CHAPTER XVII.BACK TO THE MILL.
For the moment there was intense excitement among the half-dozen men who were present. The escape of a prisoner from Bend Center was an unheard-of occurrence, and for a while nobody seemed to know what to do.
“Norton escaped!” ejaculated the squire, jumping up from his chair.
“Yes, sir,” replied the jailer.
“When?”
“Some time within the past two hours.”
“How was it accomplished?”
“Broke three of the iron bars out of the window, and climbed the wall into Dr. Sand’s garden.”
“Have you any idea where the man has gone to?”
“No, sir.”
In a few minutes the bell over the village hall was rung, the news was spread that Mr. Norton had escaped, and a reward of fifty dollars was offered for his capture.
“I take it that he is guilty,” said Mr. Markham, as we stood in the squire’s office. “It is rather rough on you, Stone, but that is what I think.”
“I think so myself, sir,” I replied. “But, Mr. Markham, allow me to thank you for your kindness in going my bail. I didn’t expect it. Aren’t you afraid I will run away?”
“No, I am not. I can read faces, and I take yours to be an honest one.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll promise not to run away.”
“What do you intend to do?” he went on. “I must get back to New York and get ready to go to Philadelphia first thing to-morrow morning.”
“You have spent a good deal of time on me, sir. I expect to go back to the mill.”
At that moment two men came up.
“They’ve found out that Norton started up the road to Hillsburg,” said one of the men. “I reckon he is going to try to make the midnight train if possible.”
“It’s a pity you can’t telegraph, and head him off,” said Mr. Markham.
“There are no wires through the Bend,” was the reply. “The place is behind in some things.”
I was silent. Was it true that Mr. Norton intended to shake the dust of the district from his feet for good?
I could not help but wish that such was a fact. Not but what I wanted to see the guilty parties punished, but I desired to have nothing more to do with the man, and would be perfectly content if he would never again approach me. I considered that I was old enough to take care of myself, and wanted no guardian of any kind excepting such a nominal one as the law might require.
A few moments later Mr. Markham and I walked down to the dock at which the Catch Me was lying. Mr. Williams had put the craft in first-class trim once more, and as I stepped on board I could not help but feel my breast swell with pride as I realized that I was the owner.
“I will take you to Bayport if you wish,” I said.
“Thank you, Stone; I would like to get over there as soon as possible.”
I hoisted the sails at once, and stood out for the opposite shore. On the way we had quite a talk; and when Mr. Markham fairly wrung the information from me that business was poor at the mill, and that money was tight, he got out two twenty dollar bills, and insisted on my taking them “on account,” as he put it.
“You are too generous,” I said, as he thrust the bills into my pocket.
“It is only a part of what I intended to give you from the start. I shall never forget what you have done for me.”
We parted at the Bayport pier, and then I steered for the mouth of the Torrent Bend River. As I skimmed over the surface of the lake I reviewed my situation in all its details.
I resolved that as soon as the mystery of the diamond robbery was cleared up, to put my father’s matters in Squire Slocum’s hands for final settlement; then if I was allowed to run the mill I would do so, and hire Ford as a regular man to help me.
During the days that grinding was slack I could go fishing in the boat, or, better yet, hire out the craft to such parties at the Bayport hotels as wished to charter her. I knew there was money in doing this, and money was what I was after.
It was dark when I ran up to the mill landing. Not a light was to be seen about the place. I fastened the Catch Me by means of a chain with a lock and key—a thing that gave me much satisfaction, as I thought it would now be no easy matter to run off with my property.
I approached the mill silently, and pushed open the door of the grinding-room. As I did so I fancied I heard the faint murmur of voices.
I stopped short and listened. I had not been mistaken; and I judged the sounds came from the room under the living apartments.
For a second I knew not what to do; then I tiptoed my way across the floor to one of the bedrooms, and carefully raised up one of the boards that I knew was loose.
The rays of a small lantern met my eyes; and by the light I saw that two men were in the room. One was the man called Yates, and the other was Mr. Enos Norton.
My surprise at seeing the latter was intense. With all the others at the Bend, I had felt sure my guardian had made his way to Hillsburg to take the midnight train.
“It was a risky thing to come back here,” I heard Yates say.
“I don’t think so,” replied Mr. Norton. “No one would think I would dare to come back; and I left the impression behind that I had gone towards Hillsburg.”
“Well, it won’t do to stay here long.”
“I know that. That’s the reason I say let us settle up at once, and clear out. This haul hasn’t been half what I thought it would be, and I want the matter ended.”
“It’s a pity you broke jail,” went on Yates, with a sniff. “That was a give-away.”
“I know it; but things were getting too hot. That boy is smarter than he looks.”
“Pshaw! You are losing all nerve. Hist! here comes some one.”
The light went out instantly. Then a voice was heard saying it was all right. The light was turned on again, and I saw that the man called Avery had entered.
“All right?” asked the other two.
“There’s a boat at the dock,” replied Avery in a whisper.
“Who’s aboard?”
“No one.”
“Is it that Carney’s boat?” asked Mr. Norton eagerly.
“I don’t think it is. It’s a larger craft.”
“Then it must belong to the police!” cried Yates. “We must get right out of here.”
“But about dividing those stones?” asked Avery.
“We can’t do it now. Remember, we lost one the other night in our hurry; it won’t do to lose more.”
“Then come.”
The three at once left the room. I heard them cross the road and strike out for the shore above, and then with my heart beating rapidly I stole after them.
It was intensely dark, and it was with difficulty that I kept them in sight; but they moved slowly, and that was in my favor.
At length we reached the shore above the mill. Here a small boat was lying, and the three prepared to go on board.
Suddenly Mr. Norton uttered an exclamation.
“Pshaw! I’ve forgotten something!”
“What’s that?” asked Yates.
“There is something at the mill I want to take along. Will you wait till I run back for it?”
“It’s risky,” said Avery.
“I’ll run the chance. If I get caught I’ll give the alarm.”
And with this the man jumped back to shore, and made for the very place where I was in hiding.
I tried to spring to one side; but in doing so I made considerable noise. It was heard, and a moment later the man recognized me.
“Reuben!” he ejaculated. “When did you escape?”
Without replying I made for the mill. But Mr. Norton was after me, and as I reached the door he collared me.
“When did you escape?” he repeated.
“I got out just a little while before you did,” I replied; and I did not see the necessity of adding that I was on bail.
“And what are you doing here?” he demanded.
“That is my business.”
“You have been spying on us.”
I was silent.
“Is that your boat down at the pier?”
“Yes.”
“You are alone?”
“Why do you ask that question?”
“Answer me.”
“I don’t care to.”
He eyed me savagely.
“You had better!” he cried. “Do you know you are in my power, boy?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Well, you are.”
“I don’t see it,” I replied stoutly.
“You are smart, but not smart enough,” went on Mr. Norton; “and I want to know at once whether you are with us or against us.”
“I will never side with a set of thieves!” I burst out warmly, indignant at such a proposition.
“Well, then, suit yourself,” he replied.
He had hardly spoken before he sprang upon me. I was taken by surprise, and before I could realize it I was on my back and he was on top of me.
“Let me up!” I cried.
“Not much. If you want to be an enemy to your own uncle and his friends be so; but you have got to take the consequences.”
We had a short struggle after this without more words.
I did my best to get away, but it was useless. Mr. Norton was thoroughly aroused, and his muscles were like iron. Drawing back his hand, he hit me between the eyes, and before I could recover he caught up a rope and bound me hand and foot.