The Outdoor Chums In The Forest Part 30

The sheriff took one look.

"Let me have it, boy. That man is dying to see, and I warrant you he would rather gaze on this picture than on a stack of gold eagles ten feet high. It spells liberty to him!"

With that he hastened over and handed the print to the convict. One look Thaddeus gave, and then they saw his lips move, though no sound came forth. Perhaps he was giving thanks for the strange mercy that had been shown him.

"All of which goes to show that a good deed brings its reward. When Thaddeus held out a helping hand to that poor sick chap in the prison, and did some small thing to help him, he little suspected what his reward was going to be. But Fletcher must have learned why his friend was behind the bars, and in the end his only thought was to undo the wrong as much as possible," the sheriff said.

The man nodded, as he eagerly added:

"You have hit it right, sheriff; that was just what happened. I knew he told the truth, and when they refused to let me make a search I determined to risk everything to prove my claim; and to think that now I shall go free! Not only that, but my name will be cleared, and my family can hold up their heads again!"

"It's too bad that the State can't make some recompense for these years you have spent in prison, an innocent man; but you know that's impossible," said Mr. Dodd.

"Yes, I know it; but after all, it served me right, because I was leading a wild life just about that time, and all through drink. Never more for me! I've seen a light. When I get that big reward promised by the owner of that stolen collection I'm going to take care of my poor family. Andy, here, deserves an education and a chance in life. He wants to be a chauffeur, he says, and I'll see that he gets a place. But words can never tell you, boys, how much I'm indebted to you for all you've done for me!"

The four chums were visibly affected by his emotion, but Jerry started some of his pranks in order to hide his feelings, and soon the whole company were in a cheerful mood.

When night came the boys had another fine fish spread, for Frank, with Jerry had been tempted to make a second expedition out on the lake, and the ba.s.s took the gaudy artificial lure quite as eagerly as on the former occasion. They brought in a dozen fine husky fellows, each of which had given them the time of their lives while the excitement lasted.

There did not seem to be a single member of the little company who could not join heartily in the pleasure of the evening. Thaddeus was feeling much easier, and the prospect of his early vindication and freedom went far toward making him forget all the tortures he had endured while an innocent victim to circ.u.mstantial evidence.

So they laughed and sang, after which the sheriff told many remarkable stories connected with his experiences as an officer of the law.

"I'll never forget this camping trip, boys," he said. "Eh, Bill?"

"The time of my life," declared that worthy, who was a man of few words.

"And we've certainly had the time of ours," declared Frank, "in saying which I know I voice the sentiments of my chums."

"Hear! hear!" came from Bluff, as he waved his hat.

"We'll be sorry to see you go, Mr. Dodd," declared Will; "and before that event casts a wet blanket on our spirits, remember that you must pose for me with all the fellows around you, and Mr. Lasher, in the bargain."

"Thank you, my boy! That's the first breath of freedom! With heaven's help, I shall soon be Mr. Lasher again, and not No. 772," said the wounded man gladly.

"And boys, I feel sure that no matter where we may roam, or what queer things may fall to our lot, we never can enjoy an outing one-half so well as we have this little trip, started with the intention of running down the story of the ghost of Oak Ridge. I'm sure every one of you will agree with me on that."

Although they unanimously voted that what Frank said was the truth, like others of us who cannot lift the veil of the future, the four chums were mistaken, for although they did not dream of it just then, it was written that ere six months had pa.s.sed they would again be starting out on an expedition with a scope much broader than anything that had as yet dawned upon their experience.

What remarkable happenings befell them under Southern skies, and how they proved themselves, as always, ready to meet and conquer difficulties, will be set before the readers of these stories in a new volume, to be ent.i.tled "The Outdoor Chums on the Gulf; or, Rescuing the Lost Balloonists."

When morning came, after a hearty breakfast preparations were made looking to the return of the sheriff and his posse, together with Andy and his father.

Will had made several fine, clear prints of the scene in the collector's library, which the flashlight had revealed so cleverly, and armed with these, Thaddeus Lasher had no fear of the future. He knew that peace and prosperity had finally marked him for a favorite, after his life's bark had been tossed about on tempestuous seas so long.

Of course, Will kept a copy for his collection. He also secured several views of the camp, with the party ready to start. These would give him and his chums much pleasure during their winter meetings, when the events of past outings were being discussed.

So the wagon went away. To dispose of the remarkable event, it might be just as well to say right here that Thaddeus Lasher was speedily released from prison on the strength of that incriminating picture which showed Fletcher, easily recognized, in the act of looting the collector's safe.

Mr. Lasher, later on, led the same eager collector to the spot where the booty had been hidden by the thief, and the whole of it was recovered.

The directions given by the dying Fletcher had been somewhat vague, which accounted for Thaddeus having to cover so much ground before he eventually ran across the _cache_.

The reward was readily handed over to him. It amounted to ten thousand dollars, for the collection was valued at much more than its actual cost by the wealthy man who pursued this fad. Mr. Lasher bought a small cottage near Centerville, and with his wife and three children settled down to real happiness.

Perhaps, after all, his experience, while rough, had been the means of saving him from ruin, for he had been on the downward road at the time of his arrest. He was never heard to complain of the past.

After the departure of the team the boys set about enjoying themselves after their various ideas of pleasure. Horses could not drag Will far away from that blessed camera of his, and he was forever experimenting with new pictures.

"I tell you, fellows, I'm going to have the dandiest lot for our alb.u.m you ever saw," he declared when they took him to task for not entering into the water sports with more fervor.

"Yes, and I give you my word I know the one that will hold the chief place in that same alb.u.m," remarked Jerry sarcastically.

"Which might that be?" asked Will calmly.

"The one which Bluff took of you sticking in that quicksand, with good old Peter hitched to a rope, ready to yank you out."

"Oh, well, I did think of giving that one a place alongside the picture of you being chased around that tree by those ferocious wild dogs. I've considered that the prize of the entire collection heretofore," remarked Will smoothly.

Then the laugh was on Jerry, for he did not like to recall that fierce episode, related in the first volume of this series.

"All right; but I got the whole bunch of them in the end, you'll remember," he said defiantly.

"So you did, Jerry, and n.o.body could have done finer," remarked Frank, throwing cooling water on the little flames.

On the following day the team came back, and they kept the deputy over night. He reported that the wounded man had stood the rough journey better than was antic.i.p.ated, and that the doctor had openly commended the treatment which the young camp physician had commenced. He said that but for the prompt relief afforded, the condition of the sufferer must have been much worse.

Of course, much patting on the back for Will followed the receipt of this intelligence.

"Oh, I always knew the fellow had it in him to be a boss doctor, if only he would let this tiresome photography alone for a spell," quoth Bluff.

"Somebody has to fix these wonderful stunts you fellows do, so that posterity may enjoy them, and I choose to be the one, that's all,"

remarked Will.

Their vacation was now half over. They laid plans for the balance of the days they expected to spend at Lake Surprise. The little sheet of water in the mountains was so charming that none of them dreamed of making another change of base. Indeed, they knew they would leave the spot with many regrets, and that in memory they must often look back to that delightful camp, and sigh to think it was no more.

And so the last day finally came, when they had to pack up for the return journey. No one showed any enthusiasm about the job.

Some of them expected to go away from Centerville for a few weeks at the seash.o.r.e with parents, or other relatives; but the prospect had little charm for them at that hour.

"I'd rather, by long odds, stay right here until school opens up in the fall," declared Bluff mournfully, as he turned to take a last look at the pretty silvery lake ere they pa.s.sed the bend that would shut off the entrancing view.

However, as they drew further away they managed to recover from their depression, and it was not long before Bluff and Jerry were pursuing an animated dispute as to which of them had come out victor in the many contests with those air mattresses.

Will and Frank could keep the secret no longer. When, amid bursts of laughter, they told of the compact by means of which the rivals were to be coaxed into a compet.i.tion whereby the job of blowing up those big air cus.h.i.+ons every night would be taken off their shoulders, the two victims looked somewhat sheepish at first, but presently joined in the merriment at their expense.

Lucky is the boy who can take a joke, even when he is the victim.

"Anyhow, I believe my chest is an inch bigger because of the exercise,"

declared Bluff stoutly.