Airship Andy; Or, The Luck of a Brave Boy

by Frank V. Webster

  CHAPTER XVIII--OUT ON BAIL

  Andy's heart warmed up and he felt that the tide was turning. Parks wasan energetic, impulsive man, and generally put through what he startedat. His hearty greeting showed what he thought of Andy and the chargeagainst him.

  "Is that the sheriff coming?" he demanded impatiently of the officer orguard at the door of the room.

  "He'll be here soon," was the reply, "we have sent for him."

  "Come over here, Andy," directed the aeronaut, leading the way to acorner of the apartment so the others could not overhear theirconversation. "I want to talk with you. Now then," he continued, as theywere seated by themselves, "tell me the whole story."

  "I wish I had done it before," began Andy, and then he recited hisexperience with Talbot and the details of the barn burning.

  "Guesswork and spitework, eh? The whole business," flared out Parks."They haven't a foot to stand on in court. I'll see that you have theright kind of a lawyer when the case comes to trial. All I am anxiousabout is to get you back to camp double quick. You know the race takesplace day after to-morrow."

  "Yes, I know it only too well," replied Andy; "I've worried enough aboutit."

  "Here comes my man, I guess," interrupted Parks, as a portlyconsequential-looking person entered the room.

  "I wanted to see you about this young man," explained Parks. "They'veshut him up here on a false charge, and I want to get him out. He's atrusted employee of mine, and I need him badly in my business."

  "You want to give bail, do you?" inquired the sheriff.

  "Every dollar I've got, judge," responded the aeronaut with emphasis,"so long as he gets free."

  "The bail is two thousand dollars, and I suppose you know the bondsmanmust qualify as a real estate owner in the county."

  "I'm not that, judge," said Parks, "but I've got some money." He pulledout a roll of bills. "I've got nigh onto one thousand dollars personalproperty, and I'm going to earn the aviation prize down at Montrose dayafter to-morrow."

  "Considerably up in the air, part of your schedule, eh?" remarked thesheriff, smiling, "I'm afraid we can't accept you as a bondsman.Residence here as a real estate owner is absolutely necessary."

  "Why, do you think I would leave you in the lurch or a boy like Andysneak away. No sir-ree! You can trust me, Mr. Sheriff."

  "I don't doubt that, but the law is very strict."

  Parks paced the floor excitedly. He looked disappointed and bothered.

  "I've got to do something--Andy has just got to be at the aviation meetday after to-morrow. I've got it! Say, suppose I could line up twothousand dollars through friends, in cash, mind you, couldn't I hiresome man in Princeville to go on the bond?"

  "It is very often done," acknowledged the sheriff.

  "Then I'll do it. Andy, I'll be back here to-morrow. Mr. Sheriff, youcan fix the papers for quick action. I'll raise that two thousanddollars if I have to mortgage everything I've got. I've got some friendsand I own a farm out West."

  "Just a word, Mr. Parks," said Andy.

  "What is it, lad?" inquired the aeronaut.

  "I wish you would get word to a lawyer at Greenville, a Mr. West, aboutsomething. He expected to see me yesterday, and I was arrested before Icould get to him."

  Andy explained about the advertisement and the lost pocketbook. Mr.Parks was very much impressed and interested over his story.

  "Why, Andy," he commented vigorously. "There's something strange aboutall this."

  "There is probably something very important for the man who lost thepocketbook," said Andy. "I don't want the lawyer to think I fooled him."

  "Can you find the pocketbook, Andy?"

  "Unless it has been removed from the place where it was three weeks ago,I am sure that I can."

  "H-m, this sets me thinking," observed Parks. "I'll see that the lawyergets the message, Andy. I'll be back here to-morrow."

  "Mr. Parks," said Andy seriously, "I don't think you had better try toraise the money. It will be harder than you think, and all this willtake up your time and attention away from the airship race."

  "There won't be any airship race for me if you are out of it, willthere?" demanded Parks.

  "Why not? You can surely find someone to take my place. It's the _RacingStar_ that is going to win the race, not the man at the lever. He's gotto keep his eyes open, but the machine is so far ahead of anything I'veseen, that a careful, active pilot can hardly fail to win."

  Parks looked dubious and unconvinced.

  "I'm going to get you out of here," he maintained stubbornly, and,knowing the determined character of his employer, Andy went back to thelockup believing that he would keep his word.

  "What's the news, Andy?" inquired Chase eagerly.

  "The best in the world, Mr. Chase," replied Andy brightly.

  "Are they going to let you out?"

  "I hope so, soon."

  Andy had told Chase something about his circumstances, and now told himmore, mentioning the airship race.

  "I say, you shouldn't miss that, should you, Andy?" excitedly proclaimedChase. "I wish I could help you. I can in time. I have a good mind----"

  Chase paused mysteriously, and began stumping about in his usualabstracted, muttering way.

  Andy sat down on a bench as there was a movement at the cell-room door.

  "Here, give this man shelter for the night and something to eat,"ordered the turnkey. "Turn him out in the morning."

  "Hello!" spoke Chase, evidently recognizing a regular habitue of theplace, "it's you again, is it?"

  "On my rounds, as usual," grinned the newcomer, a harmless-looking,trampish fellow.

  "Been in some other lockup, I suppose, since we saw you last?"insinuated Chase.

  "No, Wandering Dick and I have been following a show. You see----"

  "Who? Say that again," interrupted Chase excitedly.

  "Wandering Dick."

  "Where is he now?"

  "Three days ago I left him about fifty miles south of here."

  "Is he there now?"

  "I think so. The show broke up and that threw me out, but Dick talkedabout staying around Linterville till he could panhandle it south forthe winter."

  "See here," said Chase, drawing out his pocketbook. "There's aten-dollar bill," and he flipped over some bank notes.

  "I see there is," nodded the tramp wonderingly.

  "I'll start you out with a good breakfast and that money in the morning.I want you to find Dick, bring him here, and I'll give you each as muchmore money when you do."

  The tramp looked puzzled, then suspicious, and then alarmed.

  "See here," he said, "what are you going to work on us, same oldcharge?"

  "Not at all. I want Dick to answer a half dozen questions, that's all,and then you are both! free to go."

  "Say, let me start to-night!" said the tramp eagerly.

  "No, it's too late," replied Chase. "There's no train until morning."

  Andy had overheard all this conversation. Wandering Dick was the name hehad heard Chase speak once before, and he had coupled it with thesuggestion that in some way Wandering Dick was concerned in the incidentof Farmer Jones' burned-down barn.

  Andy slept in a good bed and got up early in the morning, believing thatthe new day would bring some developments of importance in thesituation.

  The tramp was started off by Chase, breakfast was over, and Chase hadbeen let out by the turnkey into the main room. He came rushing back ina few minutes carrying an armful of towels for jail use.

  "Andy," he chuckled, throwing his load recklessly on a bench andslapping his young friend gleefully on the shoulder, "You're free!"