AN OLD FRIEND
To Jet the idea of loitering around first one town and then another
with no definite plan, unless the simple hope of meeting the man by
accident could be called one, was in the highest degree unsatisfactory.
He had embarked on the enterprise, however, and it was now too late for
regrets.
In due time the train arrived, and, stepping on board, he was surprised
at hearing a familiar voice ask:
"Hello Jet! Have you concluded to join us again?"
It was his old friend the manager of the minstrel company, who appeared
to take it for granted Jet had boarded this particular train for no
other purpose than that of going into the show business again.
"Where are you playing?" the boy asked without answering the question.
"Nowhere to-night, or I shouldn't be here. We've been having mighty
hard luck, and had to lay off to reorganize---- At least that's the
best way of putting it. The company is about twenty miles down the
road, and we shall play that town to-morrow."
While the manager was speaking, Jet thought to himself that he could
attend to his particular business as well, if not better, by traveling
with the show a few days than in any other way, and he asked:
"Do you want a good dancer?"
"If you mean yourself, I'll say yes mighty quick. Will you come?"
"There is no reason why I shouldn't for a while, providing you won't
make any objection if I should leave very suddenly."
"Say, my boy, what are you up to in this section of the country, eh?"
"Nothing in particular, or perhaps it would be best to say, nothing
that I can explain."
"Then I won't ask any questions. How much do you want a night to do
two turns, and help us out in any other way that may come up?"
"If you'll pay my traveling expenses and hotel bills, I'll go on for
one night, and, perhaps a week, but when it comes to leaving this
section of the country I shall have to stay behind."
"I'll accept the offer, and reckon we can keep you with us a good
while, if you are so stuck on this part of the State, for we intend to
remain within a circle of fifty miles for a couple of weeks. Business
has been so bad that we can't afford to make many long jumps, and there
are plenty of little towns where I hope to pull out money enough to set
us on our feet."
This plan exactly suited Jet, and he believed he had been very
fortunate in thus meeting the manager.
When the conductor came for the tickets, Jet's friend paid his fare to
the town where the company had been waiting for funds ever since the
day the young dancer felt forced to leave them.
It was a very cordial greeting which he received from the members of
the show party that night, and many times was he forced to give an
evasive answer in reply to their searching questions, lest his secret
should be discovered.
During the evening he wrote to Harvey, telling him how he proposed to
travel, and concluded by saying:
"You see, by this means I can stay around here a long while without
spending any of your money, and it seems as if there is less chance of
being suspected by friends of Bob's whom I might meet without knowing
them."
During the following day he helped distribute programmes, put the hall
to rights, and otherwise made himself so useful that all looked upon
him as a decided acquisition to the company.
On this night he did his regular turn, and instead of trying to prevent
himself from looking at the audience, stared at each person every time
he came on the stage, hoping he might get a glimpse of Bob.
It was doubtful, he admitted to himself, whether he would recognize the
two who had played the part of Albany officers, for he saw them only at
night and in the feeble rays of light cast by the station lamps.
As to Bob, he was confident of knowing him under almost any disguise
that might be assumed.
However, this night's appearance before the public brought him no other
result than that of establishing himself yet more firmly in the minds
of his companions as a good dancer, and he had no reason to be
discouraged since that which must necessarily be a long task had but
just begun.
According to promise, he wrote a short letter to Harvey, and on the
following morning received, a reply to his first.
Among other things the detective wrote:
"I am glad you had an opportunity to join the company, for it is the
best way you could prosecute the search. It would do no harm to go
even farther from the house in the woods than you propose doing, since
Bob will most likely give that place a wide berth for some time to
come. Do not get discouraged, and use as much money as may be
necessary for your comfort. My wound is improving rapidly under proper
treatment, and I am told that in two weeks I shall be able to walk with
the aid of a cane."
It is true this was not a very important communication; but it was
highly satisfactory to Jet, since it showed that the detective approved
of his course.
The second performance after the "reorganization" of the company, was
given in a small town of about twelve hundred population, and the
receipts at the door were not enough to pay the hotel bill and
traveling expenses to the next town, therefore on that same evening the
manager called the performers to his room for consultation.
"We shall take big money in the next place, providing we can get there
early enough in the morning to make a parade; but I am broke again, and
want your advice."
No one spoke for some time, and Jet asked:
"How far is it?"
"Only six miles."
"I will walk, or pay my own expenses, either one you choose."
"Now, that's what I call coming to the front in great shape. Who's
willing to walk?"
It was some time before he could persuade the other members of the
company to agree. They had received no wages for several weeks, and it
seemed particularly hard to ask them to work for nothing, and, in
addition, tramp from town to town.
It was finally decided two of the company should ride, in order to
transport the baggage, and that the remainder would take to the road as
soon as sunrise next morning.
The manager, knowing that Jet had some money, because of his offer to
pay his own railroad fare, borrowed five dollars of him, with the
promise that it should be repaid with the first money taken at the door
on the next evening, and the amateur detective went to bed feeling
that, perhaps, he could travel around the country more cheaply than by
working for a manager who borrowed his funds.
All hands were called at an early hour on the following morning, and
Jet set out immediately after breakfast with those who were to travel
on "Shank's mare."
It was unfortunate that some of these involuntary pedestrians, while
not having enough to pay their railroad fare, managed to scrape
together sufficient to buy a large bottle of whisky, and when a trifle
more than half the distance had been traversed, several were under the
influence of the fiery liquor.
Jet had many invitations to drink, but he stoutly refused even to taste
of the stuff, and walked on ahead with the other temperate members of
the company.
The dissipated portion of the party danced and sang to the amusement or
disgust of the inhabitants whose houses they passed, and the town was
in sight when a loud shout from the rear caused Jet and his companions
to look back.
Half a dozen of the men had scaled a fence, and were industriously
engaged filling their pockets with fruit, paying no attention to the
damage done the trees as they broke branches or threw heavy clubs up to
bring down the apples or pears.
"Say, this won't do!" Jet shouted as he ran toward them. "You stand a
good chance to be arrested, and then how shall we get out of town?"
"Walk, as we had to this time," some one replied with a laugh, and the
thefts went on with redoubled eagerness.
Jet tried to persuade the fellows to desist, but deaf ears were turned
to all his entreaties, and he was leaning over the fence when two women
and a boy came out to drive the intruders away.
The drunken men paid no attention either to threats or entreaties, but
continued at the work until a sufficient amount of fruit had been
obtained, when they continued the journey.
Immediately after arriving in town Jet had plenty to do in the way of
distributing programmes, and finished the task only to take his place
in the street parade.
The drunkards had sobered off in a measure by this time, and managed to
march through the village without reeling; but the fumes of liquor were
quickly driven from their brains on returning to the hotel, when one
after another was arrested for trespass and theft preferred by the
owner of the orchard, who brought the two women and boy into town as
witnesses.
Jet was not made a prisoner when the majority of the party were marched
to the squire's office, nor did he anticipate any trouble, for he had
done nothing more than try unsuccessfully to prevent the mischief.
Therefore he followed those under arrest to learn what disposition
would be made of the case, and as he entered the closely-packed room
was surprised at hearing one of the women say, in a voice loud enough
to be understood by all:
"There's another of 'em--that boy. I seen him standin' there all the
time."
"But I was only trying to make the others stop," Jet said quickly, as
if the remark had been addressed to him.
"Don't you believe him, squire, he was doin' that to poke fun at me,
an' jest egged the others on."
To Jet's surprise the magistrate included him in the list of prisoners,
and he had the questionable satisfaction of hearing all three of the
witnesses swear that he was aiding and abetting the thieves.
Jet tried hard to defend himself, but the squire had evidently made up
his mind in advance as to what the sentence should be, for without
allowing the prisoners to make more than a shadow of defense, he said
sternly:
"It's time you show people got to learn that you can't travel 'round
the country cuttin' up shines an' then tryin' to excuse yourselves by
sayin' you was under the influence of licker. This court don't
recognize any sich pleadin', an' sentences every one of the crowd to
pay ten dollars an' costs."
"Do you mean that each man must pay that fine?" the manager asked in
dismay.
"That's what I said, an' if there's any row kicked up I'll double it."
Jet was literally stunned and could make no reply. It is true he had
sufficient money with which to settle his fine, but he did not feel
that he was entitled to do such a thing, and besides, the injustice of
the verdict was so great as to overshadow everything else.
Extra constables were sent for to convey the prisoners to the village
lock-up until such time as they should pay the money, and when one of
these officials entered the room, Jet's anger and surprise was changed
to bewilderment.
The man who advanced to carry him to jail was none other than a member
of that party of alleged tramps who had attempted to rob him on the
railroad track, and consequently a pal of the murderers.
The fellow was unquestionably at the house in the woods when Harvey and
his men were besieged, and had since then returned to this town, where,
of course, he lived.
The question in Jet's mind now was as to whether Bob and the others had
accompanied this one.
"Being arrested may turn out to be a mighty good thing, after all," he
said to himself, "and I wouldn't be surprised if I held off a long
while before paying my fine."