The Go Ahead Boys and the Mysterious Old House Part 22

"It's a pity you didn't do as well with the car," said Grant.

"Well, the tramp and I went up into the orchard together. We were together all the while we were there and we came back together. When we got back here we saw that the car was gone. The tramp was here. Now will you please tell me how a tramp could steal an automobile and still be with me all the while?"

"What do you think is the best thing for us to do?" said George, turning to the mechanic.

"Your car isn't here," said the man, "and you could track it a little way, far enough to see that it was taken in that direction," he explained as he pointed ahead of him. "Now that's right on the way back to the garage and my advice is for all four of you to get into the car and we'll see what we can find on the way back. If you don't find anything we can telephone when you get into the village, or you can leave on the train. There's one out in about an hour and a half."

The suggestion finally was adopted and all four boys maintained a careful outlook for the missing car throughout their ride to the garage.

However no trace of the missing automobile was discovered. The car had disappeared and the boys were stranded in a little village in northern New Jersey.

Leaving his companions, George telephoned his father. The conversation lasted several minutes and when at last George rejoined his friends he said glumly, "My father says the best thing for us to do is to come home by train. He told us to look out and not lose the train."

"I guess," laughed Grant, "it would be a little more expensive for him if we should lose the train than to have us lose the cars."

"If we keep this up much longer," said Fred, "we'll have a good big bill to pay. I never knew anybody in my life that ever had a car stolen and here we lose two inside of a week."

"You must remember," said John soberly, "that we are the Go Ahead boys.

It doesn't make any difference what we start in we have got to leave the rest of them behind us. If it's looking for smugglers or digging for a pirate's chest or having our automobiles stolen, it doesn't make a particle of difference which, we are bound to go ahead, get ahead and keep ahead."

"I'm glad to hear you talk that way," said George grimly. "I have been looking in my pockets to see if I have money enough to get a ticket home. Have any of you got money?"

"I'll take up a collection," suggested John, seizing his cap as he spoke. The result of his efforts, however, when the sum was counted, was not quite sufficient to purchase the tickets required by the four boys on their return trip.

"I don't see anything for us to do," said Fred glibly, "except to leave String here. He's the one who is responsible for the loss of the car to-day and if anybody has to stay behind I think he ought to be the one."

"I agree with you," said John meekly. "I'm willing to stay, for I confess I would like to find out what has become of that lost car."

CHAPTER XVIII-THE ARRIVAL

In spite of the protests of the other boys against John being left behind, it was finally decided that he should carry out his own plan. He had declared his purpose to find out if possible what had become of the second car.

George had insisted that all four of the Go Ahead boys either should remain together or depart in a body; but after a brief conversation in which John explained that he really was desirous of making some further investigations of his own and also that it was equally important for George to get into touch with his father, as he could not do over the telephone, it was agreed that John should remain until the following day. A very attractive hotel not far from the station was most inviting.

There John explained he would remain until the following day when the boys either would come for him or send him money.

Only a few moments elapsed before the noisy train proclaimed its coming.

The scream of the locomotive was echoed and re-echoed in the nearby valley and long before its arrival at the station the people of the little village were aware that the one o'clock train was "on time."

Again George protested strongly against John being left behind, although he did not explain how he was to ride on the train without a ticket nor how he was to obtain a ticket without any money. However, in a few minutes the three departing boys, standing on the rear platform of the last car, were waving their hats as they bade good-by to the fourth member of the Go Ahead boys who was watching them from the platform of the station.

Slowly John turned into the walk that led him from the little station to the main street of the village. As he came out upon the sidewalk he was startled when he heard himself addressed by his own name. Surprised, he glanced in the direction from which the unexpected hail had come and he was amazed to behold the tramp, who had been his companion in the morning, now seated in the missing automobile. Evidently he had been driving the car but the expression on his face as John ran toward him did not indicate his purpose to explain the sight which had so startled him.

"Where did you get that car?" demanded John sharply as he stared at the driver.

"I found it at the other garage," explained the tramp.

"How did it get there?"

"Why, there was another blowout right near where you had yours this morning. I guess it must be the same fellow that you scared or drove into a ditch; at least that's what he said. He couldn't fix his car because the rim was torn into pieces and he got a lift back to this garage and sent some men out to get his car."

"And they got ours?" demanded John delightedly.

"That's what it seems," replied the tramp quietly. "I suspected there might be some trouble of the kind so I went around there and sure enough I found this car just as I half expected to. Your friends have cleared out and left you, have they?"

"They have gone back home," explained John.

"Well, that's all right. We'll beat them there yet. You get in and I'll see what time I can make."

"You're sure you know how to drive?" inquired John. "Because if you don't know how I can do something at it myself."

"My 'deah boy,'" lisped the tramp, "don't distress your little heart about my being able to drive the car. You get in here and if you have any fault to find I'll resign and let you take the wheel."

"We ought to have something to eat," said John, "but I haven't a cent of money."

"So I understand. It took all the money there was in the crowd to buy tickets for three boys."

"How did you know?"

"Never mind that. I knew you didn't have any money and I knew too that I would have to furnish what we needed on our trip. I managed to get together twenty-three cents. I think that's just the amount one ought to have when he is leaving in a hurry, don't you?" laughed the tramp.

"That's all right."

"Well, I took my twenty-three cents and went over to the grocery store and I bought some cheese and a box of crackers. You get in and feed up on the way back. If you're like me you'll think you've had a dinner fit for a king."

As he spoke the tramp held up to view the purchases he had made and John instantly responded to his appeal and took his seat in front beside the driver. The hungry boy declared that he never had tasted food he enjoyed more. Meanwhile the car was driven steadily forward on its way. And if John had had any misgivings as to the ability of his companion as a driver they were soon dispelled. It was plain that the man was an expert at his task.

"Where did you learn to drive a car?"

"I didn't have to learn," said the tramp. "I always knew. I have driven cars ever since they were first made. If I need any money I get a job as a chauffeur and then after I have got some money I don't need any job and quit."

John laughed as he said, "You're the strangest man I ever saw."

"That's what others have told me."

"I don't see why a man with the brains you have doesn't do something worth while. What do you want to be beating around the country for without any home and staying nights in such places as the old Meeker House?"

"I have often wondered myself," replied the tramp quietly. "I don't know that there's any answer to your question. Speaking of the old Meeker House, have you heard anything more about the strange noises over there?"

"Not since I saw you," replied John.

"Well, my advice to you is to take your friends over there to-night and I suspect you'll have an experience that will interest you."

"What is it?" demanded John, interested at once.

"I'm not sure just what it will be so I cannot explain, but if you want to see your friends stirred up you take them over there after you have had your dinner to-night. By the way, do you think there will be any reward for finding this car?"