CHAPTER XVIII
THE NIMRODS IN TROUBLE
During the afternoon, Bob Somers and his companions strolled around town. They paid the "Nimrod" a visit, in the expectation of seeing the Trailers, but, of course, the latter failed to put in appearance. The evening was spent at a small theatre.
The Ramblers had scarcely finished breakfast on the following morning, when a tall, slightly built gentleman walked briskly up to the Badger State Hotel. He was neatly attired in black, and had a generally prosperous appearance.
"Mr. Wingate!" exclaimed Bob, in surprise.
"I'm glad to see you, Robert," said Mr. Parsons Wingate, holding out his hand, and nodding to the others. "No doubt my visit is unexpected," he continued, with a smile, as he accepted the proffered chair.
"It seems that both the Rambler and Nimrod Clubs have been experiencing some lively times," he went on. "I'm sure you will understand how much I sympathize with you in the loss of your boat. It must have been a dreadful shock."
The Ramblers were intensely curious to know what object could have brought Mr. Parsons Wingate not only to town, but to see them.
"I don't suppose you have heard the news?" inquired their visitor, in his suave, pleasant voice.
"What news?" asked Bob.
"Ah, I thought not. You don't know where Nat and his friends passed the night?"
"No, sir."
"In the police station."
"In the police station?" echoed the astonished Ramblers, almost in one breath.
"Exactly."
Mr. Parsons Wingate even smiled at their surprise.
"Imagine my astonishment, last evening, when I received a telegram from my poor Nat, telling me of their plight."
"But why were they arrested?" broke in Sam Randall, unable to restrain his curiosity longer.
"If I should say that the police actually tried to make it appear that Nat knew something about the destruction of your motor boat, what would you think?"
"By George!" exclaimed Bob, in amazement. "Surely, Mr. Wingate, they were not arrested for that?"
"Not altogether. An ignorant boatman got in their way, somewhere, then, stupidly, had to fall overboard. The fellow makes a ridiculous claim, but, of course, a few dollars will settle that."
"I told the officer at the police station, yesterday, that Nat couldn't possibly know anything about the blowing up of the 'Rambler.'"
"Sure you did," chimed in Sam.
"There is no reason why Nat and his friends should not be discharged from custody at once," went on Mr. Wingate; "but, to clear away every shadow of doubt from the minds of these blundering police, I should be glad to have you go with me to the police station."
"Of course we will," chorused the Ramblers.
"And now," continued Mr. Wingate, with a smile, "I'm glad to hear that you have accepted Nat's offer. A couple of weeks' fun with the boys, will, I hope, make you partially forget your loss. You have agreed to join Nat, haven't you?"
"No, sir, we are going to visit my father's land."
"Your father's land?" questioned Mr. Wingate. "Your trip was undertaken with that object in view?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, a few weeks with Nat, before you start out, won't come amiss. A lot of lively youngsters ought to have a fine time together. In my boyhood days we never dreamed of the privileges that the youth of the twentieth century would enjoy. Motor boats, motor cycles, and a lot of other things. You are living in a great era, boys, and should appreciate it."
"It's too bad about Nat," ventured Tom Clifton.
"'All's well that ends well.' I hope that we shall dine together this evening."
Mr. Parsons Wingate smiled affably, and looked from one to the other. Then he added: "I mean, of course, that the Ramblers and Nimrods, alike, are to be my guests.
"Very good!" he exclaimed, when all had politely accepted. "Now, if I can trouble you, we will go to the station."
The Ramblers, with Bob and Mr. Parsons Wingate leading the way, were soon walking briskly toward the police station. When they arrived, which was shortly before ten o'clock, they found the towheaded young man conversing with an elderly gentleman and two others.
"That's the one," whispered Dave.
Nat's uncle walked toward the group and bowed politely. "My name is Parsons Wingate," he began; "very sorry that you should have any misunderstanding with my nephew. Of course, if you suffered any loss, I am willing to make a reasonable settlement."
Mr. Wingate's respectable appearance and pleasant manner seemed to make a favorable impression, but the young man, who evidently considered that he had been intentionally upset, was not disposed to let the matter drop. He introduced himself as Douglass Brown.
"I can tell you that the whole crowd acted in a most outrageous manner," he declared; "I have witnesses to prove it. Really, it was frightfully mortifying."
"Boys will be boys," observed Mr. Wingate, pleasantly. "Ah, here they come now."
The Nimrods, looking none the worse for their experience, trooped into the room. Backed by Mr. Wingate, they seemed to feel entirely easy in mind.
"Hello, Somers, hello!" said Nat, with a grin.
"My nephew," began Mr. Wingate, pompously; "this gentleman whom you unintentionally upset is Mr. Douglass Brown."
"How are you, Douglass?" said Nat, with his usual familiarity. "You made a big mistake in having us all run in. That little affair was all an accident."
"Of course it was," put in John Hackett; "if Nat's foot hadn't slipped, Mr. Brown, you wouldn't have hit the river with such a splash. Hope you didn't swallow much of it."
"We didn't do it on purpose, that's sure," chimed in Kirk Talbot.
"Of course not," laughed the gentleman from Kingswood. "You can see yourself, Mr. Brown, that the whole affair was brought about by a too sudden starting of the boat. My nephew explained to me this morning how it happened."
"Was the boat pointed toward you when we started?" interrupted Nat.
Mr. Brown was obliged to admit that it was not.
"And you, Kirk, don't you think you started the boat off in a little more lively fashion than usual?"
"Yes, sir," returned Talbot, glibly.
"Therefore my nephew got an unexpected lurch, and the mishap followed as a natural consequence. The boys may have been a trifle too exuberant, but they meant no harm."
"I think so, myself, now," exclaimed the elder Brown, a short, stocky man, with red hair and moustache. "I reckon, Douglass, they have told the truth. What do you think, Ben, and you, Sam?" he added, addressing the witnesses.
"I can't say for certain," replied Ben; "all I know is that this young chap," pointing at Nat, "was yelling like mad, when that 'ere boat of his'n suddenly went bang into the canoe. The next thing I see was Douglass a-swimming. 'Tain't in my nature to say a man done a thing like that a-purpose."
Ben, a tall, thin man, with angular features, reflected a moment before adding: "I don't know but what that idea may be right, only sich things ought never to happen. My darter was with Douglass, and she was nigh scared into fits."
"We all, of course, deeply regret what has occurred," put in Mr. Wingate, with an affable smile. "Your clothes, Mr. Brown, no doubt suffered to some extent. If you will kindly name—"
He paused, the justice of the peace having entered.
The latter was an elderly, gray-bearded man, who seemed to feel the importance of his position.
As there was, apparently, no other case on the calendar that morning, Mr. Wingate and the others were immediately given an opportunity to make their respective statements. The proceedings were of an informal nature. The justice listened attentively to all that was said, and nodded his head approvingly when Douglass Brown signified his willingness to withdraw the charge.
"In a matter of this sort," said the justice, "my duty is to decide whether the case is serious enough to warrant the accused being sent back to the local court for trial. It is clear that these boys did not act with the deliberate intent of doing harm. I will not hold on this charge. But I hope this will prove a warning to be more careful in future. A motor boat is a dangerous thing, unless handled with considerable judgment."
Mr. Wingate bowed. "If I may take the liberty," he said, "there is another matter which I would like to call your attention to. Chief," he proceeded, turning to that official, who was sitting close by, "yesterday you practically charged my nephew with having had some connection with the blowing up of a motor boat."
"In our business," returned the officer, "we cannot always respect people's feelings. A complaint was made, and I soon discovered that the young man, to say the least, has acted in such a manner as to lay himself open to suspicion."
"Nat is a good-hearted boy," went on Mr. Wingate; "he feels very badly over this matter, and neither of us is disposed to leave town until he is absolved from all suspicion."
"There are no charges against him," said the chief. "My questions were necessarily abrupt, and, happily, served to convince me of his innocence."
"I trust you may soon discover the author of that piece of work. It was certainly a most serious affair."
"It was. And, as yet, there is not a clue."
After a few minutes' further conversation, the party left the station.
"Do you mean to say that one of the motor boats was blown up?" questioned Douglass Brown, in surprise.
"Into five thousand little pieces," grinned Nat.
Young Brown listened in open-mouthed amazement, as Bob related the story of the tragic end of the "Rambler."
"I'm awfully sorry, boys," he said. "Only a mean snake would do a thing like that."
His father and their two friends expressed a like opinion.
"Now, gentlemen," said Mr. Wingate, "I hope you will accept an invitation to dine with the boys and myself this evening."
"I'd like to well enough," said Mr. Brown, Sr., "but I got to get back home. Douglass can stay, if he has a mind to."
"And I think I'll have to leave, too," said Ben.
"At any rate, we shall have the pleasure of Douglass' company," said Mr. Wingate, with his usual smile, as he bade the others good-bye.
When the Badger State Hotel was reached, Nat's uncle took his leave, on the plea of business, having arranged to meet them all again early in the evening.
"Fine man, that," observed Mr. Douglass Brown; "a very fine man. I never thought we should become friends like this."
"Let's hurry up, fellows," observed Nat. "I want to see if the 'Nimrod' is all right.
"Safe and sound!" he exclaimed, with satisfaction, when they finally came in view of the graceful motor boat lying at her moorings.
It was a beautiful day, and the bay was dotted with many kinds of craft.
"Somers, does your ultimatum still hold good?" asked Nat.
"We don't want you to keep on Clair Bay unless you feel like it," returned Bob.
"Then come back to the place where Hacky lammed the pussy cat."
"What's the use of that?" spoke up Dick. "I think we could have more fun by keeping on the bay."
"So do I," added Ted Pollock.
"Wish I could go on the trip," ventured Douglass, wistfully; "it must be fine."
"There's one thing we have to do," interrupted John Hackett; "that is, get some grub. Nine fellows can eat a sight of stuff; isn't that so, you sleepy 'pirate'?"
"Depends upon the cook," answered Dave, smilingly.
"Let's get the fodder now," proposed Nat. "We ought to leave this little Punktown first thing in the morning. Ted," he continued, "make up a list; that's a good fellow, and we'll have a grocer attend to it at once."
"Oh ho! I can't help thinking about that great supper to-night," observed Dave; "I'm going back to the hotel, and write a few letters."
About six o'clock that evening, the members of the two clubs, Douglass Brown and Mr. Parsons Wingate met at the Badger State Hotel.
"Now, Nat," remarked the latter, as they took their places at the supper table, "it isn't necessary for you to act in such a fashion as to attract crowds around the hotel. This is to be just a quiet little dinner.”