CHAPTER XXIV

WHEN THE MESSAGE CAME

“Oh! Frank!”

There was Lanky, dressed in his everyday clothes, and looking very unlike the proud victor of a long, grueling run. But Frank could understand that his chum was tremendously excited.

The three boys had just seen poor Bill taken into his own home, with his mother crying over him, and the father hastening to ’phone for a doctor to come without delay; for they, like all other parents, instantly forgave the erring son when they saw him so terribly injured.

Frank had accepted the offer of Mallory that he and Keating take the horse to a livery stable, and they had just driven off, to communicate with the owner later, when Lanky hailed in the manner stated above.

“What’s up, Lanky?” asked Frank; “They tell me you came in ahead, all right, and that Columbia will blaze with bonfires to-night because of your great work.”

“That’s all right!” exclaimed Lanky, breathlessly; “tell you all about it later. Get into your everyday togs as fast as you can, and come with me.”

“Why, what’s the matter now?” demanded Frank; though perhaps he began to have a dim suspicion as to the cause of his chum’s new excitement.

“Had a message over the wire,” Lanky went on, tersely, as though breath was more valuable now than when on his long run; “little Effie had on just such a bonnet when she disappeared. Mr. Elverson and his wife were away, and just got my wire. They’re coming along right now, and’ll get here to-morrow, Frank.”

“Well, what are you going to do about it?” asked Frank.

“Get the little girl before those gyps hike out,” came the reply.

“Just us two go into that camp, where there are something like five husky men, with faces I don’t altogether like?” questioned Frank.

“Shucks! no. Don’t you understand, I’ve fixed it up with Chief Hogg, and he’s to go along, with two of his men. And more’n that, Frank, I’ve been and got an order of arrest on the charge of kidnapping for that old gypsy queen. Didn’t tell you about that before, did I; eh? Well, I thought I’d spring a surprise, if the thing worked out right. Hit her up now, and get dressed. I’ll go along and hurry things.”

Frank was almost as excited now as Lanky had been from the start. The great race had been won by Columbia; and as if that were not enough glory for one day, here they were about to prove that they could play the part of detectives as well as win juvenile Marathons.

Frank had to be urged to hasten no longer. He ran like a greyhound for home, and to don an extra suit of clothes, his ordinary wearing apparel being down at the dressing-rooms of the athletic grounds, where he could get it on the next day.

The way Frank got into those clothes would have opened the eyes of some boys, who, having no bump of order, can never find anything that belongs to them. And as soon as he had finished, he found that Lanky had already made a break for the outer air.

“We’ve got to get a wagon at the livery!” was what the leader called back over his shoulder; and about three minutes later a couple of panting boys were demanding that a vehicle capable of holding half dozen at least be hitched up.

After that came the job of getting the co-operation of the police. Luckily Chief Hogg had arrived home from his duties of repressing the smaller boys at the athletic grounds. And not being averse to figuring in a matter that was apt to get his name printed in the big daily papers of the metropolis, he at once hustled a couple of his men around to the big wagon.

Frank saw that they were, as he expressed it, “loaded for bear”; since every man swung a club; and moreover made it a point to have a suspicious bulge under the tails of his coat, showing that he carried a big revolver in a hip pocket.

The Chief himself drove the horses attached to the wagon. Doubtless people, seeing them pass, might wonder what was going on; but then that day had been so filled with thrills that they could not bother themselves any great length of time in useless speculation.

“Now tell me something about how you came in,” demanded Frank, after they were well started on the little run to Budd’s Corners.

“Oh; on the jump, sure!” replied Lanky, with one of his usual laughs.

“But go on and tell me about it,” Frank persisted. “You must have overhauled the two runners ahead of you before a couple of miles had been laid away. How was it when you went ahead? Did anything happen? Was there anything said, or attempted, about that time, Lanky?”

“I passed Coddling first of all,” the other remarked. “I think he made some sort of sarcastic remark; but then that was only what you’d expect.”

“And Parker?” persisted Frank.

“He looked back just then,” Lanky remarked. “P’raps he heard Coddling call out; but all I know is he turned his head and saw me. And Frank, he looked like he was too mad for anything. I knew he wouldn’t let me pass him if he could help it. And I just remembered all you’d said about what I must do.”

“Yes, go on, Lanky,” urged Frank; while even the police officers listened with apparent interest as the boy told his story of how the long run was made.

“I kept getting closer and closer to Parker,” Lanky continued. “He was doing all he knew how just then to hold his own; but, Frank, I was feeling that frisky I reckon I c’d ’a’ drawn circles around that dub if I tried.”

“But you didn’t go to all that trouble, Lanky?” remarked Frank, laughing at the way the other put it.

“When I was just back of him I kept my eyes open for any of his little tricks,” the tall boy explained. “You see, I didn’t want to get hit by any stone that might just take a notion to fly up from his feet, and get in my way, like poor old Bones. And I was watchin’ for a chance to flip past Parker when he didn’t expect it.”

“Which I take it you did after a little?” Frank suggested, to hurry Lanky on; for they were even then drawing near the camp of the Romany tribe.

“Yes, I saw him make a movement of some sort; and thinkin’ he was goin’ to drop something in front of me, I just skipped across to the other side of the road in great shape, and then lit out for all I was worth. Heard him tryin’ to say somethin’ or other, but he was too late; because, you see, I was ahead. And after that I could give Larry the grand laugh. I just romped in, with him fifty yards behind, and Coddling picking up on him fast; because, you see, the wonder was played out. That’s all. I tried to duck when the boys made a grab for me; but they insisted on carryin’ me around the field on their shoulders, while they roared our school song. And there’s the camp, Frank!”

“I’m going to look at your watch later on, Lanky; but it sure gives me great pleasure to see you wearing it,” Frank remarked.

“It might have been yours, if you hadn’t made me go on, and leave you with Bill,” grumbled the unselfish tall chum.

“Oh! no, that’s where you’re away off, Lanky,” came the reply. “I knew that you were the only one who could head that Parker with the lead he had. But now let’s hope the same sort of success falls to us here as came in that long run.”

The gypsy camp looked rather quiet. Frank was glad to see no men in evidence, and could give a pretty good guess that they were all off, occupied with driving hard and fast bargains in horse trading with the many farmers in town for that day.

This pleased Frank, because if the gypsy men were absent it diminished the chances of a riot all the more, should Chief Hogg carry off the old queen. He expected to do this on the strength of the warrant Lanky had sworn out, charging her with abducting a child belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Elverson of a neighboring State.

When the wagon had arrived close to the camp those aboard jumped down, much to the surprise and consternation of several dark-faced women and children, who had run out to see the police wagon pass by.

“Which is her wagon, Lanky?” demanded the Chief, hurriedly.

“That biggest one, with all the gold paint, and pictures on the panels, over yonder,” replied the boy, pointing.

“This way, men, and surround that van! Be sure you let not a single person escape from it!” called the Chief, holding his long night-stick out in a threatening manner, as he led the charge through the camp; where kettles were kicked to one side, piles of bright-hued cushions leaped over, and a few dogs frightened off by the hostile demeanor of the men in blue uniforms.

In this manner, therefore, did the valorous Chief Hogg, and his several equally brave men, manage to reach the big van, which they speedily surrounded. The boys only hoped that no warning of their coming might have been conveyed to the queen; and that she would be caught inside, together with the child whom they had from the beginning been trying to rescue from bondage and tyranny.

In making this movement the head of the local force had been careful to take up a position himself that gave him command of the door in the rear of the traveling wagon. He looked about him as if to make sure that everything was arranged, and his men in their proper positions. Then he turned to Lanky.

“The warrant, if you please, Lanky!” he said in his heavy voice.

Lanky only too willingly surrendered the precious document which called upon the officers to bring the persons of the gypsy queen, and the small child which would be found in her care, before the nearest magistrate, and charging her with having kidnapped the little girl, for some purpose unknown to the court.

Then the pompous Chief knocked upon the closed door of the van. It was immediately opened, and the astonished face of the old queen became visible. She looked at the men in their uniforms and then at the two boys. Evidently the sight of Lanky excited her anger, just as a red flag will that of a bull. She shook her fist at him, and burst out in a flow of furious words:

“You are to blame for this! I knew you were not coming here to our camp, and prowling around, without some reason. Now, what does all this mean, and what has the queen of the gypsies done that she should be disturbed in her home by the officers of the house-dweller’s law? By what right are you here? Speak up, you fat man with the silver badge on your breast, and tell me of what crime Queen Esther is accused!”