CHAPTER XXIV
JUST IN TIME
Though it was very early, one of the men about the Winthrop place was already astir, preparing to wash down the front porch with a hose. Tom, followed by Ned, strode up the front walk, and the man, staring at the big House on Wheels which had stopped at the front curb, looked in surprise at the two rather unkempt and disheveled early morning callers.
"I'm Mr. Swift," Tom explained, smiling at the man.
"Oh, yes! Excuse me, sir! I didn't recognize you. I remember now! You were here at the house party given for Miss Nestor. Of course! I didn't know you—in—er——"
"These clothes!" finished Tom, with a laugh. "I don't blame you." He and Ned still wore the old garments that had been given in exchange for their own more fashionable attire. Doubtless some of the bandits retained the new suits.
"Yes, of course, Mr. Swift," murmured the man. "Will you come in? It's a little bit early, but——"
"Is Miss Nestor up yet?" asked Tom, and a moment later he realized what a foolish question it was. It was barely six o'clock, and of course none of the household would be up.
"No, sir," the man replied. "Miss Nestor isn't here now."
"She isn't? Where is she?" demanded Tom, a strange feeling around his heart.
"She and Miss Winthrop and several other guests went on a houseboat trip with Mr. Barton down the river two days ago."
"With Mr. Barton?" Tom fairly shouted.
"Yes, sir. He has a large houseboat. It was quite a party. But they are expected back to-day."
"What time?"
"About noon, I think, sir."
"Where will the houseboat dock?"
"Down the river," and the man mentioned a certain dock.
"Thanks," said Tom, as he turned away.
"Depend upon it, Tom," asseverated Ned stoutly, "Mary doesn't know Barton's character or she wouldn't even dance with him, let alone going off on houseboat parties."
"That remains to be seen," and Tom's voice had a bitter tone in it. "That remains to be seen."
"Where are you going?" asked Ned as he climbed up to the seat beside his chum.
"Down to the dock to wait for the arrival of that houseboat. We'll park there, get something to eat, and freshen up a bit. I want to have a little conversation with Mr. Floyd Barton."
Ned could guess the interview would not be exactly pleasant for Mr. Floyd Barton, and he smiled grimly.
It was so early that the passage of the big auto through the streets of Chesterport attracted little attention this time. The dock was found without difficulty, and in a vacant space near the river Tom parked his House on Wheels. Then he and Ned got breakfast, of which they stood in considerable need.
A hasty inspection of the auto showed that though the bandits had used it roughly, no material damage was done. A thorough cleaning would put it in shape again. There was considerable mud about, showing that it had been run in the rain after Tom and Ned had fled from it.
A bath, a change to fresh clothes, bought as soon as the stores were opened, and a rest soon repaired some of the ravages of the imprisonment that showed on the two young men. Then they took their ease in the House on Wheels while waiting for the boat to come back with the merry party of young folks. It seemed a long while, but it was scarcely noon when a whistle was heard and Ned, looking out, announced:
"Here she comes!"
Tom roused himself, squared his shoulders, and began to walk toward the dock where some hands were making ready to moor the pleasure craft.
Ned followed. He wanted to see all that should take place.
"Wonder if the State Police will get Cunningham and his gang," mused Ned, as they stood on the dock waiting for the boat to be made fast.
"They will, sooner or later," said Tom. "Just now I'm more interested in the nephew than I am in that beefy Englishman."
The houseboat came to a squeaking stop at the end of the dock, and when the gangplank was in place several laughing, and evidently happy, young men and women began to disembark. Tom watched closely but did not see Mary and Barton. A frown came over his face as he moved quickly down the dock, followed by Ned.
Then Grace Winthrop, surrounded by a group of admirers, came off.
"It was a wonderful party!" said one girl.
"Just wonderful!" agreed Grace. "I hope you liked it, Aunt Mary," she said to an elderly relative who had gone along as a chaperone.
"Oh, yes, it was nice," was the reply. "But it was a bit damp."
"Always is on the water! Ha! Ha!" chuckled a youth clad in a very gay sweater. Then Grace caught sight of Tom and Ned.
"Oh, Mr. Swift! So glad to see you!" she cried. "Mr. Barton tried to get word to you and Mr. Newton to come on our excursion, but Mary said he couldn't reach you. She said you'd gone to Dismal Mountain. Did you go there?"
"Yes," answered Tom, shaking hands, "I did. Where is Mary now?" he asked, scarcely able to restrain his impatience.
"Oh, she and Mr. Barton must be down in the cabin yet," was the answer. "I thought she came off, but she evidently remained to——"
Tom Swift did not stop to hear the remainder of the sentence. He strode aboard the boat, made his way toward the cabin, but halted outside the door at the sight of two figures in the room. Ned could look over his chum's shoulder and see Mary with Floyd Barton standing close to her. The approach of the recent prisoners was so silent that the two in the cabin had not heard them.
"Now, Mary, why can't you be nice to me?" Floyd was saying, as his arm went toward the girl who seemed to shrink away from him. "I gave you a nice time, didn't I?"
"Yes, Mr. Barton, it was a lovely party."
"Why don't you call me Floyd?"
"I—I scarcely know you well enough." Mary's voice was low and she seemed in distress. Her back was toward Tom and Ned.
"You'll soon get to know me better," went on Barton boldly. "I'm very fond of you, Mary. Why are you so cold and distant? Now you and I—" He almost had his arm around her now.
"Mr. Barton, stop! Stand away from me!" exclaimed Mary.
Tom Swift made a jump into the cabin and, with a hand on Barton's shoulder, swung that surprised youth about.
"You dirty dog!" cried Tom, almost beside himself with rage. "I've found you out just in time!"
He gave Barton a shove which would have floored that young man had not Ned caught and held him.
"Oh, Tom!" cried Mary, and, holding out her hands she was soon clasped in Tom Swift's willing arms. "Oh, Tom! I'm so glad you came! He—he——"
A look of disgust came over her face as she looked at Barton.
"He won't annoy you again," said Tom grimly.
But now Barton had recovered his poise and, pulling away from Ned, demanded:
"What does this mean? How dare you come aboard my boat without an invitation? Who are you, anyhow—Oh, it's Swift and partner!" he added with a sneer, as he recognized the twain.
"Swift and partner!" chuckled Ned. "And the partner's name isn't Slow, either," he added, as, putting out a hand, he caught Barton as the latter was about to leave. Perhaps the rascal suspected something of what was in the wind.
"What does this mean? Let me go! You have no right here!" stormed Barton.
Mary soon recovered from the upset caused by Barton's advances and stood beside Tom Swift. By this time the high voices from the cabin had attracted the attention of several of the houseboat party, and they turned back to see what the trouble was.
"Let me go!" snarled Barton to Ned. "If you don't——"
He made as if to strike Ned, but the latter, drawing his automatic said calmly:
"Now take it easy! You can't get away any more than that rascally uncle of yours can."
"My uncle! Is he——"
"By this time Mr. Cunningham and his gang of bandits in the castle are under arrest," said Ned, though as a matter of fact he did not know this. "The game is up, Barton!" he added grimly. "Ask Tom Swift if it isn't."
Tom, a happy smile on his lips as he stood beside Mary, nodded in affirmation. A desperate look came over Floyd Barton's face. He glanced about wildly as if for a way of escape. Then he suddenly pulled loose from Ned, but as he was about to run from the cabin he found himself in the arms of a burly dock officer who demanded:
"What's the row about? And why have you that gun?" he asked of Ned a bit sternly.
"Because I don't want that criminal to escape!" was Ned's answer.
"Criminal! Mr. Barton a criminal?" came in a startled chorus from many of the late houseboat party.
"A criminal!" said Tom Swift calmly but firmly. "A partner with his rascally uncle, Basil Cunningham, in the illegal operations on Dismal Mountain. I am Tom Swift, and Ned Newton and I have just escaped from that mountain of mystery. The criminals up there captured us and my House on Wheels. They held Ned and me prisoners and we overheard enough of their plots to send them all to jail. They're under arrest now," he added, giving more details and particulars of what had happened on Dismal Mountain. "And you'll be under arrest too, very shortly, Floyd Barton," concluded Tom.
"He may consider himself under arrest now," announced the dock man. "I'm a special officer and I'll take him into custody."
"You can't! You haven't a warrant!" stormed Floyd.
"I'll hold you until Mr. Swift can swear a warrant out," said the special officer, who knew and disliked Floyd Barton. "Come on now! Will you go peaceably or do you want the bracelets?" and from a pocket he took out shining handcuffs.
"All right!" said Barton, with a scowl at Tom Swift. "You win!"