“The stories are greatly confused and you won’t find out what really happened for some time, I don’t think. That man with the white mustache and black hair ought to be readily recognized. If he is a professional some ought to know him.”
“Yes, probably they will,” and Dick once more noticed that his companion seemed agitated.
He asked Jack to turn and go back as he did not feel quite equal to the task, the road being a bad one so Jack took the wheel and got them back to the station with little trouble.
Stopping here a few minutes and listening to the talk but learning nothing new, they went through the little village, made a few trifling purchases and then returned to the Academy, Jack managing the car and quite exciting Dick’s admiration by the cool manner in which he took the trying hills, sharp turns and steep ascents.
“I’d like to have you with me whenever I go to the station, Jack,” Dick said. “I fancied I could run a car anywhere but you can beat me all to bits. Herring can say what he likes but a fellow that can run a car as steadily and coolly as you can is good enough to associate with the president himself.”
“I am glad you like it,” said Jack, smiling, “but long use has made me well accustomed to our Hudson valley hills and I really do not mind them nor think them so bad as a stranger would.”
The story of the robbery was added to the next day and many conflicting accounts were related so that one could not readily find out what was true and what was not.
The man that Jones had seen was identified as a former prisoner in one of the State institutions but whether he had escaped or had served his term was very much in doubt.
On the second afternoon succeeding Jack’s visit to the station he was taking a stroll through the woods in the rear of the Academy, expecting Percival to join him, the two often taking walks together.
He suddenly observed that he was quite near to the bank of the ravine and was about to turn when all at once a form flew out of the bushes close at hand, rushed violently against him and sent him in an instant off his feet and down the steep incline.