DICK ON THE TRAIL
The Santiago papers, the next day, contained a full account of the bold
kidnapping, and, with fervid language, described how the scoundrels had
spirited the Cuban youth away from under the very noses of the police.
Strong and vigorous action was called for, and it was suggested that a
reward be offered. There had been too many cases of late, the gazettes
stated, where youths had been taken away, and held for ransom.
In this case the object of the kidnappers was likely to fail, the papers
stated, as the victim was the son of a poor man--Senor Alantrez--who
would be unable to pay any money. Senor Alantrez was a clerk in the
government employ, and he and his son were worthy persons, it was said.
"Well, I call that a shame!" exclaimed Dick to his chums, as, seated on
the deck of his handsome yacht, he was reading aloud to them the account
of the outrage. "The police here ought to get busy, for a fact."
"Is that all there is to it?" asked Beeby.
"No," answered the young millionaire. "There's more. It goes on to say
that it is believed that the boy was taken off in the yacht--hello!
what's this? Why, fellows, it says that he was taken off in the yacht
_Princess_, which recently came here from New York. There was something
mysterious about the craft, it states. Mysterious! I should say so. Why,
I'll wager a good bit that this is the same yacht they tried to get me
aboard of, to rob me!"
"You're right," exclaimed Widdy, who was stumping about the deck, near
the boys. "That's her name, Mr. Dick."
"But it might not be the same one," suggested Paul.
"Wait until I read a bit further," said Dick. "Yes," he went on, "it
says that men from the yacht were seen in several places about town
yesterday and last night. And the description of them tallies with those
two men who followed me about in New York."
"You don't think they tried to kidnap you, do you?" asked Henry Darby.
"Not a bit of it," answered the young millionaire. "I think they were
just ordinary thieves, but I also think that they might attempt a more
desperate game down here. Probably they are the same fellows, who took a
trip in their yacht to see what luck they would have in Cuba. Then they
decided to try kidnapping, as the paper states there have been several
cases of it lately. Only they happened to get the wrong lad--one with
no money--instead of a rich chap."
"Yes, they would have done better to have picked up you," remarked Frank
Bender. "But, when they find out their mistake, they'll let this Pedro
Alantrez go, I guess."
"Sure," agreed Dick, "and it will be a good joke on them. I hope they
are caught and punished."
They discussed the kidnapping further, wondering if it would be of any
service to the police for Dick to tell what he suspected of the
men--namely, that they had followed him in New York.
"I think I would," suggested Beeby. "I'll go ashore with you, and we'll
call on the police. We'll tell 'em what you know, and I can get some
good snapshots of the officers, maybe."
"Oh, you and your snapshots!" exclaimed Dick, good-naturedly. "You'll be
taking your own picture next, Beeby. But I think your proposition is a
good one. Fellows, let's go ashore. Widdy, have the launch gotten ready;
will you?"
"Aye, aye, sir," answered the wooden-legged sailor, and soon the young
millionaire and his chums were scudding toward the landing dock.
While the others rode about the city in carriages which Dick hired, the
young yacht owner and Beeby were driven to the office of the chief of
police. Dick's reputation as a master of money had preceded him, and he
was ushered into the private room with no little ceremony. He told his
suspicions of the men who had taken part in the kidnapping, and received
the thanks of the official, who said he would communicate with the
police of New York, toward which city the scoundrels were undoubtedly
bound.
As Dick came out of the chief's private room he saw, standing at the
desk of one of the lieutenants of police, a man who seemed greatly
affected. He was evidently under some poignant grief or sorrow.
"And you say there is no news?" he asked in Spanish, which language Dick
understood slightly. "They have taken my boy out to sea! Oh, my poor
son! Why can not a boat be had to follow the scoundrels?"
"Because there is no boat available," answered the lieutenant. "We would
gladly accommodate you, Senor Alantrez, but it is impossible."
"That is the father of the boy who was kidnapped," said the chief, in a
low tone to Dick. "He will be glad to meet you, and to know that you
have given us some information that may prove valuable. Come, if you
like; I will present him to you, Senor Hamilton."
"Very well," assented Dick, and he was shortly shaking hands with the
grief-stricken parent.
"Do you think there is any chance of catching the villains?" asked Senor
Alantrez of Dick, in fairly good English. The man seemed nervous and
anxious for some one to give him hope.
"Yes, I think they'll get them," declared the young millionaire. "When
those men find out that your son is not--er--not as--" Dick hesitated.
He did not wish to embarrass the father by referring to him as poor.
"Do not be afraid to speak it, senor," said Mr. Alantrez, with a sad
smile. "Poverty and I have been close friends, of late, though we were
not always such. I am poor, and I am glad, for now the scoundrels may
the sooner return my son to me. If there was but a fast boat to be had,
we would give chase to them. But there is none to be secured without
much money, and I, alas, have none. So I must wait; but it is hard! My
poor boy!"
Dick's face shone with a sudden light, and his eyes brightened. He took
a step forward.
"Would you like to get a boat, and take a cruise after those men who
have your son?" he asked.
"Ah, senor, it would give me the utmost happiness! But why ask me? I can
get no boat."
"Yes, you can," cried the young millionaire. "I wonder I didn't think of
it before. My yacht, the _Albatross_, is at your disposal, Senor
Alantrez! If you will be my guest we'll get up steam at once, and trail
after those villains! I'd ask nothing better than to run them down!" and
Dick's eyes sparkled with righteous anger. "They tried to injure me, and
I'd be glad of a chance to get back at them. Come, senor, we'll start at
once, if you are ready, and I think we can overtake the _Princess_,
though she has a good start."
"Oh, I can never thank you enough, senor!" cried the father, seizing
Dick's hand, and attempting, in his warm, Spanish way, to kiss it, only
the lad drew it quickly away. "I am your debtor for life!" he cried.
"Wait until we see if we catch those fellows," spoke Dick, as he led the
way from the police station, followed by Senor Alantrez, and Beeby, who
had been busy taking several snapshots.
The chief of police and his lieutenant shrugged their shoulders.
"These Americanos!" murmured the chief. "They are always in such a
hurry. To-morrow would have done as well."
But Dick, hurrying toward his yacht, with the now hopeful father, waited
for no to-morrows. He was going to get on the trail at once.