INTO THE LAKE
The detectives were startled by the sound of the siren but it
immediately put them on their guard. Seeing the car which Moonshine
Charlie was driving, tearing down the street, they thought something
was wrong and they threw themselves to the ground. The gangster
was bent on revenge, though there was little he could do. His plan
evidently was to drive by the group of detectives, and through the open
window of his car, fire on them as he passed. It was a violent gesture,
born of hate and contempt.
The detectives threw themselves on the ground, dragging the two
gangsters down with them. Moonshine Charlie fired four or five times
as he sped by, but all his shots were futile and hurt no one. However,
Jack was only a couple of yards behind him. The boy slowed down as he
came alongside a group of policemen. Mr. Grey jumped forth and leaped
onto the running board. “Drive!” he cried.
The car leaped forward and flew out of sight. The gangster kept
speeding straight ahead. Jack kept his siren screaming and hoped no one
would get in his way. Mr. Grey assured himself of a firm hold and then
turned his attention to the fleeing automobile ahead of him. The police
car was much more powerful and Jack was gaining gradually. Mr. Grey
aimed and then fired, but with no result.
Moonshine Charlie turned the next corner on two wheels. Jack was after
him. The gangster began to zigzag and that was to his disadvantage
because that enabled Jack to gain considerable distance on him. Mr.
Grey fired a second time, but again, the shot had no effect. Suddenly
Jack caught his breath. Moonshine Charlie had turned a corner. The boy
knew that it was a dead end street and unless the gangster slowed up,
the car would run straight into the lake.
Jack slowed up as he turned the corner. Mr. Grey of course did not
realize why, but as soon as the corner was turned, he saw for himself.
The gangster didn’t know it was a dead end street. It was too late
when he realized it. Slamming on the brakes, the car seemed to shiver
and bounce into the air. Evidently Moonshine Charlie had lost control
of his machine, for it ran onto the sidewalk, almost crashed into the
brick wall of a house, and then leaped through the wooden fence and
into the lake.
Jack pulled the car up to the curb and stopped. Mr. Grey and he rushed
up to the lake. The terrible splash of the water caused by the plunging
automobile was already becoming calm. Jack stared at the approximate
spot and shivered. Mr. Grey asked, “Anything wrong, fellow?”
“No,” was the meek answer. There was a short silent pause, then he
remarked with deep feeling, “It’s a terrible death.”
The government agent nodded silently, then replied, “He lived a
terrible life.”
By now a crowd had gathered and several reporters and photographers
had arrived. Mr. Grey and Jack pushed their way through and drove off
again. “Shall we go back and see if the men are still there?” asked
Jack.
Mr. Grey nodded. “Yes, let’s go back.”
For a short while they drove along in silence. Jack felt so shaken
by the incident that he drove the car at a very slow pace. The agent
commented, “It’s a good thing you happened to be there on the spot, or
else he would have gotten away and might also have wounded some of the
men.”
“Yes,” answered Jack ironically, “I thought I was safely out of it when
bang, there. I was right in it.”
Mr. Grey regained his good humor and laughed. “It seems that we can’t
get along without you fellows. You boys have done more in the capture
of the gang than I and the detectives did. I wonder if they got
Harriman all right.”
“I don’t suppose they had any difficulty,” was Jack’s opinion.
“I’m not so sure of that,” was the contrary opinion. “Harriman was a
violent sort of person, very temperamental and brutal. But for that
matter they all were. A tough bunch they were.”
They arrived at the scene of the battle. The change was now so vastly
different, that Mr. Grey commented upon the fact, “Suddenly, everything
is again quiet and serene. Isn’t it wonderful?”
Jack was silent. There was no one in view and they assumed that the
detectives with their prisoners had returned to police headquarters.
Mr. Grey suggested that they enter the house and see what was inside.
Jack had no objection and together they mounted the few steps to the
porch and entered the house. The door opened on a small foyer, with
stairs leading up to the rooms above. On their left was a door which
Mr. Grey opened and they entered. The room was fairly well furnished
as a living room, but now, after the battle, it was in considerable
disorder.
They went from room to room and then upstairs. They were all fairly
well furnished. Except for the two rooms which were used by the
gangsters in their struggle with the police, the furniture was not at
all disturbed. Jack asked, “Did the gangsters occupy this house?”
“In a fashion. But they didn’t live here,” the agent informed him.
“Actually they lived at the hotel, but they used this house from which
to carry on their operations. Let’s go, shall we?”
They returned to their car and drove back to police headquarters.
There they found that the prisoners had been brought in and put in
jail; not one of the detectives had been hurt. The chief greeted them
and shook Mr. Grey’s hand. “Great work,” he said, “great work. Did you
get Moonshine Charlie?”
The government agent shook his head sadly and replied, “No, I’m sorry
to say I didn’t.” He turned to Jack for confirmation. “You see,” he
continued, “he got away. We were just about to grab him when phizz, up
he goes and jumps into the lake.”
“Jumps into the lake!” exclaimed the chief.
“Yes,” was the answer. “You see, he was going so fast, he couldn’t stop
himself.”
“He fell in, car and all,” added Jack.
Chief Bates heaved a sigh of relief. “Whew! For a moment you had me
thinking that he actually got away.”
“Well, he did,” insisted Mr. Grey. “He got away so cleanly, no one will
ever catch him again.”
The chief and the detectives laughed. Catching sight of Jack, the chief
pulled him forward and shook him by the hand. “I already heard of what
you did, fellow,” he said. “That was very bravely done.”
“As I was telling him just before,” commented Mr. Grey, “I don’t know
what we would have done without him and his friends. They did more to
capture the gang than all of us put together.”
“You didn’t hear all of it,” exclaimed the chief. “Did you hear what
his friend, Paul Morrison, did?”
Jack nodded and wondered what Paul had been up to now. “What this
fellow, Paul, did?” continued the chief. “He went with three men to
take Harriman into custody. Well, this fellow put up a tough battle.
To make a long story short, he came out of the rear of his store,
barricaded himself and fired shot for shot. They might still be there
shooting it out if it wasn’t for this fellow. He sneaked up on his
rear, jumped the gangster, and bingo! there he was all captured and no
longer tough and fighting.”
Mr. Grey laughed heartily. “These fellows,” he remarked, “are showing
us all up. Did I say before you ought to make them honorary members of
your force? I take it back. They would show your men up so, the whole
force would soon be plagued with an inferiority complex.”
The chief roared and slapped his knee. “That’s a good one,” he cried.
Jack said, “By the way, where are Ken and Paul?”
“They are in the detectives’ room. Shall I call them? Do you want them?”
“Well, it’s about time we went home.”
Mr. Grey laughed. “Notice how calm and nonchalant he is and with what
poise he said that,” commented the government agent. “The job is done,
nothing else to do, so it’s about time to go home, just like that.”
Jack blushed and Chief Bates laughed. “Well,” he said, “there is really
no reason why the boys should not go home.”
“No, I guess not. I think they deserve it.”
“Yes.” The chief winked to the government agent. “I think I will send
them home in an official car.”
“Oh, that isn’t necessary at all,” cried Jack. “We can just as well
walk home.”
He rose to his feet as if he intended to leave. “Now you just sit
there,” said the chief. Opening the door of his office, he called his
secretary to have the boys come in.
Chief Bates and the government agent continued their joking. A minute
later Jack and Ken and Walters entered. “Oh, there you are,” cried
Paul. “We didn’t know where you were and what happened to you.”
“Yes,” added Ken, “we were waiting for you.”
“Well, here I am,” Jack informed his friends, “and I think it’s time we
went home.”
Chief Bates, addressing the detective, said, “Walters, will you please
take the boys home?”
“Oh, that isn’t necessary at all,” cried Paul. “Thanks all the same.
But we can walk home.”
“Notice the modesty of them,” remarked Mr. Grey. “It’s really funny.”
The chief laughed. “All right,” said Walters, “if you’re ready, let’s
go.”
Chief Bates came around the desk and shook hands with them. “Any time I
can do anything for you boys,” he said seriously, “don’t forget to call
on me.”
“And when you want some good detective work done,” intervened Mr. Grey,
“you call on them.”
The boys were beginning to feel uncomfortable. The government agent
rose and approached them. “Well, boys,” he said, “it was a real
pleasure to work with you.” He paused for a second, then added, “The
only trouble of collaborating with you is that you do all the work and
leave the other fellow nothing to do.”
There was laughter all around. Then Jack said, “Mr. Grey, you must not
forget that we want to talk some things over with you. There are a
couple of mysterious details that we think, you can clear up for us.”
The man bowed low and replied, “I am at your disposal, sir.”
“Perhaps you might visit us tonight at my house,” added Paul. “Then you
could tell us everything.”
“That’s right,” nodded Ken. “How about it?”
“I shall be there at eight sharp, gentlemen.”
The boys smiled at the man’s behavior. He was really lots of fun. They
said goodbye all around and left, accompanied by Walters.