AN ADVENTURE ON THE ROAD
On Saturday morning Hugh had an errand that took him out of town. Once
again it was to the farm where his mother secured that lovely sweet
butter, without which the hot biscuits would never taste quite so
fine. And as her customary supply had not turned up, with Sunday just
ahead, nothing would do but that Hugh must take a little run out on
his wheel, and fetch several pounds home with him.
It was about half-past eight when he threw himself in the saddle
and started. A more charming summer morning could hardly be experienced.
The sun might be a bit hot later on, but just then the air was
fragrant with the odor of new-mown grass, the neighbors' lawns having
been attended to on the preceding day, but not raked up; the birds
sang blithely in the hedges and among the branches of the trees,
and in Hugh's soul there rested the joy that a tired high-school
scholar finds when the end of the week brings a well-deserved holiday.
As he rode quietly along, not desiring to be in too great a hurry,
Hugh's mind somehow reverted to the last occasion when he had gone
out to this same farm, in Thad's company, as it happened. He could
again in imagination see the old tramp as he got his solitary meal,
with the aid of those useful empty tomato cans, and the little blaze
he had kindled among the trees alongside the road.
Passing the spot revived these memories vividly. To think that weeks
had gone and all that time Brother Lu had stuck to his guns, holding
out at the humble Hosmer cottage, and eating the bread of dependence!
"But something tells me the end is coming pretty soon now," Hugh
muttered, as he continued on his way.
It was not so very far beyond that identical spot he discovered a
large car standing at one side of the road, where the woods grew
quite thickly. The chauffeur sat there, idly waiting, it seemed.
Hugh had more than once known the same thing to happen, when parties
touring from some neighboring town stopped to eat lunch in a spot
they fancied, or, it might be, to gather wild flowers.
He was not much interested as he passed, with a nod to the man, who
looked around at his approach, save to notice that the car was a
pretty fine one, and which he remembered seeing once or twice in
Scranton, always empty save for the driver.
Hugh had just turned a bend lying a little away from the car when he
distinctly saw some one hastily jump aside, and disappear amidst a
screen of bushes growing along the road.
"Now, that was queer," Hugh told himself; "whoever that fellow could
be he didn't want me to see him, it looked like. And by the same token
there was something familiar about him, though I only had a faint
glimpse, he jumped so fast."
As he slowly rode past the bushes he heard no sound. Hugh considered
it good policy not to betray the fact that he had noticed anything
out of the way; he did not as much as turn in the saddle, but continued
to look straight ahead along the dusty white road.
There was another bend a short distance away. No sooner had he
turned this than Hugh was off his wheel like lightning, and running
back to take a look, as though his curiosity might have been aroused.
What he saw caused him to give a low whistle. Out of the bushes came
a form he recognized. It was a rather compact figure upon which he
gazed, and the clothes greatly resembled Brother-in-law Andrew's
Sunday-best. Yes, Hugh no longer had any doubts, for the man was
no other than the reformed hobo.
"I've known that Brother Lu had taken to tramping about the country
latterly," he muttered to himself, as he watched the other going
off, apparently laughing as though greatly amused, "for a number
of people have told me as much. That's all right, but why should he
want to hide from me? I've got a good notion to chase after him,
once he turns that other bend, and see what it all means."
The idea must have appealed more and more strongly to Hugh then, for
two minutes afterwards, when the form of the tramp could no longer
be seen ahead, he went back to his wheel, mounted, and retraced his
course until he arrived at the second abrupt curve.
Again he dismounted and crept forward to see what he might discover.
Strange to say, Hugh, usually steady-going Hugh, now found himself
trembling all over, just as though he anticipated making a startling
discovery.
Well, he did.
Brother Lu was in plain sight. He was just approaching the stalled
car that stood at the side of the road. Watching, Hugh saw the
chauffeur jump from his seat, and he plainly saluted the other most
respectfully. Hugh paid particular attention to that part of the
affair, because any pedestrian might have stopped to pass a few words
with a car driver, or ask a question; but the pilot would hardly
have made that positive sign unless there was a reason for his action.
Now they seemed to be talking earnestly. Brother Lu made gestures,
and Hugh took notice of the fact that he seemed to be speaking with
authority, because the chauffeur constantly nodded his bead, as if to
say that he understood.
Then the man took something from under the front seat cushion of the
car and handed it to Brother Lu. Hugh could not be positive, but he
rather fancied it was a packet of folded papers.
Plainly, then, there was a conspiracy afloat. Brother Lu was other
than he pretended to be, and he was undoubtedly hatching up some
sort of plot that had connections with the peace of mind of the
two simple Hosmers who had taken him in on the strength of his claim
to blood relationship.
Hugh was quivering more than ever now, and his breath came in gasps
as he continued to keep his eyes glued on the two figures not so far
away. He wished that he were gifted with hearing keen enough to
pick up what they were saying in such low tones, for then he would
know everything; but this was out of the question, and he must await
the subsequent turn of events.
It might have been noticed, however, that the boy's eyes glistened as
with a growing delight, from which it was easy to judge that he did
not see anything so very terrible in these strange actions on the
part of the reformed tramp. Indeed, Hugh acted very much as though
inclined to "shake hands with himself," as Thad was so fond of
saying, when he had cause for self-congratulation.
How long they were carrying on that conversation! Once another car
showed up down the road, and Hugh chuckled to notice how deftly
Brother Lu assumed an humble attitude, just as though he might have
simply halted to ask a question of the lordly chauffeur of the big
and comfortable car.
"He's a dandy, that's all I can say," muttered the amused boy, who
on his part stood there as the other car whirled past, as if he
might be looking for something he had lost; but on the contrary,
the opposite was really the truth, because Hugh had made a great
discovery and a "find" in the bargain.
Now apparently the earnest conversation between chauffeur and Matilda's
roving good-for-nothing brother had come to an end. The man entered
the car again, turned in the road with the cleverness that comes from
long handling of a touring machine, and, with a last respectful salute,
his hand going to his cap military fashion, sped down the road,
heading toward Scranton.
Brother Lu stood there as if lost in meditation. Hugh, still watching
closely, and making up his mind to have it out then and there, because
he could not stand the weighty load of suspense any longer, was sure
the other must be in a merry frame of mind, for he laughed several
times, and even slapped his hand against his thigh in a way he had,
as if to emphasize his thoughts.
"Oh, you sly rascal!" Hugh was saying as he continued to observe all
these significant things. "I'm beginning to size you up for what
you are, all right. But just think how Thad will be stunned when I
tell him all about my adventure! Why, he'll almost believe he's
asleep, and dreaming it. There, I do think he's turning around as
if he meant to come back this way. That suits me O.K., because I
won't have to chase after him."
Hugh thereupon prepared a surprise for the reformed hobo. He secured
his wheel and stood just around the bend, trying to look severe and
knowing, though his heart was beating like a trip-hammer, and he felt
that his eyes must be fairly dancing with all the excitement.
In imagination he could tell just how near the other man was as the
seconds passed. Hugh wondered how Brother Lu would take it upon
learning that his deep-laid schemes had been discovered. Apparently
the boy did not see anything to fear, or else he would have sped away
on his wheel instead of remaining to charge the other with his base
deception.
Then the sound of footfalls came to the waiting lad. He caught his
breath, and his eager gaze was glued on the bend around which the man
must speedily appear. As he walked Brother Lu had his head lowered,
and consequently did not at once see that some one waited for him in
the middle of the road. Indeed, he drew very near, and finally Hugh
gave a sudden cough.
At that the other quickly looked up, as though startled. When he
saw who it was he immediately commenced to grin after his usual
custom. Somehow Hugh no longer saw anything to condemn in that
broad smile that covered the face of the ex-hobo; just then, in the
light of the new revelation, it seemed most kindly and benign; for
circumstances alter cases, and a great deal depends upon one's
view-point as to whether an expression can be classed as merry or
sarcastic.
Brother Lu did not seem to be bothered a great deal on making the
discovery he did, though he must surely have jumped to the conclusion
that the boy had been spying upon his late movements. He continued
to advance. Hugh could detect the light of humor in those blue orbs
that had always mystified him, even when he believed the other to be
the worst kind of an impostor, or human leech, capable of living
upon the scanty earnings of his sister Matilda.
"Hello, there, Hugh Morgan! so you concluded to turn back, did you?"
the man started to say, as though inviting the other to open his
batteries at once, and accuse him to his face.
"Why, yes," said Hugh, trying to control his trembling voice, "I
saw somebody jump into the bushes as if he didn't want me to glimpse
him, and of course my curiosity was aroused; so I just dismounted
and came back to the other bend. Then, when I recognized you, I
determined to follow a bit. You see, Mr. Corbley, I mean to settle
certain matters that have been worrying both my chum and myself a
heap lately---settle them once and for all."
"Which I suppose now you've done for a fact, Hugh?" remarked the other,
chuckling.
"I believe I have," the boy said, firmly.
"You've got me sized up, all right, I imagine, lad," continued Brother
Lu.
"I've come to the conclusion, sir, that you are a fraud of the first
water, if that's what you want to know," Hugh told him, boldly.
Strange to say, the ex-tramp, instead of taking umbrage at such
language, bent over almost double, and laughed so hard Hugh almost
feared he was about to have one of his violent fits of coughing;
but he did not.