CHAPTER XV
HOW JACK JELLUP LOST AN ARM
In spite of his fatigue Ned did not sleep soundly. It had beenthreatening a thunder storm all evening and the increasingoppressiveness of the air made the young, aeronaut wakeful. Thelong whistle and jarring stop of the midnight local train finallyfully aroused him. In the west the thunder was rumbling and greatsheets of heat lightning promised a storm in a short time. Afterslipping out into the corral and seeing that the waterproof silksides of the car were securely buttoned around the engine Nedreturned and again tried to go to sleep.
But his restlessness continued. In his early sleep he had had avivid dream about the wagon expedition. In this he thought thatMarshal Jack Jellup had followed Elmer, Bob and Buck and set fire tothe wagons while his friends were asleep in camp. It was a reliefto awaken and find that the flash of light was lightning and not, ashe had imagined in his dream, an explosion of the gasoline carriedin Buck's big wagon. He lay awake awhile regretting the quarrelwith Jellup, and then he sank into a doze again.
But his active brain would not rest. Again he fell into a dream.This time the picture was very real. The big balloon had beenfinished and launched. A thrill ran through him as he felt themonster craft poise and waver and then slowly rise above the corral.He could hear the cheers of those gathered about. But in the midstof them he heard the sudden crack of a revolver. Jack Jellup hadput a bullet through the silken bulk of the bag. The coldperspiration broke out on Ned's forehead.
The dream was so real that he thought he could hear the tauntingvoice of Jellup. In feverish excitement Ned sprang upright, to finda pair of strong arms clasped about him. He did not cry out. Awave of cold fear seemed to benumb his tongue and brain. He knewthis was no dream.
Forced onto his back, his face and eyes partly covered by theshoulders of his sudden captor, Ned's returning consciousness madehim aware that there was a dim light in the office.
"It's Jellup, Ned," exclaimed in a whisper a sudden voice which Nedinstantly recognized as Alan's.
"No more from you," exclaimed a rough voice in quick reply. "Here'sthe rope, Domingo."
The man on top of Ned knew his business. Almost before the boyrealized what was being done his hands and feet were caught indexterous knots and he was helpless.
"Now," continued the other voice, "let's have a few minutes' talk."
Ned's assailant had arisen, and for the first time the boy couldlook about. In the center of the room, with a sputtering candle inhis hand, stood the revengeful Jellup. His companion Ned at onceremembered as one of the noisy court room spectators of the daybefore. Between the two, clad in his pajamas and similarly bound,was poor Alan.
"Ye can stand or set, jist as ye like," began Jellup. "Me and medeputy hev made this little visit to ye fur a purpose. The citizensof this town is tired of yer carryin's on and they've just delegatedme to ascertain what it all means. We got a purty good idee."
"Well, what is your idea?" interrupted Ned, slowly regaining hiscomposure and his natural defiance.
"My idee is that ye don't need no flyin' machine anywhar except togit away quick and what we want to know is what air ye goin' to takewith you when ye fly away?"
"Nothing that doesn't belong to us," answered Ned, "if that is whatyou mean."
"Ye ain't, eh? I suppose ye don't know that thar's enough cow moneyin our bank to be worth stealin'?"
Both Ned and Alan looked at each other astounded.
"You don't think we look like safe robbers, do you?" began Alan.
"Ye look just slick enough fur that and more," retorted the marshalwho had placed the candle on the table and roughly pulled Ned to hisfeet. "But I didn't come here to argy. Ye began by vilatin' thelaw and ye didn't come the way down here for no fun. Ef that ain'tyer game, and we don't put it above ye, what's yer lay?"
"There's only one answer," said Ned. "None of your business."
The marshal shoved Ned nearer the table.
"Mebbe ye want to apologize fur that little bluff of yersyesterday--"
"No," said Ned, "but I'll accept yours."
Jellup's right hand was on his revolver.
"I ain't hyar to make no threats," he exclaimed, "and ye don't needto be afeered that I'm going to shoot ye. But I've got just oneother little proposition. Ef ye don't cotton to that, why, tharain't agoin' to be no Fourth o' July balloon ascension around hyar."
Ned straightened up.
"Your proposition can't be a fair one or you wouldn't come like athief at this time of night--"
Jellup's pistol flashed in the air but fell back again as themarshal's left hand shot upward and struck Ned full in the face.Even as the tears sprang into the bound boys eyes and pain and angerflushed his pallid face, the cowardly Jellup fell backward andstumbled to the floor. Alan, standing just behind the man, had shothis knees forward, striking Jellup's legs in the hollow of hisknees, and, thrown off his balance, the westerner lay sprawling onthe floor. Before the marshal's confederate could interfere, Alan,tightly as he was bound, had flung himself on top of Jellup and withall the power he could throw into the act had butted his head intothe marshal's face.
Am oath and a cry of pain indicated how true the stroke had been.Both Ned and the companion of Jellup sprang forward at the same timeand the four fell in a silent distorted heap. But the encounter wasunequal. In another moment both boys were lying side by side on thefloor and their captors stood over them. Even in the half light ofthe little room both boys could see the blood-smeared cheek of themarshal.
Jellup's hand was on Domingo's arm holding him back from furtherattack on the helpless boys and the marshal was restraining hisanger as a snake withholds its venom until it strikes.
"Purty good," sneered the marshal, "and the funny thing is ye hain'tgot a bullet through ye fur it. But my business ain't with deadones. Onct more, air ye goin' to say what ye'r a plannin' to do?"
"Since it doesn't concern you in the least," said Ned, slowly, "no."
Jellup was silent a moment.
"Fur kids ye seem to have plenty o' money. Ye'r purty freespenders. I'll give ye one more chance. Ef ye've got a thousanddollars handy fur a kind of a bond as it were I guess that'll sorto' protect us."
"You mean for bribery?" exclaimed Alan.
"No, just instead of stealing," angrily added Ned. "We haven't athousand dollars and if we had you couldn't get a cent of it. Andto save you some trouble I'll say that what we have is in yourbank."
Another half-uttered oath sounded on Jellup's lips.
"In thet case," retorted the marshal, "we'll jest show you that wemean business. That's a lie about the bank. Produce or take theconsequences."
"Help yourself," replied Ned, "if you think we are lying."
"I ain't no pickpocket," retorted Jellup, "this is official. I tellye it's a bond and this is yer last chanct to make good."
The boys remained silent.
But Jellup's companion was already busy. Leaving the marshal tostand guard over the boys he made a quick search of their clothing.But Ned was not so used to money as to be careless in the handlingof it and the six hundred dollars that he had in gold was in a beltcarefully concealed in the top of the liquid hydrogen crate, which,for safety, had been stored in a corner of the room.
When the silent Domingo threw down the working garments of the boyshe took up the candle and began a tour of the room. The big blackliquid hydrogen crate attracted his attention and he approached it.The red "Explosive--no fire" letters of warning apparently meantnothing to him, but Jellup halted him with a sharp warning, followedby a few words in Mexican. Domingo handed the candle to Jellup andthe latter stepped toward the box.
"That means what it says," exclaimed Ned quickly and sharply.
The crate stood as it had been carried from Washington with the topon and the connecting hose extended upward through a hole made inthe low roof in order that the slowly accumulating reconverted gasmight escape in safety.
"Meb
be," said Jellup, "mebbe yes and mebbe no. I guess they ain'tnothin' agoin' to explode that ain't set afire."
Ned noticed with satisfaction that the lid was properly locked.Jellup noticed it too. Without a word, he turned and easily foundNed's keys. Again he approached the crate, looking over the keys.
"Jellup," exclaimed Ned in alarm, "there's gas in that box, and ifyou go near it with a light you'll blow us all up."
"Gas, eh?" answered the eager Jellup. "Don't run no sich bluffs onme."
"I warn you," cried Ned as the man approached the box, "it's takingyour life in your hands."
Something in the tone of Ned's voice must have alarmed Jellup, forhe paused. Then he retreated a few steps and handed the almostburned out candle to the vigilant Domingo.
"I allow I kin jest hev a look without no light to oblige you. I'vebeen purty curious about this precious package ever since I see it.And ye'r a sight too anxious consarnin' my safety."
What might really happen Ned did not exactly know. The gasgenerated from the liquid hydrogen was highly inflammable andexplosive when confined. But the evaporation was exceedingly slowand the exhaust hose should easily carry the forming gas in safetyto the air. But even a small accumulation might be in the partlydepleted bulbs or the top of the crate and a fire would certainlyensue even if there was no violent explosion. And besides, justbeneath the lid was their money--the cash Ned had secured for theirfurther expenses and the return home.
"We are anxious for all of us," explained Alan.
"And mebbe anxious fur something else," sneered the marshal. "Ireckon a peek in the dark ain't agoin' to hurt no one--an' it mayhelp some."
"Drop on your face, Alan," whispered Ned, "and lie flat."
It was the only precaution they could take. Both felt that alltheir plans might end in a moment. But Ned could not resistwatching--even though his face was close to the floor. He sawJellup examine each key, guess the right one at once and then insertit in the lock. Yet, despite his assumed bravado, it was apparentthat the man had considerable apprehension. For, before he turnedthe lock, he motioned to Domingo to retire further with the candle.
Finally, as if summoning his courage, the avaricious marshal snappedthe key, threw back the catches on each end of the crate and thenslowly and gingerly and at arm's length began to lift the lid. Withthe top an inch ajar he paused, waited a moment or two, and thenbegan sniffing as if searching for an odor.
Ned saw him.
"It doesn't smell," he explained quickly, "but it's there. Lookout!"
"Don't smell!" retorted Jellup. "Gas as don't smell? Well, that'sagoin' some, I guess."
Nevertheless, he had dropped the lid.
But as quickly recovering himself he reached forward again and witha quick motion threw the top up and sprang back.
To Ned's relief nothing happened. Either the light was too far awayor the gas had all been removed by the hose. But this relief wasquickly succeeded by another alarm. There had been no explosion,but their financial means were now at the mercy of two thieves, andhe and his churn, bound and helpless, were powerless to protecteither themselves or their funds. There was nothing to be done butto grin and bear it. For Ned's new leather money belt, containingsix hundred dollars in gold was stretched out conspicuously and atfull length on top of one of the two rows of glass bulbs in thecase.
"Lyin', as I thought," exclaimed Jellup. "Gimme' the light,Domingo." And the chuckle that followed almost instantly wasindication enough that he had discovered the boys' small fortune.
"Dangerous, eh!" he laughed. "Now, we'll see if the city gits itsbond."
Then he paused as if a thought had entered his head.
"But, jest to keep the record clean, I reckon ye'd better give it tome yerself, young 'un. Jack Jellup ain't no burglar. Loosen himup, Domingo. And fur fear ye might need persuadin' jest take a peekat this," and he drew his revolver.
When Ned had been liberated, Jellup pointed to the money belt.
"Jest be good enough to hand me whatever's in that," he exclaimed,"without no hesitation. Then we'll have a little talk about whatelse is agoin' to happen."
It was hard to surrender so easily but the risk of attacking twoarmed men single-handed was great. Ned walked slowly toward thecrate.
"Get busy," ordered Jellup; "we've got other business yit to talkof."
Ned had a sudden impulse. The thing flashed on him and taking holdof the belt in the middle he lifted it until the two ends were justover an open-mouthed bulb of hydrogen, and then as if by accidentdropped the belt into the jar. The clear, watery liquid splashedand the belt disappeared.
"Water," shouted the eager Jellup, "Jist plain water." And as Nedsprang back the gold-fevered marshal sprang forward and plunged hishand into the liquid.
He did not immediately know that his hand was in the depth of aliquid whose temperature was 423 degrees below zero. But the thinfilm of gas that instantly formed and protected his naked fleshdissipated in a moment and then one benumbing, paralyzing shockswept over Jack Jellup's body.
With a cry wrung from him by pain such as few mortals have everexperienced and survived, the stricken man fell unconscious to thefloor--his arm frozen as solid as crystallized steel.