chase after us
and make us deliver up that bag, so I just took that newspaper I found
in the bottom of the buggy, and piled the stuff in it. After that I
thought the bag felt too light, so I went to work and put a few nice
round stones in it," and Frank again smiled, whimsically.
Joey was growling his anger and grinding his teeth. It was just as well
that he did not have the running of things, or the boy would be apt to
suffer right then and there for his labor in hoodwinking the thieves.
All the time Frank kept stealing sly glances along the trail, looking
in the quarter whence he knew the hounds must presently come. If they
would only heave in sight, and prove to be in such numbers that the two
rascals would be seized with a panic and flee!
"And then you met the police, and they took you to town. Was that bag
put in the safe at headquarters?" demanded Martin; and from the tone of
his voice it was evident that this must be the point toward which all
his remarks had been leading.
Frank hesitated. Should he admit the fact or refuse to tell? In case
he choose the latter course they might show signs of rage, and do
him bodily injury. Besides, it was ridiculous to think of these two
reckless men threatening to break into jail in order to steal a second
time the booty that had been lost. Chief Hogg would wish for nothing
better.
"Why, yes, I saw it placed there by the man who went to town with us.
But when you ask me if it's there yet, I must say I don't know. Perhaps
the owner has come to town to claim it," he said finally.
"We happen to know he ain't, that's what," growled Martin, as he looked
toward his companion and nodded.
"Is there more'n one man in the place at night time?" continued the
fellow.
"How should I know?" answered Frank, evasively.
"Because I reckon you've been in there more'n once. Speak up now, did
you ever know more'n one man to be left in charge at night?"
Again there was a threat in the manner of the man. Joey looked as if he
would like nothing better than a chance to pound the helpless lad; and
hence Frank felt that it would be folly for him to enrage Martin, so
that he would withdraw his protection.
"I've never seen more than one man in there at night; does that answer
you?" he replied, shortly.
"What kind of safe is it, big or little?" asked Joey, eagerly.
"Oh! it comes about up to my shoulder, I guess," remarked the boy,
uneasily; for he fancied that he had heard a distant halloo, and coming
from the direction that engaged his attention; he hoped the men might
not catch a repetition of the sound, lest they think it the part of
wisdom to retire deeper into the woods.
He saw them glance hastily at each other. Evidently they had gained
some valuable information, and wished to confer concerning it.
"Come off here a bit, Joey, till we talk it over. Got the whole
afternoon before us, you know. Lie there, boy. You'll larn after a bit
what we expect to do with you. We can make you worth something to us
yet, I reckon."
So saying he gave Frank a kick with the point of his shoe, that made
the youth squirm a little. Then both men strolled away out of Frank's
sight.
He knew that they would not be apt to go far. Meanwhile, if the boys
might only show up along the trail! Frank rolled over and over, his
idea being to change his position, and even in a small measure broaden
the distance separating him from his captors.
Minutes passed, and Frank managed to get on his knees, so as to watch
for the coming of the squad of hounds. He heard what seemed to be a
call, as if one boy had shouted to his mates to wait until he could
catch up.
Surely the men must have also heard this. It would be apt to put them
on their guard, since the fact of others being around threatened their
plans with disaster.
He anticipated that they would be coming back to carry him further into
the forest. If this happened Frank intended shouting his name again
and again as loud as he could do so. Perhaps some of the boys would
hear, and at least carry the news to town.
And as he looked he caught a glimpse of something moving! Yes, there
could be no mistake about it, for others immediately flitted after the
first. The hounds were coming, hot upon the paper trail left by the
hares perhaps half an hour back!
But upon looking the other way Frank saw that the two men were also
hastening toward him. As they were so much closer they could easily
reach the spot before the hounds came up.
Accordingly he shouted aloud.
"Hi! Ben Cloud! Sandy! George! this way! Come and help me! It's Frank
Allen! Help! help!"
He heard the men utter words of anger; but his eyes were on the boys.
They had stopped to look, and undoubtedly must have seen the burglars
as they hurried along, but could not understand what it all meant.
Frank kicked his feet free, for the treacherous cord proved weaker than
Joey had believed possible. He stumbled to his feet and started to run
in the direction of the now advancing boys, whose astonished shouts
attested to their interest.
Heavy steps behind him told Frank that he was being pursued by the
furious men. He ran as best he could, considering that his hands were
still tied, and that he was lame in one leg. Faster came the tread of
those pursuing steps. Frank tried to duck as he had done before, but
being far from agile he stumbled and fell.