The Young Railroaders Part 30

From Burke came a scream, he sprang forward with raised fists, faltered, and suddenly whirling about, dashed down the aisle for the door, and out.

And in the breathless silence which followed Alex completed his explanation.

As the old man climbed the platform steps and extended a shaking hand, the applause that burst from every corner of the room fairly rattled the windows; and as the uproar continued, and Alex sprang hastily to the floor, he was surrounded by a jostling, enthusiastic crowd of strangers from whom in vain he sought to escape.

Some minutes later, enjoying tea and cake in a circle which included the minister, the latter smilingly remarked, "But you haven't yet explained the rest of the mysterious doings, Master Alex. Aren't you going to enlighten us all round? Prefer to keep it a secret, eh? Well, if you will promise us another 'exposition' I'm sure we will agree not to press you,"

declared the minister, heartily.

And as a matter of fact, save Kate, no one has yet solved the mystery, not even the janitor, although on cutting the gra.s.s a few days later he picked up beneath one of the school-room windows an unaccountable piece of fine copper wire.

XIV

THE LAST OF THE FREIGHT THIEVES

"No; I'm not after you this time," laughingly responded Detective Boyle to Jack's half serious inquiry on recognizing his visitor at the station one evening a month later as the road detective who on the previous memorable occasion had called in company with the sheriff. "Instead, I want your a.s.sistance.

"Do you know," he asked, seating himself, "that your friends the freight thieves are operating again on the division?"

"No!" said Jack in surprise.

"They are. And they have evolved some scheme that is more baffling even than the 'haunting' trick you spoiled for them here last spring. Every week they are getting away with valuable stuff from one of the night freights between Claxton and Eastfield, while the train is actually en route, apparently. That sounds incredible, I know, but it is the only possible conclusion to come to, since the train does not stop between those places, and I made sure the goods each time were aboard when it left Claxton."

Jack whistled. "That does look a problem, doesn't it! But where do I come in, Mr. Boyle?"

"Last evening, while thinking the matter over, the trick the thieves used here at the Junction recurred to me--the man shipped in a box. It came to me: Why couldn't that same dodge be played back against them in this case?"

"Oh, I see! Have yourself shipped in a box, and 'stolen' by them! Clever idea," exclaimed Jack.

"Not so bad I think, myself. Well, in the country between Claxton and Eastfield, where it is my theory the gang has its headquarters, there are no telephone or telegraph lines, and it struck me it would be a good plan to take someone along with me who in case of things going wrong could make his way back to the railroad, and cut in on the wire and call for help. And naturally you were the first one I thought of. Do you want the job?" asked the detective.

"I'd jump at the chance," Jack agreed eagerly. "It'd be more fun than enough.

"But, Mr. Boyle, how do you know that the boxes are taken to the freight thieves' headquarters, unopened, and not broken into right at the railroad?"

"I figure that out from the number and size of the packages they have taken each time--just a good load for a light wagon. And anyway you can see that that would be their safest plan. If they broke up boxes near the track they would leave clues that would be sure to be found sooner or later, and put us on their trail.

"And through a friend in the wholesale dry-goods business at Claxton, who I'll see down there to-night," the detective went on, "I can make practically sure of our being 'stolen' together. The thieves have shown a partiality for his goods; and by having our boxes attractively labelled 'SILK,' and placed just within the car door, there will be little chance of the robbers pa.s.sing us by."

"My plan is to bring it off to-morrow night. Would that suit you?"

concluded the detective.

"Yes, sir. That is, if I can get away. For it will take all night, I suppose?"

"Yes. There will be no trouble about your getting off, though. I spoke to Allen before I came down," said Boyle, rising. "All right, it is arranged. You take the five-thirty down to-morrow evening, with the necessary instruments, and I'll be at the station to meet you. Good night."

As Boyle had promised, Jack had no difficulty in arranging to be off duty the following night, and early that evening he alighted from the train at Claxton, to find the railroad detective awaiting him.

"The instruments, eh?" queried Boyle, indicating a parcel under Jack's arm as they left the station. "Yes, sir; and I have some wire and a file in my pocket."

"That's the ticket. And everything here is arranged nicely. We will head for the warehouse at once."

"Here's the other 'bolt of silk,' Mr. Brooke," the detective announced a few minutes later as they entered the office adjoining a large brick building. "All ready for us?"

"Hn! He's a pretty small 'bolt,' isn't he?" commented the merchant, eyeing Jack with some surprise.

"A trifle; but he makes up for size in quality," declared the detective, while Jack blushed. "He is the youngster who solved the 'ghost' riddle and spoiled this same gang's game at Midway Junction."

The merchant warmly shook Jack's hand. "I'm glad to meet you, my boy," he said. "After that, I can readily believe what Boyle says.

"Yes, I am all ready. This way, please," he requested.

Following the speaker, Jack and the detective found themselves in a large shipping-room. As they entered, a workman with a pot and ink-brush in his hand was surveying lettering he had just completed on a good-sized packing-case.

"Here are the 'goods,' Judson," announced the merchant.

"All ready, sir," the workman responded, eyeing Jack and the detective curiously.

"Did you subst.i.tute boards with knot-holes?" Mr. Brooke asked.

"Yes, sir. And this is the door," said the man, indicating two wide boards at one end. "I used both wooden b.u.t.tons and screw-hooks on the inside, as you suggested."

"Good."

The detective examined the box. "You've made a good job of it," he commented.

"I suppose this is the boy's?" he added, turning to a smaller box, on which also were the words: "SILK--VALUABLE!"

With lively interest Jack examined the case.

"Get in and let us see how it fits," suggested the merchant. Jack did so.

"Fine," he announced. "I could ride all night in it, easily--either sitting, or lying down curled up on my side."

Detective Boyle glanced at his watch. "You may as well stay right there, Jack," he said. "We will start just as soon as the wagon is ready."

"It's ready now. Judson, go and bring the dray around," the merchant directed.

As the man left, the detective produced and handed Jack a small pocket revolver. "Here, take this, Jack," said he. "I hope you'll not have to use it, but we must take all precautions.

"Now to box you in." So saying the detective fitted the "door" of Jack's box into place, and Jack on the inside secured it with the hooks and wooden b.u.t.tons, and announced "O K." The detective then entered his own box, and with the merchant's a.s.sistance closed the opening. As he tested it there was a rattle of wheels without, and the big door rumbled open.

A few minutes later the two boxes of "valuable silk" had been slid out onto the truck, and the first stage of the strange journey had begun.

As planned, it was dusk when the two boxes reached the freight depot. The station agent himself met them. "Everything O K, Boyle?" he whispered.

"O K. Place us right before the door, with the lettering out," the detective directed. The agent did as requested, and with a final "Good luck!" closed and sealed the car door just as the clanging of a bell announced the approach of an engine. A crash and a jar told the two unsuspected travelers that their car had been coupled, there was a whistle, a rumble, a clanking over switch-points--and they were on their way.