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His action w as so sirdden | no one could intercept him:
- “That proves his “guilt,” cried Van, now in a high
pitch of excitement. “I am going after him, and will not
~return until I have caught him and brought him to’ -jus-
. tice!”
Seizing his hat, Van left the room and dashed outside
after the accused ‘murderer.
He beheld him running across a field in the direction
of the railway station.
Van glanced at his watch.
A train for New York was due in three minutes, and he’
knew full well that a good runner could just about reach
the depot in that time.
And the villain had a good three hundred yards’ start
» of him!
Van Vincent was an excellent runner, but, strive as- he
might, he could not gaitt upon the fleeing stranger.
Over fences and ditches went the pursued and. pur-
. suer, until the broad Jane leading to, the station: was
reached:
Van heard ‘the shrill whistle of a locomotivé; and, his
heart sank within ‘him. —
.He knew that the train was coming.
It reached-the depot just as John. Moreland came to
the track.
The villain knew that he would not have time enough
‘to reach the platform to board the train, so he. clambered
upon the last car from the ground.
The train stopped about half a minute, which gave Van
time to get within a hundred feet of it before it started.
But he was too late.
“The bell rang, and away went the train, with John
Moreland standing on the platform of the rear car, shak-
ing his fist at Van in’ a derisive manner.
“Van stood still in his tracks until the train had ‘dis-
appeared from sight, and then, without answering: the
station master’s query as to what the matter was, started
slowly back to the house where he had lived for so many
years,
When he reached it he found no one there bet Ben, the
old servant, and to him he stated that he was going away.
Van had about four hundred dollars that he had saved,
and he at once got this and placed it in a stanch, leather
pocketbook, which he put in the inside pocket of his vest.
He next packed a few things in a satchel, and then
set out slowly for the depot. .
Another train would be along i in about thirty-five min-
utes, which would bring him to New York one hour be-
hind the man ‘he was chasing.
As Van walked along thinking over the reneral ap-
pearance of Doc Clancy—for he was sure that John More-
and was no other than he—it occurred to him that the
han had some of the characteristics of.a seaman about
im. |
This gave the plucky boy an idea.
If Doc Clancy really was a follower of the sea, would he
not most likely ship aboard some vessel to make his escape?
He had been publicly branded as a murderer, and his ac-
tion in fleeing from his accuser was pretty good proof
that he was guilty of the ‘charge.
This was.the way Van reasoned, and he concluded to
make his way to the shipping district a3 soon as he reached
New York.
/
"7 BRAVE AND BOLD. tea go
He reached the depot and purchased: his ticket, and
the train came along a few minutes later and whirled. him.
toward his destination.
Van was not playing the part of an amateur detective
because: he had any particular hankering after -that Pro-
fession, but because he had-made a: solemn vow to hunt.
down the murderer of his uncle.
* He would try.and locate his man, and then call the New
York police to his aid. 5
' The distance by rail to New York was not great, and
an hour later our hero was walking down West Street i in,
the busy metropolis.
He had often been to the city, and consequently knew
something about it.
The boy did not stop until he reached the South Ferry,
and then, acting on an uncontrollable impulse, he boarded
a South Street car and took up his position on ‘the plat:
form with the driver.
He had not rode over ten blocks when he gave such a
start that the car driver made an involuntary moverent
to catch him, thinking he was going to fall from’ the
platform. ,
But Van did. not notice him, The boy’s eyes were »
riveted upon the back of a man who was just entering :
the door of a saloon. :
As he passed through the doorway the object ‘of his
gaze turned his head around for a single instant.
“That’s the murderer!”<exclaimed: Van, and with a
single bound he sprang from the car platforni into’ the
street, leaving the driver staring at his retreating. form
in blank amazement.
Van was satisfied that he man he saw was Doc Clancy,
alias John Moreland. He had the features and general
appearance of the villain stamped too deeply upon his
mind to be deceived.
With a bound he dashed upon the sidewalk, nearly up-
setting a passer-by, and then hurried into the saloon. °
‘It was just after six in the evening. and the place was ~*~
crowded with a set of laboring men who had stopped in
to quench their. thirst.on their. way home from work...
As the bar was but a small place, Van had great diffi-
“culty in squeezing through the motley gathering. —
The boy did not notice the rough looks that were be-
stowed upon him as he elbowed. his way through the
crowd toward the rear of the saloon. ’
He was bent upon finding his man, and he forgot all
else.
Van was young and impulsive, and he made a great
mistake when he entered that saloon upon the errand he
was bent, as he afterward found out.
Just as he.came abreast of the lunch counter the. place
contained he saw Moreland enter a doorway in the rear:
‘and start up a flight of stairs.
Like a flash Van was after him, and a moment later he
flung the door open and darted breathlessly up the
stairs.
When he reached the top he found himself i in a gloomy
hallway: of narrow dimensions.
It was too dark for him to discern the person.he sought,
but he could hear the sound of footsteps on the uncarpeted
floor.
It was just at that moment that it occurred to Van for.
the first time that he had made a mistake.