Ralph of the Roundhouse; Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man

by Frank V. Webster

  CHAPTER XXXII--FOUND

  It did not take Ralph long to figure out the merits and prospects of theproposition that Farwell Gibson had made to him.

  As the latter went more into details concerning his own and Mr.Fairbanks' dealings with Gasper Farrington, Ralph felt a certain pityfor the hermit. He had been the weak, half-crazed tool of a wicked,cool headed plotter, had repented his share of the evil doings, and wasbent on making what restitution he might.

  The peculiar situation of affairs, Ralph's quick-witted comprehension ofthings, above all his kindness to Van Sherwin, had completely wonGibson's confidence.

  They had many little talks together after that. They compared notes,suggested mutually plans for carrying out their campaign against theStanley Junction magnate, legally and above board, but guarding theirown interests warily, for they knew they had a wily, unscrupulous foewith whom to contend.

  Gibson insisted that they could do nothing but rest that day and thenext, and when the third day drifted along he took Ralph for aninspection of his enterprise.

  There was not the least doubt but that Gibson had a valuable propositionand that he had legally maintained his rights in the premises.

  "Every day except Sunday within the prescribed period of the charter, Ihave done work on the road as required by law," he announced to Ralph."Van's affidavit will sustain me in that. Everything is in shape topresent the scheme to those likely to become interested. It will be nocrooked stock deal this time, though," he declared, with vehemence."It's a dead-open-and-shut arrangement, with me as sole owner--it's alump sum of money, or the permanent control of the road."

  Van's eyes sparkled at this, and Ralph looked as if he would consider ita pretty fine thing to come in with the new line under friendlyadvantages, and work up, as he certainly could work up with Gibson socompletely disposed to do all he could to forward his interests.

  Next morning Ralph said he had other business to attend to. It was togo to Dover in pursuance with his instructions from Matthewson, the roaddetective of the Great Northern.

  It was arranged that Van should drive him over in the gig. If Ralphmade any important discoveries that required active attention, he was toremain on the scene. If not, he promised to return to "headquarters" onhis way back to Stanley Junction.

  Ralph reached Dover about noon, and put in four hours' time. He locatedJacobs, the man to whom the stolen fittings were to have gone, he sawthe local police, and he gathered up quite a few facts of possibleinterest to Matthewson, but none indicating the present whereabouts ofIke Slump, his tramp friend, or the load of plunder.

  "Did you find out much?" Van inquired, as they started homewards aboutfive o'clock.

  "Nothing to waste time over here," replied Ralph. "I imagine the GreatNorthern has seen the last of its two thousand dollars' worth of brassfittings, and Stanley Junction of Ike Slump, for a time at least."

  The Gibson habitation was more accessible from this end of The Barrensthan from the point at which Ralph and Van had four days previouslyentered it.

  There was a road for some ten miles, and then one along a winding creekfor half that distance. Beyond that lay the jungle.

  The sun was just going down when they forded the creek. The spot wasindescribably wild and lonely. Its picturesque beauty, too, interestedthe boys, and they were not averse to a halt in mid-stream, the horseluxuriating in a partial bath and enjoying a cool, refreshing drink.

  Suddenly Ralph, who had been taking in all the lovely view about them,put a quick hand on Van's arm.

  "Right away!" he said, with strange incision--"get ashore and in theshelter of the brush."

  "Eh! what's wrong?" interrogated Van, but obediently urged up the horse,got to the opposite bank, and halted where the shrubbery interposed adense screen.

  "Now--what?" he demanded.

  Ralph made a silencing gesture with his hand. He dropped from his seat,went back to the edge of the greenery, and peered keenly down stream.

  He seemed to be watching somebody or something, and was so long at itthat Van got impatient, and leaping from the wagon approached his side.

  "What's up?" he asked.

  Ralph did not reply. Van peered past him. Down stream about fivehundred feet a human figure stood, faced away from the ford, bent atwork over some kind of a frame structure partly in the water.

  "You seem mightily interested!" observed Van.

  "I am," answered Ralph, and his tone was quite intense. "I expect to bestill more so when that fellow faces about."

  "If he ever does. There--he has!" spoke Van.

  Ralph drew back from his point of observation, took a quick breath, andwas palpably excited.

  "I was right," he said, half to himself. "There's work here."

  "Say," spoke Van, impatiently and curiously, "you're keeping me onnettles. What are you talking about, anyway?"

  "That fellow yonder. Do you know who he is?"

  "Of course I don't."

  "I do--it's Ike Slump."