CHAPTER XXI.
CORRIGAN MAKES A MOVE
Both Jack and Mont had had surprising adventures in plenty, but both ofthem agreed that none of them equaled the present one.
The noise in the room prevented Corrigan from hearing their entrance,and it was not until Jack's strong hand grasped his arm that he realizedthe sudden intrusion, and let go his hold upon Deb.
As for the poor girl, she was too exhausted to speak, but with a gladlook of recognition, sank back in a faint, supported by Mont, who sprangforward to prevent her from falling to the floor.
"You miserable coward!" exclaimed the young machinist, his blood boilingat a fever heat. "What do you mean by holding my sister in this way?"
With a strong push of his powerful arm he sent the man flying into acorner. It was lucky that he had no weapon in his hands, or Corrigan'scareer might have received a severe set back.
WITH A STRONG PUSH OF HIS POWERFUL ARM, HE SENT THE MANFLYING INTO A CORNER.]
"Are you hurt?" asked Mont of Deb, as the girl presently opened hereyes, and gave a little gasp.
"I--I think not," she replied, slowly. "Oh, how glad I am that both ofyou came when you did!"
"What brought you here?" asked the young man.
"I was looking for Jack."
Meanwhile Corrigan had risen to his feet, and stood in a corner, hischagrin at being caught showing itself plainly upon his face. Jackfaced him, his hand clenched, ready to strike instantly, if necessary.
"Well, what have you got to say for yourself?" demanded the youngmachinist.
Corrigan offered no reply. The sudden turn in affairs was something hecould not understand. He bit his lip and tried to put on a bold andcareless front, but the effort was a failure.
"He stole your model, Jack!" cried Deb.
"So I heard," replied her brother. "What have you done with myproperty?" he added to Corrigan.
"I haven't anything of yours," was Corrigan's cool reply. "It's all amistake."
"No, it isn't, Jack; it's the truth," reiterated the girl earnestly.
"You went into my house and took that model by force," continued theyoung machinist. "You see, I know all about it, so you might as wellgive up the thing at once."
While speaking, Jack had unconsciously stepped to one side. With asudden movement Corrigan slipped past him, and made for the open door.
But the young machinist was on the alert, and before the man couldrealize it, he was sprawling on the floor, with Jack on top of him.
By intuition, he appeared to feel that it would be useless to struggle,and so lay perfectly still.
"I've a good mind to bind you, hands and feet," said Jack. "Close thatdoor, will you, Mont?" he added to his friend.
"Will you let me go if I give up the model?" panted Corrigan, who beganto feel the weight of Jack's heavy body upon his chest.
"I don't know. But you've got to give it up, anyway."
"I suppose it's hidden here," put in Mont. "That's probably the reasonhe's hanging around the place."
"Wherever it is you will never find it without being told," broke inCorrigan.
For well-known reasons he was anxious to get away.
"Oh, let him go, Jack!" exclaimed Deb. "I don't care, now I've gotyou--and Mont"--the last words with a grateful look at the young man,that caused him to blush. Jack thought the matter over carefully. Hewas not of a vindictive nature, and bore no personal ill-will againstCorrigan.
"What do you think of it?" he whispered to Mont.
"Might as well let him go if he gives up your property," replied theyoung man. "It would be rather hard for us to manage him."
"Then give up the model and you can leave," said the young machinist toCorrigan. "But I never want you to come around me again."
"Give me your word on letting me go if I give it up?" asked the man,with an eager look.
"Yes."
"Come on, then."
Corrigan led the way to the upper room of the mill. The little party ofthree entered.
"There it is," said the man, pointing to a corner; "you will find it upthere, back of that large beam," and he pointed to an angle in the roof,about eight feet from the floor.
"Give me a boost up, Mont," exclaimed Jack.
The young man caught him by the hips, and held him up as best he could.
"It's here, sure enough!" cried the young machinist, and from out of adim recess he brought forth the model, covered with dust and cobwebs.
So interested were the two that they did not notice Corrigan back outfrom the room and close the door behind him.
"I'm glad it's safe!" exclaimed Jack, as he placed the precious burdenupon the floor.
"I was afraid--Hello--what's that?"
The creak of a bolt not used before sounded in his ears, and in aninstant he noticed the closed door.
"He's gone!" ejaculated Mont, in astonishment.
The young machinist sprang to the door and shook it vainly.
"Trapped, by Jinks!" he exclaimed. "Here, quick! we'll break it down!"
With all force both threw themselves against the wooden barrier.
Unfortunately the door was an old-fashioned one, thick and solid, and itstood firm.
"We're caged and no mistake!" cried the young man, nearly breathlessfrom his repeated exertions. "Hist! Listen!"
Pale as a sheet, Jack did as bidden.
There was a struggle going on below. They heard Deb shriek severaltimes.
"Great heavens, what is he doing?" continued Mont.
"We must get out," exclaimed Jack determinedly.
"Now! One, two, three!"
Bang!
The door groaned. It bent out at the bottom, but still held its own.
"Try it again! Now!"
Bang! Crash!
A thin split through one of the panels, but that was all. Jack jumpedover to the model.
"What are you going to do?" asked Mont, perplexed.
"Cut our way out," was the reply.
Taking a small screwdriver from his pocket, the young machinist loosenedone of the sharp knives of the miniature planer. As he did so therecame a scream from beyond the road.
Jack was again back to the door. How rapidly the chips flew! Hurrah!he had made a hole through!
He put in his finger.
"Can you reach the bolt?" asked the young man anxiously.
"Not quite!"
Again the chips flew. The hole grew larger.
"Here, Mont, try your hand. It's smaller than mine."
The young man did so. With a painful squeeze he pushed through theopening, and catching the bolt by his thumb, drew it back.
Jack then opened the door, and rushing out, jumped down the steps fourat a time.
"Come on!" he called back to Mont, who was vainly endeavoring to releasehis hand. "I think he's gone down the road."
The young machinist was not long in reaching the outside. But oncethere he came to a full stop.
Neither his sister nor Corrigan were anywhere to be seen!
In a few seconds Mont appeared, the back of his hand bleeding from thescratch it had received.
"Where are they?" he gasped, tying his handkerchief over the wound.
"Blessed if I know!" exclaimed Jack.
He ran to a bend in the road, and then back again. Not a soul to beseen anywhere!
Meanwhile, the young man examined the river bank. All was quiet andundisturbed. The sun had set fully an hour before, and the twilight,especially under the trees, was fast deepening.
"We can't trace them in the dark," remarked Mont, as they stopped forconsideration.
"We've got to do it," declared the young machinist; "I'm going to findDeb if it takes a week."
"Then I'm with you, Jack. Come on."
"It runs in my mind that they must have taken that road," said Jack, ashe pointed to the one that led down the river.
"Well, we might as well t
ake that as any other," returned Mont. "Hemust certainly have carried her in his arms, and--well, I declare!Isn't that her hair ribbon?" and he picked up a streamer of brown fromthe road-side.
Jack examined it.
"You're right," he replied, "We are on the direct way to overtake them.Come!"
Both started on a run. They soon passed the falls, and came to a clearspot on the bank of the river.
Mont uttered a cry.
"Look! Look!" he exclaimed, pointing out in mid-stream. "There theyare in a boat; Corrigan is making for Blackbird Island!"