"Oh, on general principles of meanness. That’s why I came to warn you. I think," continued Slavin with a dangerous gleam in his eye, "I think I’ll get there first. Don’t you worry--I’m pretty sure to head them off. Only keep an eye open."
"Thank you," said Ralph. "So they are back in town? Are they going about openly?"
"They came late this afternoon. A friend told me he saw them driving along in a cab, fixed up reckless. He said they had on the latest new togs, diamond pins, kid gloves, et settery, till you couldn’t rest."
"I should think that was rather venturesome on Slump’s part," said Ralph.
"You mean, because there’s a warrant out for him on that old junk-stealing case?"
"It’s--what?" demanded Ralph in profound astonishment.
"Settled--at least fixed up in some way."
"How do you know?" inquired Ralph skeptically.
"Adair, the road detective, told a crossings man, boiling hot over it. Said that Slump had gone to the justice, put in an appearance, and was bound over to next court term."
"Why," said Ralph, "that looks incredible. He would have to give bonds."
"Yes, five hundred dollars’ bail. He gave it, right enough. Bondsman was right there. The thing had been cut and dried beforehand."
"Who was his bondsman--did you learn?" asked Ralph.
His thoughts ran rapidly. At a good many turns of late, it seemed, the miserly magnate of Stanley Junction was coming into his life.
To Ralph the solution of the present problem was prompt and logical: Farrington probably had the unfortunate Mrs. Davis in his power. He had hired Mort Bemis and Ike Slump to kidnap her. Now he himself was at the mercy and in the clutches of his conscienceless confederates.
Ralph theorized that he had paid his accomplices a goodly sum of money for their assistance. For a time, with plenty of ready cash in their possession, they had found diversion in the city. The longing to cut a dash at home, however, had brought them back to Stanley Junction.
It looked as if Slump had set a price for his silence and secrecy regarding the magnate’s schemes. He had probably demanded that Farrington go on his bail bond, and afterwards stand back of him in the trial with his wealth and influence.
"I am very much obliged to you for what you have told me, Slavin," said Ralph at last. "Also for your kindly intentions toward me. If I were you, though, I wouldn’t go getting into trouble with those two fellows."