The Mystery of Wandering Caveman - M. V. Carey [33]
“The ransom,” said Jupe after a moment. “He’s going to pay the ransom! Things are breaking at last!”
Chapter 15
A Double Surprise
“COME ON!” ordered Jupe. “Let’s see how Newt handles the ransom payment!”
He trotted off towards town.
“How’s he going to pay it?” demanded Pete as he caught up with Jupe. “He didn’t take the car.”
“Then he’s making arrangements,” said Jupe impatiently. “Come on!”
The boys went down Main Street. They were just passing the little park when they saw McAfee come out of the Lazy Daze Cafe. Mr. Carlson, the cafe owner, was with him, and so were two other men. Jupe recognized one as the man who ran the drugstore. As the four headed for the bank on the corner, they were joined by a man who came hurrying from the motel.
“Just as I suspected,” said Jupe. “All the merchants in town have a stake in the cave man, and they’re all going to contribute to the ransom.”
Jupe sat down on one of the park benches. He saw through the plate-glass window that the bank manager came from behind his desk to meet the men. He looked very serious as he shook hands with Newt, nodded to the other men, then ushered the group into a room at the rear of the bank.
“What do we do now?” wondered Bob.
“We wait,” said Jupe. “And we shouldn’t have to wait long.”
Five minutes later, as the clock in the church tower was striking ten, Newt McAfee came out of the bank. He carried a canvas money sack. The café owner was with him.
“Aha!” said Jupiter.
McAfee and his companion went to the parking lot next to the cafe. They got into a Volkswagen that was parked there and drove off.
“I have a feeling they won’t be gone long,” said Jupe. He gestured towards the bank across the street. The two men who had entered the bank with McAfee were coming out now with the bank manager. They stood on the pavement for a few minutes, looking anxious and uncertain. Then they went into the Lazy Daze Cafe and sat in a booth near the counter.
The boys waited as the church clock struck ten fifteen and ten thirty. Then Newt and his companion came driving up the street and parked. When they walked into the cafe, Newt was not carrying the money sack.
“Do we dare join the party?” said Jupe.
He stood up and started across the street. After hesitating briefly, the other two boys followed him.
Except for the men in the booth, the counterman, and a waitress who was filling sugar bowls, the cafe was empty when the boys went in. McAfee stared at the boys and then looked away. Jupe and Pete and Bob took a table across the aisle from the men, and Jupe nodded in a friendly fashion.
“Are you waiting for the phone call from the kidnapper?” he said.
McAfee’s jaw dropped open, then closed again.
“You paid the ransom, didn’t you?” said Jupe.
McAfee floundered out of the booth and grabbed the front of Jupe’s shirt. “What do you know?” he demanded. “You … you’re a part of it! You’ve been spying on us the whole time!”
Jupe didn’t struggle. He simply said, “I am not part of anything.”
“Hey, Newt, take it easy,” said the cafe owner.
McAfee scowled, but he let go of Jupe’s shirt.
“Crime is a hobby of mine, and of my friends,” said Jupe easily. “It’s more than a hobby. It’s a vocation. However, we don’t commit crimes. We try to solve them, and often we succeed.”
“Punk kid!” grumbled McAfee. He went back to the booth.
“Do you think the thief will tell you where the bones are?” said Jupe.
McAfee didn’t answer, but the cafe owner spoke up. “We … we don’t have any way of being sure, do we? We can only hope.”
Jupe nodded, and again the minutes ticked by.
“Suppose someone finds that money,” said the banker after a while. “Suppose someone stops to eat a picnic lunch in that rest area and …”
“Shut up!” snapped Newt. He looked ill, and a faint beading of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Bob