CHAPTER XVII.--THE LONG SEARCH.
"I wonder what is detaining Jimmy?"
It was Mr. Willing who spoke. Mr. Willing, Mr. Ashton, young Wolfe,Shirley and Mabel were still seated at the supper table.
"I can't understand why he wasn't back hours ago," declared Mr. Willing."That's the trouble with boys, you can't depend on them. He has probablystopped to play somewhere."
"I don't believe Jimmy would do that," said Shirley. "Besides, he knowsthat he will have to guard Gabriel to-night."
"Perhaps," said Mr. Ashton, "that is the reason he is in no hurry toreturn. The chances are he has had enough of that job, after hisexperience last night."
"I don't believe Jimmy is that kind of a boy, father," said Mabel.
"Nor I," spoke up young Wolfe. "He strikes me as a brave and true lad.Perhaps something has happened to him."
"And what could have happened to him?" demanded Mr. Willing. "He knowsthe way home, and if he couldn't get here, certainly he should havesense enough to telephone."
"I don't know what to think," said Shirley.
It was Mabel who finally guessed the answer to the mystery.
"Maybe Mr. Jones has waylaid him," she suggested.
Shirley sprang to her feet.
"My gracious!" she exclaimed. "Why didn't we think of that before? Ofcourse, that is what's the matter. What shall we do?"
"Be quiet, Shirley," said her father. "In the first place, we do notknow that that is the reason. And in the second place, even if we didthere is nothing we could do to-night. And perhaps Mabel's theory is allwrong. Jimmy is likely to come strolling in any time."
"I believe Mabel is right," said Leonard. "From what I have heard thisman Jones would stop at nothing. As Jimmy is not here, I'll volunteer tosleep in the stable to-night."
"But I cannot permit that," said Mr. Willing. "You are my guest. I----"
"Nevertheless," Leonard interrupted, "I am going to sleep there. Thechances are that the conspirators will not be active again to-night, butit is always best to be prepared."
"Well," said Mr. Willing, "I won't say no if you insist. I'm sure that Ishall rest easier, for if anything should happen that Gabriel could notrun in the Derby----"
He broke off. "Thank you," he added.
"Well," said Mr. Ashton, later in the evening, as they still waited forsome word from Jimmy, "there is no use sitting up all night. We might aswell turn in, so we can get busy early in the morning."
This suggestion was acted upon at once. Young Wolfe, with a lantern,made his way to the stable, where he took up his vigil just outsideGabriel's stall, for the animal would not allow him to enter. The otherswent to bed.
The night passed peacefully, and all were up bright and early in themorning.
"I am going to town immediately and see if I can learn anything," saidShirley at the breakfast table.
"You'll stay right here," said Mr. Willing decidedly. "I'll do thelooking myself."
"I'll go too," said Leonard.
"Then why can't we go?" asked Mabel.
"Well," said Mr. Willing, "I have no objection to your going withLeonard, because he can keep you out of mischief. I am going to startimmediately. You can follow as soon you are ready. I'll meet you atWilson's drug store at noon."
He arose and ordered his horse saddled at once, and before half an hourhad passed he was well started on his journey.
It was fully an hour later before the others were ready to start in thelarge touring car, and by that time Mr. Willing was already in town.
Just as the girls were stepping into the car the distant yard gateopened, and the figure of a little boy came into sight.
Mabel was the first to catch sight of him.
"Who is that?" she asked. "At first I thought it was Jimmy."
"We'll wait and see what he wants," Shirley decided.
The youngster came up to them a few moments later.
"What is it, little boy?" asked Mabel.
"I got a note for Mr. Willing," came the reply.
"Who from?"
"I dunno. A fellow threw it out the winder to me."
"A message from Jimmy," exclaimed Shirley, as she jumped from the car."Give it to me," she commanded.
But the boy held back.
"It's for Mr. Willing," he protested.
"I am Mr. Willing's daughter," said Shirley. "Come, give me the note."
She took it from his hand, and opened it eagerly.
"Who's it from, Shirley?" asked Mabel. "Is it from Jimmy?"
"Yes," replied Shirley quietly. "Listen." She read:
"Held prisoner by Jones. Am going to be taken to some house on creek andguarded till after race. Don't know where.
"JIMMY."
"I knew it," said Mabel. "I was sure Jimmy was in trouble of some kind."
"But how are we to find the house?" asked Shirley.
"I don't know," replied Mabel.
"We'll have to tackle them all, that's all there is about that," saidLeonard decidedly. "And the sooner we start the better, if you ask me."
"Let's hurry, then," said Shirley anxiously.
"Wait a moment," said Mabel. "Are you going to let the little boy walkback to town?"
"Of course not," replied Shirley. "But I was so excited I forgot allabout him. Jump in, little boy."
The boy needed no second bidding, and soon the machine was speedingtoward the pike.
"Can you take us to the place where the note was dropped?" askedShirley.
"Yes'm," was the reply.
True to his word, the little fellow directed the car to the exact spotwhere he had picked up the note.
"You wait here," said young Wolfe, alighting, "and I'll run up andinterview this fellow Jones, if he's in."
"I'll go too," said Shirley.
"So will I," declared Mabel.
Young Wolfe hesitated.
"You know what your father said."
"Never mind," said Shirley. "Surely there is no danger."
The two girls followed Leonard into the place. Leonard knocked onseveral doors before he received an answer, but an old woman finallydirected him to the room occupied by Jones and Dick.
Leonard rapped loudly on the door. A moment later the door swung inward,and Jones poked his head out.
"What do you want?" he demanded.
"I want to see you," said Leonard briefly, and put his weight againstthe door, as Jones tried to close it.
"You can't come in here," Jones protested.
"But I'm already in, my friend," said Leonard.
"Who are you?" asked Jones.
"Why," said Leonard, "my name is Wolfe, and I am a friend of these youngladies here," he added, as the two girls appeared through the door.
Jones took a step back, surprise in his face.
"Well, what do you want?" he demanded.
"We want to know what you have done with Jimmy," declared Shirley,approaching closer and clenching her little fists.
"Jimmy?" repeated Jones, trying to look unconcerned. "And who is Jimmy,pray?"
"You know who Jimmy is," flared Mabel. "Tell us where he is."
"Oh, you mean Mr. Willing's stable boy?"
"Yes," said Shirley.
"How should I know?" asked Jones, throwing wide his arms in a gesture ofignorance.
Young Wolfe stepped close to Jones.
"There is no use pretending ignorance," he said quietly. "Show him thenote, Shirley."
Shirley drew the note from her handbag and passed it to Jones, who readit carefully. Then the latter looked up and smiled.
"I don't blame you for suspecting me, in view of this note," he saidwith a smile, "but just the same I shall have to deny the implication.The boy is fooling you. I know nothing of his whereabouts."
"That," said Leonard calmly, "is a lie."
Jones took a threatening step forward, but Leonard did not give an inch.
"A liar, am I?" said Jones. "I'll show you."
His arm came up from his side, and he
aimed a terrific blow at Leonard'shead. But quick as he was Leonard was quicker.
With a movement he avoided the blow, and stepping forward seized Jones'arm before the latter could recover himself. He twisted it quickly andsharply, and Jones stepped back with a cry of pain.
"None of that," said Leonard sternly. "Now, will you tell us where Jimmyis or not?"
"I have told you I don't know," said Jones.
With a sudden wrench he freed his arm and darted through the door beforeLeonard could make a move to stop him.
"After him quick," said Shirley. "He'll get away."
Leonard and the two girls darted through the door and down the stepsafter the fleeing man, but when they reached the sidewalk Jones haddisappeared.
"We've lost him," she cried.
"Yes," said Mabel, "and he'll hurry to the place where Jimmy is beingheld, and take him some place else. It was a mistake to show him thatnote, for he is aware we know that Jimmy is confined some place on thecreek."
"Then the best thing to do," said Leonard, "is to get down by the creek.We may be fortunate enough to hit the right direction."
"Let's go at once then," said Shirley.
Quickly the three clambered into the car, and Shirley, who was driving,started it off with a lurch.
"Let's hope we shall not be too late," she cried over her shoulder, asthe car, setting speed regulations at naught, gathered headway.