CHAPTER XIV
OFF FOR THE SOUTH
Two days later, when Roger was packing up, getting ready to return home, he received a letter from Luke Watson that filled him with interest. Luke had gone to St. Augustine, Florida, to join his folks, who were spending the winter there.
"Here's news!" burst out the senator's son, as he came rushing to Dave and Phil with the epistle. "This letter is from Luke Watson, you know his folks are in Florida. Well, on his way to St. Augustine, Luke stopped for a day at Jacksonville. Listen to what he says:
"'I was walking down one of the main streets of Jacksonville, looking into the shop windows, when what do you think? I saw Link Merwell and Nick Jasniff. You could have knocked me over with a feather, for I hadn't imagined that they were anywhere near. They were nattily dressed and each carried a small valise, and they were buying caps and some other things for a sea voyage. I went into the shop and called to them, and my! both of them jumped as if they were shot, and Merwell got so pale I thought he was going to faint. I said "Hello," but they didn't answer to that, and Jasniff at once wanted to know if I was alone. When I told him I was he seemed mightily relieved, and Merwell looked relieved, too. They wanted to know what I was doing there and I told them. Then I asked what they were doing, but I couldn't get any straight answer. Merwell started to say something about going to sea, but Jasniff stopped him short, and said they guessed they would go back to New York, where they had come from.
"It was awful funny—they positively looked scared to death, and while they were talking to me they looked over my shoulders, as if on their guard against somebody. I asked them what they had been doing since they left Rockville, and they said not much of anything, just traveling around. They seemed to have plenty of money, for just as I went into the shop I saw Merwell pay for something from a big roll of greenbacks.
"After I left them, I got a bit curious about the pair, and so I watched them come from the shop and walk down to one of the docks and go aboard a big four-masted schooner. I hung around a little and pretty soon they came from the schooner and went up to one of the big hotels, and there I lost sight of them. Each had his little valise with him, but they weren't big enough for much clothing. My, but they were scared! I fancy they thought I might pitch into them for the mean things they did in the past. But I didn't want to start any row.'"
"Is that all he says?" demanded Dave, after the senator's son had finished.
"That's all he says about Merwell and Jasniff and their doings."
"Doesn't he mention the name of that schooner, or the hotel?" asked Phil.
"No."
"Did you say Luke was going to Jacksonville?" asked our hero.
"Yes, his whole family are down there."
"Then I could telegraph to him and he could give me the name of the hotel, and of the schooner."
"Dave, what do you make out of this?" demanded the senator's son.
"I make out of it that Merwell and Jasniff are guilty!" burst out Dave. "They went from here to Florida, and now they have either gone to sea, or are going, as soon as that schooner sails. Do you notice what Luke says about their being scared almost to death when they saw him? They evidently thought some of us, or the officers of the law, were with him."
"And the little valises!" burst out the owner's son. "Perhaps they contain the jewels!"
"Would they be foolish enough to carry them around like that?" questioned Roger. "Wouldn't they hide them?"
"They may be looking for some good hiding-place, or some place where they can sell them," answered Dave. "Remember, Jasniff and Merwell are green at this business—they wouldn't go at it hke professionals. If they were professionals, they wouldn't have acted so scared."
"That is true. What will you do, tell Mr. Wadsworth of this?"
"I think I'll tell my father and my Uncle Dunston first. Mr. Wadsworth doesn't place much credit in the story of Merwell and Jasniff's guilt. He thinks the detectives are on the right track."
"Well, possibly they are," admitted Phil. "But I must say, this looks mighty suspicious to me.
"I have half a mind to take matters in my own hands and run down to Jacksonville," went on our hero. "Who knows but what I might find Merwell and Jasniff? If I did, I could stop them and make them give an account of themselves by making that old charge of abduction against them, and that charge of having used my name."
"Say, that's an idea!" cried Roger. "And say, I'd like to go with you."
"So would I," added Phil. "We might go down in one of my father's ships."
"Too slow, Phil—the limited express for this trip," answered Dave. "But I must talk it over with dad first," he added.
"We have got over three weeks before school opens again," pursued the senator's son. "We could go down to Florida and back easily in that time."
Dave's father had gone to New York on business, but came home that evening. In the meantime a telegram was sent to Luke Watson, asking for the name of the hotel, at which Merwell and Jasniff had stopped, and of the schooner.
Dave's father and his uncle listened closely to what he had to tell, and to the reading of the letter from Luke Watson. They talked the affair over for an hour with the boys.
"You may be right, boys," said Mr. Porter, at last. "And it may be a good plan to follow those rascals up. But I don't think I would bother Mr. Wadsworth about it. He received a telegram from one of the detectives, and the officer is more sure than ever that he is on the right track. He caught Red Andrews pawning a fair-sized diamond, and he thinks the gem is from the Carwith collection."
"Can't he make Red Andrews confess?" asked Dave.
"Unfortunately the rascal got away when on the way to the police-station. But the detective feels he can soon round him up again."
Dave looked thoughtfully out of the window and tapped the table with his fingers.
"You still think Merwell and Jasniff guilty?" remarked his uncle, with a smile.
"Yes, Uncle Dunston. After what Hooker Montgomery said, I'll think them guilty until somebody proves otherwise."
"Then I tell you what I'll do, boys," said Dunston Porter. "I'll take a trip down to Florida with you and look into this matter. I'd rather be on the move than sitting still waiting for something to turn up."
"Will you go?" cried Dave, eagerly.
"I will."
"When?"
"As soon as you wish, and we can get train accommodations."
"Hadn't we better wait until we hear from Luke?" suggested Roger.
"No, let us get off at once!" exclaimed Dave. "If he sends word after we are gone, it can be forwarded to us." And so it was arranged.
Great was the surprise of the Wadsworths and of Laura when the boys and Dunston Porter announced that they were going to start for Florida the next morning.
"Why, Dave?" asked Jessie. "Why are you going in such a hurry?"
"Oh, I hardly care to tell, Jessie," he answered. "It may prove only a wild goose chase."
"It is about the missing jewels?"
"Yes."
"Then you are after Merwell and Jasniff."
"Yes, but please don't tell any outsiders."
"Oh, Dave, don't get into any trouble!" cried the girl, as she clung to him. "They are such bad fellows I You know what they have done to you in the past!"
"I am not afraid of them."
"Oh, I know how brave you are, Dave I But—but don't let them harm you—for my sake, please!" And then the tears came into her eyes and she hid her face on his arm.
"There! there! don't worry!" he said, as he bent over her, and then he kissed her forehead. "We'll be back before long," and he gave her a little hug.
Then the others came in. Laura was also worried, but glad that her uncle would be along. She helped Dave to pack his suit-case. Phil and Roger also packed up, and sent word home regarding the proposed trip. As my old readers know, all the boys were well-to-do, so the expenses did not bother them.
At breakfast time the following morning came a telegram from Luke Watson. It read as follows:
"The hotel was the Castor. Think schooner was the Emma Brown, or Black, or Jones. Common name."
"Well, that isn't very definite, but it is something to work on," remarked Dunston Porter.
Soon the party of four were ready to start. There was a general hand-shaking and also a few kisses.
"Well, have a good time, even if you don't catch those fellows," said Mrs. Wadsworth.
"Keep out of trouble," warned Laura.
"Yes, yes, don't let them harm you," pleaded timid Jessie.
"And let us hear from you often," said Mr. Porter.
"I don't know what to say about this," said Oliver Wadsworth, shaking his head, slowly. "But if you do get on the track of those jewels, leave no stone unturned to get them."
"Leave that to me, Mr. Wadsworth," said Dunston Porter. "If we find those young men have the gems—or had them—we'll get them back, never fear." And he spoke in a tone that showed he meant what he said.
They went to the depot in the family sleigh. Ben had heard of their going away and was there to see them off. Soon the train rolled in that was to carry the travelers to New York City.
"Good-by!" cried the boys, as they clambered aboard the car.
"Good-by!" called Ben. "I wish you luck." And then the girls waved their hands, and the train moved off, slowly at first and then faster and faster, until Crumville was left behind.
"It's a great trip they are taking," said Ben, to Laura and Jessie. "Wish I was going along."
"Why didn't you go?" questioned Laura.
"Oh, I've got some things to do at home," answered Ben. He did not care to add that his father did not wish to stand the extra expense. Mr. Basswood was fairly well-to-do, but thought he was spending enough on his son by sending him to boarding-school.
The sleigh was about to drive off when the station agent came running out, waving a yellow envelope.
"Is Mr. Wadsworth here?" he questioned, of Jessie.
"No, Mr. Mack, my father went to business. What is it, a telegram?"
"Yes,—something very important too."
"Then give it to me and I will take it to him at once."
"I could send it, but"
"Never mind. Here, I will sign for it," and Jessie did so. Then the whip cracked and the horses started for the jewelry works on a gallop.
When Jessie handed the telegram to her father he opened it and read the contents eagerly. His face lit up.
"This is good news!" he cried. "Good news! I must go to Boston at once."
"Have they found the jewels?" questioned his daughter.
"The detective thinks he has located them. Yes, I must go at once." And Mr. Wadsworth hurried off to prepare for the journey.