CHAPTER XXXIII--IKE SLUMP'S RAFT
"You don't say so!" exclaimed Van.
"Yes," declared Ralph--"the missing Ike Slump is found. I would knowhim anywhere, in any guise, and at any distance, and that is he yonder."
"You don't seem to have luck or anything in finding opportunities--andpeople!" observed Van dryly.
"I don't know about that."
"There's the boy the railroad company wants to find, isn't it?"
"Well, Ike Slump alone, a vagabond fugitive, isn't so much what they areafter," explained Ralph. "They want to recover that stolen plunder, andfrom the general appearance of Slump I don't imagine he has much ofanything visible about him except what he probably calls 'hard luck.'"
"What are you going to do?"
"Have a talk with him first, if I can."
Ralph reflected for a few moments. Then he decided on a course ofaction. He suggested that Van remain where he was. Lining the shorehimself, Ralph kept well in the shelter of the shrubbery until he wasdirectly opposite the spot where the object of his interest was at work.
He could not secure more than a general idea of what Ike was aboutunless he exposed himself to view. Ike seemed to be framing together araft. He was very intent on his task--so much so, that when Ralphfinally decided to show himself he was not aware of a visitor untilRalph stood directly at his side.
"How do you do, Slump?" spoke Ralph, as carelessly as though meeting himon the streets of Stanley Junction in an everyday recognition.
"Hi! who--smithereens! Stand back!"
Ike let out a whoop of amazement. He jumped back two feet. Then hestared at his visitor in a strained attitude, too overcome to speakcoherently.
"Ralph Fairbanks!" he spluttered.
Ralph nodded pleasantly.
Ike grew more collected. He presented a wretched appearance. He wasthin, hungry-looking, sullen of manner, and evidently dejected ofspirit.
A sudden suspicion lit up his face as he glanced furtively into theshrubbery beyond his visitor, as though fearing other intruders. Thenwith his old time tricky nimbleness he described a kind of a slidingslip, and seized a short iron bar lying on the ground.
"What do you want?" he demanded, with a scowl.
"I want to have a talk with you, Ike."
"What about?"
"Your mother."
Ralph had heard back at Stanley Junction that Ike's mother had mournedher son's evil course as a judgment sent upon them because her husbandsold liquor. He felt sorry for her, as Ike now shrugged his shouldersimpatiently, and not a gleam of home-longing or affection followed theallusion to his mother.
"Did you come specially for that?" demanded Ike. "Because if you did,how did you know I was here?"
"I didn't--this meeting is purely accidental."
"Oh!" muttered Ike incredulously.
"I'll be plain, Slump," said Ralph, "for I see you don't welcome mycompany or my mission. Your father is worried to death about you, yourmother is slowly pining away. If you have any manhood at all, you willgo home."
"What for?" flared out Ike, savagely swinging the iron rod--"to getwalloped! Worse, to get jugged! You played me a fine trick spying intoCohen's and getting the gang in a box. I ought to just kill you, Iought!"
"Well, hear what I have to say before you begin your slaughter," saidRalph quietly. "Out of sympathy for your mother, and because yourfather has friends among the railroad men, I think the disposition ofthe railroad company is to treat you with leniency in the matter of thestolen junk, if you show you are ready to do the square thing."
"They can't prove a thing against me!" shouted Ike wrathfully. "Think Idon't know how affairs stand? They can't do anything with Cohen,either, unless some one peaches--and no one will."
"Don't be too sure of that," advised Ralph. "They can lock you up, andif they delve very deep, can convict you on circumstantial evidence. ButI don't want to discuss that. It's plain business, and now is your timeto act. Go home, give the company a chance to get back its property,and I'll guarantee they will deal lightly with you--this time."
"Put my head in the jaws of the lion?" derided Ike--"not much! Say,Ralph Fairbanks, what do you take me for? And what do I know abouttheir stolen plunder?"
"You drove off from Stanley Junction that night with it."
"Prove it!"
"You and your tramp friend. I was at Dover to-day. Your tramp friendsold those two horses belonging to Cohen twenty miles further on, Ilearned."
"Drat him!" snarled Ike viciously.
"You wasn't with him. Did he give you the slip, and leave you in thelurch? It looks so. I wouldn't hold the bag for anybody, if I wereyou, Ike Slump," rallied Ralph.
"See here, Fairbanks," gritted Ike between his set teeth, "you know toomuch, you do!"
"Now what, in the meantime, became of the stolen brass fittings? Youknow. Tell. Give the company a square deal, and take another chance todrop bad company and behave yourself."
"I won't go home," declared Ike, with knit, sullen brows. "You start onabout your business, and leave me to mine."
"All right," said Ralph. "I'd be a friend to you if you would let me.By the way, what is your business, Slump? Ah, I see--building a raft?"
"What of it?"
"And what for?"
"Say!" cried Ike, brandishing the rod furiously and trying to intimidatehis visitor with a furious demonstration, "what do you torment me for!Get out! I'm building a raft because I'm a persecuted, hunted being,driven like a rat into a hole. I want to float to safety past thetowns, and go west. And I'm going to do it!"
"Why not walk?" suggested Ralph.
Ike flared a glance of dark suspicion at Ralph.
"And why such a big raft?" pursued Ralph smoothly--"no, you don't! Nowthen, since you've forced the issue, lie still."
Ike had suddenly sprung towards Ralph, swinging the iron rod. Thelatter was watching him, however. In a flash he had the bad boydisarmed, lying flat on the ground, and sat astride of him, pinioninghis arms outspread at full length.
Ralph gave a sharp, clear whistle. Van came rushing down the bank inthe distance in response.
Ike Slump raved like a madman. He threatened, he pleaded. He even tookrefuge in tears. All the time, Ralph Fairbanks was making up his mind.That partially built raft had roused his suspicions very keenly, hadsuggested a new line of action, and he determined to follow thepromptings of his judgment.
"There's a piece of rope yonder," said Ralph, as Van approached on arun. "Get it, and help me tie this young man hand and foot."
They did the job promptly and well, Ike Slump raving worse than ever inthe meanwhile.
"Now then," directed Ralph, "help me carry him to the gig. Van, this isIke Slump, of whom you have heard a little something. He is bound hewon't further the ends of justice, and I am as fully determined that atleast he shall not have his liberty to frustrate them. We will load himin the gig, take him to headquarters, and you are to ask our friendthere as a special favor to me to keep him safely till he hears fromme."
"I won't go!" yelled the squirming Ike--"I'll have your bones for this!"
"I would advise you," said Ralph to the frantic captive, "to behaveyourself. You are going where you will have good treatment. Build up,and do some thinking. I shall be as friendly to you as if you hadn'ttried to brain me."
"You don't mean," said the astonished Van, "that you are going to staybehind?"
"Yes," answered Ralph, with a significant glance at Ike. "I have anidea it is my clear duty to investigate why Ike Slump built that raft."