The Auto Boys' Vacation Part 17

Then with a groan he fell back again into a state of coma. Phil, looking hastily over the car, now said:

"Help right the car, boys."

This was accomplished almost as soon as said, by simply easing the upper side down so that the Six again stood on "all-fours," as Paul expressed it. It stood squarely across the brook-bed, headed towards the railroad which here was not more than an eighth of a mile distant.

"Now, Paul," resumed Phil, "you hike across through the brush to the railroad, if necessary. It may be the real highway lays over there somewhere. Pick out the easiest way to get our car there. We can hardly go back the way we came, can we?" The others shook their heads at this.

"When you're through, come back. Mebbe we'll meet you on the way."

Without a word Paul vanished in the thick undergrowth beyond the brooklet. Meanwhile Dave was examining the car, which he p.r.o.nounced uninjured by the rough usage to which it had been subjected with the exception of sundry scars and a slight twist in one of the minor connecting rods, easy to readjust. Both he and Phil were kept busy restoring the things that had been dumped out by the fleeing couple during the last stages of that hurried flight to--where? Probably where they thought the nearest open road would be; or perhaps it was the railroad and the nearest station they sought.

When Paul came back, he said that they were only a short distance to the new highway and the railroad. The guide book told them that they were within a very few miles of a small station east, while Midlandville, the nearest town west, was not more than two hours away, with a good road.

"Better put that chap in the tonneau, hadn't we?" suggested Worth.

"Aw, where'll we take him?" This from Dave who now was in the driver's seat.

"Looks like we had enough trouble long of him and his mate as it is."

"Put him in back, of course," corrected Phil. "If these two are in bad about something, it is our duty to keep track of this one, for the present at least. Who knows? He may give us a pointer yet as to what they were up to."

So the wounded man, despite his querulous complaints, was put in the tonneau with Billy and Paul to a.s.sist him and do whatever was necessary to make him as comfortable as conditions would permit.

Then the Big Six was started. As has been stated, the incline being gradual, the big car, carefully steered, had less trouble in making the remainder of the trip to the new highway than the boys antic.i.p.ated.

True, with the injured man and the equipment of the lads the car was rather crowded, but the motor did its duty, the purring sounds being as even as could be wished. Paul, on his return, had broken down a sort of trail which it was not difficult to follow.

Arrived at the roadway it had been already determined that, as the day was already well spent, they would return to Feeney's for the night, then make for Midlandville in the morning.

"Won't old Feeney open his eyes when we tell him what those two strangers were up to to-day?" remarked Paul who, tired of fanning the wounded man, had managed to exchange with Dave.

Not far from where they turned into the highway, it veered southward, leaving the railroad to the right, and a mile further crossed the old road along which the boys had motored that morning on their way to the old tavern.

To say that they were cordially received by Mr. Feeney would be only the truth. At sight of the bareheaded man in gray, his visored cap somewhere among the things in the car, Pat eyed him perplexedly, saying:

"Holy Moses! Little did I think to see the likes of you back again!"

The wounded man opened his eyes slowly and blinked the lids when he saw they were carrying him to the house from the car.

"Dippy done it--yes--Dippy--he done it." Then he fainted away again.

After the wounded man was placed on a cot in a small shed room attached to Feeney's not very commodious house, Pat took Phil and Worth aside, while Dave and Paul remained with the stranger. It was felt intuitively that the man should be closely watched. Why none of them knew exactly, except that their methods with Billy and the taking of the car indicated that something was wrong, somewhere. What it might be, of course none of them as yet had any distinct idea. Feeney scratched his head meditatively, as he said to Phil:

"Them two fellers come here about night, afore you boys appeared. They wanted to stay all night and after breakfast they had my wife put up some grub; quite a lot of it. But when you came in, all at once they took a notion to leave, sudden-like. After they was gone my woman found the stuff we'd packed up, which they seemed to have forgotten. That's all we seen of 'em until you came in here with that one in the fix he's in now."

"It all does look mysterious," remarked Phil. "From a hasty look we took in the old tavern we saw what looked like a forge and some tools. I thought I glimpsed some dies but I might have been mistaken."

"Wait a minute," broke in Pat, going to the door of the kitchen. "Ma,"

he called out, "any sign of Nan and Dan yet?"

A broad-bosomed, red-faced woman appeared for a minute at the open doorway, as she replied:

"No, Pat, I ain't seen nothin'. I went to the bend of the road, too.

It's time they was here onless something's bothered them."

Coming back to the two boys, Feeney explained:

"Last night, ruther late, Bill Spivee, our nearest neighbor to the west, came over. He's got a telephone and he says that the Midlandville op'rator asked him if any strangers had been round lately. Bill told 'em he hadn't seen any, but that two fellers had stopped here, for I'd told him that when we met up after puttin' up some marsh hay yon way,"

jerking a thumb southward. "We often puts up wild gra.s.s together.

"Well, later they 'phones ag'in. Asks Bill to see me right away and find out all he could 'bout them strangers. If it was what they thought, them fellers was wanted right away."

Feeney pointed towards the shed-room, as he continued: "We mustn't let go of that chap, whatever happens, until we knows more."

"I should say not," put in Worth, who quickly related what these strangers had done to him. Then Phil briefly described the subsequent proceedings, including their finding the man senseless under the overturned car, and with the pistol wound, finally showing the bullet that had been found in his hair, which had glanced from the skull, as we have described. Feeney looked at the bullet.

"Smith & Wesson pistol sure!" He thought a moment. "I think I saw that pistol when the man that is missing changed some of his things, as I was pa.s.sing their door. After thinking it all over, I sent Dan and Nan on horseback, soon after you all left, but I didn't say nothing, for I didn't really know nothing. We needed more coffee, and that was a good excuse. But I told the kids to be sure and see the operator of the telephone booth and try to find out what was the matter. I reckon we'll know if they ever get back."

Mrs. Feeney now appeared in the doorway and excitedly pointed westward.

"Nan and Dan's a-comin'. I can see 'em out at the kitchen back door.

There's n.o.body with 'em as I can see."

Just then Paul came in to say:

"That chap's come to again. Looks like he's worrying some. What ought Dave and I to do? He seems to want Dippy, as he calls that mate of his."

Phil accompanied Paul back, while Worth remained with Pat to wait for the arrival of the girl and boy. Their horses seemed tired, and stood with drooping heads while they dismounted, delivered the coffee to their mother and glanced shyly at Billy as the father explained briefly what had happened.

The children brought news that as soon as a telegram could reach Midlandville, two officers would start at once for Feeney's place. Might get there some time in the night.

"Well, here's a pretty to-do!" exclaimed Mrs. Feeney. "How am I goin' to feed so many strangers? You know, Pat, we're pretty near out of flour."

"Shucks, mother! We got plenty of meal and hog meat, and there's vegetables. We'll not starve. Besides," here he whispered in Mrs.

Feeney's ear, "you'll get some money from 'em, eh? I knows you--"

"Pat, you know you're not going to charge them four boys, if they stay a week. I've heard ye say so."

"Now, Mrs. Feeney," put in Billy, "don't you worry! We boys are not going to cost you a dollar more than we'll pay back. We like you folks."

Here Billy winked boldly at Nan who laughed as she slightly blushed.

"Anything will do us."

"You sure are good boys," nodded Mrs. Feeney. "You were nice to my folks on the way from the hay market. Pat and me are glad to have ye. But these others--real strangers, that might be different."

"Oh, Billy," called Paul from the shed doorway, "please come here!"

Thus summoned, the two at once followed Paul into where the sick man was picking at his wounded head and moaning:

"Dippy--done--it. What'd you do it for, Dippy?" A series of feeble coughings ensued, and the man again seemed to swoon away.