AMATEUR DETECTIVES
Fred was forced to attend to his duties at the store immediately after
the return from Black town, and while so engaged could not fail to hear
the many comments upon the case.
The news of the alleged robbery had spread with wonderful rapidity, and
the majority of the miners believed Sam to be guilty.
Twice during the afternoon the cashier questioned Fred closely as to
what the prisoner meant when he spoke of their desire to buy land, but
despite the coaxing and even threats he refused to divulge the secret.
"If it can't be helped I'll tell Mr. Wright, but nobody else," the boy
repeated, and further than this he positively refused to speak.
"Then it's time you went home," the official finally said, in an angry
tone. "You know so much about this thing that I don't believe it's safe
to have you where there are many valuable things which might be stolen."
"If you think I'm a thief, why not send me to jail with Sam?"
"I shall suggest to Mr. Wright that you be arrested, and I fancy he'll
follow my advice."
Fred walked out of the store knowing that several of the clerks had
overheard the latter portion of the conversation, and believing those
whom he met on the street already looked upon him as a thief.
"It can't be helped, my boy," his mother said. "You have the
satisfaction of knowing the accusation is false, and that must suffice
until the time when the whole affair is brought to light."
"I'm afraid that never will be. Everybody thinks Sam is lying, and if we
should tell of the coal we discovered the folks would say for sure he
stole the money."
During the remainder of the day Fred staid in the house, not so much as
showing his face at the window, and shortly after sunset Bill called.
"I've found out who owns the land," he cried triumphantly.
"I wish we'd never walked across the mountain."
"Now don't be foolish, lad."
"How can I help it when people call me a thief."
"I heard the cashier had kinder turned you out: but that don't 'mount to
anything. Wait till the superintendent comes back."
"He'll believe as the others do."
"Then wait till I catch the real thief."
"You?"
"I'm going to try it."
"But you can't leave the mine."
"That's jest what I have done."
"What? Have you thrown up the job?"
"Me an' the cashier had a little tiff a few minutes ago, an' I've closed
accounts with Farley's."
"I hope you didn't take up what he said to me."
"Well, I kinder had a row on my own account, but that ain't neither here
nor there. We're both loafin' now, an' I want you to take a trip with
me."
"Where?"
"I ain't jest sure, but we'll strike Blacktown first, an' then go
wherever things look most promisin'."
"Have you heard anything?" Mrs. Byram asked, as she gazed at the man
sharply.
"I can't say I have, an' I can't say I haven't. Skip give me a idee
that's worth workin' up even if it comes to nothin', so we'll have a
vacation."
"Tell me what you've heard?" Fred cried, excitedly.
"It ain't so very much, only jest enough to set me thinkin'. One of
Skip's regulators was over here this noon, an' flashed up considerable
money for a boy like him."
"And you think he stole the package from Sam?"
"I don't say anything of the kind, but Skip heard 'bout the trouble Sam
was in, an' thought it wouldn't do a bit of harm if we found out where
this feller got so much cash."
"When are you going?"
"In the mornin', but don't get your hopes up, for it may all end in
smoke."
Regardless of this warning Fred did grow excited, and before Bill took
his departure he felt quite confident that the thief would soon be
discovered.
His spirits fell considerably next morning when Joe returned from New
York, having come home on the night train.
"It's no use," he said sadly, as he entered Mrs. Byram's home just as
Fred and Bill were making ready to set out for Blacktown.
"Won't Mr. Wright do anything to help Sam?"
"No; he says if the boy is innocent it will be much better to have the
matter settled in court, when everybody will know he was wrongfully
accused."
"Does he believe him guilty?"
"I'm afraid so, though he didn't say very much."
"When is he coming home?"
"Day after to-morrow. He got a long letter from the cashier yesterday,
an' I reckon that made the case look pretty tough agin Sam."
"Well," Bill said, speaking for the first time since the arrival of his
mate, "we've spent the money for nothin', but it can't be helped now. We
thought it would be best to see him, an' since it's turned out wrong all
we can do is to push the other plan for what it's worth."
"What's the other plan?" Joe asked.
Bill explained, and concluded by saying:
"It will be a good idee to have you here to post us on what happens
while we're away. Keep your eyes peeled, an' if anything pertic'lar
turns up come over."
Then, without waiting to hear whether Joe was pleased with the idea,
Bill started, calling sharply to Fred as he left the house:
"It won't do to loaf, lad, if we've got to get Sam out of the scrape
with all the officers of the company agin us."
A hurried good-bye to Joe, a kiss from his mother, and Fred followed,
bent on proving his friend's innocence in order that the suspicion of
crime might also be removed from him.
During the walk to Blacktown hardly a word was spoken, but Bill said
when they were within sight of the village:
"We'd best separate here an' to-night I'll meet you over by the hotel."
"Ain't we going to see Sam?"
"Not to-day."
"But what am I to do?"
"Walk 'round 'till you run across Skip, an' then make friends with the
feller what's with him."
"Is Skip here?" Fred asked in surprise.
"Of course, else how could we find the boy? I gave him money last night,
an' reckon he come over on the first train."
"Did he say where he'd be?"
"No, but you'll sure run across him. Then hang 'round till it's time to
meet me. It don't stand to reason well find out anything to-day, but
we'll get our pipes laid."
Bill turned away as if fearing to prolong the interview lest he be seen
by the boy whom he fancied knew something about the case, and Fred
walked aimlessly to and fro for nearly an hour, when he was accosted by
Skip.
"When did you come?" the latter asked, as if in surprise as he glanced
meaningly toward a rather disreputable looking boy at his side.
Fred told the exact truth, and added that he was "laying off" from work
for a day or two because of an invitation of Bill Thomas' to see the
sights in Blacktown.
Skip's friend at once proposed that Fred spend the day with them, and
the two strangers in the village were soon pretending to enjoy the
lavish hospitality of the fellow who was known by the name of Gus
Dobson.
Only once, before it was time to meet Bill did Skip have a chance to
speak privately with Fred. Their host had left them while he talked in
whispers for several moments with a friend of about the same age and
general appearance, and Skip said:
"I'd like mighty well to help Sam out of his scrape, 'cause it would
kinder square off what I did to hurt you an' him."
"Do you think this fellow knows anything about the money?"
"He ain't givin' himself away; but jest see how much cash he's got. As
many as three dollars were spent yesterday at Farley's, and he's still
slingin' it out."
"Perhaps this is some he's been saving."
"Gus Dobson hasn't worked any to speak of since the Regulators was
started, an' I know he hadn't a cent at the time of the fuss over to
Farley's."
"Has he said anything about Sam?"
"Yesterday he asked a good many questions."
"I don't see how we're going to find out where the money comes from
unless he wants to tell us," Fred said, with a sigh, and then Gus,
looking considerably disturbed, joined them.
"When are you fellers goin' home?" he asked, abruptly.
"I'll start pretty soon," Skip replied, "but Fred don't have to leave
till Bill Thomas gives the word. What's up?"
"Nothin' much 'cept I won't see you agin."
"Why not?"
"I promised to take a trip with the feller what was jest here, an' it's
time we was off."
"What's that for?"
"I don't know as it's any business of yours," and Gus looked at his
guests suspiciously.
"Of course not," Skip replied quickly, "but we've had such a good time
that a feller can't help feelin' sorry you've got to go."
This explanation did not appear to be entirely satisfactory.
The boy alternately gazed at one and then the other for several moments
in silence, and finally said in a threatening tone:
"A good many fellers have tried to get the best of me, but I allers made
'em sick before the job was finished."
"Now what are you drivin' at?" Skip asked, in well simulated surprise.
"If you don't know I won't waste time talking," was the reply, as Gus
walked hurriedly away, and the boys saw him join his friend a short
distance off.
"He's tumbled to our game," Skip said sadly, "an' I'd like to knock the
head off the feller what put him up to it."
"That shows he knows something about the money."
"He may think we're on another racket; but there's no use loafin' 'round
here. I'll go to the depot an' you find Bill."
Fred had no difficulty in following this last suggestion. The miner was
already at the rendezvous, and when the details of the apparent failure
had been given, he exclaimed angrily:
"It's all my fault, an' instead of helpin' Sam I've done him a power of
harm."
"What do you mean?"
"I was in too much of a hurry, and thought myself mighty smart, so told
the lawyer what we suspicioned. He ain't much less of a fool than I am,
for he sent out to find a friend of Gus', and asked him all kinds of
questions. Now we've driven 'em away, an' may as well go ourselves."
"Are we to give up working?"
"There's no use in stayin' here any longer, an' we'll strike across the
mountain. Come on, so's it'll be possible to get home before dark."