CHAPTER V. HEADED WEST.
When he made this alluring offer Hiram Nelson was astonished to see Robturn toward Andy, and that the pair of them actually laughed. Quiteindignant at such a showing of skepticism, Hiram hastened to say:
"Don't believe a word of what I'm saying, p'raps now? Well, seeing thatyour dad reckoned this little paper was worth every cent it called for,suppose you take a squint at the same, Rob. You, too, Andy, and thenyou'll laugh on the other side of your mouth, I shouldn't wonder."
He flourished the bank draft in front of their eyes, so that both scoutscould see the amount it called for in cash, and that it bore all themarks of being genuine.
"Oh! neither of us is doubting anything you say, Hiram," explained Andyeffusively. "The only thing is that Rob here can't accept your generousoffer, that's all."
"Can't accept?" gasped the other, looking terribly disappointed. "Whynot, I'd like to know; and me countin' on having him along to advise me,and keep me from being caught napping, or robbed of my valuable papers onthe road."
"I'll tell you why he isn't able to take the trip to California at yourexpense, Hiram," said Andy solemnly. "It's because he's already pledgedhimself to go with someone else. Fact is, Hiram, I'm the one who holdsRob's word."
"You--agoin' to California, Andy Bowles?" exclaimed the astonished Hiram;and his incredulous manner told that he doubted the truth of theassertion, for where could the son of the liveryman of Hampton get allthe money to cover the double expense of such a lengthy trip; certainlynot through any invention _his_ brain had ever conceived; and no boycould ever hope to save enough out of his spending money for that.
"Yes, we've just made all arrangements for a month at the Exposition,"said the Bowles boy; "that is, we have to run over to Judge Collins'place again after supper to-night, and complete the details. We expect topull out day after to-morrow, and take a through limited train for NewOrleans first, then across the plains of Texas, and the deserts of NewMexico and Arizona to Los Angeles."
Hiram sat there as though changed into stone. He hardly knew whether Andywas trying to hoodwink him or not; for the other had something of areputation as a joker.
Rob took pity on the poor fellow.
"It's just as Andy says, Hiram," he observed seriously. "We've had awonderful experience when out on the bay. A fire happened aboard oldCaptain Jerry's _Sea Gull_ on account of a passenger dropping a lightedmatch, so that it caused something of an explosion. The two men, somewhatscorched, tumbled overboard. We were close at hand, and by using thatfire-extinguishing torch of mine managed to put out the flames beforethey'd done much damage. We also hauled Captain Jerry and his passengeraboard."
"Well, of all things!" gasped Hiram. "If it don't take you to do wonders,Rob Blake. Go on and tell me the rest, please. My yarn isn't in the sameclass with yours, it strikes me."
Rob quickly put him in possession of the facts that followed fast on theheels of the rescue, and their reaching the Castle of Judge Collins.Hiram continued to shake his head, and draw in long breaths as thoughalmost overcome with astonishment.
"The Arabian Nights never was in it with the things that happen to you,Rob," he exclaimed, when the story was complete. "And so both of you areexpecting to start overland to California right away? Well, I've gotplenty of money right here, and what's to hinder our making it a party ofthree?"
"That strikes me as a good thing, Hiram," said Rob. "We're all scouts andcomrades, after all; and you say you are afraid you'll need advice sooneror later in dealing with the manufacturers. We'll stand by you, Hiram,and there's my hand on it!"
"Bully for you, Rob!" cried the delighted inventor, whose dejectedcountenance immediately lighted up. "I was mighty afraid you meant toleave me out of the excursion party. Stand by me, and I'll do everythingI can to help you. Three ought to be even better than just two, when itcomes to counting noses."
"You made a remark just now that struck me as queer," said Rob.
"Tell me what it was, then, and I'll try to explain," Hiram ventured.
"Well, you spoke of wanting a companion along to keep you from beingcaught napping, or robbed of valuable papers on the way; what did youmean by the last part of that sentence? Have you any idea anyone covetsyour papers, and might make an attempt to rob you when you were far awayfrom home?"
"Rob, p'raps I'm silly to think that way, but I can't help it," Hiramconfessed. "You see, one of the companies I corresponded with was in NewYork. They even sent an agent down here to interview me, and see what Ihad got. I never liked that man the least bit. He struck me as a sneak,and I made up my mind the company was what you might call a snideone--wanting to steal ideas if they could. I declined to have anydealings with them, and their agent went away as mad as a hornet, eventhreatening that he'd get the better of me by hook or crook."
"You don't say!" ejaculated Andy. "Then, you must have squeezed his toes,Hiram; you made him squeal, and show his true colors. I give you creditfor that."
"Have you heard anything from the company since?" asked Rob, hardlyknowing whether to treat the implied threat seriously, or only as theugly remark of a disappointed man who had found that Hiram was too smartfor him.
"Why, every week I get a few lines from this Marsters, the man who cameto see me, asking if I'm ready to do business with him. There's no threatin the letter, but there's always something to imply that he's keepingtrack of what I'm doing, and expects sooner or later I'll be glad to turnto him for a sale."
"And you are afraid that he even knows of your dealings with this GoldenGate Company out on the Coast, is that it, Hiram?" continued the scoutleader.
"I don't know what to think," admitted Hiram. "One letter came that Iknow had been tampered with. It may be he's got somebody in ourpostoffice in his pay."
"That would be a serious thing if true," Rob told him.
"It's lucky they didn't keep out the letter that had the bank draft init," suggested Andy.
"They might have done it," Hiram said, "only the company was smart enoughto register that, and it got to me safe and sound. But, Rob, after allthis might only be a big bluff Marsters is putting up. He may neverbother his head about me starting off on this trip, even if he hearsabout it through any paid spy in Hampton. And if I've got two good chumsalong with me, who's afraid?"
"All the same," advised Rob, "you'd better keep this thing a dead secret.We'll agree not to say a word about it to anyone. They can know how Andyand myself have been lucky enough to get a chance to see the Exposition;and let people figure you're in the deal, too. We'll do nothing to makeit seem contrary, remember that, Andy!"
"I'm on, all right, Rob," the other hastened to assure him.
"First of all," continued Rob, "be careful with that draft. If I were youI'd hand it over to my father, and then when you want the money he'llgive it to you. Did you think to ask him not to mention it?"
"Yes, and he said he wouldn't, after I'd shown him the letter. He shookhands with me, Rob, and said he was as pleased as pie about it--leastwaysnot in just those words, you know, but it meant the same thing. I'll goup right away and ask him to take charge of it for fear I may lose thepaper."
After making arrangements to meet again in the afternoon so as to talkmatters over and lay their plans for starting, the boys went home forlunch. All of them, of course, were fairly bubbling over with excitement;and when the story was told of what had happened on the bay, as well asthe wonderful thing that came of the rescue, in at least two Hamptonhomes there were proud parents.
Of course, no one put the least objection in the way of Rob and Andytaking that wonderful trip. They were thought to be the luckiest boys inall Hampton; and when the news leaked out every fellow in town flockedaround to hear the particulars.
That night after supper Rob and Andy rowed over to Judge Collins' andspent a very pleasant evening with Judge Collins and his distinguishedguest. Professor McEwen went into matters with a thoroughness that spokewell for his b
usiness ability, in spite of the fact of his being ascientist.
In the end it was all arranged. Rob and Andy understood just what theywere expected to do in order to carry out the instructions of theScottish professor.
"Come over to-morrow afternoon, lads, and everything will be here readyfor you to take charge of," the satisfied gentleman told them as theywere saying good-night. "The Judge ha'e kindly promised to see to things,sinc' I'm muckle sore, and hardly in condition to show myself in public.What I am giving into your charge can be handily carried in your grip;only I ken ye will want to be chained fast to the same all o' the timefra start to feenish."
Since there are so many things waiting to be told that befell the boyslater on, there is really little need of our lingering any longer at thispoint than is absolutely necessary.
On the following afternoon Rob and Andy paid their last visit to thePoint, and when they came away they carried a packet with them which theyseemed to guard most carefully.
Besides this Rob had in his possession plenty of money to see them out tothe Coast, as well as a letter of credit on a San Francisco bank thatwould insure a future supply.
"And if you should need even more," Judge Collins told Rob in parting,"wire to me of your necessities and it will be forthcoming, because weare both determined that you brave lads shall have the time of your liveswhile out there."
The boys made all their arrangements, and when the second morning rolledaround there was quite a host at the station to see them take the morningtrain to New York, where they expected to start upon the real journey.
Sleeping-car berths had been secured in advance to New Orleans, and whichwould in fact carry them all the way through, since it was not theirintention to stop over anywhere _en route_.
Among the relatives and friends who had assembled to see the three scoutsleave for the far-distant Pacific Coast, were numerous members of theHampton Troop. Like Rob and Andy and Hiram, these boys wore their khakisuits, and seemed proud of the badges and medals they had won thepermission to sport.
Thanks to the caution suggested by Rob, no one appeared to know just howHiram came to be in the fortunate bunch. Some accounts coupled his namewith the rescue of the famous scientist who was visiting Judge Collins;while others were just as firmly convinced that there were only two onboard the _Tramp_ at the time.
In the end it was set down as something of a mystery which might not becleared up until the return of the travelers. They knew that Hiram was avery secretive sort of fellow, and that even if he accomplished somethingcalculated to fetch him in money, he would not tell of it until he chose.
The train drew in at the station, and the three scouts got aboard amidsta perfect clamor of shouts, above which could be heard the well-knownscout salute. As the conductor gave the signal for them to pull out therewas a scene such as had seldom been witnessed at Hampton; which provedjust how much Rob Blake, the leader of the scouts, was appreciated in hishome town.
Hardly had they left the outskirts of the town behind when Hiram, who wassitting just behind Rob and Andy, leaned forward and said in a low tone:
"I'm not dead sure about it, Rob, but there was a man got aboard thistrain that looked a whole lot like that tricky agent I told you about,Marsters!"
The Boy Scouts at the Panama-Pacific Exposition Page 5
