Part 47 (1/2)
Here the westerner gave his name as Colonel Albert Dartwell. He said he was from Denver and had come east on private business.
”I have been sick for two months,” he said. ”I am still weak. That is the reason I did not put up a better fight when those two men tackled me.”
Jerry told his story, and the upshot of the matter was that the two footpads were held for another hearing before the judge in the morning.
”My boy, I owe you something for your services to me,” said the westerner, as he and our hero came out on the street. ”You did well for a boy.”
”I did the best I could,” replied the young oarsman ”But I want to ask you a question. I heard you mention Crazy Jim. What do you want to see him for?”
A look of pain crossed Colonel Dartwell's face at my words.
”It's a long story, Upton. I am from the West and came many miles to see him. Do you know the man?”
”I know one fellow called Crazy Jim, sir.”
”His right name is James MacHenry.”
”That's the man.”
”Ah! And where can he be found?”
”Most likely on Blackwell's Island.”
”He is in prison?”
”Yes.”
”What for?”
”For breaking the gla.s.s in a store window and creating a row.”
Colonel Dartwell drew a long breath.
”Those footpads told me he was in a hotel in the neighborhood. You are sure you are right?”
”Yes, sir. To be truthful, I was mixed up in the sc.r.a.pe that took Crazy Jim to prison.”
”Indeed. Would you mind telling me about it? You don't look like a boy that would do wrong.”
”It wasn't my fault. Crazy Jim had a packet belonging to me--a packet containing some valuable doc.u.ments. I called for them and found he had given them up to an enemy of mine.”
”And that led to the row.”
”Not exactly. He is a bad man, and there was a little girl living with him, and he--”
As Jerry spoke Colonel Dartwell grasped him by the arm.
”Stop! What did you say about a little girl?” he demanded, eagerly.
”I said there was a little girl living with him. He used to send her out to beg. He got it into his head that she had set me against him, and he started to beat her. I told her to run away, and then he attacked me and got arrested.”