Ralph in the Switch Tower; Or, Clearing the Track

by Frank V. Webster

  CHAPTER XXII--A HEADSTRONG FRIEND

  Ralph was faint and dizzy-headed with all that had transpired in thelast twenty minutes.

  He felt that he had been in the peril of his life. He bestowed a lookof immense gratitude on Slavin.

  "You came in time," said he. "How shall I ever thank you?"

  "Cut it out," growled Slavin grimly. "I ain't through yet. I've beenwatching these skunks for an hour or more. I knew that Stiggs, who hasgone on a little jaunt with his wife to see some relations, would nevergive those reptiles the free run of his house. I fancied burglary atfirst. Then when you came I knew it was something deeper. Well, it'sthe finishing touch. I suppose, in your usual soft-hearted way, youwant to beg them off from further punishment, don't you?"

  "It strikes me they have got about all the punishment they can stand atpresent," suggested Ralph.

  "O, that's just a starter," announced Slavin. "Keep your eye on Slumpfor a minute."

  Ike had fallen across the sofa. He was moaning and half-stunned. Hekept moving his hand over his bare and tingling gums, making a horrible,hollow, hissing sound every time his breath exuded.

  "The dentist for you," said Slavin in cold unconcern. "This one isdelegated to the hospital, I guess."

  The speaker approached the prostrate Bemis.

  "Speak up, there," growled Slavin savagely. "I've a little businesswith you, Mort Bemis. Where are those two silver medals that you stolefrom me?"

  Bemis only wriggled and groaned. Slavin kicked him. He sat up with ahowl of pain.

  "Pawned," he whimpered.

  "Where?"

  "At Barry's cigar store."

  "For how much?"

  "Two dollars."

  "Hand it over."

  "I haven't a cent. Oh, you've half killed me. Oh, my head! my head!Don't--don't hit me again. Slump has some money. Pay him, Ike, payhim."

  Slavin advanced from Bemis, now sitting up on the floor, towards Ike,with a menacing manner.

  "I'll pay, I'll pay," whined Ike. "Here, here. I haven't go anychange. Five dollars," and with celerity he extended a banknote.

  "Three for delay and damages," stated Slavin, coolly pocketing themoney. "Now then, you two, walk humble, or I'll finish this job righthere and now."

  Slavin took up the ropes that had bound Ralph. Quaking with mortalterror, Bemis and Slump in turn allowed him unresistingly to tie theirarms behind them.

  Slavin picked up the "nutcracker." He looked it over and placed it inhis pocket.

  "If that bit of evidence don't send you over the road, I know whatwill," he observed grimly. "March."

  He forced the two prisoners forward, holding to an arm of each. As theygot outside, Ralph asked:

  "What are you going to do with them, Slavin?"

  "Anxious to know, are you?"

  "Yes."

  "Then keep us company, and see. Oh, I'm not sassy, Fairbanks. I'm onlydoing what you ought to have done the first break they made atyou--called in the law. These fellows are dangerous. I'm going to cagethem."

  The prisoners spoke not a word. Bemis had received a fearful fisticpunishment, and was blubbering. Ike Slump kept up a mumbling sound withhis lips, as if trying to get used to the lack of teeth.

  Slavin led them through the town by dark and unfrequented streets. Whenthey reached the railroad tracks, he made for a crossings shanty.

  The flagman had gone home for the night, but the door was secured by acatch only. Slavin marched his prisoners inside, drew a lantern fromunder a bench, pushed them to the bench, and lit the lantern.

  "You rest a while," he directed them. "Court will open soon. Fairbanks,will you do an errand for me?"

  "What is it, Slavin?"

  "I promised the road detective, Bob Adair, to send him word when I foundthese fellows."

  "I'm out on bail. They can't bother me till my trial comes off,"mumbled Ike Slump, making a grimacing, painful job of talkingintelligently.

  "Rest easy," advised Slavin grimly. "This is quite another round. Findhim, Fairbanks."

  "You think that is best, do you?" inquired Ralph. "These fellows----"

  "See here, Fairbanks!" cried Slavin, almost angrily, "you'd actually letthem go, after they had pretty nigh put you out of commission forever.In this case I don't want your advice, good as it usually is. I know myprogramme, and I intend to carry it out to the last letter."

  Ralph saw that it was useless to oppose his vigorous friend andchampion. He left the shanty forthwith, and went up to the depot. Itwas some time before he could locate Mr. Adair. When he finally foundhim, and explained simply that Slavin wished to see him, the roaddetective joined him briskly, and look pleased.

  "About Slump, I suppose?" he inquired eagerly.

  "I think it is," answered Ralph.

  "Good," said Adair. "The company thinks that bailing out business wasrushed through. The bond was only five hundred dollars. They don'tunderstand old Farrington's peculiar interest in the matter, and we havebeen ready to rearrest Slump for a week."

  Adair gave prodigious start as, entering the crossings shanty, his eyeslit on the faces of Slavin's two prisoners.

  "Whew!" he whistled slowly--"you seem to have had some trouble with yourfriends, Mr. Slavin."

  "You hear my story, and see if I gave them any more than they deserved,"said Slavin, and he stood up, looking like a judge and talking like ajudge, and narrated the incidents of the preceding hour.

  "Now then, Mr. Adair," added Slavin, "these fellows brag of having afriend in that old miser, Gasper Farrington. I tell you that I happento know that he has tried all kinds of ways to scare and bribe my friendhere, Fairbanks, away from Stanley Junction. I suppose he's rich, andso tricky you can't connect him with their doings, but you can cagethese fellows safely, and I want you to do it."

  "The railroad company will certainly insist that Slump's bond be raisedfrom five hundred dollars," spoke Adair. "You told me that Bemis verynearly wrecked a train by magnetizing the levers at the depot switchtower. Can you prove it?"

  "I can," nodded Slavin emphatically.

  "Very good. To-night's business there is no question about. It's acase of murderous assault and attempted mayhem. I shall see theprosecuting attorney at once, and demand that each of these prisoners beheld in heavy bonds."

  "I think that will hold them," said Slavin, in a tone of satisfaction."I've got a charge against them, myself. They robbed me of two silvermedals."

  "We will take them at once before a magistrate," said Adair. "You'llhave to subscribe to the warrants, Slavin. You, too, Fairbanks."

  Ralph simply bowed acquiescence. Slavin had taken the matter out of hishands. It was better so, Ralph readily realized. He did not believethat Farrington would go on their bonds for any large amount. This mightlead to a rupture, and the prisoners might be induced to implicate themagnate, and tell what had become of Mrs. Davis.

  "Come on, you!" spoke Slavin, roughly pulling his prisoners to theirfeet.

  "You look out!" snarled Mort Bemis savagely. "See here, Mr. Officer,this fellow talks big, but he himself tied up a set of levers at theswitch tower."

  Slavin turned red. He looked at Ralph in a shamefaced way. Then hesaid bluntly:

  "Yes, I did, Mr. Adair. That skunk got me to. It was before I knewFairbanks--before I knew better. I give myself in charge for the act.I'm willing to suffer for it."

  "Nonsense!" cried Ralph quickly.

  "Do you make the complaint?" asked Adair.

  "No, sir!" spoke Ralph emphatically.

  "Nor would you appear against him?"

  "Hardly!"

  "You had better keep your mind on your own business then, Mr. Bemis,"advised Adair.

  "I call that a good night's work," said Slavin to Ralph, one hour later.

  Mr. Adair had legally presented his evidence and the prisoners to a newmagistrate.

  Ike Slump and Mort Bemis were remanded to the town jail in default ofbail in the sum of t
en thousand dollars each.

  "Now," observed Ralph, as he parted with the strange, forceful companionwho had proven so good a friend to him--"now to wait and see what GasperFarrington will do next."