CHAPTER XVI.
MATT REPORTS TO THE GOVERNOR.
It was half-past five that afternoon when the _Comet_ came to a haltat the steps of the capitol building. Motor Matt, in no very cheerfulframe of mind, got off the machine and made his way to the governor'soffice.
"Why, it's King!" smiled the secretary, meeting him in the outer room.
"Is the governor here yet?" asked Matt.
"Yes, and expecting you. Mr. McKibben is with him. The governor usuallygoes home at half-past four, but he stayed later to-day, expressly toget your report. Just a minute."
The secretary went to the door of the private office, knocked, andvanished inside.
"Go right in," said he, when he had reappeared.
Cap in hand, Motor Matt passed into the other room. Governor Gaynor methim at the door with a warm handclasp.
"Motor Matt, King of the Motor Boys!" exclaimed the governor, leadingMatt to a chair. "Sit down, my lad," said he. "I'm not going to let youget away from here for quite a while."
Matt pulled the envelope from his pocket.
"There, governor," said he, handing it over, "that will tell you whattime I made on that 'century' run."
Governor Gaynor read the penciled words on the back of the envelope,and laughed. Then he passed the writing on to McKibben. The sheriffchuckled.
"What's the matter with it?" asked Matt, puzzled.
"Didn't you read it?" asked McKibben.
"Haven't had much time to read it, Mr. McKibben, since the sheriff gaveit to me."
"Listen," and the sheriff read the following:
"'GOVERNOR: This will certify that Motor Matt delivered your message to me at five minutes of five, of the same day he carried it out of Phoenix. It will also certify that he made the pluckiest and most successful hundred-mile run ever pulled off in the Southwest. You ought to make him your official courier, at ten thousand a year.
BURKE.'"
Matt flushed.
"Oh, I don't know that the trip was anything to brag about," said he."Luck was with me--and the _Comet_ can go."
"Luck and pluck have a way of moving along together," said thegovernor, taking a roll of bills from the desk and handing them toMatt. "There's your hundred. But for your work, Matt, Burke would havebeen helpless. I am pleased to say that there'll be a thousand morecoming to you just as soon as a few formalities can be attended to. Youwon't leave for Denver until after that?"
"Had I ought to take that reward-money, governor? I don't feel rightabout it, somehow."
"Well, bless my soul!" exclaimed the governor. "It's good money, andwell-earned."
"What's more, Dangerfield himself wants you to have it," put inMcKibben. "It's the queerest situation I ever went up against,governor," he added, turning to Gaynor. "In spite of the fact that Mattcaptured Dangerfield and brought him in, the boy seems to have made abigger hit with Dangerfield than with any one else."
"I didn't really capture him, Mr. McKibben," protested Matt."Dangerfield was coming to Phoenix, anyway."
"Well, he's trying to help you to the tune of a thousand dollars, andyou'd better let him. Of course," went on McKibben whimsically, "Sparksand I can use the money if you can't."
"There--there'll be some expenses on Rags' account," said Matt, "and Iwant those to come out of the money."
The governor leaned back in his chair and studied Matt thoughtfully.
"You're a queer one, Matt," said he, "and your sentiments are an honorto you. Let it go that way, McKibben," he added to the sheriff.
"Sure!" said the sheriff heartily.
"And now," went on the governor, handing McKibben a cigar and lightingone for himself, "tell us the whole thing, Matt, from start to finish.Don't leave anything out. I don't care if I never get supper."
Matt plunged into the recital. There were parts of it he tried to glideover, but neither McKibben nor Gaynor would let him. One or the otherwas always ready with an adroit question which brought out the wholestory.
"Why," said the governor, when Matt had finished, "that 'century' runalone was enough to make you famous, but the finest part of your workwas the way you came in with Dangerfield."
"You can't beat it!" declared McKibben. "I need a deputy sheriff, Matt.How'd you like the job?"
Matt shook his head. The sheriff was joking, and Matt knew it. Anyhow,one job like that he had just finished was enough for Matt.
"I'm going to need a secretary pretty soon," remarked the governor; andhe was in earnest, even if the sheriff had not been. "How would youlike _that_ job?"
"I'd like it fine," answered Matt, "if there was a gasoline motor mixedup in it."
"I wish there were," murmured the governor, "for I can see where yourwork is cut out for you." He got up and took his hat. "I'll see youagain before you start for Denver. It will probably be a few daysbefore that thousand will be turned over."
They left the office together, and the governor got into his automobileat the curb.
"What will they do with Dangerfield, Mr. McKibben?" inquired Matt, ashe got ready to ride home on the _Comet_.
"He'll stand trial, along with the six men captured by Burke," repliedthe sheriff. "All of them will get good, long terms in a governmentprison. Also," added the sheriff, "the two rascals who got out oftown ahead of you in that red roadster will have a chance to explainmatters. I'm holding the car, and they'll have to come to me after it."
* * * * *
The red roadster was never claimed. Probably this is not to be wonderedat, considering the difficulties the two men would have gottenthemselves into had they shown up at the sheriff's office.
Who the men were was never discovered. They had been boarding in anobscure hotel, and had kept the machine in a private garage. It wassupposed that they were criminals of some sort, and, if not actuallyallied with the Dangerfield gang, had been commissioned by the leaderto keep watch of the sheriff.
Yet, be that as it might, both men vanished from Frog Tanks and werenever afterward located.
Two days later Ollie Dangerfield was laid away under the palms andumbrella-trees in the Phoenix cemetery.
Susie, Chub, Welcome, Matt, Clip, and many others of the townspeopleattended the funeral. The little girl's story had become known throughthe town, and had excited much interest and a good deal of sympathy forDangerfield.
During the days that followed, and while Matt was waiting for thereward, a great plan had formed itself in Clipperton's brain. He calledon Matt at Mrs. Spooner's, and placed it before him in all its dazzlinggrandeur.
"That red roadster is a fine car, Matt," said Clip. "You ought to know.What do you say?"
"It's a fast car," answered Matt guardedly. "Why, Clip? What of it?"
"Suppose nobody claims it? What will be done with it?"
"Give it up."
"Couldn't it be bought? Ought to be a bargain."
"Look here!" cried Matt, starting up in his chair. "What are you tryingto get through your head, anyhow?"
"Why, it would be a heap easier for us. On that Denver trip, I mean. Ifwe could get hold of that----"
"That's a dream, old chap," laughed Matt. "Where's the money to comefrom?"
"You'll have some. I can raise as much, I reckon."
A motor-car!
Matt's enthusiasm must have shown in his face. He knew Clip's projectwas impracticable, for, even if they could raise money enough betweenthem to get the red roadster, it would have been madness to put alltheir funds into such a venture.
"We can do it, Matt!" cried Clip excitedly.
"No, Clip," returned Matt, coming down to earth again, "we can't do it.We'd look nice with all our money tied up in an automobile, wouldn'twe? Get your machine fixed----"
"I've had it fixed."
"Well, the motor-cycles ought to be good enough for us."
"Don't you ever want an automobile? Wouldn't you rather have it than amotor-cycle?"
/> "Sure; but we can't afford to own one. By the way, just to change thesubject a little, I've got something here that'll interest you."
Matt took a folded paper out of his pocket.
"What is it?" inquired Clip, stepping to Matt's side.
"Just a minute, Clip," said Matt. "Did I tell you that Dangerfield gaveme a note, there in the notch, on our way to Phoenix, and told me toread it any time after we reached town?"
Clip nodded.
"Well, I just read that note an hour ago. Most of the things wecouldn't understand about Dangerfield have been cleared up, but here'sa new mystery."
"You say it concerns me?" asked Clip, surprised.
"In a way, yes. Read it, and you'll see how."
Clip opened the note. It ran as follows:
"MOTOR MATT: In a few days one of my men, named Pima Pete, will try to get your help in a certain undertaking. It's an honest undertaking, too, and I advise you to do what you can. _You will find it profitable to yourself._
BASCOMB."
The name of Pima Pete brought a flush to Clipperton's face.
"If Pete shows himself," said he, "he'll be arrested."
"I guess he knows that, all right," answered Matt. "Whatever the workis, he may find a way of asking my help without doing it in person."
"Will you help him?"
"That depends, Clip. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
"As you say," said Clipperton, "it's a thing that interests me. Promiseme one thing: That you'll give me a chance to help Pima Pete myself, incase you hear from him."
"I had already made up my mind to that, Clip," replied Motor Matt. "Itmay be a false alarm, though, and nothing come of it."
Clip shook his head.
"I don't think Dangerfield is in the habit of giving false alarms.Something is going to happen. And soon."
Whether Clip would prove a true prophet or not, only the future couldtell, but Matt, having won out, did not mean to borrow trouble, and so,boylike, let the morrow take care of itself.
THE END.
THE NEXT NUMBER (4) WILL CONTAIN
MOTOR MATT'S RACE
OR,
The Last Flight of the _Comet_.
Trouble On the Road--The Stampede--Clip's Note--McKibben's Tip--A Victim of Circumstances--The Pride of Tom Clipperton--Laying Plans--The Rifled Cache--The Break in the Road--Prescott--Matt Makes a New Move--The Old Hopewell Tunnel--Quick Work--Steam vs. Gasoline--In Court--Conclusion.