John Fox was not without hopes of securing both. The coast was clear, andonly Mrs. Mason was left in the house. He might terrify her, and so securewhat he had set his heart upon. But there was no time to be lost, as Lukeand the farmer might return any minute.
The outlaw went downstairs, stepping as lightly as he could.
On the lower floor Mrs. Mason was in the kitchen preparing the eveningmeal. She had at first been reluctant to remain alone in the house withthe outlaw, but Luke had reassured her by the statement that he wassecurely bound and could not get away.
She turned from the stove at the sound of a foot-fall. There was thenotorious outlaw standing in the doorway with an ironical smile upon hisface.
The terrified woman sank back into a chair and regarded John Fox with ascared look.
"You here!" she exclaimed.
"Yes, Mrs. Mason, it is I."
"How did you get free? My husband told me that you were bound."
"So I was, and I will do your husband the justice to say that heunderstands his business. I had trouble to break loose."
"However could you have done it?" asked the amazed woman.
"I won't go into details, for there isn't time. Now listen to me and obeymy commands. Your Quaker friend took my revolver away. I want you to getit and give it to me."
"Indeed I can't do it, sir, for I don't know where it is." Mrs. Mason'stone was a terrified one.
"That won't do," said John Fox sternly. "It is somewhere in the house.Look for it."
"Indeed, sir, you are mistaken. I am sure that Mr.--the Quaker gentlemanhas taken it with him."
"I don't believe anything of the kind. He had no doubt a revolver of hisown, and would not care to carry two."
"You may be right, sir, but I don't know where it is."
"Is there any revolver in the house?" he demanded impatiently. "I shouldprefer my own, but I will take any."
"I will look, sir, if you wish me to."
"Wait a minute. There is something else I must have. Where is that fivehundred dollars your husband drew from the bank?"
"I don't know."
"Tell the truth, or it will be the worse for you!"
"I am ready to tell the truth, but I don't know."
"Where does your husband usually keep any money he may have in thehouse?"
"In the desk in the next room."
"Probably he has put the money there. Is the desk locked?"
"Yes."
"Have you the key?"
"Here it is, sir," and Mrs. Mason meekly passed him a small-sized key.
"Good! I see you are growing sensible. Now come with me."
Together they entered the room and Mrs. Mason pointed to the desk.
It was an ordinary upright desk. John Fox opened it with the key. The deskopened, the outlaw began at once to search eagerly for the money.
There was a multiplicity of small drawers, which he opened eagerly, but hefound no cash except four silver half dollars and some smaller silver.
"It isn't here!" he said in a tone of sullen disappointment, turning abaffled look upon the farmer's wife.
"No, sir, I didn't think it was there."
"Where do you think it is? Do you think your husband has it with him?"
"No, sir."
"Where then can it be? Surely you must have some suspicion. Don't dare totrifle with me."
"Indeed I wouldn't, sir. I think the Quaker gentleman has it."
"Curse him!" exclaimed the outlaw angrily. "Have you any other money inthe house?"
"No, sir."
"I have a great mind to kill you!" said Fox, with a look of ferocity.
The terrified woman uttered a scream of dismay that excited the fierceoutlaw still more. He sprang toward her and seized her by the throat.
CHAPTER XIII
JUST IN TIME
John Fox had been so occupied with his terrified victim that he quiteforgot the possibility of his two captors returning.
It so happened that both were approaching the house when they heard Mrs.Mason's cry of terror.
"What's that?" exclaimed the farmer in alarm.
"I believe that scoundrel has got loose," answered Luke.
He quickened his pace and entered the house just in time to become awitness of the outlaw's brutality.
It was no time to hesitate or parley. He sprang upon the robber, dashedhim to the ground and put his foot upon his breast.
"What deviltry are you up to, you wretch?" he demanded. Then turning toMrs. Mason he asked, "Why did he attack you?"
"He wanted my husband's money--and a revolver," answered the tremblingwoman.
"I have a great mind to give him the contents of the revolver!" said Lukesternly.
John Fox was not a coward, but as he looked up at the stern face of theQuaker detective he quailed, almost for the first time in his life. Hetried to rise, but the heavy foot of Luke Robbins was on his breast.
"Let me up!" he growled.
"You don't deserve to get up! You shall lie there forever for yourcowardice in attacking a woman!"
"I would rather it had been you!" said John Fox bitterly.
"You are safe in attacking a woman," said the detective in scornfulsarcasm.
The outlaw was stung by his assailant's scorn.
"I have attacked many better men than you," he replied, "and some have notlived to tell the tale!"
"So you own up to being a murderer? I am ready to believe you. I have agreat mind to shoot you where you lie!" and Luke pointed his revolver atthe prostrate outlaw.
"That would be the act of a coward," said John Fox, hastily, his cheekturning pale.
"Not exactly that, for I have mastered you in a fair fight, but there isone thing that holds back my hand. Do you know what it is?"
"Well?"
"I should cheat the gallows of its due. Here, farmer!"
Ezekiel Mason, pale and trembling, was standing on the threshold.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Go and get another rope."
The farmer left the house, and going to an outhouse returned with a stoutclothes-line.
"Tie him again while I hold him," was Luke's command. "Tie him as securelyas before--more so, if possible. How did you get loose?"
"Find out for yourself!" said the outlaw sullenly.
"I mean to, and I don't intend that you shall escape a second time."
Meanwhile John Fox was execrating his folly in not escaping when he hadthe chance. If he had not waited for the revolver and money he might bythis time have been out of danger.
Yet he was not without hope. He still had the knife in his pocket. It wasready for use and he meant to use it.
No doubt he would be taken back to the attic. If Luke Robbins should behis companion, all the better. After cutting his bonds the knife might endthe life of the man who had inflicted such humiliation upon him.
He did not speak, but his eyes betrayed him. There was such a revengefulgleam in them that Luke read their meaning without trouble.
"If I am ever at the mercy of that ruffian," he thought, "I wouldn't givemuch for my chance of keeping a whole skin."
When the outlaw lay securely bound Luke summoned the farmer.
"Watch him for five minutes, Mr. Mason," he said. "I am going to the atticto learn if I can how he got loose."
Ezekiel Mason looked uncomfortable, but did not object. He was half afraidof John Fox even in his helpless condition.
"Have you a revolver?"
"Yes."
"Then take it out, and if he makes an effort to escape shoot him without amoment's hesitation."
It gratified the outlaw to see how much afraid of him the farmer was, evenin his helpless condition. But he could not flatter himself that he hadinspired any terror in Luke Robbins. Against his will he was compelled topay tribute to the resolute courage of the Quaker detective. As he met thegaze of the farmer he smiled to himself sardonically.
"You've got the advantage of me," he said. "I am bound and he
lpless, whileyou are free and are armed. Still you are afraid of me."
"Why should I be?" asked Mason, but his tone was not firm.
"Yes, why should you be? I'll tell you. If ever I have you where I am nowI'll give you fifteen minutes to say your prayers."
"Oh, what a terrible man!" said Mrs. Mason with a shudder. "You wouldn'tkill him?"
"Yes, I would. But there is one way of escape."
"What is that?"
"Loose these bonds and let me go before your Quaker friend comes down andyour life will be safe, and your wife's."
Ezekiel Mason shook his head feebly.
"I don't dare to do it," he said.
"Do as you please, but the time will come when you will be sorry that yourefused. What are you afraid of? You are armed, while I have no weapon."
"I am afraid of Luke."
"You needn't be. He would find fault with you, but that would be all."
Ezekiel Mason was weak, but not weak enough to yield to the persuasions ofhis prisoner. Besides, he knew that Luke would come down from the atticdirectly.
In fact, he was already close at hand. He brought in his hand the cutfragments of the cord with which the outlaw had originally been bound.
"This tells the story," he said, holding up the rope so that the farmerand his wife could see it. "This rope has been cut. The man has a knife."
John Fox darted a malignant look at him, but said nothing.
"You are smart, John Fox," Luke went on, "smarter than I thought. Where isyour knife?"
John Fox did not reply.
Luke Robbins knelt down and thrust his hand unceremoniously into theoutlaw's pocket.
He drew out the knife which had done him so much service.
"This will be safer with me than with you," he said.
"Would you rob me?" demanded the outlaw.
"Yes, of anything it is not proper for you to have."
To John Fox the disappointment was bitter. He was, if anything, moresecurely tied than before, and it would be quite impossible to loosen therope or free himself without the help of the knife. His hope of gettingloose during the night and killing Luke was at an end.
"Did he say anything while I was upstairs?" asked Luke.
"Yes."
"What was it?"
"He wanted me to set him free."
"Did he offer you money?"
"No, but he threatened that he would some time take my life."
"He is a terrible man!" said Mrs. Mason, shuddering. "I shall not feelsafe to-night with him in the house."
"I don't propose to let him stay in the house all night."
The prisoner, the farmer and his wife looked at Luke inquiringly.
"I think, farmer," said Luke, "you'd better harness up and we will takeour friend to the jail in Crampton."
"What, to-night?"
"Yes; the sooner he is safely disposed of the better; at any rate we willhave shifted the responsibility to the authorities."
"Yes, it will be better," said Mrs. Mason in a tone of relief.
The buggy was made ready, and the outlaw was packed in the back part ofit. Toward nightfall the warden of the prison at Crampton was startled bythe arrival of the farmer and Luke bringing with them the notorious outlawwhose name was in every mouth. He hardly knew whether to be sorry or glad,for no prison yet had been secure enough to hold him.
"I will leave my name," said Luke, "and I shall hereafter claim the rewardfor his capture."
CHAPTER XIV
ERNEST HAS AN ADVENTURE
Luke Robbins remained at the farmhouse till the middle of the next day. Atthat hour the sum of money which Mason had withdrawn from the bank wastransferred to the party for whom it was intended, and Luke's mission wasat an end.
He received from the farmer the stipulated five dollars, and started onhis return to Emmonsville, Ezekiel Mason driving him the greater part ofthe way.
Luke arrived at the bank half-an-hour before it closed and reported hissuccess, including the capture of John Fox. He was congratulated on hissuccess, but noticed that the officers of the bank looked grave.
"Is anything the matter?" he asked.
"Yes," answered the cashier. "At one o'clock yesterday we sent your youngfriend Ernest with a thousand dollars in United States bonds to the bankat Lee's Falls, and we have received no tidings from him."
"What do you fear?" asked Luke hurriedly.
"We fear that he may have been captured by some of the Fox gang, and be inconfinement, or else----"
"What?"
"Killed or wounded," added the cashier.
"He could not have met John Fox, for I held him in custody."
"There was the other brother, James, who was at large."
"James is the tall brother?"
"Yes."
"Then," said Luke, "I shall have to hunt him, too. Will you grant me leaveof absence?"
"Gladly. We want to recover the bonds, but we care still more for thesafety of the boy."
Indeed Ernest had become popular with the bank officials as well as withthe residents of Emmonsville. The cashier spoke truly when he said that hecared more for the boy's safety than for the recovery of the bonds.
"Can you tell me anything that will help me in my expedition?" asked Luke."Have you any idea where the Fox gang would be likely to carry Ernest?"
"It is generally supposed that the band have a secret rendezvous somewherewithin a dozen miles, but no one has been able to discover where it is."
"And you think that Ernest would be carried there?"
"Yes, they would hardly bring themselves to kill a young boy. He would beeasily overpowered by a grown man, so that there would be no excuse formurderous violence."
"How did the boy go?"
"He walked."
"But it was a long distance."
"Yes, about ten miles. We at first thought of providing him with asaddle-horse, but there was one objection."
"What was that?"
"He would have been more likely to be suspected of being out on somemission."
Leaving Luke Robbins to start on his search for Ernest, we will go back tothe time when the boy messenger left the bank on the day previous.
The United States bonds were inclosed in an envelope and carried in aninner pocket, which had been expressly made by an Emmonsville tailor onhis first connecting himself with the bank. The pocket was unusually deep,so as to accommodate a long parcel.
This was the most important commission on which Ernest had been employed,and he was pleased with the confidence reposed in him. He did not dreadthe long walk, for he was a strong and active boy. Besides, he wasauthorized to accept a ride if one should be offered him.
He would arrive at Lee's Falls after the bank was closed, but he wasinstructed to call at the residence of the cashier and leave the bonds.
Ernest had walked three miles when he met with an adventure.
On the borders of a small pond he caught sight of a small Indian boyplaying. He was probably not more than three years of age. A stick he wasplaying with fell into the pond, and the little fellow reached over torecover it. In doing so he lost his balance and fell into the water; therewas a scream and a splash, and Ernest no sooner saw the accident than heran up, threw off his coat and vest, lest he should wet the bonds, andplunged into the pond.
The young bank messenger was an expert swimmer, and in an instant hadseized the child and placed him out of danger. The little Indian boy clungto him instinctively, feeling safe with his young protector.
"Where do you live, little boy?" asked Ernest.
"Out yonder," answered the child.
Ernest had not been quite sure whether he would be able to understand orspeak English, but having been brought up among white people he was asfamiliar with English as most white boys of his age.
Ernest looked in the direction pointed out by the boy. At the distance ofa hundred rods he saw a rude log-house. Smoke was curling from a chimney.Outside sat an Indian about forty years of age
smoking a pipe.
He seemed busily thinking, having the grave face characteristic of theaverage Indian. He did not immediately notice the approach of his littleson. But when they were near the Indian boy uttered a cry, pronouncingsome Indian word which possibly meant "father."
Then the red man looked up, and his grave face changed as he recognizedhis boy in the company of a young white stranger.
He rose hastily from his seat and advanced to meet the two who wereapproaching.
"What has happened?" he asked in clear and distinct English.
"Your little boy fell into the water," explained Ernest.
"And you saved him?"
"Yes," answered Ernest modestly. "I saw him fall and jumped in afterhim."
"Was the water deep?"
"About so deep," said Ernest, placing his hand about five feet from theground.
"Then he would have been drowned if you had not been near?"
"Yes, if he could not swim."
"He is too young to swim. But you are wet," added the Indian, noticing forthe first time the condition of Ernest's clothes.
"Yes, a little."
"Come in," said the Indian abruptly.
He led the way into the log-cabin.
There was a stove in the center of the room, and the air was so heated asto be uncomfortable. As he led the child in a stout Indian woman cameforward with a cry and took him in her arms. Her husband rapidly explainedwhat had happened. She instantly stripped the clothes from the child andput on a dry change.