HOME ONCE MORE
A little later Jack and Mont separated, and in company with the
constable, the young machinist called on Mr. Benton at the Coney House.
The speculator listened attentively to Jack's story. He was shrewd, a
close reader of human nature, and thought he saw a chance of securing a
bargain or of placing the embryo inventor under obligation to him.
"Tell you what I'll do," he said. "Give me a paper securing to me your
invention if you don't turn up at the proper time, and I'll go your
bond, providing----" and here Mr. Benton paused.
"What?" asked Jack eagerly.
"Providing you give me a half interest in it now."
Jack staggered back.
"A half interest?"
"That's what I said."
"But, sir----"
"You haven't got to accept my offer if you don't wish to," was the
apparent indifferent reply.
Had he thought only of himself Jack would have refused. To give up that
for which he had worked for years was terribly hard.
But Deb, dear Deb, what would become of her if he did not accept?
"I'll do it," he said, shortly. And then, with a sudden thought: "But
you must give me a money consideration."
"How much?" asked the man of means.
"One hundred dollars." Jack knew Mr. Benton would offer less.
"Too much! I'll give you twenty-five."
"No; a hundred."
"Make it fifty. I can't spare a cent more. Besides, the thing may not
be worth a dollar."
"Or several thousand," put in Jack. "But I accept the offer."
"Very well. I'll pay you the money to-morrow. I'm short to-day."
Knowing that with all his sharp business practice Mr. Benton was a man
of his word, the young machinist did not object to waiting for his cash.
In his excitement he forgot all about Mr. Hammerby and the rent that
must be paid.
It was fully an hour before the necessary papers were drawn up and
signed, and then with hasty steps Jack made his way home.
Deb met him at the door, and at once he had to give her the particulars
of what had been done.
"Never mind, anything is better than having you in prison," she said
when he had finished. "And it may be just as well to have Mr. Benton for
a partner now as to give him the chance of getting the whole thing later
on."
Deb was delighted to learn that they were to receive fifty dollars in
cash the next day.
"I'll be so glad to get rid of that horrid agent," she declared, and
showed Jack the notice to quit.
In looking it over he discovered that it had been dated the day before.
"The mean fellow!" he exclaimed. "He thinks to get us out one day
sooner than the law allows. Won't he be astonished when I pull out the
roll of bills and pay him?"
In anticipation of the money soon to be received, and in honor of Jack's
release, Deb prepared quite an elaborate dinner.
It nearly took her breath away when she discovered that the outlay
footed up to nearly a dollar--a large sum for them. But then her
brother did delight in cutlets, with potatoes and green corn, and
somehow the table wouldn't have looked complete without some stewed
prunes and a pudding-dessert--the latter just fixed to tickle Jack's
palate.
During the meal Mont slipped in, and was compelled to sit down with
them. He was delighted to see the young machinist free, but shook his
head over the price that had been paid for liberty.
"What do you intend to do now?" he asked.
"Find Andy Mosey, if I can, and have him arrested," replied Jack. "It
is the only way, I believe, that I can clear myself."
"It isn't likely you will find him," remarked the young man. "He will
no doubt keep shady for a while."
"I shan't look for him to-day, excepting to strike a clue," was the
young machinist's reply.
After the meal was finished, and Mont had gone, Jack announced his
intention to do the repairs that he had promised Farmer Farrell.
"I might as well do them at once," he said to Deb, "it will be several
dollars in pocket, and we need all the money we can get now. If this
case goes to trial I'll have to hire a lawyer, and they charge heavily."
"So, I've heard," replied Deb, "but I wouldn't mind that if only you get
free."
"I'll try my best," replied Jack taking up his kit of tools.
"When will you be back?" she asked as he started to go.
"I can't say. It depends on the job. Don't worry if it is late."
"All right; I'll keep the supper warm till you come."
So young, and yet a perfect housekeeper!
"She'll make some fellow a good wife one of these days," said Jack to
himself as he strode along.
It was a fine day, and the walk by the river side was a delightful one,
but the young machinist scarcely noticed the surroundings. His mind was
busy with the numerous difficulties that had risen round him, and he
endeavored to lay out a definite plan of action by which to extricate
himself.
When he arrived at the farm, he found his acquaintance of the previous
day hard at work on the patent rake, which he had taken almost entirely
apart.
"Just in time, young man!" exclaimed farmer Farrell, wiping the
perspiration from his brow; "I thought, seeing as how you didn't come
this morning, I'd see what I could do myself. But the job's a leetle
too much for me. I've got the pesky thing apart and can't put two
pieces together again."
"That's because you don't understand machinery and haven't the tools,"
replied the young machinist, and taking off his coat, he set to work at
once.
He picked out the worn screws and bolts and substituted the new ones
which he had brought. Then he sorted out the various parts in their
proper order, and examined each critically.
"This bit of iron that guides the pressure spring is warped," he
remarked. "Did the rake pull hard when the left side was lower than the
right?"
"Yes, and squeaked, too."
"Then, that's the cause of it, and all the oil in the world wouldn't
help it."
"Can you fix it?" asked the farmer, anxiously.
"I can if I can get a hot fire," replied Jack.
"I'll start it up at once," returned farmer Farrell, and he disappeared
into the house.
When he had the fire well under way, Jack heated the part, and gave it
the proper shape. Then he put the machine together, adjusted it
carefully, and oiled the parts.
"Guess it's all right now," he said, lifting it over.
"We'll soon see," returned the farmer. Going to the barn he brought out
one of the horses and hitched him to the machine. Then he mounted the
seat and drove up and down the field several times.
"Works like a charm!" he declared. "You understand your trade and no
mistake. How much for the job?"
This question was a stickler to Jack. He did not wish to ask too much,
and he could not afford to ask too little.
"They would charge you three dollars at the machine shops," he said.
"Then I suppose that's what it's worth," continued the farmer. He was a
whole-souled man, and was taken by Jack's outspoken manner. "But
there's the other things to do yet," he continued.
"I know it; so we'll put this job at two dollars," said the young
machinist.
"Never mind, I'm satisfied to pay three," laughed farmer Farrell. "Come
into the barn; I've found quite a lot of stuff that needs doctoring, and
I want you to put everything in first-class shape."
"I'll do my best."
Farmer Farrell led the way, and Jack was soon as busy as a bee, putting
the machines in running order and overhauling other farming implements.
[Illustration: JACK WAS SOON AS BUSY AS A BEE, PUTTING THE MACHINES IN
RUNNING ORDER AND OVERHAULING OTHER FARMING IMPLEMENTS.]
"Why didn't you stop this morning?" asked the farmer, presently. He had
intended going reaping, but Jack's handy use of tools interested him and
made him linger.
In an easy manner that did not interfere with his work, the young
machinist narrated the particulars of what had occurred to detain him.
"Well, now, that beats all! Trouble piling right up on top of ye!
Wonder if I don't know this Mosey," continued the farmer, reflectively.
"Is he a short man with a red beard?"
"Yes."
"Didn't he use to work over to Redrock?"
"I believe he did."
"Then I reckon I do. He's a bad egg. I used to sell the company he
worked for hay for packing, and Mosey used to weigh it. Several times,
when I was sure it was correct, he reported short, and when I spoke to
him about it, he said it would never be right until I made it right with
him, or, in other words, paid him for his good will."
"How did it turn out?" asked Jack, interested in the story.
"Oh, I spoke of it to the owners, but they believed his side of the
story, and I lost their trade. But, all the same, he was discharged a
month later for being drunk. If I ain't mistaken, I saw him pass early
yesterday morning."
"I just wish I could lay hands on him," returned the young machinist; "I
don't believe he would keep out of the way if he wasn't guilty."
"Maybe I'll see him," said the farmer. "If I do I'll watch him, and let
you know."
It was close on to six o'clock when Jack finished the work. During the
afternoon he had done jobs for which he asked five dollars, and farmer
Farrell, who knew that he would have been charged twice as much in the
town, paid the bill without a murmur.
Ten minutes later, with his kit under his arm, and the new five-dollar
bill tucked safely in his vest pocket, the young machinist started for
home.
The sun was setting, and the road, shaded for its greater part by large
trees, was growing dark rapidly.
About midway of the distance to Corney stood an old mill, abandoned
several years before, whose disused water-wheel still hung idly over the
swiftly flowing river beneath.
It was a ghostly looking structure, and having the reputation of being
haunted, was seldom visited, except by adventurous tourists and by
amateur photographers, who remained at a safe distance to take views of
the really picturesque locality.
As Jack passed the mill, he saw a man approach from the opposite
direction. Judge of his astonishment when he recognized the individual
as Andy Mosey!
He had seen the young machinist at the same instant, and turning rapidly
from the road, he darted to one side of the mill.
For a second Jack stood still, hardly able to move. But he quickly
recovered, and dropping his kit, which was heavy, he started in pursuit.
"He shall not escape me," he resolved. "He is larger than I, but I am
not afraid to meet him face to face."
There was a large shed attached to the mill, and entering this, the
young machinist looked carefully around to see if he could find any
trace of the man. But a brief search assured him that the place had not
been disturbed for months.
Passing through the partly open door, he entered the lower floor of the
mill, and found himself in the presence of Dennis Corrigan, Mosey's
brother-in-law.
"What do you want here?" demanded Corrigan, springing up from the bench
upon which he had been seated.
Jack could hardly form a proper reply. With two men against him, he
realized that he was in a bad fix.
"Why, I didn't know that you were here, Corrigan," he began. "I
thought----"
Jack never finished the sentence. He heard a noise behind him, but
before he could turn to see what it was, he received a cruel blow on the
head, and then all became a dark, terrible blank.