CHAPTER XXIII
RACING MOTORS ON THE WAT
"Some day," Jimmie said, as he urged Uncle Ike down an eastern slopeof the Alleghany mountains, "I'm going to have this mule put in abook."
"If he keeps up his stealing," Jack declared, "he is more likely tobe put in jail. That mule is certainly a bad actor."
"Huh!" grunted Jimmie. "He's got a sugar tooth, or he wouldn'tsteal!"
The boys drew up when nearly to the valley through which runs theNorth Fork and looked over the landscape. There was another range ofmountains straight ahead, and beyond that the valley of the SouthBranch, for which they were headed.
"Looks like another climb and good-night!" Jack complained. "And Nedwanted this sent to-night. That's a right smart climb ahead of us,"he added.
Jimmie coaxed Uncle Ike back to four feet again and patted him on thehead before making any reply. Then he pointed to the south.
"Over there," he said, "is the Virginia line. The ridge ahead of usdoes no cross that. I know because I looked up this section once whenNed and I were thinking of running away for a rest."
"You always need a rest!" grinned Jack. "Why don't you make Uncle Ikestand still, like Dill Pickles, this old mountain ship of mine does?"he added.
"Why do you call him Dill Pickles?" asked Jimmie. "He looks more likea razor-back with sails set in front."
"He's Dill Pickles because he's got a good disposition gone sour,"Jack explained. "He's just about shaken the life out of me now.Doesn't look it, does he?"
"Better call him Bones!" Jimmie advised. "As I was saying," he wenton, "the ridge ahead of us drops down this side of the Virginia line,and we can dodge a climb by going around it."
"And get lost!" Jack grumbled.
"Lost--not. We follow down this valley--or up this valley,rather--until the ridge drops down. Then we go straight east until wecome to the South Branch. And there you are."
"Here we go, then!" Jack shouted. "Set your sails and come along."
Uncle Ike wanted a test of speed and endurance right there, butJimmie held him back. It might be that they would be obliged toreturn to the camp that night.
They soon left the high places and wound among foothills. Below lay afertile valley, with handsome and well-tilled fields.
"We're making a hit with these mules!" laughed Jimmie, as they passedalong, the people staring at them from gates, doors, windows andfence-tops. "If these ladies and gentlemen ever see us again they'llbe sure to know us."
It is not a great distance from the place where they came to theriver to the city they sought, and the ground was covered in a coupleof hours. The sun was still shining when they passed through a busystreet, certainly the center of observation.
When they entered the telegraph office Jack took out the message andhanded it to the clerk at the desk without looking at it. The clerkstudied it a moment and asked: "Day rates? This seems to be a nightletter."
The boys eyed each other keenly for a moment, and then Jimmie said:"I'd have it sent right off if I were you. Ned wouldn't have saidanything about its being a night letter if he had had any idea we'dget here so soon."
"All right," Jack said. "Send it now. We'll wait for a little whileto see if there's an answer."
"It is in cipher," the clerk said, "and will take some time to send."
"I never looked at it," Jack cried. "I' don't even know where it isgoing."
"To the Secret Service chief, Washington," said the clerk. "Are youboys out here on secret service business?"
"We're out here to take pictures," Jimmie cut in. "We have nothing todo with that dispatch. It was given to us by an acquaintance to sendout."
"He wanted to make sure it got into the right hands," Jack said."Will you call Washington and see if he's there--the chief?"
"You'll have to pay for the message."
Jack laid a banknote of large denomination down on the desk.
"Ask for the chief," he said, "and tell him to wire any instructionshe may have for the sender in cipher if he wants to, but to give anyinstructions he may have for us about the delivery of the message inplain United States!"
"Come back in half an hour," said the clerk, "and I'll probably havesomething for you. I suppose this cipher message is an importantone?" he added, suspiciously.
"Don't know what it is," Jack answered, truthfully.
The clerk evidently did not believe the boy for he stood at the deskgazing after him with a look of distrust on his face. The lads wereno sooner out of the office than a thin, angular gentleman, dusky offace and very black and bright of eye, entered and walked up to theclerk.
"I sent a message here by a couple of boys," he said, "and I wish towithdraw it."
"You'll have to find the boys, then, and have them withdraw it,"replied the clerk.
"But can't I recall the dispatch--my own dispatch?" demanded theother, exposing a $100 banknote in his palm. "It is worth somethingto me to get it back."
The clerk was angry at the plain attempt at bribery, so he turnedback to a table and took up the message the boys had left.
"We have a message here," he said, "which may be recalled underproper conditions. Kindly tell me what your dispatch says."
"Which one did they file?" asked the other. "The one to Washington orthe one to New York?"
The clerk laid the paper back on the desk.
"Give me the address you sent your message to at Washington," hesaid.
"It was the secretary of state," was the reply.
"And the message? Give me a few opening words."
"Read them!" snarled the other. "Can't you read English?"
"The message is in cipher!" said the clerk, "You also have theaddress wrong. You are evidently a fraud. Get out!"
When the boys returned to the office in half an hour the clerk calledthem over to the desk at once and told them of what had taken place.
"How did he ever follow us out without our seeing him?" asked Jimmie.
"He must have shot through the air," the other declared.
"Are you sure you kept a good lookout?" smiled the clerk.
"Well, we looked about a good deal," Jimmie admitted, "and I can'tsay as I thought of being chased up. What did Washington say?"
"You boys are to wait here until you receive instructions. The ciphermessage is now going on the wire."
The boys sat down in a restaurant not far from the telegraph officeand ordered porterhouse steaks, French potatoes, and all the sidedishes that were on the menu.
"We may have to ride to-night," Jack said, "and may as well preparefor it."
"I don't like the idea of our being followed here," Jimmie observed."We'll be apt to come across that chap on the way back. The funnypart of it all is that we never suspected there was a sleuth outafter us!"
"We ought to have known," Jack grumbled. "Somehow everything has gonewrong with us. If we ride back in the night we'll probably have askirmish."
After eating they went back to the telegraph office. The clerk waswaiting for them, that being the usual hour for his supper.
"Here's your orders," he said, with a smile, "right from the chiefhimself. He seems to know who you are all right!"
Jack took the dispatch and read:
"Remain where you are until motor cars now on the way from Cumberlandreach you. Our men say the cars can make good time clear to thefoothills. The cipher message will arrive shortly. Be on your guard."
It was signed by the chief of the Secret Service department.
"What do you know about that?" asked Jack, passing the message overto Jimmie.
"How far is it to Cumberland?" he asked of the clerk.
"Something like eighty miles," was the reply.
"Are the roads good? Can a motor car make good time to-night."
"The river roads are fairly good. A fast car ought to get here inthree hours."
"I see that Chinese-looking guy that wanted the message catching usif we go back in an automobile!" Jimmie laughed.
"But
a motor car," Jack interrupted, "is an easy thing to wreck on amountain."
"What do you think was in that dispatch?" Jimmie asked of Jack, asthey sat in the telegraph office waiting.
"Something which brings out motor cars and secret service men," Jackanswered. "I guess it made a hit at Washington."
"Perhaps he wired that he was going to bring the prince in!" laughedJimmie. "Well, if he did, he'll do it, and that's all I've got to sayabout it."
Twice that evening a dark face appeared at the window of thetelegraph office and peered in at the boys. Each time the owner ofthe dark face hastened away after a short inspection of the lads andconferred with two men in a dark little hotel office.
Shortly after ten o'clock two great touring cars, long, lean racers,ran up to the curb in front of the telegraph office and stopped. Thestreet was now well-nigh deserted, but what few people were stillastir gathered around the machines.
There were three husky men in each machine, and in each car was roomfor one more person. Only one man alighted and entered the office.When he saw the boys waiting he beckoned to them.
"Got your cipher?" he asked, and Jack nodded.
"Then come along. We'll get to the high climb before the moon comesup."
"Do you know the way?" asked the clerk.
"Only from verbal description," was the reply, "but we can find it."
"I'm off duty," the clerk said, "and I know every inch of the way. Iwas reared in the mountains west of the short ridge. I'd like alittle adventure, too!" he laughed.
"What about the mules?" asked Jimmie, determined that Uncle Ikeshould be cared for.
"Get them into a barn, quick," said the chief, sharply. "We must beoff."
When Jimmie came back the clerk and Jack were crowded into one seatin the rear machine, while a vacant seat in the front car was waitingfor him. The party was off with a snort of motors and faint cheersfrom the little crowd which had gathered.
The river road was fairly good, and in an hour they were at thefoothills, around the south end of the short ridge. The driver drewup there, and in the clear air, from the north came the sound ofgalloping horses.
"Get out and under cover, boys!" the chief commanded.