Howard Roger Garis

“ Paul and Innis also felt a growing wonder, for they knew some of the details of Dick's plan to save the Wardell fortune.
"Now you understand why I am here," went on Mr. Cameron. "There is a water hole about a mile from here, and one of those rare occurrences in the desert, a little oasis of trees, and a hill. There we have made a camp, which not one in a thousand would ever find. We are comfortable enough, in a way, but I lack for society.
"That is why, wandering away, I saw the gleam of your fire, and hearing the music, I could not help but join in. ”

“ Still, they can mend the steering knuckle I should think."
"Come on then," urged Dick. "We'll take you as far as there, and if you can't hire a car you're welcome to ride to Hazelton with us."
"Oh, Mr.——"
"Hamilton—Dick Hamilton," supplied our hero.
"I couldn't think of it, Mr. Hamilton. I wouldn't put you to that trouble for the world."
"It's no trouble," Dick assured him. "I believe in being helpful whenever I can. I might be in the same boat myself some day."
"It doesn't look as though your car would ever break down," said the lame man. "It certainly is a beauty. What make is that?" ”

“ As he did so a man walking with a perceptible limp came from the other side of the car, where he had evidently been tinkering with the mechanism, and held up his hand as a signal of distress.
"What's the matter?" asked Dick, as his big car came to a stop.
"Steering gear's broken," said the lame man, "and I can't push the car out of the road myself. It's a mean place to have an accident."
"Yes, especially as it makes the road impassable," said Paul. "Well, I guess we can get you out of the way all right. Is the break a bad one?"
"Yes, the steering knuckle has gone all to pieces. ”

“ Paul and Innis shouted their questions at their chum, as he sat at the wheel, guiding the ponderous car on its perilous way. Every stone that could be avoided Dick steered away from, yet to make too much of a swerve, he knew, would be disastrous. ”

“ Ainslie, the California lawyer."
"Say, it seems to me you're going to a lot of trouble to save a fortune for a fellow you don't know very well, and who doesn't seem to take much interest in it himself," observed Innis.
"Who, Wardell?" asked Dick.
"Sure. That's who I mean."
"You don't understand," said the young millionaire, softly. "In the first place, Mr. Wardell would make the biggest kind of a fight for himself, if he were here. But I think he's doing the right thing, to try to start life over again, for there's nothing sure about saving his fortune for him. ”

“ Dick," answered the butler, and again the unfortunate dog was led away, casting a sad look at Dick and a vindictive one at Uncle Ezra.
"It's lucky he didn't bite you," spoke Mr. [Pg 75] Hamilton. "He must have sneaked in here after he was put out before."
"If he had bitten me——" began Uncle Ezra.
"He'd have done it at once, if he had any such intention, I think," interrupted Dick. "Grit isn't savage——"
"Isn't savage!" cried Mr. Larabee. "I'd like to know what you do call it?"
"You don't understand him," suggested the young millionaire. "He's as gentle as a cat with—his friends." ”

“ Innis was more fastidious about his dress than either of his chums, and naturally noticed the garments of others more closely.
"Greeting, fair sirs!" exclaimed the newcomer. "It is very kind of you to extend your hospitality to a stranger, and I thank you. Permit me to make myself known to you. I am Harry Cameron, sometime of San Francisco, at present of the desert waste; an engineer by profession, a dilly-dallier of verse by avocation, and actually in durance vile for the time being. ”

“ He had a no more sprained ankle than I had."
"If he wasn't lame, he was a good actor," declared Innis.
"That's it—he really was lame!" exclaimed Dick, quickly. "It wasn't put on at all, and I knew then that he was permanently disabled, and that it wasn't from the jar of suddenly leaping out of a car."
"How could you tell that?" asked Paul.
"By his shoes. You know how a shoe will get full of wrinkles if it's walked in in a certain way for any length of time. A lame person's shoe will get wrinkles in it that no other person's would. ”

“ The chums stood for a moment silent about their dying camp fire.
"Well, what do you know about that?" asked Paul.
"It's a queer go," assented Innis.
"Those men are just like guards," said Dick. "Uncle Ezra, or his agents, must be afraid Mr. Cameron will go back on his promise."
[Pg 225]
"If it was a promise given under misrepresentation then he is released from it—that holds in law," said Paul.
"I believe it does," agreed our hero. "I hope I get a chance to speak to him to-morrow. The idea of hiding him away out in this desert to prevent him from going to court. It's outrageous." ”

“ Oh, the money they waste!" and Uncle Ezra shook his head.
"Well, if they're in an auto, I presume they'll have to be followed in an auto," went on Mr. Black, "and auto hire costs money."
"Couldn't—couldn't they be followed on a bicycle?" asked the crabbed old man. "I wouldn't mind buying a second-hand bicycle for your man, and he could follow them on that. Bicycle riding is healthy."
"Say, if you expect me to trail along after a touring car on a bicycle—and a second-hand one at that—you can get some one else to do this job!" ”

“ But the deep sand of the slope leading down to the water was already having its effect. No better brake could have been devised than that clinging material.
"She's slacking up!" cried Paul.
"We're all right!" added Innis.
Into the water splashed the big touring car. A shower of spray shot up on either side. The machine was slackening speed. Dick was beginning to relax his grip on the steering wheel, and his chums breathed easier.
Then, with a jolt that threw them all forward in a heap, the auto seemed to strike some obstruction in the bed of the creek. ”

“ It was not a part of the regular auto show, and the space it occupied could be utilized by other machines.
"Very well then," said Dick. "I'll probably hear from my father in the morning. He'll likely send an order to his New York bankers to pay over the money, and then the machine will be mine."
"And I congratulate you," said the agent. "It is a car to be proud of, and if you intend making a long trip it will be just what you want."
"We'll go across the continent in her!" cried Dick. "Boys, are you with me?"
"That's what!" exclaimed Paul and Innis. ”

“ Yes, I do, and I can't say I altogether approve of 'em, Nephew Richard. They spend too much money."
"Well I guess they've got plenty to spend," said Dick, for Kentfield Academy was attended by the sons of many rich men, though it was in no sense a snobbish institution.
"Yes," went on Uncle Ezra, with a grim chuckle, "I came here to meet a young man, and I met him. I came to teach him a lesson, and I taught it. I guess Mr. Frank Wardell won't be so high and mighty after this. ”

“ Dick was the first up the next morning.
"What's the route to-day?" asked Paul, turning over in the bunk.
"I'm going to try to make Buffalo."
"What! Buffalo?"
"Sure, we can do it by taking short cuts, I think. Let me have a look at that road map. Hand it over, Innis."
From his cot Innis reached into the pocket on the inner side of the door, and hauled out an envelope. This he handed to Dick.
"What's this? Where did this come from?" asked the latter, as he pulled out several blank sheets of legal paper. "This is a funny trick. Our road map has been transformed into nothing." ”

“ He ate it with such evident relish that Paul at once fried him another. Then, as the three chums had eaten enough, they put away their cooking apparatus, tossed the wooden plates into the stream, and prepared to get their auto out of the mud.
"The first thing to do," decided Dick, when they had gone ashore in the boat Mr. Kinsey had borrowed for them, "is to see if we can get that tackle. There's no use bothering with horses until we have something rigged up so we can use their strength to the best advantage. Where would we be likely to get a rope and pulleys?" ”

“ But knowing none of these things, Dick and his chums turned into the bunks with a feeling of peacefulness and ease, and slept soundly. All too soundly, it would seem. Too soundly to have heard a car pull up behind them shortly after midnight.
The car came to a halt some distance away from Dick's, the red tail-lamp on the latter disclosing its presence. From the rear car a man silently alighted to the dusty road. ”

“ He heard the thud of the horsehide striking the mit of the third baseman, and thought all was lost, but he dared not turn to see. Then a groan—a groan of despair from the Kentfield stand—told him what had happened. The third baseman had muffed it. There was still a chance for the runner.
Lem's feet and legs scarce could carry him onward, but he forced them to. The shortstop was racing madly for the ball. He and Dick collided, and when the ball was finally recovered by the chagrined third baseman himself, Lem was so near home that it was a foregone conclusion that he would tally the tieing run. ”

“ Dick found matters as the porter had described. A rather flashily dressed young man stood close against one of the side doors of the baggage car, while Grit, who had broken his chain, stood in front of him, with his bowed front legs far apart, and his black lips drawn back from his teeth. From time to time the bulldog growled menacingly, especially whenever the young man moved. The baggageman, with a puzzled expression on his face, had placed some trunks in the middle of the car, ready to be put out of the side door when the next station stop should be reached. ”

“ Say, I can just about see where my vacation is coming in now, Paul."
"That's right. You are in luck!"
"A touring car!" cried Mr. Larabee. "You mean an automobile, Dick? Why you've got one already. It would be a shameful waste of money to buy another. You can take what a touring car would cost, and invest the sum in some good securities. ”

“ Then Paul and Innis took turns, under the watchful eye and ready hands of the chauffeur.
They stopped for dinner at a wayside hotel, and then drove back to New York, Dick arranging to have the car kept in a nearby garage. The next day he went out again, on a longer run, taking Grit with him. The bulldog seemed to take kindly to the new car, and made himself at home in it. The chauffeur had it easier now, for Dick felt confident enough to do all the operating himself.
"We ought to stock up and live in it one night," suggested Paul, the third day. ”

“ Thus Paul and Innis exchanged remarks and criticisms as they approached the house which, being moved from one site to another, now blocked the entire road.
"There's no chance of getting past, without running the risk of getting fast in the ditch," decided Dick, as he got out of the car and took a careful survey. "I guess we're stuck, boys." ”

“ Then he quickly added: "Suppose you give me power of attorney to act for you, and a letter to your lawyer. Then I can see him myself," for Dick did not want to get on dangerous ground as regards Uncle Ezra. "Then you can go to South America whenever you get ready, and I'll look after the rest," he added.
"It seems sort of cowardly, to run away and leave you to face the music," and Mr. Wardell hesitated.
"Not at all!" Dick assured him. "I'll be glad of the chance to do this business for you. It will be good training for me. My father is willing. ”

“ He hesitated, and seemed to be struggling with some emotion.
"Perhaps I had better get off the track—for the present," he said, slowly.
"You had, if you don't want to be killed!" exclaimed Dick, with a laugh that took the grim meaning from the words. "I guess we'd all better. The trains are getting nearer, and it's too good a world to leave by way of the iron route."
"Is it a good world?" asked the man, suddenly.
"I find it so," answered the cadet. "Especially in this kind of weather, and vacation so near at hand; eh, Paul?"
"That's right!"
"You are students at the Kentfield Academy then?" ”

“ Hamilton, as he shook hands with his son and his chums.
"I will, Dad. If Uncle Ezra asks for me—well, tell him I'll see him later!"
"I will. Have you the papers safe?"
"Yes, they're in the auto where no one can find them. I'll write as often as I can. All ready, boys?"
"Let her go, Dick!" cried Paul.
"Start off!" exclaimed Innis Beeby.
Dick pressed the button of the electric starter. There was a hum, a throb of the powerful motor, and the big car moved slowly out of the yard. ”

“ I guess Mr. Tunison would do that for me, even if I can't pay his regular fee. He's done enough business for our family in the past. But, look here, Mr. Hamilton, what good will the papers do me when I can't go to San Francisco to file them? At least, I don't think I ought to give up a certain, sure thing for one that's only a chance. I can't file the papers after I get them."
"Well, then, I can!" cried Dick.
"You can? What do you mean?"
"I mean that my chums and I are going to take a tour to California. I can combine business with pleasure, and file those papers for you. ”

“ Uncle Ezra Larabee was a curious character. He was quite rich, perhaps not so much so as Mr. Hamilton, but with a large fortune. He did not seem to enjoy life, however, and was continually preaching economy. He had a particular aversion to the bulldog, Grit, and, it might be said in passing, Grit returned the compliment, so to speak.
When Dick and his chums at Kentfield found that their football challenge to the Blue Hill [Pg 18] Academy was treated as a joke, they were quite angry, and justly so. True, the former military academy team was in poor shape, but the lads were eager to do better. ”