"I don"t believe you got as much benefit out of it as I did, for since I was the winner I must have shown larger lungs than you did," said Jerry.
Then the heated discussion was on again, leading Frank to say:
"Boys, keep all that until we go out again, when you can open up another heat, and settle the matter for good. Will and I agree to umpire the race without the least leaning toward either contestant, won"t we, Will?"
The outdoor chums reached home that evening, and the farmer"s bound boy went with them.
"Jed, I want you to come with me," said Frank.
"What for?" asked the lad.
"I want you to have a talk with Bluff"s father. He is a lawyer and may be able to do something for you."
"All right," was the prompt reply.
When they got to Bluff"s home they had to wait for some time, for the lawyer was busy with one of his clients. But at last Bluff"s father had a chance to listen to what Jed had to tell.
"Show me those marks on your body," said the lawyer, and when the farmer"s boy did as requested Mr. Masters looked exceedingly stern.
"I shall certainly take this matter up for you," he said. "It is an outrage."
"Do you think Jed ought to go back to his cruel uncle?" asked Frank.
"Never," cried the lawyer firmly. "Such a man is not fit to have anybody live with him."
A little later Frank took Jed to Jerry"s home, and there asked to see the banker.
"What is it?" questioned Mr. Wallington, with interest.
"We want your advice about something, Mr. Wallington," answered Frank.
"This boy has found a paper I think valuable."
"Where was this found?" asked the banker, as he took the slip, and Frank and Jed told about the locket and how the paper has been brought to light.
"The Consolidated Heckla, eh?" mused the banker. "That is quite a well-known mining property, but whether the stock is up or down just now I cannot say."
"Can you find out?" asked Jerry, who was present.
"Oh, yes, I"ll make it my business to find out to-morrow," answered his parent.
"And when will you let me know?" asked Jed eagerly.
"Come to my office at three o"clock to-morrow afternoon."
It may well be imagined that the poor lad could hardly wait for the time to pa.s.s. He stayed at Frank"s home most of the day, but three o"clock found him at the banker"s office, in company with Frank and the other boys.
"Well, I have looked up the Consolidated Heckla," said the banker with a smile.
"And what of it?" asked Frank. "Oh, please don"t keep Jed and me waiting, Mr. Wallington."
"Well, I find that Heckla has made a splendid strike lately, consequently the shares owned by the late father of this lad are quite valuable."
"Good!" shouted Frank, and all the other boys echoed his sentiment.
"As much as a--a thousand dollars?" faltered Jed.
"As much as a good many thousand dollars, Jed," answered the banker.
"Oh, dear me! I must be dreaming!" murmured the lad, and then the tears of joy commenced to course down his cheeks. His days of want and cruelty were at an end.
"It"s like a dream," he whispered to Frank. "I"m almost afraid I"ll wake up and find it ain"t true!"
"But it is true, Jed, every word of it!" cried Frank.
"If you wish me to do so, I will see what I can do with the stock,"
pursued the banker.
"All right," said Jed, readily, for he now felt he was in the hands of real friends.
"And I will act with Mr. Masters against your uncle," added Mr.
Wallington.
"He ought to be punished," was Will"s comment.
"I"d like to ride him on a rail," said Frank.
"Or tar and feather him," added Bluff.
"That sort of talk won"t do," said the banker. "You will have to let the law take its course."
"Well, get all you can out of the mining stock," said Frank.
"I"ll surely do that," answered the banker.
Eventually the shares were sold for a large sum, and this invested so that the income would support Jed until he came of age, when the princ.i.p.al would be his own, to do with as he pleased.
No one ever found out just how Farmer Dobson learned that the paper was contained in the locket. He knew enough to keep his own counsel in the matter. The court reprimanded him for his cruel treatment of his charge and took the boy away, placing him in a comfortable home, where he found a mother"s love in the good woman of the house.
And so it seemed that the expedition formed on the spur of the moment, with the idea of discovering the truth about that ghost of Oak Ridge, was productive of much good to several persons who were in serious trouble, as well as affording great enjoyment to the four chums who took part in the outing on Lake Surprise.
"It was a great outing, eh, fellows?" said Will.
"The best ever!" cried Bluff. "You can"t beat it anywhere!"
"May we have many more like it," came from Frank.
"So say we all of us!" cried the Outdoor Chums in concert.