CHAPTER VI
BILLY TELLS SOMETHING
Frank and Andy bent over the prostrate form of their fellow student, hardly knowing what to do. Then Andy uttered an exclamation, and the scene was in sudden darkness.
"What's the matter?" asked Frank.
"The match burned my fingers. I forgot I was holding it."
"Oh, forget it," advised his brother. "We've got other work cut out for us. I wonder if he's badly hurt?"
"I saw a cut on his head," said Andy. "It's so dark——"
"Light another match," advised Frank. "I can't find my box."
In the darkness Billy moaned faintly, and stirred as he lay on the damp ground.
"Lift him up," advised Andy, as he once more struck a match. "We've got to carry him to some place. A thief must have held him up, and, when he resisted, struck him. Say, this is fierce!"
"What makes you think it was a thief?" asked Frank.
"Because, who else would do it?"
"I was thinking of the man we passed a minute ago. He——"
"That's so!" exclaimed the impetuous Andy. "I believe it was that fellow! Say, that's a bad cut all right."
Frank had raised Billy's head from the ground, and, as he did so, while Andy stood by, with a ready supply of matches, the injured lad opened his eyes, and tried to struggle to his feet.
"Where is it?" he cried. "Did he get it? He attacked me, and then—I wonder if I have it safe? If it is gone my uncle will have to—Oh, if he has taken it——"
He ceased talking and began feebly to search in an inner pocket, meanwhile struggling to get out of Frank's arms.
"Let me go! Let me go!" he cried fiercely, but he was so weak, or dazed from the blow, that Frank easily held him, though Billy was no weakling in muscle.
"Steady now, old man," said Frank, in a soothing voice. "It's all right. We're friends of yours. We'll take care of you. Don't you know me?" and he bent closer over the lad, looking into his face by the light of the match.
"You must not take it—I won't let you have it! Oh—it's you—Frank—the Racer boys!" suddenly exclaimed Billy, and then the brothers knew that his mind had been wandering, but that now he was himself again.
"Are you much hurt, old man?" asked Frank. "How did it happen? Who struck you? Have you been robbed?"
Billy did not answer at once. His hand, that had been fumbling with the buttons of his vest, now opened that garment, and sought an inner pocket. His face, that had shown terror and despair, now reflected hope. A breath of relief came from his lips.
"I—I'm all right," he faltered. "I guess I can stand up." He proved it by doing so, though Frank stood near to catch him in case he fell. Then the moon, which had been hidden behind clouds, came out, making it light enough to see, so that Andy had no further need of striking matches.
"How did it happen?" asked Frank. "Who attacked you?"
"I—I don't know," said Billy, in stronger tones. "I had been in town to mail an important letter, and I was hurrying back, for, though I had permission to be out, I didn't want to be too late in getting back. I took this short cut, and just as I got here someone jumped on me from behind, and tried to get——"
"He was after your watch and money, I guess," interrupted Andy, for he had seen the valuable gold timepiece Billy carried, and it was well known that the western lad was wealthy, and usually had a fairly large sum with him.
"No, it wasn't that," came the answer. "My watch and money are safe."
"Then what did the rascal want?" asked Frank, as he thought of the man who had passed him and his brother a short time before they discovered Billy. "If it wasn't your valuables, what did the footpad want, Billy?"
"He wasn't a footpad, and he—he——"
Billy's voice trailed off weakly. The lad swayed on his feet, put his hands to his head, and with a moan sank back. He would have fallen to the ground, only that Frank, who had been expecting something like this, caught him just in time.
"He's worse hurt than he thought," exclaimed Andy.
"Guess you're right," admitted Frank. "We'll have to have help. If there was only some water near here——"
"There is. I know where there's a spring," interrupted his brother. "I'll bring some."
He dashed off, to return presently with his cap full. Some of the fluid was sprinkled on the pale face of the unconscious lad, on whose forehead there was a deep gash. Then Frank managed to get a few drops from his cupped hand between Billy's lips.
"I—I guess I'll be all right now," murmured the injured one. "Did I—did I faint?"
"That's what," answered Frank, as Billy struggled to a sitting position. "Now take it easy. We can get a carriage and take you to a doctor."
"I don't need one. I feel much better now. That water did the business. So I fainted? That's queer. I never did such a girl's trick before. Guess he must have given me a harder whack than I thought at first." He put his hand to his head, bringing the palm away covered with blood.
"It's only a cut, I guess," volunteered Frank. "We'll wash it for you, and then——"
"If you give me a good drink of water I can walk back to the school," said Billy. "I'm all right now."
He was much stronger, as was proved by his voice, and the manner in which he stepped about. Andy got more water, and the cut was bathed. Then, after a copious drink, Billy announced that he was almost himself again.
"All but for a bad headache," he added. "But I don't mind that, as long as the fellow didn't get anything."
"And are you sure he wasn't a highwayman?" asked Frank.
"Yes, I am, though I didn't see him, as he came up back of me. He must have been following. I've been expecting this, but not so soon. If he had gotten it, he wouldn't have been much better off, for I've got to get the other signatures. I guess I'll——"
Billy did not finish. He seemed to be talking to himself, and, as he did not offer to take the Racer boys into his confidence, they did not feel like asking questions. But Frank could not help mentioning one thing.
As Billy stood there, his hand in the inner pocket of his vest, as if to make sure that something of value was not missing, the elder Racer lad said:
"I believe we passed the man who attacked you."
"You did?" cried Billy. "Who was he?"
"The lame man with the black beard!"
"I thought so! He hasn't given up yet! I must wire my uncle at once. Come on back to town with me."
Billy turned, and would have started toward Riverview, but Frank caught his arm.
"Look here!" exclaimed the elder Racer lad, "you're in no condition to go back to town. You'll faint on the way, or something. You need to see a doctor. We'll help you back to school."
"But this is important!" insisted the Western youth. "I must warn my uncle that this plot against him is deeper than he thinks. I've got to telegraph to him."
"Then do it from Riverview Hall," suggested Andy. "You can telephone the telegram in from there."
"That's right," added Frank.
"Then that's what I'll do," decided Billy, after a moment's thought. "Glad you mentioned it, for I must send a warning."
"Hadn't we better chase after that man we passed?" asked Andy eagerly. "The scoundrel ought to be arrested. Come on! I believe we can catch him. He's lame, and can't go very fast," and he wheeled about as though to take up the pursuit.
"No, don't!" cried Billy. "He's a dangerous man. Don't go near him if you can help it. He would as soon strike you down as look at you. Let him go. I can get on his trail later."
"Yes, don't go," put in Frank. "You could never find him in the darkness, and, besides, it might not be safe. And we've got to help Billy back."
"Oh, I might manage to go the distance," said the Western lad, with a wan smile; "but I'd rather have you with me. I can find that man later, if I want to. But I hope he leaves this neighborhood. I'm not safe while he's around."
"Then why don't you complain to the police and have him locked up?" asked Frank.
"It would do no good. That wouldn't stop their work. You don't understand, and I can't explain much, but I'll say this," and Billy, leaning heavily on Frank's arm, continued:
"My uncle is a wealthy ranch owner out West, and he has many business ventures. Now one of them is likely to fall through because of the activities of certain men, of whom the fellow who attacked me to-night is one. But he failed. You see, I'm helping my uncle—negotiating the Eastern end of a big deal for him, while I'm here at school. That's one of the reasons why I came East. This is all I can tell you now.
"I can't thank you enough for helping me, and, later, I may be able to tell you more details. It's a queer story, and there is quite a mystery to it. Some of it I don't even know myself. But it sure is lucky that you found me."
"We're glad we did," put in Andy. "Now let's get on to school, or we'll be locked out."
As they started off, one of the Racer boys on either side of Billy, Frank suddenly exclaimed:
"Hark! I think someone is following us!"