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Updated: June 24, 2025
"The young men of the press to-day may write fanciful stories, and they may even 'fake' where it injures no one, but personally they won't lie. Let's call our tramp in here, confront him with his imposture and give him his choice of writing nothing or of being drummed out of town." "Who'll make him leave town?" "Marshal Jack Jellup wouldn't need two suggestions on that score.
And more, he'd see that the order was obeyed. I don't like to do it, but I think we're justified. He's taking that chance." Again the thing was gone over, with arguments for and against, and then Elmer was hastily dispatched to find Jellup and bring him to the car. "And Buck will lose his helper," laughed Alan. "Better that than a second expedition on our heels," answered Ned
He lay awake awhile regretting the quarrel with Jellup, and then he sank into a doze again. But his active brain would not rest. Again he fell into a dream. This time the picture was very real. The big balloon had been finished and launched. A thrill ran through him as he felt the monster craft poise and waver and then slowly rise above the corral. He could hear the cheers of those gathered about.
"Then ye'll flag it along the road," shouted Jellup, "fur ye'll get out o' here on foot and in a hurry." "On foot?" exclaimed Russell in surprise. "That's what I said an' ye heerd me." Russell looked in appeal at the two boys. Ned was mad, and mad all over. "You are so quick to have your own way," he said, "you can't blame us."
A wave of cold fear seemed to benumb his tongue and brain. He knew this was no dream. Forced onto his back, his face and eyes partly covered by the shoulders of his sudden captor, Ned's returning consciousness made him aware that there was a dim light in the office. "It's Jellup, Ned," exclaimed in a whisper a sudden voice which Ned instantly recognized as Alan's.
"Help yourself," replied Ned, "if you think we are lying." "I ain't no pickpocket," retorted Jellup, "this is official. I tell ye it's a bond and this is yer last chanct to make good." The boys remained silent. But Jellup's companion was already busy. Leaving the marshal to stand guard over the boys he made a quick search of their clothing.
But in the midst of them be heard the sudden crack of a revolver. Jack Jellup had put a bullet through the silken bulk of the bag. The cold perspiration broke out on Ned's forehead. The dream was so real that he thought he could hear the taunting voice of Jellup. In feverish excitement Ned sprang upright, to find a pair of strong arms clasped about him. He did not cry out.
With a cry wrung from him by pain such as few mortals have ever experienced and survived, the stricken man fell unconscious to the floor his arm frozen as solid as crystallized steel. In the confusion that followed the sudden extinction of the candle, while Ned was freeing Alan and Jack Jellup was uttering heartrending groans, the marshal's confederate lost his nerve and made his escape.
"Since it doesn't concern you in the least," said Ned, slowly, "no." Jellup was silent a moment. "Fur kids ye seem to have plenty o' money. Ye'r purty free spenders. I'll give ye one more chance. Ef ye've got a thousand dollars handy fur a kind of a bond as it were I guess that'll sort o' protect us." "You mean for bribery?" exclaimed Alan. "No, just instead of stealing," angrily added Ned.
"No, nor you," quietly answered Ned, "and if that's the way you are going to do it you can settle with me right now. I'm going to stand on my rights." He was conscious that Russell had hurried back and was behind him. Another second and there was a sharp click. Both Jellup and Ned turned to see the nervy young reporter with the torn suit case open on the ground at his feet.
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