CHAPTER XXI

THE ADIRONDACKS

Jet gave no heed to his own fatigue during this night's traveling.

His one desire was to reach the junction in time to send the telegram
to Harvey, and make such changes in his costume as would serve to
disguise him in some slight degree.

In order to effect this purpose, it would be necessary to travel every
moment of the time at full speed.

This he did, and it was one quarter past four in the morning when he
arrived at the junction.

He had more than two hours before the train would arrive, and his first
care was to send the following telegram to the detective:

"He, with a friend, has just started for the Adirondacks hunting. If
possible will let you know where they stop; but I may not be able to
get out of the woods while they stay."

It had taken Jet a long while to write the message. He wished to word
it so the operator could not understand that he was tracking a man, and
yet it was necessary the detective should realize it might be many days
before he could send any further information.

If the men had remained at Jabe's house one day after he discovered
positively that Bob was there, the whole work would have been finished
in a few hours, for an officer could have been sent from Albany to
capture him.

Under the circumstances, therefore, nothing could be done, save to
follow the men until it should be possible to let Harvey know where an
arrest might be effected.

After the message had been delivered to the operator, Jet walked around
the town waiting for the stores to be opened.

The "earliest bird" was a clothing dealer, and he "caught the worm"
without difficulty.

Jet bought a reefer's jacket, a slouch hat, and such articles of
underwear as might be needed. He also invested a dollar in a cheap
carpet-bag.

Then he waited a few moments longer for the shoemaker, of whom he
purchased a pair of top boots. Tucking his trousers into these, he had
the satisfaction of knowing that he bore very little resemblance to the
district messenger boy, who had left New York believing his destination
to be Yonkers.

"I'd like to buy a gun and some cartridges, if I could get a good
bargain," he said to the shoemaker, and the latter replied, eagerly:

"I've got jest what you want."

An ordinary breech-loading, double-barrelled gun was produced from
behind the counter, and after some bargaining a trade was made on the
basis of eight dollars for the weapon and si