CHAPTER XIX--A DISAPPOINTMENT
Andy was led into the office of the jail and up to the desk of theofficial who had registered his name the day before. This man opened adrawer and pushed a package before Andy and a receipt.
"See if your money is all right," he directed, "and sign that receipt."
"Going to give them back to me, are you?" said Andy brightly, feelingdelighted at recovering his liberty. "They must have found out that I aminnocent."
"H-m! that's to be determined later on."
Andy looked questioningly about the room. Who had set him free? What didit mean? Just then he caught the sound of voices in another room and theofficer pointed to it.
"Your friend is in there," he said. "He's waiting for you."
Andy felt as if he had wings on his feet. His heart was overflowing withgladness. He crossed the threshold of the doorway the officer hadindicated, looked in, and then stood stock still, very much surprised.
"Well, young man, we've reached you at last?" spoke a hearty voice.
"Why, it's Mr. Webb!" exclaimed Andy.
He had at once recognized the gentleman whom he had driven over in theautomobile from Princeville to Macon, the day when all his troubles inlife seemed to have begun.
With Mr. Webb was a man who nodded pleasantly but curiously to Andy.This was Joshua Bird. He was reported to be the richest man inPrinceville, and dealt principally in real estate and had the reputationof being something of a miser.
Mr. Webb, holding Andy's hand, turned to Mr. Bird.
"Well, sir, everything is satisfactory?" he asked.
"Entirely so," answered Bird. "You're putting a good deal of faith in alad you scarcely know, though."
"I'll bank on my confidence," answered Mr. Webb. "Nelson, you rememberme, do you not?"
"Perfectly, sir, but I don't understand."
"My being here?" questioned Mr. Webb. "A purely selfish motive is at thebottom of it, I am free to confess, although I am glad to be of serviceto you on general principles. Are you ready to leave here at once?"
"Where for, sir?"
"An automobile dash across the country."
"And then am I to return here?"
"Not until your trial comes on. Let me explain, so you will understandthe situation. I have gone on your bail bond."
"I don't know how to thank you," said Andy gratefully.
"Your friend, Mr. Parks, found me late last night at Greenville, whereMr. West and myself were anxiously awaiting you. He explained about yourarrest, and told us the whole story of your affairs. It seems that yourtrouble began with the finding of my pocketbook. It was only right,therefore, that I should stand by you--which I have done, and intend tokeep up, Andy, for you have proven yourself a good, honest boy."
"Thank you, Mr. Webb," said our hero with considerable emotion.
"Mr. West, my legal adviser, arranged with Mr. Bird, who has just leftus. The signing of your bail bond is the result. You are free to get tothose anxious friends of yours at the aviation meet, but first I wantyou to take a little trip with me."
"After that old leather pocketbook, I suppose."
"You've guessed it right, Andy."
"I would like to speak with a good friend of mine in the jail here for amoment," said Andy, "and then I will be ready to go with you."
"All right, Andy."
Chase had already heard the good news and congratulated Andy, chucklingand hobbling about at a great rate.
"Remember you're to look out for a new job for me," he intimated.
"I'll attend to that all right, Mr. Chase," promised Andy. "If things goas I think they will, I have a friend as well as an employer who willprobably need a man such as you to potter about and look after things."
"Andy, I'll potter for keeps if you get me that situation," declared theold lockup-keeper earnestly. "You get it fixed for me, and when yourtrial comes up, I'll show you how much I think of you."
"Things are certainly coming out famously right," chirped Andy gaily, ashe left Chase.
"Now then, Nelson, take a try at my new machine," said Mr. Webb, as heled Andy to the street.
Seth Talbot, one of his own machines waiting at the curb for a fare, wasstrolling around inspecting the beautiful touring car which Mr. Webb hadindicated.
"Eh, hey! what's this?" he blubbered out, as Andy walked smartly to themachine and leaped into the driver's seat.
An officer who was aware of the situation nudged Talbot and spoke a fewquick words to him in an undertone. The face of the garage owner turnedwhite with astonishment and malice. Mr. Webb had noticed him, and askedAndy:
"Who is that man?"
"Mr. Talbot, my old employer," responded Andy.
"I don't like his looks," spoke Mr. Webb simply. "Now then, Nelson, ofcourse you know where I want to go."
"After the leather pocketbook--yes, sir."
"I hope you can find it."
"I feel sure we shall, sir. We will have to take some roundabout roadsto get to the farm I told Mr. West about."
"This is a very important matter to me," explained Mr. Webb. "I may aswell tell you, Nelson, that the fortune and happiness of two orphanchildren, distant relatives of mine, depend on the finding of that oldpocketbook."
"I am very much interested, Mr. Webb," said Andy.
"You did not notice perhaps, but glued down in the big part of thatpocketbook is a thin compartment. Secreted in that is an old time-wornsheet of paper that I spent thousands of dollars and a year's time inlocating and getting into my possession. I was on my way to my lawyerwith it, and had placed two hundred dollars in the pocketbook for costsin the law suit, when I lost the pocketbook, as you know."
"I never dreamed there was any value in the old pocketbook," said Andy."I knew it was in my old clothes which I threw away at a farm near Wade,I told you about. I remember perfectly well tossing them up on an oldshelf. Unless they have been disturbed, we will find the clothes and thepocketbook. It was a regular old rubbish pile where I tossed them, andout of anybody's way."
"I shall feel immensely relieved and glad when I find that document,"declared Mr. Webb, with a sigh of anxiety.
John Parks was responsible for bringing the word to Mr. West that hadsent Mr. Webb to Princeville. The aeronaut had told the lawyerconsiderable about Andy and the approaching airship race, and as theyrolled along Mr. Webb showed a great deal of interest in Andy's aviationambitions and asked a great many questions.
"I shall want to see you again as soon as I get that document in thepocketbook to the lawyers," said the gentleman. "The airship race isto-morrow?"
"Yes, sir."
"I will keep track of you through Mr. Parks, and probably meet you dayafter to-morrow. I hope you win the race, Nelson, and get the prize. Youdeserve it, my boy. If you fail, do not get discouraged. You have somegood friends, and I am one of them."
"You have shown that," said Andy with feeling. "I wouldn't have missedthe race for a good deal."
Andy entertained his companion considerably by a recital of hisadventures three weeks previously when he had helped the goose farmerget his product to market.
"Just yonder is where I met him first," explained Andy, as they passedover a bridge crossing the river. "It's a straight road to the Collinsfarm now, but not very even."
"I hope we find things as you expect," said Mr. Webb.
"I think we will," answered Andy cheerfully.
It was about an hour later when they rounded a curve in a beautifulcountry road.
"Just beyond that grove of trees," said Andy, "and we come in full viewof the Collins farmhouse. Now we can see it--Why,I--don't--understand--this."
Andy slowed down in speech, with a series of wondering gasps, as helikewise slowed down the machine.
"Why, what's the matter, Nelson?" queried Mr. Webb.
"Don't you see?" began Andy. "No, you don't see, and that's just it.There's something wrong. The farmhouse did stand right over where thatgravelled road runs into the farm, and now----"
"Nelson," interrupted Mr. Webb almost sharply, "there has been a firehere."
Andy stared dubiously, but in great concern. There could be no doubt ofit, this was the site of the Collins' farm. There were the white-washedposts where the farm road began, the horse block where he bade the goosefarmer good-by, but the farmhouse itself had disappeared.