NORTON BIXBY.
Chief Larkins procured a large wagon, and into this the entire party
were stowed away, and off we drove.
“Did you have much trouble with Yates?” I asked of Ford, as we rolled
along.
“A little; but I showed him that I was a pretty strong fellow, and then
he gave in at once.”
It did not take us long to reach Loadhead. Here we found both Captain
Harley and Captain Pointer. Nothing had been seen of Avery, but they
felt confident that he would be captured in some town on the other side
of the mountains.
“How shall we get back to Bayport?” asked the constable.
“Why not use the Catch Me?” I replied. “I suppose she is lying right
where we left her.”
This was agreed to, and we made for the shore of Rock Island Lake
without delay.
To our astonishment the Catch Me was gone!
What did it mean? I gazed about in perplexity. Suddenly Constable
Pointer gave a shout.
“That explains it! Avery came back and took the boat! I’ll bet he
landed at some other point where he thought he would be free from
pursuit!”
“I think you are right,” replied Captain Harley. “We must take the Mary
and look for him.”
This was agreed to; and they left the rest of us to return to Bayport.
I trusted they would succeed in their mission, not only for the sake
of capturing the robber, but also that my beautiful sloop might be
returned to me.
It took us quite a while to secure another craft in the vicinity.
However, we at length hailed a fishing-sloop, and the owner agreed to
take us down the lake provided we would put up with such accommodations
as his boat afforded.
“Good enough,” said Chief Larkins. “The main thing is to get there.”
“I was never treated so meanly in all my life,” growled Mr. Norton.
“You’ll see worse, I reckon,” was the reply. “A man that steals
shouldn’t look for any comfort in this life.”
“I would never have done it if the boy hadn’t put me up to it.”
“More shame to you if instead of being led you didn’t lead, that’s all
I’ve got to say.”
And the police official turned away in disgust.
“You don’t believe me guilty?” I asked earnestly.
“You don’t look it,” he replied. “If you are innocent I trust you will
have an easy time proving it.”
“I don’t know about that. A diamond was found upon my person; but I am
willing to swear I found the stone and did not steal it.”
“I don’t see why the man accuses you if you are not guilty.”
“He is angry because I captured him.”
“Ah, I see. Well, capturing him ought to be a deed much in your favor.”
We were soon underway. It was a clear, bright day and the breeze was
strong. Of course we had to tack, and this made the trip a slow one;
but we spent a good half-hour in dining upon some fish which Ford and I
broiled in the cuddy, and of which all hands partook.
It was well on in the afternoon when we struck the dock at Bayport.
While we were landing quite a crowd gathered, and the news was soon
circulated that two of the robbers had been captured.
A perfect mob of people followed us up to the court-house, and a goodly
number entered the room where Judge Green sat deeply interested over
some legal documents.
“What is this I hear?” he exclaimed as the party entered. “Two of the
robbers captured! Good! it is glorious news! So this is the man called
Yates, and this is Norton. Well, gentlemen, what have you to say for
yourselves?”
“Nothing,” replied Yates.
“That’s better than telling a falsehood,” said the judge. “So your
breaking jail didn’t do you any good,” he added, turning to Mr. Norton.
“It is all a mistake,” whined my guardian.
“So it would seem, sir.”
And the fat judge laughed at what he thought was a good joke.
In a little while the court was called to order, and the prisoners were
granted a hearing. Ford and I were the principal witnesses, and we were
listened to with close attention.
“Well, Stone, I think you had some remarkable adventures on Rock
Island,” said Judge Green, after I had finished. “You came very near
losing your life, if what you say is true.”
“I have told everything exactly as it occurred.”
“Then these men have an account to settle outside of the robbery. It is
no light offense to treat anybody as you have been treated.”
“Besides that, they stole my boat,” I added.
“Yes; that is true.”
“I trust you don’t think I am guilty, sir.”
“About that it is not my place to say. Squire Slocum has let you out
on bail. Remember you are innocent until proven guilty, as is the case
with every one brought before the bar of justice.”
“And when do you suppose the case will come to trial?”
“That will depend upon whether the other robber is captured or not. It
will probably be tried at this term of court.”
While the judge and I were conversing, a gentleman entered the room and
pushed his way to my side. It was Mr. Markham, and he shook me warmly
by the hand.
“I have heard what you have done, Stone,” he said. “Allow me to
congratulate you.”
Then his eyes ran over those gathered around and rested upon Mr. Norton.
“Hullo, Norton Bixby, where did you come from?” he demanded. “I thought
you were in the New York State Penitentiary.”
I listened in amazement.
What did Mr. Markham mean by addressing Mr. Norton as Norton Bixby?
To me it was an intensely interesting question, and I sprang forward
before the latter could reply to the question that had been propounded.
“Is this man not Mr. Enos Norton?” I asked breathlessly.
“Enos Norton,” repeated Mr. Markham. “Why, no. His name is Bixby,
Norton Bixby, and I had him arrested three years ago in New York for
stealing some unregistered bonds from my office.”
I fell back in astonishment.