Part 24 (2/2)
”Oh! I see,” exclaimed the sheriff just then; ”so that's who Jim and Bart are. A couple of smart ones have been going around visiting doctors upstate this two months past, and stealing their instruments, to sell again in New York. I reckon we'll try to make this their last job, all right.”
”But your father--surely he couldn't have been lying there all this time?” observed Frank, wondering how the news could have been wired or phoned over to Plattville if this were so.
”Oh! no; Mr. Willoughby happened to drop over to ask dad something, and when they couldn't get any answer, he broke in the door of father's den. They found him just beginning to come out of his sleep, for, what do you think, those rascals had chloroformed him, as sure as you live,” replied Bones.
”I understand now. Of course a general alarm was sent out for the thieves. But they couldn't have reached Fayette if they tried,”
laughed Frank.
”And why not?” asked Bones, quickly.
”Wires down. Bart, the fellow who wasn't hurt, s.h.i.+nned up a pole, by the aid of a pair of lineman's spurs he carried with him, and cut every blessed wire soon after they made me turn into that road leading to Fayette,” replied Frank.
Doctor Shadduck they found pretty much himself. He greeted Frank warmly, as did also Coach Willoughby.
”He's all wet, dad; he's been in Juniper Creek, the sheriff says.
There's a story back of it, and I'm just dying to hear it,” cried Bones, shoving the other forward.
”First of all, please see if everything is safe here,” said Frank, as he thrust the bag into the hands of the doctor.
”Everything they got, so far as I can see, is here. It's wonderful how you happened to get hold of them, and the car too,” said the doctor, shaking the boy's hand again warmly.
”There's where you're mistaken, dad; it didn't happen at all, and I'd wager on it that Frank played a right hot game with those two rascals, and beat them out in a square deal,” declared Bones, st.u.r.dily.
”Bully for you, Bones,” remarked the sheriff; ”you just bet he did. Wait till you hear the whole story. It's the greatest ever.”
Of course Frank related all that had happened to him; but first of all the wise physician insisted upon giving him something that would prevent any ill effects following his cold plunge and subsequent wild ride.
Meanwhile Frank's father and mother were called over, and the story had to be told again for their benefit; though Frank tried to beg off, and declared that after all it had been just good luck that carried him through.
CHAPTER XX
FRANK'S LUCK
Perhaps it was just as well that a day of rest followed that strenuous Sat.u.r.day.
Frank found himself somewhat stiff and sore when he awoke, and acting under the advice of his father he remained in seclusion the better part of the day. But the story had gone around, and the doorbell of the Allen home was kept busy throughout the whole afternoon.
Half a dozen of Frank's most intimate chums dropped in to hear the story, and Frank finally declared he would have to get it set up in type and copies struck off if the demand kept on.
There were grown people who came also. Among others was Mr.
Cuthbert. Frank found his hand trembling a little nervously when he saw him, thinking that possibly Minnie had sent a message; but it seemed that if he had come over at her earnest solicitation the gentleman had been instructed not to mention that fact.
”We believed it was Frank in that car,” he said, as he shook hands warmly with the boy; ”and I even called out, for some of us thought he looked toward us rather appealingly; but as no answer came we concluded it must have been a mistake. To think we were so close to those wretches, and didn't suspect anything wrong. Have you heard the latest, Mr. Allen, and you Frank?”
”Are they caught?” asked Frank, instantly, jumping at the truth from the expression he saw on the gentleman's face. ”So it is said; and I was told that Sheriff Tucker was the one who cornered the pair of rogues after all,” replied Mr. Cuthbert.
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