CHAPTER XXXIV--VICTORY!
In about five minutes the arrangements were completed by Ralph and Vanfor the transportation of their prisoner to "headquarters."
Ike Slump, tied securely, was snugly propped up in the seat beside Van.Ralph waited until he saw them safely on their way, and then wentstraight back to the spot where he had discovered Ike.
A cursory view of the raft had already awakened a vivid train ofthought. Now, as he looked it over more particularly, Ralph found thathe had grounds for suspicions of the most promising kind.
"Ike must have been at work on this for several days," decided Ralph. "Ididn't think he had so much patience and constructive ability. It's bigenough to carry a house, and of course his making it, as he says, tofloat himself down stream to a safe distance, is sheer nonsense."
Some large logs formed the basis of the raft. Over these were nailedboards to give its bottom depth and solidity.
It was a sight of those boards that had set Ralph thinking. Such handytimber, he recognized, had no business this far from civilization. Wherehad they come from?
"Those two are box covers," concluded Ralph, after a close inspection,"and they are the exact size of the boxes I saw at Cohen's back room atStanley Junction. I must find out what it does mean."
Then Ralph made a second discovery, and knew that he was distinctly onthe hot trail of something of importance.
Two corners of the raft were bound with heavy brass pieces used asornamental clamps on passenger coaches. They were stamped inside "G.N."
"Great Northern property, sure," reflected Ralph, "and of course part ofthe stolen plunder. That wagon load never went to or through Dover, sofar as the police people have been able to find out, but I am sure itdid come here, or near here, or what is Ike doing with those pieces?"
Ralph now set about tracing Ike's living quarters. They must besomewhere in the immediate vicinity.
He had little difficulty in following up a worn path across the grass.It led to a snug shakedown, under the lee of a slope roofed over withdry branches and grass.
Here Ralph found a case of canned goods, a box of crackers and a lot oftobacco and cigarette papers. On a heap of dry grass lay a wagoncushion.
Ralph circled this spot. He had to exert the ingenuity and diligence ofan Indian trailer in an effort to follow the footsteps leading to andfrom the place in various directions. Finally he felt that his patiencewas about to be rewarded. For over two hundred feet the disturbed andbeaten down grass showed where some object had been dragged over theground, probably the boards used in the construction of the raft.
The trail led along the winding shore of the creek and up a continuousslope. Then abruptly it ceased, directly at the edge of a deep,verdure-choked ravine.
Ralph peered down. A gleam of red, like a wagon tongue, caught his eye.Then he made out a rounding metal rim like the tire of a wheel. He beganto let himself down cautiously with the help of roots and vines. Hisfeet finally rested on a solid box body.
An irrepressible cry of satisfaction arose from the lips of the lonelydelver in the debris at the bottom of the ravine.
When Ralph clambered up again he was warm and perspiring but his eyeswere bright with the influence of some stimulating discovery.
He stood still for five minutes, as if undecided just what to do,glanced at the fast-setting sun, and struck out briskly in the directionof the road leading to Dover.
It was midnight when he reached the town he had visited earlier in thesame day. Ralph went straight to the police station of the place.
For about an hour he was closeted with one of the officers there whom hehad met earlier on his visit in the gig. They had a spiritedconfidential talk.
Ralph was on railroad business now, pure and simple, for he was actingin accordance with Road Detective Matthewson's instructions and on thestrength of his written authority.
"I ran catch a Midland Central train west to Osego in about an hour," heplanned, as he left the police station and walked towards the depot."There's a ten-mile cut across country on foot to Springfield, and thenI am headed for Stanley Junction by daylight."
Ralph boarded the train at Springfield at about six o'clock in themorning. His pass from Matthewson won him a comfortable seat in thechair car, and he had a sound, refreshing nap by the time the 10.15rolled into Stanley Junction.
Griscom had this run, but Ralph did not make his presence known to hissturdy engineer friend. He left the train at a crossing near home, andwas soon seated at the kitchen table doing ample justice to a mealhurriedly prepared for him by his delighted mother.
Almost her first solicitous inquiry was for Van.
"Van is well and happy, mother," Ralph Answered. "Grateful, too. And,mother, he remembers 'the dear lady who sung the sweet songs.'"
"Ralph, do you mean," exclaimed Mrs. Fairbanks tremulously--"do you meanhis mind has come back to him?"
"Yes, mother."
"Oh, God be praised!" murmured the widow, the tears of joy streamingdown her beaming face, lifted in humble thankfulness to heaven.
Then Ralph hurriedly went over the details and results of his trip withVan Sherwin.
Later he spent half an hour at a careful toilet, and just as the townclock announced the noon hour Ralph walked into the law office of JeromeBlack.
Mr. Black was a well-known attorney of Stanley Junction. He was anaustere, highly efficient man in his line, had a good general record,and all Ralph had against him was that he was Gasper Farrington'slawyer.
It was upon this account that Ralph had decided to call upon him. Allthe way to the attorney's office Ralph had reflected seriously over whathe would say and do.
The lawyer nodded curtly to Ralph as he came into his presence. He knewthe youth by sight, knew nothing against him, and because of this hadgranted him an audience, supposing Ralph wanted his help in securing himwork, or something of that kind.
But the leading lawyer of Stanley Junction was never so astonished inhis life as now, when Ralph promptly, clearly and in a business-likemanner outlined the object of his visit.
"Mr. Black," Ralph said, "I know you are the lawyer of Mr. GasperFarrington. I also know you to have the reputation of being an exactand honorable business man. I do not know the ethics of yourprofession, I do not know how you will treat some information I am aboutto impart to you, but I feel that you will in any case treat an honestworking boy, looking only for his rights, fairly and squarely."
"Why, thank you, Fairbanks," acknowledged Black, looking very muchmystified at this strange preface--"but what are you driving at?"
Then Ralph told him. He did not tell him all--there was no occasion todo so. He simply said that he could produce evidence that GasperFarrington had treated his dead father in a most dishonorable manner,and that, further, he could produce a sworn affidavit showing that themortgage on his mother's homestead was in reality only a deed of trust.
The lawyer's brows knitted as Ralph told his story. He could not failto be impressed at Ralph's straightforwardness. When Ralph hadconcluded he said briefly:
"Fairbanks, you are an earnest, truthful boy, and I respect you for it.What you tell me is my client's personal business, not mine. But I seeplainly that he must adopt some action to avoid a scandal. Your groundsseem well taken, and I am pleased that you came to me instead of makingpublic what can do you no good, and might do Mr. Farrington considerableharm. What do you want?"
"Simply two things--they are my right. After that let Mr. Farringtonleave us alone, and we will not disturb him."
"What are those two things?" inquired the lawyer.
"The cancellation of the mortgage on my mother's home, and the allegedforged note upon which Mr. Farrington bases a criminal charge againstone Farwell Gibson."
"Why!" exclaimed the lawyer, very much amazed. "What has Farwell Gibsongot to do with this matter?"
"Mr. Black," replied Ralph, "I can not tell you that. You have myterms. Mr. Farrington is a bad man.
He can make some restitution bygiving me those two documents. That ends it, so far as we areconcerned."
"And if he does not agree to your terms?" insinuated the lawyer.
"I shall go to some other lawyer at once, and expose him publicly," saidRalph.
Mr. Black reflected for some moments. Then he arose, took up his hat,and said:
"Remain here till I return, Fairbanks. Mr. Farrington has been sick forsome days----"
"I should think he would be!" murmured Ralph, to himself.
"But this is an important matter, and can not brook delay. I will seehim at once."
Ralph had to wait nearly an hour. When the lawyer returned he closedthe office door and faced his visitor seriously.
"Fairbanks," he said, "I have faith in your honor, or I would neveradvise my client to do as he has done. You are sure you control thismatter sufficiently to prevent any further trouble being made for Mr.Farrington, or any unnecessary publicity of this affair?"
"Yes," assented Ralph pointedly--"unless I ever find out that we haveany just claim to the twenty thousand dollars in railroad bonds whichonce belonged to my father."
"I fancy that is a dead issue," said the lawyer, with a dry smile. "Verywell, there are your papers."
He handed Ralph an unsealed envelope. Ralph glanced inside.
Gasper Farrington had been forced to swallow a bitter dose ofhumiliation and defeat.
The inclosures were the Farwell Gibson forged note, and a deed ofrelease which gave to Ralph's mother her homestead, free and clear.