United States or Czechia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
As I did so, Duncan Woodward, accompanied by Pultzer, came out of the boat-house. "Hi, there, what are you doing in my boat?" he sang out. "What, Roger Strong!" he continued as he came nearer. "You must lend me the boat, Duncan," I returned. "I've got to cross the river in a hurry." "Not much! I thought you were in jail." "Not just now," I replied. "You can get your boat on the other side."
I judged it was near midnight, and hardly had I thought of the matter before the distant town bells tolled the hour of twelve. As the echo of the last stroke died away, two figures came slowly up the road. As they drew nearer, I recognized Moran and Pultzer, the two Models members who had assisted at my capture. I was astonished at their appearance.
What on earth could they be doing out at this time of night? As they drew near I thought for many reasons that it would not be advisable to show myself, and I stepped behind a tree. "I don't care what you say," said Pultzer, "Dunc was half scared to death when we came away." "I guess he didn't think what a serious matter it was when he asked us to go into it," returned Moran.
Now that you have found one, we hope to arouse public opinion to the danger there is in such places, and we hope to inspire a reform movement which will be strong enough to wipe them out entirely. I will hear from Mr. Pultzer in a short time, and then I want you to go down to the Island with some plain-clothes detectives and two other reporters.
But it would have been useless for me to say more, as no one would have heard me. At the first sound of my voice both of the Models had started in alarm, and then, led by Pultzer, they dashed up the road as fast as their feet could carry them. At first I was amazed at their actions, and then, as the ridiculousness of the situation presented itself, I smiled.
It was Duncan, muttering in his sleep. "Lift the spring, Pultzer," he said in a whisper. "Hist! don't make so much noise, the old gent may hear you." He paused for a moment. "There wasn't any money. But I've got the papers, yes, I've got the papers, and when I find out their true value the old gent shall pay me to keep quiet." I could not help but start at Duncan's words.
On Sunday evening my handbag stood in my room packed, ready for my departure. Dick Blair came over to see me and brought strange and sad news. Duncan Woodward and Pultzer, his intimate crony, had gotten into a row in a pool room down in Newville and were both under arrest. Mr. Woodward and Mr. Pultzer had gone off to get their sons out of jail.
"You don't know what's in store for you," said Dunce, nonplussed by my manner. "As I said before, I'll risk it." "Very well. Where is the rope, boys?" "Here you are," answered Pultzer. "Plenty of it." As he spoke he produced a stout clothes line, five or six yards in length. "We'll bind his hands a little tighter first," instructed Duncan, "and then his legs.
"And we intend to teach you a lesson," added Pultzer, a short, stout chap, whose father had once been a butcher. "What for?" "For your unwarranted attack upon our illustrious president." "Your president? You mean Duncan?" "Mr. Woodward, if you please," interrupted Duncan, loftily. "I won't have such a low-bred fellow as you calling me by my first name."
"It's the worst affair I ever got into." "Ditto myself," responded Pultzer. "And if we get out without being caught, you'll never find me in another such," continued the other earnestly. "I wonder what Dunc's father will say when he hears of it?" "And all the rest of the Darbyville people? Of course they've got to lay it to some one."
Word Of The Day