Chapter XIV: Under the Car

Reassured as to the fate of the car, Phil was about to turn back to where Paul and Billy were still picking up the things, when Dave's voice was heard:

"Oh, Phil! Here's trouble! Come on down here--quick!"

Shouting back to the two lads behind that the car was found, Phil jumped down and ran round to where Dave was staring at something on the ground. Meantime catching the meaning of Phil's words, Paul and Billy hurried forward with the loads they already had.

"Geemineddy!" This was of course by Paul, always emphatic and exclamatory. "If I ever get my hands on that old Six again, I bet she don't go out of my reckoning soon!"

"I know just how you feel, Paul. I was to blame, but--oh, don't I wish we had the chaps that did it!"

The two, their hands filled with sundry belongings, were hastening after Phil who had vanished from their view. Down the slope, over the jagged embankment they hurried, giving a yell as they saw the Big Six upturned, but apparently safe. The tops of Dave's and Phil's heads bobbed up and down on the further side of the car.

Reaching the spot, what was their surprise to see the body of a man lying prone on the ground, his legs and part of his body fairly under the car. Billy, after one look, gave a gasp of amazement. The man was bareheaded, his face half turned under and pressed against the ground.

"Here, boys," began Phil. "Drop everything and let's turn the car off his body!"

By the united efforts of all the Big Six was lifted at the forward end so that the weight of the car no longer rested on the dead or insensible man.

"Boys," said Billy, "that's the man in gray who wore the visored cap we found back yonder. I'll swear to that. Is he dead?"

Phil and Dave, stooping closely, examined the man, and in so doing turned his head to one side. There, near the temple, was a purplish blot, from which a few drops of blood were trickling. At the same time certain movements, not unlike muscular tremors, were evident in body and limbs.

"Why, he's alive!" said Paul. "Let's get him more comfortably placed."

While this was being done Worth picked up a tin cup, ran to a rocky puddle in the dried brooklet where some water was left, and returning with the filled cup bathed the fellow's face and head, very gently now that they knew life was not extinct.

This, aided by the more comfortable position in which he had been placed, had such effect that the man's eyes soon opened. He groaned as he breathed, while with one hand he attempted to feel his head near what was now seen to be a bullet wound. Paul, wiping his head, felt a protuberance under his hair, and directly thereafter drew forth a small pointed bullet, such as is much used with pocket pistols of the Smith & Wesson type.

"Well, well!" exclaimed that lively youth. "If here ain't a regular twenty-two pistol ball. It must have glanced along under the skin near the temple and come out again. Who could have done it?"

When the man felt Paul's hand extracting the ball from his mass of touzled hair, he clutched at the place, saying:

"I always--told--Dippy--that gun--was no--good--" A scuffling sigh, and the fellow was again in a swoon.

What had they better do now? Here was their car, all right except for some scars and bruises incurred during the last flight after Billy was captured and stowed away in the old tavern. Where was the other man? As usual in such stress, Phil again took command of the situation.

"This man's not dead. He may recover. He's either been shot by someone or he's shot himself, which isn't likely."

Here the man struggled into a half sitting position, as he murmured:

"Didn't sh-shoot myself! Dippy shot--me! Dippy always--poor--shot--"

Then with a groan he fell back again into a state of coma. Phil, looking hastily over the car, now said:

"Help right the car, boys."

This was accomplished almost as soon as said, by simply easing the upper side down so that the Six again stood on "all-fours," as Paul expressed it. It stood squarely across the brook-bed, headed towards the railroad which here was not more than an eighth of a mile distant.

"Now, Paul," resumed Phil, "you hike across through the brush to the railroad, if necessary. It may be the real highway lays over there somewhere. Pick out the easiest way to get our car there. We can hardly go back the way we came, can we?" The others shook their heads at this. "When you're through, come back. Mebbe we'll meet you on the way."

Without a word Paul vanished in the thick undergrowth beyond the brooklet. Meanwhile Dave was examining the car, which he pronounced uninjured by the rough usage to which it had been subjected with the exception of sundry scars and a slight twist in one of the minor connecting rods, easy to readjust. Both he and Phil were kept busy restoring the things that had been dumped out by the fleeing couple during the last stages of that hurried flight to--where? Probably where they thought the nearest open road would be; or perhaps it was the railroad and the nearest station they sought.

When Paul came back, he said that they were only a short distance to the new highway and the railroad. The guide book told them that they were within a very few miles of a small station east, while Midlandville, the nearest town west, was not more than two hours away, with a good road.

"Better put that chap in the tonneau, hadn't we?" suggested Worth.

"Aw, where'll we take him?" This from Dave who now was in the driver's seat.

"Looks like we had enough trouble long of him and his mate as it is."

"Put him in back, of course," corrected Phil. "If these two are in bad about something, it is our duty to keep track of this one, for the present at least. Who knows? He may give us a pointer yet as to what they were up to."

So the wounded man, despite his querulous complaints, was put in the tonneau with Billy and Paul to assist him and do whatever was necessary to make him as comfortable as conditions would permit.

Then the Big Six was started. As has been stated, the incline being gradual, the big car, carefully steered, had less trouble in making the remainder of the trip to the new highway than the boys anticipated. True, with the injured man and the equipment of the lads the car was rather crowded, but the motor did its duty, the purring sounds being as even as could be wished. Paul, on his return, had broken down a sort of trail which it was not difficult to follow.

Arrived at the roadway it had been already determined that, as the day was already well spent, they would return to Feeney's for the night, then make for Midlandville in the morning.

"Won't old Feeney open his eyes when we tell him what those two strangers were up to to-day?" remarked Paul who, tired of fanning the wounded man, had managed to exchange with Dave.

Not far from where they turned into the highway, it veered southward, leaving the railroad to the right, and a mile further crossed the old road along which the boys had motored that morning on their way to the old tavern.

To say that they were cordially received by Mr. Feeney would be only the truth. At sight of the bareheaded man in gray, his visored cap somewhere among the things in the car, Pat eyed him perplexedly, saying:

"Holy Moses! Little did I think to see the likes of you back again!"

The wounded man opened his eyes slowly and blinked the lids when he saw they were carrying him to the house from the car.

"Dippy done it--yes--Dippy--he done it." Then he fainted away again.

After the wounded man was placed on a cot in a small shed room attached to Feeney's not very commodious house, Pat took Phil and Worth aside, while Dave and Paul remained with the stranger. It was felt intuitively that the man should be closely watched. Why none of them knew exactly, except that their methods with Billy and the taking of the car indicated that something was wrong, somewhere. What it might be, of course none of them as yet had any distinct idea. Feeney scratched his head meditatively, as he said to Phil:

"Them two fellers come here about night, afore you boys appeared. They wanted to stay all night and after breakfast they had my wife put up some grub; quite a lot of it. But when you came in, all at once they took a notion to leave, sudden-like. After they was gone my woman found the stuff we'd packed up, which they seemed to have forgotten. That's all we seen of 'em until you came in here with that one in the fix he's in now."

"It all does look mysterious," remarked Phil. "From a hasty look we took in the old tavern we saw what looked like a forge and some tools. I thought I glimpsed some dies but I might have been mistaken."

"Wait a minute," broke in Pat, going to the door of the kitchen. "Ma," he called out, "any sign of Nan and Dan yet?"

A broad-bosomed, red-faced woman appeared for a minute at the open doorway, as she replied:

"No, Pat, I ain't seen nothin'. I went to the bend of the road, too. It's time they was here onless something's bothered them."

Coming back to the two boys, Feeney explained:

"Last night, ruther late, Bill Spivee, our nearest neighbor to the west, came over. He's got a telephone and he says that the Midlandville op'rator asked him if any strangers had been round lately. Bill told 'em he hadn't seen any, but that two fellers had stopped here, for I'd told him that when we met up after puttin' up some marsh hay yon way," jerking a thumb southward. "We often puts up wild grass together.

"Well, later they 'phones ag'in. Asks Bill to see me right away and find out all he could 'bout them strangers. If it was what they thought, them fellers was wanted right away."

Feeney pointed towards the shed-room, as he continued: "We mustn't let go of that chap, whatever happens, until we knows more."

"I should say not," put in Worth, who quickly related what these strangers had done to him. Then Phil briefly described the subsequent proceedings, including their finding the man senseless under the overturned car, and with the pistol wound, finally showing the bullet that had been found in his hair, which had glanced from the skull, as we have described. Feeney looked at the bullet.

"Smith & Wesson pistol sure!" He thought a moment. "I think I saw that pistol when the man that is missing changed some of his things, as I was passing their door. After thinking it all over, I sent Dan and Nan on horseback, soon after you all left, but I didn't say nothing, for I didn't really know nothing. We needed more coffee, and that was a good excuse. But I told the kids to be sure and see the operator of the telephone booth and try to find out what was the matter. I reckon we'll know if they ever get back."

Mrs. Feeney now appeared in the doorway and excitedly pointed westward.

"Nan and Dan's a-comin'. I can see 'em out at the kitchen back door. There's nobody with 'em as I can see."

Just then Paul came in to say:

"That chap's come to again. Looks like he's worrying some. What ought Dave and I to do? He seems to want Dippy, as he calls that mate of his."

Phil accompanied Paul back, while Worth remained with Pat to wait for the arrival of the girl and boy. Their horses seemed tired, and stood with drooping heads while they dismounted, delivered the coffee to their mother and glanced shyly at Billy as the father explained briefly what had happened.

The children brought news that as soon as a telegram could reach Midlandville, two officers would start at once for Feeney's place. Might get there some time in the night.

"Well, here's a pretty to-do!" exclaimed Mrs. Feeney. "How am I goin' to feed so many strangers? You know, Pat, we're pretty near out of flour."

"Shucks, mother! We got plenty of meal and hog meat, and there's vegetables. We'll not starve. Besides," here he whispered in Mrs. Feeney's ear, "you'll get some money from 'em, eh? I knows you--"

"Pat, you know you're not going to charge them four boys, if they stay a week. I've heard ye say so."

"Now, Mrs. Feeney," put in Billy, "don't you worry! We boys are not going to cost you a dollar more than we'll pay back. We like you folks." Here Billy winked boldly at Nan who laughed as she slightly blushed. "Anything will do us."

"You sure are good boys," nodded Mrs. Feeney. "You were nice to my folks on the way from the hay market. Pat and me are glad to have ye. But these others--real strangers, that might be different."

"Oh, Billy," called Paul from the shed doorway, "please come here!"

Thus summoned, the two at once followed Paul into where the sick man was picking at his wounded head and moaning:

"Dippy--done--it. What'd you do it for, Dippy?" A series of feeble coughings ensued, and the man again seemed to swoon away.

"That's the way he keeps going on," remarked Worth, regarding Phil attentively. "Reckon he ought to have a--a doctor?"

After another short consultation Dan, who meanwhile had eaten and felt refreshed and rested, set out on another horse for the nearest physician.

"Tell Doc the whole story, Dan," urged the father. "If we get any sense outen him, mebbe it will help undo this mystery that surrounds the whole business. Tell him I won't pay his bill, but the county probably will. Thurfore he can stick it up to a pretty stiff figure."

Meanwhile Phil had been conferring with his three chums apart.

"I've made up my mind that some of us ought to visit that old tavern again. There's something up down there or I'm a fool in judging by appearances. How do we know that this Dippy, as that chap calls his mate, may not slip in, having, as he may think, killed his partner, and destroy what I saw when we went in after Billy? We've got time now. We can take the car--Worth and me."

"That sounds bully," exclaimed Worth. "I'm with you. They kidnaped me; I want to get even."

The only trouble now was that both Dave and Paul wanted to be "on," in this adventure; but they yielded when Phil made it plain that part of them must remain at Feeney's to make sure that the one they had captured was in safe keeping. They all felt that if anything serious were in all this, it was incumbent on all of them to be where things would go smoothly.

"Well then," remarked Phil in low tones, "when Billy and I are gone, it falls on you, (meaning Dave and Paul) to help Feeney when anything happens."

Just then the wounded man suddenly sat up in bed, clapped a hand upon his forehead and began to mumble to himself.

"No--good--" he began. "Metal--dies--all there. Then--Dippy--tries to kill--me--"

"Who are you anyway?" suddenly demanded Phil, spurred by a sudden hope that in his delirium the wounded man might let out something as his now disordered brain appeared to connect the present with what he remembered of the past.

"Me?" The man stared vacantly past Phil at the wall. "I--I'm Jimmy--Horr. I'm--I'm--" His voice trailed off into a mumble.

Phil bent forward close as he demanded:

"If you are Jimmy Horr, who is Dippy? You've been calling him often enough. We want to find him."

"D-Dippy--he--he's my partner. He's--he's Dippy Quinn--he--" Again he stared, straight now at Phil. "Wh--who be you?"

Still staring, he fell back, trembling as if in pain, muttering:

"My head--my--he--head!" Then his eyes closed and he was off in another apparent swoon.

"Come on, Billy," said Phil. "Let us be off! Are the things out of the car?"

"Most of them," replied Dave. "I put 'em in the porch. Don't be gone longer than you can help."

In they jumped, Phil at the wheel, and the car purred softly down the old woods road towards the Ghost Tavern. Whether either of them knew their departure was observed by the Feeneys was not important, and gave them no concern. Both now felt that no time should be lost in finding out if the partner of Horr was yet in that vicinity. Despite the improbability, Phil could not help feeling that if those two had been doing wrong in the old inn, it might be that the survivor, as he probably deemed himself, might wish to pay a final visit there before taking his stealthy departure.

In fact, so mysterious was the whole series of adventures which the boys had gone through that almost anything might happen. In due time the Big Six drew up near the old tavern, and the boys cunningly hid the car behind a screen of shrubbery, where it would hardly be seen if any one should pass by. Still Phil, in view of what had happened to the car, made a suggestion.

"You stay here, Billy; at least until I call you or you see something is happening. If I find anyone or anything that's dangerous, I'll let you know."

"Will you--sure?" queried Worth anxiously.

Before Phil, now out of the car and heading for the porch could answer, there came the muffled sound of something inside the inn being moved. At the sound Billy seized a heavy walking stick from the driver's seat, which no one ever used, but which was carried simply because it might some time come handy. Giving this to Phil, he himself took a short thick rubber tube used at times when gasoline was transferred from a tank to the machine reservoir.

"I'm going with you, Phil," he whispered. "No use to say no!"