The Banner Boy Scouts Read online

  CHAPTER XXIII

  THE RED CAR

  "What's the matter with you, Paul?"

  Jack asked this question, for of course he could not understand why hischum should take such a deep interest in any automobile that passed themon the road.

  "Did you happen to see inside that red car as it went by?" asked Paul,turning eagerly on his friend.

  "Why, er--yes, I did chance to be looking over your shoulders just then;I was a little afraid the wheels might graze you," admitted Jack.

  "Do you know the machine, then?" asked the other, in some suspense.

  "Don't believe I ever saw it before; but then, what of that? Don't dozenspass along here every day, that come up from the city? It's common to seea strange car, even if it has got a khaki-colored top, instead of a plainblack one. Hey, Paul! what ails you?" demanded Jack.

  "It wasn't Colonel Strange, was it?" asked the other; for the gentlemanmentioned happened to possess a red auto.

  "Of course it wasn't, because his car has a black top; and besides,neither of the two men was the fat colonel," replied Jack, immediately.

  Paul had learned something already.

  "Then there were two men in it, you say?" he went on, casually, as thoughmuch of his interest had abated.

  "Yes, and one of them was staring at me to beat the band. Perhaps he haslost a boy, and thinks I look like him. Don't let him kidnap me, willyou, Paul?" went on Jack with pretended anxiety, as he clung to hiscompanion's arm.

  "Say, look there, the car's stopped. I believe they're waiting for us!"declared Paul, in some excitement.

  "Well, that's what gave me such a scare, you see. That's why I'm shakingall over, Paul. But in union there is strength; and I'm going to hang onto you, if he tries to coax me to get aboard. I'm not in the long lostclass."

  "Oh! come along, and let's see what they want. He's leaning over the topnow, and keeps beckoning to us."

  Paul started on a run. He could feel his heart beating very hard; indeedit was strange, he thought, that his companion did not hear it poundingaway, and make some sort of remark.

  The chance that he had been hoping for seemed to be within his grasp. Notonly had he discovered a car that answered the description of the onementioned by Mr. Pender; but the occupants were plainly desirous ofobtaining information of some sort, and had selected him and Jack as theones most likely to give it.

  As he hurried on, he tried to control himself. It would never do to showmore than natural curiosity in his actions. If these two men were theones the gentleman stopping at Jack's house wanted to find, they must besmart enough to read his secret, unless he took warning.

  No sooner had he come abreast of the car than looking up he found himselfstaring into the dark face of a man who had a cruel look about him. Whatthrilled Paul, however, was the fact that one of his eyes was undoubtedlyartificial. He had guessed this fact when Jack stated that the party_stared_ so at him.

  All doubt was gone now, and he understood that by the strangest of luckhe had come upon the parties for whom Mr. Pender was searching. Theofficial must have known that they were headed this way for some purposeor other.

  "Live around here, bub?" asked the man with the glass eye, as he lookedpiercingly at Paul.

  "Yes, sir; in Stanhope," replied the boy, surprised himself to find howsteady his voice turned out to be under the trying circumstances.

  "How far ahead is that place?" continued the man.

  "About half a mile, sir. You can see the steeple of the Methodist churchafter you turn that bend ahead," and Paul pointed with a steady finger.

  "Huh! I wonder now if either of you happen to know a Mr. Solus Smithers?"and as he put the question the man shot a quick glance toward hiscompanion; at which the shorter party nodded his big head, and grinnedapprovingly.

  Paul turned to his chum.

  "Say, Jack, isn't that the name of the man who took the old Grimes farmup at the milldam?" he asked, though he knew positively that it was so.

  "Smithers--why, yes, I reckon it is. Is he a tall man, with a hookednose; and does he dip snuff?" queried Jack, innocently enough.

  "That's Solus to a dot. You see, boys, he's from North Caroliny, whereeven the wimmen use snuff, only they rub it on their teeth with a stick.Now, mebbe one of you boys would be so obligin' as to direct us to theshortest way to where this old mill stands," continued the man with thebogus orb.

  "I guess the quickest way to get there is to drive through Stanhope, andpick up the Deerfield road on the other side. It's only a few miles off;but the road turns lots of times to avoid the hills."

  Paul noted that the taller man seemed to invariably look to his companionfor support. It was as though they worked in common, and neither wishedto become responsible for action without the other's assent.

  After an interchange of low words, which the boys did not catch, thespokesman once more turned around. He held a silver half dollar in hishand.

  "Here's something for your trouble, boys. But look here, ain't thereanother way to get to that old abandoned mill without going through thetown? To tell you the truth we lost our number away back, and might gethauled up because we can't show a tag on the back of the car."

  Paul had already noticed this significant fact. It is the business of ascout to take note of even trifles. One of the tests of memory is to lookin at a store window for just one full minute; and then, going away, makeout as complete a list of articles it contained as is possible.

  And still, he did not believe that this was the true reason these mendisliked passing through Stanhope if it could be avoided. Perhaps theyhad some suspicion that Mr. Pender was visiting there; and did not wantto take chances of his meeting them face to face.

  "Sure there is," broke in Jack, who saw no reason why he should notbelieve the artful excuse given; for Jack did not know all his chum hadlearned about these parties; "after you pass the bend yonder, just turnto the left. You can't miss the road, for its got a big maple tree rightat the junction. We call that the Grapevine Road, because it twists andturns so; but it will fetch you out right at the old dam, mister."

  Many a time had Jack himself walked along that same winding path whencoming home with a string of bass, taken in the mill pond. It was longer,to be sure, but there were some fine apple trees on the way; and the walkthrough the dense woods was so much more enjoyable on a hot summer daythan the open stretch that marked the other route.

  The man flipped the coin in the air, and as it fell at Paul's feet hefelt constrained to stoop and pick it up. To do anything else might havearoused the suspicions of the man who stared. And at the worst it meantanother contribution toward the various funds which the boys were raisingfor many purposes.

  Boys as a rule have little objection about receiving "tainted money." Andwhile Paul understood that these men had been breaking some of the lawsof the land, he was not supposed to know the particular way in whichtheir money had been gained.

  "Much obliged for the information, boys; and please don't report us intown as being short a license tag. We'll get a new one just as quick aswe can. So-long!"

  As the shorter fellow started the machine his companion waved his hand atthe two chums on the road, both of whom of course returned the salute.

  Jack watched his friend out of the corner of his eye as they walked on.Perhaps he was entertaining a dim suspicion that Paul might be keepingsomething from him.

  But he asked no questions; and the other volunteered no information. Ascout is supposed to know when to hold his tongue, especially when inthe company of his superior officer; and so Jack let the matter drop.

  "See, they've turned in, all right, Paul," he said, as he pointed to thebroad marks of heavy tires leaving the main road, and passing under thespreading maple that stood at the junction with the Grapevine.

  "That's so," returned Paul, apparently not in the least interested; andyet as they continued to walk briskly toward home he frequently turned awistful look over his left shoulder, as in fancy his thoughts followedth
ose two strangers up to the old farmhouse at the mill pond.

  Who was this Solus Smithers? Could he be in league with these two menwhom the Government expert was sent to watch? Paul remembered that he hadheard several people talking about the man and his ways. He seemed tohave plenty of money, yet he made no effort to farm the place he hadrented that summer.

  As soon as they reached town he started to accompany his chum home,hoping to have an opportunity to see Mr. Pender in secret.

  Catching sight of that gentleman walking down for the evening mail,he made some excuse and broke away from Jack; who looked after him inbewilderment, grieved because Paul, for once, seemed to be keeping somesecret from him.

  Mr. Pender presently came out of the post-office. He had a letter in hishand, and was apparently much displeased at what it had contained.

  "Why, hello! Paul, my boy! Glad to see you. How is the patrol coming on?Some day you must allow me to watch your manoeuvers up there in thewoods. I'm deeply interested in all such goings-on, you know," he said,shaking hands, heartily.

  "Yes, sir; I'll ask the boys for permission to invite you," began Paul.

  "Were you looking for me, my boy?" asked the other suddenly, his keeneyes having doubtless detected something in the manner of the youngscout master that gave him his idea.

  "Yes, sir, I was," replied the one addressed.

  "I wonder now if, on the top of bad news from Washington, you could beabout to bring me new hope. Have you learned anything you want to tellme, Paul?"

  "I've seen that red auto, and talked with the gentleman who has the glasseye!" said the boy, trying in vain to keep his eager voice from tremblingwith excitement.