CHAPTER XVIII.

RACING A LOCOMOTIVE.

From Simon Pepper’s shop Dick Burns hurried at once to Joe’s home.

He found our hero weeding the garden, for the lad was always an industrious fellow when out of school.

“Joe!”

“Hullo, Dick! What now?”

“I’ve found out who robbed Simon Pepper’s shop.”

“Never!”

Joe dropped the weed in his hand like a hot potato and came forward.

“Who did the deed?”

“Lemuel Akers.”

“Really?”

“He did--unless I am greatly mistaken.”

“Tell me all about it,” went on Joe eagerly.

“You know the pin I picked up on the road just where you had the fight with Lemuel?”

“What of it?”

“It is one of those stolen from old Pepper’s shop.”

“And Lemuel dropped it, you think!” asked Joe.

“Why not? You didn’t drop it.”

“No, I’ll give my word I did not.”

“It was lying just where you and he had the tussle.”

“That is so.” Joe thought for a moment. “By George! I believe you are right, Dick!”

“It would be just like Lemuel to try to get you into trouble.”

“But my pocket-knife----”

“He could easily get that at school.”

“So he could.”

“I believe if Lemuel’s home was searched we would find something,” went on Dick, after a pause.

“It’s a wonder he didn’t sell the stuff or get it out of the way somehow.”

“Maybe he did sell most of the stuff. He’s got a new bike. Where did he get the money for that?”

“He says he saved it. But I never knew him to save a dollar.”

“Nor I.”

The two boys talked the matter over for half an hour.

Then Mr. Johnson came home, and he and Joe went over with Dick to see Mr. Burns.

The lawyer was much interested, for the time for Joe’s trial was close at hand. As we know, he intended to defend Joe, not only for the boy’s sake, but also on account of Dick.

“It may be that Akers is guilty,” said Mr. Burns. “The thing is to prove it.”

“We ought to watch Lemuel,” suggested Joe.

“Perhaps by so doing you may learn of something to his disadvantage.”

So it was arranged that an eye should be kept on Lemuel for a few days.

On the following morning Joe saw Akers riding through town, bound toward Greenpoint.

It was Saturday, and our hero instantly made up his mind to follow Lemuel all day, in the hope that something would turn up.

He readily got permission to leave home, and was soon on his wheel, speeding after the tall boy.

Akers rode directly to Greenpoint, and after having a luncheon there struck out to a point still further up the lake.

It was a fine day, but the recent heavy rains had caused several washouts along the lakeside road.

Mile after mile was passed, and at last the two reached Pemberton, at the head of the lake.

Joe had been very careful to keep out of sight, so Lemuel Akers had no idea that he was being followed.

At length Akers came to a halt in front of a shabby-looking second-hand store.

He chained his bicycle to a post, and, looking carefully around, walked into the establishment.

At once Joe’s suspicions were aroused. He left his machine at a store on the corner and hurried to the nearest window of the other store.

The window was piled high with goods, but through an open space Joe saw Lemuel Akers talking earnestly to an old, round-shouldered Jew, who stood leaning on a back counter.

Presently Lemuel brought a small package from his pocket and opened it.

The package contained a watch chain, two watches and a couple of gold rings.

The Jew took the articles, and, walking to the light, examined each one carefully.

Then the pair began to talk earnestly, as if haggling about a price.

At last the Jew wrote out several tickets and handed them and a roll of bills to Lemuel.

The tall boy pocketed the bills and tickets. Then he looked out of the store to see if the coast was clear.

Joe had just sufficient time to spring behind a billboard.

In another minute Lemuel Akers came forth. He mounted his wheel and rode off at top speed.

Our hero smiled to himself as he walked back to where he had left his own machine.

The truth was plain enough now. Akers had robbed Simon Pepper’s shop and was disposing of the stolen goods by pawning them.

Undoubtedly this process was safer than trying to sell the stolen articles.

“I have got him where I want him now,” thought Joe. “Simon Pepper can identify his goods and the Jew can identify Lemuel, and, besides, if we manage things right, we can find those pawntickets on his person.”

Thus reasoning, Joe left Pemberton not very far behind the tall boy.

Lemuel now took a different route, leading up to a summer resort.

Thinking it was no use to follow him longer, our hero struck out for home.

The road in this section ran parallel to the track.

Joe was feeling in prime condition, and he moved along at top speed.

Presently a whistle sounded, and, looking back, Joe saw the local express in the distance.

Hardly had he heard the whistle when there came a shriek from some distance ahead, where the road crossed the railroad tracks.

Joe listened and heard a man crying loudly:

“Save me from the train!”

The man was on the track, lying down. He had been struck by paralysis and could not move.

“What’s the matter?” yelled Joe.

“Help! help!” was the only reply the sufferer could make.

He was directly in the way of the oncoming train.

Joe waited to hear no more, but began to push on the pedals with all of his might.

Faster and faster he came down the smooth road, with the express thundering behind him.

It was Joe’s first and last race with a locomotive, and a life hung in the balance.

[Illustration: AN OLD MAN LAY HELPLESS ON THE TRACK.

“Rival Bicyclists.”]