MR. NEWCOMBE'S CERTAINTY.
Varied and many were Ralph's thoughts, as he followed his friends at
full speed through the woods, and none of them were complimentary to the
business of the moonlighters. He had hoped there would be some
excitement attending the shooting of the well, other than that incident
to the regular work, and he had every reason to be satisfied; but he had
seen a trifle more than was necessary to his comfort or happiness, and
this race through the woods was quite sufficient to take the last bit of
romance from the business. The work had been done; but if those who had
been heard on the road were the officers, the chances were that they
might succeed in finding sufficient proof as to who had done the job.
Ralph understood fully that by aiding the moonlighters, even in the
slight way he had, he was, for the time being, one of them, and this
thought was far from reassuring. Without any reason, other than to see
the sport, he had, perhaps, infringed the rights of those who were using
every effort to protect them, and what the result might be perplexed him
in no slight degree.
But one thing was certain, and that was, now that he had become involved
with his new acquaintances to a certain extent, it was necessary for him
to continue with them until he could leave without either compromising
himself or injuring them.
Of course, every one believed that the noise made on the road
immediately after the well was shot was occasioned by Newcombe's men,
who, having discovered that the hut was empty, had started at once for
the probable scene of operations.
Under this belief, Bob dashed on toward the hut at full speed, never
thinking of making any investigations to learn whether they were correct
in their surmises, until, when they were but a short distance from the
clearing in the woods, George called out:
"Before we show ourselves, it would be well to find out whether Newcombe
has really left."
"That would be only a waste of time," objected Jim, "for, of course, it
was he whom we heard."
"I believe it was," replied George; "but, at the same time, it is well
to be sure. It will only take a few moments longer, and, since Ralph and
I have got mixed up in this thing, I insist that you find out whether
any one is there before you attempt to go into the hut."
Bob thought, as did both Dick and Jim, that Harnett was foolishly
particular; but, since the young engineer was so decided about the
matter, he thought it best to do as he was requested.
When, therefore, they arrived at the edge of the clearing, the party
waited within the shadow of the trees, while Bob stole cautiously
around as before, with no idea that he should see any one in front of
the hut.
While he was absent, Dick and Jim were disposed to make sport of what
they termed George's caution, and this merriment caused so much noise
that Harnett found it necessary to remind them very sharply that both he
and Ralph, without any interest, other than curiosity in the matter, and
after they had been of no slight service, might be obliged to pay
dearly for the part they had taken; in consideration of which, the least
that could be done would be to follow out this very reasonable request.
After this, the boys quieted down considerably, and when Bob returned,
they were thankful that they had done so.
Bob startled them all, even George and Ralph, by the information that
Newcombe and his men were still on guard in front of the hut, and that,
to all appearances, they had not left the stations they were occupying
when the party started out to shoot Mr. Hoxie's well.
If this was the case, who, then, was the party that had disturbed them
at the completion of their work? This was the question that agitated
them decidedly, and they were beginning a very animated discussion on
the subject, when George said:
"It can make no particular difference just at this moment who they were.
Some one was coming, probably other torpedo detectives, and we ran away.
Newcombe and his men are still here on guard. Now the most important
thing for us to do is to get into the hut as quickly and silently as
possible, and if those others were detectives, perhaps our friend, Mr.
Newcombe, will be able to swear that we have not been outside during the
night."
There could be no answer to such an argument as this, save in action,
and each one started for the hut, Dick and Jim feeling decidedly ashamed
of the sport they had made of George's excess of caution.
To enter the building silently was as easy as to leave it, and in five
minutes more the party were inside, with the shutters of the back window
carefully barred.
Then they gave way without restraint to their mirth at having
accomplished their work, while Newcombe watched their hut for them, and
they might have continued at this amusing occupation during the
remainder of the night, if sounds from the outside had not told them
that other visitors were arriving.
"Now we shall find out who it was that disturbed us," said Bob,
gleefully, as he clambered upon the improvised platform, that he might
see what was going on outside from the peep-hole.
The boys, believing as Bob did, that these newcomers were the same ones
whose arrival at Mr. Hoxie's lately-opened well was the cause of their
hasty flight, awaited expectantly the result of Bob's survey.
"Three men are riding up," said Bob, "and now they are stopping their
horses as Newcombe goes toward them. They all appear to be talking
excitedly, and every few seconds Newcombe points this way. Now they are
coming right toward the door."
There was no longer any need for Bob to describe the proceedings, for
the noise made by the carriage could be plainly heard by all as it came
toward the house, and in a very few moments even the conversation of the
men could be distinguished.
"The well had just been shot as we got there," one of the newcomers
could be heard to say, "and you know that Bob Hubbard was to do the
work. You have allowed the boy to fool you, Newcombe, and while you have
been here, he has been working at Hoxie's."
"But I tell you that I heard him in here early in the afternoon, and the
darkey told me his team was in the stable. Now, how could he have gotten
the glycerine or cartridges out of here while six of us have been on
duty all the time?"
And from the tone of Newcombe's voice it was easy to understand that he
was very angry with these colleagues of his for doubting his ability to
watch three boys.
"Are you certain it was Bob whom you heard?" asked the first speaker.
"He may have left some one here, and been at Hoxie's before you
arrived."
"I am certain there was some one here," said Newcombe, speaking less
decidedly than before, "and I would be willing to bet everything I own
that it was Bob Hubbard."
"Betting is a very bad way to settle disputes, Mr. Newcombe," said Bob,
laughingly, shouting so that every one outside could hear his voice,
"and I would advise you to give it up in the future; but in this
particular case you would win the money."
"There! What did I tell you?" cried the detective to his visitors; and
it is very probable that just at that moment he looked upon Bob as a
true friend.
"Yes, Bob is there," said the man, reluctantly; "but Jim and Dick were
at the well."
"Here's Dick!" shouted that young gentleman; "and when you two want to
hold an animated conversation about either one of us, try not to start
it at night, nor so near the door of a sleeping-room as to disturb those
who may need a little rest."
"And here is Jim!" shouted that young moonlighter. "So now that you know
we are here, where Brother Newcombe has been watching for the last dozen
hours, suppose the whole posse of you drive back to Bradford, where you
belong."
For a moment there was a profound silence outside, as if this last
astute detective was too much surprised to be able to speak, and then
Mr. Newcombe burst into an uncontrollable fit of triumphant laughter. He
knew that it was impossible for any number of boys to fool him, and very
likely he almost pitied his brother-detective for being so simple.
From the sounds, the boys judged that the men were moving away from the
hut, and Bob once more had access to the peep-hole as a point of
observation.
"They are harnessing their horses now," he said, after he had looked out
a few moments, "and I guess Newcombe has convinced his friend that we
must have been innocent of the shooting of Hoxie's well."
"The question among them now will be as to who the other moonlighters
are," laughed Dick.
And all of them found no little cause for merriment in the idea of
Newcombe and his friends pursuing these imaginary moonlighters.
"They have started for the stable again," continued Bob. "I suppose they
want to make sure that there is no chance for us to get the horses out
by any way other than the front door. What muffs they are not to think
how easy it would be for us to do just as we did! They have walked
entirely around the stable, and are now coming back again."
It was evident that Mr. Newcombe's friend needed some further proof to
assure himself that it was not the boys whom he had disturbed, for
Newcombe said, as he came near the hut:
"Bob, I don't suppose you have any especial love for any of us, but you
know that what we are doing is all fair in the way of business, and
nothing as especially against you. Now, just as a favor to me, I want
you to tell us what we have done since we came here."
It was apparent to Bob, as it was to all in the hut, that the question
was asked simply to convince the newcomers that the boys could not have
left the hut during the night, and Bob, after having descended from his
perch, in order that his voice might not betray the fact that he had
been on the lookout, answered, readily:
"I didn't know that you had been doing much of anything. You paid Pete
for some information which could hardly have been worth the money, and
passed it up to him on the hay-fork, for he wouldn't open the door to
you. Then you sent one of your party somewhere for food, and since you
had your supper, you have amused us by sitting in front of the hut. Is
that enough?"
"Plenty, and thank you!" was the reply, made in such a cheery tone that
there was no question but that it had been sufficiently convincing.
Then Bob scrambled upon his rather shaky perch once more, in order to
give full information to his companions of the movements of those
outside.
He reported from time to time as to what they were doing in the way
getting their teams ready, looking around the premises, but without
taking more than a casual glance at the rear of the house, however, and
then he said:
"Now they are getting into their wagons. Now they are driving out on the
road, and now," he added, as he leaped down with a loud shout, "they
have disappeared to find the parties who shot the Hoxie well, perfectly
content that we could have had no hand in the business, since it is a
certainty in Newcombe's mind that we have not left the hut since he
drove up here. Hurrah for Bob Hubbard's scheme, and Newcombe's belief in
his own ability as a detective!"