CHAPTER XVI

A TRICK, AND WHAT FOLLOWED

"Day after tomorrow we shall set off on our trip to the frozen north."

It was Barwell Dawson who made the announcement to the boys and Professor Jeffer, after a long consultation with Captain Williamson.

"Good!" shouted Andy, swinging his cap in the air.

"Suits me," added Chet. "I've been on pins and needles to go for a month and more."

"You mustn't be impatient," replied Mr. Dawson, with a smile. "Even as it is, we'll be getting away nearly a month before I originally planned to go. But I am ready, and so is Captain Williamson, so there is no use in delaying."

"What about Mr. Wilson?" asked Andy, referring to a man who had signed for the trip.

"He is sick, and cannot go. But Dr. Slade will be on hand, and likewise Mr. Camdal. They sent me a telegram last night."

"I suppose all the crew are here?" questioned Professor Jeffer.

"To a man--and all as anxious as we are to start."

"Do they know we are going to try for the Pole?"

"Not exactly, but I've told them--and so has the captain--that we intended to stay in the polar regions for at least two years."

Winter had passed, and now it was the middle of Spring. The weather was warm and pleasant, just the sort for a cruise, as Andy declared.

The boys had had but little to bother them outside of another meeting Andy had with his Uncle Si, who had followed him to Rathley. Josiah Graham had tried to "bulldoze" the youth, and had wanted Andy to give him ten dollars, but the boy had refused, and walked away, leaving his uncle in a more bitter frame of mind than ever.

"I don't know how he manages to live," Andy told Chet. "He doesn't seem to work."

"If he isn't willing to work, he ought to starve," answered Chet. He had no tender feelings for the man who had called him the son of a thief.

"I am sorry he came to Rathley. I don't understand how he found out we were here."

"Oh, he'd take more trouble to find you than to hunt up a job," answered Chet.

On the day previous to that set for the _Ice King_ to sail, Chet was walking down one of the docks, when he saw two men in earnest conversation. One man was pointing his long forefinger toward the vessel that was bound north, and drawing closer, Chet recognized Josiah Graham.

"Now what can he be up to?" the youth asked himself. "He seems to be quite excited."

The men were standing near a high board fence that separated one dock from another. Chet ran back through a warehouse, and scaled the fence, coming up quickly on the other side. Through a knothole he could see the two men, and hear all that was being said.

At first he could not catch the drift of the talk, but presently discovered that the stranger was some sort of officer of the law. The two were talking about Andy, and at last Josiah Graham said:

"I don't want him to run away from me. It's up to you to stop him, an' I want for you to do it."

"Are you his guardian?"

"O' course I be--I'm his only livin' relative. He's got property, but he'll go to the dogs if he ain't looked after. I want him brung ashore when thet ship sails, an' I understand she's a-goin' to sail to-morrer."

"Well, I'll see what can be done," answered the stranger. "Will you come to the office and make some sort of a complaint?"

"Have I got to do that?" questioned Josiah Graham, anxiously.

"It would be best."

"All right then, I'll do it. It's fer his own good," answered the shiftless one. "We'll catch him when he leaves the hotel to go to the ship." Then the two men walked away towards the center of the town.

"The mean rascal--to try to keep Andy from going on this trip!" murmured Chet to himself. "I'll soon put a spoke in his wheel!"

He started on a hunt for Andy, who had gone uptown to make a small purchase. He looked into several stores, and at last located his chum in a barber shop.

"Last haircut for some time to come," announced Andy. "After this, I guess I'll let my hair grow--it will be warmer."

"I've got something to tell you," returned Chet. "Hurry up."

"Can't hurry, when I'm getting my hair cut, Chet."

Nevertheless, Andy told the barber not to waste time, and ten minutes later both boys were on the street. There Chet related what he had overheard, Andy listening in wonder.

"He certainly is the limit, Chet. Now, what do you suppose I had best do?"

"I don't know--tell Mr. Dawson, I suppose."

"But I don't want to get him into trouble."

"Do you think it will do that?"

"It might--and he might tell me it would be best for me to stay behind," answered Andy, gloomily. "And I'm not going to stay behind!" he cried, desperately.

"Then I know what you can do!" exclaimed Chet, struck by a sudden idea.

"What?"

"Play a trick on your Uncle Si. But it will cost you a five-dollar bill."

"That's cheap--if only I can get rid of the old curmudgeon."

"Then come with me, to the writing-room of the hotel."

Andy did as requested, and there Chet unfolded his plan. Andy agreed to it at once, and without loss of time the following letter was penned:

"_Dear Uncle Si_: I am sorry I caused you so much trouble. Will you come to Pine Run at once? I inclose five dollars for the trip. How much money can you get for those papers? Thought I'd like to go on that ocean trip, but I suppose sailoring is harder than lumbering, isn't it?

"Your Nephew, "_Andy_."

Andy had in his pocket an envelope postmarked Pine Run, and addressed to himself. With care he erased the name "Andrew" and substituted "Josiah," and then he changed the address. He knew where his uncle was stopping, a cheap lodging house.

"I guess that will set him off the trail," said Chet, with a grin, after the envelope had been sealed with care. "And we haven't told him any falsehood, either."

The boys laid their plans with care, and hired a youth employed around the lodging house to hand the letter to Josiah Graham, but without stating where it came from. Then Andy and Chet set watch.

In the middle of the afternoon they saw Josiah Graham enter the lodging house. They waited impatiently, and half an hour later saw him emerge, carrying his faded grip in his hand. He headed directly for the depot.

"I guess the plan is going to work," whispered Chet. "Let us follow him."

"He mustn't see me--or it would spoil everything."

They followed on behind the man, and saw him enter a police station. He came forth five minutes later, looking flushed and humiliated.

"I'll wager he has withdrawn his charge against you," said Chet, and his surmise was correct.

From the station house Josiah Graham hurried to the depot. It was three o'clock, and a train for Pine Run was due in fifteen minutes.

"Pine Run ticket," Chet heard him demand, at the window, and it was handed to him. Then he came out on the platform, and sank down on a bench, with his grip at his feet.

"You are rid of him, Andy," cried Chet, gayly.

"It was fine of you to think of the trick," responded Andy, gratefully.

"Say, I've got a good mind to have some fun with the old man," went on Chet.

"Fun? I hope you don't mean to knock him down?"

"No, for he might have me arrested, and that would keep me from going on the trip. I'll just quiz him a little."

"Better be careful."

"Don't worry--I know what I am doing."

While Andy still kept out of sight, Chet sauntered slowly across the depot platform, as if looking for somebody. Josiah Graham stared at him and leaped to his feet.

"Wot you a-doin' here?" demanded the lazy man.

"Oh!" cried Chet, in well-assumed surprise. "Is Andy with you?" he questioned, anxiously.

"No, he ain't," snapped Josiah Graham.

"Do you know where he has gone?"

"Don't you know?"

"He was at our hotel yesterday, but he isn't there now."

"Mebbe he's on thet ship," sniffed Josiah Graham.

"No, he isn't on that ship, either."

"Wasn't he a-goin' to sail with you?"

"So he said, but----" Chet paused. "Then you really don't know where he is?"

"If I do, I ain't a-goin' to tell you, Chet Greene."

"Don't be hard on me, Mr. Graham, now I am down on my luck."

"Humph! It's your own fault you ain't got no work. Why didn't you stay around Pine Run?"

At this question Chet only sighed. He took on a very forlorn look.

"Would you--er--would you----"

"Wot?"

"I hate to ask it, but would you mind lending me the price of a ticket for Pine Run?" he said, falteringly.

"Me?" shrilled Josiah Graham. "Not much I won't! You go an' earn your money, young man. Serves you right if you are out o' pocket an' ain't got a cent."

"Then you won't--er--even give me the price of a--er--a dinner?"

"Not a cent! You don't deserve it. I see how it is," went on Josiah Graham, craftily. "Thet man who owns the ship has got sick o' you an' Andy, too, an' don't want nuthin' more to do with yer! Well, I don't blame him. Now ye can both go back to Pine Run an' go to work."

"How can a fellow get back if he hasn't the price of a ticket?" asked Chet, in a hopeless fashion, although he could scarcely keep from laughing.

"Go to work an' earn money, I tell yer! I have to do it, an' you ain't no better nor I be."

"Have you been working?"

"O' course I've been working."

"Then you won't even give me ten cents for some bread and coffee?"

"No. Go to work--it will do yer good."

"Will you tell me about Andy?"

"Well, if ye want to know so awful bad, Andy has gone back to Pine Run. He has found out the errors o' his ways, an' has sent fer me to take care o' him. I don't think he'll be a-runnin' away ag'in very soon."

"Too bad! too bad!" And the mischievous Chet placed a handkerchief to his eyes.

"It's wot a boy gits when he won't mind his uncle," went on Josiah Graham, stiffly. "After this I guess he'll toe the mark! It's a pity you ain't got nobuddy to bring you to your senses."

"Maybe you'd like to take me under your care?" suggested Chet, with a most woe-begone look on his face.

"No--I got my hands full with Andy. Here is my train, so I can't talk to yer no longer. Go to work an' earn somethin' to eat, an' the price o' a railroad ticket." And then Josiah Graham swung himself aboard the train, which pulled out from the station a moment later.

"Oh, Chet, how could you do it!" roared Andy, when the chums were alone. "I thought I'd split, listening to the talk!"

"Wouldn't even give a fellow the price of a meal," returned Chet, coolly. "Well, I rather think he'll be surprised when he gets back to your cabin and finds everything locked up." And then he, too, laughed heartily over the trick that had been played on Andy's shiftless relative.