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—+ HAPPY DAYS?
i
~ . A Query. .
“Wuar is our highest duty?”
Tasked a little child ;
She looked ec sweet and pretty,
With eyes so bright and mild,
In innocence she murmured—
\
t
‘To work and strive for fame.”
“ What is our highest duty?”
asked a maiden fa:
The sunshine turned to golden
Her locks of auburn hair.
“There are 80
I really cannot tell,
Unless it be, perchance,
To treat all mortals well.”
“What is our highest duty v
T asked of Id 5
jo your duty,
Be kind to those you love.”
moet
No. 2 of ** Secret Service’ Is Out. TOLD
BY THE TICKER; or, THE TWO KING
BRADYS ON A WALL STREET CASE Is the
Story It Contains. Be Sure and Read It.
rr ooo
- (This story commenced in No, 221.)
ALWAYS ON TIME:
THE TRIUMPHS OF A
' BOY ENGINEER.
By ALBERT J. BOOTH,
Author of “* Half Back Harry,” “On
TY,
Hand,” “ Rob Ralston’s Run,” “ The
Winning 7 ing on
cam,” “ Fight
Wheels,” “The Two Flyers,” etc,
CUAPTER XXII.
ROY HEARS STRANGE NEWS,
Uron reaching the end of his run and
putting up his engine, Roy went at once
to the Longwood and asked to see Ray.
“tle is at dinner now,” said the clerk,
“but if you will take a seat I will send
him to you as soon as comes out,
hear you've had some exciting times since
yesterday.” .
‘*Yes, indeed. Did Ray tell you about
them?” oO
“No, but there’s been a big scattering of
Rocky River Rube’s gang, and the band
has been pretty well broken Didn't
you hear about it? No, I suppose not, be-
cause it happened after you left Duns-
mbe.”
combe,
“What did? asked Roy. wondering
what was coming.
“Why, they arrested a drunken loafer
in Dunscombe this morning, and be proved
to be one of the gang, He had got some
money somewhere and was blowing it in
lively, when they took him and locked him
up. Then he said that he had helped you
get away, and that you bad runa stone
car down the old gravity road at the risk
of your life and had escaped.”
“Yes, that’s alk right. So he told that
. he helped me, did he
“Yes,
, and that he was tired of living
, and was ready to give the
whole gang away if they would go easy
with him, Hesaid you thanked him for
doing so much for you, and promised not
he had fought for you, but he was afrai
of Rube and told the police just how they
could catch him.”
“He is a miserable sneak,” said Roy,
hotly. ‘What he did was very little,
Frank Ray bribed him to let him help me
escape, and it was Frank who did the
hardest work. Gil Bond is a contemptible
coward. He got drunk on the money
Frank gave him, and then became fright-
ened and betrayed Rube, What happened
after that?”
‘“* They took a sheriff's posse, thoroughly
armed, went to the old quarry, ferreted
out Rube's den and scattered the whole
gang. Some were captured, but many
were killed. Rube himself got away. They
think that he and some others are hiding
about the region yet, but they expect to
smoke themall out. Thenews came down
an honr or so ago, and the paper here will
be full of it to-morrow.”
“It’s a great piece of news,” said Roy,
thoughtfully, “And Frank did not tell
“No, he didn’t say a word, He’s been
pretty busy, the time he’s been in the
ouse. You knew his father had to go
East in considerable of a hurry, on some
railroad business? There is some big deal,
Iunderstand. Anyhow, there is consider-
able money involved, they say.”
** Mr. Ray has left Longwood?”
“Yes, He wanted Frank to go too,I
believe, but Frank likes his job here too
much, and I guess he’s stuck on—oh, there
he comes, now.” . .
Frank was _ seen coming down the main
stairway at that moment, and Roy went
forward to meet him.
“T want to see you, Ray,” he said, grave-
ly, as Frank extended his hand, cordially,
with a smile upon his handsome face.
“Can we get somewhere alone?”
“Yes, of course. We'll go to the ladies’
arlor, orto my room, Perhaps that will
be better, for some one might come into
the parlor, while in my room we will be
undisturbed, Father went away this after-
noon to gone some time, so we will bi
entirely alone, . I told him about the lively
tinies we had Jast night and this morning,
e was immensely interested,”
“You told him?” asked Roy, Gil Bond's
words coming to his mind on the instant,
“Yes. I tell him everything that inter-
ests me. He likes to have me do it; says
it draws us closer to each other, makes us
more like brothers than father and son.
Since my mother died I have always done
so, at makes you look so ‘sober, old
chap? Has anything happened ?”
“Tl tell you when we are alone,” said
OF.
The went to Ray’s room, a handsomely
furnished, sunny apartment on the second
floor, where there was every comfort and
convenience,
modest quarters which Roy occupied, but
with which he had always been content.
“Now, what isit?” asked Frank, as they
sat down. ‘ You've got something on your
m CanI help you getrid of it? You
" ing I could for you.”
much have you told your father about
je
‘Everything I know,” laughed Ray. “I
told you he was interested in everything
that interests me.”
* You told him of my being found near
the railroad track after the wreck, of the
Tain search for my parents, of old Sam and
a.
“Yes,” said Ray, wonderingly. ‘There
was no harm in that, was there?’ Why,
my boy, you look as if I had done some-
thing terrible,”
“Ifyou have, you have never meant it,
Ray,” said the young engineer. ‘Stop a
moment. You told your father about the
trusted with it, I mean?
“No, I didn’t know of it myself very
much ahead of my going with it,”
“You told him of our intention to find
Joe Millett?”
“Yes,”
** And of Joe's letter ?”
“Yes,” .
** And of my approaching trial?”
“Yes, I told him everything I knew
about you, all that we talked about. I
have always told him things that con-
cerned me, have always given him mycon-
fidence. Heis all I have, and he has al-
in it. What's the
arm? Don’t you do
Sam? Jle’s been like a father to you, you
say.
“YT don’t know the harm,” said Roy,
musingly, “but I will tell you what has
happened. I meet you, tell you my story.
Attacks are made upon me. We hear of
a man whocan tell me of my past life.
We go tosee him and heis missing. Some
of the story comes out. ou tell your
father and he suddenly leaves town to be
gone no one knows how long.’
Frank turned suddenly pale and asked:
**What do you mean, Roy? Ido not un-
derstand.” :
“Nor I, butall the dangers I bave passed
through, all the disappointments I have
met, all the attempts upon my life, the
abductions, the false accusations, all these
have happened since I knew you. I have
been warned against your father time and
again, and have always scouted the warn-
ing, More than one person has given me
these warnings,”
“
“And to-day Gil Bond told me to tell
you not to tell your father too much about
my affairs.
“Gil Bond told you that?”
“Yes, And to-day you do tell your
father and he leaves town suddenly,”
* But that was on business,”
@
» How did Rube know of your
having the money? Why was suspicion
sought to be thrown upon me? Why 4vas
Tabducted? How did Rube know that we
were going to see Joe and so spirited him
away? How did things get out that only
you and I were concerned ”
“T don’t know,” said Nay.
“* Here is this matter of the supposed In-
heritance, Rube admitted that some one
you how he helped me out of that den?”
was bebind him in doing mean Injury,
quite in contrast to the|m
t
** Yes, I believe you would. Tellme, how
admitted, but. he remembered only that, |I
money package, that you had been en-|t
At least he did not deny it. I was to go
awayand never return. Why? Thatsome
one might enjoy the money that was mine.
How does it happen that all these things
conie about after I meet you and your
father?” . . .
“T don’t know,” answered Ray, simply.
“How is my father connected with it?
What should put him in company with
Rube? Why should he want to deprive
you of your inheritance?” -
“Oh, I don’t know any more than you
do,” said Roy, impatiently, “and I am
bothered, At the time of the fire, when it
was thought that you were dead, I heard
your father say that he had been punished,
that his own had met the fate he intended
for another. I di know: what
meant, but now it is clear, He had meant
to kill. me, and you had been taken from
him. I hear this and I hear that, and it is
all a muddle, Ray, but I am sure of one
thing, at least, and that is that youare my
riend,” .
“Talways will be,” said Ray, grasping
Roy’s hand, “‘even though all that you
fear is proved true.” :
CHAPTER XXIII,
MORE NEWS, .
THE two boys sat for a long time talking
confidentially, and when they at last sep-
arated there wasa fuller understandin;
between them than ever before, and muc
had been made clear that was puzzling in
the beginning. .
On the following day Joe Millett was re-
moved from the-little hut near the old
quarry and taken to Dunscombe, where he
ad good care and promised to have as
good use of his broken leg as he had for-
erly had,
He could tell Roy no more than he had
old, however, as that was all he knew.
The boy’s name was Roland, he said, but
whether that was his surname or the name
given him at his christening, be could not
oy
he nurse may have told him more, he
and he could not tell which of the boy's
names it was.
Then Bond was seen, but he had little to
tell beyond what he had already disclosed,
The elder Ray, he said, had hired Rube
to get rid of the young engineer, but for
what reason he could not tell,as he had
never heard enough of their plans to know.
He did know, however, that Wrentham
Ray had been told things by bis son which
had been repeated to Rube and which had
furnished the latter with clews upon which
to work,
“He did not know how Rube had learned
of Frank Ray’s having the money package,
if there had been an understanding be-
tween himand Roy, and that the latter
was not to be injured in the least,
The evidence against Roy,- consisting
namely of telegrams declared to have been
sent to Rube by the engineer, had all been
manufactured and there was not a word
of truth in
dence might not stand the assaults of
Roy's lawyers upon it.
No one knew, however, that the ackage
stolen from Ray had not contained money,
and Roy did not_betray Mr. Weldon’s se-
cret, not even to Ray, who was most con-| i
cerned.
Mr. Weldon told the boy engineer that
he was perfectly satisfied with the young
man by that time, and that some day he
would tell him how he had been tried, but
that he did not care todo so at once,
What Wrentham Ray's reason for per-
secuting Roy was Bond did not know, but
he did know that the man’s son had given
him valuable information, although in all
nnocence, and in a period of fear at hisown
fate, be had warned Roy about it. -
That was all that he could tell, and the
motive for the whole remained as much of
a puzzle as ever,
__ Roy's trial was almost at hand, but when
it came on it was very brief, and resulted
In the boy’s prompt acquittal, the jury | does,
giving their verdict without leaving the
OX. ~
Roy was cheered to the echo, and -
ous friends flocked forward to shake him
by the hand, and to offer him their heart:
iest congratulations,
Vhen he was leaving the courthouse,
Mr. Weldon stepped up to the b :
his hand warmly-an gald : © box, shook
“You may tell-him now, Roy, if
wish, but I don't think it had best be gener:
“Ibis really
Ile has earned your confi
now, and I think he ou heto Knomenee
rank came*up at this moment in-
sisted on taking Roy away with hin a
he two went off together to the Long-
5 t
4c
I
“Tell me, Ray, did anybody beside yor v-
self and Mr, Weldon know of the packa, 7c
of twenty thousand dollars before you toid
ime about it?” : '
“TY don’t know if they did or not, bit
certainly I never told them,” :
“You did not mention it to your fathe’-?
You might, you know, being worrid
about having to carry such a large sum,”
“No, I did not tell him of it. In fact, I
id not see him after it was given to me,
and he knew nothing of it till I told him
that I had been robbed of it.” :
“You made a gallant fight for it, Ray,
and you guarded your trust well, I have
always been grateful that no harm came
to you through it, for I know that if theve
had, Mr. Weldon would never have fer-
given himself for what he had done,” and
then Roy told his friend the truth about
the supposed money packet, °
y ushed crimson, then turned pale,
and finally said: |
“And it was
honesty, my ability to carry out a trust?"
“Yes, and you stood the test nobly. No
one knows of this except we two and Mr.
Weldon. Mr, Clinton does not know ft,
the president and directors do not know jt,
only we three.” ~
“Tam glad I came out of it all right,”
said Ray, drawing a long
how did Rube know I had the money, )r
what was supposed to be money.” h
“That's the mystery,” said Roy. ‘I wish
Iknew myself.” - . q
_ The mystery was explained to him later,
In a most unexpected manner. .
he was leaving the railroad yard ‘xt
Dunscombe, two or three days afterwari,
to go to the office, a man stepped up to
him and said mysteriously : i
“ Rube wants to see you most partic’lar.
He can't live long and he’s got something
© te ” , i :
Roy looked sharply at the man for a few
moments and said :
“You are the man who delivered a false
message to me a few weeks ago and b2-
trayed me to Rubeand his gang. How éo
know that you. are not trying the same
trick again,” . i
‘Hope ter die if I am,” said the man,
“No, sir, this it straight, | Rube wants to
see you bad and you'll miss it if you don’t
0. :
“T won't go without a policeman or
somebody I cun trust,” said Roy, decidedly,
* Rube is not to be trusted, sick or well. ‘I
believe this is another trap set for me by
that ruffian,” . .
“I take my oath it ain't,” said the man,
earnestly. “ You can take a officer if you
ike, It won't dono good to arrest Rube
now and I don't believe he'd mind, but yeu
i to
s
oS:
S
a
g
z
=
No, sir, only a little ways.”
Very well, then, I'll go,” and Roy
beckoned to the approaching policemen
and told what was wanted
Ile accompanied Roy to the house where
the messenger led him, and waited in the
hall below, while the others went upstairs,
e | having instructions to follow at once if he
heard any outery, '
Roy was taken to a small back room,
and there, on a rude bed, lay Rube the
outlaw, his swarthy face looking pale and
haggard, and his black hair and beard
rough and unkempt, I
He beckoned Roy to him feebly, and said
a1 husky voice: - |
Ive sent for yer to tell yer somethin.
it, a shot in the lung that
You made a plucky fight
for it, and yer saved my life once, and I
don’t forget it. I want to tell yer about
old Ray, and for yer to look out for him.
He means mischief, The son is all right,
but he played right inter the old feller's
hands without Knowing it, told him every-
thing there was to tell. '
“Why did he want to have me got rid
of?” asked Roy. : in.
“You guessed it tother day. There's
money init. You're in his way, There's a
ortune concerned, I don’t just know how,
but you’ve got to got rid of before he
e'n tech it, The son don't know it, but he
* 4
“Then mynameis?™ — -
Idonno. He on y told me a little, but
I was ter get rid of yer, purtend I'd send
yer out of the country, and do for yer just
the same. That signin’ the confession was
all rubbish,” . _ . '
“Tell me,” said Roy, “how did you
know that Ray had that money with him,
or didn’t you know tt
Yes, [k
toit, He heard Weldon telling young Ray
about it ia the next office. Hed Beard
something about it afore. That's the only
thing young Ray didn’t tell his pop about.
€ put me on to Jt, and we was to make ft
seem as if you and me was in it together.”
How did he communicate with youin
regard to it?”
“Oh, we had ways of petting word to
each other, Me and him had had dealings
ou,
eet they were alone, Roy said earn:
before, I'd seen him before he come Wes! .
‘ i
i
|
done simply to test my
breath, ** biié +
knowed it. Old Ray put me up
woo :