CHAPTER XXIII
EVERYTHING LOVELY--CONCLUSION
"Hurrah!"
That shout of triumph seemed to break forth from several pair of lips atonce, when the taller one of the two thieves dropped the bag he had beencarrying, as Jack so plainly threatened to fire upon him at close range.
He was not so much of a fool after all, it seemed. If there was going tobe a chance for escaping minus the plunder, why, it would have to go,that was all.
Somehow Jack was reminded of incidents in his own boyish career. Hecould see himself madly tearing across a field, with a whole bevy ofangry bumble-bees chasing after him, and surging about his unprotectedears; and when they started to get busy with their hot little probes,what did he do but dash his hat off, and then his coat in quicksuccession. This was to attract the attention of the bees to otherthings, and let him escape. And the manoeuvre was usually successful,too.
Well, this smart rascal, finding himself threatened with trouble, hadjust done the same sort of trick practiced by the bumble-bee fightersfrom away back in our great-grandfathers' days, throw something down toattract the attention of the hunters and hold their attention while heescaped.
It succeeded in the work it was intended to do.
Jack did not shoot again, and the others all seemed to think that, sincethe bag had been recovered, there was no especial need of almost killingthemselves closing with the desperate burglars.
They knew that the men were armed, anyway, and would doubtless use theirguns recklessly if cornered. Better to let them go, and call it a goodriddance of bad rubbish; that was a boy's idea of the fitness of things.What was the use of being greedy; they did not aspire to be known asthief-takers; and besides, they owed it to those at home to have somerespect for their own safety.
And so the two alarmed rascals, rushing to the side of the raft, spranghurriedly straight into the river, striking out for the shore with allthe haste they were capable of. Indeed, to see the way they fought thewater, one would imagine that they fully anticipated having the wholebevy of motor boats in swift pursuit, and that every second they couldgain in the start was going to count in their favor.
But who cared?
Certainly not Jack, who, pouncing upon the precious hand bag, opened itjust far enough to see that it was crammed with money and papers, justas they had been hastily pushed into it at the time of the raid on theLawrence bank.
Some of the others came crowding around, anxious for a look; but Jack,with a wisdom that did him credit, remembering that there were a coupleof big rough lumbermen present, whom he knew nothing about, not tomention Jenks, was smart enough to close the bag quickly.
"Is it all right, Jack; everything there?" asked George, eagerly; andthen, as he caught the low word of warning which the other muttered heunderstood; for as quick as that he went on to say: "All our stuffrecovered in fine style, eh, fellows? Let the scamps go; we ought to beonly too glad to wash our hands of them."
"Hurrah for us!" shrilled Josh, brimming over with excitement.
All at once Buster, who had gained a footing on the logs when Herbbrought his big Comfort to an anchorage there, alongside the raft, wasseen to be wildly rushing toward the edge, and waving his arms. Then hestarted to shouting after the pair of precious scoundrels who werebattling with the waves of the river, and by this time almost half wayto the nearer bank.
"Hey, bring back that sweater, you! That's my blue moon sweater you'rewearing, and I want it, I tell you! I'll have the law on you forstealing, d'ye hear that, you sneak? Jack, why don't we start right out,and chase 'em with the Tramp or the Wireless? Seems like none of youfellers care a whit whether I ever get my bully old sweater back again.How'd you feel if it was yours, now, and a birthday present at that?"
But Buster's wild grief was suddenly turned into great joy; for Andycame running out of the shack, into which he had darted despite the factof its being on fire, and he was waving something over his head as headvanced.
"Troth, phat do ye call this same, Buster? 'Tis a sweater, and surethere's a blue moon on the front, in the bargain. Don't ye say, theomadhaun sthripped it off so that he could swim better."
Buster clasped it to his heart, and actually kissed the preciousgarment, which doubtless he had come to value more than ever, since helost it, for we "never miss the water till the well runs dry."
And so, after all, the wonderful sweater came back to its own. Busterhad it on right away, and seemed to feel that luck had marked him forits especial favors.
"Here, let's get busy!" cried George, "perhaps we can save the best partof this cabin after all. I see an old tin bucket that'll do to scoop upwater with. Everybody work to put out the fire, fellows!"
That was just like George, who could be the most generous chap any oneever met. Those two loggers had been of considerable assistance to theboys in baffling the burglars and forcing them to give up theirill-gotten gains; so that it would be only right in their trying toremedy things as much as possible.
Well, the fire was soon gotten under control.
Meanwhile Jack had gone aboard the Tramp, where, unobserved, he couldagain open the hand bag, and extract some of the money; for he did nothappen to have twenty dollars about him at the time, since they had notexpected finding any use for so much cash on their simple little Eastercruise.
This he handed over to the two loggers, calling upon the others towitness the transaction, for he might want to prove it later on.
After that the boys began to think of returning up the river, andreaching their camp on Bedloe's Island. Algernon concluded that, sincehis boat was in fair running order, and he had the chance to elude theother "chappie," with whom he was playing a game of hide-and-seek whileon the way to St. Louis, he had better take advantage of theopportunity, and keep right on down-stream.
Jack and his chums promised to care for what Algernon had left behind;and on the way up later he would drop in at the island to recover thesame. If the motor boat boys were not in camp, having departed for home,he promised to see them there.
And so Jenks having gone aboard and started the engine, the Sauntererglided off down the Mississippi, Algernon shaking hands with each of theothers in turn, and declaring that it had all been the greatest bit ofexcitement he had ever experienced; a remark, which caused Jack's crowdto grin, for, as we happen to know, the boys had been through someremarkable events in their time.
The three boats were soon on their way up river; and reached the islandbefore dawn. It was a pretty tired lot that crept into the tent, andslept for several hours. And later in the day Jack told them that inconsideration of the forlorn condition which he knew the good people ofLawrence must be in, he would have to take a run over to a town whichlay about eight miles above. Here he could send the precious bag and itscontents, securely wrapped and sealed, by express; and at the same timedispatch a long message at night rates that would tell the directors ofthe stricken bank how all their valuable papers as well as the moneythat had been taken were on the way to them, particularly later when themotor boat boys got back from their little cruise down the Mississippi.
To this message Jack signed the names of the whole six chums, his ownlast of all. Then he and Josh managed to get back to the island beforeevening set in; and a great load had been taken from Jack's mind, whenhe no longer had to worry about that bag containing nearly all of thevisible assets of the plundered Lawrence bank.
CHAPTER XXIV
CONCLUSION
"What's all this fuss going on out here?" demanded Josh Purdue, as hecame crawling from under the folds of the tent.
It must have been well on to high noon at the time. The tired boys hadbeen sleeping pretty much the whole morning away.
No wonder the thin member of the squad was surprised, for there wasBuster Longfellow hurrying around as though the house had been afire.Nick could never accomplish anything worth while without a tremendousamount of spluttering; as all his mates knew only too well.
Wonderful to relate there was a
pretty healthy odor of cooking in theair, that made Josh sniff approvingly; for of late his once poorappetite had grown to respectable proportions; and the thin boy coulddemolish his share of "grub" with the best of them.
Buster glanced around, and grinned.
"Oh! say, but I'm glad somebody else has had the good sense to wake up,and come out," he began to say.
"Looks like you might be doing the breakfast stunt all by your lonely,"remarked Josh, coolly, as he started toward the edge of the water, nodoubt intending to dash some of the same in his face, and thus refreshhimself.
"I seemed to have had all the sleep I wanted," continued Buster; "andafter I waked up I lay there for a long time, wondering if anybody hadstarted in to get breakfast; but I couldn't get the first whiff ofcoffee."
"That's right, and an old habit of yours, I guess, Buster; always layingaround waiting for the birds to come and put something in your mouth,"Josh flung over his shoulder, with all the scorn he could summon.
"Well, p'raps it is one of my faults," admitted the fat boy, humblyenough; "we've all got our weaknesses, you know, Jack says, and youain't any exception, Josh. But I felt as empty as an old tomato can, andjust couldn't stand it any longer; so I crawled out, and I'm doin' thebest I know how to get breakfast. But of course it ain't goin' to equalwhat you'd be givin' us, if you had hold here. Cookin' is one of yourbest stunts, Josh; fact is, I never knew any feller that could come nearyou."
When Buster wanted he could "soft soap" equal to the best of them; andwhile Josh understood full well that this was a plain invitation forhim to shoulder some of the responsibility for that coming meal, hefound it impossible to resist the bland smile of the stout chum.
"Rats! you just spread that honey on thick so as to drag me in; but I'mon to your curves, Buster. All the same, hold the fort while I throwsome of the Mississippi into my face, and I'll relieve you," he calledout as he walked away.
"You're all right, Josh, and I don't care who hears me say so," criedBuster, who never could do the cooking act without getting so muchpungent smoke in his poor eyes that he appeared to be weeping.
Possibly Josh found himself on edge for some refreshment, and that mightaccount for his unusual kindness; for he speedily did show up, and tookentire charge of the business.
About this time others began to crawl out of their blankets; and evenGeorge poked his head over the side of the Wireless; for, as was hisusual custom, he could not feel perfectly happy away from his beloved iftroublesome boat, even for a single night, and had slept aboard.
"Pretty late for breakfast, ain't it?" demanded Herb as they began togather around while Josh started to divide the contents of the twofryingpans between them all.
"Oh! call it a warm lunch if you like," sang out Buster, who was feelingfine; "I began to think when nobody seemed to stir, that our next mealwould be supper. So, as that was too much, I just determined I'd showyou all that I could be progressive for once, and I started this bullymeal agoing, didn't I, Josh?"
"That's right, Buster, so you did," nodded the one addressed, who wasalso in an unusually good humor, after the lively events of thepreceding night. "But what are you alookin' at me like that for, Jack?"
"I was wondering if you felt like taking a little run with me, that'sall," came the reply from the Commodore.
"In the Tramp, d'ye mean?" queried Josh, eagerly, for it struck him thatJack had honored him highly in thus deliberately picking him out whenthere four other fellows present.
"Yes. We may be gone the balance of the afternoon, but will surely getback before night sets in," the other went on to say.
"What's all this mystery mean, I want to know?" demanded George,pretending to look hurt; though he would not have cared to be apassenger on any other craft besides his precious if tricky Wireless.
"Yes," Jimmy broke in, "tell us about it, that's a good boy, Jack!"
"Well, listen and I will," the other started in to say; "you mustremember that we've got a pretty hefty bunch of money along with usright now; and for one I won't feel easy so long as it's in our charge."
"Whew! that's a fact!" ejaculated Buster.
"P'raps there's all the stuff they hooked from that bank in the bag youtied up with that heavy cord, Jack," suggested Herb.
"No doubt of it," agreed the Commodore, "all but the twenty I took outto hand over to those two loggers to pay for their burnt cabin, and thehelp they gave us. But just stop and think what a terrible condition allthe good people of Lawrence must be in right now, will you? I reckonhalf those in the town will feel the pinch of the broken bank, one wayor another."
"Correct you are, Jack; because in all these towns the bank is supportedby business men, widows with money to invest, and even laboring mendeposit their little savings. You ought to know, Jack, because bankingruns in your family," and George nodded, as though he wanted every oneto see that he was in full agreement with the other in all he said.
"Well, to relieve their minds, and give them the first decent night'ssleep they've had up to now since the bank was broken open," continuedJack, "I want to take Josh here, and run down river a ways to that townwe noticed the light of when we were shooting past in the night."
"Oh! I see," remarked Buster, with what was a wonderfully quickperception, for him, "mebbe now you mean to wire on about it all, Jack."
"I expect to send a dispatch, telling them that the plunder has beenrecovered, and is coming back by express as fast as we can get it there;the full particulars will have to keep until the Motor Boat Boys getback from their little cruise down the Mississippi."
"And of course the news will float over to our little borough, in thenatural course of events," suggested George, proudly.
"I c'n just see the good people waitin' to receive us with the brassband, and all the town run wild over the doings of the wonderful heroesof the old Mississippi!" cried Buster, waving his fork above his headexcitedly, as he pictured the stirring scene in his mind's eye.
"Well, hardly that," said Jack, quietly, for he disliked all suchexhibitions exceedingly; "because we won't let anybody know just when weexpect to strike town again. In fact, if I can fix it up that way we'llbe apt to arrive after sunset."
"You mean sneak in like a dog with his tail between his legs?" complainedGeorge. "That's too bad, Jack. If we'd done anything we ought to beashamed of it might go; but when a bunch of valiant lads carry on like wehave, and not only chases the bank thieves to a successful finish, butmanages to recover the stolen stuff, seems to me we'd only be getting ourdue if we let our admiring fellow townsmen make a little ado over us.You're too modest, Jack, and that's a fact."
"Well, we can settle all that later on," laughed the other, as he arose;"if you've had all you want to eat, Josh, suppose we get ready to takeour little run."
"Weather looks O. K. out there, for one thing," observed Buster, as hescanned the serene surface of the mighty river, which of course was notto be compared with what the boys had seen hundreds of miles furtherdown on their trip to New Orleans, though wide enough even at that.
"Little that would matter to a couple of well seasoned old tars likeme'n Jack!" declared Josh grandly.
Going into the tent Jack speedily reappeared bearing the wonderfullittle bag which they had so cleverly forced the thieves to drop on thepreceding night, when that lively fracas occurred on the floating raftout upon the river.
Josh was already aboard the Tramp, and grinning for all he was worth,such was his satisfaction over having been chosen by the Commodore ashis companion in this very important mission.
"Do we take the Marlin along with us, Jack?" he demanded.
"What for? Better leave it here for the boys to use if anything comesalong," was the reply he received, as Jack clambered aboard.
"Oh! just as you say," remarked Josh, half reluctantly, as he handed thegun over to Andy. "Only I thought, you see, that we might happen to runacross them precious rascals again, and if they tried to board us, we'dwant something along to stand 'em off with."
George laughed mockingly.
"Listen to Josh, would you?" he cried. "He's sure going to dream ofthose two bad men for a whole month of Sundays. Why, they turned out tobe kind of chicken-hearted after all. They gave up the bag as easy asyou please, when Jack told 'em he'd send the second charge around theirlegs."
"And swim!" echoed Andy. "I niver saw annything to equal the loikes inall me loife. They was crazy to ra'ch the shore, so they was."
"Yes, but for all that they hated to lose the plunder after the troublethey'd been put to," continued Josh, not wholly convinced; "and if thechance came along to make another try for that bag, believe me, they'dgrab on to it. But just as Jack says, it goes; and I reckon the littleTramp can show 'em a clean pair of heels if it comes to a run?"
"Why, man alive, they wouldn't have any boat, because you remember theyabandoned the one they had, and we've fetched it along with us, todiscover who owns the same, because we believe it must have beenstolen," Herb ventured to say.
There were few preparations to look after, for Jack always made it apoint to have his boat in good running order, so that none of the boyscould really remember when it had ever gone back on its owner.
Of course he first of all made sure that there was plenty of "juice" inhis tank; each of the boats carried an additional supply of gasolineaboard, in case of necessity, for they had figured out the tripsystematically, and knew to a fraction of a gallon what quantity theywould need, so that it had been easy to prepare for extra occasions bymaking a very generous allowance.
"Goodbye, and good luck!" called Buster, as he waved his hand after thestarting Tramp.
"Somebody look out for supper, because you just can't depend on mealways!" Josh sent back.
"Oh! that's all right, Josh," replied the fat chum, contentedly; "thereare three other fellers in this crowd, and I reckon I've done my part ofthe cooking stunt for one day."
The gallant little motor boat was soon moving along with the current ofthe river, and keeping rather in toward the west shore; because it hadbeen in that quarter Jack remembered seeing the lights of some sort oftown while chasing after the bank thieves on the preceding night.
"How long ought it to take us to get there, d'ye think?" asked Josh, ashe made himself quite comfortable.
"It might be an hour and a half, and again we may be all of two hoursmaking port," answered the skipper of the Tramp, as he busied himselfwith the reliable little motor that as yet had never failed him in anemergency.
"If the river was straight we might even now glimpse the town with ourglasses," suggested Josh.
As the minutes flew past the two chums enjoyed themselves as boysnaturally would under similar circumstances; especially after havingpassed through such a series of exciting happenings as Jack and hiscomrades had.
They reviewed the entire programme, and Josh declared that he wouldnever forget the sight of that ramshackle cabin on the raft of logs,burning so furiously, while he and the rest were almost holding theirbreath with impatience, as they waited for the two yeggmen to dash outafter the heat inside had become unbearable.
"There's the place we're making for!" cried out Josh, suddenly, as theybegan to pass a point of land that jutted far out into the river.
"Just about where I reckoned it was," returned Jack; "and we'll make alanding in about half an hour at most."
He proved to be a true prophet, for in less time than that the bustlinglittle motor boat drew in toward the shore, because they were nowopposite the town.
A heavy freight train was rumbling along in plain sight, headed north,Jack happened to notice; and slowing up while passing through the smallriver town.
"I'm glad that the railroad runs past here," he told Josh, as theyheaded for a little landing belonging to what seemed to be aboat-builder's establishment, for some such place is to be found atnearly every town bordering the big rivers of the West.
"What for?" asked the other, preparing to fend off, so that they wouldnot strike too hard.
"Why, don't you know, we want to make use of the express company and thetelegraph line the worst kind just now; and the railroad tells us we'regoing to find both here waiting for us."
"That's a fact," muttered Josh, wondering how it was Jack always thoughtof everything.
The owner of the river boatyard now approached, and Jack soon madearrangements with him to leave the Tramp in his charge while they weregone.
Buster had found out that the provisions were already running low inseveral particulars, perhaps on account of the savage appetites severalmembers of the party had shown, who in times past had not been heavyeaters.
And to please the fat voyager the Commodore had promised to pick up afew tasty things. As their little Easter cruise had turned out to besuch a "howling success" as George called it, they could afford tocelebrate with a feast or two. Buster was great on suggesting reasonsfor indulging in some unusual spread; but in this instance everybody hadagreed with him that they really had a good reason for doing the same.
Picking up the little bag, which the river man glanced at casually,never dreaming that it held thousands and thousands of dollars in billsand specie, Jack started up the bank.
He had already asked a few questions of the man, and had his bearingsall right. There was an express and telegraph office all in one, andonce they reached this, at the railroad station, their troubles would beover.
Jack expected to take ample precautions so as to make sure that the bagwould get to its destination without being tampered with. He had figuredall this out in that active mind of his, and even explained theparticulars to his companion, who pronounced the scheme first-class.
Josh was plodding along ahead of his mate when all of a sudden he feltJack pluck him by the sleeve.
"Wait up a minute, Josh, can't you?" declared the other; "I'm carryingsomething of a load, you must remember, and this is a pretty steep gradeup to the railroad tracks."
"Oh! excuse me, Jack," said Josh, falling in step with the other.
"Listen!" he heard Jack say in a low, tense tone; "perhaps we're goingto have some more trouble about this bag after all!"
"Oh! thunder! what do you mean now?" demanded Josh, astounded.
"Here, none of that!" said Jack. "Don't look so startled, but laugh,just as if I might be telling you a good joke. There, that's more likeit, though I reckon your laugh was half frozen before it got out. Now,pay attention to me!"
"Sure I am, Jack; go right along and tell me what's up."
"There are two men watching us come up this bank right now," Jack wenton to say. "We've made a turn so it wouldn't be easy for us to chaseback to the boat again. I've got a notion, Josh, they're the veryrascals we made give up this bag of boodle last night!"
"What's that, Jack? However could they get up here; because it was fardown the river we left that pair swimming like ducks?"
"Well, I half remember seeing somebody drop off that same slow freightas it ran through; and yeggs like to travel like tramps, you know," andJack pointed out upon the river, as though he might be explainingsomething to his friend.
"Oh! mebbe they were just stealing a ride on the bumpers, and happenedto see us acomin' in to the shore," suggested Josh. "Yes, of coursethey'd be apt to guess what fetched us here, and when they glimpsed thatprecious bag in your hand they knew. But Jack, what can we do? Oh! whydidn't you let me carry our Marlin with us? You see what a valuablething it'd be right here and now?"
"Yes, it would have been better," admitted the other; "but no use cryingover spilt milk, Josh. We must figure out how we can give them the slip;and I think I see a good chance right now."
"Then tell me, because I want to know," pleaded the other, eagerly.
"They're hiding behind that pile of old ties," said Jack; "and if wekept straight on as we expected to do we'd strike the railroad trackjust about there."
"But now you won't, will you, Jack?"
"We'll walk on a few steps, as though we hadn't changed our minds abit," Jack told him. "But a
s soon as we strike where the bank hides usfrom their eyes we'll turn sharply to the right, and scuttle along asfast as we can make it. By the time we have to show up again we'll haveput some little distance between the men and ourselves; and then we'llmake a push for it as fast as our legs will carry us."
"Bully idea, Jack; and it's just bound to work too; only I do wish you'dgone and let me lug that gun along. Oh! what wouldn't I give right nowfor a chance to fill the legs of the slick yeggs full of bird shot!"
Josh was hurrying after his chum while talking in this strain. Uponarriving at the spot where, as Jack had said, they would no longer havethe friendly shelter of the bank, the two lads suddenly started off on afull run, heading direct for the town close at hand; indeed, alreadythey were among the scattering outlying houses of the same.
A loud series of hoarse shouts from down the track told that the pair ofyeggmen had caught sight of them.
Josh, casting one fearful glance over his shoulder, discovered them infull pursuit.
He even bent down and snatched up an occasional piece of rock or scrapiron, as though determined to fight to the last in case of beingovertaken.
But Josh was a fast runner, and Jack himself had few equals in his homeschool. They certainly had plenty of reasons for doing their level bestwhen they found themselves pursued so hotly by that pair of lawlesstramp burglars.
As usual Jack had his eyes about him, and was noting the lay of theland. When any one makes good use of all his faculties, as this boygenerally did, he is apt to take advantage of openings that would neveroccur to most fellows.
"This way, Josh!" Jack flung over his shoulder, for he was still doingthe leading, though the long-legged one might easily have gone ahead hadhe wished, weighted down as Jack was by the heavy bag.
With every jump they made they were pushing further and further into thecentre of the little river town.
Women came to the doors to see them running, attracted by the angryshouts of the men; who, having succeeded in coming up closer to thosethey chased were hoping to frighten them with threats, so that theywould drop the bag.
Children, too, scattered like chickens at the swoop of a plungingmotorcycle; and huddled at the sides of the street, gazing wide-eyed atthe running boys and pursuing men.
"Bang!"
Apparently one of the desperate yeggs had managed to keep his revolverin serviceable condition, in spite of his submersion in the chillywaters of the Mississippi.
"Not hurt, I hope, Josh?" cried Jack, over his shoulder, as he stillkept running wildly.
"Nixey, not!" gasped the other; "but I'm adoin' all I can to shield you,Jack!"
Which he really was; and in that moment Jack saw further into thegenerous soul of the tall comrade than fortune had ever allowed him todo before.
"It's going to be all right, because there's a policeman running out ofthat house ahead. It must be police headquarters, because I see anothercoming. Keep going just a minute more, Josh!"
"Whoo! good for a whole hour yet!" exploded the other, defiantly.
Before half the minute was up Jack gave an exclamation of satisfaction;at the same time he slackened his pace.
Encouraged by this to take a backward peep, Josh discovered that the twoyeggs had not only stopped their hot pursuit, but were actually runningthe other way. Men of their stripe never do like the sight of blueuniforms and brass buttons.
Of course Jack had a surprising story to tell the two policemen. He didnot take the time to explain everything, save that he and his friendhad been fortunate enough to recover some valuables taken from the bankof an up-river town, and that there would surely be a nice fat rewardoffered for the apprehension of the precious pair who were even then inplain sight, making off.
This was enough to excite everybody; and presently the policemen, aswell as a posse of eager private citizens had started on the run afterthe fleeing pair.
Josh gripped the hand of his chum.
"Another close call, Jack, let me tell you; but the same old Stormwaysluck held good, and we came out of the big end of the horn. And now Ireckon it's us to the station to get this stuff off our hands, and areceipt for the same; as well as to send that cheering message toLawrence."
They soon made all arrangements. The agent at the station proved to be amiddle-aged and sensible man, who was deeply interested in as much oftheir story as the boys chose to tell him. He did the bag up good andstrong, and sealed the same, so that it could not be tampered withexcept at the company's risk.
Then, after sending a message, "collect," which bore the good news tothe mayor of Lawrence, and to which he signed all six names, his ownlast of all, Jack was ready to do his little marketing, and start backto the island; which, in due time, they reached in good shape.
Of course the boys had a glorious time of it during the balance of theweek. Buster, happy in the recovery of his sweater, was the life of thecrowd, and caught many a fine fish, for he was at it early and late.
They figured that it must have been that the two thieves, rememberingthey had secured no paint with which to change their white boat to oneof darker hue, had stopped off at the next town, and entered the boatbuilder's place in order to pick up the necessary material; and seeingthe sweater, as the night air was chilly, the big man had put it on. Theother white boat was claimed by a party thirty miles above Lawrence, whoproved that it had been stolen three days before the robbery of thebank.
Jack, on running across the little mound where the box planted byAlgernon still lay, for the boys had insisted on burying it again, askedHerb about it, and from him learned that the small dog had been a pet ofthe Saunterer's skipper, that had taken a fit, and died on the trip,which accounted for the strange burial.
And when finally their outing came to an end, and the motor boat boysreached home, they found that once again they were being spoken of asheroes. Why, all Lawrence united to do them honor; and besides a finereward that it was insisted they should accept for their gallant deed,there was a document worthy of being framed, and hung in the club room,signed by the president and directors of the bank, thanking them mostheartily in the names of all the depositors and officers of theinstitution, many of whom would have lost their all had the valuablesnot been recovered.
And after that all banks around that section of the Mississippi Valleybegan to take notice, and make preparations against raids by gangs ofdaring yeggmen; so that the lesson was going to prove of great value tothe community.
Of course we shall hope and expect to meet Jack, George, Josh, Andy,Herb, and last but far from least, genial Buster, again before a greatwhile; when possibly they will be starting out once more on someadventurous trip that would deserve being written up. Until that timelet it be only goodnight, and not good-bye.
The End.
The Aeroplane Series
By JOHN LUTHER LANGWORTHY
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Transcriber's Notes:
--Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_).
--Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.
--Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.
--Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.
--The name of the Irish lad, known alternatively as Jimmie, Jimmy, and Andy, has been retained as in the original.
--The name of the fat lad, known alternatively as Nick/Buster, and Bumpus, has been retained as in the original.
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