The Rover Boys out West | Page 6

the gully. You mustn't drive down here, for the
bridge is down."
"Bridge down!" ejaculated John Laning. "Darwell said he was going to
mend it this week, but I saw no sign up at the cross-roads."
"Neither did we, and we came near to going overboard. As it is, we had
a pretty bad smash up!"
"Indeed!" came from Mrs. Stanhope, in alarm. "And was anybody

hurt?"
"Dick was thrown out and knocked unconscious, and Frank Harrington
had his chin cut, while the rest of us were pretty well shaken up. Peleg
the driver was thrown into some brushwood and that most likely saved
his life."
Mrs. Stanhope grew pale, for she remembered only too well that fateful
ride she had once taken with Josiah Crabtree, which had almost cost
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