The Rover Boys out West | Page 6

both of them their lives.
"I will go to the poor boy!" she said, and leaped to the ground, followed by Dora and the two Laning girls. Soon the carryall was led to the side of the road, and the others alighted, to see what damage had been done.
CHAPTER III
THE MISSING DANGER SIGNAL
When Sam came back he found Dick sitting on a rock with his cut plastered up from the out kit taken along to the football match. Frank had likewise been attended to.
"I am so glad you are not hurt seriously," said Mrs. Stanhope, as she sat down beside Dick, with Dora close at hand. "All of you have had a very narrow escape."
"It is a shame that no danger signal was display," said Dora. "When they are fixing a bridge they usually put a bar across the road with the sign: 'Danger! Road Closed,' on it."
"Exactly," put in Peleg. "But I haint seen no sign, an' that I can swear to."
"In that case Contractor Darwell will be responsible for this smash up," said John Laning. "Are the horses hurt?"
"They are pretty well scratched up around the legs."
"Humph! And the two front wheels of the stage are a total wreck. I reckon it will take the best part of fifty dollars to fix matters up."
"Anyway, I don't calculate as how I'm responsible," grumbled the general utility man, fearing he saw trouble ahead, when Captain Putnam should hear of the affair.
A creaking on the road was heard, and presently a lumber wagon hove into sight, piled high with the new planking for the bridge. On the front sat Darwell the contractor and two of his workmen.
"Hullo, what does all this mean?" cried the contractor, as he brought his wagon to a standstill, and viewed the wrecked stage.
"It means that Captain Putnam will have a little account to settle with you, Mr. Darwell," put in Harry Blossom promptly.
"With me? What for?"
"For this wreck."
"And for this cut chin," added Frank.
"And my being knocked out," said Dick.
"I'm not responsible for any wreck," replied Joel Darwell. "I put up the bar with the danger signal on it, up at the cross-roads."
"We didn't see no sign," interrupted Peleg Snuggers. "Not a bit of a sign."
"There was no sign when I came along," said John Laning.
"I put the sign up not over three hours ago," insisted Joel Darwell. "I can show you just where Sandy Long and I dug the post holes for it."
"Then some rascal took the sign down," said Tom. "What for?"
"Must have done it to wreck the stage," answered Larry Colby. "But could anybody be so cold-blooded?"
"Yes, there are several people who would do that," answered Dick promptly. "But I don't think they are within a hundred miles of Cedarville just now."
"You mean Dan Baxter for one," said Sam.
"And Josiah Crabtree for another," put in Tom. "They are both down on everybody around here."
"How about Mumps?" asked Larry.
"Oh, he reformed after that chase on the ocean, and I've heard he is now out West," said Sam. There's another rascal, though -- Mr. Arnold Baxter. But he is in jail in Albany -- he and that tool of his, Buddy Girk."
"Well, certainly somebody is responsible," said Frank. "Supposing we go back and try to find some clew?"
"And find the danger sign and put it up again," said Joel Darwell.
A dozen of the boys went back, and with them Tom and Sam, leaving Dick with the Stanhopes. As soon as the crowd had left, Dora Stanhope motioned the elder Rover to one side.
"Oh, Dick, it makes me shiver to hear Josiah Crabtree spoken of," she said in a whisper.
"Why, Dora, you don't mean to say that he has turned up again?" he questioned quickly.
"No -- but -- but -- last night I heard a strange noise on our side porch, as if somebody was trying the side window. I went to the door and asked to know who was there. At once I heard somebody or some animal leave the porch and climb over the side fence of the garden. I am almost certain it was some person trying to get into the house."
"Did you tell your mother?"
"No, she had one of her nervous headaches, and I thought it would do no good. But I couldn't sleep all night, and I laid with a big stick in one hand and papa's old revolver in the other. The revolver wasn't loaded, but I thought I might scare somebody with it."
"The revolver ought to be loaded, Dora. Do you know what caliber it is?"
"No; you know I know little or nothing about firearms."
"Then I'll find out for you, and get some cartridges. If Josiah Crabtree is around you ought to shoot him on the spot."
"Oh, I couldn't do that -- even though I do know how dreadfully he