A SURPRISE AT CHAMBERSBURGH.
"I believe that one reason why Squire Paget wished to get me out of the
situation on the bridge was because he hoped thereby to force me to leave
Westville altogether," remarked Ralph, as the train sped on its way.
"Perhaps you are right," returned Horace Kelsey. "One thing is certain, he
was decidedly anxious to get you out of the way; otherwise, he would not
have hired this Martin Thomas a second time."
"I never thought it of Squire Paget," murmured Ralph, thoughtfully. "Why,
it is simply horrible!"
"There is no telling to what depths a man will sink for the sake of money,"
returned the insurance agent. "Here in the city we see it more than in the
country."
"I thought Percy Paget bad enough, but he can't be a patch to his father."
"You must be careful how you go ahead, Ralph. Squire Paget may deny the
whole statement made by Martin Thomas, and then you will have some trouble
to prove anything against him."
"I know that."
"The best thing you can do is to call on your mother first----"
"I intend to do that. I am much worried since I know she has not received
my letter."
"She may have news to tell. Who knows but what the squire has approached
her about this property question already."
"I shall look to you for advice before I make an important movement," said
Ralph.
It was growing dark, and soon it became time to go to bed on the train.
Horace Kelsey had procured berths, and both retired. But to tell the truth,
Ralph did not sleep a wink all night.
He could not help but think of all that had happened, and speculate as to
what the future held in store. Never once did he dream of the many
surprises so close at hand.
Ralph was up before any one else among the passengers. It was a good hour
before Horace Kelsey followed.
"Anxious, I suppose," smiled the insurance agent. "Well, I don't blame
you."
"There is so much at stake," rejoined Ralph. "I feel as if a fuse had been
lighted, and I was just waiting for something to explode."
"And something will explode ere long, I imagine," laughed Horace Kelsey.
It was a little after eight o'clock when the train rolled into
Chambersburgh and they alighted. Both knew the place fairly well, and
started at once for the steamboat landing.
Just as they turned a corner of the street they came face to face with
three police officers who were escorting two men and a boy to the
station-house. The men were Dock Brady and another. The boy was Percy
Paget.
"Look!" cried Ralph. "What can this mean?"
"I don't know them," returned Horace Kelsey.
"Why, that is Percy Paget!"
"Is it possible?"
"And one of those men is Dock Brady, the man who is supposed to have robbed
the Westville post office."
"Really! That is interesting!"
"I'll bet a fortune they are the three that did that job!" burst out Ralph,
excitedly. "There were two men and a boy, and this crowd is the same."
"Ask one of the officers," suggested Horace Kelsey. "Or, stop, I will do
so."
He stepped up to the little crowd, which had come to a halt at a corner,
and tapped one of the policemen on the arm.
"I wish to ask you a few private questions about your prisoners," he said,
in a low tone.
"Ask him," returned the officer; and he pointed to a quiet-looking man in
black a few steps away.
Horace Kelsey at once stepped up to the person indicated, Ralph beside him.
"We are interested in these prisoners," he said. "Will you tell me why they
have been arrested?"
"I am not at liberty to say much just now----" began the man in black.
"Are they not the Westville post office robbers?" questioned Horace,
eagerly.
"Ah! What do you know of that case?" and the quiet-looking man became
interested at once.
Ralph told him what he knew in a few brief, well-chosen words. The man
smiled.
"You have hit it on the head," he said. "They are the guilty parties. I am
a post office detective, and have just run them down."
"And is Percy Paget as guilty as the rest?"
"He was drawn into the scheme by this Brady, who is a very smart fellow.
Brady also drew in the other man, who was formerly a horse dealer in this
city."
"And did you obtain the money and packages that were stolen?" asked Horace
Kelsey.
"We recovered nearly everything. By the way," went on the detective, "did
you say your name was Ralph Nelson?"
"Yes, sir."
"I overheard this Percy Paget say how he had put a valise in your yard in
order to throw suspicion on you. I knew of that valise being found. You are
now cleared on that point."
"I am glad of it," replied Ralph, heartily.
"There is something else which may interest you. I do not quite understand
it, because this Paget boy is one of the robbers. Among the registered
letters which Dock Brady held was one sent by Squire Paget to some friend
in New York. This contained several important papers relating to some
property in Westville belonging to a Mrs. Martha Nelson, widow of the late
Randolph Nelson----"
"My mother!" shouted Ralph. "Hurrah! the missing papers have been found!"
"Dock Brady was evidently holding them to obtain money from the squire on
them," went on the man in black. "What shall we do with them? Under the law
they ought to be forwarded to the party in New York."
"Keep them until matters can be straightened out," said Horace Kelsey,
coming to Ralph's rescue. "Listen, and I will tell you where we are going,
and what my young friend intends to do."