CHAPTER XXV
A PASSING FACE
Distrustful though they were and full of nameless fears, they steppedinto Devlin's coupe early on Monday evening with a feeling of relief.To be out in the air again, a part of the moving, restless world--itgave them no small thrill and they tried to put out of their minds allthat had troubled them since their strange imprisonment.
Devlin, adept at using either hand, dexterously managed the car withhis left hand and kept his right hand significantly at his pocket. "Imight as well warn you boys," he said when they had left the clearing,"that I'll stand for no nonsense. I got a silencer on this gun in mypocket and it won't make any noise if either one of you try to beat it."
Nickie seemed to have been silenced without the gun, but Skippy said,"Aw, don't worry, mister. Why should we beat it when you're gonna shipus out west an' everything, huh?"
"I'm glad you feel that way," the man said gravely, but watching theboys out of the corner of his eye. "Timmy got very restless waitingaround and I had an idea he was putting notions in your heads." Hecoughed.
"Aw, no," Skippy said with a gulp. "I--er--he didn't say nothin'."
Devlin did not relax. "I might as well tell you my plans now," he saidslowly. "I'm taking you both to a country doctor not far from here fora physical examination. You are to act as if you didn't know where youwere born or much of anything else--understand? You may answer yes andno to any questions he asks you but that is all. I'll do the rest ofthe talking. And you're my sons--my sons! Don't forget that for amoment. I'll be watching every minute."
They rode through the woods path, turning here and there so that Skippycould not keep track of the route. Dusk was rapidly approaching andwhen Devlin slowed down the car as they came abreast of a narrow path,he could just about make it out.
Devlin stopped the car and got out backwards. Then, reaching in thepocket flap of the coupe door, he drew out a searchlight and played itup and down the boggy-looking path for a flashing second, yet givingSkippy plenty of time to notice several large footprints on both sidesof the trail.
He said nothing to Nickie for Devlin was back in the car again in amoment and they had started off. A few feet farther on they crossed atiny wooden bridge of amateur construction.
"Frost and me fixed that up," said the man as they rattled over thelogs. He coughed again. "Part bog and part creek and about fifteen feetdeep where we put the logs. Nasty place. Folks around here don't knowanything about it any more--their grandfolks and great-grandfolks thatdid have forgot about it now."
They came at last to a road that had once boasted asphalt and Skippyguessed that it had taken them at least an hour to reach it. Along thisthey speeded silently, each one wrapped in his own thoughts. Not a cardid they meet, not a person or house did they pass and it was fully twohours after they had left the dismal house when they espied a small,lighted dwelling by the roadside.
Devlin drove past that, too, and presently he turned on to anotherbadly paved road which took them uphill. Skippy noticed the darkoutline of mountains spreading out around them. It was true then, hethought, the house was situated in the center of swamplands and forest.But where--where were they?
Another half hour's ride and they came into a small village, boasting afew stores and not more than twenty-five houses. It was at the extremeend of this quiet community and a little around the bend that Devlinbrought the car to a stop.
"Here we are," he said, backing out as soon as he had turned off hisswitch. "Now remember--leave the talking to me!"
Skippy felt the gun at his back all the way up the graveled walk.Nickie kept safely ahead and walked with short, jerky steps. They wentup on the porch and a pleasant-faced lady answered the doorbell.
She led them into the sitting room at Devlin's deep-voiced request, andthen disappeared. Then the doctor appeared, a short, near-sightedlittle man who talked in nasal accents and put his stethoscope toSkippy's rapidly beating heart with professional alacrity.
"So you got here, eh," he said, as he changed the instrument about onthe boy's chest. "Mr. Smithson told me you'd come. Name's Barker, eh?Well, must say you're a sensible man to watch out what's ahead. Guessboth boys'll pass muster. So you're starting a mushroom place down atDevil's Bog, eh?"
"Yes, yes," Devlin answered, standing in a nonchalant posture near thedoor. "Know much about it, doc?"
"No, nothing, except that it's full of malaria and mosquitoes and adangerous place to go unless a body knows where they're going," thegarrulous man answered. "I've never been there--guess your place isquite a ways in, eh?"
"Mm," Devlin answered. "Beggars can't be choosers, doc. I got to do thebest I can for my boys."
The doctor snorted. "Guess that's so. Sometimes they don't thank a bodyany." He had disposed of Skippy by that time and nodded to Nickie."Just keep your eye on 'em, that's all you can do." Then: "Did you saythey're going to help you?"
"Mm, I'm too poor to get anyone else."
And that was all. The doctor dismissed them, saying he had to get outon a call and before Skippy could think what to do, they were out onthe porch and the door had closed behind them. Nickie looked at hisfriend, desperately.
Skippy sat down on the bottom step and began to untie his shoe."Something's hurtin' my foot, mister," he said innocently, as Devlinstood above him, tall and questioning. "Guess it's the lining--wait aminute!"
Devlin walked a few feet away, standing in an advantageous positionwhile his staring eyes darted from one boy to the other. Then,impatiently, he walked on to the car. "I'm watching you, kid--hurry!"he said, after curtly ordering Nickie inside.
Skippy got his shoe back on and began to saunter slowly down the walk,when suddenly he saw someone turn in at the path. His heart jumped! Itwas a lady and from under her hat the boy could see white hair. God hadsent her!
"I'm waiting, kid!"
Devlin's voice was icy. Skippy had to think quickly and, consequently,there was a sharp contact, the lady's pocketbook fell to the ground andits contents fell out on the walk.
Skippy was nothing if not gallant. He was on his knees, picking up thescattered articles and cramming them back despite her sweet-voicedprotests. But he had to do it quickly, expertly, for Devlin had achallenging look in his cold eyes.
Then he ran to the car and Nickie gave him an anxious look. "Sorry Ihadda keep you waitin', mister," he said naively, "but that lady wasold an' she couldn't stoop so well so I ..."
"Come on, get in!" was Devlin's response.
Skippy looked back and saw that the old lady stood holding herpocketbook tightly, watching them as they drove away. Then she went upthe walk to the doctor's house.
After they had gone a few feet, Devlin backed the car around and wentback the way they had come. As they drove down the brightly lightedstreet of the little community, they came abreast of a car which asSkippy had already noticed bore a New York license plate. Even while helooked, a face at one of the opened windows drew his attention, a briskface so pleasantly familiar.
Dick Hallam!
He tried to stifle his cry of surprise, but Devlin had not missed it."You know the man in that car?" He had already stepped on the gas andthey were plunging forward with terrific speed. "You know him?" heasked, insistently, threateningly.
"Y--yes."
Skippy saw the headlights looming up from the rear. Dick Hallam wasgiving chase. He had seen him! Devlin, on the other hand, was notdismayed. He was using all the speed of which the car was capable andhad turned off all except his parking lights. Suddenly he swerved intoa narrow road and after that they made so many turns that Skippy lostall sense of direction.
When Devlin slowed down he coughed with satisfaction. "I'm glad to seethat neither of you tried to pull a fast one. I had made up my mindthat I'd wreck the car if you did--I'm that way, boys."
"Yeah, we can see that," Nickie said, with no conscious attempt to behumorous. "You needn't a' worried bout me, Devlin--I wouldn't a' laid
ahand on you. The shave was close enough the way this car was goin'."
Skippy had barely heard anything that was said. He could think onlythat Dick Hallam had been near enough to touch not a half hour back,and now the night, and perhaps Death itself, separated them. Certainly,it was too much to hope that Hallam should find them now or ever!
The doctor had said that no one knew of Devil's Bog. Why hadn't heknown the name of the place before? Neither Carlton Conne nor his menwould ever find the place from his poor description of it. And yet, hethought, did not the desolate swampland stand out from all otherswamplands? Somehow, it did.
And Dean Devlin, known or unknown, made it stand out still more.