CHAPTER XVII
KIDNAPED
In the morning Bill and Gus were up at daylight, as was their habit. Thestorm had ceased, and it was turning warm, the snow melting already. Theboys went to the barn to help with the milking; they got in some woodand performed other chores. Mr. Farrell, coming in, declared with hishearty laugh that they could stay as long as they might wish to, forthey had certainly more than earned their food and lodging. As they wentin to the breakfast table he said.
"Mother, better give that other young fellow his money back. Where ishe, anyway? Not down yet?"
"Not yet," said Mrs. Farrell, "though I called him twice."
"I'll get him up and down," said Gus, going toward the stairway.
"Father, have you seen Gyp?" asked Mary Farrell. "I've called him too,but he doesn't come for his breakfast."
The farmer shook his head and, stepping to the back door, whistledsharply and at length. Turning to come in he heard a low whine and aquick search found the dog, lying on his side and unable to rise, hiseyes dull and bloodshot, his tongue protruding. Mr. Farrell had seensomething of the sort before. He picked up the poor little beast andcarried him to a warm bed by the kitchen stove.
"Sarah, he's been poisoned! Nothing else. Getting over it, though.What--?" And then they heard Gus calling from above.
"Bill! Bill! Come up here, quick! Tony's gone!"
It was true and the manner of his going was very apparent. The room hadbeen entered from without, noiselessly and by experts. Taking advantagenot only of the lad's sleeping soundly, the housebreakers had used someanaesthetic, for a wad of cotton that smelled like a drug store lay onthe carpet. Tony had evidently been roughly dressed. His collar, necktieand cap lay on the bureau and his stockings on the floor. That he hadbeen carried out of the window and to the ground was certain. The twoends of the ladder had left their imprint in the snow in the sill and onthe ground. The ladder itself had been thrown among the bushes.
Kidnaped! There was no question about that; but how could such a thinghave happened? A sturdy boy, able to put up a fight, and the thing doneso silently as not to waken a soul in the house. Healthy, soundsleepers, depending on a dog--and that poor beast put down and out. PoorTony! What would they do with him!
Bill and Gus hastily related their affair with the ugly Sicilian andthat of which Tony had told them. They at once found that the big carhad turned about and gone. Footprints in the snow proved that theoccupants of the car had been the kidnapers.
The farmer and his family were duly excited over the case. Nothing sodramatic had ever before happened to them. Merritt was also wrought upto a pretty high pitch, for Tony had hired him very generously. Theyoung Italian had shown himself to be a courteous, well-bred gentlemanand had commanded respect. The manner of his disappearance, and thepossible tragedy lurking behind it, had earned the sympathy of them all.
But the Farrells deferred everything to Bill and Gus who were both eagerto act, and to investigate the too evident, yet mysterious crime, thoughthey were rendered helpless by the snow-piled roads.
"We'll have to use your 'phone, Mr. Farrell," said Bill. "We will payall the tolls. We've got to make this thing known and put Tony's peoplewise. His father's a wealthy Italian banker in the city, and he'll beginto move things when he hears about this." He turned to Gus: "If we couldonly get to the school and get a whack at the transmitter, couldn't wemake things hum?"
"Why, my lads," said Mr. Farrell, "that is just the thing to do and Ican get you there in a hurry. These automobiles have got it all over ourhorses for speed, but not for power. My bays will land you at the schoolin short order and through the biggest snow that you ever saw. Wait tillI hitch them up to the Dearborn."
He was as good as his word. After promising to keep the Farrells andMerritt posted as to the progress of the hunt for Tony and its outcome,they were on the road behind a pair of splendid, steaming, plunginghorses, and soon back at the Tech. The Doctor, about to depart forchurch, was startled by the news, and he at once turned the transmittingstation over to the boys, going himself to the 'phone and keeping itbusy. Mr. Farrell remained a short time. Then wishing the boys success,he departed.
The county detective, the mounted police force, the city force and aprivate detective agency were all informed of the circumstance, with afull description of Luigi Malatesta. The incident became a "nine-days'wonder" in the newspapers. Soon it was learned that the Sicilian had, onthe very day before Tony's disappearance, sold his restaurant inGuilford for a song. He had disappeared with several others,questionable characters with whom he had been associated, and on whom hehad evidently relied to do the kidnaping. It was discovered also,through the confession of a Sicilian suspect, that Tony had beenshadowed for weeks as he went about the school.
But all knowledge of the boy's whereabouts was totally lacking. Clueswere run down without success. The search had failed. Mr. Sabaste, witha famous detective, came to the school and talked with Bill and Gus. Hewent with them to see the Farrells, where he investigated every detail.The search went far and wide, with no trace of Tony.
The banker offered five thousand dollars for information that wouldinsure his son's return, and smaller sums for any positive data, whichmight lead to the arrest of the kidnapers. Tony's mother was dead. Anolder brother who had been in business in the far west was once a victimof the Malatesta clan. In spite of every possible effort, thedisappearance of the boy remained a mystery; nor could any of theMalatesta relatives, known by various names and suspected asaccomplices, be found.
Bill and Gus were now in possession of one of the finest radio receivingsets that could be made, and several other students had purchasedsimilar, or less perfect, sets from the boys. Whenever opportunitypermitted they either had the loud speaker on, or sat with the 'phonesclamped to their ears, listening in and having much amusement with thevarious broadcasters, public and private. It was a liberal education tohear a tenth of what was going on, besides the regular concert programeach evening. But most in their thoughts was the hope, often expressedbetween them, of hearing something that might in some way reflect on thekidnaping mystery, for the boys missed their kind and courteous Italianfriend.