Dave Porter at Oak Hall/Chapter 7
CHAPTER VII
A STRANGER AND HIS VALISE
Dave had brought with him a magazine to read, but for the present he preferred to look out of the wide-open window at the scenery as it appeared to rush past. Crumville was soon lost in the distance, and they crossed the river running to the Sound, and then began to climb a long hill dotted with farms in a high state of cultivation. Next came a wood, and beyond this was a small town where the train made its next stop.
The seat across the aisle from the youth was vacant, and presently this was taken by a sleek-looking individual dressed in a suit of gray and wearing a mourning band on his derby hat. The stranger carried a good-sized valise, which he stowed on the seat beside him with care.
"Rather warm," he remarked, looking at the boy with a smile on his shrewd face.
"It is," returned Dave, politely. For some reason he did not fancy the appearance of the newcomer.
"It's hot work carrying a heavy valise," went on the stranger. "Had to tramp half around town with it, too."
To this Dave made no reply, and for several minutes there was silence. The stranger gazed out of the window anxiously, and looking in the direction Dave noticed a white mansion standing on a small rise of ground. The place was well-kept, as if belonging to a family of means. As the boy looked at the place he saw a man come running out of the front gate and look up and down the road, as if in strong excitement.
"Something is wrong there," thought Dave. "Perhaps the place is on fire." But before he could see more the train dashed into a wood, and the mansion was left behind.
"Say, friend, I think I'll go and have a smoke," said the stranger, when the train was clear of the woods again. "Will you keep an eye on my valise while I am in the smoker? It's too heavy to carry back and forth."
"I'll look after it as long as I am on the train," answered Dave, seeing no reason to refuse the request.
"How far do you go?"
"To Oakdale Junction."
"Do you belong there?"
"No, sir, I am going to Oakdale, to attend a boarding school there."
"Ah, I see. Well, I'll be back before we reach the junction." And thus speaking the stranger left the car.
As was but natural, Dave gazed at the valise curiously and wondered what it could contain that made it so heavy. One end of the bag was marked "W. F. F., New York."
"Maybe he is a traveler for a hardware house," thought the youth. "Their goods are all heavy. But why should he carry his samples around Hemson? I don't think there are half a dozen stores in the whole place. Or maybe he's a book agent."
The best part of half an hour passed and the stranger did not come back. Then came a sudden sharp jerk of the train which sent the man's valise to the floor of the car with a crash.
"Something must have broken that time," thought Dave, and getting up he took the bag and restored it to its original position. One of the clasps had become undone, and through a slit in the valise he caught sight of something that shone like gold.
"Hello, he must have some kind of ware in this valise," reasoned Dave. "Gold-plated ware perhaps. Maybe he is selling such stuff on the installment plan." A drummer had once visited the farm with silver-ware, which he wished to sell for a certain sum down and so much per week thereafter.
Ten minutes more passed and the train came to a halt at a town of considerable importance. Just ahead, on the track, a freight car, running into a switch, had been derailed, and it was announced that the train would be held up an hour, if not longer.
"This is beastly luck!" exclaimed the stranger, as he came back from the smoker. "A whole hour to wait, and just because a freight car is off the track. The management ought to be indicted!"
"Your bag fell to the floor a while ago," said Dave. "I picked it up. I hope nothing was broken."
"So do I. Well, I'm not going to stay here all day, even if the grip is heavy," went on the stranger. And he walked from the car, lugging his valise with him.
Not caring to remain seated for a full hour, Dave followed the man to the platform, and saw him disappear in the vicinity of a hotel near the railroad. Then the boy walked up past the engine to look at the derailed freight car.
A gang of men were working slowly, and so little was being done that the youth soon tired of looking on. He took a walk around the square and gazed into the hotel the stranger had entered. The man was at the bar, partaking freely of some strong liquor.
"Have a drink, friend!" he called out, on catching sight of the boy.
"No, thank you," answered Dave, coldly.
"Oh, yes, do. I owe you one for watching my bag for me."
"Thanks, but I don't drink," came from Dave, and he sauntered on.
"Must be one of those temperance chaps you hear about," said the traveler to the barkeeper.
"Ah, those scrubs make me weary," sneered the fellow behind the bar. "They are too stingy to drink."
From the square Dave sauntered back to the depot, and presently found himself close to the telegraph office. As he came up he saw the telegraph operator arise with a message in his hand, and beckon to a policeman standing near.
"Say, Jackson, here is news from Hemson," said the operator to the officer of the law. "A house was robbed up there this morning, and they want the police along the line to watch out for the thief. They think he may be on the train that is stalled here."
"Do they say how he looks?" asked the policeman.
"No, excepting that he had on a dark-gray suit, and carried a big valise."
"Humph! how is a man to catch anybody on such a description? Hundreds of men wear gray and carry valises," grumbled the officer of the law. "I'll report it, though," he added, taking the telegram.
Dave listened to the conversation with deep interest. As the policeman took the telegram he approached the officer.
"Excuse me, but do you know what that thief stole?" he questioned, in a low voice.
The policeman stared, and gazed at him sharply.
"What do you want to know for?"
"I heard what the telegraph operator said. I was on that train which is delayed, and I saw a man on board who was dressed in a suit of gray. He had a valise which was so heavy he could scarcely carry it. One end bulged open, and I saw something in it which looked like gold plate."
"Say, is that true?" burst out the policeman. "This telegram says some gold- and silver-ware were taken, also some diamond rings. It was the summer home of Senator Morr—a fine old place that belonged once to the senator's grandfather."
"Then I shouldn't be surprised if the man I saw was the thief!" burst out Dave, excitedly. "He got on the train at Hemson."
"Where is he now?"
"At the barroom of yonder hotel." The youth pointed out the place. "He wanted me to drink with him, but I wouldn't do it." And then Dave told of how the valise had dropped from the seat and how he had come to get a peep inside.
"I guess you have spotted the right man," said the policeman. "But I'd better tell the chief of this, first."
"Where is he? The man may get away if you delay."
"The station house is right around the corner."
"Supposing I go and watch the man while you tell your chief?" suggested Dave.
"Very well. If he tries to get away, run to the station house and report."
So it was agreed, and a moment later Dave hurried once more towards the hotel. He found the stranger leaning on the bar, talking earnestly to the one who had served him with drinks. The valise rested on a side table.
"Hullo!" cried the man. "Do you know when our train moves?"
"Not yet a while," answered Dave.
"I've got to get out of town, somehow," went on the stranger. "I can't afford to stay here all day."
"Maybe you'd like to walk."
"That's a good joke. Don't you know that the roads around here are beastly?"
"Perhaps you can hire an automobile," went on Dave, talking merely for the purpose of killing time.
"Say, that's a scheme! Wonder if there are any autos to let around here?"
"You'll find a garage two blocks up the street," said the barkeeper. "I think they have one or two they hire out by the hour."
"I want to get over to Hartford by to-night," said the man with the heavy valise. "I'll go and see what they've got."
He took up his bag, and left the hotel, walking slowly in the direction that had been pointed out. He had nearly reached the automobile establishment when he noticed that Dave was following him.
"Want to come along to Hartford?" he asked, but not in a pleasant tone.
"No, I thought I'd see if you managed to get an automobile. I'm going on to Oakdale Junction, as I told you before."
"Oh, yes, I remember. You said you were going to a boarding school at Oakdale. What's the name of the place?"
"Oak Hall."
"And what's your name?"
"Dave Porter. What's yours?"
"Mine? My name is——" the man seemed to hesitate, "Peter Snodgrass. I'm from Pittsburg."
"Peter Snodgrass," thought Dave. "That doesn't square with the initials, W. F. F., that are on that valise."
In a moment more the automobile establishment was reached, and the man who had given his name as Peter Snodgrass walked inside. Looking behind him, Dave saw the policeman approaching rapidly, accompanied by his chief, also in uniform.
"Where is he?" asked the policeman, and then continued to his superior: "This is the lad, chief."
"He just went in here to see if he couldn't hire an automobile," answered Dave.
"Humph! wants to get out of town in a hurry," muttered the chief of police. "It certainly won't do any harm to detain him on suspicion."
All three entered the automobile establishment, and the chief walked up to the man with the valise and tapped him on the shoulder.
"We want you," he said, in a low, hard tone.
The man who had given his name as Peter Snodgrass jumped about a foot. Then he gazed at the guardians of the law in alarm.
"Hang the luck! I reckon the game is up!" he cried, and as quick as a flash he dropped his valise, ran to the open window of the automobile establishment, and leaping outside, disappeared from view.