CHAPTER V
A FRIENDLY FACE
The Delafield Reform School was situated not far from the New Jerseystate line. Therefore, the route over which the boys were taken wasthrough a part of northeastern New Jersey, first crossing the greatbridge which bears the magic name of George Washington.
It was upon entering the vast span that Nickie Fallon made known toSkippy his resolve. After that he lapsed into a long silence, lookingpast his new-found pal and out upon the gleaming concrete lanes thatflanked them on both sides. His too-bright eyes seemed to roam throughspace and for a moment his gaze rested on the giant cables thatstretched between sky and water like monstrous birds poised for flight.
Skippy had no doubt but that Nickie's thoughts were also on flight. Thedetectives, however, seemed not to be cognizant of it, for they werelaughing and talking in low tones and apparently easy in mind about thesafety of their charges.
Dusk was settling and the broad plaza on the New Jersey side of thebridge was resplendent with the last rays of the setting sun. Veryswiftly they left it behind and whisked down under a broad concretearch which brought them to a highway practically devoid of traffic.
"Ain't many people travelin' our way," a boy commented on the fartherside of the seat. He was no more than sixteen, red-haired and withsmall blue eyes.
"Dippy Donovan's his name," Fallon informed Skippy immediately. "Hedrew a year for wreckin' the principal's office in school. Twict hedone the same thing so now he's got his bit. I don't see doin' astretch for anything like that. At least I got some dough outa what _I_done--how about _you_?"
"Yeah," Skippy murmured. And in order to divert the conversation fromhimself, he asked, "Who's the kid next you an' who's the one 'long-sidehim?"
"Greek pickpockets--Shorty an' Biff; don't ast me their last names! Ican't pronounce 'em."
Skippy grinned and turned his head away looking off into the dusk. Hewas thinking that everything had gone fine so far and his behavior mustcertainly have impressed Nickie, for that youthful transgressor seemedto have accepted him at face value as one of his own kind.
It was during these reflections that Skippy noticed the detectivesitting up in the seat beside the driver. He was a thin, lanky sort ofman with hollow eyes and just at that moment he was glancing at theboys. Presently his gaze rested on Skippy and without warning he pursedhis lips significantly and a look flashed from his eyes that the boyimmediately understood.
One of Mr. Conne's men!
He turned his head away again so quickly that, under othercircumstances, Skippy might have been inclined to consider the look asmerely a figment of his imagination. But in this instance, he knew thathe was right and that the detective had deliberately caught hisattention to assure him of his helpful presence there as Mr. Conne'srepresentative.
Well, it was helpful certainly, and tremendously reassuring to Skippy.Mr. Conne had kept his word so far and the play gave great promise of asuccessful conclusion. The boy was happier now and no longer felt alonein his new venture. He had a staunch and dependable supporter and allwas well!
The shadows were lengthening and a lone bird winging swiftly homewardfor the night, looked dark and small against the feeble light on thedistant horizon. Talk lagged, then ceased altogether, and when nightenfolded them in one vast black shadow no sound could be heard save themonotonous hum of the engine and the soft swish of the tires upon theconcrete road.
After a little while they turned off into a dirt road. The powerfulheadlights gleamed out over deep ruts and in places the sandy soil layin little mounds, causing the car to bump and flounder about from oneside of the road to the other.
"Can't slow down too much," the driver said to the detectives. "I'm dueback at ten and it's after eight now."
"It's O. K. with us," said one of the men sitting in back. He nodded atthe man beside the driver. "You're not afraid of being thrown outeither, are you, Dorcas?"
"If I am I can pick myself up again," came the reply. The speakerturned and though it was too dark to see very clearly, Skippy thoughtthe man smiled at him.
So Dorcas was his name!
Glad of that additional knowledge, Skippy put from him any lingeringfears. He was confident that nothing would mar Mr. Conne's well laidplans. Dorcas would always be there at Delafield.
They were still bumping along at a pretty fair speed when the engineemitted peculiar sounds. The driver made some comment but did not stop,saying that it was probably due to the gas which he was trying for thefirst time.
The engine continued to "act up" as the driver called it, but he didnot lessen his speed. They seemed to bump in and out of the ruts fasterthan ever. Suddenly the car lurched forward tumbling them all about.And, while Skippy strove frantically to keep himself from fallingentirely off the seat, they lurched again.
The driver yelled, the brakes ground and for the fraction of a secondthe powerful car seemed to whirl. Skippy felt himself whirled alongwith it, his head struck something and amid the ear-splitting shoutsand screams from the boys and the men, there came the sound of breakingglass.
There was a sickening crash after that, but Skippy did not hear it.