A CHASE ON THE BOWERY
Tom's threat to have Tad Sobber arrested caused the former bully of
the school to pause and turn pale.
"You--er--you don't mean that," he faltered. "You can't have me
arrested."
"We'll see about that, Sobber."
"I haven't done anything wrong."
"Then why did you run away from Putnam Hall?"
"I had a right to leave. Captain Putnam wasn't treating me fairly."
"You ran away on account of that snake affair--you can't deny it."
"Humph!"
"That snake nearly killed Nick Pell. He isn't over it yet,
altogether."
"Bah! It wasn't the snake made Nick sick. He wasn't feeling well some
days before the snake bit him."
"It was the snake and nothing else put him in bed," answered Tom
warmly. "And that is not all. You are in league with your uncle, who
robbed my uncle of those traction company bonds."
"I--er--I don't know anything about that matter," answered
Sobber, hastily.
"Well, I know all about it. You were with your uncle when he got away
from us, and when he dropped the pocketbook containing the bonds."
"Did you get the bonds back?" asked Sobber, with sudden interest. It
may be added here that Sid Merrick had gone back long after the chase
to look for the pocketbook, but, of course, had been unable to get any
trace of it.
"We did."
"My uncle didn't steal them. Your uncle put them in his hands to
sell," went on Tad Sobber, with sudden boldness. "It is all a cooked
up story about his running away with them. And it's a cooked up story
about his having anything to do with those freight thieves. My uncle
is an honest man."
"I know all about the freight affair, for I overheard him talking to
some of the other thieves," answered Tom. "Where is your uncle now?"
"Do you think I'd be fool enough to tell you?"
"Perhaps you might--if I had you locked up."
"My uncle is a good long way from New York."
"I heard you tell that man your uncle would be in the city to-morrow."
"I didn't say any such thing!" burst out Sobber, but his manner showed
that he was very much disturbed.
"You did say it. Where are you stopping?"
"Nowhere--I only got in a few hours ago."
"Did you come here to meet Cuffer?"
"What do you know about Cuffer?"
"I know your uncle hired him and a man named Shelley to visit our farm
and get some things belonging to my father."
"Why, you're crazy! My uncle hardly knows Cuffer--and I never heard
of a man named Shelley."
"I am not crazy, and you know I am speaking the truth," answered Tom,
calmly. "Now you tell me where your uncle is or I'll have you
arrested."
"You'll not arrest me!" exclaimed Tad Sobber, and with a sudden
movement he twisted himself free from Tom's grasp. "You follow me and
you'll get the worst of it!" he added, and darted across the park at
top speed.
Tom made after the bully, but as luck would have it a nurse girl with
a baby carriage got between them and before Tom could clear himself of
the carriage Sobber was a good distance away. He turned to the
eastward, down a side street where a large building was in the course
of erection. He looked back and then skipped into the unfinished
building.
"He shan't catch me," he muttered to himself, and ran to the rear of
the building, amid piles of bricks and concrete blocks. A number of
workmen were present, but nobody noticed him.
Reaching the building Tom peered inside, but saw nothing of the bully.
He was about to go in when a warning cry reached him from overhead.
"Get back there, unless you want to be hurt!"
Tom looked up and saw a workman in the act of throwing down a mass of
rubbish, broken bricks, sticks and old mortar. He leaped back and the
stuff descended in front of him and raised a cloud of dust.
"What do you want here, young man?" demanded the superintendent of the
building as he came forward.
"I am after a boy who just ran in here."
"Nobody here that I saw."
"He just came in."
"We don't allow skylarking around here. You make yourself scarce," and
the superintendent waved Tom away.
"I want to have that fellow arrested--that is why he ran away from
me."
"Oh, that's a different thing. Go find him, if you can."
The superintendent stepped aside and Tom entered the building. But the
delay had cost him dear, for in the meanwhile Tad Sobber had made good
his escape by running back to the next street. Tom looked around for
over quarter of an hour and then gave up the chase.
"It's too bad, but it can't be helped," he mused. "I may as well go
back to the park and wait for Dick and Sam. I hope they caught that
Cuffer."
While Tom was talking to Sobber the other Rover boys had followed
Cuffer to the elevated railroad station. A train was just coming in
and Cuffer bounded up the steps two at a time, with the boys not far
behind.
"Stop that man!" cried Dick, to the crowd coming from the train. But
before anybody would or could act, Cuffer had slipped past the man at
the ticket box and was trying to board one of the cars. Dick essayed
to follow, but the ticket box guard stopped him.
"Not to fast, young fellow. Where's your ticket?"
"I must catch that man--he is wanted by the police," answered Dick.
"That's an old dodge, but it don't work with me, see? You go back and
get a ticket," said the gateman, firmly.
"But he'll get away from me," pleaded the eldest Rover.
"If he does, it's not my fault. You can't pass here without a ticket."
By this time the train was almost ready to start. But Sam had procured
tickets and he rushed up.
"There are two tickets!" he cried. "Come on, Dick!" and he sprinted
for the train.
The guard was closing the platform gate, but they managed to squeeze
through. The train was crowded with people going home from their day's
work and in the jam they could see nothing of Cuffer.
"But he is on board," said Dick.
"I know it," returned his brother, "and we must find him. Quick, you
go to the front and I'll go to the rear. If you locate him, tell the
trainman you want him arrested at the next station."
Without another word the brothers separated and each tried to work his
way to an end of the train, which was composed of five cars. This was
by no means easy, for the crowd was in no humor to be jostled or have
its toes stepped upon.
"Look where you are going!" cried one stout man to Sam. "Stop pushing
me!" And then as the youngest Rover dodged out of his way he ran his
ear into the big feather on a young lady clerk's immense hat. The girl
glared at him and murmured something under her breath, which was far
from complimentary. By the time he had reached the front end of the
car half a dozen passengers were his enemies.
Dick had gone to the rear and as he entered the last car he saw Cuffer
crouching down in a seat near the door. The train was stopping at
another station, and quick as a flash the fellow arose in the seat,
shot between Dick and a man with several bundles, and forced his way
out on the platform. Dick tried to follow, but was caught fast by
several men.
"Here, don't be acting in such a rowdy fashion!" cried one man, in
great irritation.
"You knocked my bundle from my hand!" added another. "It's a shame the
way some roughs act on these trains. The authorities ought to have
them arrested," he went on in a loud voice.
"What's the trouble in there?" demanded a policeman, who was on the
station platform in the crowd.
"This young fellow is too fresh," explained the man who had dropped
his bundle.
"I want to get off, that's all," said Dick.
"Well, you behave yourself," growled the guardian of the peace, and
Dick was glad enough to get away with this reprimand. He saw Cuffer
running for the stairs and made after him as rapidly as the density of
the crowd permitted.
When Dick gained the street once more the train bearing Sam was again
on its way downtown. Cuffer was about a block away, running past
Cooper Institute in the direction of the Bowery.
"I may as well keep up the chase and try to run him down," thought
Dick, but he wished his brother was with him.
At this time of day the Bowery, always a busy thoroughfare, was
swarming with people, and the numerous "barkers" for the clothing
stores, photograph establishments, and the like, were doing their best
to make trade come to them. As Dick hurried past one clothing
establishment a short, stocky Jew stepped in front of him.
"Von't you step inside, young chentleman? I sell you some gloding
cheap as dirt."
"I don't want any clothing," answered Dick, briefly.
"I vos mof next veek, und I sell you a suit for next to nodding,"
persisted the clothing dealer.
"I don't want to buy anything," said Dick, and tried to push past the
man. The fellow caught him by the arm.
"If you vill only look at dose peautiful suits vot I haf for twelf
dollar--"
The Jew got no further, for with a strong push Dick sent him
staggering among the dummies in front of his store. He tried to
recover his balance, but could not, and over he went, bringing down
two of the dummies on top of him.
"Serves you right," flung back Dick, as he ran on. "The next time
you'll know enough to leave me alone."
"Isaac! Moses! Sthop dot young mans!" bawled the clothing dealer, as
he scrambled to his feet. "He has ruined two peautiful dummies, mit
fine suits on! Sthop him!"
"Not to day!" muttered Dick, and dodged into the crowd. Then, seeing
that Cuffer had crossed the street, he did the same, and continued the
pursuit on that side.
But to follow anybody long in a crowd on the Bowery is not easy, and
after six blocks had been passed Dick came to a halt on a corner in
bewilderment. He had seen Cuffer last on that corner, but where the
rascal had gone was a question.
"Want a paper?" asked an urchin close by. "Evening papers!"
"Say, kid, did you see a man run past here just now?" asked Dick.
"Sure I did."
"Where did he go?"
"Wot will yer give me if I tell yer?" asked the newsboy shrewdly.
"Five cents."
"All right, hand over de nickel."
"Here it is," and Dick showed the money in his hand. "Now where was
it?"
"He went in de Sunrise Hotel, down dare. I watched him run in."
"What kind of a hat did he have on?"
"A soft hat wid a big knock in one side."
"And you are sure he went in that hotel?"
"Cross me heart, mister. I watched him, cos he was out o' breath, an'
I knowed he was up to som't'in'."
"Here is your money," answered Dick, and passed the nickel over. Then
he walked to the hotel and paused on the sidewalk to look the place
over before entering.