He saw some of the villains speeding away on their horses for the other side of the range.
It was not possible to follow them up there amid the tangled shrubbery and tumbled rocks with the stage.
“The only course to pursue,” Jack commented, “is to go around the base of the hills and try to reach them that way.”
“It’s a mighty long course, my lad,” said Tim.
“That’s so; but there is no alternative.”
“Vhere yer tink dey go now, Dimperlake?” asked Fritz.
“Out of the State, as fast as possible,” the sheriff answered.
“Vhy yer tink me dot?”
“Because they’ve made a rich haul from the Husking Valley Bank, and we have sickened them with this section of the country. They are not used to such rough treatment.”
“The James Boys won’t leave Missouri until after I land them in prison,” resolutely said Jack, “I’ve come here to do it and I won’t be baffled. You know I’ve got the money they stole from the Wrightstown Bank. Now I’m going to get the governor’s reward, or know the reason why.”
“If you think you can do it, I’m with you heart and soul,” replied the sheriff. “My chief ambition as to break up that gang, and get the nippers on those dare devil brothers.”
“To leave the State what place would they go to first?”
“Well, as near as I can judge, the nearest railroad center to this place is Macon City.”
“Direct me how to get there.”
The sheriff complied.
Jack had to steer the stage around the hills.
She finally reached the table-land on the other side, and a survey was made with telescopes.
In the far distance a horseman was seen.
He looked not much bigger than a fly on the distant horizon, and Jack at once jumped at the conclusion that he might be one of the outlaw gang.
He, therefore, pursued the man.
As he drew near Macon City they were close enough to recognize him as Jesse James mounted on Siroc.
Not one of the rest of the band were in sight for the simple reason that they had scattered and gone in different directions to reach the city singly and in pairs at intervals so as not to excite the suspicion of the inhabitants.
Jesse had seen the stage long before.
He was riding like the wind.
His fine horse seemed to realize the threatening danger and was straining every muscle to outstrip the Terror.
It was in vain.
Nearer and nearer drew the stage.
For a moment Jack was tempted to drive the ram into the gallant horse and thus end the race.
But when he saw what a magnificent beast it was and realized how nobly it was striving to bear its master out of the reach of his foes the inventor relented.
He did not have the cruelty of heart to kill it.
All he wanted was the rider.
So he shouted:
“Halt!”
“Only when I’m dead!” yelled Jesse.
“Then I’ll shoot you.”
“Two can play at that game!”
As the stage rolled up to the horse, Jack and the bandit were aiming their pistols at each other.
For a moment a deathly silence ensued.
Crack–bang!
The two reports sounded as one.
Jack was unhurt.
But Jesse James flung up his hands and toppled headlong to the ground, with blood gushing from a wound upon his head, and his face looking like that of a corpse.
Siroc galloped on, and the Terror paused.
*
CHAPTER XX.
CONCLUSION.
The moment the bandit king fell from the saddle, Jack sprang to the ground and rushed over to him.
Planting his foot on the breast of the fallen man and raising his pistol in the air, Jack shouted:
“Victory!”
“Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!” cheered his friends.
In a moment they were beside the young inventor.
“Did you kill him?” asked Timberlake.
“No it’s only a scalp wound,” Jack answered.
“Let me handcuff him.”
“Your surmise was correct about the gang heading for Macon City.”
“I know what their general habits are.”
The sheriff handcuffed the bandit king.
He was utterly unconscious from the shot.
Fritz and Tim were so delighted they shook hands fervently, let off several emphatic expletives and fairly danced.
“Gee whiz, he’s captured at last!” roared the sailor.
“Shiminey Christmas, Dim, who oxbected dot alretty?”
“An’ ther rest o’ his crew must be in harbor in that town.”
“Fer sure. Ve vhas bound ter foundt ‘em mit der railroat depot.”
“Carry the prisoner aboard the Terror, boys,” said Jack.
Tim and Fritz did this.
Siroc ran on to the town and vanished.
When Jack realized this a grave look crossed his face.
“I’m sorry the horse escaped!” he exclaimed, regretfully.
“Why so?” asked Timberlake, with some show of surprise. “You could not do anything with that animal. There are very few people in the world who can ride him unless Jesse puts the man on the beast’s back and let’s it know he desires it.”
“That ain’t the point,” said Jack, “I’m afraid the rest of the gang will see it run riderless into the town and know that Jesse has got into trouble. They may take warning and fly before we can get our hands upon them.”
“Very true; let’s hasten after it then.”
They boarded the stage.
The shadows of twilight were falling.
Fritz and Tim took care of the wheel, and Jack and the sheriff went into the dining-room where Jesse laid on the floor.
He had by this time fully recovered and realized what happened, and a dark scowl mantled his brow as he gazed up at Jack.
“Come to crow over me?” he asked in surly tones.
“Yes,” replied Jack. “I made up my mind when I came here that I’d get you, and I’ve done it.”
“There isn’t a jail in the State can hold me.”
“Timberlake will answer for that.”
“Where’s Siroc?”
“Ran away.”
“Good!”
“Oh, I didn’t want him.”
“I don’t refer to that.”
“What then do you mean?”
“All the money I got out of the Husking Valley Bank is in the saddle bag, and he will run straight to the gang, his empty saddle will warn them to fly, and they’ll get the money.”
“Confound it!”
“Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!”
It was a derisive, mocking laugh.
Jesse was delighted because the inventor had not gained all.
On went the stage.
She ran into the city at dusk.
Jesse was put in jail, and Jack and his friends left the stage under guard, and hurried to the railroad depot.
Fortune seemed to favor them.
The first person they saw standing on the platform waiting for the train, was Frank James.
Jack lightly stepped up behind him.
Grasping both of his arms, he exclaimed:
“Frank James, you are my prisoner!”
A startled cry burst from the outlaw’s lips, and he made an effort to tear himself free and reach his pistols.
But the iron grip of the young inventor was not to be shaken off so easily, and the wiry bandit found himself as helpless as an infant in the hands of Jack.
Then he craned his neck around to see who had him.
A roar of rage escaped his lips when he satisfied his curiosity.
“Jack Wright!” he gasped.
“Yes, We’ve got Jesse, too.”
“What! Jess caught!”
“Little over an hour ago.”
“May the demo
n roast you!”
“Don’t rave! it won’t do any good.”
“Oh. Lord! Here’s Timberlake, too!”
“Yes. He waits to take you away.”
“Let go, or I’ll—”
He fiercely struggled again, but it was useless.
Timberlake smiled grimly as he disarmed the outlaw.
He carried a veritable arsenal.
A crowd gathered around.
As soon as they realized that the prisoner was one of the James Boys, the interest in him was aroused at once.
Timberlake snapped a pair of fetters on his own and Frank’s wrists, and led him away to the jail.
An alarm had been sent out to the police to look for the rest of the gang.
As Siroc and the men had mysteriously vanished, it was fair to presume that they had found the horse, got the money, took the hint, and left for parts unknown.
Anyway none of them were found.
Jack’s mission was accomplished.
The governor was notified of what he had done, and the reward was sent to him at once.
Jack was well satisfied, and Timberlake more so.
If the newspapers had not at once published an account of the arrest, more of the gang might have been taken.
As it was all escaped arrest.
When the evidence of the four was taken, the young inventor had his wonderful electric stage repaired for the journey home as he had nothing further to keep him in Missouri, now that he had dispersed the James Boys gang.
They needed the rest they got after that.
Before Timberlake left them to go to Kansas City, he said:
“I am grateful for all you’ve done, boys, and will never forget your gallant conduct. You have accomplished what we have for a long time been striving to do.”
“Oh, Lor’,” said Tim, disdainfully. “That ain’t nothin’ ter wot I once did when I wuz aboard o’ ther ole frigate Wabash.”
“Whoop!” roared Fritz, interrupting him.
“Stow yer gab!”
“Vos a yarn comin’?”
“That’s none o’ yer business, As I was assayin—”
But he got no farther.
Fritz grabbed his accordeon and began to play.
Tim paused with a look of pain and horror on his face.
“Haul to, thar!” he bellowed.
“I can’t. I vos vound up ter ‘blay dwendy-four hours,” grinned Fritz, grinding away furiously.
“Gee whiz! Yer’ll set me looney.”
“Noddings vould blease me besser.”
“Are yer goin’ ter stop?”
“Nien!”
“Then yer a dead Dutchman!”
And so saying Tim chased him into the store-room of the Terror, where the parrot and monkey were roosting, and a moment afterwards the four became tangled up in a struggle that shook the stage like an earthquake.
It did not last long.
When Tim, Fritz, Whiskers and Bismarck emerged from the room, they looked as if they had been passed through a threshing machine, but they were on terms of good fellowship.
Shortly afterwards, Sheriff Timberlake shook hand, with the three friends and departed.
Jack then made preparations to return home.
As soon as the Terror was ready, they left Macon City and started across the country at a rapid pace.
Nothing of importance occurred during the trip, and in due time they reached Wrightstown.
Here they were gladly welcomed.
The machine was then taken apart and packed away as they had no further use for it, the parrot and monkey were transferred to Jack’s house and Jack refunded the money to the Wrightstown bank much to everybody’s surprise.
It was not long after this that Jack received news that the James Boys had escaped from prison, reorganized the old gang and were devastating the State.
But he did not care to go after them again.
Indeed, he ultimately learned that such a course would have been useless, as Jesse James was finally shot dead by one of the Ford Boys.
Jack had a more peaceful pursuit in view at home.
During his absence he had thought of another new invention, and began to plan it out.
It was a most marvelous contrivance, and in the end he made a success of it, and, when he used it, the machine led him into the most thrilling situations.
For want of space here we have prepared a sequel to this story which will follow in this publication.
It is a most interesting account of Jack, Tim and Fritz, and as we will soon be in their company once more, let us conclude this narrative.
[THE END.]
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