Dave Porter and the Runaways Part 35

"There's a train north jest about due now."

"And what is next?"

"A train south a leetle after four o'clock. An' the freight goes through at seven."

"Hurry, Roger!" cried Dave.

"Do you think they'd take a train, Dave?"

"I don't know--I hope not."

The two boys set off on a run, taking it easy at first, so as not to get winded. They pa.s.sed a number of farms and presently came in sight of Barrelton, so called because of the barrel factory located there.

From a distance they had heard the whistle of a locomotive, and knew that the north-bound train had stopped at the station and gone on.

"There is the station!" cried Dave, pointing up the railroad tracks.

They continued to run and did not stop until they gained the platform.

Here they met the ticket agent.

"The train just went, didn't it?" asked Dave, and as the agent nodded, he went on: "Did three young fellows like ourselves get on?"

"If they did, I didn't see 'em," answered the man.

"Oh!" cried Roger, "maybe they didn't take the train, after all."

"Let us hope so."

Somewhat out of breath, the two boys tramped around Barrelton, looking for Phil and the others, and asking about them. But n.o.body appeared to have seen the runaways, and not a trace of them was to be found anywhere.

"All we can do is to get something to eat and take the other train for Oakdale," said Roger, after they had satisfied themselves that the runaways were nowhere in that vicinity. The walking around had made him hungry.

They procured some pie and milk at a little stand near the station, and shortly after four o'clock took the way train for Oakdale and walked to the school. They went directly to the doctor's office. The master of Oak Hall listened patiently to what they had to tell.

"I am sorry you did not find them," he said, gravely. "It was very foolish of them to run away, very. I trust they will come back of their own accord soon."

"Will you see Mr. Sparr about the matter?" asked Dave.

"Yes, Porter. And I wish you and Morr to go with me."

The interview took place that evening, the boys and the doctor driving down to the hotel after supper. Jason Sparr treated the master of the Hall politely but said very little.

"When I make my next move I'll have a lawyer," he said. "I know somebody tried to blow up my hotel, and I think it was some of your boys--that Lawrence boy especially. But I ain't going to have 'em arrested until I can prove it."

"Very well," answered Doctor Clay. "And in the meantime, you had better keep quiet, or you may have a suit for damages on hand."

On the day following there was something of a sensation. The weekly newspaper issued in a nearby town came out with a thrilling account of the dynamiting of the dining-room of the hotel. In the account appeared the following:

"There is strong evidence pointing to the fact that the outrageous deed was perpetrated by some schoolboys who held a grudge against Mr. Sparr. They are known to have been present at the blowing up of the old stone bridge, and were seen near the shanty where the sticks of dynamite were kept, and one boy of the town says he saw a young man coming from the shanty with something in his hand. Mr.

Sparr has the authorities at work and is piling up his evidence, and the arrest of the rascally schoolboys may be hourly expected.

It is said that some of the boys have run away, but the authorities have an idea where they can be located. The town committee is thinking of offering a reward for the capture and conviction of the rascals. For the safety of our citizens, the Weekly Globe-Leader hopes the evil-doers will soon be apprehended."

No names were mentioned in this account, but everybody in Oakdale and vicinity knew that the boys of Oak Hall were alluded to, and there was much talk over what might be done. Doctor Clay felt the disgrace keenly, and Dave and Roger were equally affected.

"What are we going to do, Dave?" asked the senator's son.

"I don't know," returned our hero. "But we've got to do something, that's certain."

CHAPTER XX

THE WILD MAN AGAIN

"Roger, I have an idea!"

"What is it, Dave?"

"I may be mistaken, but I've been thinking that perhaps that wild man did the blowing up at the hotel."

"What makes you think that?" questioned the senator's son, putting down the book he had been trying to study.

A day had pa.s.sed after the events recorded in the last chapter, and so far no word had come in concerning Phil and the other runaways. Doctor Clay had sent for a private detective to a.s.sist in locating them and also to try, if possible, to clear up the mystery concerning the hotel affair.

"Well, in the first place, it would be just like a crazy man to do such a thing, wouldn't it?"

"Perhaps."

"In the second place, I have heard that the wild man was seen around when the bridge was blown up."

"Is that so? Who saw him?"

"Mr. Tyson, the farmer who lives near the bridge."

"Why didn't he try to capture the fellow?"

"He did, but in the excitement of the blowing up the wild man slipped him. And that isn't all. Mr. Tyson saw him coming from the vicinity of that shanty where the dynamite was kept."

"Say, that is certainly interesting!" cried the senator's son. "When did you learn all this?"

"Less than an hour ago. Mr. Tyson brought some vegetables to the school and I had a talk with him."

"Did he think the wild man blew up the hotel?"

"No, he didn't connect the two."

"Hum! What do you think of doing about it?"