Ralph in the Switch Tower; Or, Clearing the Track

by Frank V. Webster

  CHAPTER XVI--KIDNAPPED

  Mother and son turned quickly towards the open doorway of the littlesitting room.

  It framed a forlorn figure--a boyish form covered with mud, hatless, anddisheveled.

  "Van!" cried Mrs. Fairbanks in astonishment.

  She had a warm corner in her heart for the refugee who had made her homehis for so many weeks when his poor mind was distraught.

  Her motherly face lit up, and she extended her arms in greeting.

  But Van edged up to her gingerly, and kissing her cheek quickly drewback with the remark:

  "I've been homesick and hungry for a week just to see you smile and tohear you call me your boy, but I'm too muddy and torn up for even asecond-class prodigal son!"

  "Why, Van!" cried Ralph; "how did you get in that fix?"

  "Run down by a team."

  "And you are hurt--there is a deep cut on your cheek."

  "Oh, that's a whip-handle clip from a very particular friend of yours,"responded Van carelessly. "Ike Slump."

  Mrs. Fairbanks shivered at the mention of that detested individual.Ralph was eagerly inquisitive.

  "And about Mrs. Davis?" he asked hurriedly.

  "The woman who lived here--the photograph woman?"

  "Yes, Van. Do you know anything about her?"

  "I fancy I do. She has been kidnapped."

  "We feared that!" murmured Mrs. Fairbanks anxiously.

  "Yes," nodded Van briskly, "it looks that way, and I have had a livelytime of it. Did you tell your mother about meeting me here last night,Ralph?"

  "No, Van."

  "Then I will tell her now. You see, Mrs. Fairbanks, I was caught byRalph peeking into this very room, last night. I explained to him howit was. I had an old photograph of a woman who turns out to be thisMrs. Davis. I had been instructed to locate her."

  "By whom, Van?" inquired the astonished Mrs. Fairbanks.

  "It's a secret, it is not my business in a way," he burst forthabruptly, "but I can't keep the truth from you two. I think you oughtto know it. I think, too, that the person for whom I am acting, the waythings have turned out, would also wish you to know it. Here is thefact: Farwell Gibson is the person who got me to come here to locatethis Mrs. Davis."

  "Farwell Gibson?" repeated Mrs. Fairbanks in wonderment, though Ralphwas not surprised at the statement. He had already half guessed outwhat his chum now disclosed.

  "Yes," nodded Van.

  "Then he knows Mrs. Davis?" asked Mrs. Fairbanks.

  "Ought to," answered Van promptly, "seeing she is his wife."

  "You astound me, Van!" murmured the mystified Mrs. Fairbanks.

  "Well, she is. At least, the original of the photograph I showed Ralphis his wife. I don't know all the details, only it's some more ofFarrington's fine work. You know Gibson was in his clutches for years.Mr. Gibson and his wife had a bitter quarrel over money matters manyyears ago. It seemed he had used some of her means in his stock-jobbingoperations with Farrington. They separated. Later Farrington madeGibson believe his wife was dead. He did this to get Gibson to consentto sign certain papers that furthered Farrington's schemes. Then he gotGibson under his thumb, and drove him into exile."

  "I wonder the villain sleeps nights!" said the indignant Ralph.

  "Well, anyhow," proceeded Van, "Gibson got looking into matters, whenhis meeting with Ralph led to your having your rights, and oldFarrington taking the clamps off Gibson by destroying the forged note hehad held over him for so many years. Gibson learned that his wife wasnot dead. He sent me to try and locate her--which I have done."

  "But she is lost again," suggested Mrs. Fairbanks.

  "Oh, don't fret about that," spoke Van coolly. "I'll find her again,don't you doubt it. You see, all this concerns you and Ralph veryclosely, I am sure. In fact, Mr. Gibson intimated to me that if hecould get into communication with his estranged wife, he believed shecould give information that would lead to the recovery of those twentythousand dollars in railroad bonds."

  "Everything fits to one conviction," mused Ralph aloud. "All this beingtrue, it is certainly to Farrington's interest to drive Mrs. Davis awayfrom Stanley Junction."

  "They drove her away, right enough," nodded Van vigorously--"in a closecarriage, behind a spanking team. It was old Farrington's, and thedrivers were Ike Slump and a fellow I heard him call Mort."

  "Mort Bemis," murmured Ralph.

  "You see," said Van, "when I left you last night, I had only one idea:to get back to Mr. Gibson and report. I started for the depot to takethe train for Springfield, intending to come back and see you all in aday or two. Well, on my way to the depot I ran across old Farrington Igot thinking that his appearance on the scene, spying on the womanGibson, was sig--sig--what's the word, anyhow?"

  "Significant," suggested Ralph.

  "That's it--significant. I thought I would watch him a bit. He did notgo home. He went to an old abandoned shanty near the fair grounds. Hemet two fellows there, apparently waiting for him. They strolled up anddown the road, talking together. As soon as I recognized Ike Slump, Iknew deep mischief was up. I saw Farrington give them money. I caughtthe name of the other fellow--Mort. I saw old Farrington to bed, andlay down in one of his comfortable garden hammocks to think. When I wokeup it was daybreak."

  "Why didn't you come to the house and see us?" inquired Mrs. Fairbanksreproachfully.

  "Couldn't bring my mind to disturb you, with business on hand," declaredVan sturdily. "I hung around, and saw old Farrington go about as ifnothing unusual was on the string. Then about noon I went down to theshanty where he had met Slump & Co. No one there. They had movedquarters, it seemed. I nosed around generally. About four o'clock Iran across that Mort. He was visiting some stores. Acted as if itwasn't exactly safe to linger around people, for he didn't lose muchtime in buying some neckties, collars, cigars, and two new hats."

  "He robbed a chum day before yesterday," explained Ralph.

  "Oh, that was it? He looked like a thief. I suppose Slump didn't careto show his face at all. Well, I took up the trail of his crony. Hestarted out the west turnpike. I kept safely in the rear. He beat me."

  "How?"

  "A man came along with a fast team. This fellow, Mort, begged or paidfor a lift. They disappeared in a cloud of dust. I went back to town,saw your railroad detective, told him Ike Slump was on the scene, and heis looking for him with a warrant for stealing those brass fittings fromthe roundhouse. I thought I'd clip Slump's wings for good. It made onethe less to watch."

  "Whew!" whistled Ralph slowly, "you're action when you get started,Van."

  "There is only a little more to tell," continued Van. "I went back tothe Farrington place. Just at dusk, who should drive out but oldFarrington himself, with his best team hitched to a close carriage. Thefates were again against me. He got out by the rear, and he, too, tookthe west turnpike. I ran for a mile, keeping tab on a cloud of dust.It was no use. I sat down on a log by the roadside to rest. In a fewminutes I keeled over double-quick, and lay flat. Farrington was comingback--on foot."

  "He had left his team somewhere?"

  "That's it. I waited until he was out of sight. Then I reasoned outthat this was a very queer proceeding. I made up my mind that somehowhe had given that team over into the keeping of his two young scallawagfriends. I put for the country. I inquired along half a dozenbranching country roads I took. About an hour ago I gave it up, wastrudging back for town, when down the road came a team--Farrington'steam. One of its drivers flashed a match to light a cigarette. Then Iknew my people. I edged aside, but as the carriage flew by I jumped onthe rear axle, drew myself up, and tried to look in through the rearlittle glass window. Someone was lying on the back seat. There was asmell like chloroform in the air. I managed to climb right up on thesmooth, slippery top of the carriage."

  "What was your idea?" asked Ralph.

  "I hardly knew. Somehow, a quick suspicion came into my mind that theperso
n inside that carriage was Mrs. Davis."

  "It was."

  "I know that now, sure enough. I crept forward. That fellow, Mort,happened to turn. Our faces came nearly together. I grabbed at him, heat me. He must be a pretty husky specimen. Before I could save myself,he gave me a pull and a fling. I went down between the horses."

  Mrs. Fairbanks shuddered, and looked solicitous and alarmed.

  "Ike Slump reversed the whip and struck out at me. I dropped into amud-puddle. For a minute anyhow I was insensible from the blow and thefall. When I picked myself up the team was nowhere in sight. I cameback to find out if they had really kidnapped Mrs. Davis, and met you."

  Van sat down, pretty well tired out, at the conclusion of his recital.Mrs. Fairbanks looked very serious, Ralph worried and excited.

  "Something must be done instantly," Ralph declared.

  "Hold on," interrupted Van coolly, "make this strictly my affair, if youplease. From what I hear, you need all your time and ability for thesplendid railroad service you are doing. You can't corner oldFarrington--he's too foxy. You can't overtake Slump & Co.--they've gottoo good a start. It's a simple matter: Farrington is sending Mrs.Davis out of the way. That team has got to come back. The police willfind Ike Slump. They don't dare seriously molest Mrs. Davis. I shallkeep on the watch. In the morning I will get word somehow to FarwellGibson. Then I will devote my time strictly to finding Mrs. Davis,and--I intend to find her."

  They closed up the deserted house. Then all three took their wayhomewards.

  "Of course you are coming with us, Van?" said Mrs. Fairbanks.

  "Yes, ma'am," answered Van promptly. "I want to forget all about thisworrying business for twelve hours, so as to be fresh and bright for anew trail in the morning. And I'm just pining for a good, thick sliceof your home-made bread."

  "You shall have it, Van," smiled Mrs. Fairbanks, trying to momentarilyput aside her troubles, "and half a mince pie, as well."

  "Home-made, too?" interrogated Van, in a famished way.

  "Only to-day."

  "M-m-m!" mumbled Van ravenously. "I'm homesick for one of your rare,square meals. Hustle, Ralph--lead the way to the royal banquet!"