The Rushton Boys at Rally Hall Part 36

There was a barroom in front, and a sign announced that soda and soft drinks were for sale.

They pulled their caps down over their faces, went in and ordered sarsaparilla. They took their seats at a small table in the rear and sipped it slowly, glancing carelessly from time to time at the two men who were sitting nearby with a whisky bottle between them.

And as they looked, the suspicion that these were the tramps they had seen in Sam Perkins' barn became a certainty. There was the tall man with the scar on his temple showing clearly; and the short, stout man with him was without doubt his former companion. They were dressed more decently than before, evidently as the result of their stealings, but there had been no improvement in their coa.r.s.e and evil faces.

They seemed in no hurry, and it was a pretty safe guess that they would tarry where they were until they had emptied the bottle.

"You stay here," whispered Fred to Teddy, "and keep your eye on them.

I'll take the bike and skip down to the main part of the town and get a constable."

"I'll be back in a minute, Ted," he said aloud, as he sauntered from the room.

He climbed into the saddle and in three minutes was in the heart of the town. A hurried inquiry led him to the office of the constable. He found him at his ease, swapping stories with three or four of his cronies.

But the indifference with which he greeted Fred's entrance gave place to eager interest as Fred told him of the theft at Oldtown and of the reward that had been offered.

"Sure, I'll go with you, Son," he said, rising to his feet. "And two or three of you fellows had better come along," he added to his friends.

"Those fellows may put up a fight when they're tackled."

A moment more and an automobile carrying four men was speeding to the roadhouse, while Fred rode alongside.

He breathed a sigh of relief as he saw that the other automobile was still standing in front. The birds had not yet flown.

Two of the constable's party stayed outside to intercept the men if they should attempt to escape, while he himself, with another, entered the room. He went straight up to the pair, who looked at him angrily.

"I want you," he said, at the same time exhibiting his badge.

As though moved by the same spring, the men jumped to their feet and rushed for the door. The constable collared the short one, but the tall man had nearly reached the door when Fred tripped him, and he went down with a crash. Before he could rise the rest were on him and in a moment both men were handcuffed.

They bundled them into the automobile and took them to the constable's office. Fred and Teddy accompanied them on the motorcycle, their hearts beating high with exultation.

A careful search of their pockets brought to light several p.a.w.ntickets.

The boys scanned them eagerly.

"Here it is!" cried Fred, as he noted the date on one of them. "It's for a watch, and it's dated three days after the robbery at Oldtown. And here's the number of the watch on it."

He drew from his vest pocket a slip of paper and compared the number.

"Sure as guns!" he exclaimed delightedly. "Here's the number, 61,284.

The same one that's on the p.a.w.n ticket."

"Won't Uncle Aaron be tickled to death?" chortled Teddy. "Glory, hallelujah!"

"What are these, I wonder," asked the constable as he looked over a package of papers.

"Why don't you say we stole those, too?" snarled the tall prisoner.

"Well, didn't you?" asked the constable sarcastically.

"No, we didn't," was the sullen reply. "We found them in an open road near a bridge----"

"A bridge!" interrupted Teddy, p.r.i.c.king up his ears. "Let's see them."

They spread out the papers. They were greasy and dirty from long carrying, but the boys' hearts leaped as they saw on them the name of Aaron Rushton.

They looked at each other. Then they shouted.

"Hang out the flags!" cried Teddy. "Fire the cannon! Ring the bells!

Say, Fred, is this our lucky day, or isn't it?"

"You bet your life!" gloated Fred. "What is the nearest way to the telegraph station?" he asked, turning to the constable.

The officer told him.

"Can't get the news home quick enough, eh?" he laughed good-naturedly.

"Well, I don't wonder. And when you see your folks, tell 'em I said they're lucky to have such a pair of kids."

It was rather an excited, jumbled message that reached the Rushton home that night, but it made Mr. Rushton's eyes kindle with pride, while his wife's were wet with happy tears. Old Martha strutted about, glorying in the vindication of her "lambs," and Uncle Aaron so far forgot himself as to clap his brother on the shoulder and say:

"Fine boys, Mansfield, fine boys!"

Then, as though he had said too much, he added:

"I knew that Rally Hall would be the making of them."

After the telegram had been sent, the Rushton boys started back for Rally Hall. They had had the most strenuous kind of a day, but all their weariness was forgotten in the glorious ending that had been brought about.

"It's a long lane that has no turning," remarked Fred, as they rode along through the darkness. "Those fellows got away from us twice, but they couldn't do it again."

"It was the third time and out for them, all right," jubilated Teddy.

"Say, Fred, can't you see the folks at home when they get that telegram?

Perhaps they're reading it this blessed minute."

"I guess we've squared ourselves with Uncle Aaron," chuckled his brother.

"You mean I've squared myself," corrected Teddy. "He never had very much against you, except that you always stood up for me when I got into sc.r.a.pes."

"He'll put it all up to Dr. Rally and the splendid discipline of the school," said Fred.

"I suppose so," a.s.sented Teddy. "But we don't care where the credit goes, as long as he gets back his watch and papers.

"By the way, Fred," he continued, as he became conscious of a feeling of emptiness. "Do you realize that we haven't had any supper?"

"Haven't thought a thing about it," laughed Fred. "The fact is; I've been too excited to think of eating. I'll bet that's the first time I ever forgot anything like that. But now that you speak of it, I certainly could punish a good supper."

"It'll be way past supper time when we get to the Hall," mused Teddy.

"Right you are," was the answer. "But we won't be long in getting to sleep, after a day like this, and when we wake up it will be time for breakfast."