The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 65: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

SULLIVAN JONES’ BOARDERS, 65 ‘‘ Whar’d you hear all that ?’’ cried some one. ‘* Down at the station,’’ cried Mike. ‘‘ The operator found he was shut off, an’ then a trackman from Powel’s Creek come down the river in a boat, an’ told me. He went on down to tell the gang at Rockville. But, come on now, we must beat the Rockville gang, sure.’’ The men jumped up and hurried down to the station, where half a dozen hand cars lay on a side track, while a lot of the villagers, out of mere curiosity, started to walk up the river to the scene of the disaster at Powel’s Creek. It all happened so quickly that when the boys reached the tavern it was deserted and Sullivan Jones was standing on the porch wearing a somewhat sour expression on his wrinkled features, for he had counted on a very busy evening. ‘‘ We want a couple of your best cigars,’’ said Tom, and then following hin back to the bar he added, ‘‘ Where are your two boarders tonight, Mr. Jones?’’ . The tavern keeper handed out the box and then said slowly : ‘‘They’ve gone fishin’ up Stony Creek. Started ’bout half an hour ago in Abe Miller’s boat. They’re mighty fine fellers, but blamed ef they know much about fishin’. Why, they went for pike with a big cork an’ a can of worms,’’ and Mr. Jones shook his head as he tapped a bottle of birch beer for the postmaster who had just entered and called for his favorite beverage. The boys left the tavern, and bidding Charlie wait a moment on the porch, Tom ran up to a store a few doors above and purchased a red light left over from the Fourth of July stock. He stowed it away in his pocket and hurried back to the tavern. ‘‘T have an idea, Charlie,’’ he said hurriedly. ‘‘I can’t take time to tell you. Come on along quick.”’ They hastily crossed the bridge and turned up along the railroad. Stony Creek dam lay on their left, but no fishermen could be seen on its broad surface. Half a mile further it ended abruptly, and the boys forced their way down through the bushes to the point where the creek entered the dam from above. Pulled up in the bushes lay the boat, the rods and the can of worms still resting on the seat, but no trace of the fishermen. Tom’s face paled for an instant. ‘By Jove, Charlie,’’ he cried, ‘‘I see it all. Those men are going to rob the paymaster! Look here now,’’ he continued excitedly, ‘‘ we must do something. If I was only certain it was right we could alarm the village and capture these fellows in their own trap. But there is the rub. Suppose there is nothing in it after all? I thought of that so I bought this red light at the store. Now listen, Charlie, here’s what you must do. Go back to Dauphin and stay around the station where you can see up the valley. I will hurry on ahead. It will soon be dark now, and the paymaster ought to get here in less than an hour. If I discover anything I will run up on the side of the mountain and touch off this red light, and as soon as you see the signal, alarm the village, and send them up the valley as fast as they can go. (E) : Eomichook (G@)