THE RED CAR
"What's the matter with you, Paul?"
Jack asked this question, for of course he could not understand why his
chum should take such a deep interest in any automobile that passed them
on the road.
"Did you happen to see inside that red car as it went by?" asked Paul,
turning eagerly on his friend.
"Why, er--yes, I did chance to be looking over your shoulders just then;
I was a little afraid the wheels might graze you," admitted Jack.
"Do you know the machine, then?" asked the other, in some suspense.
"Don't believe I ever saw it before; but then, what of that? Don't dozens
pass along here every day, that come up from the city? It's common to see
a strange car, even if it has got a khaki-colored top, instead of a plain
black one. Hey, Paul! what ails you?" demanded Jack.
"It wasn't Colonel Strange, was it?" asked the other; for the gentleman
mentioned happened to possess a red auto.
"Of course it wasn't, because his car has a black top; and besides,
neither of the two men was the fat colonel," replied Jack, immediately.
Paul had learned something already.
"Then there were two men in it, you say?" he went on, casually, as though
much of his interest had abated.
"Yes, and one of them was staring at me to beat the band. Perhaps he has
lost a boy, and thinks I look like him. Don't let him kidnap me, will
you, Paul?" went on Jack with pretended anxiety, as he clung to his
companion's arm.
"Say, look there, the car's stopped. I believe they're waiting for us!"
declared Paul, in some excitement.
"Well, that's what gave me such a scare, you see. That's why I'm shaking
all over, Paul. But in union there is strength; and I'm going to hang on
to you, if he tries to coax me to get aboard. I'm not in the long lost
class."
"Oh! come along, and let's see what they want. He's leaning over the top
now, and keeps beckoning to us."
Paul started on a run. He could feel his heart beating very hard; indeed
it was strange, he thought, that his companion did not hear it pounding
away, and make some sort of remark.
The chance that he had been hoping for seemed to be within his grasp. Not
only had he discovered a car that answered the description of the one
mentioned by Mr. Pender; but the occupants were plainly desirous of
obtaining information of some sort, and had selected him and Jack as the
ones most likely to give it.
As he hurried on, he tried to control himself. It would never do to show
more than natural curiosity in his actions. If these two men were the
ones the gentleman stopping at Jack's house wanted to find, they must be
smart enough to read his secret, unless he took warning.
No sooner had he come abreast of the car than looking up he found himself
staring into the dark face of a man who had a cruel look about him. What
thrilled Paul, however, was the fact that one of his eyes was undoubtedly
artificial. He had guessed this fact when Jack stated that the party
_stared_ so at him.
All doubt was gone now, and he understood that by the strangest of luck
he had come upon the parties for whom Mr. Pender was searching. The
official must have known that they were headed this way for some purpose
or other.
"Live around here, bub?" asked the man with the glass eye, as he looked
piercingly at Paul.
"Yes, sir; in Stanhope," replied the boy, surprised himself to find how
steady his voice turned out to be under the trying circumstances.
"How far ahead is that place?" continued the man.
"About half a mile, sir. You can see the steeple of the Methodist church
after you turn that bend ahead," and Paul pointed with a steady finger.
"Huh! I wonder now if either of you happen to know a Mr. Solus Smithers?"
and as he put the question the man shot a quick glance toward his
companion; at which the shorter party nodded his big head, and grinned
approvingly.
Paul turned to his chum.
"Say, Jack, isn't that the name of the man who took the old Grimes farm
up at the milldam?" he asked, though he knew positively that it was so.
"Smithers--why, yes, I reckon it is. Is he a tall man, with a hooked
nose; and does he dip snuff?" queried Jack, innocently enough.
"That's Solus to a dot. You see, boys, he's from North Caroliny, where
even the wimmen use snuff, only they rub it on their teeth with a stick.
Now, mebbe one of you boys would be so obligin' as to direct us to the
shortest way to where this old mill stands," continued the man with the
bogus orb.
"I guess the quickest way to get there is to drive through Stanhope, and
pick up the Deerfield road on the other side. It's only a few miles off;
but the road turns lots of times to avoid the hills."
Paul noted that the taller man seemed to invariably look to his companion
for support. It was as though they worked in common, and neither wished
to become responsible for action without the other's assent.
After an interchange of low words, which the boys did not catch, the
spokesman once more turned around. He held a silver half dollar in his
hand.
"Here's something for your trouble, boys. But look here, ain't there
another way to get to that old abandoned mill without going through the
town? To tell you the truth we lost our number away back, and might get
hauled up because we can't show a tag on the back of the car."
Paul had already noticed this significant fact. It is the business of a
scout to take note of even trifles. One of the tests of memory is to look
in at a store window for just one full minute; and then, going away, make
out as complete a list of articles it contained as is possible.
And still, he did not believe that this was the true reason these men
disliked passing through Stanhope if it could be avoided. Perhaps they
had some suspicion that Mr. Pender was visiting there; and did not want
to take chances of his meeting them face to face.
"Sure there is," broke in Jack, who saw no reason why he should not
believe the artful excuse given; for Jack did not know all his chum had
learned about these parties; "after you pass the bend yonder, just turn
to the left. You can't miss the road, for its got a big maple tree right
at the junction. We call that the Grapevine Road, because it twists and
turns so; but it will fetch you out right at the old dam, mister."
Many a time had Jack himself walked along that same winding path when
coming home with a string of bass, taken in the mill pond. It was longer,
to be sure, but there were some fine apple trees on the way; and the walk
through the dense woods was so much more enjoyable on a hot summer day
than the open stretch that marked the other route.
The man flipped the coin in the air, and as it fell at Paul's feet he
felt constrained to stoop and pick it up. To do anything else might have
aroused the suspicions of the man who stared. And at the worst it meant
another contribution toward the various funds which the boys were raising
for many purposes.
Boys as a rule have little objection about receiving "tainted money." And
while Paul understood that these men had been breaking some of the laws
of the land, he was not supposed to know the particular way in which
their money had been gained.
"Much obliged for the information, boys; and please don't report us in
town as being short a license tag. We'll get a new one just as quick as
we can. So-long!"
As the shorter fellow started the machine his companion waved his hand at
the two chums on the road, both of whom of course returned the salute.
Jack watched his friend out of the corner of his eye as they walked on.
Perhaps he was entertaining a dim suspicion that Paul might be keeping
something from him.
But he asked no questions; and the other volunteered no information. A
scout is supposed to know when to hold his tongue, especially when in
the company of his superior officer; and so Jack let the matter drop.
"See, they've turned in, all right, Paul," he said, as he pointed to the
broad marks of heavy tires leaving the main road, and passing under the
spreading maple that stood at the junction with the Grapevine.
"That's so," returned Paul, apparently not in the least interested; and
yet as they continued to walk briskly toward home he frequently turned a
wistful look over his left shoulder, as in fancy his thoughts followed
those two strangers up to the old farmhouse at the mill pond.
Who was this Solus Smithers? Could he be in league with these two men
whom the Government expert was sent to watch? Paul remembered that he had
heard several people talking about the man and his ways. He seemed to
have plenty of money, yet he made no effort to farm the place he had
rented that summer.
As soon as they reached town he started to accompany his chum home,
hoping to have an opportunity to see Mr. Pender in secret.
Catching sight of that gentleman walking down for the evening mail,
he made some excuse and broke away from Jack; who looked after him in
bewilderment, grieved because Paul, for once, seemed to be keeping some
secret from him.
Mr. Pender presently came out of the post-office. He had a letter in his
hand, and was apparently much displeased at what it had contained.
"Why, hello! Paul, my boy! Glad to see you. How is the patrol coming on?
Some day you must allow me to watch your manoeuvers up there in the
woods. I'm deeply interested in all such goings-on, you know," he said,
shaking hands, heartily.
"Yes, sir; I'll ask the boys for permission to invite you," began Paul.
"Were you looking for me, my boy?" asked the other suddenly, his keen
eyes having doubtless detected something in the manner of the young
scout master that gave him his idea.
"Yes, sir, I was," replied the one addressed.
"I wonder now if, on the top of bad news from Washington, you could be
about to bring me new hope. Have you learned anything you want to tell
me, Paul?"
"I've seen that red auto, and talked with the gentleman who has the glass
eye!" said the boy, trying in vain to keep his eager voice from trembling
with excitement.