CHAPTER II--BREAKING AWAY
"Let go of that pocketbook!" ordered Gus Talbot angrily.
"When I do, tell me," retorted Andy.
The young chauffeur knew that once the money got into the hands of theTalbots, father or son, its return to its rightful owner would beextremely dubious. He had proven himself a match for Gus in more thanone encounter in the past, and that was why Gus hated him. Andy reachedout one hand not at all gently. He gave his opponent a push under thechin.
Gus Talbot went flat to the floor of the garage with a howl. He had not,however, let go his grip on the pocketbook. The result was that it hadtorn squarely in two. Andy directed a speedy glance at the half in hisown hand. He was reassured, for he had retained the part holding thebanknotes.
"You can keep what you have got," he advised Gus, with a littletriumphant laugh. "I'll put this where you won't get your paws on it."
With the words Andy ran through the front open doorway of the garage anddown the street in the direction of the business section of the village.
Primarily anxiety to bestow the money in a safe place impelled hisflight. Three other reasons, however, helped to influence him in leavingthe field ingloriously.
In the first place, Gus Talbot was a wicked terror when he got mad. Itwas nothing for him to pick up a hatchet, a wrench or an iron bar andsail into an enemy when his cowardly fists failed him. Andy might haveremained to give the mean craven a further lesson, but chancing toglance through a side window he saw the chosen crony of Gus approaching.Dale Billings was the bully of the town. He had left Andy severely aloneafter tackling him once. With Gus and Dale both against him, however,Andy decided that there would be little show of retaining possession ofthe money.
The third reason was more potent and animating than any of the others.Just crossing lots from his home and headed for the garage direct wasits proprietor. If Andy had had any confidence in the sense of justiceand rectitude of Talbot he would have stood his ground. He had none, andtherefore made a rash resolve. It was open defiance of his harshemployer, and there would be a frightful row later on, but Andy's mindwas made up. He had reached the next corner and flashed around it andout of sight before Gus Talbot had gained his feet.
Fifteen minutes later Andy Nelson reappeared at the end of a secludedstreet near the edge of the village. He was slightly breathless, andlooked excited, and glanced back of him keenly before he sat down on atree stump to rest and think.
"I've done my duty," he murmured; "but it will make things so hot at thegarage I don't think I'll go back there."
Andy indulged in a spell of deep reflection. For some time he hadrealized that he was giving his best energies to a man who did notappreciate them. His work had grown harder and harder. Whenever acomplaint came in about imperfect work, due to the sloppy methods ofTalbot, the garage owner made Andy shoulder all the blame.
"He talks about a two-years' contract, and tries to scare me about whatthe law will do to me if I leave him," soliloquized Andy. "Has he kepthis part of the bargain? Did he give me the increase in pay and the suitof clothes he promised? No, he didn't. I've got something in me, but itwill kill it all out to stay in this place. I've got five dollars as anest-egg, and I'm going to start out on my own hook."
Andy was fully determined on his course. Perhaps if the incident of themorning had not come up, he might have delayed his decision. He knewvery well, however, that if he went back to the garage Talbot wouldraise a big row, and he would also get hold of the two hundred dollarsif it were possible for him to do so. Some day Andy feared the Talbotswould play one too many of their uncertain tricks and involve him in animputation of dishonesty.
"It's straight ahead, and never turn back," declared Andy decisively,and started down the road.
"Hold on there, young man!" challenged a voice that gave Andy a thrill.
Running around the curve in the road Andy had just traversed, red-facedand flustered, Seth Talbot came bearing down upon him.
Andy might have halted, but the sight of Gus Talbot and Dale Billingsbringing up the rear armed with heavy sticks so entirely suggested anonslaught of force that he changed his mind. He paid no attentionwhatever to the furious shouts and direful threats of Talbot.
Andy put ahead at renewed speed. At a second turn in the highway a manwas raking up hay, and he suspended his work and stared at the fugitiveand his pursuers, as Talbot roared out:
"Stop him, Jones--he's a runaway and a thief!"
Farmer Jones was not spry enough to shorten the circuit Andy made, buthe thrust out the rake to its full length. Andy's foot caught in itstines, dragged, tripped, and the boy went flat to the ground.
"I've got him!" hailed Jones, promptly pouncing down upon him.
"Hold him!" panted Talbot, rushing to the spot, and his hard, knottyfingers got an iron clutch on Andy's coat collar and jerked him to hisfeet.
"What's the trouble, neighbor?" projected the farmer curiously.
"A thief isn't the matter!" shot out Andy hotly, recalling the words ofhis employer.
"You'll have to prove that," blustered Talbot. "If you're innocent, whatare you running for?"
"I was running away from you," admitted Andy boldly, "because I want tobe honest and decent."
"What's that?" roared the irate Talbot. "Do you hear him, Jones? Headmits he was going to break his contract with me. Well, the law willlook to that, you ungrateful young cub!"
"Law! contract!" cried Andy scornfully, fully roused up and fearlessnow. "Have you kept your contract with me? You don't want me, you wantthat two hundred dollars----"
"Shut up! Shut up!" yelled Talbot, and he muzzled Andy with one hand anddragged him away from the spot. Farmer Jones grinned after them, and heshrugged his shoulders grimly as he noticed Gus Talbot and Dale Billingshalted down the road, as if averse to coming any nearer.
"'Pears to me you're having a good deal of trouble with your boys,Talbot," chuckled Jones. "That son of yours got a few cracks from mycane last evening when he was helping himself to some of my honey amongthe hives."
Once out of hearing of the farmer, Gus Talbot edged up to his father.
"Has he got the money?" he inquired eagerly. "Make him tell, father,search him."
"I'll attend to all that," retorted the elder Talbot gruffly. "Here, youtwo fall behind. There's no need of attracting attention with a regularprocession."
Talbot did not relax his hold of the prisoner until they had reached thegarage. He roughly threw Andy into the lumber room. Then, panting andirritated from his unusual exertions, he planted himself in the doorway.Gus and Dale hovered about, anxious to learn the outcome of the row.
"Now then, Andy Nelson," commenced the garage owner, "I've just a fewquestions to ask you, and you'll answer them quick and right, or it willbe the worse for you."
"It has certainly never been the best for me around here," declared Andybitterly, "but I'll tell the truth, as I always do."
"Did you find a pocketbook with some money in it in one of my cars?"
"I did," admitted Andy--"two hundred dollars. It belonged to my fare, wholost it, and it's going back to him."
"Hand it over."
"I can't do that."
"Why not?" demanded Talbot stormily.
"Because I haven't got it."
"Who has?"
"Mr. Dawson, the banker. I took it to him when I left the garage."
"Oh, you did?" muttered Seth Talbot, looking baffled and furious.
"Yes, sir. I told him that it was lost money, explained thecircumstances, and that if a certain Mr. Robert Webb called ortelegraphed for it, to let him have it."
"Is that the name of the man you took over to Macon?"
"That is the name written in red ink on the flap of the pocketbook," andAndy drew out the former receptacle of the banknotes. "'Robert Webb,Springfield.' I shall write to him at Springfield and tell him where themoney is."
Seth Talbot fairly glared at Andy. He got up and wriggled and hemmed andhawed, and sat down
again.
"Young man," he observed in as steady tone of voice as he could command,"you've shown a sight of presumption in taking it on yourself to lay outmy business system. Here you've gone and implied that I was not fit tobe trusted."
Andy was silent.
"I won't have it; no, I won't have it!" shouted the garage-keeper. "It'san imputation on my honor! I'll give you just one chance to redeemyourself. You go back to the bank and tell Mr. Dawson that we've got onthe direct track of the owner of the money, and bring it back here."
"That would be a lie," said Andy.
"Don't we know where he is?"
"In a general way, but so does the bank. It would be a cheat, too, for Idon't believe you want to get the money back to its rightful owner anymore than you wanted to pay me the tip that passenger left here for melast week."
Andy had been too bold. Talbot rose up, towering with rage. He sprangupon Andy, and threw him upon the cot, holding him there by sheer brutestrength.
"Here, you Gus--Dale!" he shouted. "Off with his hat and shoes. And hiscoat--no, let me look that over first. Aha!"
Gus Talbot considered it high sport to assail a defenceless andoutnumbered adversary. He and Dale snatched off cap and shoes withoutgentleness or ceremony. Talbot had got hold of Andy's little purse andhad brought to light the five dollars so carefully folded and stowedaway there.
"Honest? Ha, ha! Decent? Ho, ho!" railed the old wretch. "Where did youget this five dollars without stealing it?"
"Bet he got ten dollars for the run to Macon and held back half of it,"chimed in Gus.
"My fare gave it to me for making good time," explained Andy. "If youdon't believe it, write to him."
"Yah!" jibed Talbot; "tell that to the marines!"
He kicked Andy's shoes and cap under a bench in the outer room and threwhis coat up among a lot of old rubbish on a platform under the roof.
"Get the strongest padlock and hasp in the place," he ordered his son,"and secure that door. As to you, young man," he continued to Andy,"I'll give you till night to make up your mind to get back that money."
"I never will," declared Andy positively.
"Boy," said Seth Talbot, fixing his eye on Andy in a way that made hisblood chill, "you'll do it, as I say, or I'll thrash you within an inchof your life."