CHAPTER V
THE EXCITEMENT GROWS
"Well, what d'ye think of that for news, eh, Frank?" burst out Andy, inhis usual impetuous way, after the Bloomsbury Chief of Police had madethis startling announcement.
Frank was as a rule much cooler than his cousin. He had undoubtedly beenequally astounded to hear of the terrible calamity that had befallen thebanking institution, in which most of the leading citizens of the townwere financially interested; but he certainly did not show it the sameway.
His eyebrows went up to indicate astonishment; and a slight frownsettled on his grave face, as he replied to Andy's question.
"It's a stunner, just as you say, Andy; but I wish the Chief would tellus a few more details. I think it's a little queer nobody seemed to haveany suspicion of this awful business at the time I left home onhorseback, to ride up to the Quackenboss farm, where you had beenwatching our injured aeroplane all night."
"Well," continued the head of the Bloomsbury police force; "that'sbecause the yeggs worked so neatly they never left a bit of mess aroundto arouse suspicion; and the first thing that was known of the lootingof the bank was when Seth Jarvie, the day watchman, went into the placeat seven this morning to relieve Cadger, the night man, and found himlying there, tied up like a bundle of goods, and nearly dead with frightand humiliation."
"Whew!" was the way Andy relieved his pent-up feelings at this point;while his cousin went on asking questions.
"Then Cadger must have seen the robbers, if they captured him; how aboutthat, Chief?" he demanded, eagerly; for the excitement was beginning totake hold of him.
"That's right, he did, and was able to give us more or lessinformation," the police officer continued. "Of course as soon as Jarviesaw what had happened he knew it was a case for me to handle, and so heran across to Headquarters; and in a jiffy we had thrown a cordon ofpolice around the building to keep out the curious citizens who wouldhave no business inside, and spoil any trace of the rascals."
"And would you mind telling us what Cadger had to tell, Chief?" askedFrank.
"Not at all, because I'm depending on you boys to help run the thievesdown, if you feel like giving the authorities any assistance," the otherreplied, craftily.
Frank's answer was immediate and to the point.
"Of course we'll do anything that's in our power, Chief. Both ourfathers are interested in that bank; and besides, the good name of thetown must suffer if it is wrecked by a wandering band of yeggmen. And wecan understand why you should want to capture the thieves, Chief;because that's a part of your business. Please tell us what the bankwatchman had to say."
"Then I will, and without any frills, if I can make it that way,"returned the other earnestly. "Cadger says he was caught napping, notthat he was asleep; but never dreaming of any danger, he stepped over tothe door when he heard a knock and a voice said: 'It's me, Cadger, Mr.Hedden, the cashier; I forgot some important papers, and have gotten outof bed to come back for them. Let me in without attracting anyattention, if you can.'"
"What do you think of the smartness of that?" exclaimed Andy. "And so ofcourse poor old Cadger, who is as honest as the day is long, neversuspected any trick, but went and opened the door a crack?"
"Just what he did," returned the Chief, "and as that side of the bankwas in the shadow he could only see the figure of a man, who slipped inalongside him. Before he knew what was happening he was being chocked bya pair of strong hands. Cadger started to struggle but another man musthave joined the first, for he was knocked unconscious by a cruel blow,that's left his face all bloody and after that he didn't know a thingfor an hour or two."
"Whee! you've got me all worked up with your story, Chief," said Andyagain. "I can just seem to see the whole thing happening. And chancesare, that when Cadger did come to, he found himself tied up, and unableto even whisper?"
"He had hard work to get enough breath, they had fastened the bandageacross his mouth so tight; but he could see out of one eye. And lyingthere, Cadger watched the two yeggs go through the whole operation ofgetting nitroglycerine planted, and using all sorts of clothes and eventhe rugs off the floor of the president's room to deaden the sound ofthe explosion."
"They were old hands at the business, that's sure," remarked Frank, whenthe officer paused to catch his breath; for he was talking unusuallyfast in his desire to give them all the particulars in as brief a spaceof time as possible.
"Yes, there can be no doubt of that," the Chief went on to say, wagginghis head wisely; "and they had been able in some way to get on to a lotof things that make us wonder like the name of the cashier and thenight-watchman. Looks mighty much like they must have had a friendaround Bloomsbury, who put them wise to those facts. Then they seemed tohave the running of the trains down pat also; for long after they hadtheir arrangements made they just sat down and waited until the freightgoing north and passing Bloomsbury at two-eighteen was pounding up-gradefrom Deering's Crossing, and making all manner of noise."
"Oh! to think of the smartness of that, would you?" burst out Andy. "Iwas wondering how they could blow open the safe, and the sound of theexplosion never even be heard over at Headquarters, only half a blockaway; but now I see how it could be done. Just like a fellow says he canpull a hair out of your head, and you not feel it; and he makes out togive you a thump on the head with his other hand at the same time, so ofcourse you never notice him pulling the hair."
"Just about on the same principle," said the officer, nodding; "forwhen that heavy freight goes pounding past the station, it makes enoughnoise to drown almost any sort of sound. The windows rattle, and wealways have to stop talking until the caboose gets past. And that wasthe time they chose to explode their juice, with an absolute certaintythat no policeman's ear would hear a single thing."
"And Cadger saw it all, did he?" asked practical Frank.
"A good lot of it, by twisting his head from time to time," repliedChief Waller. "And after the thing had been successfully done, he couldwatch the two thieves gathering the swag together, and putting it in asatchel they found in the cashier's room. Then, just at a quarter tothree they doused the glim, which was only an electric torch one of themcarried, and skipped out, locking the door on poor Cadger. It was hoursafterwards when the day watchman came on duty and the discoveryfollowed."
Frank and Andy had somehow turned, and exchanged a significant lookabout this time; and the expression of astonishment on the face of thelatter deepened.
"Did you say an electric torch, Chief?" demanded Frank, immediately.
"Yes, one of the handy kind that are used so commonly now," the otherreplied.
"Tell us, did Cadger say anything about the thieves wearing masks overtheir faces; or did they use handkerchiefs to hide them from him?"
"I didn't mention that matter, but it was just as you say, Frank; bothmen had on masks all the time," answered the police officer.
"Black ones too, I expect?" ventured Andy.
"That's what they were; but see here, are you two just guessing this, ordo you happen to know something about those men?" asked the other,quickly; for he could not help seeing from the manner of the Bird boysthat they were on some sort of a scent; and he knew from pastexperiences that their sagacity could always be trusted to do the rightthing.
"Well," Frank went on to say, drily, "while Andy was watching our newhydroplane out in the Quackenboss pasture, I worked until eleven o'clockin our shop, and then went home. This morning, early, after a bite toeat, I hurried over there to do some finishing touches and carry thething out to apply to our broken plane, when to my astonishment I foundthat the shop had been broken into later in the night, as well as ourhangar, where the aeroplane is usually kept. And here's what Idiscovered lying on the work-bench, where the men had forgotten them."
With these words he held up the flashlight torch, and the twin blackmasks; and they produced an immediate shock upon the Chief of Police.
"And you found those things in your workshop this morning, you say?"he
cried, reaching out to take hold of the torch, and the bits of blackmuslin.
"Yes, and whoever was there, they must have been mad because they didn'tfind the aeroplane, for they smashed a few things, just for spite, itlooked like," was what Frank added.
"Then, if it was the same men who robbed the bank they must have knownabout you boys having a brand new machine. And say, that must mean oneof the robbers was something of a birdman himself; because no greenhornwould ever think of making his getaway in an aeroplane. Don't you seethat's a pretty good clue, Frank? I'll remember that when I'm getting intouch with other points, and find out if there's any aviator who's gonecrooked of late. Yes, that's worth knowing, now; and I'm glad youmentioned it to me."
"What description did Cadger give of the men, Chief?" queried Frank.
"Oh! he said one was tall and thin; and the other short and wiry like,pretty much like a cat. I rather reckon he'd be the fellow who's been inthe flying business. Seemed to have a stiff left arm too, like he'd metup with some sort of an accident. That might turn out to be a pointer;I'll just remember it. It surely was a lucky thing for me I saw you boyscome sailing along and managed to attract your attention. I begin tofeel better already. You gave me so much help on that other occasion, itjust seems as if I had to fall back on you again."
"Better move your horse out of the way, Chief, because there comes a carat a licketty-split racing speed. Wonder what the fellows in it arethinking about, to take such chances. Why, hello! look there, Frank,perhaps you know the one who's at the wheel? Seems to me I've seen himbefore, and that his name is Percy Carberry."
"It is Percy," said Frank, "and alongside him who'd you expect to seebut his shadow, Sandy Hollingshead? And they look some excited too, asthough they'd heard about the robbery, and the Carberry family wasthreatened with bankruptcy if the missing funds were not recovered rightaway. There, he sees us, and is pulling up. I reckon he's looking foryou, Chief."
The car that had been tearing along the pike came to a stop close towhere the head of the Bloomsbury police force sat in his buggy.
Percy Carberry got out, and Andy could not but notice that he was notdisplaying his accustomed agility on this fine morning; indeed, he madea face as though it gave him a stab of pain every time he took a step.
"Hello! Chief Waller!" remarked Percy in his customary patronizing way,ignoring the presence of the Bird boys completely and purposely, ofcourse; "I've come out after you, to get your assistance in trying tofind the rascals who broke into my hangar some time last night, and ranaway with my biplane!"
Upon hearing these astonishing words it was little wonder that Andy andFrank once more looked at each other, with the light of understandingdawning on their faces.
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