CHAPTER VI.
HOME ONCE MORE
A little later Jack and Mont separated, and in company with theconstable, the young machinist called on Mr. Benton at the Coney House.
The speculator listened attentively to Jack's story. He was shrewd, aclose reader of human nature, and thought he saw a chance of securing abargain or of placing the embryo inventor under obligation to him.
"Tell you what I'll do," he said. "Give me a paper securing to me yourinvention if you don't turn up at the proper time, and I'll go yourbond, providing----" and here Mr. Benton paused.
"What?" asked Jack eagerly.
"Providing you give me a half interest in it now."
Jack staggered back.
"A half interest?"
"That's what I said."
"But, sir----"
"You haven't got to accept my offer if you don't wish to," was theapparent indifferent reply.
Had he thought only of himself Jack would have refused. To give up thatfor which he had worked for years was terribly hard.
But Deb, dear Deb, what would become of her if he did not accept?
"I'll do it," he said, shortly. And then, with a sudden thought: "Butyou must give me a money consideration."
"How much?" asked the man of means.
"One hundred dollars." Jack knew Mr. Benton would offer less.
"Too much! I'll give you twenty-five."
"No; a hundred."
"Make it fifty. I can't spare a cent more. Besides, the thing may notbe worth a dollar."
"Or several thousand," put in Jack. "But I accept the offer."
"Very well. I'll pay you the money to-morrow. I'm short to-day."
Knowing that with all his sharp business practice Mr. Benton was a manof his word, the young machinist did not object to waiting for his cash.
In his excitement he forgot all about Mr. Hammerby and the rent thatmust be paid.
It was fully an hour before the necessary papers were drawn up andsigned, and then with hasty steps Jack made his way home.
Deb met him at the door, and at once he had to give her the particularsof what had been done.
"Never mind, anything is better than having you in prison," she saidwhen he had finished. "And it may be just as well to have Mr. Benton fora partner now as to give him the chance of getting the whole thing lateron."
Deb was delighted to learn that they were to receive fifty dollars incash the next day.
"I'll be so glad to get rid of that horrid agent," she declared, andshowed Jack the notice to quit.
In looking it over he discovered that it had been dated the day before.
"The mean fellow!" he exclaimed. "He thinks to get us out one daysooner than the law allows. Won't he be astonished when I pull out theroll of bills and pay him?"
In anticipation of the money soon to be received, and in honor of Jack'srelease, Deb prepared quite an elaborate dinner.
It nearly took her breath away when she discovered that the outlayfooted up to nearly a dollar--a large sum for them. But then herbrother did delight in cutlets, with potatoes and green corn, andsomehow the table wouldn't have looked complete without some stewedprunes and a pudding-dessert--the latter just fixed to tickle Jack'spalate.
During the meal Mont slipped in, and was compelled to sit down withthem. He was delighted to see the young machinist free, but shook hishead over the price that had been paid for liberty.
"What do you intend to do now?" he asked.
"Find Andy Mosey, if I can, and have him arrested," replied Jack. "Itis the only way, I believe, that I can clear myself."
"It isn't likely you will find him," remarked the young man. "He willno doubt keep shady for a while."
"I shan't look for him to-day, excepting to strike a clue," was theyoung machinist's reply.
After the meal was finished, and Mont had gone, Jack announced hisintention to do the repairs that he had promised Farmer Farrell.
"I might as well do them at once," he said to Deb, "it will be severaldollars in pocket, and we need all the money we can get now. If thiscase goes to trial I'll have to hire a lawyer, and they charge heavily."
"So, I've heard," replied Deb, "but I wouldn't mind that if only you getfree."
"I'll try my best," replied Jack taking up his kit of tools.
"When will you be back?" she asked as he started to go.
"I can't say. It depends on the job. Don't worry if it is late."
"All right; I'll keep the supper warm till you come."
So young, and yet a perfect housekeeper!
"She'll make some fellow a good wife one of these days," said Jack tohimself as he strode along.
It was a fine day, and the walk by the river side was a delightful one,but the young machinist scarcely noticed the surroundings. His mind wasbusy with the numerous difficulties that had risen round him, and heendeavored to lay out a definite plan of action by which to extricatehimself.
When he arrived at the farm, he found his acquaintance of the previousday hard at work on the patent rake, which he had taken almost entirelyapart.
"Just in time, young man!" exclaimed farmer Farrell, wiping theperspiration from his brow; "I thought, seeing as how you didn't comethis morning, I'd see what I could do myself. But the job's a leetletoo much for me. I've got the pesky thing apart and can't put twopieces together again."
"That's because you don't understand machinery and haven't the tools,"replied the young machinist, and taking off his coat, he set to work atonce.
He picked out the worn screws and bolts and substituted the new oneswhich he had brought. Then he sorted out the various parts in theirproper order, and examined each critically.
"This bit of iron that guides the pressure spring is warped," heremarked. "Did the rake pull hard when the left side was lower than theright?"
"Yes, and squeaked, too."
"Then, that's the cause of it, and all the oil in the world wouldn'thelp it."
"Can you fix it?" asked the farmer, anxiously.
"I can if I can get a hot fire," replied Jack.
"I'll start it up at once," returned farmer Farrell, and he disappearedinto the house.
When he had the fire well under way, Jack heated the part, and gave itthe proper shape. Then he put the machine together, adjusted itcarefully, and oiled the parts.
"Guess it's all right now," he said, lifting it over.
"We'll soon see," returned the farmer. Going to the barn he brought outone of the horses and hitched him to the machine. Then he mounted theseat and drove up and down the field several times.
"Works like a charm!" he declared. "You understand your trade and nomistake. How much for the job?"
This question was a stickler to Jack. He did not wish to ask too much,and he could not afford to ask too little.
"They would charge you three dollars at the machine shops," he said.
"Then I suppose that's what it's worth," continued the farmer. He was awhole-souled man, and was taken by Jack's outspoken manner. "Butthere's the other things to do yet," he continued.
"I know it; so we'll put this job at two dollars," said the youngmachinist.
"Never mind, I'm satisfied to pay three," laughed farmer Farrell. "Comeinto the barn; I've found quite a lot of stuff that needs doctoring, andI want you to put everything in first-class shape."
"I'll do my best."
Farmer Farrell led the way, and Jack was soon as busy as a bee, puttingthe machines in running order and overhauling other farming implements.
JACK WAS SOON AS BUSY AS A BEE, PUTTING THE MACHINES INRUNNING ORDER AND OVERHAULING OTHER FARMING IMPLEMENTS.]
"Why didn't you stop this morning?" asked the farmer, presently. He hadintended going reaping, but Jack's handy use of tools interested him andmade him linger.
In an easy manner that did not interfere with his work, the youngmachinist narrated the particulars of what had occurr
ed to detain him.
"Well, now, that beats all! Trouble piling right up on top of ye!Wonder if I don't know this Mosey," continued the farmer, reflectively."Is he a short man with a red beard?"
"Yes."
"Didn't he use to work over to Redrock?"
"I believe he did."
"Then I reckon I do. He's a bad egg. I used to sell the company heworked for hay for packing, and Mosey used to weigh it. Several times,when I was sure it was correct, he reported short, and when I spoke tohim about it, he said it would never be right until I made it right withhim, or, in other words, paid him for his good will."
"How did it turn out?" asked Jack, interested in the story.
"Oh, I spoke of it to the owners, but they believed his side of thestory, and I lost their trade. But, all the same, he was discharged amonth later for being drunk. If I ain't mistaken, I saw him pass earlyyesterday morning."
"I just wish I could lay hands on him," returned the young machinist; "Idon't believe he would keep out of the way if he wasn't guilty."
"Maybe I'll see him," said the farmer. "If I do I'll watch him, and letyou know."
It was close on to six o'clock when Jack finished the work. During theafternoon he had done jobs for which he asked five dollars, and farmerFarrell, who knew that he would have been charged twice as much in thetown, paid the bill without a murmur.
Ten minutes later, with his kit under his arm, and the new five-dollarbill tucked safely in his vest pocket, the young machinist started forhome.
The sun was setting, and the road, shaded for its greater part by largetrees, was growing dark rapidly.
About midway of the distance to Corney stood an old mill, abandonedseveral years before, whose disused water-wheel still hung idly over theswiftly flowing river beneath.
It was a ghostly looking structure, and having the reputation of beinghaunted, was seldom visited, except by adventurous tourists and byamateur photographers, who remained at a safe distance to take views ofthe really picturesque locality.
As Jack passed the mill, he saw a man approach from the oppositedirection. Judge of his astonishment when he recognized the individualas Andy Mosey!
He had seen the young machinist at the same instant, and turning rapidlyfrom the road, he darted to one side of the mill.
For a second Jack stood still, hardly able to move. But he quicklyrecovered, and dropping his kit, which was heavy, he started in pursuit.
"He shall not escape me," he resolved. "He is larger than I, but I amnot afraid to meet him face to face."
There was a large shed attached to the mill, and entering this, theyoung machinist looked carefully around to see if he could find anytrace of the man. But a brief search assured him that the place had notbeen disturbed for months.
Passing through the partly open door, he entered the lower floor of themill, and found himself in the presence of Dennis Corrigan, Mosey'sbrother-in-law.
"What do you want here?" demanded Corrigan, springing up from the benchupon which he had been seated.
Jack could hardly form a proper reply. With two men against him, herealized that he was in a bad fix.
"Why, I didn't know that you were here, Corrigan," he began. "Ithought----"
Jack never finished the sentence. He heard a noise behind him, butbefore he could turn to see what it was, he received a cruel blow on thehead, and then all became a dark, terrible blank.