CHAPTER XVI.
_MISSING._
When Dan informed Teddy that Sam was missing, and suggested thepossibility of the burglars having gotten him in their power, both theboys were decidedly alarmed; but the matter ceased to appear as seriousafter it had been discussed in all its bearings.
"Long Jim wouldn't have dared to spirit him away when there are so manypeople around," Teddy said, after a long silence, during which he wastrying to imagine what Sam might have done. "Besides, what would be thegood of taking him if we were left behind?"
"Perhaps they count on hauling us in, too."
"That isn't to be thought of for a moment. They don't want to burdenthemselves with a lot of boys when every effort must be made to get thestolen property out of this section of the country before they arediscovered."
"I'll allow all that sounds reasonable, but where is Sam?"
"Of course I don't know. Do you think he would dare to go down theriver again after we landed?"
"No, indeed; he's too much of a coward for that. If there's been anyfunny business it was done when the men got back."
"Then we have no need to worry, for there are hundreds of people on thebank of the creek all the time, an' Sam would know enough to yell ifanybody tried to steal him."
The idea that the amateur detective might be stolen seemed so comical toDan that he gave way to mirth, and what had promised to be a mostsorrowful visit speedily became a merry one.
"He had permission to remain away from the exhibition building duringthe rest of the day," Teddy finally said, "an' most likely he's goin' totake advantage of it by roaming around the grounds, exercising hisdetective faculties. He'll turn up at the museum to-night all right,with a big yarn to tell about his supposed adventures."
"I reckon you're right; but I did get a little rattled when his bossasked me where he was. I'll come back this way when it's time to go tosupper."
"Wait a minute. I'm mighty hungry now, an' business has been so goodthat I can afford to treat to sandwiches an' lemonade, if you'll go withme over to the grand stand. I'll bring you back something, Tim," headded, as he leaped over the railing.
Dan said he could remain away half an hour from the rifle exhibit, andTeddy was now so easy in mind concerning money matters that he resolvedto have thirty minutes of sport.
The boys first made a tour of that portion of the grounds where thefakirs were congregated, stopping a moment to see the whip dealerlashing a pine stake to show the quality of his goods, and then watchingthe "Great African Dodger," who thrust his woolly head through anaperture in a canvas screen for all those to throw balls at who wereinclined to pay the price.
Then they stopped at the "envelope game," where were spread on a stand alarge collection of cheap, gaudy goods, each bearing a printed number,every one supposed to correspond with those contained in a box ofenvelopes, and this fakir was doing a big business, as was shown by thefact that he could afford to hire a barker, who cried continually at thefull strength of his lungs:
"Come up now, and try your luck! Here's where we have all prizes and noblanks! Ten cents buys an envelope, with the privilege of drawing foryourself, so there can be no job put up against you, and every numbercalls for some one of the many valuable articles in the layout. Here's agentleman who spends only ten cents and gets a pair of those beautiful,triple-plated, double-expansion, fine pure metal cuff buttons, worth twodollars at some stores!"
"Come on!" Dan said, impatiently. "That fellow is almost as big a snideas Hazelton."
"How do you make that out? I can see a lot of things that cost more thana dollar. Look at the silver watch, and the revolver."
"That may be all very well; but no one except a fellow who is interestedin the business gets any of those articles."
"You can select any envelope you choose."
"That's right; but the ones with the numbers calling for the big prizesare lying flat in the box where nobody can get them. If you shouldaccuse the man of cheating he would turn the whole thing upside down,and then, of course, they could be found. Here comes a fellow who I knowis cappin' for that fakir. Watch how he does it."
The apparent stranger approached the stand, and after some talk as tohow the game was run, invested ten cents.
The man did not open the envelope he drew; but handed it to the fakir,who, pretending to look at the card it contained, shouted:
"Number fifty-four. The gentleman has drawn that beautiful solid silverwatch worth fifty dollars, and I will give him thirty for his bargain."
The stranger showed his prize to the crowd that clustered around him,and business was increased wonderfully, for it had apparently beenproven that the game was conducted fairly.
"Now watch him," Dan said, as the stranger walked away with his prizeostentatiously displayed, and the two boys followed a short distanceoff, until they saw him halt behind a booth, where he turned the articlewon over to a barker who had approached.
"That's the way it is done," Dan said, "and when we come back you'll seethe same watch on the layout."
Teddy was rapidly being initiated in the tricks of the fakirs, and themore he saw the more firmly was he resolved not to follow the businesslonger than the present week, although he believed his own game to be anhonest one.
The cheap jewelry dealer; the man who had been selling the remnants of astock of knives made by a manufacturer who "had bankrupted himself byputting into them too expensive material;" the fakir with the dollswhich were to be knocked down by balls thrown from a certain distance,with a prize of one cigar if the customer could tumble two over, and thepeanut-candy dealer were visited in turn, and then the boys wereattracted by the sound of Hazelton's voice.
He was plying his peculiar trade again, and by the appearance of thecrowd was meeting with great success.
"Let's see how he gets out of it this time," Teddy suggested, and Danagreed.
The fakir had arrived at that point where he was giving away thesupposed watches, and the boys listened until they saw his preparationsfor departure.
"What beats me is how he gets clear every time," Dan whispered. "Ishould think after he had swindled four or five hundred, some of themwould lay for a chance to get even with him."
"He says they do, an' that's why he left his satchel with me."
Hazelton recognized the boys just as he was telling that NathanHargreaves might possibly act as his agent after the close of the fair,and nodded pleasantly, as he gathered up the reins; but this was one ofthe occasions when he was not to be allowed to go scot free.
Two stalwart-looking fellows were standing near the head of the horse,and when the fakir would have driven off they seized the bridle, one ofthem shouting:
"Come down with that money! This is the second time I've seen you do uscountrymen up to-day, and now you've got to square things."
Hazelton swung his whip around, striking the speaker full in the face,and causing the horse to plunge and rear, but yet the fellows kept theirhold.
The whip was pulled from the fakir's hand, and in an instant it appearedas if a riot had begun. Those who had been content to keep secret thefact of having been swindled now grew bold as they saw there was aleader in the movement, and more than a hundred leaped forward to seizethe representative of the alleged jewelry manufacturers.
"He'll be killed!" Teddy shouted, and would have attempted to go to theassistance of the man who had been kind to him, despite the fact that hecould not have aided him in any way against so many; but for the factthat Dan pulled him back, as he shouted:
"Can't you see that it would be fifty to one if you should go in thatcrowd? We couldn't help him, and what's the use of gettin' a big lickin'for nothing? Besides, what would become of your business if the peoplehere thought you were his partner?"
Before Dan ceased speaking Teddy realized how useless would be anyeffort of his, and he remained passive, trying to get a glimpse of theill-fated fakir.
The numbers who beset him completely hid Hazelton from view. Thecarriage had
been overturned by the first desperate rush of the victims,and the horse was clearing a space around himself by the free use of hisheels.
"They'll commit murder!" Teddy cried.
"I don't believe it'll be quite as bad as that; but he won't be likelyto give away any more lockets while this fair lasts."
As a matter of fact, Hazelton was not left to fight the battle alone.Like every other fakir engaged in that peculiar business, he had severalpartners whose duty it was to mingle with the crowd for the purpose ofintimidating any who might be disposed to make trouble, and these hadclosed in upon him, while some of the more timid spectators shouted forthe constables.
"Run as you never did before, Teddy, for if they get holdof us it'll be a bad job all around!"]
Once Teddy caught a glimpse of the unfortunate man; his glossy hat wasgone, his clothing torn, and his face covered with blood.
"I can see him now!" he cried, "and it looks as if they had about usedhim up, for----"
Before he could finish the sentence a stranger rushed toward him, andshowing the familiar black satchel in his hand, said hurriedly:
"Get out of here with that. Hazelton will see you some time thisevening. Don't stop a minute!"
Before the boy could reply the stranger was forcing his way through thestruggling, yelling crowd, in order to aid his partner, and Teddy saidin dismay:
"Now we are in a muss. Here is all his money, an' if anybody sees uswith it we'll have a tough time."
"You can't throw it away, an' we must sneak off," Dan said, and theexpression on his face told how distressed he was that such aresponsibility had been thrust upon them.
"Shall we go back to the stand?"
"No, that would never do, for then they would be sure to vent theiranger on you. Go up to the museum; Mr. Sweet knows Hazelton, an' may bewillin' to help him by keeping the satchel till the row is over."
These words had been spoken as the boys were trying to make their waythrough the fringe of spectators which had hemmed them in since thefight began, and after some difficulty they succeeded; but at the samemoment one of the combatants, who had received more than his share ofpunishment, emerged close by their side.
He saw Hazelton's satchel, and recognized it.
"Come here, fellows! two little villains are making off with the money!That's what we want!"
He at once started in pursuit, as did several others, and Dan cried, ashe helped carry the burden:
"Run as you never did before, Teddy, for if they get hold of us it'll bea bad job all around!"