The Boy Scouts at the Panama-Pacific Exposition Part 4

"The Arabian Nights never was in it with the things that happen to you, Rob," he exclaimed, when the story was complete. "And so both of you are expecting to start overland to California right away? Well, I've got plenty of money right here, and what's to hinder our making it a party of three?"

"That strikes me as a good thing, Hiram," said Rob. "We're all scouts and comrades, after all; and you say you are afraid you'll need advice sooner or later in dealing with the manufacturers. We'll stand by you, Hiram, and there's my hand on it!"

"Bully for you, Rob!" cried the delighted inventor, whose dejected countenance immediately lighted up. "I was mighty afraid you meant to leave me out of the excursion party. Stand by me, and I'll do everything I can to help you. Three ought to be even better than just two, when it comes to counting noses."

"You made a remark just now that struck me as queer," said Rob.

"Tell me what it was, then, and I'll try to explain," Hiram ventured.

"Well, you spoke of wanting a companion along to keep you from being caught napping, or robbed of valuable papers on the way; what did you mean by the last part of that sentence? Have you any idea anyone covets your papers, and might make an attempt to rob you when you were far away from home?"

"Rob, p'raps I'm silly to think that way, but I can't help it," Hiram confessed. "You see, one of the companies I corresponded with was in New York. They even sent an agent down here to interview me, and see what I had got. I never liked that man the least bit. He struck me as a sneak, and I made up my mind the company was what you might call a snide one-wanting to steal ideas if they could. I declined to have any dealings with them, and their agent went away as mad as a hornet, even threatening that he'd get the better of me by hook or crook."

"You don't say!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Andy. "Then, you must have squeezed his toes, Hiram; you made him squeal, and show his true colors. I give you credit for that."

"Have you heard anything from the company since?" asked Rob, hardly knowing whether to treat the implied threat seriously, or only as the ugly remark of a disappointed man who had found that Hiram was too smart for him.

"Why, every week I get a few lines from this Marsters, the man who came to see me, asking if I'm ready to do business with him. There's no threat in the letter, but there's always something to imply that he's keeping track of what I'm doing, and expects sooner or later I'll be glad to turn to him for a sale."

"And you are afraid that he even knows of your dealings with this Golden Gate Company out on the Coast, is that it, Hiram?" continued the scout leader.

"I don't know what to think," admitted Hiram. "One letter came that I know had been tampered with. It may be he's got somebody in our postoffice in his pay."

"That would be a serious thing if true," Rob told him.

"It's lucky they didn't keep out the letter that had the bank draft in it," suggested Andy.

"They might have done it," Hiram said, "only the company was smart enough to register that, and it got to me safe and sound. But, Rob, after all this might only be a big bluff Marsters is putting up. He may never bother his head about me starting off on this trip, even if he hears about it through any paid spy in Hampton. And if I've got two good chums along with me, who's afraid?"

"All the same," advised Rob, "you'd better keep this thing a dead secret.

We'll agree not to say a word about it to anyone. They can know how Andy and myself have been lucky enough to get a chance to see the Exposition; and let people figure you're in the deal, too. We'll do nothing to make it seem contrary, remember that, Andy!"

"I'm on, all right, Rob," the other hastened to a.s.sure him.

"First of all," continued Rob, "be careful with that draft. If I were you I'd hand it over to my father, and then when you want the money he'll give it to you. Did you think to ask him not to mention it?"

"Yes, and he said he wouldn't, after I'd shown him the letter. He shook hands with me, Rob, and said he was as pleased as pie about it-leastways not in just those words, you know, but it meant the same thing. I'll go up right away and ask him to take charge of it for fear I may lose the paper."

After making arrangements to meet again in the afternoon so as to talk matters over and lay their plans for starting, the boys went home for lunch. All of them, of course, were fairly bubbling over with excitement; and when the story was told of what had happened on the bay, as well as the wonderful thing that came of the rescue, in at least two Hampton homes there were proud parents.

Of course, no one put the least objection in the way of Rob and Andy taking that wonderful trip. They were thought to be the luckiest boys in all Hampton; and when the news leaked out every fellow in town flocked around to hear the particulars.

That night after supper Rob and Andy rowed over to Judge Collins' and spent a very pleasant evening with Judge Collins and his distinguished guest. Professor McEwen went into matters with a thoroughness that spoke well for his business ability, in spite of the fact of his being a scientist.

In the end it was all arranged. Rob and Andy understood just what they were expected to do in order to carry out the instructions of the Scottish professor.

"Come over to-morrow afternoon, lads, and everything will be here ready for you to take charge of," the satisfied gentleman told them as they were saying good-night. "The Judge ha'e kindly promised to see to things, sinc' I'm muckle sore, and hardly in condition to show myself in public.

What I am giving into your charge can be handily carried in your grip; only I ken ye will want to be chained fast to the same all o' the time fra start to feenish."

Since there are so many things waiting to be told that befell the boys later on, there is really little need of our lingering any longer at this point than is absolutely necessary.

On the following afternoon Rob and Andy paid their last visit to the Point, and when they came away they carried a packet with them which they seemed to guard most carefully.

Besides this Rob had in his possession plenty of money to see them out to the Coast, as well as a letter of credit on a San Francis...o...b..nk that would insure a future supply.

"And if you should need even more," Judge Collins told Rob in parting, "wire to me of your necessities and it will be forthcoming, because we are both determined that you brave lads shall have the time of your lives while out there."

The boys made all their arrangements, and when the second morning rolled around there was quite a host at the station to see them take the morning train to New York, where they expected to start upon the real journey.

Sleeping-car berths had been secured in advance to New Orleans, and which would in fact carry them all the way through, since it was not their intention to stop over anywhere _en route_.

Among the relatives and friends who had a.s.sembled to see the three scouts leave for the far-distant Pacific Coast, were numerous members of the Hampton Troop. Like Rob and Andy and Hiram, these boys wore their khaki suits, and seemed proud of the badges and medals they had won the permission to sport.

Thanks to the caution suggested by Rob, no one appeared to know just how Hiram came to be in the fortunate bunch. Some accounts coupled his name with the rescue of the famous scientist who was visiting Judge Collins; while others were just as firmly convinced that there were only two on board the _Tramp_ at the time.

In the end it was set down as something of a mystery which might not be cleared up until the return of the travelers. They knew that Hiram was a very secretive sort of fellow, and that even if he accomplished something calculated to fetch him in money, he would not tell of it until he chose.

The train drew in at the station, and the three scouts got aboard amidst a perfect clamor of shouts, above which could be heard the well-known scout salute. As the conductor gave the signal for them to pull out there was a scene such as had seldom been witnessed at Hampton; which proved just how much Rob Blake, the leader of the scouts, was appreciated in his home town.

Hardly had they left the outskirts of the town behind when Hiram, who was sitting just behind Rob and Andy, leaned forward and said in a low tone:

"I'm not dead sure about it, Rob, but there was a man got aboard this train that looked a whole lot like that tricky agent I told you about, Marsters!"

CHAPTER VI.

A FALSE ALARM.

"Andy, would you mind changing seats with Hiram?" asked Rob, upon hearing what the boy behind him had just said.

"Not at all; there's plenty of room still," replied the troop bugler, quickly slipping out and allowing Hiram to take his place, while he leaned forward over the back of the seat so he could join in the conversation.

"Are you sure it was this same man, Hiram?" asked Rob.

"I only had a quick look at him, and his back was toward me," explained the nervous inventor, "but I'm most certain it was that agent. He had a rather odd little limp you see, and this feller did, too."

Hiram had his hand laid upon his chest. Inside his coat he carried the precious papers, and just then the boy seemed to be more concerned about these than he was in connection with the pocketbook that reposed in a back pocket of his trousers, or the tickets he had in another repository.

"Well, keep close to both of us, that's all," said Rob. "Even if it is Marsters, the chances are he's only trying in his mean way to give you a bad feeling. I don't expect we'll be bothered with him after we get fairly started on our trip."

"But what if he tried to steal my papers from me?" said Hiram uneasily.

"He'd have a hard time doing that, with one of us on either side,"

affirmed Andy Bowles confidently.

"And I wouldn't hesitate a second to hand him over to the police if he tried any of his games on us," Rob added.