XII
IN A BAD FIX, AND OUT
"Good evening, young man!"
With a start Jack turned toward the quietly opened door of thetelegraph-room to discover a short, dark, heavily-bearded man, over whoseeyes was pulled a soft gray hat.
"I suppose you don't have many visitors at the station at this time ofnight?" said the stranger, entering.
"No; but you are quite welcome. Have a chair," responded Jackcourteously.
To the young operator's surprise, the stranger drew the chair immediatelybefore him, and seating himself, leaned forward secretively. "My name isWatts," he began, in a low voice, "and I've come on business. For you arethe lad who worked out that 'ghost' mystery here, and caused the captureof the freight robber, aren't you?"
"Yes," confirmed Jack, in further wonder.
"I thought so. I thought as much. I know a clever lad when I see one. Andthat was one of the cleverest bits of detective work I ever heard of,"declared Mr. Watts, with a winning smile. "If the railroad detectives haddone their work as well, the whole freight-stealing gang would have beenlanded. As it was none of the rest were caught, were they?"
THE STRANGER DREW THE CHAIR IMMEDIATELY BEFORE HIM,AND SEATING HIMSELF, LEANED FORWARD SECRETIVELY.]
Instead of being pleased, the man's flattery and ingratiating manner hadruffled Jack, and briefly he answered, "No, sir."
"No. I knew that already. I was one of them myself."
At this startling statement Jack stared. "I beg your pardon, sir?" heexclaimed.
"I was a member of that gang myself," repeated Jack's strange caller,again smiling broadly. "Don't you think I look the part?" So saying, hepushed his hat back from his face.
Jack had no doubt of it. The small dark eyes were repellent with lowcunning and greed. Instinctively he half turned to cast a glance towardthe door. At once the smile disappeared, and the self-confessedlaw-breaker threw open his coat and significantly tapped the butt of arevolver. "No. You just sit still and listen," he ordered sharply; butimmediately again smiling, added, "though there needn't be anything ofthis kind between two who are going to be good friends.
"Listen. What I called for was this: We want another man in the gang inplace of Joe Corry--that is the man you caught.
"And we decided to invite you."
Jack fairly caught his breath. "Why, you must be joking, or--"
"Or crazy, eh? Not quite. I was never more serious in my life. Listen!"The speaker leaned forward earnestly. "After your spoiling our little'ghost' game here the railroad people would never look for us starting inagain at the same place. Never in the world--would they? And likewise,after your causing the capture of Corry, they would never in the worldsuspect you of working with us. Do you see the point?
"And all you would have to do would be to keep your ears closed, and nothear any noises out in the freight-room at night."
"And for doing that," concluded the law-breaker, "we will give you aregular salary of $25 a month. We'll send it by mail, or bank it for youat any bank you name, and no one will know where it comes from.
"What do you say?"
Jack drew back indignantly. "Most certainly not," he began. Then suddenlyhe hesitated.
As the freight-robber had said, the authorities had been unable to obtaina single clue to the whereabouts or identity of the remainder of thefreight-stealing gang. Should he accept the man's offer, came thethought, undoubtedly, sooner or later, he would be able to bring aboutthe capture of every one of them.
Immediately following, however, there recurred to Jack one of hismother's warnings--"that even the appearance of evil is dangerous,always, as well as wrong."
But this would be quite different, Jack argued to himself--to cause thecapture of criminals. And what possible danger could there be in it? Noone would believe for an instant that I would go into such a thingseriously, he told himself.
"All right, Mr. Watts," he said aloud. "I'll do it."
"Good! It's a go!" The freight-stealer spoke with satisfaction, andrising, grasped Jack's hand. "I told you I knew a clever boy when I sawone--and that means a wise one.
"Well, that's all there is to it, excepting the money matter. Where willwe send that? Here?"
Jack responded with an effort. "Yes, you may as well send it to me here."
"All right. Look for it at the end of the month," said Watts, proceedingto the door.
"Remember, you are dumb. That's all. Good night."
Jack's sense of honor was not long in convincing him that he had made amistake in entering into such a bargain, even with a law-breaker. A dozentimes during the days that followed he would have given anything to havebeen able to wipe out the agreement.
Unhappily this dissatisfaction with himself was to prove but a minorresult of the misstep.
Shortly after he had relieved the day operator at the station a weeklater he was surprised by the appearance of one of the road detectives,and with him a stranger.
"Good evening, Orr," said the detective in a peculiar tone. "Let me makeyou acquainted with Sheriff Bates."
Jack started, and glanced from one to the other. "Is there anythingwrong?" he asked.
"Very slightly. Your little game is up, that's all. Your older partnerhas given the thing away, and we have just found the watch in your roomat the boarding-house," announced the detective.
"Given the thing away? The watch? Why, what do you mean?" exclaimed Jackin alarm.
"Oh, come! Watts has squealed, and we found the watch hidden, just as hesaid, in the mattress of your bed up at the house."
In a flash Jack saw it all. Watts' offer had been a trap! A mere trap toget him into trouble, probably in revenge!
He sprang to his feet. "It's not true! It's false! Whatever it is, it'sfalse! I did see Watts, and he asked me to go in with them, but I onlyagreed so as to learn who they were, so we could capture them!"
To his utter dismay the two officers only laughed drily.
"No, no! That's quite too thin," declared the detective. "Read this."
Blankly Jack took the letter, and read:
"Chief Detective,
"Middle Western R. R.
"Dear Sir: The young night operator at Midway Junction has joined the freight-stealing gang that Corry belonged to, and if you will look under the mattress in his room at the railroad boarding-house you will find a watch and chain of the lot we stole at Claxton two weeks ago. I gave it to him last Friday night. I came to Midway by the Eastfield freight, and when I saw another operator in the station office, I started up towards the boarding-house, and met Orr coming down. I mention this to show my story is all straight.
"I heard he was going to give us away as soon as he had got enough loot himself, and claim he only went in with us to get us. That is why I am showing him up.
"Yours truly,
"W. Watts."
And the day operator _had_ worked for him that Friday evening, while hewas at the landlady's daughter's birthday party! And he _had_ come downto the station at about the time the Eastfield night freight came in!
Jack sank back in the chair, completely crushed.
"Changed your mind, eh?" remarked the sheriff sarcastically.
Jack shook his head, but said nothing. What could he say!
"If it's 'false,' as you claim, how do you explain our finding the watchin your room?" demanded the detective.
"I don't know. Someone must have put it there."
"Very likely. It wouldn't have crept up stairs and got under the beditself. And I suppose you will deny also that you saw Watts on the nightof the party, despite the fact that he could not otherwise have known theunusual hour you came down to the station that night. Eh?"
"I never saw him after the night he called here," affirmed Jackearnestly, but hopelessly.
"Well, you will have to prove it," declared the sheriff. And to Jack'sunspeakable horror he w
as informed he must be taken into custody.
* * * * *
Needless to say, the news of Jack's arrest, and of his early trial atEastfield, the county seat, came as a tremendous shock to Alex, atExeter. Of course he thoroughly disbelieved in Jack's guilt, despite thenet of circumstantial evidence which, according to the newspapers, hadbeen woven about his friend; and morning and afternoon he read andre-read the papers, in the hope of something more favorable to Jackdeveloping.
It was through this close reading that Alex finally came upon thediscovery that was to draw him into the case himself, and to have soimportant a bearing on the outcome of the trial.
Early in the evening preceding the day set for the hearing, Alex, beforestarting work on his wire, was studying the paper as usual. For thesecond time he was reading the letter from the man Watts that had hadsuch serious results for Jack.
Suddenly as he read Alex started, again read a portion of the letter, amoment thought deeply, and with a cry sprang to his feet and hastened tothe chief despatcher's desk.
"Mr. Allen," he said excitedly, "in this letter Watts says he reachedMidway Junction that Friday night by the Eastfield freight, and that hemet and gave Jack Orr the watch after that.
"Now I remember distinctly that it was Jack reported the arrival of theEastfield freight that night. She was twenty minutes late, and I recallasking if she was in sight yet, and his reply that she had just whistled.
"That means Jack was back at the station before the time at which Wattsclaims he met him!"
"Ward, why in the world didn't you think of this before?" the chiefexclaimed. "It is the most important piece of evidence your friend couldhave.
"Call Eastfield right away on the long-distance, and get Orr's lawyer,and tell him."
Alex hastily did so, and a few minutes after he heard the lawyer's voicefrom the distant town, and quickly told his story.
To his surprise the lawyer for a moment remained silent, then saidslowly, "Of course I would like to believe that. In fact it would make aninvaluable piece of evidence--practically conclusive.
"But really now, how could you be sure it was Orr you heard? Whatpossible difference can there be between the ticks made over a telegraphwire by one distant operator, and those made by another?"
"Why, all the difference in the world, sometimes, sir," declared Jack."Any operator would tell you that. I would recognize Jack Orr's sendinganywhere I heard it."
But the lawyer at the other end was still incredulous. "Well," he said atlast, "if the jury was made up of telegraph operators, perhaps your claimmight go. As it is, however--"
"Say, I have it!" cried Alex. "Let me give a demonstration right there incourt of my ability to identify the sending of as many differentoperators as we can get together, including Jack Orr. Could you arrangethat?"
The lawyer was interested at last. "But could you really do it? Are youreally that sure?"
"I am absolutely positive," declared Alex.
"Then you come right ahead," was the decisive response. "Come down hereby the first train in the morning, and bring two or three otheroperators, and the necessary instruments.
"And if you can prove what you claim, I'll guarantee that your friend isclear."
"Hurrah! Then he is clear!" cried Alex joyously.
Accompanied by three other operators from the Exeter office, and with aset of telegraph instruments and a convenient dry-battery, Alex reachedthe court-room at Eastfield at 10 o'clock the following morning.
The trial, which had attracted a crowd that packed the building to itscapacity, already had neared its conclusion. Jack's demeanor, and that ofhis father, who was beside him, quickly informed Alex that matters werelooking serious for his chum. Confidently he waited, however, and at lastthe court clerk arose and called his name.
The preliminary questions were passed, and Jack's attorney at onceproceeded. "Now Alex," he said, "this letter here, which has been put inevidence, declares that the writer, Watts, went to Midway Junction by theEastfield freight on the Friday night in question, and that he then metthe defendant coming down to the station from his boarding-house, andgave him the watch.
"Have you anything to say to this?"
"Yes, sir. Jack Orr was at the telegraph instruments in the MidwayJunction station several minutes before the Eastfield freight reachedthere that night. It was he who reported her coming over the wire to meat Exeter."
The lawyer for the prosecution looked up with surprise, then smiled inamusement, while Jack and his father started, and exchanged glances ofnew hope.
"You are positive it was the defendant you heard over the wire?" askedMr. Brown.
"Positive, sir."
"If necessary could you give a demonstration here in court of yourability to identify the defendant's transmitting on a telegraphinstrument?"
"Yes, sir, I could."
When the lawyer for the other side arose to cross-examine Alex he smiledsomewhat derisively.
"You are a friend of the defendant, are you not?" he asked significantly.
"Yes, sir; and so know his sending over the wire unusually well,"responded Alex, cleverly turning the point of the question.
The lawyer shrugged his shoulders, and put the next question withsarcasm. "And, now, do you mean to stand there and tell this court thatthe clicks--the purely mechanical clicks--made over a telegraph wire byan operator miles away will sound different to the clicks made by anyother operator?"
"I do," said Alex quietly. "And I am ready to demonstrate it."
"Oh, you are, are you? And how, pray?"
"Three other operators from the Exeter office are in the court-room, witha set of instruments and a battery. Let them place the instruments on thetable down there; blindfold me, then have them and Jack Orr by turnswrite something on the key. I'll identify every one of them before hesends a half-dozen words."
A wave of surprise, then smiles of incredulity passed over the crowdedroom.
"Very well," agreed the lawyer readily. "Set up the instruments."
The three Exeter operators came forward, and the prosecutor, producing ahandkerchief, himself stepped into the witness-box and proceeded to bindAlex's eyes. That done, to make doubly sure, he turned Alex face to thewall.
When the lawyer returned to the counsel-table the proceedings weremomentarily interrupted by a whispered consultation with his assistant,at the end of which, while the spectators wondered, the latter hastenedfrom the room.
Curiosity as to the junior counsel's mission was quickly forgotten,however, as the prosecutor then called Jack Orr to the table beside thetelegraph instruments, and stood Jack and the three Exeter operators in arow before him.
"Now," said he in a low voice, "each of you, as I touch you, step quietlyto the key, and send these words: 'Do you know who this is?'"
A moment the lawyer paused, while spectators, judge and jury waited inbreathless silence, then reaching out, he lightly touched one of theExeter men.
"Do you know who this is?" clicked the sounder.
All eyes turned toward Alex. Without a moment's hesitation he answered,"Johnson."
The operator nodded, and a flutter passed over the court-room.
"Huh! A guess," declared the prosecutor audibly, and still smilingconfidently, he touched another of the Exeter operators. The instrumentsrepeated the question.
"Bradley," said Alex promptly.
The flutter of surprise was repeated. Quickly the prosecutor made asthough to touch the third Exeter man, then abruptly again touchedBradley.
"Bradley again," said Alex.
A ripple like applause swept over the crowded room. With tightening lipsthe prosecutor turned again toward the third Exeter operator. At themoment the door opened, and he paused as his assistant reappeared, withhim two young ladies.
The newcomers were operators from the local commercial telegraph office.
At once Jack's lawyer, recognizing the prosecution's purpose, was on hisfeet in protest.
For of course the young women were utter strangers tothe blindfolded boy in the witness-stand.
The judge promptly motioned him down, however, and with a smile ofanticipated triumph the prosecutor greeted the two local operators, andwhispering his instructions to one of them, led her to the telegraph key.
In a silence that was painful the sounder once more rattled out itsinquiry, "Do you know who this is?"
Alex started, hesitated, made as though to speak, again paused, thensuddenly cried, "That's a stranger!
"And it's awfully like the light, jumpy sending of a girl!"
A spontaneous cheer broke from the excited spectators. "Silence!Silence!" shouted the judge.
It was not necessary to repeat the order, for the disconcertedprosecutor, whirling about, had grasped Jack Orr by the arm and thrusthim toward the key.
"AND IT'S AWFULLY LIKE THE LIGHT, JUMPY SENDING OFA GIRL!"]
The final test had come.
Jack himself realized the significance of the moment, and for an instanthesitated, trembling. Then determinedly gripping himself he reachedforward, grasped the key, and sent,
"Do you know--"
"Orr! Orr! That's he!" cried Alex.
With a shout the entire court-room was on its feet, women waving theirhandkerchiefs and men cheering wildly again and again. And equallydisregarding the etiquette of the court, Alex tore the handkerchief fromhis eyes, and leaping down beside Jack, fell to shaking his hand asthough he would never let go, while Jack vainly sought to expresshimself, and to keep back the tears that came to his eyes.
Ten minutes later, with order restored, Jack was formally declared "Notguilty," and with Alex on one side and his father on the other, left theroom, free and vindicated.
"Well, good-by, my lad," said Mr. Orr, as he and Alex that eveningdropped Jack off their returning train at Midway Junction. "And I supposeit is unnecessary to warn you against understandings with such men asWatts in the future, no matter for what purpose."
"Hardly, Dad," responded Jack earnestly. "No more agreements of any kindfor me unless they are on the levellest kind of level, no matter who theyare with, or for what purpose."