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@@ -1,35 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Boys and Their New Electric Cell, by -L. P. Wyman - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Golden Boys and Their New Electric Cell - -Author: L. P. Wyman - -Release Date: July 12, 2013 [EBook #43197] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOLDEN BOYS AND NEW ELECTRIC CELL *** - - - - -Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Melissa McDaniel and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43197 *** Transcriber's Note: @@ -167,7 +136,7 @@ hum, which had filled the room ceased, he added, "There you are." Bending over a glass tank, which was about 12 inches square by 8 deep, and nearly filled with dilute sulphuric acid, Bob disconnected two wires and reaching in his hand, lifted out a cylinder of metal about 6 -inches long and 11/2 inches thick. +inches long and 1½ inches thick. "Hurrah," he shouted, "she's almost full. Now in about a minute we'll know whether or not we've wasted our time during the last week. Have @@ -5713,359 +5682,4 @@ A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 East 23rd St., New York End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Boys and Their New Electric Cell, by L. P. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Golden Boys and Their New Electric Cell - -Author: L. P. Wyman - -Release Date: July 12, 2013 [EBook #43197] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOLDEN BOYS AND NEW ELECTRIC CELL *** - - - - -Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Melissa McDaniel and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - -Transcriber's Note: - - Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have - been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. - - Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. - - - - - [Illustration: Foot by foot the Sprite crept up to the Winner till the - two boats were racing side by side. - - (_The Golden Boys and Their New Electric Cell_) _Page 35_] - - - - - THE GOLDEN BOYS - AND THEIR - NEW ELECTRIC CELL - - BY L. P. WYMAN, PH.D. - Dean of Pennsylvania Military College - - AUTHOR OF - - "_The Golden Boys at the Fortress_," "_The Golden Boys - in the Maine Woods_," "_The Golden Boys with the - Lumber Jacks_," "_The Golden Boys on the - River Drive_." - - A. L. BURT COMPANY - Publishers New York - - - - - THE - GOLDEN BOYS SERIES - - -A Series of Stories for Boys 12 to 16 Years of Age - -BY L. P. WYMAN, PH.D. - -Dean of the Pennsylvania Military College - - The Golden Boys and Their New Electric Cell - The Golden Boys at the Fortress - The Golden Boys in the Maine Woods - The Golden Boys With the Lumber Jacks - The Golden Boys on the River Drive - - Copyright, 1922 - By A. L. BURT COMPANY - - - - -THE GOLDEN BOYS AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL - -Made in "U. S. A." - - - - -THE GOLDEN BOYS AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -THE NEW CELL. - - -"Say, Jack, do you have any idea that this thing is going to work?" - -"I don't know, Bob, the theory is all right, but how it will work out -in practice is a cat of another color; one thing is sure, though, and -that is if it don't work we are out of the running in the race, for -the new boat the Jenkins boys have just bought, will run circles round -the Sprite." - -"Well, we'll soon know, for it's about ready to test." - -This conversation took place one afternoon in the latter part of July -in the basement of a house in Skowhegan, Maine. The room was fitted up -as a combined workshop and laboratory, and a single glance would -indicate that the two boys were by no means novices, for it contained -many expensive and intricate pieces of machinery. - -Jack and Bob Golden, 15 and 17 years old respectively, were sons of a -rich manufacturer, who had made a large part of his fortune through -his own inventions. Mr. Golden was an indulgent father and seeing that -his inventive genius had descended to his sons, had fitted up a modern -machine shop and laboratory for them and had supplied them liberally -with money for experiments. He had by no means been disappointed in -the results, for although they were but boys, they had already worked -out several designs, which had been patented and had proved very -successful. - -Mr. Golden was proud of his boys and with good reason. They were large -for their age, Bob standing 5 feet 10 inches in his stockings and Jack -being but two inches shorter. They were fine, manly, looking fellows, -and their clean-cut open faces told that they were generous to a fault -and were boys to be trusted. - -The rest of the family consisted of Mrs. Golden, a small lovable -woman, and a daughter Edna, 14 years old, who was almost worshipped by -her big brothers. Altogether they were as happy and jolly a family as -one would find in a long journey. - -Through the center of the town ran the Kennebec river, and six miles -to the north lay a beautiful sheet of water, five miles long by two -wide, known as Hayden Lake. Here the boys kept their motorboat, and as -Mr. Golden had a large cottage on the shore of the lake, the family -spent the greater part of the summer there. The shores of the lake -were dotted with cottages, and probably thirty or more motor boats -were owned by the people who made the place their summer home. During -each summer many races were held, and proud indeed was the boy or man -who secured the blue ribbon given to the winner of the final race held -the first week in August. - -"I say, Jack," shouted Bob from the farther side of the room where he -was closely watching a piece of electrical apparatus, "shut down the -dynamo, will you? I want to look at these cells and see how they are -coming. We ought to have about enough in the first one." - -"Right you are, son!" replied Jack as he turned a lever, and as the -hum, which had filled the room ceased, he added, "There you are." - -Bending over a glass tank, which was about 12 inches square by 8 deep, -and nearly filled with dilute sulphuric acid, Bob disconnected two -wires and reaching in his hand, lifted out a cylinder of metal about 6 -inches long and 1½ inches thick. - -"Hurrah," he shouted, "she's almost full. Now in about a minute we'll -know whether or not we've wasted our time during the last week. Have -you got those caps all ready and is the motor in trim?" - -"Sure thing," replied Jack. "But say, Bob, I'm mighty nervous; suppose -it don't work." - -"Well," said Bob slowly, "it won't be the first time we've had to try -again. If there is any trouble I feel sure it's in the caps, for this -manganese dioxide was made by the electric current, and if the caps -make it decompose into manganese and oxygen, the same amount of -electricity will be produced as was used in making it. It's the same -principle as the regular storage battery, only we are going to do -without the plates and sulphuric acid." - -"That's all right," said impatient Jack, "but hurry up and hitch it on -and let's get the anxiety over with." - -While talking, Bob had screwed on to each end of the cylinder a metal -cap which had attached to its middle an insulated wire. He now laid -the cylinder on a table and fastened each of the wires to a terminal -of a small, but powerful electric motor. - -"All right now, switch her on and let's see her hum." - -Instantly Jack threw over the lever, but, alas for the hopes of the -boys, nothing resulted. As they looked at each other keen -disappointment was evident on both faces. Almost instantly, however, -Jack grabbed his brother by the arm and almost shouted. - -"Well, if I'm not the original clumsy Claude." - -"What is it? Tell me quick." - -"Why, don't you see? I gave you two positive caps instead of a -positive and negative." - -Bob quickly picked up the cylinder, and a glance told him that his -brother was right. Quickly unscrewing one cap he replaced it with a -similar appearing one, but which was marked -- instead of +. - -"Now we're off again, switch her on," and this time, to their intense -delight, no sooner was the switch thrown than the little motor sprang -to life, and the armature began to revolve with a whirl which seemed -to shout success to the two boys. Catching hold of each other's hands -they danced about the room fairly shouting their joy. - -"For mercy sakes, what is this, a new kind of a war dance?" asked a -mild voice, and stopping just at the beginning of a wild yell, the -boys saw that their father had entered the room. - -"Oh, dad," cried both boys, running to him and catching him by the -arms. "It works, it works. Just see it go." - -"Well, well, so it does, so it does," said Mr. Golden eagerly. "Boys, -I certainly congratulate you; you have done a big thing and if it -works as well as it seems to be doing, it will be one of the greatest -inventions of the day." - -"Now," said Jack, "we must see how long it will--hold on a minute," -and to their amazement he rushed to the back door flung it open and -dashed across the yard. He was gone fully five minutes and when he -returned was panting for all he was worth. - -"Didn't you see him?" he demanded. - -"See who?" asked Bob. - -"Why, sure as I live, Fred Jenkins was looking in that window. He lit -out, though, and got away before I could get out." - -"What do you suppose he wanted?" asked Mr. Golden. - -"Well, I'll tell you, dad," replied Bob. "Ever since we came down from -the lake Fred and Will Jenkins have been trying to find out what we've -been doing. You know they almost got us on that new vibrator we -invented, owing to our carelessness in leaving it on the table one day -when they came in." - -"Yes," broke in Jack, "and they are just mean enough to sneak round -and try to steal our new storage cell." - -"We've got to be mighty careful this time," continued Bob, "and not -let one of those caps get into their hands, for the secret of the -whole thing is in them, as it is the action of the different metals -composing them which starts the manganese dioxide to decomposing and -converts its chemical energy into electricity." - -"Well, come on boys," said Mr. Golden as soon as Bob had finished. -"Your mother sent me down to tell you to come to supper, and we -mustn't be late, as she has company." - -"All right," was Bob's reply. "Just let me connect the motor with -this clock. You see," he explained, "I have it arranged so that when -it stops the clock will stop also and we can tell how long it has -run." - -Several times that evening the boys ran down to the basement to see if -the motor was still going, and as it was humming merrily at 10:30, -they decided to go to bed and trust to the clock to tell them when it -stopped. - -Early the next morning they rushed to the laboratory before they were -half dressed, to find the motor silent and the hands of the clock -pointing to 4:35. - -"Whoop," shouted Jack, as he caught sight of the face of the clock, -"that's almost twelve hours, just think of it Bob. One of those -cylinders will run the Sprite ten or twelve hours, and it wasn't full -either." - -"It's sure great," returned Bob with no less enthusiasm. "I guess -we'll show the Jenkins some sailing now." - -"That's what we will," agreed Jack. "Now we must get busy and fill -some more of those cylinders." - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -JACK TAKES A BATH. - - -"Come there, I say, are you going to sleep all day?" - -Jack Golden was just dreaming that he had run the Sprite into a big -rock and was much relieved to find that the resulting thump was -nothing more serious than the bang of a pillow thrown at his head by -his brother. - -"Hey, cut that out," he mumbled, but half awake. "What time is it, -anyway?" - -"Time you were up and dressed," was Bob's answer. "Today is Wednesday, -and the race is Saturday, and, take it from me, we have a lot of work -cut out for us before then if we are going to get the Sprite ready." - -"I guess that's right, all right," was the sleepy answer. "If we're -going to get that new motor installed in the Sprite, we sure have got -to hustle. I'll be dressed in less than half a shake." - -It was not yet 5 o'clock, but the Golden boys were early risers, -especially when they had work to do. - -Quickly dressing, they rushed down to the laboratory where they found -old Mike busily engaged sweeping up the dirt they had made the day -before. Mike McGinty was an Irishman and was very proud of that fact. -It was his boast that "Ivery bone in my body is pure Irish, and don't -you fergit it, young feller." He was about 40 years old, and for the -last twenty years had been man-of-all-work for the Goldens. He was -very quick witted, good natured, had a decided mechanical turn, and -his "byes," as he called Bob and Jack, were "the finest iver," and woe -betide the person who said anything against them in his hearing. A -good part of his time was spent helping the boys in the laboratory, -and he was so careful and trustworthy that they found his help almost -indispensable. - -While waiting to be called to breakfast, the boys packed up what tools -and material they would need, for as soon as possible they intended to -start for the lake and put a new twenty horsepower electric motor in -the Sprite. Jack had just put the last tool in place when the -breakfast bell rang. - -As soon as the meal was finished, Bob said: "Jack, you run over to the -garage and bring round the big car and Mike and I will get the stuff -up from the lab." - -"Bejabers and do yees think ye're agoing to take all that truck in the -car?" - -"Sure, Mike, there's lots of room in the back. Here's Jack now. Easy -now with that motor and don't for mercy's sake, drop it. If we break -it there'll be no time to get it fixed." - -In addition to the tools and motor they were taking a lot of cooked -stuff, for they did not intend to come down till they had finished, -and as the family were not at the lake just then, there was no one to -cook for them, and the boys did not want to take the time, although -they could cook when necessary. - -Soon all was packed in the rear of the car and saying goodbye to the -folks, who had come to see them off, they started with Bob at the -wheel, Jack beside him, while Mike sandwiched himself in the back -seat. - -It was a run of about ten miles to the cottage, as it was at the -extreme upper end of the lake, but Bob was a fast driver, and in about -thirty minutes their destination hove in sight. - -"Well, byes, here we are, right side up wid care, bejabers," shouted -Mike, tumbling out of the machine as it came to a stop. "Sure and I -thought I'd break ivery blessed Irish bone in me body bumping round -wid all that truck." - -"I guess Irish bones must be pretty strong," laughed Jack, as he -unlocked the door of the boathouse. - -It was but a few minutes' work to unload, and soon all three were in -the boathouse busily engaged taking the old engine out of the Sprite -and so rapidly did they work, stopping only for a cold bite at noon, -that by 6 o'clock it was all apart and out of the boat. - -"Now, Jack, while Mike and I are packing this stuff away suppose you -take the canoe and see if you can get a few perch for supper," -proposed Bob. "You will find some worms in that pail in the corner." - -"Right you are, son, perch is my middle name," replied Jack, and in -almost less time than it takes to tell it, he had the little canoe in -the water and was paddling across toward a little cove, the best -fishing ground on the lake. - -"Guess I'll try trolling first," he said to himself, and baiting a -hook, he let out about forty feet of line and began rowing at a rate -just sufficient to keep the canoe in motion. The fish bit well, and in -less than a half hour he had a dozen fine perch flopping about in the -bottom of the boat. - -"No use in catching more than we can use," he thought, as he reeled in -his line and started for the other shore. Hardly had he taken up the -oars however, when, looking up, he saw a new motorboat coming rapidly -up the pond, and only a short distance away. "That's the Jenkins boys -in their new boat, the Winner, and she sure is some boat," thought -Jack. - -"Hello there, sonny, how they biting?" shouted Will Jenkins, as soon -as they were within hearing distance. - -"Fair," replied Jack as shortly as possible, for he did not relish -being called "sonny" by them. - -"Say," shouted Fred Jenkins, "are you going to enter the Sprite in the -race Saturday?" - -"Mebbe." - -"Well, it won't be any use; we can run circles round your old tub with -this boat." - -"She certainly does look fast," replied Jack. - -"Fast? She's a streak, and look at her name--that's no lie." - -While talking the Jenkins boys had shut down their engine, and the two -boats were only about thirty feet apart. - -"Well, so long, we'll see you Saturday, if you can manage to keep in -sight," taunted Fred, as he threw over the fly wheel of his engine. - -The Winner started off at a good speed straight for the canoe. -Probably Fred did not intend to run Jack down, but he evidently -purposed to come as close as possible without hitting and give him a -good scare. But just as he was going to turn to avoid hitting the -canoe, something went wrong with the tiller and the next moment Jack -was in the water. He could swim like a fish and shaking the water out -of his eyes he struck out for the canoe which was floating bottom up a -few feet away. - -"You clumsy Claudes," he shouted as he caught hold of the canoe. -"Isn't the lake big enough for you to turn your old scow in?" Jack was -mad clear through, for it had looked to him as though Fred had hit him -intentionally. Fortunately, the canoe was so light, that it was not -stove in, and he had little trouble in righting it and climbing in. -Meanwhile, the Winner had come about. - -"Say, Jack, I didn't mean to hit you; my tiller rope stuck and I -couldn't turn her," said Fred. "Are you all right?" - -"I guess so, but the next time you want to give me a wider berth or -I'll be tempted to put a head on you." - -"Ho, ho, hear the young bantam! Suppose you learn how to spell able." - -Jack said nothing more but paddled about and managed to pick up all -but two or three of his fish, while the Winner headed down the lake -and was soon lost to sight round the bend. - -"Just the same I don't believe he tried very hard not to hit me," -muttered Jack as he headed the canoe toward the cottage. - -He found that Bob and Mike had just finished packing away the old -engine and told them what had happened. - -"Begorra," said Mike, "that was a mean trick. If I had them two young -saplin's in me hands I'd rap their two heads together, so I would." - -"Well," said Bob, "perhaps it was as Fred said and only an accident, -but he ought to be taught to be more careful. However no great harm is -done and now let's go up to the house and get some supper; I'm hungry -enough to eat those fish raw." - -Supper over and the dishes washed, it was nearly 9 o'clock, and the -boys decided that they would go to bed and be up bright and early in -the morning. - -It seemed to Bob that he had hardly touched the pillow when some one -began to shake him and opening his sleepy eyes he saw Mike standing by -his bed, holding a lantern in his hand. - -"Jump up and dress quick," he said, "some one is trying to get in to -the boathouse. I was smoking a last pipe by the window and saw him -sneaking round." - -By this time Jack also was awake and in less than a minute they were -out of bed and had pulled on trousers and shoes. - -"Now, Mike, you slip down by the shore, and Jack and I will go round -through the woods. Go easy now, for I want to find out who it is." - -The boathouse was about 100 feet from the cottage, and the boys crept -quickly through the trees, which were not very dense. It was a bright -moon-light night, and as they emerged from the woods and were within -about twenty feet of the boathouse, they saw two boys close to the -house, evidently trying to get a window open. - -"Come on now," whispered Bob, "let's make a rush for them." - -Springing from the bushes the two boys darted toward the boathouse, -and before the intruders could recover from their surprise, they were -grabbed and thrown to the ground. It is not to be supposed that they -gave in without a struggle, and for a few moments the fight waged fast -and furious. But the Golden boys were strong and the fight was over by -the time Mike showed up. - -"Ah, I thought so," muttered Bob, as he turned his captive over. "What -are you doing here this time of night, Will Jenkins?" - -"You let me up," was the dogged reply. "Can't a fellow take a walk -without being jumped on?" - -"Yes," replied Bob, "but you can't get into our boathouse in the -middle of the night, not if we see you first." - -"Aw, we weren't trying to get into your old shack. We were only -walking by and happened to look in," was the sullen answer. - -"I don't believe a word of it," said Jack, letting up his captive, who -proved to be Fred Jenkins. "They were trying to get in to find out -what we have been doing." - -"Now see here," said Bob, letting his captive up, "you hike out of -here and what's more you keep away, see?" - -"Yis and begorry," broke in Mike, "if I catch yees sneaking round -here again sure and it's meself that'll be timpted to throw yees into -the drink." - -Muttering something about getting even, the two crestfallen boys slunk -away. - -"Now you byes go up to the house and go to bed," ordered Mike. "I'm -agoing to sleep in the boathouse, and if them fellers come back here -they'll think the auld bye hisself is after them." - -"All right," agreed Bob, "I guess that will be the best plan. Come on, -Jack, it is nearly 1 o'clock, and we have a big day's work ahead for -tomorrow." - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -THE STOLEN CAP. - - -"Say, Bob how fast do you suppose that new boat of the Jenkins boys -will go?" - -"I don't know, but she is sure some speeder and I tell you what, -sonny, the Sprite has got to cut through the wet a whole lot faster -than she ever did before if we are going to hang on to that blue -ribbon." - -It was late Friday afternoon, and Mike and the boys had just finished -putting in the new motor. - -"Jack," continued Bob, "you run up to the house and get those end -caps, will you, while Mike and I run the boat out? Just as soon as it -gets a little dark I want to give her a try-out." - -Jack rushed off to the house while Mike swung open the big doors, and -in a few moments the Sprite was floating at the pier. Just then Jack -came running wildly down the path leading from the house, and as soon -as he reached the wharf asked eagerly: - -"Didn't you say you left those caps in the table drawer in the -bedroom?" - -"Yes, why, didn't you find them?" - -"No, they are not there." - -"But they must be. I saw them there this morning," insisted Bob. - -"Well they might have been there then, but they aren't there now, that -is, not unless I've lost my eyesight, and I seem to see you fairly -well," replied Jack grimly. - -"O pshaw, you probably overlooked them. Come on back to the house and -I'll show you where they are," said Bob starting for the house on a -run. - -"All right," answered Jack, close at his heels, "I'm from Missouri all -right." - -In a moment the boys, with Mike bringing up the rear, reached the -bedroom and as Bob yanked open the drawer, he said, "Some people never -can find anything." But the next moment he started back in dismay, for -although he had taken everything out of the drawer, the caps were not -there. - -"Well that's mighty funny," he muttered. "I declare I saw those caps -there this morning." - -"Who's loony now?" jeered Jack, as he saw the look of dismay on his -brother's face. - -But the caps were gone and a thorough search of the room, and the -entire house as well, failed to disclose them. - -"Well, begorra, one thing is certain sure," declared Mike, "them ere -caps didn't walk out 'o here all by their lonesome. Somebody sure -swiped 'em." - -Just then a loud cry of "Bob, Mike, come out here quick," brought them -running down the stairs to the back door, where they found Jack on his -hands and knees in the path which led to the woods back of the house. - -"Say, did either of you go out here since dinner?" - -"No," both replied. - -"Well then," continued Jack, "you know we had a hard shower just after -dinner and these tracks were surely made since then." - -"By Jove, that's so," affirmed Bob, examining the tracks carefully. -"And look here, these tracks were made by some one wearing sneakers. -Now who wears sneakers round here?" - -"Why," replied Jack, "Fred and Will Jenkins most always wear them when -they are up here." - -"That's so, and I'll bet a fishhook that one of them sneaked in here -while we were at the boathouse," said Bob. "You remember, don't you -Jack, that you saw one of them at the window of the lab when we were -trying them? They must have suspected then that we were up to -something, and then the fact that we have been hard at work here ever -since would make them feel sure that we were doing something to the -Sprite." - -"Begorra, and I'm jist agoing to go down to their place and make 'em -hand 'em over," almost shouted Mike. - -"No, no, that won't do," said Bob. "You see, we have no positive -proof that they took them, and of course they would deny it." - -"But, Bob," spoke up Jack. "We've just got to get those caps back. -They can get them analyzed and find out how they are made and then our -secret is up the flue, because most anyone who knows anything about -storage batteries would know that we use either manganese or lead -dioxide in the cylinder, and besides we haven't time to make any more -before the race." - -"You're right there, son. Now just let me think a minute," said Bob, -and then a moment later, "I'm going to try it. It's the only way and -it may work." - -"What may work?" asked Jack. - -"Never mind just now, but I'm going to get those caps back if they -haven't thrown them into the lake or break a tug trying." - -That night about 8.30, Bob, dressed in a dark suit and wearing -sneakers, stole down to the boathouse, and getting into the little -canoe, started paddling down the lake. The Jenkins cottage was about -three miles from the head of the lake, on the east shore. It stood in -a thick grove of cedars, about forty feet from the shore. - -Reaching a place, about a quarter of a mile from the cottage, just -inside a point of land reaching out into the lake, Bob drew his canoe -from the water and hid it in a little clump of bushes near the water's -edge. Circling around away from the lake he approached the house from -the rear. As he got within a few paces of the cottage, a dog began to -bark and Bob shuddered as he knew that they kept a large collie which -had a reputation of being very savage. - -"He's coming this way sure as guns," thought Bob, as he heard the -animal creeping through the bushes. Picking up a stone about as large -as his fist, which he felt under his feet, he crept back behind a -tree, hoping that the dog would not follow. But this hope was not -realized, for the keen-nosed animal had scented him, and with a low -growl was approaching. Holding the stone tightly Bob waited for the -attack which he saw was inevitable. Just then the moon came out from -behind a cloud and by its light, he saw the brute almost upon him and -about to spring. Drawing back his arm he let fly the rock. Bob had -pitched on the Skowhegan high school team for two years, and his -practice now stood him in good stead, for the stone flew true to the -mark and hit the dog right between the eyes. With a single loud yelp -he went down, gave a kick or two and was still. - -"By Gum, I believe I've killed him," said Bob to himself. "Well, it -was either he or I and I'm mighty glad it wasn't I." - -Just then some one shouted from the house: "Here, Brave, come here, -where are you?" - -Bob recognized Fred Jenkins' voice and then he heard two persons -coming toward him. Quickly he grabbed hold of the dead animal and -dragged it into some thick bushes. Hardly had he done this and dodged -back behind the tree, when he heard Fred and Will Jenkins within a few -feet of where he was standing. - -"Where do you suppose that dog went to?" he heard Fred say. - -"I don't know, but I guess likely he heard a rabbit or something and -has gone on a chase after it," replied Will, adding a moment later, -"Let's go back to the house. If he's on a rabbit trail we won't see -him till morning." - -"No, I guess you won't," chuckled Bob as, much relieved, he heard them -making their way back through the bushes. He waited till he thought -they had had time to get back, then carefully creeping on his hands -and knees he slowly approached the house. - -The front porch, as he knew, was built up from the ground, being faced -with lattice work, while both ends were open. Carefully creeping -closer, he slipped through the open end of the porch and stretched -himself at full length on the ground. To his great disappointment he -heard nothing for some time and was about to crawl out when he heard a -door bang over his head, and the creaking of chairs told him that the -boys had come out on the porch. To his delight he found that he could -hear perfectly all that was said. For some time they talked about -things of no interest to our hero, and he was getting pretty badly -cramped from lying so long in one position, for he did not dare move, -but just then he heard Will Jenkins say: - -"Fred, when are you going to take those caps down to the city and have -them analyzed?" - -"Oh, some time the first of the week," was the reply, then he added, -"If it wasn't for the race I'd take them down tomorrow." - -"Oh, well, I guess next week will do just as well, but I want it done -as soon as possible," he heard Will say; then after a short pause he -added: "I suppose those two swell heads will make a big howl, but they -can't prove anything, and we have sure put them out of the race -tomorrow." - -"Perhaps we can't prove it," thought Bob, "but here's betting that we -come pretty near it." - -"Oh, by the way, where did you put them?" asked Fred a moment later to -Bob's delight. - -"I've got 'em safe," was the reply, "in my coat pocket, in the closet -in our room." - -"All right, you lock up and I'll go down to the spring and get a pail -of water." - -Bob heard them go into the house and in a moment one came out and -started for the spring, a little to one side of the house, while he -could hear the other going about locking the windows. Soon the one -with the water returned and in a short time all was quiet. Bob waited -a little longer and then carefully crept out and sat down behind some -bushes a few feet away. - -"I'll wait an hour," he thought as he looked at his watch and saw that -it was a few minutes past 10 o'clock. - -It was hard work to keep awake and the time passed very slowly, but at -last the watch told him that the hour was up. Going to the back of the -house, he carefully examined the windows and finally found one that he -thought he could unlock. - -"Well," he thought, "I never supposed that I would turn burglar, but -I'm going to have one big try for those caps, so here goes." - -With a strong knife blade he managed to push back the catch, and -quietly raised the window. Slowly and noiselessly he crept through and -flashing his electric torch about, advanced to the front of the house. -Although he had been there several times before, he had never been -upstairs and did not know in what room the boys slept. His heart was -beating so that he was almost afraid that some one would hear it, as -he was beginning to realize that he was engaged in a very serious and -dangerous undertaking. He did not know for sure whether or not the two -boys were alone in the house, but as he had heard no one else on the -porch he thought it probable that the rest of the family was at their -home in Skowhegan. - -Very carefully he crept up the stairs and a flash of the torch showed -him that four rooms opened from the hall. He stood still a moment and -listened. The sound of deep breathing in one of the front rooms soon -told him which was occupied and stepping to the door a flash showed -him two forms in the bed. - -"This is the room," he thought, "and that must be the closet, by the -head of the bed. It sure couldn't be in a worse place. Wonder if I can -get the door open without waking them?" - -Like a cat he crept across the room and fumbled with his hand till he -found the knob. The door squeaked slightly as he pulled it open, and -one of the sleepers stirred and mumbled something about an electric -boat. Bob's heart seemed to come almost into his throat, but in a -minute the regular breathing of the sleeper reassured him and he edged -into the closet. There were quite a lot of clothes hanging there, but -he had not searched far when he felt something hard in one of the -pockets, and the next instant he had transferred the precious caps to -his own pocket. - -"Now for a quick get-away," he muttered. But it seemed that Bob's good -luck was to end right there, for as he stepped out of the closet his -foot caught in something on the floor, and he fell forward into the -room with a crash that fairly shook the house. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE TRY-OUT. - - -"Oh, Mr. Burglar, please don't hurt me." - -This was what Bob heard as he picked himself up from the floor. The -room was pitch dark, but it was evident that both the boys in the bed -had been awakened by the noise and that they were also in a state of -terror. Taking advantage of their panic, Bob quickly found his way to -the hall and flashing his light, ran down the stairs and out the front -door. Just as he stepped from the porch a revolver shot rang out from -an upper window. - -"Guess they got up enough spunk to get out of bed," chuckled Bob, as -he crouched behind a convenient bush, and he could not resist the -temptation to sing out, "Next time you steal anything you better not -talk so loudly about where you hide it." - -"I'll have you arrested for burglary, Bob Golden," came in angry tones -from the window. - -"All right, go ahead," replied Bob, "but I guess you'll have a fine -time explaining how my property came to be in your coat pocket." - -He waited to hear no more, but making his way as quickly as possible -to where he had left the canoe, he lost no time in getting it into the -water. Jumping in he bent to the paddle with all his strength and in -about a half hour rounded the point, just behind which was the -boathouse. He found Jack and Mike waiting for him on the porch. - -"Gee, I thought you'd never come," said Jack. "Did you get them?" - -"I did that," chuckled Bob, getting out of the canoe, and then of -course he had to tell them all about it. - -"Smart bye," said Mike, when he had finished, "Sure and you'd make one -peach of a burglar." - -"Perhaps," said Bob, "but I don't fancy the part, it's bad for the -nerves. Now," he continued, "it's about 2 o'clock and we must get some -sleep for I want to be up by daybreak and give the Sprite a tryout -before any one is about." - -"Well I guess I will stay up till you wake," proposed Mike, "in case -they try to get those caps back." - -"Perhaps that would be the best plan," agreed Bob, "I don't believe -they would have the nerve to try to get into the house, but they might -try to break into the boathouse to injure the Sprite. It'll only be -about three hours, for I want you to call us at 5 o'clock sharp." - -It seemed to the boys that they had hardly fallen asleep when they -heard Mike pounding on the door. "All right," shouted Bob, "we'll be -right down." - -Day was just breaking as they came out of the house. It took but a -short time to get the Sprite into the lake, slip the cylinder in place -and adjust the caps. - -"Now," said Jack eagerly, "for the first trip with electricity." - -It was surely an anxious moment to the boys, for if anything was -wrong, there was but little time for adjustment. - -"Push her off, Mike, and then jump in," ordered Bob. - -Running the boat out to the end of the wharf, Mike gave her a push, -jumping in as he did so, and a second later the Sprite was floating -about twenty feet from the shore. Bob at once turned on the juice, as -he expressed it, and to their delight the propeller began to beat the -water. - -"Hurrah!" shouted both Jack and Mike, "She's going." - -"Yes, she's going," repeated Bob, heading her down the lake. "Now to -see if she will make any kind of time." - -Slowly he pushed the switch over notch by notch, and faster and faster -the Sprite cut through the water, till Jack declared that they were -going fully as fast as they ever went with the old engine. "Have you -got on full power?" he asked eagerly. - -"No," replied Bob, "only about half. But don't it seem funny not to -hear her puff?" - -"It sure does," assented Jack, "but push her over and let's see how -fast she can go." - -Faster and faster the boat cut through the water till it seemed to the -boys that they were almost flying. - -"Jiminy-jumped-up!" ejaculated Mike, speaking for the first time, "but -ye'll get a hot box if ye don't slow her down." - -"No danger of that," laughed Bob, "but we're going fifteen miles an -hour if we're going an inch, and the best of it is she seems to be -running in perfect order." - -They sailed about the lake for about an hour and expressed themselves -as being well satisfied with the results and confident that they would -be able to keep the coveted blue ribbon. As Jack expressed it, "The -Winner would have to go a good deal faster that afternoon than she -ever had before to justify her name." - -"Well, I guess we'd better go back now and get some eats," proposed -Bob. - -"Second the motion," shouted Jack, "I'm hungry enough to eat almost -anything." - -On the west shore of the lake, about half way down, was a grove where -were a hotel, a summer theater and other places of amusement. Past the -lake, about a quarter of a mile distant, ran a trolley line, about -ten miles long, connecting the towns of Skowhegan and Madis. A spur -track ran down to the lake almost to its edge. - -The starting point for the race was directly in front of the hotel, -while the course was marked out by buoys and ran down the lake on the -east side, up on the west side nearly to the head, then down to the -starting point, making a course of about twelve miles. - -By 2.30 o'clock a large crowd of people had collected in the grove, -for the great race was scheduled to start at 3.00, and promptly on -time ten motor boats lined up ready for the starter's shot. - -Besides the Sprite and the Winner, there were the Eagle, a fast little -sixteen-footer, carrying a ten horsepower, two-cylinder engine; the -Chum, twenty feet long with fifteen horsepower, and the Rocket, -eighteen feet long, equipped with an engine of fourteen horsepower. -The other five boats I will not attempt to describe, as they did not -figure prominently in the race. - -The Sprite was stationed farthest from the shore, then came the -Winner, Eagle, Chum and Rocket in the order named. - -Many ugly glances did the owners of the Winner cast at the Sprite and -its crew as they took their places, but no words passed between them -till just before the start, when in a sneering tone, Fred Jenkins -said, "Bet you a hundred dollars we beat you." - -"We don't bet," replied Bob. - -"Huh, afraid," sneered Will Jenkins. "Tell you what I'll do, I'll make -it a hundred dollars or any amount you like that we come in twenty -lengths ahead." - -"Nothing doing," calmly replied Bob, and at that moment the starter's -voice rang out, "Are you all ready?" - -"Aye, aye, sir," was the response. - -"All right then, stand by," and a second later, crack, went his -revolver. Instantly nine fly wheels were turned over, but Bob sitting -in the bow of the Sprite turned the switch to the first notch. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE RACE. - - -"Hurrah; hurrah!" shouted the crowd, "They're off." - -Down the lake swept the ten boats, the Winner taking the lead, closely -followed by the Eagle, then came the Chum, the Rocket and the Sprite, -the other boats bringing up the rear. By each buoy a boat was -stationed to see that there was no cutting of corners. The boats -passed the first buoy, about half a mile from the start, in the order -named, the Winner being then about fifty feet ahead of the Sprite. - -"Say, Bob," asked Jack, "how much power you got on?" - -"Only about two-thirds," replied Bob. "But I don't believe the Winner -is doing her best yet." - -"Well don't let her get any farther ahead if you can help it," advised -Jack. - -"I won't," replied Bob grimly. "I'm going to try to close up a little -now." - -Throwing the switch over another notch, the boys were gratified to -find that they were creeping up on the Rocket, and by the time they -had passed the second buoy at the foot of the lake, they had passed -both the Rocket and the Chum, and only a half-length separated them -from the Eagle, while the Winner was only a length ahead of its -nearest rival. - -"I'm going to keep her like this," whispered Bob, "unless they go -faster, and I think they are doing pretty near their best." - -All the way up the east side of the lake the three leading boats kept -at about the same relative distance, while the rest of the fleet was -hopelessly out of the race. As they passed the last buoy, about a mile -from the end, Fred Jenkins turned and shouted, "Now we're going to -show you some speed." - -The boys saw him turn his timer and almost immediately the Winner -began to forge ahead of the others. - -"Look out, Bob," whispered excited Jack, "Don't let her get away from -you." - -Bob's answer was to turn the switch another notch and in a very short -time the Sprite had passed the Eagle and only a length separated the -two leading boats. - -"I've still got two more notches," whispered Bob, "and I think they're -doing their best, and we're gaining on them." - -Foot by foot the Sprite crept up on the Winner till, when they were -about a half mile from the finish, the two boats were racing side by -side. - -"Let her out another notch," urged Jack, and as Bob complied, Jack, -delighted to see that they were drawing away from the Winner, could -not keep from shouting, "Goodby, see you later." But only angry looks -answered him. - -Just then they passed a small rowboat carrying a lady and two little -girls, and a moment later the two boys were startled to hear a wild -shriek. Turning they were just in time to see the Winner strike the -small boat a glancing blow. The blow was not hard enough to cause the -Winner to swerve from her course or to upset the boat, but it threw -the girls into a panic, and standing up in the boat, it almost -immediately capsized. - -"Quick, reverse her," shouted Jack and forgetful of the race Bob -pushed back the switch and shot in the reverse, at the same time -turning the tiller wheel to its full limit. It took but a moment for -the boat to turn and start back full speed, while the Winner shot -past, her course unchanged. - -"The miserable cowards," muttered Bob, "they aren't going to stop." - -In almost less time than it takes to tell it, the Sprite was back by -the overturned boat. The woman was clinging to the end, but the two -girls were nowhere to be seen. Quickly shutting off the power, Bob -shouted: "Dive, Jack, dive." Over the side went Jack, followed a -second later by Bob. The water was about twenty feet deep and very -clear, and opening his eyes Bob saw something white about ten feet -away and a few strokes enabled him to grasp it. Kicking out lustily he -was soon above water, holding one of the little girls by the hair. -Glancing about he soon spied Jack with the other girl swimming toward -the Sprite, which had floated some distance away. However, it took -them but a short time to reach her, and they soon had the two girls in -the boat. They had not been in the water long, but both were -unconscious. - -"Now, Jack, roll them on the bottom of the boat while I start her up -and get the woman." - -Quickly she was pulled into the boat almost exhausted. "My girls, are -they dead?" she moaned. - -"I don't think so," replied Bob, heading the Sprite full speed for the -wharf, about a quarter of a mile distant. - -As the Sprite swung in toward the dock, she was greeted with a -tremendous cheer by the crowd, which had watched the rescue, and as -the boat struck, eager hands lifted the little girls, who had as yet -shown no signs of life, from the boat. It happened that two doctors -were present, and they at once set to work to bring back the lives so -nearly gone. In a few moments, to the joy of the crowd, one of them -began to show signs of life and a little later the other opened her -eyes. When told that they would live, the joy and enthusiasm of the -people knew no bounds, and Bob and Jack were nearly overwhelmed with -praise. Among the first to reach them were Mr. and Mrs. Golden. - -"That was worth more, my boys, than winning all the races in the -world," was Mr. Golden's greeting, as he took them in his arms, while -the tears ran down the cheeks of their mother as she silently kissed -them. - -"Where are those boys?" shouted a tall, broad-shouldered man as he -pushed his way through the crowd, and then, as he saw them, "That was -my wife and those were my little girls," and his eyes glistened as he -tried to thank them. The boys tried to tell him that it was nothing, -but he wouldn't have it so. It developed that he was a rich merchant -from Philadelphia, by name, Samuel Wright, who had that summer -purchased a cottage at the lake. Before he would let them go he had -made them promise that they would call on him the next day or Monday. - -"Well, boys, I guess we had better be getting over to the 'Roost,'" -said Mr. Golden, as soon as they could get away from the crowd. "Your -mother has finished her canning and we are going to stay at the -cottage a few weeks." - -As the boys stepped on the wharf, they were startled to see two men in -the Sprite. They were bending over the motor, but straightened up as -the boys approached. - -"Fine boat you have here," said the older of the two, a man about -fifty years old, thick set and wearing a full beard. His companion was -about five years younger, of rather slight build and smooth face. - -"Yes, she's pretty fair," returned Bob rather dryly, for he did not -like the looks of the two men and did not relish the idea of them -getting into the boat without permission. However, he did not want to -appear too churlish. - -"Jack," said Bob, "you run up to the hotel and help bring down the -stuff while I clean up the boat, will you?" A wink told Jack that Bob -did not want to leave the boat alone, so he turned back to the hotel -while Bob, seizing the painter, pulled the Sprite up to the wharf. The -two men at once got out and, with an apology for their intrusion, -turned away. - -In about ten minutes the Golden family, including Edna, appeared, well -laden with suit cases and bundles. - -"Say, Bob," asked Mr. Golden, "do you think you can get us all over in -one load? May is going too," May Brown was Edna's chum, of about her -age and often spent several weeks at a time at the Golden cottage. She -was a very jolly girl, and the Goldens were always glad to have her -with them. - -"Sure thing," replied Bob, "lots of room." - -"Let's hurry then," said his mother, "I'm afraid you boys will catch -cold in those wet clothes." - -"No danger of that," laughed Jack, "It isn't the first time we've been -wet, eh, Bob?" - -Soon they were all aboard, bag and baggage and the Sprite's bow was -headed up the lake. - -But what of the winners of the great race? As the Winner shot over the -finish line, not a cheer greeted her, and her owners, seeing only -hostile looks on the faces of the crowd, never stopped, but kept on -down the lake. - -"Confound it," muttered Fred, "I guess we've botched things again." - -"Well, it's all your fault," growled Will, "I told you to stop." - -"I know you did, but I thought some of the other boats behind would be -near enough to pick them up, and I didn't want to lose the race." - -"It seems, though, that we didn't exactly cover ourselves with glory -by winning," said Will grimly. - -"I don't know why it is," argued Fred, "but it seems to me that those -Golden boys are always getting the better of us. I wonder why it is -that they are so much more popular than we? We have just as much -money, if not more, than they." - -As is usually the case, these boys could not see that it was their -own selfish dispositions which was the cause of their unpopularity. - -In a little over twenty minutes the Sprite was at the "Roost's" -boathouse, and soon the merry party had landed and carried the baggage -to the cottage. The boys, having put on dry clothing, proposed to the -girls that a game of tennis would be a good way to pass the time while -supper was being prepared, and soon Bob and May were contesting every -point with Jack and Edna. - -That night, after the rest of the family had retired, the two boys sat -by the window, in their room, talking over the events of the day. - -"Say, old man," Bob suddenly said, "I didn't like the looks of those -fellows we caught in the Sprite this afternoon. Sure as guns they were -trying to find out all they could about that motor. They didn't act -right when they saw us." - -"Well, I guess you're right," returned Jack. "I think we had better -get that cell patented as soon as possible, before some one steals -it." - -"No, I don't want to do that yet. I have had something in mind for -quite a while and I want to keep the construction of that cell a -secret for at least a year." - -"What's your idea?" - -"Well, you remember reading, a while ago, in the Boston paper, that a -prize of fifty thousand dollars had been offered to the first one to -fly across the Atlantic. The difficulty has been," he continued, as -Jack nodded assent, "that an airship can't carry enough gasoline, but -we could take enough of those cylinders to send an aeroplane around -the world." - -"Gee, wouldn't that be great? Do you suppose father would let us try -it?" - -"I don't know, but I mean to ask him and if he gives his consent we'll -have a try at it next summer. Now you see why I don't want to patent -the cell. If the secret is known, even if it is patented, some one -might get round it in some way and beat us." - -"Great head you've got, old man, and we'll do it, take my word for it, -but I'm sleepy, so here goes for bed." - -In a short time both boys were sound asleep, but if they had known of -the exciting events and dangers they were to pass through during the -next few days, it is doubtful if their dreams would have been as -pleasant. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -SOME ONE ELSE TAKES A BATH. - - -The next day was Sunday, and the entire family, including Mike, -attended church in the village of East Madison, about a mile from the -cottage. The afternoon was spent in reading and talking, for the boys -never went on the lake Sunday, except in case of necessity. Soon after -breakfast the next day, Jack and Bob were sitting on the porch -discussing plans for the day, when they saw a rowboat, containing two -men, rounding the point. They watched them, with no particular -interest, till it was evident that they were making for their wharf, -then suddenly Jack declared, "They are the men who were in our boat -the other day." - -"So they are," affirmed Bob, "Wonder what they want?" - -"Guess we'll have to wait and see," advised Jack. - -By this time the boat was within a few feet of the dock, and soon she -was tied and the men were approaching the house. - -"Good morning, boys," said the older man, pleasantly, as they reached -the steps. "Good morning," replied both boys. "Won't you come up and -sit down?" - -"Thanks," and both accepted the invitation. "We've come up to have a -little business talk," began the older man and without waiting for the -boys to speak, he continued, "My name is Robert King, and this," -indicating his companion, "is William Reed. We are from Boston and are -spending a few days at the hotel down the lake. Now we want to buy a -motorboat, and seeing yours Saturday, we thought we might be able to -strike a bargain with you." - -"Sorry, sir," broke in Bob, "but she is not for sale." - -"That's too bad," said Mr. King, "for she is just what we want. Of -course," he continued, "we could get one like her, but it would take -several days and we don't want to wait, as our time is limited. Now -I'll tell you what we'll do. We are both rich men and money is no -object to us, so we get what we want, and we are willing to pay you -one thousand dollars for the boat." - -This, as the boys knew, was considerable more than the Sprite was -worth, but Bob gave Jack a slight wink as he said: - -"That's a very generous offer, and much more than the Sprite is worth, -but we don't wish to sell." - -"Suppose we make it two thousand dollars," spoke up Mr. Reed. - -"Nothing doing," replied Jack. - -"Then you won't sell at any price?" asked King. - -"No, not at any price," repeated Bob. - -"Well, would you rent her to us for a few days?" - -"Sorry, sir, but you see our vacation will be over in a short time, -and we want her to use every day," replied Bob. - -"Very well, then, we'll bid you goodby," said Mr. King, as they both -arose, but the look he gave them was by no means as pleasant as the -one with which he had greeted them. - -As soon as the two men were out of hearing, Jack turned to his -brother, "Pretty thin wasn't it?" - -"It sure was; all they were after was to get hold of that new battery. -Something tells me that we are going to have trouble keeping our -secret." - -At this moment their father came out on the porch. - -"Boys, can you take me across? I want to catch the nine-thirty -downtown." - -"Sure thing," answered Jack, "but we'll have to hustle, as it's after -nine now." - -On the way across the boys told their father about the visit of the -two men and he agreed with them as to their motive. They landed Mr. -Golden just in time for his car and, as they were casting off, they -saw Mr. Wright running down the wharf towards them. - -"Don't forget, boys, that you are coming to see us today." - -"All right, sir," replied Bob, "We'll be down right after supper." - -"And bring your sister and her friend with you," invited Mr. Wright. - -"We'll do that," answered Jack eagerly. - -The boys made good time back to the cottage, and spent the rest of the -day playing tennis with the girls and swimming in the lake. As soon as -supper was over, accompanied by the two girls, they started down the -lake to make their promised call. - -"Hope to goodness they don't make a big fuss over us," grumbled Jack. - -"Oh, you are too modest," declared Edna. - -They spent a very pleasant evening with the Wrights, although poor -Jack's worst fears were realized, for it seemed that Mr. and Mrs. -Wright could not praise them enough for saving their children. The two -little girls, who were twins about ten years old, were very profuse -with their thanks, fairly hugging both boys, to their embarrassment, -which, however, greatly delighted both Edna and May. To their great -surprise, Mr. Wright presented each of the boys with a very pretty -gold watch "Not," he said, "to pay you for saving my girls, for I -could never do that, but as a slight token of my gratitude." - -About nine o'clock they said good night and started for home. It was -a beautiful evening and, although the moon was not yet up, the stars -helped to make the darkness less intense. Bob ran the Sprite at about -half speed, for, although they had an electric searchlight, he did not -want to take any chances with the girls on board. They were about half -way home and near the middle of the lake, when suddenly a rowboat -loomed up dead ahead, and coming directly toward them. In it were two -men. One was at the oars, while the other was sitting in the bow. In a -moment the two boats were within speaking distance and a voice, which -both boys recognized as King's hailed them. - -"I say, boys, can you give us a few matches; our lantern has gone out -and we haven't a single one left." - -It happened that Bob had a box of safety matches in his pocket, and -always willing to oblige, he shut off the power and soon the rowboat -pulled up alongside. Reed caught hold of the side of the Sprite to -steady his boat, while King dropped his oars and stood up in the boat, -stretching forth his hand as if to take the box which Bob was holding -out to him. But suddenly he was dumfounded to see, shining from King's -hand, the barrel of a revolver. - -"Now, young fellow, we are desperate men and want no fooling. Just -hand over that cell you are using to run that boat, and be mighty -quick about it, too." - -"Why--why--what do you mean?" stammered Bob, for he was so amazed at -the turn affairs had taken that he could hardly speak. - -"Quick, now, or we'll throw you all into the lake." - -"Oh, Bob," whispered Edna, "let them have it or they'll kill us." - -By this time Bob had partially recovered his senses, and his quick -brain was trying to figure a way out of the difficulty, for he did not -intend to give up the cell if he could help it. Fortunately, however, -the problem was solved for him in a very unexpected manner. The stern -of the rowboat was directly opposite the stern of the Sprite where -Jack was sitting. The latter, quickly taking in the situation, rose to -his feet, and suddenly giving a spring, landed, with his full weight, -on the stern of the light rowboat. Under his one-hundred sixty pounds, -the boat gave a heavy lurch and in a second King had lost his balance -and fallen over backwards into the lake. Both girls screamed and Jack -shouted as he scrambled back on board the larger boat. "Full speed -ahead, Bob." - -When the rowboat lurched, Reed lost his hold and before he could -recover it, the Sprite was darting up the lake, while a string of -oaths from the rowboat followed them. - -"My, but that was great work, Jack, old fellow," exclaimed Bob. "I -don't know how we would have saved the cell if you hadn't tipped that -fellow out of the boat. How'd you happen to think of it?" - -"Didn't think of it at all," chuckled Jack, "Just did it without -thinking." - -"Well," spoke up May, "it saved us and it was a mighty brave thing to -do." - -"Now, turn off the soft soap spigot," ordered Jack, and they all -laughed. - -They soon reached the wharf, and, running up to the house, told Mr. -Golden what had happened. - -"This is serious, indeed," he declared, taking up the phone. He soon -had the manager of the hotel on the wire, telling him of the hold-up. -The manager, in turn, said that two men, calling themselves King and -Reed had been stopping there for about a week and had started off for -a row about eight o'clock that evening. He promised to have them -arrested at once if they returned, but doubted very much if they would -show up again. He suggested that Mr. Golden call up the police of -Skowhegan and Madison and ask them to be on the lookout for them. This -he did, describing the two men as well as he could from the boys' -description, and the police promised to be on the watch. But although -the country round about was well searched, no clue to them was found, -but the rowboat was picked up the next morning near the foot of the -lake. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -BOB DISAPPEARS. - - -"It's your turn to get a pail of water, Bob." - -"All right, just let me finish this chapter." - -It was a couple of days after the events related in the last chapter. -All the family were on the porch except Bob, who was inside reading. -The drinking water, used by the Goldens, was brought from a spring, -about fifty rods back of the house in the woods. The house was -supplied with water from a deep well, but all liked the spring water -much better for drinking, so the boys took turns going after it. - -Bob noticed that it was nearly ten o'clock when he closed his book, -took his electric torch and getting a pail from the kitchen, started -for the spring. The night was pitch dark, as it was cloudy and there -was no moon, but the torch lit up the path in front of him so that he -had no trouble in following it. As he reached the spring, he thought -he heard a slight rustling in the bushes, but beyond thinking, "Guess -that's a rabbit," he paid no attention to it. He was bending over the -spring to fill his pail, when suddenly he was grabbed from behind, -jerked over backwards and, before he could cry out, a hand was placed -over his mouth and he felt himself held to the ground by two men. - -"Not a sound, if you value your life," hissed one of them, and then a -gag was thrust into his mouth and he was rudely turned over on his -stomach. - -"Quick, Bill, hand me those ropes," whispered one of the men, and in -another minute his hands were securely bound behind his back. - -"Now let's get him out to the road as soon as we can," said the man -who had done all the talking, and whose voice Bob recognized as -belonging to the man he knew as King. - -He was roughly pulled to his feet, and with King clinging to his right -and the other, whom Bob supposed to be Reed, hanging tightly to his -left arm, they started for the road, about a half mile distant. The -path was very rough, and as they flashed their light but seldom, it -was some time before they reached the road. As they climbed the last -fence, Bob could see dimly a large car standing by the roadside. -Taking a large handkerchief from his pocket, King bound it tightly -over Bob's eyes and ordered him to get into the back seat of the car. -Poor Bob had to do as he was ordered, and was quickly followed by -King, while the other man took the wheel. - -"Now, hit her up, Bill," whispered King, and the car bounded ahead. - -"It seems to me that Bob's an awful long time getting that pail of -water," said Edna, getting out of the hammock. "I wish he'd hurry up, -I'm nearly choked for a drink." - -"Same here," declared Jack. "He's been gone long enough to get a dozen -pails. Guess I'll go meet him and hustle him up a bit." - -So saying, he got his electric torch from the house, and started off -along the path. He was somewhat surprised not to meet Bob, or to hear -his merry whistle, but was not alarmed till he reached the spring and, -flashing his light around, spied the pail, lying on its side a few -feet away. "Well, that's funny," he thought, and putting two fingers -in his mouth, he gave two long shrill whistles, their signal to each -other. Receiving no reply, he made a hurried search of the bushes -nearby, but beyond noticing evidence of a struggle, he found no trace -of the missing boy. - -"Something has happened to Bob," he thought, now thoroughly alarmed. -"There's been a fight here and I'll bet a fish hook that he's been -kidnapped." In spite of the darkness, Jack nearly flew back to the -cottage. - -"Dad, dad," he shouted, as he bounded on to the porch, "they've got -Bob." - -"Who's got Bob? What do you mean?" asked Mr. Golden from upstairs, -where he was getting ready for bed. - -"I don't know who's got him," cried excited Jack, "but there's been -some kind of a fight at the spring, and he's gone." - -"It's impossible," declared Mr. Golden, who by this time had come down -into the living room, where the family had gathered. "There's no one -round here who would kidnap him." - -"How about those men who held us up on the lake the other night?" -asked May. - -"By gracious, that's so," said Mr. Golden. "Why didn't I think of them -before? Give me the phone, quick." - -As quickly as possible he called up the police of all the towns -nearby, and told them what had happened. They all promised to be on -the watch and to do all they could to catch the kidnappers. - -"That ought to get them," he declared, as he hung up the receiver. -"Bob's been gone only about an hour, and they can't have taken him -very far yet." - -"Oh dear, Oh dear! Do you suppose they will harm him?" sobbed Mrs. -Golden. - -"No, my dear," assured her husband, trying to calm her, "I don't think -they will dare to hurt him. 'If it is those two men who have him they -will try to make him disclose the secret of the cell, for that's -undoubtedly what they are after." - -No one in the house thought of going to bed, but sat around eagerly -listening for the ring of the phone. Suddenly, at eleven-fifteen, it -rang and Mr. Golden eagerly grabbed up the receiver. - -"Is this Mr. Golden?" came the voice over the wire. - -"Yes, yes," he replied eagerly, "Who is talking?" - -"This is Switzer." - -"Oh, yes, Mr. Switzer. Any news?" - -"Nothing much, but Joe has just come in and says that a big car just -went over the bridge at about forty miles an hour. He shouted to them -to stop, but they paid no attention, except to turn on more speed, and -they were going so fast that he couldn't stop them nor get their -number. But he's started off in his car and is going to try to follow -'em, but I'm afraid it's not much use." - -Switzer was chief of police of Skowhegan. - -"Well, let me know at once if you hear anything," said Mr. Golden as -he hung up the receiver. Then he told the rest what he had heard, -adding, "There's no telling which way they are heading, even if it -were they, which, of course, is not at all sure." - -The hours dragged slowly on. From time to time the phone rang, but it -was always the same; no other clue had been found. - -"If he is not found by eight o'clock," said Mr. Golden, "I shall -telegraph to Boston for a detective." - -Meanwhile, what of the missing boy? The car, into which he had been -thrust, started off at high speed, and although he tried his best to -keep track of its direction, it was impossible, and in less than ten -minutes he had lost all idea as to which way they were going. He was -unable to speak, owing to the gag in his mouth, and not a word was -uttered by either of the men as the car rushed on through the night. -They had been traveling for, what seemed to Bob, nearly two hours, and -his bonds were cutting his wrists cruelly, when suddenly the car -slowed up and the character of the road changed. From its roughness -and the slow pace at which they were now moving he judged that they -must be passing over a woods road. After proceeding in this manner for -perhaps twenty minutes, the car stopped and for the first time, the -man at the wheel spoke. - -"Well, here we are." - -It was Reed's voice sure enough. - -King immediately got out and ordered Bob to follow him. "You put the -car up, Bill," he said, "and I'll escort our guest into the house." - -So saying, he took Bob by the arm and led him forward. - -"Now, step up," he ordered; and a moment later he announced, "Now -we're going upstairs." - -As soon as they reached the top, King led him a few steps and then -said: - -"Now we'll have a light and then I'll take off your blinders." - -He lit a small lamp, and then, to Bob's great relief, removed the gag -and blindfold. Bob looked about him and saw that he was in a small -bare room containing only a cot and a small table. - -"Say," he asked, "what's the meaning of all this, anyway?" - -"Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies," answered King. -"You'll know all about it in good time." - -"Well, just untie this rope, will you? It's cutting into my wrists -like the dickens." - -"All right, but mind, now, no funny business. I've got a grudge -against you for tipping me into the lake the other night, and if you -get gay you'll get hurt, that's all." - -He at once untied the rope which bound Bob's hands and Bob began to -pound them together, for so tightly had they been bound, that they -were almost numb. - -"Now you can lie down on that cot and get some sleep if you want to, -I'm going to bed downstairs." - -"Won't you tell me why you have brought me here?" - -"Not tonight, I won't tell you anything," was the gruff reply. - -So saying, King picked up the light and left the room, and Bob heard -him lock the door behind him with a key and also shoot a bolt. He had -noticed a single window near the foot of the cot and groped his way -toward it. It was unlocked, but on raising it, he found that it was -protected by heavy iron bars, not more than three inches apart. - -"Well," he thought, "here's a go for sure. Kidnapped in Maine in the -twentieth century. Now wouldn't that jar you?" However, dark as the -prospect seemed, Bob was a brave boy and by no means lost heart. - -"Gee, but the folks will be worried to death about me," he thought as -he sat down on the cot. "I'll bet mother is crying her eyes out. -Well," he said to himself a moment later, "guess I might as well lie -down and try to get some sleep, for I'll be likely to need all my -strength before I get through with this mess." So saying, he threw -himself back on the cot, which, he found, made a by no means -uncomfortable bed. "If they think they are going to make me tell them -about that cell, they've got another think coming," he thought, just -before he fell into a deep sleep. - -The sun was streaming in through the window when Bob awoke, and for a -moment, he could not think where he was, then suddenly the events of -the night before came back to him, and jumping up, he hastily stepped -to the window. He could see nothing, however, but a dense forest. At -this moment he heard the bolt shot back and the key turned in the -lock. A moment later, Reed entered the room, carrying an old tin -waiter on which were a cup of coffee, some sandwiches and a couple of -eggs. - -"Well," thought Bob, "they don't intend to starve me at any rate." - -"Here's your breakfast, kid," announced Reed. - -The thought came into Bob's mind that he might overpower the man and -make a sudden dash for liberty, but just then he heard King below, and -realizing that he would be but a child in the hands of so powerful a -man, he quickly gave up the idea. Laying the tray on the table, Reed -at once left the room, locking the door behind him. Bob lost no time -in falling to, for he was very hungry, and soon every crumb had -vanished. In a little more than half an hour, he heard steps on the -stairs, and both men came in, locking the door after them. - -"Now, kid," said King. "I'm going to tell you what we want with you. -We've got you here a good ways from nowhere and you can't get away, -and what's more, no one can find you here either. There isn't a road -or a house anywhere near, so you can yell all you blamed please for -all the good it will do you. Probably you can guess what we want. We -happen to know that you have got on to a new kind of a storage battery -and we mean to have it. Now, you tell us how it is made and as soon -as we can send word to Boston, to our laboratory, and find out that -you are telling the truth, we'll let you go. On the other hand, if you -are stubborn, and refuse, you'll stay here and get all that's coming -to you. We're desperate men and we're going to have it, so you might -as well give in at once." - -While he had been talking, Bob had been thinking rapidly. That they -meant to do as they said, he had not the least doubt, but he didn't -intend to give in unless he found it necessary to save his life. "Let -me have a few hours to think it over, will you?" - -"I'll give you till three o'clock, but don't think you can escape, for -you can't. Even if you did get out, we have two of the ugliest dogs -you ever saw watching below, and they'd tear you to pieces in a jiffy. -Come on, Bill, we'll leave him awhile, but say, sonny," he added, -turning to Bob once more, "we don't want to hurt you and you'd better -give in and save trouble." - -"I'll think it over," was Bob's reply as they went out. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -BOB ESCAPES--ALMOST - - -About noon Reed came up bringing Bob's dinner, consisting of potatoes, -trout, evidently caught nearby, and a glass of milk. "You better make -the best of this," he said, "I'll tell you now that you won't get -another bite to eat till you tell us what we want to know." - -Bob gave a sudden start. "So, that's your game, is it?" he asked. - -"Yes, that's our game, and as you look like a pretty good feeder, I -guess it won't take long." - -"Perhaps not," said Bob, as Reed left. - -Poor Bob! He ate up every crumb of his dinner. The prospect was dark -enough, to say the least, but he had not lost heart, for an idea had -occurred to him which he intended to put into practice that night. As -there was nothing else to do he spent the time lying on the cot -thinking. About three o'clock, King looked in. - -"Ready to tell us?" he asked. - -"Not yet," was Bob's reply. - -"All right, just as you say. I suppose the old saying, that you can -lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink, holds in your -case, but if this horse don't drink pretty soon, he'll wish he'd never -been born." Then, after a moment's pause, he continued, in a kinder -tone: "Come now, boy, what's the use? We've got all the trump in this -game and you've got to give in sooner or later, so why not do it now -and save yourself trouble?" - -"You seem to be on top just at present, for a fact," agreed Bob, "but -just the same I'm not going to give in just now." King muttered -something about him soon wishing he had and left the room. - -That night he got no supper. Now, going without his meals did not, in -the least, agree with Bob's disposition, at any time, and now he had -much more than hunger to rouse his anger, and by eleven o'clock, he -was, as he put it to himself, fighting mad. - -"I haven't heard any dogs and I don't believe they've got any," he -thought. "Anyhow, I'm going to run the risk if I can get through that -door." Fortunately, he had not been searched and as he had a good -strong jackknife, it had occurred to him that he might cut a hole in -the door large enough to get his hand through. He waited till one -o'clock, and then began his attack. It was pretty hard cutting, as it -was spruce, but he kept steadily at it and in about an hour had a -small hole through, and another half hour of hard cutting enabled him -to enlarge it sufficiently to pass his hand through, turn the key and -slip back the bolt. "Now for it," he thought. "If they've got a dog -I'll give him the fight of his life." - -Cautiously, he crept down the stairs, which creaked a little in spite -of his efforts, holding the open knife in his hand. He finally reached -the bottom without any mishap and, so far as he could tell, without -being heard. Unlocking the door, he stepped softly out on the porch. -It was a beautiful starlight night and, although there was no moon, it -did not seem very dark. Bob was just beginning to feel easier, when he -heard a low growl and, looking round, he saw a huge mastiff eyeing him -a few feet away. "Good dog," he whispered, thinking he might make -friends with him, but the brute continued to growl and slowly crept -nearer. - -Bob saw that he was about to spring and braced himself for the attack. -As the dog jumped, the boy drew back his right foot, and with a -powerful kick caught him fairly in the stomach. With a low whine of -pain, the dog fell back and without giving him time to recover, Bob -sprang forward and, seizing him by the throat, plunged the knife blade -to the handle in his side. The dog gave one howl and stiffened out. - -"One enemy the less," thought Bob as he rose to his feet, but he was -not to get off so easily, for just then the door opened and Reed -stepped out. - -"Thunder and lightning," he gasped, "How'd you get out." - -Bob did not stop to explain, but jumping off the porch and started on -a run down the path. - -"Quick, Jim, he's getting away," shouted Reed, as he started after the -escaping boy. - -Bob was a fast runner, but he was sadly handicapped by not knowing -which way to go in the darkness, and the path was rough. Still, he -might have escaped had he not met with a mishap. He had not gone more -than a hundred yards, when his foot caught in a vine, and he fell -forward on his face, his knife flying from his hand. Before he could -pick himself up and start again, Reed was upon him. Bob did not intend -to submit to capture a second time if he could help it, and, as he was -caught round the body, he gave a sudden squirm, which broke Reed's -hold, instantly drawing back his right arm, he struck out with all his -strength. The blow was a heavy one, and caught Reed fairly on the -nose, making him grunt with pain. It did not, however, put him out of -the fight, and before Bob could turn and run, he felt a stinging blow -on the ear, which dazed him for a second. He quickly recovered, and -grabbing Reed, tried his best to force him to the ground. - -Although a small man, he was no means weak, and the struggle waged -fast and furiously. Finally, Bob succeeded in getting a half nelson -round his neck, and the next instant Reed felt himself hurled to the -ground, which he struck with tremendous force. All the fight was -knocked out of him, and once more Bob started to run, but alas for his -hopes, he was too late, for just then King appeared on the scene. - -Bob was so nearly exhausted by this time, that he could make but -little headway, and soon King grabbed him round the neck and bore him -to the ground. He realized that it would be useless to struggle -against this man, for he was almost a giant in strength. - -"So you thought you'd give us the slip, did you? Well, you're a slick -one, that's a fact, and you're no coward either, but really we can't -dispense with your company yet awhile," said the man as he dragged Bob -to his feet. - -By this time Reed had managed to get on his feet. "D---- the brat," he -growled, "he's strong as a moose. My nose is bleeding like a stuck -pig, and it feels as though half my bones were broken." - -"Well, Bill, we can't blame the kid for trying to get away, but it -beats me how he got out of that room, and, say, what was that dog -doing? Guess he's no good." - -"I don't think he is much good any more," Bob couldn't help saying. -"You'll find him on the porch." - -"If you've killed that dog, I'll take it out of your hide," growled -Reed. - -"Easy there, Bill," admonished King, "I won't have the kid ill-treated -for trying to get away and defending himself, and, if he had to kill -the dog to do it, he had a right to. I admire bravery wherever I see -it, but we'll fix things after this so that he won't have a chance to -show his spunk to such good advantage." - -While talking, the two men had been leading Bob back to the house. -Seeing the dog on the porch, Reed turned him over; "Well he's done for -all right, confound him. I wouldn't have taken one hundred dollars for -that dog," he said. - -"Come on now," urged King, "We'll see to him in the morning. I want to -find out how this kid got out of that room." - -Reaching the top of the stairs and holding up the lantern, which he -had grabbed up from the porch, the method was plainly apparent. - -"Well I'll be switched," said King. "Bill we ought to be ashamed of -ourselves not to have searched him. I never thought of him having a -knife that he could cut through that door with. You go down and get a -board and some nails, and we'll soon have this fixed." - -The hole was boarded over, plenty of nails being used, and as he drove -the last one, King said, "Now I'll look him over and see if he has -anything else he can use." - -Bob knew it would be useless to resist, and so allowed himself to be -searched, but nothing was found which they considered dangerous. - -"I guess, Bill, one of us had better stay up the rest of the night," -said King, as he finished his search. "I don't see how he could get -away again, but we won't take any chances." - -As they were about to leave the room, Bob asked, "Can't you give me -something to eat? I'm awfully hungry." - -"Sure thing," replied King. "There's a fine mess of trout downstairs, -which Bill caught this afternoon, and I can boil some potatoes in no -time. You just tell us what we want to know, and I'll have you a fine -meal in less than half an hour." - -But Bob was not yet ready to give up. "Never mind," he said, "I guess -I'm not so hungry as I thought I was." - -They went out and he heard them go down the stairs. Throwing himself -on the cot he groaned, "Oh dear, to come so near to getting away and -then fail. But," he thought, "I did my best, and I'll bet Reed's nose -will be sore for a few days. If that blow had only caught him on the -chin, I might have made it before King got there." - -He lay for a long time thinking how he could foil his captors. -Suddenly, he sprang up. "Why not?" he said to himself. "It may work if -I can carry through the bluff. Anyhow, it'll be better than starving -here, and I'm going to try it." - -Having decided on a line of action, he once more threw himself on the -cot and was soon asleep. - -No one came near him till nearly ten o'clock that morning, and by that -time, Bob felt, as he expressed it, as though the bottom of his -stomach had fallen out. - -"How goes it?" was King's greeting, as he entered the room, "Getting -pretty hungry?" - -"Hungry!" growled Bob, "If you don't look out I may eat you up." - -King laughed, "What's the use of sticking it out any longer?" he -asked. "You've got to give in or starve." - -"I'm beginning to think that's so," replied Bob, "I did intend to -stick it out, but I'm too hungry." - -"That's the way to talk. Now you tell me all about it, and then I'll -bring you up a good dinner. But mind now," he added, "if you don't -tell it straight, I'll--I'll, well, your folks will never have the -pleasure of seeing you again, that's all." - -"Well now, see here," began Bob, "I can't tell you how to make that -cell so that you could do it." - -"Can't? Why not?" demanded King. - -"Because," continued Bob, "the success of it depends on the -temperature at which the metals composing the caps are put together, -and that point can be determined only by the looks of them, and I -couldn't possibly describe it so that any one could detect the right -point." - -"Then how are you going to work it?" - -"Why, didn't you say that you have a laboratory in Boston?" - -"Yes, but what of it?" - -"Well, why not take me there and let me make it for you?" - -King thought a moment and then said, "I don't altogether like that -idea, but I'll talk it over with Bill and see what he says." - -As he was leaving the room, Bob added, "That's the best I can do. If I -should tell you about it, and then you failed, you would blame me, and -I'd have to suffer for it." - -King was gone about half an hour, and when he returned, he brought a -good dinner with him. - -"We've decided to take you up, and here's your dinner," he said. "But -now listen to me. My future depends on this thing; how, is none of -your business, but I'd rather die than fail, so if you try any funny -business, you can know what to expect." - -"How soon shall we start?" asked Bob. - -"We shall start, in the car, as soon as it is dark." - -"I don't know," thought Bob, after King had left the room, "whether -I'm jumping out of the frying pan into the fire or not, but that -dinner looks mighty good to me, so here goes." - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -ON THE ROAD TO BOSTON - - -"Well, the die is cast one way or the other," thought Bob, as he ate -the last scrap of his dinner; "that sure did taste good." Then as a -sudden thought struck him, he began hurriedly to search his pockets. -As good luck would have it, he found a small note book, containing -several blank leaves and a stub of a lead pencil. Hastily, he tore out -a page and wrote the following note: - - "I am confined in a house in the woods, have no idea - where, but it must be within twenty or thirty miles of - Skowhegan. King and Reed are taking me to Boston tonight, - in a car. Secret still safe." - - BOB GOLDEN. - -Folding the paper, he wrote on the outside, "Will the finder of this -paper please send it to Mr. Golden, Skowhegan?" He made several copies -of the note, thinking as he did so, "If I can only get a chance to -throw these out of the car, one of them, at least, may get to father. -I don't know as it will do me much good, but it will let the folks -know that I'm still alive." - -Supper was brought to him at five o'clock, and at seven, King came up -to tell him that they were about to start. "Now, see here, boy," he -said, "we don't want to be any harder on you than we can help, and if -you give me your word that you won't try to get away, or make any -trouble, we won't tie you." - -Bob thought he might as well promise as he knew they would make it -impossible for him to escape if he did not, and he dreaded being tied, -so he gave his word. - -"All right then," said King, "but mind now, that you keep it, because -if you make any trouble, I'll have to tie you up and gag you." - -"Are we going all the way tonight?" - -King laughed. "I guess not; if we drove too fast, it would excite -suspicion, and we'd have to drive like the dickens to make it in one -night. No, we'll make Portland by daylight and lie low there till -dark. But come on, now; there's Bill with the car. I shall have to -blindfold you for awhile, for I suppose you are pretty well acquainted -round here and I don't intend to let you know where this place is." - -He took a large handkerchief from his pocket as he spoke and tied it -tightly over Bob's eyes. - -"Now mind, you don't take that off till I give you permission," he -ordered, as he led him from the room and down the stairs. - -As they came out on the porch, Bob could hear a powerful car purring -close at hand. He and King got into the rear seat. - -"Have you got the suitcases and the rest of the stuff, Bill?" asked -King. - -"Yes, they're all in back there." - -"All right, then, let her go." - -Darkness was just falling as they started, and at first, their pace -was very slow, as the road was too rough for any but the very slowest -speed, at which a car could be run. In about twenty minutes, they came -to the end of the woods road and the car turned into a much smoother -highway, and Reed sent her forward at a lively clip. - -"Now, kid, you get down on the bottom of the car till it gets a little -darker," ordered King, and Bob had to obey. - -They continued in this way for half an hour or a little more, when -King said, "I guess it's dark enough now; you can get up on the seat -again, and I'll take that rag off." As soon as this was done, Bob -strained his eyes to see if he could tell where they were, but it was -too dark to see much, and he was unable to so much as guess their -location for some time. In about an hour, however, they passed a large -house, which stood very near the road, and he at once recognized it -as being but a few miles from Oakland. He was well acquainted with the -road, as he had several times driven his father's car to Boston. - -Reed was running at about twenty miles an hour most of the time, and -instead of passing through the towns, he choose roads, for the most -part, which led around them. They lost considerable time in this way, -but Bob figured that they, would probably get to Portland before -daybreak. - -About one o'clock, they were passing over a particularly rough piece -of road, when, bang, went one of the rear tires. "Hang it all, there's -a blowout," growled Reed, bringing the car to a stop. "But it won't -take long to slip on the extra rim." - -While they were waiting, Bob noticed that King did not watch him quite -as closely as he had been doing, and he managed to slip his hand into -his pocket and take out one of the notes he had written. In less than -fifteen minutes, Reed announced that the job was finished, and just as -they were about to start, Bob, carelessly hanging his hand over the -edge of the car, let the note fall to the ground, unnoticed by either -of the men. Nothing more worthy of note happened, except that he -managed to drop a second note as they passed through the little town -of Brunswick, and at about half past four, just as the dawn was -beginning to light up the East, Reed drove the car into the yard of a -house standing well back from the road. - -"Here we are," he announced, and King at once gave a peculiar whistle, -which was soon answered by the raising of a window on the second -floor. - -"Hello, Frank, is that you?" asked King. - -"Yes," was the answer. "What do you want?" - -"Come down here, and we'll tell you," answered King, and the window -was at once shut. In a few moments, they were joined by a short man, -about forty years old, who Reed greeted as Frank, shaking his hand -cordially. - -"We're on our way to Boston, and we've got a young fellow here, who -don't like our company any too well," explained King with a slight -laugh, "and we want you to put us up till night, as it isn't good for -our complexions to travel in the daytime. No one here, is there?" - -"No, it's all right. Just drive the machine into the barn and come in. -I'll have breakfast ready in a few minutes, and then you can turn in. -Been riding all night, hain't ye?" - -"Yes, and I guess we can do a little something in both the eating and -sleeping line," answered King. "We haven't had any eats since we -started." - -They had a fairly good meal, after which the man called Frank said, -"You and the kid can go up in the south room, on the third floor, you -know which one, and Bill can sleep on the lounge in the parlor." - -"All right," replied King, "Come on, kid." - -The room which they entered was small, and contained but a single bed. -It was lighted by two small windows, about eight inches square, placed -nearly six feet from the floor. - -"I guess you'll be safe here with me," declared King, as he locked the -door, and put the key in his pocket. "I'm a very light sleeper, and I -told Frank to keep his eyes peeled, so you'd better not try to get -away." - -As Bob made no reply, King, removing only his coat, threw himself on -the bed, telling Bob to do the same. As the boy was very sleepy, and -somewhat tired from his long ride, he was not long in obeying. -Although he did not feel that he was bound by his promise, while they -were there, he realized that the chances of escape were so small, that -it would be foolish to make the attempt, and deciding to await a more -favorable opportunity, he was soon fast asleep. - -When he awoke, it was nearly three o'clock, and he was alone in the -room. Jumping up, he tried the door, but, as he expected, it was -locked. "Gee, but this sort of thing is getting on my nerves," he -thought. "When we get to Boston, I'm going to do something desperate, -if I have to, to get away." - -He could hear some one moving about, on the lower floor, from time to -time, but no one came near him till nearly six o'clock, when King came -up and told him to come down to supper. After the meal, they waited -till it was fairly dark, and then started off again. Nothing of -importance happened during the trip, and Bob found chances to drop two -more notes as they passed through small towns. - -About three o'clock, they reached the outskirts of Boston, and King -said, "Now I shall have to blindfold you again, and you will have to -lie down on the bottom of the car." - -"What for?" - -"Never you mind what for," replied King, and then added, "You don't -suppose I'm fool enough to let you see where we're going, do you?" - -Bob was forced to obey, but fortunately, for his position was far from -comfortable, they were not far from their destination, and in less -than a half hour the car stopped. - -"We're here at last," announced King, as he opened the door of the -car, and taking Bob by the arm, led him up some steps into a house. -Once inside, the blindfold was removed, and Bob saw that he was in, -what appeared to be, a fairly good-sized, but poorly furnished house. -The opening of the door had evidently aroused some one, for the stairs -creaked, and glancing up, Bob saw a very small man, with a huge hump -on his back, coming down. - -"Well, Nip, how's things?" asked King. - -"All O. K., sir," replied the hump-back, "but I didn't expect you back -so soon." - -"No, I suppose not, but we're here and mighty hungry. Can't you give -us a cold bite, quick?" - -"I guess I can find something. You wait here a minute," and the -hump-back went toward the rear of the house. - -"We'll go in here and sit down till he's ready," said King, motioning -Bob to precede him, into what seemed to be a small sitting room. - -They had not waited more than ten minutes, when they heard from the -rear room, "All right, sir," and going through a long hall they -entered a room, where they found a table set with a plain, but -generous lunch of cold meat, bread and butter and apple pie. Bob did -full justice to the meal and, as soon as they were through, King said, -"Now we'll go upstairs and get a little sleep, but I want to get to -work as soon as we can." - -He led Bob up some bare stairs, ushered him into a small room on the -second floor and told him to make himself at home. - -"You'll occupy this room while you're our guest, and as it has been -fitted up for just such guests as you, I hardly think you'll leave -till we get ready to let you go," King laughed, as he left the room. - -The room was lighted by electric light, which King had turned on as -they entered, and Bob proceeded at once to take account of stock, as -he expressed it. The room contained only a bed and a single chair. It -had but one window, and that was heavily barred. On examining the door -he was surprised to find that it was made of steel. - -"I guess King was right when he said that guests in this room stayed -till they were invited out," he thought. "Oh, well, I suppose I must -get some sleep while I can, so here goes." - -It seemed to Bob that he had hardly fallen asleep, when he was -somewhat rudely shaken, and opened his eyes to find King standing by -the bed. - -"Come," he said, "it's seven o'clock, and I want to show you the -laboratory and get to work." - -Bob rose sleepily and followed him downstairs. King led the way down -to the basement, and into a large room. Bob needed but a glance to -tell him that it was a fairly well-equipped laboratory. - -"Now, I want you to take a careful look around, see what we've got -that you can use, and then, make out a list of what else you want. -I'll get them this forenoon, and you can begin work right after -dinner. Oh, by the way, how long will it take you to do the job?" - -"Well," replied Bob thoughtfully, "In my laboratory at home, I could -probably make one in a week, but here, where I'm not used to things, -it will probably take me ten days or more." - -"Ten fiddle sticks," cried King angrily, "You're trying to fool me. -You've got to do it in much less time than that I can tell you." - -Bob knew that he could probably make one of the cells in a couple of -days at the outside, but he intended to take all the time he could, -and watch for a chance to escape, so he said calmly, "All right, if -you can do it in less time, you'd better do it." - -"Well, well, hurry and get your list made out," demanded King testily. - -Bob walked around examining the laboratory and equipment for about a -half hour and then asked for paper and pencil. They were quickly -supplied, and sitting at a desk in one corner of the room, he soon -handed King the following list: - -Two pounds of lead nitrate. - -One-half pound lead. - -One-half pound antimon. - -One-half pound copper. - -One-half pound tin. - -Ten or fifteen pounds of fine sand, suitable for making a mold. - -One copper cylinder, eight inches long by 1 and one-half inches in -diameter. - -"How are you fixed for electrolysis?" he asked, as he handed King the -list. - -"Guess we can fix you up all right. We've got a good storage battery -and two or three glass tanks and considerable platinum. Now we'll go -up and see if breakfast is ready," he said, putting the pager in his -pocket. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -THE DETECTIVE ARRIVES. - - -"But, father, isn't there something we can do?" asked Jack, for about -the tenth time that day. It was about three o'clock in the afternoon -of the day following Bob's disappearance. They had waited in vain for -any news of the lost boy and at about eight-thirty o'clock, Mr. Golden -had got into communication, by telephone, with a well-known detective -agency in Boston and they had promised to have one of their best men -there on the four-forty train. - -"Yes, I guess we can do something now. We'll run across in the Sprite, -and catch the four o'clock trolley to town, which will get us there in -time to meet that detective, Mr. Sharp." - -Glad of anything which promised action, Jack grabbed his cap and -started for the boathouse. It had been a terrible day to him, for he -was lost without Bob, and the thought that he might never see him -again nearly drove him frantic. He and his father were soon in the -Sprite speeding across the lake, and as they reached the wharf in -front of the hotel, they saw Fred and Will Jenkins just getting into -their boat. - -"Hello, Jack, heard anything from Bob yet?" asked Will. - -"No, not yet." - -"Well, let us know when you do. So long." - -Jack wasn't sure, but it seemed to him that there was a half sneer to -Will's voice, and that both Fred and Will had an uneasy look about -them. - -"Say, dad," he asked after he had removed the cell from the motor and -put it in his pocket, "did you notice anything strange about those -fellows." - -"Strange, what do you mean?" asked his father. - -"I hardly know, but somehow, I feel it in my bones, that they've had a -hand in this business. Look here," and reaching his hand into his back -pocket, he pulled out a small knife which he handed to his father, -saying, "I found that about thirty feet from the spring this forenoon. -It is not rusted any to speak of, so it couldn't have been there -long." - -"Do you know whose it is?" asked his father. - -"I'm not sure," replied Jack, "but I've seen Will Jenkins use a knife -which looked a good deal like this one. I'd have asked him about it, -only I didn't think of it in time." - -"You be sure and tell the detective about it," said Mr. Golden. "Of -course it doesn't prove anything, as there are probably lots of knives -just like it in town." - -By this time they were on the car and in about thirty minutes they -reached Skowhegan. As they passed down the street toward the station, -they were stopped many times by friends, asking anxiously after Bob -and by the time they reached the depot the train was whistling. As it -drew in and came to a stop, a small man with a smooth face was the -first to alight. There were not many passengers, and Mr. Golden knew -most of them. The man who first got off, however, was a stranger, and -he seemed to be looking for some one; Mr. Golden stepped up to him and -asked if he was Mr. Sharp. - -"Right first time," was the reply, "and you must be Mr. Golden." - -Jack was then introduced, but he was much disappointed, for Mr. Sharp -did not at all answer his idea of a detective. In common with most -boys, he had always imagined a detective to be a very mysterious-looking -person, while Mr. Sharp was indeed very ordinary in appearance. - -The trolley car was waiting only a couple of squares away for its -return trip to the lake, and as soon as they obtained his suitcase -from the baggage room, they started. - -"We'll be up in time for supper," said Mr. Golden, as they boarded the -car. - -On the way up, Mr. Golden gave the detective an account of Bob's -disappearance, including the events which preceded it. As there were -but few people on the car, they could talk in low tones with no danger -of being overheard. The detective said but little, except to ask a -question now and then, but when they were in the Sprite, on their way -across the lake, he said: - -"Mr. Golden, I want you to give me a careful description of those two -men." - -"I guess Jack can do that better than I, as I only saw them once, and -then took no particular notice of them." - -So Jack described them as well as he could, but the detective shook -his head. - -"Can't place 'em. Your description of Reed would fit a dozen men I -know, and while the other one puts me in mind of a fellow I once -arrested for counterfeiting, I'm not sure. You didn't notice a scar on -his upper lip, did you?" - -"No, I thought I told you that he had a mustache." - -"So you did, so you did," said the detective, "I must be getting -forgetful." - -Supper was ready by the time they arrived at the cottage, and as soon -as it was over, the detective asked to be shown the way to the -spring, and once there, he made a thorough search of the immediate -vicinity, but after nearly an hour had passed, he was forced to -acknowledge that he had found no clue. As soon as they got back to the -house, he called Boston on the telephone. - -"Hello, Bill? Yes. I want you to find out as quickly as possible the -whereabouts of Jim Edwards. Yes, that's the fellow. Call me as soon as -you get any news." He gave the number of the phone and then hung up. - -Early in the morning the phone rang, and Sharp was asked for. After a -short conversation, he hung up the receiver, saying to Mr. Golden and -Jack, who were in the room, "Nothing has been heard of that fellow -Edwards since he got out of prison, nearly a year ago. Now, Jack, if -you'll run me across in your boat, I'll go down to the village, and -don't be surprised if you don't see me for a day or two." - -"This is a mighty fine boat you have," remarked Sharp, as they were -skimming across the lake in the Sprite. "Is this the new cell?" - -"Yes," replied Jack, and then added bitterly, "I wish we'd never made -the old thing, then Bob wouldn't have been kidnapped." - -"It's wonderful to think of you boys making a discovery like that. -Why, do you realize what a tremendous lot of money there is in it?" - -"I suppose so, but I can't bear to think of it now that Bob's gone." - -They soon reached the hotel wharf, and the detective, taking Jack by -the hand, said, "Keep up your courage, my boy; I don't think they will -harm your brother, and sooner or later, we will be sure to find him." -So saying, he started off toward the trolley, while Jack pushed off -and sadly headed the Sprite for home. - -"Somehow, I don't think much of that detective," he thought, as he -sped along. "He may be all right, and I suppose he is, but he hasn't -got enough snap in him to suit me." - -Jack's adverse opinion of Sharp was increased tenfold, when he -returned the following night and reported that he had been unable to -find a single clue. "By the way," he said, "I tried to find those -Jenkins boys to see if I could get anything out of them, but they left -town on the early train yesterday, and no one seems to know where they -have gone." - -It was late the next afternoon. Sharp had gone off early in the -morning, saying that he would probably be back that night. Jack had -spent the forenoon on the lake with his mother and the girls, trying -to cheer them up. Mrs. Golden was rapidly giving away under the -strain, while Edna's eyes were constantly red and swollen from crying. -Mr. Golden had gone to his office that morning, but had returned on -the twelve o'clock car, and they had met him at the wharf and taken -him over in the Sprite. It was about four o'clock, and they were till -on the porch, talking as usual about the missing boy. - -"Say, dad, I don't think much of that detective fellow," Jack was -saying, when the phone rang sharply, and he ran into the house to -answer it. A moment later he shouted, "Dad, you're wanted on the long -distance." Mr. Golden came in quickly and took the receiver. - -"Is this Mr. Golden of Skowhegan?" came over the wire. - -"Yes." - -"This is the police station at Brunswick. A boy has just come in here -with a note, which he says he found in the street. It's so covered -with dirt, that it's pretty hard to read, but listen and I'll read -what we've made out. Can you hear?" - -"Yes, yes, go ahead, I can hear all right." - -The voice then read the note, which Bob had dropped the night before. -As Bob had thought, it didn't tell them much, but it let them know -that he was alive and well, and that helped some and made them feel a -little better. After Mr. Golden had finished telling them what he had -heard, Jack said nothing for some moments, but sat thinking deeply. -Suddenly, he looked up. "Dad," he said, "I want you to let me go to -Boston. Bob's there, and I might be able to find him." - -"Why, my dear boy, what could you do in Boston. It is a big city," -spoke up Mrs. Golden, "and you don't know where they have taken him. -Besides," she added sadly, "they might get you too." - -"I guess I could look out for myself. Jerusalem, but I've got to do -something. I'm tired of this sitting round waiting for some one else -to do it all, and," he added sadly, "this all don't seem to amount to -a hill of beans. What do you say, dad?" - -"Well, I hardly know what to say," replied Mr. Golden. "We'll wait -till Mr. Sharp returns, and see if he has any news." But, although -they waited till nearly one o'clock, the detective did not come. - -They had all gone to bed but father and son. "Come, dad, say I may -go," pleaded Jack. - -"Well, I'm not at all sure it's the wise thing, but something seems to -tell me that I had better let you have your way." - -"Hurrah!" shouted Jack. "I'll be off on the five o'clock train." - -"No," said his father, "you had better wait till a later train, and -perhaps I'll go with you, but I don't want to go till Sharp returns, -and now let's go to bed." - -Sharp did not return the next morning, and at breakfast, Mr. Golden -said, "Jack, I guess you had better take the noon train. If Sharp -doesn't come with some news by that time, I'll wait and come later, if -I think best." - -The thought that at last he was going to do something toward finding -Bob filled Jack with joy, and by ten o'clock he was ready to start. He -and Mr. Golden went across in the Sprite, after assuring his mother -that he would be very careful and not get into trouble. - -"Now, my dear boy, be very careful and look out for yourself," said -Mr. Golden, as he bade him goodby. "Go to Uncle Ben's tonight, and -tomorrow, you had better go to the agency and have them detail a man -to help you in your search," and then he added sadly, "It's like -looking for a needle in a haystack, but if you don't get into trouble, -it won't do any harm." - -"Don't worry about me," assured Jack, "I'll look out for myself and," -he added, "I'll find Bob if I have to go through Boston with a fine -tooth comb." - -The Boston train pulled into the North station at eight o'clock, and -as he was pretty hungry, Jack thought he would go into a restaurant -just across the street, for supper, before going to his uncle's, as he -lived in Winthrop, a town about five miles from the city, across the -harbor. As he left the station, he caught sight of a man elbowing his -way through the crowd, that made his heart thump. - -"On my soul, I believe that's Reed," he said half aloud, starting -towards him. As he pushed forward he saw the man turn, and for an -instant their eyes met, but the next moment the man had turned, and -before Jack could get to him, he was lost in the crowd. He rushed -about here and there, but to his dismay, he could not find him. - -"That was he, sure as guns," he thought, "and I believe he recognized -me." - -He realized that his chances of finding him were virtually nil, and -with a heavy heart, he entered the restaurant, and after a hasty -supper, took a car for the ferry. - -It was a very dark night, and a drizzling rain was falling as he -stepped on the ferryboat. There were not many people on board, and -what few there were, at once went into the cabin to escape the rain. -Jack, however, had on a raincoat and stood by the rail, watching the -lights of the passing boats, and thinking what hard luck it was to -find Reed so soon only to lose him again. The boat was about half-way -across the harbor, which is about a mile and a half wide, when Jack -felt himself seized from behind, and before he knew what had happened, -he was hurling through the air into the dark water below. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -JACK IN TROUBLE. - - -It seemed to Jack that he plunged down to a great depth, and when he -finally rose to the surface, he was gasping for breath. His first -thought was to free himself from his raincoat, and as soon as this was -done, he struck out for the east side, as he thought he was a little -more than half way across. Although a powerful swimmer, the choppy -sea, caused by a brisk wind, and his clothing, which seemed to drag -him down, made his progress difficult. He weakened rapidly, and before -he was half way to the shore, fear struck him that he might not be -able to reach it. Raising himself as far out of the water as possible, -he looked about him, but it was very dark, and he could see but a few -feet. No help was at hand, and summoning all his strength, he started -to swim once more toward the lights, which now seemed farther away -than at first. But his strokes were now very weak and his progress -slow; still he kept doggedly on, for he was not a boy to give up so -long as a particle of strength remained. - -After what seemed to him hours of struggle, he felt that he could keep -up but a few moments more, and a dread fear seized his heart as he -gave up hope. He thought not so much of himself, but of the father and -mother, who might never know what had happened to him, and the thought -nerved him to one more last effort. - -"It's no use," he thought, after taking a few feeble strokes, "I can't -hold out any longer, I'm so tired." - -He tried, but his arms seemed numb and utterly refused to obey his -will, and he was about to go under, when he felt himself seized by the -collar and in another moment, found himself lying on his back on the -bottom of a skiff, gasping for breath. - -As he slowly began to recover his strength, he looked up and saw that -the boat contained two men, but he was unable to see their faces in -the darkness. - -"Well, here's a rum go," he heard one of them say. - -"Right you are," replied the other. "That chap was about all in, I -reckon. Lucky for him we came along when we did." - -"He'd sure gone down in another minute," declared the first speaker, -"I'd never have seen him, it's so tarnational dark, if I hadn't -happened to hit him wid the oar." - -"What'll we do with him?" asked the other. - -"Dunno, guess we might's well take him to the hole; might have -something on him worth while," was the answer. - -They evidently thought that the boy was unconscious, and, in fact, so -nearly played out was he, that he was unable to speak. The man at the -oars, began to row again and soon the light boat was going at a lively -pace, as they were rowing with the wind. Shortly, Jack became -conscious that they were passing under a wharf, as the pace became -slow, and occasionally the boat hit against the piling. The continued -in this way for perhaps ten minutes, and then he felt the bottom of -the boat grate on the shore. - -"See if he's come to, Jake," whispered the man who had been rowing. - -His companion reached over and shook him roughly by the arm. - -"I'm very much obliged to you for pulling me out," said Jack, weakly. -"I sure thought it was all up with me." - -"That's all right," said the man in a low voice. "Think ye can stand -up?" - -"I don't know, but I guess so. I'll try." - -Helped by the man, he succeeded in getting to his feet and crawled -over the side of the boat to the ground. - -"I'm pretty wobbly," he gasped, "but I guess I'll be all right in a -few minutes." - -"Here, Pete, you take hold of one arm and I'll take the other, and I -guess we'll get him along all right." - -Jack stumbled along between the two men, for what seemed a long ways, -but which was in reality only a few rods. He was too tired to take -much notice of his surroundings, but soon saw, by the light of a dark -lantern, which one of the men carried, that they were passing between -heavy piles. Soon they came to a stone wall and it seemed to Jack that -they must be at the end of their journey, but as they came closer, the -light of the lantern showed a small hole, just large enough for a man -to creep through. - -"I'll go first," said the man with the lantern, "then let the kid -follow." - -He reached through and set the lantern down on the other side, and by -dint of much squeezing and grunting, managed to push himself through. - -"Now you go, kid," ordered the other man. - -Jack was much smaller than the man who had gone first and crawled -through without much difficulty, followed a moment later by the second -man. - -"Now follow me, and mind you, keep close to the wall," whispered the -man who carried the lantern, "and don't ye make any noise." - -Jack began to fear that he had fallen into evil hands, but there was -nothing for him to do but to obey and follow where they led. - -The light was turned off, and they crept along in the darkness, Jack -keeping one hand against the wall for some distance, when the man who -led whispered, "Now, ye wait here a minute." Jack stopped, and in a -minute heard the man give four raps on what sounded like a door. -Almost instantly he heard a bolt shot back, and the next instant a -door was flung open, letting out a flood of light. By its rays he -could see that they were in a narrow passageway between two stone -abutments. - -"What ye got there, Jake?" asked a woman's voice. - -"Dunno," was the somewhat surly reply. "Some kid we pulled out the -harbor. Was about all in when we fished him out." - -"Well, seems to me yer taking a mighty big risk fetching him in here," -said the woman somewhat sharply. - -"Now don't ye go to butting in, old woman," snapped the man. "I guess -me and Pete knows what we're about." - -They had entered the room, and Jack tumbled into a chair, too tired to -stand up. He looked about him and saw that he was in a small room -with a low ceiling and dirty with what seemed the accumulation of -years. The woman who had admitted them might have been anywhere -between thirty and sixty years old, but so dirty and slack looking was -she, that it was impossible to guess her age any nearer. He now got a -good look, for the first time, at the men who had saved him, and saw -that their appearance was wholly in keeping with their surroundings. -The older of the two might have been sixty, while the younger was ten -or fifteen years his junior. Both had hard rough faces, and his heart -sank as he realized how completely he was in their power. - -"Well, boy, have ye got yer wind back yet?" asked the older man. - -"I guess so," replied Jack, "but I still feel pretty weak. - -"S'pose so," grunted the man. "Now how'd ye get into the wet?" - -"I was crossing on a ferryboat and some one came up behind me and -pushed me over." - -"Pshaw, ye don't say so!" exclaimed the younger man. "Now what de ye -suppose he did that for?" - -"I'm sure I don't know," replied Jack, and then as nothing more was -said for a moment, he continued, "I feel stronger now, and if you will -kindly show me to the street, I think I'll go, and," he added, taking -a pocketbook from his inside coat pocket, "if you'll take this -ten-dollar bill for your trouble, I'll still feel very thankful to you -for saving my life." From the look on the faces of the two men, as -they saw the pocketbook, he realized that he had made a grave mistake, -but it was too late now. - -"Not so fast, sonny," said the older man, "don't ye think yer life is -worth more than ten dollars? Anyhow, Pete," he said, turning to the -other man, "I reckon we can make mor'n that out of him, eh?" - -"Well, I'd hope so," was the reply. - -"How much money ye got there, kid?" asked the man called Jake. - -"About one hundred dollars," answered Jack, for he saw that they -intended to have it, "and I'll give it all to you if you'll let me go -now." - -"What yer say, Pete?" asked Jake, but it was the woman who answered. - -"Don't yer let him get away, Jake. Mebby his father'll think his -life's worth a lot mor'n one hundred dollars." - -"Good for ye, old woman, mebby we can work that gag." Then, turning to -Jack, he asked, "Who's yer old man, boy?" - -Jack hesitated a moment, and the man grabbed him roughly by the arm -and said, "Speak up now, and no funny business, we're not to be fooled -with." - -Seeing that it would be useless to resist, he answered, "My father's -name is Golden, and he lives in Maine." - -"Got any rocks?" eagerly asked the woman. - -"A little, I suppose." - -"Huh," she grunted, "I guess when a kid like you runs round with one -hundred dollars, and carrying a gold watch like this," she added, -taking it from his vest pocket, "his old man's got plenty more." - -"Well, what do you intend to do with me?" asked Jack more boldly, for -he was not easily scared, and, realizing that he was in the hands of a -gang of harbor thieves, he had made up his mind to put on a bold -front, trusting to his luck to get away. But no one answered him. - -"Where's Jim and Joe?" suddenly asked Jake, turning to the woman. - -"Gone over to the city." - -"When'll they be back?" - -"Not much 'fore morning, likely. The boss sent for 'em; said that he -had a job on hand that might take all night." - -He then turned to Jack, "Hungry?" - -"No," replied Jack, "I had supper, but I'd like to get these wet -clothes off and lie down if you aren't going to let me go." - -"Well, I s'pose they do feel kinder oneasy. Say, Mag, take him -upstairs and lock him in the middle room. He can take his duds off, -and they'll dry out by morning. I'm hungry's a bear and want supper, -quick." - -"Seem's if you're always hungry," she growled, as she motioned Jack to -follow her. "I'll be back in a jiff, and supper'll be ready's soon I -can git it." - -She led him up a flight of dark rickety stairs and, passing along a -narrow hallway, pushed him into a room, saying, "There's a cot there, -and ye can strip and wring out yer duds and they'll dry by morning. -But say, kid, don't yer try to get away, for take it from me, if Jake -catches ye trying anything, he'll do ye up for keeps." - -She left him a small lamp with which she had lighted the way up, and -going out, closed and locked the door. - -"Guess they forgot all about that one hundred dollars," thought Jack, -as he held up the light and looked about him. The room contained no -window, but there was a small opening in the ceiling, which seemed to -open into a room above. The only thing in the room was an old broken -cot. - -"Well," he thought, as he set the light on the floor, "I wasn't long -in getting into trouble after I landed in Boston, that's sure; still I -don't see how I could have avoided it. It must have been that man Reed -who threw me over. He probably followed me, but I don't see why he -tried to kill me. Perhaps he thought I had a clue as to where Bob is," -he mused. - -While these thoughts were running through his mind, he had been taking -off his wet clothes. Stripping to the skin, he wrung out what water he -could, and then spread them out on the floor. "Good thing it's so -hot," he muttered, "or I'd get a fine cold, but I guess there's no -danger in here, as it's hot enough to fry eggs. Well, guess I might as -well take things as easy as possible." - -The cot was covered with an old sheet, which, strangely enough, seemed -to be fairly clean, and wrapping it around him, he threw himself on -the cot, too tired even to think any more, and in spite of the heat, -was soon fast asleep. - -He dreamed that he was in a baker's shop, where many workmen were -busily engaged baking bread. In some unaccountable manner, he was -changed into an immense loaf of bread, and although he tried his best -to tell the baker that he was a boy and not a loaf of bread, he was -thrown into the oven. The heat grew more and more intense, until -finally, when it seemed that he must be about done, he suddenly awoke. - -"Well," was his first thought, "that was a funny dream." Then he sat -up, trying to think where he was. Soon remembrance returned, and with -a groan he sank back. - -"Whew, but it's hot in here," he said to himself. "Don't believe I can -get to sleep again; guess I'll turn up the light and see if my clothes -are drying." As he stepped to the floor, the boards seemed almost hot -to his feet. - -"Wonder what makes it so awful hot," he thought, as he turned up the -light. Just then, he thought he heard a faint snapping sound from -below, and an instant later, the odor of burning wood came to his -nostrils, while he saw thin puffs of smoke curling up through the -cracks of the floor. - -"My goodness," he thought as he realized his position, "the house is -on fire and I'm locked in here!" - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -BOB BEGINS WORK ON A FAKE CELL. - - -About noon, the hunchback brought Bob's dinner to him, and two hours -later, King opened the door, saying, "Well, son, I guess I've got all -you'll need, and now I want you to get to work at once." - -"All right, I suppose I might as well begin now as any time." - -"Now, let me tell you something," continued King, as they started down -the stairs. "I know all about electricity and storage batteries and -I'm going to watch you every minute, and if you try to fool me and -don't make that cell right, I give you fair warning that it'll be the -worse for you." - -Bob made no reply, but thought to himself, "If you can catch me before -the thing is done and tested, you're a good deal smarter than I think -you are." He fully realized that he was taking a desperate chance, for -he knew that the cell, as he was going to make it, would not work, for -he had tried one like it while he and Jack were experimenting. But he -had made up his mind not to give the secret away, trusting that an -opportunity to escape would present itself before he had finished. He -had also resolved to work as slowly and to take as long a time about -it as he dared. - -King led the way down to the laboratory and showed him the things he -had bought. It would be tiresome to relate Bob's work in detail, and -we shall tell about only those parts that are necessary to the story. - -He managed to use up that afternoon and the greater part of the next -day making one cap, but about four o'clock he had to declare that part -of the work done. - -"Now, what's next?" asked King. - -"We'll have to make another cap to go with this one." - -"Are they both alike?" - -"No, this one is positive and the other will have to be negative. -We'll begin on that one in the morning." - -"Not much we won't," almost shouted King. "We'll start it right now, -and we ought to have it done by twelve o'clock tonight. I believe -you're loafing on the work anyway." - -"Believe what you please," said Bob, mad clear through, "but I'll tell -you right now that I'm not going to work any more today, and what's -more you can't make me either." - -"Can't, eh, we'll see about that," snapped King, coming toward Bob -with clenched fist. - -Now, when Bob was real good and mad, he could be as stubborn as a -mule, and he was in exactly that condition now, regardless of -consequences. So, when King raised his fist as if to hit him, he -stepped back, saying in a firm tone, "You hit me just once, and I -won't do another bit of work on that thing if you kill me for it." - -King dropped his fist, and the two looked each other in the eyes for a -full minute without speaking. "You'll work tonight or you'll get no -supper," he finally threatened. - -"Get no supper, eh?" snapped Bob. "If I get no supper tonight, -there'll be no cell made tomorrow, just remember that," and then, as -King did not at once reply, he continued, "Now see here, no one yet, -except my parents, ever made me do a thing I'd made up my mind not to -do, and I've made it up good and hard, right now, and you can't make -me back down. You've got me in your power, and I suppose you can put -me out of the way if you want to, but that won't get you the cell, so -what are you going to do about it?" - -King realized that he was licked, and gave in, with as good grace as -he could muster. "All right," he growled, "have your own way." - -Bob was much relieved when he realized that he had won, for although -he had put up a bold front, he had by no means felt as confident as -his looks indicated. He spent the next forenoon getting the copper -cylinder and the tank ready for the electrolysis, telling King that he -had decided not to make the other cap till the cylinder was done, -although he could easily have done the work in an hour. After dinner -he dissolved the lead nitrate in water, poured the solution into the -tank, and adjusted the cap. - -"Have you a piece of platinum foil?" he asked King. - -"What do you want that for?" - -"Why, you see I make this cylinder the positive pole of the circuit -and have to have the platinum for the negative." - -"All right, I guess I can find a piece," he replied. - -Bob hoped that he couldn't, and, as a matter of fact, he could have -used a piece of copper just as well, but, he thought, "if he will only -go out after some and leave me here, I might find a way to escape." -But, to his disappointment, it was soon forthcoming, and putting it in -place he was soon obliged to acknowledge that he was ready to turn on -the current. - -"How much do you want?" asked King. - -"One and four-tenths volts and six tenths of an ampere," replied Bob. - -As the current was turned on, King watched the cylinder closely, and -soon he could see that a dark brown powder was collecting on the -outside. - -"Hold on a minute," said Bob, "I forgot to insulate the outside of -that cylinder. Have you a piece of rubber tubing, large enough to slip -on over it?" - -"I guess so, but it seems to me that you are all the time forgetting -something or other." - -The correction was soon made, and the cylinder returned to the bath. -After the current had been running about half an hour, King purposed -that they take the cylinder out and see if they were getting any -results, as they could not see the inside of it while it was in the -tank. Glad of any delay, Bob readily assented, and as soon as it was -removed, it was seen that a very small amount of the powder had coated -the inside. - -"Humph," growled King. "It's mighty slow. Won't it go faster if we use -more juice?" - -"Yes," replied Bob, "but it will be too loose and spongy." This was -the truth, as he had found by experiment, and he was very glad that -this part of the work would have to go slowly, whether or no. When -supper time came, King proposed that they leave the current running -all night, but Bob wouldn't hear to it. - -"No," he said, "I must be here to watch it, for I know what to expect -if it don't pan out, and much depends on how that peroxide of lead is -deposited. Either you turn off the current or I quit." - -King knew from past experience that it would be useless to threaten -and grudgingly yielded the point. "Shall we take the cylinder out?" he -asked. - -"Of course," replied Bob, "I thought you knew something about this -kind of work." - -King muttered something about wanting to make sure, and leaving the -laboratory they went up to supper. - -That night about ten o'clock, as Bob was lying on his bed trying, as -usual, to think of some way to escape, he heard the key turn in the -lock and the hunchback entered. - -"Mr. King sent me up to tell you to go to sleep good and early for -he's going to call you at five o'clock." - -"Oh, he did, did he?" returned Bob. "Well, you just tell him that I'll -go to sleep when I get good and ready and not a minute before. Do you -get that?" - -While speaking, he had got off the bed and gradually approached the -hunchback. As he finished, he suddenly grabbed him round the neck, and -before the dwarf had time to defend himself, he was hurled to the far -side of the room. Bob made a quick dash for the door and in an instant -had it closed and locked behind him. Quickly, he turned and darted -down the stairs, but before he reached the next floor, he heard the -man shouting and pounding on the door. "I must hurry," he thought, -taking the next flight three steps at a time. He had reached the lower -floor and was unlocking the front door, when a door at his left flew -open and both King and Reed rushed out. - -"What's all this?" demanded King; then as he saw who it was, he sprang -forward and grabbed Bob by the shoulders and roughly yanked him back. -"So you thought you'd give us the slip, did you? How'd you get out of -that room?" - -Poor Bob's heart sank as he realized that his attempt was a failure, -and he made no reply. - -"We'll soon find out," said King. "Come on now," and he made Bob -precede him up the stairs. - -"You miserable runt," he shouted, as he unlocked the door and saw the -dwarf. "What does this mean?" - -"Gee," replied the latter, "he jumped me so quick, I didn't know what -was up before he was out of the room and I was locked in." - -"Don't blame him," broke in Bob, "it wasn't his fault." - -"Well, the next time I send you up here, just deliver your message -through the door, do you understand?" - -"I certainly do. I won't give him a chance to get hold of me again," -declared the dwarf, rubbing his arm. - -Bob was much cast down as they went out. "But I won't give up," he -thought as he was undressing. "But, confound it, I've got to do -something pretty soon for I'm not going to make that job pan out -nearly as long as I thought I could." - -Before he slept that night, he had resolved upon a bold stroke for -liberty, which he was resolved to put into execution at the very first -opportunity. - -About eight o'clock the next morning, Bob realized that his chance had -come. King was watching the cell while he was standing about three -feet to one side. Suddenly, Bob drew back his right arm and before -King could defend himself, he struck. The blow was a jim dandy, as Bob -afterward expressed it. It caught King fairly on the jaw and he went -down like a log, knocking over the tank as he fell. Bob quickly leaned -over him and took the key of the laboratory from his pocket, where he -had seen him put it several times. - -"Now, if I can only get out," he thought as he unlocked the door and -stole softly up the stairs. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -BOB'S ESCAPE. - - -Bob's heart beat wildly as he crept up the stairs, for he had resolved -to let no one stop him if he could help it, knowing that it would go -hard with him if he again fell into King's hands. He reached the top -of the flight without hearing any one and quickly passed through the -dining room to the front hall, and for the second time since his -imprisonment, he was at the front door. The hall had a vestibule and -just as he succeeded in getting the inner door open he heard a key -turn in the outer door, and before he had time to dodge back, it swung -open and Reed entered. - -Coming thus suddenly face to face, it would be hard to say which was -more at a loss what to do, but as soon as he could speak, Reed gasped, -"You?" - -"Yes, me," answered Bob, "and if you don't step aside and let me pass, -some one is going to get hurt and don't you forget it." - -"Where's Jim?" Reed demanded, shutting the door. - -"What's left of him is down stairs, and I rather guess he'll stay -there a while." - -As Bob had taken the precaution to lock the door of the laboratory -after he came out and had the key in his pocket, he felt that he had -little to fear from that quarter for a time at least, even if King had -come to. - -"Your little game is up," he continued, "and you might as well step -aside and save trouble and perhaps your head as well." - -"Think so?" sneered Reed, and Bob saw him reach his hand back toward -his hip pocket and before he was able to spring forward, he was -looking into the barrel of a .32. - -"Now, my young friend, I rather guess you will reconsider your -conclusion. I don't want to hurt you, but I'd much prefer putting a -bullet through you to letting you get away. Now, about face and march -down to the laboratory again, and no monkey shines, or this here gun -will be apt to go off, for when I get excited, my finger gets twitchy, -and remember, if it does go off, the bullet will come out of the end -that's pointing at you." - -All this had probably not taken over a minute, but during that time, -Bob had been doing some quick thinking and had resolved that, gun or -no gun, he was not going to lose this chance. They passed out into the -dining room, Reed following Bob at a distance of perhaps six feet. -Reaching the door, at the head of the stairs, Bob pretended that he -was trying to open it. - -"It seems to be locked," he said, "Guess the wind must have blown it -shut." - -"Well, hold on a minute, I've got a key in my pocket." - -Bob turned and saw that Reed had lowered the revolver a little as he -searched his pocket for the key. It was the chance he wanted. Like a -flash he leaped, and before the startled man could raise his arm, his -wrist was seized and given a powerful twist, which sent the revolver -spinning to the other side of the room. Reed, maddened to the point of -frenzy, struggled with all his strength, and he was no mean -antagonist, but Bob knew that he was fighting for his liberty, if not -for his life, and fought as he had never fought before. Round the room -they struggled, knocking over the chairs as they fought. Once the man -got the boy down on his back, and with his hand on his throat, began -to choke him, but Bob managed to squirm over, and, getting to his -knees, flung one arm round Reed's neck, and giving a powerful twist -made him lose his hold. Both quickly rose to their feet and stood -facing each other, panting for breath. Suddenly, catching sight of the -revolver on the floor near his feet, Reed made a move toward it. But -the movement gave Bob the chance he wanted, and, springing forward, -he swung his right arm with all the strength he could muster. His fist -landed squarely on the man's right eye, and he went down in a heap. He -was not knocked out, but the blow gave Bob time to grab up the -revolver, and by the time Reed was on his feet again, he took his turn -at looking down the barrel. - -"Now, my old friend, I guess I'll have to ask you to recognize that -conclusion you spoke of a few moments ago. This thing don't look quite -so good at that end, does it? Give my regards to your friend below, if -you can get enough life in him to accept them." - -So saying, he backed out of the room into the hall, still pointing the -revolver at the man, who stood looking daggers at him, but not daring -to move, and this time reached the street without mishap. - -"Whew!" he thought, as he slipped the revolver into his pocket, "that -was some exciting time while it lasted. Well, I'm free at last and -I'll take mighty good care that they don't get me again. Wonder which -way I'd better go?" - -Although well acquainted with a good part of Boston, as he looked -about him he had no idea in what part of the city he was, except that -it was one of the poorer districts. - -Coming to the harbor front, he turned toward the south, judging that -the ferry was in that direction. He had gone but a few squares, when -he heard the cry of fire, and glancing down a side street which led to -the water's edge, he saw a number of men and boys running toward an -old house near the water and about a square from where he was -standing. - -"Guess I'll see what's doing," he thought as he turned and started to -run down the street. - -Coming opposite the house, which stood somewhat apart by itself, he -saw that it was a three-story frame structure, and the flames were -already visible through the windows of the first floor, while smoke -was pouring from those of the first and second stories. - -"It won't last ten minutes," said a man standing next to him, "the -walls will fall in before the fire engine gets here." - -"Are the people all out?" asked Bob. - -"Dunno, guess so. Don't see any one, do you?" - -But, at that moment, a figure appeared at a front third-story window -and shouted for help. At the sound of the voice, Bob's heart almost -stopped beating, and shading his eyes with his hand, he gazed eagerly -upward. "It can't be possible," he thought, "but that was Jack's voice -sure as guns, and what's more, it looks like him." Just then, the boy -gave another wild cry for help. - -"My soul, that's Jack," he groaned, "sure as fate. Quick," he shouted, -"where's a ladder?" - -The cry was taken up by the crowd, and in a minute, a man pushed his -way through the crowd, carrying a fairly long ladder. Eager hands -seized it and raised it toward the boy, but alas for their hopes, it -reached only to the middle of the second story window, too short by -nearly eight feet. Bob gave a groan, but just then he saw a store on -the opposite side of the street, and rushing across, he darted in. "A -coil of rope," he shouted, but there was no one there. Just at that -moment, however, a man rushed in, and hearing Bob's cry, darted to the -back part of the store, to return almost instantly, dragging about -twenty feet of rope after him. Snatching the end of the rope from his -hand, Bob rushed back across the street rapidly coiling it as he ran. -By the time he reached the foot of the ladder the smoke and flames -were pouring from the windows in great clouds and the entire front of -the house was tottering. - -"Can't do it," shouted a man, "it'll fall before you can get up." - -"I'm going to do it anyway," muttered the boy as he started to ascend. - -The heat was terrific, and the smoke nearly choked him, but he fought -his way upward rung by rung. It seemed that he would never reach the -top, as the rungs of the ladder were so hot they fairly blistered his -hands and the walls threatened to fall at any moment, but he did it, -and bracing himself by putting one foot through the ladder, he grasped -one end of the rope in his right hand, holding the coil in his left. - -"Now, Jack, catch it," he shouted. - -"Great guns, Bob, how'd you get here?" - -"Never mind now, catch this rope," and he threw it up toward the -window with all the strength he had left, which was not very much. By -rare good fortune Jack caught it. - -"Quick, now, fasten it to something, this wall won't last much -longer." - -Jack disappeared for what seemed to Bob a long time, but at last he -saw him at the window again. - -"I've got it," he shouted. - -"All right, now, come down while I hold this end." - -Jack swung himself from the window and came down the rope hand over -hand and soon had his feet on the top rung of the ladder. - -"Now, quick, we haven't a second to lose," cried Bob, as he started to -descend. "Are you all right?" - -"Sure thing, look out, I'm coming," shouted Jack. - -By this time several of the rungs were on fire, and two or three broke -as Bob stepped on them, but he managed to keep his hold, and, reaching -the ground, looked up to see Jack half way down. But, now the ladder -was so weakened that, as the boy stepped on to the next rung, it -swayed and broke fairly in two, and at that instant, the entire front -of the building fell in with a tremendous crash. - -Jack, however, was safe. He had felt the ladder, as well as the wall, -going and had managed to throw himself backward away from the burning -building. He fell only about eight feet and landed on his feet unhurt. -Running quickly back, away from the intense heat, the two boys hugged -each other in a frenzy of joy, while the crowd set up a great shout of -gladness. - -"You saved my life, old man, but for mercy sakes, how did you get -here?" - -"It's too long a story to tell now," replied Bob, "let's try to get -out of this crowd." - -Although many tried to detain them, the two boys managed to slip away -just as a fire engine, with a great ringing of bells, dashed on to the -scene. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -ON THE KIDNAPPER'S TRAIL. - - -The two boys were pretty well tired out from the strain through which -they had just passed and they both had several bad burns on their -hands, which, now that the excitement was over, began to assert -themselves. They had not walked far when they saw a small park, where -were some benches, and Jack proposed that they sit down and rest up a -bit. As he knew that Bob had been taken to Boston, naturally the -latter was the more surprised of the two on seeing his brother there, -and as soon as they were seated on a bench Bob said: - -"Now, Jack, tell me all about it, quick, and then I'll give you an -account of my racket." - -So Jack, starting from the time Bob disappeared, told him all that had -happened. When he reached the point where we left him, he said: - -"I tell you what, Bob, when I found that those rascals had varmoused -and left me locked in that burning house, I was scared. I pounded on -the door and yelled till I was hoarse and when no one came I was -about ready to give up. By this time the room was pretty full of -smoke, and my eyes smarted so that I could hardly keep them open and -the floor was so hot, that I had to fairly dance, and it was getting -hotter every minute. I had managed to get my clothes on by this time -and started to see if I could kick a hole in the door, but it was too -strong and I could make no impression on it." - -"Couldn't you cut a hole in it with your knife?" asked Bob. - -"I thought of that, but I had lost my knife somewhere. Well, just as I -thought that all hope was gone, I remembered that there was a hole -about two feet square in the ceiling at one end of the room. It was -fully eight feet from the floor, but I took the cot and leaned it -against the wall and managed, by climbing up on it, to reach the edge -of the opening and climb up through. I found myself in an empty room -running the entire length of the house. There was a stairway at the -other end and I ran to it, but the smoke was pouring up in clouds and -I could see that the stairs were ablaze and the room below full of -fire, so I didn't dare to risk it. I thought then it was all up with -me, but it was a little cooler up there and I managed to get one of -the front windows open, and you know the rest. I tell you, Bob, old -man, you never looked so good to me as you did coming up that ladder -with the rope in your hand. I think I should have jumped in another -two minutes. But, now tell me all about yourself. Where have you been -and how did you get away?" - -Then Bob gave him a full account of his adventures and when he told -how he had hit Reed on the nose, Jack said, "Good enough for him, wish -I'd been there." Then, when Bob had finished, he asked, "But why do -you suppose Reed pushed me overboard? It must have been he." - -"Of course it was," answered Bob, "there's no one else who would do it -except King and it couldn't have been he, for he was with me at the -time. I suppose he saw you, and thinking you might make trouble for -them, he probably thought he would dispose of you." - -"I guess that's about the way of it, leastwise, that's the way I -figured it out. Hello, there's a cop; suppose we ask him where we -are." - -They soon learned that they were only about a half mile from the -station, and as they were well rested, they decided that they would go -there and take the train for their Uncle Ben's in Winthrop. - -Reaching the station, they found a train about to leave, and in less -than a half hour, they were getting off at Winthrop Beach. Uncle Ben's -house was but a few minutes' walk from the station and soon they were -ringing the bell, and their Aunt Lucy answered it. - -"Why, it's Bob and Jack," she cried as she saw them. "Where did you -come from? My, but I'm glad to see you," and without giving them time -to speak, she grabbed one in each arm and gave them a good hug and -kiss. - -"Where's Uncle Ben?" asked Bob as soon as he could get the question -in. - -"He had to go to the bank, but I expect him out on the next train, as -he said he was only going to stay a little while. But there, I'll bet -you haven't had any lunch and are as hungry as two young bears. Come -right in and we'll have something to eat in less than no time." - -"How are all the folks?" asked Aunt Lucy, as they sat down. - -"Fine and dandy," replied Jack, "but my goodness, Bob, we must call -them up right off. Can I use the 'phone, auntie?" - -The 'phone was in the front hall and Jack was gone some little time, -but at last he returned. Just as they began to eat, the door opened -and Uncle Ben entered the room. He was no less delighted to see the -boys than Aunt Lucy had been, and the meal was a merry one. The boys -said nothing regarding their adventures till the lunch was over, then -Bob said: - -"Uncle Ben, we've got quite a long story to tell you." - -"Is that so? Well, fire away." - -So Bob began and told them all about their adventures. He was -interrupted many times by expressions of horror and indignation from -Uncle Ben and Aunt Lucy. - -"Well, of all the happenings," declared Uncle Ben, when he had -finished. "Say, Bob, do you think you can find that house where they -had you?" - -"Yes, I think so. It was in East Boston, 54 Uhl street. I noticed the -number of the house and the street as I ran out." - -"That's in one of the worst sections of the city," declared Uncle Ben. -"Now, boys, if you are not too tired we must take the next train to -the city and report this to the police, and we may be in time to catch -them. The scoundrels, they must be caught and punished if possible; -it's not safe to have them at large." - -Both boys declared that they were not tired, and, as the next train -left in about fifteen minutes, they started at once. - -In a short time they reached East Boston and took the ferry across. - -"It must have been here that I went overboard," said Jack as they were -about half way across, and he shuddered as he looked down at the -water. "I wouldn't want to go through that again." - -"I should say not," said Uncle Ben. "Oh, by the way, Jack, you didn't -see either of those fellows round the house after the fire, did you?" - -"No, I never thought a thing about them." - -"Well, they ought to be found and locked up, for they undoubtedly -intended to rob you, and were probably going to make your father pay a -big sum of money." - -"Yes, I guess that's so," agreed Jack, "but then they saved my life -and I'd rather call it square." - -"Well, if that's the way you feel about it," said Uncle Ben, "we won't -say anything to the captain about them." - -Reaching the other side of the harbor, they lost no time in getting a -car, which took them to State street, where was the police station of -which Uncle Ben's friend was captain. - -"Is Captain Long in?" he asked a sergeant, who was sitting at the desk -as they entered. - -"I think so, sir, please wait a moment and I'll see." Touching a bell -on his desk, he ordered the attendant to see if the captain was in his -office. - -"Right, sir," said the man going out. - -He was back in a minute, and telling them that Captain Long would see -them at once, conducted them through several rooms into his private -office. - -"Why, hello Ben," greeted a large broad-shouldered man, wearing the -uniform of a police captain, as they were ushered into the room. "Come -to give yourself up?" - -"Not just yet, Harry. These are my two nephews from Maine," he said, -introducing the boys, "I think likely you've seen them around my -house, but I guess you've never met them." - -The captain expressed himself as pleased to know them, and then -motioning them to sit down, asked: - -"Now, what can I do for you?" - -"Well, Harry," answered Uncle Ben, "these two youngsters have been -through enough to turn your hair gray." Then turning to Bob, he said: -"Tell him your story as quickly as you can, for every minute may -count." - -So, for the third time that day Bob gave an account of his kidnapping, -only this time he made it as brief as possible. The captain said -nothing till he had finished, but they could see that he was not -losing a word. - -"Give me as careful a description of those two men as you can," he -ordered, and Bob obeyed. - -"This is indeed serious," said the captain, turning to Mr. Golden when -Bob had finished. "I'll bet you my cap that the smaller of the two men -is Jim the Penman, and if that's right, he is one of the most wanted -men in the country today. Why, there's a reward of $10,000 for him, -and that other fellow may be Oily Joe; they have worked together a -good bit and are two of the most expert counterfeiters in the world. -The two of them have given us a lot of trouble. I'm mighty glad you -came to me, although I'm afraid it's too late, as they've probably -skipped, but we'll make a try for them and it's possible we may be on -time." - -He touched a button on his desk, and an officer entered. - -"Have the patrol out at once with six of the best men available," he -ordered, "Report to me here. Let's see," he said, as the man saluted -and retired, "you said 54 Uhl street. That's over across the ferry." - -In less than two minutes a knock sounded and at the captain's "come -in," six uniformed policemen entered. Quickly, he explained the -situation to them and gave his orders. - -"The driver will let you out about two squares this side of the house, -and I'll be there by the time you are, and tell you how to arrange -things." - -He gave them the address and saluting, they left the room. - -"Don't lose a minute," he shouted as the last man went out. - -"Now," said Captain Long, turning to Mr. Golden and the boys, "don't -you want to come along with me in my car?" - -"We sure do," cried both boys together, and even Uncle Ben seemed no -less anxious. - -"All right then, this way," and he led them out to the street. - -His car, a powerful two-seated machine, stood in front of the station -house, the chauffeur dozing on the front seat, but he sprang to -activity as he heard the captain's voice. - -Quickly, they entered the machine, Captain Long giving the direction -to the driver, and just as they started, the patrol whizzed by, the -horses at full gallop. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -THE COUNTERFEITER'S DEN. - - -They passed the patrol just as they reached the ferry and all crossed -together. Reaching the other side, the machine soon distanced the -patrol, and, after running for about ten minutes, the captain told the -driver to stop and the car drew up at the curb. - -"The place is only two squares away," he explained, "and we'll wait -here for the patrol." - -It came dashing up in a few moments and the men got out. - -"Now, two of you go round by Clear street, and come up by the back -way," ordered the captain, "and two more go up Clover a couple of -blocks and then turn down Front, which will bring you to the front of -the house. The rest of you wait here a few moments, and then go -straight there and we'll follow about a square behind. Now, don't make -any noise till we are all there, but if you see any one leave the -house, arrest him at once." - -Four of the men saluted and started off in the directions ordered, -and, after waiting five minutes, the other two left, followed a moment -later by the captain and the Goldens. Arriving at the house, they -found the four officers there. - -"Are the others round back?" asked the captain. - -"Yes, sir," answered one of the men. - -"See any one?" - -"No, sir." - -"All right then, you wait here and I'll ring the bell." This he did, -but no one answered the summons. - -"Guess they've skipped," said one of the men. - -After ringing several times, Captain Long said: - -"Two of you stay here and the rest of us will go round to the rear, -and see if we can get in without smashing a door, and," he added, -"keep an eye on those side windows." - -They found the two officers waiting at the rear. - -"Seen anything?" asked Captain Long. - -"Not a thing," was the reply. - -They found the back door locked with the key on the inside, and, -remarking that he guessed they would have to break a window, the -captain took a small diamond glass cutter from his pocket and -scratched a circle about six inches in diameter on the window pane, -just above the catch. A quick push shoved it in, and reaching his hand -through, he soon had the window open. - -"Now, Bill," he said, turning to one of the men, "you jump in and -unlock the door." - -"In a minute they were in the house, and passing through to the front -door, admitted the others. Leaving one man on guard at the front door, -another at the rear, while a third was stationed in the middle room, -the rest made a thorough search of the upper part of the house. But, -to their disappointment, they found no one. They returned to the first -floor and the captain said: - -"Now we'll go down to the basement." - -Bob found the room looking about as he had left it earlier in the day, -except that King was no longer there. He showed them the cylinder, on -which he had been at work, and which he found lying on the floor. They -made a careful search of the room, but found nothing of an -incriminating nature and were about to return upstairs, when Jack, had -been looking over a desk in one corner of the room shouted: - -"Come over here a minute, I believe I've found something." - -He had noticed a piece of paper lying partly concealed, under one -corner of the desk and had moved it slightly to get the paper without -tearing it, when he noticed a break in the flooring, and on moving the -desk a little farther, he saw a small ring in the floor. - -"I believe there's a trap door here," he declared as they came over to -where he was. - -It was but a moment's work to shove the desk out of the way, and sure -enough, there was a trap door about two feet square. One of the -officers took hold of the ring, and a second later they were gazing -down into a pitch-black hole. Captain Long kneeled down and flashed -the light from an electric torch into the space below. - -"Jove," he shouted, "here's a find sure enough; I'm going down and the -rest of you follow." - -It was a large room about twenty feet long by twelve feet wide. The -walls were of brick, and so far as they could see, there was no break -in them. The room was lighted by several incandescent electric lights, -which one of the men had turned on. Looking around, they found that -the room contained an electric furnace, such as is used for melting -bullion, a small printing press, and several other pieces of -machinery, which the captain recognized as pertaining to the making of -counterfeit money. They also found several dies for stamping quarters -and half dollars, as well as a number of plates for printing bills of -ten and twenty dollar denominations. Several pounds of lead and -copper, together with a smaller amount of silver and gold was also -found. - -"I'm mighty sorry that we didn't get the rascals," declared Captain -Long, "but this find is well worth our while." - -He started to mount the ladder, telling the others to follow him, when -a very astonishing thing happened. Suddenly the trap door banged down -and at the same time the lights went out, while a mocking laugh -sounded from above. Quickly, the captain sprang up the ladder, and -bracing himself, pushed with all his strength against the door, but it -did not so much as budge. - -"We're trapped, sure as fate," he said, as he gave it up and came down -the ladder. "Where do you suppose those fellows were hid all the -time?" - -"They probably had some secret hiding place which we didn't find," -declared Mr. Golden. - -"I guess that's about the size of it. Here, Bill, I guess you and Fred -are the strongest, you two get up on that ladder and see if you can -make any impression on that door. I wonder how, in the name of all -that's funny, they have fastened it, for I didn't see any lock on it." - -The two officers did as ordered, but in spite of their most strenuous -efforts, they could make no impression on it. They did, however, make -a most decided impression on the ladder, for suddenly it broke near -the middle, and the two came tumbling down in a heap. Fortunately, -they were not hurt by the fall and laughed as they picked themselves -up. - -"Well, we're in a pretty fix, sure enough," declared Captain Long. "I -should have left one of you on guard, but I never thought of those -fellows being in hiding there after the way we searched the place. -It's a good thing I left word at the station where we were going, but -the rest of the force will sure have the laugh on us." - -"Say, do you smell anything?" suddenly asked Bob. - -"Seem's though I do," replied two of the officers sniffing. - -No one spoke for a moment and then Captain Long said: - -"My God, men, that's coal gas and it's getting stronger every minute. -Those devils have turned it in here somehow. Quick," he almost -shouted, "we've got to get out of here at once or we'll all be dead -men in less than ten minutes." - -By this time the odor of the gas was very strong and was rapidly -getting stronger. Several of the officers were equipped with electric -torches, and using them, they made a hurried search of the walls to -see if by chance there was any opening which they had overlooked -before, but nothing of the kind could they find. - -"Gee, but I'm getting sleepy," said one of the men. - -"We'll all be worse than sleepy in about a minute," groaned another. - -"Well," spoke up Mr. Golden, "It's hard to die penned up like this, -but if it's God's will, let us meet it like men." - -"Oh, what'll my poor wife and babies do?" groaned the man who had -spoken before. - -But little more was said. Bob got hold of Jack's hand and whispered: - -"It'll be an easy death, old man." - -"I know," replied Jack. "I'm not afraid, but I do wish we could see -the folks." - -The deadly gas was rapidly getting in it's work, and three of the -officers were already stretched on the floor, while the others were -breathing heavily. Bob's head was swimming and he knew that he would -be unconscious in another moment. He stretched himself out on the -floor, putting one arm around the neck of Jack, who was already lying -down. The other arm he stretched out along the floor, and as he did -so, suddenly his fingers felt an iron ring. Hardly knowing what he -did, he began to pull on it. To his surprise, he felt it give, and -summoning all his remaining strength, he rose to his knees and gave a -quick yank to it. A trap door opened, letting in a rush of cool fresh -air. It partially revived him and he shouted. - -"Quick, here's a way out." - -Only Mr. Golden and the captain were conscious, and they dragged -themselves, as quickly as possible, to the opening. - -The inrush of air had cleared the gas away from the open door -somewhat, and Mr. Golden had strength enough to whisper: - -"You and the captain go down the hole quickly and I'll try to pass the -others down to you." - -Quickly lowering himself over the edge, Bob found himself in a passage -way about three feet wide where the air was perfectly fresh, and -coming through with a strong draft. He felt much stronger at once. In -an instant, the captain had followed him, dragging Jack with him. - -"I'm afraid we'll never be able to get them all out," he gasped, "but -this draft is carrying the gas out and it's not so bad as it was." - -Mr. Golden succeeded in dragging two of the men to the opening, where -they were grabbed by Bob and the captain, and dragged a few feet along -the passageway. But now his strength gave out, and as Bob grabbed the -third man and pulled him through, Mr. Golden fell unconscious half way -through the opening. The captain caught him and dragged him through -and Bob said: - -"I'll get the rest." - -Without waiting for a reply, he lifted himself through the opening, an -electric torch in his hand. The gas had been driven out so that it -was not so very bad, and he soon succeeded in getting the last man -out. As he again lowered himself through the opening, he closed the -trap door after him. Jack and three of the men, as well as Mr. Golden -had, by this time, somewhat revived, and in a short time two others -came to and were able to sit up, but the last one brought out still -lay as one dead. - -"Now, let's see where this passage leads to," said Captain Long, "but -two of you stay with Ed and keep moving his arms up and down and I -guess he'll come round all right." - -The rest started forward, by the light of their torches, and after -walking about a block, they came to a flight of stone steps. Mounting -these they found themselves in the kitchen of an old house, which -seemed to be deserted. - -"Two of you fellows go back and get the rest and we'll wait here," -ordered Captain Long. - -In a short time they returned with the others. The man called Ed had -revived, but was not able to walk, and two of the officers had carried -him through the passageway. - -"We were certainly fortunate to get out of that alive," declared Uncle -Ben, solemnly. - -"Indeed we were," agreed Captain Long. "If Bob hadn't hit on that ring -just when he did, we'd all been past help by this time." Then, turning -to the officers, he asked, "How are you fellows feeling now?" - -All declared that they were all right, with the exception of Ed, who -was still pretty weak. - -"All right then, one of you take him to the patrol and the rest of us -will go back to that house and see if we can find those fellows this -time." - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -BUT THE BIRDS HAD FLOWN. - - -As they were on the way back to the house, Jack turned to Bob, who was -walking beside him and said: - -"I hope to goodness that our adventures for today are about through. I -tell you what, coming so near to death twice in one day is a bit too -strenuous to suit me." - -They soon reached the house and entered by the front door, which they -found unlocked, with drawn revolvers. The room smelled strongly of -gas, but they quickly opened the windows, and it was soon nearly all -driven out. They searched the house as before, but with no success and -finally came to the laboratory. Here the gas was pretty bad, but one -of the officers soon found where it was turned on and shut it off. -They were, however, unable to find the secret hiding place of the -counterfeiters, although they searched for some time. At last the -captain said: - -"Well, I guess we'll have to give it up for now, but I'm going to -leave two of you men here to keep watch, and I'll send some one to -relieve you as soon as I get back to the station." Then, turning to -Mr. Golden, "We might as well be going now, I'm not going to have that -stuff down there removed till tomorrow." - -On their way back Bob said that they must take the night train for -home, as their parents would be anxious to see them, but Uncle Ben -said: - -"Your Aunt Lucy and I intended to run down to Skowhegan in a few days -anyway, and if you'll wait till morning, we'll all go together in the -car. We'll telephone as soon as we get back to the house and then -we'll get an early start tomorrow. What do you say?" - -The boys eagerly agreed to this plan, and by the time it was settled -they were at the ferry where they said goodby to Captain Long. - -The latter went at once to the station house and sent out a general -alarm for the apprehension of the counterfeiters, but we will say here -that they were not caught. - -On their way to Winthrop, Uncle Ben asked the two boys to say nothing -to Aunt Lucy regarding their narrow escape, as it would worry her, and -they promised to be careful and not let it out in her hearing. - -It was nearly suppertime when they reached home, and Jack at once -called up his father and told him of their plans, while Bob gave his -aunt an account of their afternoon's trip, carefully avoiding, -however, any mention of their being locked in the counterfeiter's den. - -"It's too bad they escaped," she said when he had finished. - -Uncle Ben then told her of their plans for the morrow, and she said -she guessed she could get ready in time, although it was pretty short -notice. - -As the boys were very tired after such a strenuous day, they were in -bed before nine o'clock. - -"We want to be off by six o'clock," shouted Uncle Ben, as they went up -stairs, "and I'll have to pull you out by five." - -"All right," answered Jack, "we'll be ready." - -After they were undressed they did not forget to kneel down by the bed -and thank their heavenly Father for His care over them. - -"George, but this has been some exciting day," declared Jack as he -tumbled into bed, closely followed by Bob. "I don't think I would care -to go through that mess again." - -"I should say not," agreed Bob, "we might not get off so lucky next -time. I don't believe we'll ever be any nearer death again, till our -time comes, than we were this afternoon." - -"I guess you're right there," then suddenly, "Say, Bob, do you suppose -we've seen the last of those two fellows?" - -"Hard to tell, but I sure hope so. I'd feel a good bit better if we'd -caught them this afternoon." - -"Same here," came sleepily from Jack. - -They were too tired to talk any longer and were soon fast asleep. - -They were still sleeping soundly, when a little before five o'clock, -their uncle awoke them. - -"It's too bad to wake you, boys," he said, "but breakfast is almost -ready, and we've got to be off in about an hour." - -They were soon dressed and running downstairs found a hearty breakfast -awaiting them, to which they did full justice. - -Mr. Golden's car was a big roomy Lozier, and by six o'clock they were -off. They took the chauffeur with them, although the boys, taking -turns, drove the greater part of the way. They reached Portland by -eleven o'clock, and stopped there for dinner. When nearly to -Waterville, about twenty-five miles from the cottage, a tire blew out, -but as this was their only mishap, they did not complain, and a new -one was quickly substituted. The run up from the latter city was made -in a little over an hour, and they reached the cottage shortly after -six o'clock. The boys were greeted as heroes by their parents and the -girls, and there was great rejoicing over their safe return, old Mike -coming in for his share, the tears fairly rolling down his cheeks as -he grasped their hands saying: - -"Begorra and I always did say you byes had more lives nor a cat, and -all ways were sure to land on your fate." - -While eating supper, Bob and Jack in turn, gave a full account of -their adventures, except that they said nothing about being so nearly -killed by gas, and their mother's face paled as she realized how -nearly she had lost one, if not both of her boys. When they had -finished, their father said: - -"We must keep a sharp lookout for those rascals, although I hardly -think they will dare to show up here again." - -"Say, dad," asked Jack, "where's that detective?" - -"We haven't seen or heard from him since you left," answered his -father. - -Uncle Ben agreed with his brother that the boys should be very -careful, saying: - -"There's been a lot in the papers about those fellows, that is if -they're the ones we think they are, and they have a reputation for -daring that has seldom been equaled." - -"Well," remarked Bob, "I hope they keep away, as I've had all of their -company that I care about for a while at least." - -"Same here," agreed Jack, "but I say, it's mighty funny what's got -that Sharp detective." - -He had hardly spoken when the doorbell rang, and as the maid opened it -the detective walked in. When he saw Bob his eyes stuck out, as Jack -after expressed it, as large as saucers. - -"Well, I'll be blowed," he cried, "where in the world did you come -from?" - -And then the story had to be told over again. - -"Well, I'll be blessed," uttered the detective, when they had -finished, "Guess I'm getting too old for a job of this kind. Here I've -been working night and day, and have scoured the country for a -distance of twenty miles in every direction, and didn't get a smell, -and you," turning to Jack, "find him first whack off the reel." - -"I didn't find him," declared Jack, "He found me," and he added, "it -was a mighty lucky find for me." - -Mr. Sharp seemed very much downcast, but Mr. Golden assured him that -he was sure that he had done all that any one could have done. - -"You, of course, didn't know that he had been taken to Boston, and the -two boys meeting as they did was a coincidence, which wouldn't happen -twice in a thousand years. No, you needn't reproach yourself in the -least." - -After this the detective felt much better, but remarked that it was -the third time in his twenty years as a detective that he had been -beaten. - -Uncle Ben then proposed that they take a run across the lake in the -Sprite and get their trunk, which they had sent by express, and which -ought to be at the hotel. The women folks decided that they wouldn't -go, so Mr. Golden, Uncle Ben, Mr. Sharp, who wanted to catch the night -train for Boston, and the two boys, composed the crew. - -"So that's the wonderful cell that all the trouble has been about, is -it?" asked Uncle Ben, as they started. "Well, it certainly is a big -thing and I'm proud of you boys." - -On the way across, they told Mr. Golden of their narrow escape in the -counterfeiter's den, and why they had kept silent about it at the -table. He shuddered, as he realized how near death they had been and -said that they had done just right in not letting their mother and -aunt know about it, and Mr. Sharp declared that he was going to take -up the search for them as soon as he got to Boston. - -They obtained the trunk, and saying goodby to the detective and -wishing him good luck, started back for the cottage, which they -reached about nine o'clock, and, as they were all tired, they soon -retired for the night. - -The boys spent the next day sailing on the lake with the girls, while -their father and uncle went down to Skowhegan, having some business -to attend to. Late in the afternoon the four young people went fishing -and, in a short time, caught a good mess which they had for supper. - -That night, as the boys were getting ready for bed, Jack suddenly -said: - -"I say, Bob, what's the trouble with fitting up our motorcycles with -electric motors and running them with the cells?" - -"Just the thing! Wonder why we didn't think of that before." - -"Huh, that's easy, guess we've had our minds fairly full of something -else, lately." - -"That's a fact, we have," agreed Bob, "We'll go down on the wheels, -first thing in the morning and see what we can do. I guess likely we -can get the motors at Watson's, and if we can make it a go, we'll have -some bikes." - -Right after breakfast the next morning, they got their motorcycles out -and in less than fifteen minutes, were in Watson's store in Skowhegan. -Fortunately, he had two small motors, of ten horsepower each, on hand, -which seemed to the boys to be just what they wanted, and asking him -to send them up to the house at once, they were soon in the laboratory -hard at work. - -"You start on a couple sets of caps, Jack, and I'll get the -electrolysis apparatus going and fill a few cylinders," Bob had said -as soon as they got there. By noon, Jack had the caps done, as he had -everything at hand to work with and knew how to do it, and by five -o'clock, they had taken the engines apart and had the wheels all ready -for the installation of the motors. - -"Come on now and get washed up," called Bob, as he shut down the -dynamo and took out two cylinders, which, he was pleased to see, were -full. "That's eight we've filled today, but come get a move, we must -catch that five o'clock car or we'll be late to supper." - -Edna and May met them at the wharf, in the Sprite, and by six-thirty -they were eating supper and telling the family about their day's work. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -THE NEW ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE. - - -Bright and early the next morning found the boys hard at work again. -They were very skillful at this kind of work, and by three o'clock the -motors were clamped in place, the cylinders installed and everything -ready for a tryout. The current was turned on by twisting the -left-hand grip and, as that controlled the entire running part, it was -very simple. - -"My goodness, Bob," said Jack, as he straightened up, after making the -last connection, "I'll bet these machines don't weigh more than half -as much as they did before." - -"No, I guess they don't. These motors are very light compared with the -gasoline engines, and they're what made the most of the weight. Now, -let's take them out on the road and see how they'll go." - -Wheeling the machines out by the basement door, they were soon on the -road in front of the house. - -"Well, here goes," cried Jack, jumping into the saddle and giving the -grip a slight turn. - -Off he went up the road, followed a moment later by Bob. The wheels -ran perfectly and with no noise except the low humming of the motors, -which could be heard, but a few feet away. They were going at about -twenty-five miles an hour and were using but a small part of their -power. - -"Say, old man," shouted Bob, as he rode up beside his brother, "this -is going some, eh?" - -"It sure is," was the reply. "It beats the old gasoline engines all to -pieces. I wonder how fast they will go?" - -"Shouldn't wonder if they would hit a hundred, but there's a good -stretch, let's let 'em out a little and see what they'll do." - -Slowly twisting the grips, they increased their speed till Bob -declared that they were going fully a mile a minute, which he declared -was plenty fast enough for him. But, even then they had not used -nearly all their power. They were delighted with the result of their -work, and as they slowed down, Jack said: - -"This must be about the next thing to flying." - -"I guess it is," agreed Bob, "but next summer if father'll let us, -we'll do some real flying. I say, son, do you realize what these cells -will mean to an airplane? Just think of the great decrease in weight -and the increase in power." - -"Sure thing," replied Jack, no less enthusiastically, "but we better -be getting back now." - -They had ridden some five or six miles out into the country and were -passing through a piece of woods, but now brought their wheels to a -stop just after rounding a curve in the road. - -"Yes, I guess we had better be getting back," agreed Bob, "It's nearly -four now," he added, looking at his watch. "Let's see how long it -takes us; we ought to make it in about eight minutes." - -They had just started to mount their wheels, when they heard a shrill -cry and the rapid pounding of a horse's hoofs, and before they had -time to ask themselves what it was, a light carriage, drawn by a -spirited horse going at full gallop, dashed round the curve. The -carriage, which was swaying from side to side of the road, held a -young girl, and it was evident that she had lost control of the horse. -So quickly had it happened, that the boys barely had time to get their -wheels out of the way as the horse dashed past. - -"It's Evelyn Nason," gasped Bob, as he recovered his wits, "and did -you see one of the reins was broken? Come, we've got to catch her." - -They quickly mounted their wheels and turned on the power, but Bob's -wheel failed to respond. With a cry of dismay he got off, shouting to -Jack, who was already some distance away. - -"Something's wrong with my wheel; go after her." - -But Jack was out of hearing and without looking back, he faced after -the runaway, which was dashing down the road in a cloud of dust. He -knew that about a mile farther on, there was a very steep hill, at the -foot of which ran a wide brook, and here the road made a sharp turn -before it led over a narrow bridge. The bridge was a high one, as the -stream ran through a deep gully, and unless the turn was made safely, -he knew that horse and carriage would be dashed over a stone abutment -to the stream, several feet below, as there was only a very flimsy -fence by the roadside at this point. All this ran through Jack's mind -as he raced along, and he realized that if he was to do any good he -must catch the team before it reached the top of this hill. Turning on -still more power, he was soon almost flying along the road, and in a -short time was alongside the carriage. - -As he passed it, he stood up in the saddle, leaning forward, his hands -still grasping the handle grips. He was now opposite the horse's head, -and quickly shutting off the power, he straightened up, stood on the -saddle, and leaped with all his might for the head of the maddened -brute. His leap was true and he caught the bridle near the bit with -both hands and hanging on with a bull-dog grip, gradually brought the -horse to a stop right on the brow of the hill. - -"I--I guess you had better get out now," he gasped, still holding the -horse by the bridle. - -The girl, who was about fifteen and very pretty, obeyed. - -"Oh, Jack," she cried, as she got on to the ground, "I never was so -scared in my life, and you have saved me. If Prince had gone down that -awful hill I'd have been killed sure." - -"I guess it's more than likely, Evelyn, but how did it happen?" - -"Why, just before I got to that turn in the road, where you were, -Prince shied at a piece of paper that blew across the road, and I -yanked on the reins. One of them broke and, of course, after that I -had no control of him, and I didn't know what to do. I set out to -jump, but he was going so fast that I didn't dare to." - -By this time, Bob had ridden up, having located the trouble with his -wheel, which was only a wire that had slipped from a connection. - -"You got him, did you, Jack, old fellow? I knew you'd do it if any one -could," he shouted, as he dismounted. - -"Indeed he did," said Evelyn, "and it was the bravest thing I ever -saw. Why, he stood right up in the saddle and jumped! I never saw -anything like it." - -They found that a buckle where the rein was fastened to the bit had -given way, and by means of some stout cord, which Bob had in his -pocket, it was soon temporarily repaired. - -Evelyn Nason was a friend of the Goldens, and the two families were -very intimate. Jack had long been her particular hero, and now, more -than ever; it was natural that she should think there was none like -him. - -"You'll have to drive me back, Jack," she now declared, "I'm so -nervous I'd never dare to drive back alone." - -"All right, wait till I turn him around." - -The horse, which now seemed quiet enough, was soon turned, and Evelyn -and Jack got in the carriage. Bob mounted his wheel, and holding -Jack's by one hand, started off ahead. - -Mr. Nason was on the porch waiting for them. He had seen Bob riding -home with Jack's wheel, and naturally had asked him where his brother -was, and Bob told him what had happened. - -As her father helped Evelyn out of the carriage, tears came into his -eyes as he kissed her, saying: - -"Bob told me all about it, dear." - -"Oh, papa, Jack saved my life. Wasn't he splendid?" - -"My dear boy," cried Mr. Nason, as he grasped Jack's head, "you saved -my little girl and I shall never forget it. It was a very brave act." - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -BOB AND JACK GO ON A HUNT. - - -"Say, Jack, I've got an idea," said Bob that night after they were in -bed. - -"All right, fire ahead, I'm listening. You do say something sensible -once in a while and I'm willing to take a chance." - -"Well, I believe we could find that house where I was shut up." - -"Think so?" asked Jack, full of interest now. - -"Of course I'm not sure, but I recognized a house not more than seven -or eight miles from it, and if we go there on the wheels, we could -search the country pretty well in a short time. Let's try it tomorrow. -What do you say?" - -"I say yes, that is, if father will let us, and what's more, we'll -find it, too, if they haven't lugged it off. We have to be mighty -careful though, for those fellows may be in hiding there." - -At the breakfast table, the next morning, Bob announced their plan, -but Mr. Golden shook his head. - -"I'm afraid you'll get into trouble," he declared. - -"But," argued Jack, "we ought to do something toward finding those -fellows and, if we can locate the house, we can have it searched by -officers and have them nabbed if they are there." - -Mr. Golden finally consented, but made them promise that they would be -very careful and not run any risks. Getting the cook to put them up a -good lunch, they were soon ready to start. - -"That house," explained Bob, as they rode along side by side, "can't -be many miles this side of Oakland. We'll go to Waterville first and -then cross over to Oakland, then we'll take the road to Norridgewock -and look for that woods road. I suppose we might go by the way of -Norridgewock. It would be shorter, but I guess the roads are better -the other way." - -The road to Skowhegan was rough and mostly down hill, and they did not -dare to run very fast, but once outside the latter town, on the road -to Waterville, they let the machines out and reached the city in -forty-five minutes from the time they left home. As they rode through -the city, people stared in amazement at them as they failed to hear -the customary chug-chug of the engine. - -They made no stop and were soon in Oakland, a little village about -three miles to the west of Waterville. Here they stopped at a drug -store for a glass of soda water, as the ride had made them thirsty. -When they came out, they found that several people had collected and -were examining the wheels. - -"Say, bub, what kind of an engine you got here?" asked one man. - -Now neither of the boys liked being called "bub," but they had been -taught to be polite, and Jack explained that it was an electric motor. - -"Well--well, I want to know! How do you run it?" - -"Oh, that's a secret," laughed Bob, as they got into the saddles and -rode off. - -In about fifteen minutes they reached the house which Bob had -recognized, and turning to his brother, he said: - -"Now, Jack, here's where our search begins. It can't be very far from -here and as it's only ten o'clock now, we've got several hours to -hunt." - -"Wouldn't it be a good plan to inquire at the house and see if they -know anything about the place?" - -"Not a bad idea," agreed Bob, getting off his wheel and running it -into the yard. Telling Jack, who had followed him, to hold the cycles -he knocked on the door. A slovenly looking woman answered the knock, -and when he explained their errand, she gave a sudden start and said -rather gruffly: - -"No, I don't know of no such place," and shut the door in his face. - -"I'll just bet my old hat that she does, all the same," declared Bob, -as he rejoined his brother, then as the latter agreed with him, he -added: - -"I guess we better not make any more inquiries round here; some of -these people may be in league with those fellows." - -Mounting, they proceeded and had gone only about a mile, when they -came to where the road forked. - -"Any idea which is the right road?" asked Jack, as he stopped his -wheel and dismounted. - -"Not an idea. Guess we'll flip a penny. Heads to the right, tails to -the left, here goes." - -Heads it was, so they started off to the right. It was a fairly smooth -road, so they made pretty good speed for about three miles, when Bob -said: - -"Now we'd better slow up a little and begin to look carefully. If -we're on the right track that road can't be a great ways from here, -and it may be nearer than I think." - -"Do you know which side of the road it is?" - -"Yes, it's to our right. Now let's ride on slowly and keep our eyes -peeled." - -Much of the way was through thick woods, and as they rode slowly -along, they closely scanned the woods to their right, watching for a -woods road. They had gone on in this way for several miles, when -suddenly, they came out of a thick piece of woods. So far, they had -seen nothing that in anyway resembled what they were after, but, about -a mile farther on, Jack spied a rough road leading through a field to -the right. - -"Suppose that's it?" he asked, bringing his wheel to a stop. - -"No, that can't be it, because I'm sure that it was in the woods, for -I remember hearing the branches hit the top of the car all the way -along till we got out where we turned into the main road, and another -thing, I remember just before we turned, the car giving a terrific -lurch as though we had crossed a good-sized gully beside the road, and -you see, there's no such place here. No, this is not the road and we -might as well go on." - -They rode on for several miles, part of the time passing through -woods, when they went slowly, and again through the open, where they -speeded up. Finally, about eleven-thirty, Bob stopped his wheel and -said: - -"I guess we've taken the wrong road and might as well go back and try -the other one." - -To this Jack agreed, and by the time they reached the forks of the -road, it was noon, and as they saw a small spring near the roadside, -they decided to eat their lunch before going on. They had just -finished, when they saw a farmer, followed by a huge mastiff, coming -toward them. - -"Gee, Bob, just look at the size of that dog, will you?" - -"He sure is some dog all right," replied Bob. "I wouldn't want to meet -him when he wasn't feeling in a good humor." - -By this time the man was within speaking distance. - -"Say, young fellers, what yer want round here?" he asked in a harsh -tone, while his manner was most offensive. - -"Why," asked Bob, pleasantly, "do you own this road?" - -"Now don't you get gay with me, young feller." - -"No one's getting gay; you asked me a question and I asked you one. -Now, as you asked yours first, I'll answer it and then you can do as -you please about answering mine, but I think we have a right here in -the public road without being growled at. Now then, we are taking a -ride on our wheels seeing the country." - -The farmer looked rather uneasy while Bob was talking. - -"Huh, mebby so, but yer the fellers what stopped at my house down the -road here a bit, 'bout two hours ago, and was asking the old woman -something about a house what was hid in the woods, hain't yer?" - -"Yes, we did stop and make an inquiry," replied Bob. "Anything wrong -about that?" - -"Mebby not, only they hain't any sech place round here and yer needn't -go to hunting for any." - -"Well," asked Jack, laughing slightly, "if there's no such place -where's the harm in our looking for it?" - -The farmer perceived that he had made a slip, and grumbling something -about fool kids poking their noses round where they had no business, -he started off up the road to the right, the dog following close -behind. - -"Well, well, the plot thickens, as the hero says in the play. Jack, -that man knows something about that place, and what's more, he don't -want us to know anything about it." - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -THEY FIND THE HOUSE BUT LOSE A CAP. - - -As soon as the farmer disappeared, the boys started off once more, -taking the left-hand road. After riding five or six miles, they -entered a thick woods and about a half a mile farther on they came to -a bridge, leading over a small, shallow stream. This bridge had been -newly repaired as they could see that the plank flooring had been but -little used. - -"By jimminy, but I believe we're getting warm now," cried Bob, as he -stopped his wheel on the bridge. "See where the road leads down -through the brook there?" - -"Yes," replied Jack leaning over the rail. "They must have crossed -that way while the bridge was being fixed. But what of it?" - -"Just this of it. I remember that just a few minutes after we turned -into the main road that night, the machine suddenly stopped and then -turned down a very rough, steep place just like this, and after going -a few feet, came back into the road again, and I'll bet my cap that -this is the place. Funny I didn't think of it before, for this bridge -brought it to my mind. They hadn't taken the blindfold off then, so, -of course, I couldn't see anything, but, this is the place sure as -guns, and that road can't be more than a mile off." - -"Well, come on," urged Jack, impatiently, as he mounted his wheel, -"we'll soon find it if you're right." - -They rode on slowly, closely watching the right-hand side of the road -and had not gone quite a mile when Jack's keen eyes spied a slight -break in the thick trees. - -"Hurrah!" he called, "here's something that looks promising"; and then -as Bob came up, "there's your woods road and there's your gully." - -"I believe you're right, now what had we better do?" - -"How far do you think the house is from the road?" - -"Not more than a third of a mile I should say. Now I don't think we'd -better take the wheels in there, because the road is so rough that if -we should have to make a quick getaway, we could go much faster -without them." - -"Then let's hide them in the bushes and hoof it," proposed Jack. - -"I kinder hate to leave them, but I guess it's the best way out. Come -on." - -They led the motorcycles along the woods road for perhaps a dozen -yards and then turned off into the thick wood to the left, and after -pushing along about two rods, Bob suddenly said: - -"There's just the place, right by that birch tree. The bushes in front -there are so thick that no one can see them." - -Pushing on they carefully hid them there and then turned back to the -road. - -"I don't think we'd better follow the road," advised Bob, "for we -might meet some one. Let's go parallel to it, but through the woods a -little to the left." This they did and had gone about a quarter of a -mile when Jack whispered: - -"Say Bob, do you know we left the caps on the wheels?" - -"Gracious, that's so; think we'd better go back and get them?" - -"Oh, I guess they'll be all right; we must be most there now. Let's -risk it." - -So they pushed on, and had gone but a little farther, when Bob, -peering through the trees, saw an opening in the woods, and a moment -later a low two-story log house, standing on the farther edge, was -visible. Jack was a few feet behind and, placing his finger on his -lips, Bob motioned him to come on. - -"That the place, sure as guns," he whispered, "Right out in front -here is where I had that fight with Reed." - -"Guess you're right, but I don't see any signs of life there, do you?" - -"No, but we'll camp down here a while and watch." - -Bob had hardly spoken, when they heard a low growl a little to their -left. - -"Goodness, there's a dog," whispered Jack, and the next moment a huge -mastiff, similar to the one they had seen with the farmer, sprang -toward them. - -"Quick, Bob, your pistol," gasped Jack. - -The boys always carried water pistols, loaded with strong ammonia -water, when they went off on their motorcycles, and now they were to -stand them in good stead. As Jack spoke, he jumped back, reaching for -his pistol, which he carried in his back pocket, but before he could -get it out the dog was upon him. Quickly thrusting forward his left -arm, the dog caught him by the elbow, but the stout canvas, of which -their jackets were made, prevented the sharp teeth from going through. -By this time, Bob had his pistol out, and stepping forward, he shot -the contents fairly into the face of the enraged beast. He let go his -hold and with a loud yelp of pain, sprang backward, and began wildly -clawing the dirt and leaves. - -"Did he bite you, Jack?" asked Bob anxiously. - -"Nope, nary a bite, you were too quick for him. But I think we'd -better hike out of here. If there's anybody in that house, they must -have heard that howl, and will likely investigate." - -"That's right, you know we promised mother not to run any risks; come -on." - -Hastily they began to retrace their steps, but as there were no signs -of pursuit, they soon slowed up a little. - -"Don't believe there was a soul there," panted Jack, "but we found the -house and that's one good job done anyhow, and I guess we'd better be -content with that for today, but I would have liked to take a peep in -that house." - -By this time, they were in sight of the tree where they had left the -wheels, but, when they hurried forward to drag them out, to their -great consternation, no wheels were there. - -"Jerusalem!" gasped Bob, "they're gone!" - -"Well, what do you know about that?" echoed Jack. "If this isn't a -pretty kettle of fish! Are you sure this was the place?" - -"'Course it is. Here's the big birch tree and you can see where the -bushes are trampled down. Oh, if we'd only taken those caps with us! -But come on, we mustn't stand here doing nothing. We've got to get -those wheels back, and let's hurry out to the road and see if we can -see anything of them." - -As they hurried along, Bob continued, "If King or Reed spotted us I -guess it's all up, but it may be that some country lout saw us leave -'em there and has swiped 'em. If that's the case, we may get 'em -back." - -"We'll do our best anyhow," panted Jack, as they raced along. - -They soon reached the main road, and quickly looked both ways, but -nothing of the wheels was to be seen. - -For a moment the two boys looked at each other in helpless despair, -then Jack, casting his eyes on the ground, said: - -"Here, quick, Bob, see here's their tracks." - -Sure enough, in the dusty road the tracks of two wheels, leading in -the direction from which they had come, were plainly visible. - -"See, here's our tracks on this side of the road and there's the -others," and a second later he added, "There's only one fellow; see -where he walked between 'em." - -"Right you are, Sherlock," shouted Bob, "come on now, on the run." - -They set off at a rapid pace, their hopes away up. They ran nearly two -miles, both being in good training, before they saw any one, then as -they rounded a turn, they saw the object of their pursuit, walking -rapidly about two hundred yards ahead of them, between the two wheels. - -"Come on now as fast as you can leg it," said Bob, "Let's get as near -him as we can before he sees us." - -They were within two hundred feet of the thief, when he turned and saw -them. - -"Hey, you, drop those wheels!" shouted Jack. - -The man hesitated a minute and then dropped the wheels on the road -and, springing to one side, started off across a field at the top of -his speed. In another minute they had reached the wheels, and with a -cry of joy, Jack grabbed his up saying: - -"Guess we're in luck again." But the next moment his spirits were -dashed, when Bob suddenly cried: - -"Look, Jack, he's taken one of my caps." Then, before Jack could -speak, he said: "You look out for this wheel, I'm going after that -chap." - -The man by this time was some distance away and running as fast as he -could go, but Bob remembered that a little farther along a road -branched off to the left, and hoping to cut him off, he jumped on -Jack's wheel and fairly flew down the road in a cloud of dust. Coming -to the branch road he turned and had ridden but a short distance when -he saw the man climbing a fence, beside the road, just a little ahead. -So quietly did the wheel run that Bob was nearly upon him before he -was aware of his presence. He was a tall fellow, about twenty years -old, dressed in overalls. Seeing that Bob was alone, he made no -further attempt to escape, but stood in the middle of the road -panting, as Bob came up. - -Stopping the wheel and jumping off, he demanded: - -"See here, what do you mean by taking our wheels?" - -"Huh, don't yer wish yer knew? What yer going ter do about it anyhow?" -he asked with a sneer. - -"Well," replied Bob slowly, "you've taken a cap off one of the -machines and if you give it to me at once, there'll be no trouble, but -if you don't, why I'll just naturally have to take it away from you, -sonny." - -The tall youth laughed loudly, then stepping closer to Bob, shook his -fist in his face, saying: - -"I'm not saying I got the cap, but, if you think I have, mebby you'd -better pitch in right now 'fore you forgit it." - -Bob knew that the country youth was much stronger than he, as he was -all of thirty pounds heavier, but he had taken several lessons in -wrestling and boxing, and also was familiar with a number of the holds -of the Japanese which had been taught him by a Jap friend. He -therefore felt confident of his ability to handle the country boy, -unless he had a similar training, which he doubted. - -"Won't give it to me then?" asked Bob. - -"Give yer nothing," the farmer boy started to answer, but before he -had time to finish, Bob had made a rush and grabbed him round the -waist. - -"Easy now or you'll be apt to get hurt," he said, as he clasped his -arms round Bob's shoulders. - -This was exactly what Bob wanted, and giving a sudden twist to his -body, he exerted all his strength, and threw the fellow fairly over -his head. He came down with a heavy thud and was probably more -surprised than he had ever been before in his life. He was not hurt, -however, and quickly jumping to his feet, he made a wild rush for Bob, -shouting: - -"I'll fix you for that, you blamed dude." - -He was more careful this time, however, and for two or three minutes -they sparred, neither being able to strike a decisive blow. Bob found -that the fellow was by no means ignorant of the art of boxing, as he -soon got a blow on the nose, which made it bleed freely, but as one of -his opponent's eyes were closed, he felt that he was at least holding -his own. - -"Blame yer, I'll get yer now," and the fellow aimed a powerful blow at -Bob's head. If he had landed, his words would undoubtedly have come -true, but Bob jumped nimbly to one side, and the country boy nearly -fell forward from the impetus of his blow. Bob saw his chance, and -quickly jumping forward, he grabbed him round the neck and, getting -his knee in the small of his back, he pulled his head backward, a -trick he had learned from the Jap. - -"Gosh amighty, yer breaking my neck," gasped the fellow, now -absolutely helpless, and the more he struggled, the more Bob's grip -hurt. - -Bob knew that he had him at his mercy, and freeing one arm, while he -held him tightly with the other, he reached into the pocket of his -overalls, and to his joy, pulled out the stolen cap. But his troubles -were not yet over, for just then he heard the sound of rapidly -approaching steps, and turning, he saw the farmer, who had questioned -them that noon coming towards them on the run and only about one -hundred feet away. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -BOB AND JACK RETURN FROM THE HUNT. - - -As Bob saw the farmer coming, he had to do some pretty quick thinking, -for it was evident that he was hostile to him for some unknown reason, -and he did not intend to fall into his power if he could help it. -Fortunately, he had left his motorcycle standing in the road, about -ten feet away in the opposite direction from which the farmer was -approaching. Giving the man he was holding a powerful shove, which -sent him sprawling into the ditch by the roadside, he made a quick -rush for the wheel, snapped up the rest and, giving the handle a -slight turn, vaulted into the saddle. But he was just a fraction of a -second too late, for as he started off, the farmer caught him by the -coat tail. He had presence of mind to turn off the power before the -wheel fell over sideways, and springing to the side, stood facing the -farmer. - -"Now, you young cub, what does all this mean?" - -Bob had a habit of acting on the impulse of the moment, and before the -farmer had time to put up his hands, biff! he was lying on his back -in the middle of the road. By this time the younger man had picked -himself from the gutter, and hastily running forward, bent over the -fallen man, who Bob thought was probably his father. - -"I'll have the law on yer for this," he shouted. "I guess yer've -killed him." - -"Will, eh?" said Bob, stepping forward. - -His fighting blood was now at red heat, and he felt able to fight a -dozen men. "Well, if you feel like taking the law into your hands, -come on, and I'll give you one of the most interesting little picnics -you ever saw. I was only playing before." - -But he had evidently had enough, for he made no move toward reopening -hostilities. - -"All right then, guess I'll be going. By the way, your father'll come -round all right in a minute. I didn't hit him very hard." - -Just then the farmer gave a groan and opened his eyes, saying feebly: - -"Laws amighty, did a mule kick me?" - -Bob waited no longer, but, picking up his wheel, rode off unmolested. -Just as he reached the corner where the road joined the main highway, -he met Jack trudging along pushing his wheel. - -"Well, old man," he shouted, "How'd you make out? Did you get it?" - -"Did I get it?" repeated Bob, reaching his hand in his pocket, and -pulling out the cap. "What do you say to this?" - -"I say it's great luck." - -"You may think so, but quite considerable of a fight had a good deal -to do with it. Look at my nose. But," he laughed, "you ought to see -the other fellow." - -By this time he had screwed the cap in place. - -"Come on," he said, "let's ride back a little way. Something back here -I want to show you." - -"What is it?" asked Jack as they mounted and started back. - -"Oh, nothing much, only the road jumped up and hit a fellow on the -back of the head a few minutes ago and I want to see how he's getting -along. There are two of them, but I don't think there's much fight -left in either." - -He explained what had happened, as they rode along, and as he -finished, they came in sight of Bob's late antagonists. The older man -was just staggering to his feet, and riding up to within about twenty -feet, Bob said pleasantly: - -"Came round all right, did he?" - -He turned and let out such a string of oaths as the boys had never -before heard. When he stopped for lack of breath, Bob said: - -"If that's the way you feel about it, I guess the less said the -better, and we'll bid you good night. Come on, Jack." - -They turned and rode slowly away turning their heads just in time to -see both men shaking their fists at them. - -"Well, that chapter is ended," remarked Jack, as they rode off. -"Wonder what the next one will be like. We've certainly had some -excitement since we made those cells." - -"That's so," agreed Bob, looking at his watch. "It's after three now, -and we'd better make tracks for home. You know mother will begin to -worry about four o'clock if we're not there." - -The road to Skowhegan, five miles down the Kennebec, was very sandy, -and it was impossible for them to make good time. It was four-fifteen -when they crossed the bridge in Skowhegan, but they made up for lost -time on the run up to the lake and reached the cottage just as the -clock was striking four-thirty. - -All the folks were on the porch, including their father and Uncle Ben, -who had come up from town in the car, a short time before. The story -of the day's adventures was soon told, and Mr. Golden declared that on -the morrow they would get some officers and visit the log house in the -woods. - -"Well, I declare!" said May. "You two boys do beat all when it comes -to getting into scrapes and getting out of them again. It must be lots -of fun. Wish I was a boy." - -"That's all right as long as you do get out all right," remarked Jack -a little dryly, "but there wouldn't have been so much fun to some of -the messes we've been in lately if they hadn't turned out as they did. -Please excuse me." - -"Come on, Bob," shouted Jack, "that lake looks good to me. We've got -just time for a good swim before supper." - -The girls both declared it would be just the thing, and all four -rushed into the house and upstairs, to reappear in an incredibly short -time clad in bathing suits. The girls could both swim nearly as well -as the boys, and soon they were having a splendid time in the clear -water of the lake. They swam and dived, ducking each other whenever -opportunity offered, until Mrs. Golden called that it was time to get -dressed for supper. - -The next morning, while they were at breakfast, the telephone rang and -Mr. Golden went into the front room to answer it. - -"What's that you say?" they heard him ask, "Mercy, is that so? I'll -come right down, be there in less than a half hour." - -When he returned to the dining room, his face was pale and his voice -trembled, as he said: - -"Bob, get the car out as soon as possible; the bank has been robbed." - -"Robbed!" cried Mrs. Golden, as they all sprang to their feet. "How -much did they get?" - -"I don't know, I don't suppose they can tell yet, but Riggs said it -was a large amount." - -By this time the boys were at the garage, only a short distance from -the house, and shouting to Sandy, the chauffeur, had the car out by -the time their father and Uncle Ben were ready. - -"Can we go?" asked Bob. - -"Why, yes, I suppose so, but you'll get there sooner if you take your -wheels. You coming, Ben?" - -"Guess I will," replied the latter, and telling the women that they -would 'phone as soon as they could, they were off, the boys leading -the way on the motorcycles. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -BOB AND JACK THINK THEY HAVE A CLUE. - - -The First National Bank of Skowhegan, of which Mr. Golden was -president, is situated on Water street. Behind it runs the Kennebec -river through a rock gorge, nearly fifty feet deep. At the time of our -story, the bank building was new, having been built only the year -before. It was thoroughly modern in every respect, and contained what -was supposed to be a burglar-proof vault. - -The boys soon distanced the car and in exactly eleven minutes from the -time they started were in front of the bank. They found a crowd of -several hundred people collected in the street, for such a thing as a -bank robbery in Skowhegan had never been known, and there was great -excitement. Hurriedly, they pushed the wheels into a livery stable -nearby, which was run by a friend of theirs, and then pushing their -way through the crowd, managed to reach the sidewalk, in front of the -bank, but here the people were so closely packed, that they were -forced to stop. - -"Guess we'll have to wait for dad," panted Jack, after a vigorous -shove had failed to make an opening. - -"Gee, but this is worse than a football game," declared Bob, "but -here's dad now," as a big policeman pushed his way through the crowd -shouting: - -"Stand back now and let Mr. Golden through." - -The mass of people slowly gave way, and Mr. Golden, followed closely -by Bob and Jack, who had grabbed hold of his coat tails as he pushed -his way past, finally succeeded in reaching the steps of the bank. The -door was at once opened by Mr. Riggs, the old cashier, and Mr. Golden -and Uncle Ben, who was with them, entered closely followed by the two -boys. - -"Oh, to think that I should live to see this day!" moaned the cashier, -as he closed and locked the door behind them. - -"How did they get in?" was Mr. Golden's first question. - -The cashier pointed to the door and a glance was sufficient to -disclose the means of entrance. Two doors, separated by a small -vestibule, led into the bank. The outer door was fitted with a heavy -plate glass window, but the inner one was of solid oak. This had been -cut through by means of a bit, and a hole about twenty inches in -diameter sawed out. A similar opening had been made in the glass of -the outer door, a circular piece having been cut out, evidently with a -diamond, and then, cemented back in again so cleverly, that it was not -noticeable except on close inspection. - -Going to the vault at the rear of the bank, they found an irregular -hole, nearly sixteen inches in diameter, through the solid steel door. -The edges of this hole had a fused appearance, and Mr. Golden at once -said: - -"Undoubtedly the work of experts, and they must have used an -oxy-acteylene blowpipe flame to cut through that door." - -Bob had been doing some pretty deep thinking, and now he caught hold -of his father's sleeve and said: - -"Of course, I may be a way off, but I believe that those fellows who -kidnapped me are the ones who did this job." - -"I think so, too," broke in Jack, "We know that they are criminals and -what were they doing round here if they weren't up to some such job? -You see," he continued, as his father was about to speak, "they didn't -come here after those cells, because they didn't know anything about -them till they saw the boat the day of the race. I believe they -intended to rob the bank in the first place and then they saw our boat -and thought that if they could get hold of our secret, it would pay -them better than this job. That's the way I've got it doped out." - -"And I believe Jack's right, dad," broke in Bob. "Something I heard -that man Reed say just after they got me in the car that night has -just come to me. I didn't think much of it at the time; it has never -occurred to me till just now." - -"What was it?" eagerly asked Mr. Golden. - -"Why, we had gone but a little ways when I heard Reed say, in a low -voice. 'How about that other job, Bill?' and King replied angrily, -'Shut up, you fool!' Then as Reed started to say something, he -whispered, 'That can wait awhile; it won't spoil.'" - -"I really believe the boys are right," declared Uncle Ben. "There is -little doubt in my mind that when you get those two men you will have -the robbers of this bank." - -"I'll tell you what," broke in Bob, "if those two fellows did it, I'll -bet a cent they'll go straight to the place where they took me, that -we found yesterday. You see they think no one knows about it and that -they will be safe there." - -"Then we'd better get some officers and get after them as quickly as -possible," declared Uncle Ben. - -"I guess we might as well try it," assented Mr. Golden, "seeing it's -the only clue we have. Mr. Riggs, see if Mr. Switzer is out there and -if he is, have him come in, will you?" - -The cashier disappeared, but was back almost immediately, followed by -a powerfully built man about forty years old, the chief of police of -Skowhegan. - -"Hello, Switzer, glad you were at hand," cried Mr. Golden. - -"Just got here," panted the officer, who appeared nearly out of -breath. "I went over to Smithfield fishing early this morning and -didn't know about it till I got there, and then I hustled back as fast -as I could." - -It may be well to explain here, that Skowhegan does not have a regular -police force who give all their time to it. Mr. Switzer, besides being -chief, was a butcher, and the rest of the force, consisting of five -men, held different positions in the town. - -Mr. Golden quickly pointed out what has been described, and then told -him of Bob's suspicion. - -"Just the thing to do," he declared. "George and Fred are outside and -I'll get them and we'll start at once." - -"We'll go in my car," said Mr. Golden. "I guess it's as fast as any in -town, and will carry six of us all right, and the boys can go on their -wheels, can't you, Bob?" - -"Sure thing," the both replied. - -"All right then, that's settled. Now let's get off as soon as -possible. My car is right over there on the corner." - -They went out and Mr. Golden and Uncle Ben at once made their way to -the car, while Mr. Switzer searched through the crowd for his -officers. Bob and Jack hurried to where they had left their wheels and -were back at the corner in almost no time, where they were soon joined -by the three officers. - -"Now, where to?" asked the chief, as he took his seat by the driver. - -"Norridgewock first," answered Bob, as he jumped into his saddle, and -he added, as he turned on the power, "here's where we break all the -speed laws ever made." - -"You boys keep within sight of us," shouted Mr. Golden, as they dashed -across the bridge. - -In spite of the bad road, they reached Norridgewock in nineteen -minutes. On the way, Mr. Golden told Uncle Ben and the officers that -Riggs had said that nearly one hundred thousand dollars in cash and -negotiable securities had been taken. - -They made no stop at Norridgewock, but at once took the road leading -to Oakland. Here the going was much better and in a little less than -half an hour after leaving Norridgewock, they were within a mile of -the woods road, which led to the big house. The boys were about a -quarter of a mile ahead of the car and stopped here to wait for the -rest of the party. - -"Are we 'most there?" asked Mr. Golden, as the car came up to them and -stopped. - -"Yes, it's only about a mile from here, and I thought we'd better stop -before we got any nearer, and make our plans," explained Bob. - -"My idea," said Mr. Switzer, "is to leave the car by the side of the -main road and go the rest of the way on foot. You see," he explained, -"if we took it too close they would hear it and skip, that is, -providing they're there." - -All agreed that this was the best plan. - -"Now, Bob," asked the chief, "how far from the main road is that -house?" - -"I should say a little more than a quarter of a mile." - -"And how large is the clearing round it?" - -"At the back the trees grow up close to the house, but in front there -is a clearing of perhaps half an acre." - -"Then, three of us had better get round to the back of the house, -while the rest approach it from the front. George, you and Bob and Mr. -Golden," indicating Uncle Ben, "can circle round and get behind. The -rest of us will give you plenty of time to get there and then we'll go -up to the house and demand admittance." - -To this plan all agreed, and they started again, the boys keeping just -in front of the car. They had gone about a mile, when Bob held up his -hand for them to stop. - -"See that big elm just ahead there?" he asked, pointing with his -finger. "Well, the road is about ten feet the other side of that -tree." - -But just then something happened which caused a complete change in -their plans. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - -THE CHASE. - - -Bob and Jack were a few feet ahead of the others, when the former -suddenly stopped. - -"Don't you hear that motor, Jack?" - -"I do now, and I believe it's a car coming out that woods road." - -The rest of the party had now joined the boys, and the sound of the -approaching car was plainly audible. - -"That must be them," said Bob in a low voice. "Now what'd we better -do?" - -"We'll hide in the bushes on each side of the road," proposed Mr. -Switzer, "and when they come along, we'll jump out and stop 'em. You -all got guns?" - -It turned out that only the policemen had revolvers, so the chief, Mr. -Golden and Uncle Ben hid on one side of the woods road, while the -other two policemen and the boys concealed themselves on the other. - -"Now," whispered the chief, "don't make a sound till I tell 'em to -stop, then you cover 'em with your guns and if they try to get away, -let 'em have it, but don't shoot to kill if you can help it 'cause we -want to get those fellows alive if we can." - -Nothing more was said and in a few minutes the car was near at hand, -as they could tell by the sound, and, peering through the bushes, Bob -spied a large car coming slowly along the road. Two men were on the -front seat. - -"I believe that's King driving," whispered Bob, "though he's shaved -off his beard." - -At that instant, Chief Switzer sprang out into the middle of the road -in front of the car, closely followed by Mr. Golden and Uncle Ben, -while the other policemen and the boys followed suit from their side. - -"Halt, in the name of the law," shouted the chief, flourishing his -revolver. - -The car was about ten feet from them as the order was given, and -instead of obeying, the driver suddenly put on high speed and the car -shot toward them. So quickly was it done that they had barely time to -save themselves from being run down by jumping to one side as the car -shot by and turned into the main road heading toward Oakland. - -"Gosh, they'll get away sure as thunder," shouted Switzer, as he fired -his revolver after the vanishing car. "Come on, we've got to chase -them." - -It took them but an instant to reach the road and, to their delight, -they found that Sandy, seeing the car come out, had brought their -machine up. - -"Pile in, quick," shouted the chief, but although they obeyed as -quickly as possible, the fugitives were nearly a half mile ahead when -they started. - -The boys rushed to where they had left their wheels, about a hundred -feet away, and by the time they reached them and mounted they were -quite a distance in the rear. - -"Now, let 'em out," shouted Jack, as he sprang into the saddle, and -turning on the power, fairly flew down the road closely followed by -Bob, and before they had gone a mile, they were up with their father's -car. - -"I'm afraid we're going to lose 'em," they heard the chief say, as -they drew up, one on each side of the car. "We're not gaining an inch. -Getting all the speed you can out of her, Sandy?" - -"I've got her wide open," was the reply. - -Bob knew that there was a long, steep hill to ascend a little farther -on and hoped that they would gain on them there, as his father's car -was a splendid hill climber and he had a few weeks before taken that -same hill on high gear. A moment later, as they swung round a curve, -the hill was at hand, and Bob shouted to Sandy telling him not to -shift. - -They could see the robber's car about half way up the hill, and going -slowly, evidently on low gear. Sandy hit the foot of the hill at a -terrific pace and, as the car went up on high gear, they could see -that they were gaining rapidly. But the robbers had too great a start -and reached the top several hundred yards ahead. The road was now -slightly down hill for a mile or more, and they could see that, under -the reckless driving of the robber, whose car must have been making -nearly seventy miles an hour, they were rapidly losing ground, for Mr. -Golden had told Sandy not to go faster than he considered safe. - -"I want to catch them as badly as any one, but I'm not going to risk -killing all of us to do it," he declared. - -"He'll wreck his car and break their necks, sure as fate, if he don't -slow up," thought Bob. - -But the robbers reached the foot of the hill in safety and had gained -all the ground they had lost in climbing the hill. For a number of -miles now, the road was fairly level and the race continued without -much change in their relative distance. - -The two boys were now riding a little behind the car, and suddenly -Jack turned to Bob, saying: - -"I say, Bob, we're never going to catch 'em at this rate." - -"Don't look like it. They've sure got some speedy car, and of course -they're reckless about driving." - -Just then they reached the outskirts of Oakland, and, as they had to -stop to inquire which way the robbers had gone, they lost still more -ground. Quickly learning, however, that they had taken a road which -would probably lead them, by a round-about way to Portland, they told -their informant to tell the police to telephone to the latter city to -be on the watch for them, and again took up in the chase. - -As they started off, Bob said to Jack: - -"Say, Jack, we could catch 'em easily on these wheels." - -"Sure we could, we've been running only about half speed, but what -good would it do? We couldn't stop 'em, could we?" - -"Perhaps not, but my idea is this. Let's get a couple of revolvers -from the policemen and ride up behind them and see if we can't put a -hole in one of their tires." - -"Good," shouted Jack, "Come on, let's go get em." - -Putting on more power, as they had lagged behind a little, while they -were talking, they quickly overtook the car. - -"Hey, there," shouted Jack, as they rode up along side, "Give us a -couple of your revolvers and we'll try to shoot a hole in their tire." - -"Think you can do it?" asked the chief, leaning out of the car. - -"Don't know, but we can try it. You'll never catch 'em at this rate -and it's the only chance I see." - -"All right, here you are," answered the chief, leaning out and handing -each of the boys a revolver. "Go get 'em. But you look sharp, now. -Those fellows are probably armed and won't hesitate to shoot if they -are cornered." - -"Yes, boys," joined in Mr. Golden, "don't you get too close to them." - -"We'll be careful," replied Bob. "Come on, Jack, now let her out and -we'll show them some real speed," and as they turned on the power, -they rapidly left the car behind. - -But they had lost more ground than they thought, and they rode for -fully six miles before catching sight of the robbers, and had begun to -fear that they had lost them. But, finally they caught sight of the -car about a half mile ahead, and giving the motors a little more -current, they rapidly crept up till they were within two hundred yards -of them. - -Suddenly, they saw the man who was not driving, turn his head, and as -he saw them, he said something to his companion, and then, turning in -his seat, he drew his revolver. - -"He is going to shoot," shouted Jack, and the next instant a shot rang -out followed by several others. But, the swaying car made accurate -shooting impossible, and he emptied the chamber without doing any -harm, although Bob heard one bullet whiz past his head. - -"He couldn't hit a barn at the rate he's going," shouted Jack. "Come -on, let's get a little nearer and then we'll try our hand at it." - -They waited till they were within about one hundred and fifty feet and -then Bob fired, followed a moment later by Jack. They were both good -shots with the revolver, but, under the condition, they knew that it -would be more good luck than anything else if they succeeded in -hitting a tire. By this time, the man they supposed to be Reed, -although he now wore a mustache, had his gun loaded again and began -firing, but, fortunately, with no effect. - -Jack had but one shot left when a ball from Reed's revolver passed -through his hat. - -"Gee, that's getting a little too close for comfort," he muttered. - -Taking careful aim, he slowly pressed the trigger and this time a loud -report followed the bark of the revolver. - -"Got 'em," he shouted as both turned off the power and pressed on the -brakes. - -He had indeed got 'em more thoroughly than he supposed, for as the air -left one of the rear tires, they saw the car suddenly swerve to the -right, and before the driver could regain control, it had turned -turtle into the ditch by the road side. - -"Gracious, I guess that ends them," cried Bob, as they brought their -wheels to a standstill not more than seventy feet from the overturned -car. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - -THE ROUND UP. - - -The boys, thinking that the robbers might still be able to shoot, went -back a little way until they saw the other car coming. - -"Well, you got them, sure enough," declared Mr. Switzer, as the car -drew up and came to a stop, "but I guess, by the looks, they're both -dead. We'd better have our guns ready though, for they may be able to -shoot," he added turning to his men. - -Their fears were groundless, however, for on approaching the -overturned car, they found that both men were unconscious, although -they were alive. Reed, who had lost the false mustache he had been -wearing had been thrown from the car and, having struck his head on a -rock, was lying a few feet away, stunned, while King was pinned under -the car, and groaning heavily. It was necessary to get the jack from -the other car and raise the machine before they could drag him out. He -slowly opened his eyes and groaned as they bore him to the car. - -It took some time to bring Reed around, but finally he began to show -signs of life and soon sat up and looked around in a dazed manner. As -his eyes rested for an instant on Jack, a shudder ran through him and -he muttered something about not doing a very good job and sank back -with a moan. - -They found the stolen money and securities in a box under the car, -which was badly wrecked, and Mr. Golden took it in charge. - -"Now," said Mr. Switzer, speaking to Mr. Golden, "if you are willing, -George and I'll take these fellows back to Skowhegan in your car. -There's a house just around that turn where a man by the name of Berry -lives, and he'll probably hitch up and take the rest of you back to -Oakland and you can catch the train there for home." - -"All right," replied Mr. Golden, "I guess that will be the best plan, -and the boys can go along with you on their wheels." - -So it was arranged, and the two injured robbers were made as -comfortable as possible on the back seat of the car with Mr. Switzer, -after he had slipped handcuffs on them. They said nothing except that -King said he believed his left leg was broken, and it was paining him -a good deal. - -"You're both mighty lucky that your necks aren't broken," declared -Switzer. - -"I don't know as it's so very lucky for us, either," said Reed -moodily. - -The other officer took his seat in front with Sandy, and as they -started off, Mr. Switzer shouted: - -"I'll send some one out to tow their machine in." - -The return trip was made without incident, the boys following the car. -The prisoners were not inclined to talk and refused to answer any -questions. On reaching Skowhegan, they were taken to the jail and a -doctor summoned, who found that King's left leg was broken below the -knee. Beyond a good sized lump on the back of his head and a severe -shaking up, Reed was not injured. - -The authorities at Boston were notified, and it turned out that Reed -was the long-wanted Jim the Penman, and, as Captain Long had -suspected, King proved to be the man known as Oily Joe. They were both -sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment in the state prison of -Massachusetts. - -As the boys, accompanied by Mr. Switzer, left the jail, after hearing -the doctor's report regarding the condition of the robbers, Bob told -him of his suspicions regarding the farmer and his son, with whom they -had the trouble the day before. - -"That must be looked into," declared Mr. Switzer. "It certainly looks -as though they were mixed up in it somehow. Tell you what I think we'd -better do. It's only ten-thirty now; suppose we take your father's -car and drive right back there and see what we can find out about it." - -To this the boys readily agreed, and taking the other policeman with -them they started, waiting only long enough for Bob to call up his -mother and tell her the news. - -They reached the place in a little over an hour, and as they drove -into the yard, the farmer was sitting on the back door step. As soon -as he saw them, he rose and started to go into the house, but Mr. -Switzer was too quick for him, and drawing his revolver, he pointed it -at the man ordering him to stop. He wisely obeyed and Switzer told him -to come to the car. - -"Is this the man?" he asked, turning to Bob. - -"Yes, he's the man all right." - -The chief then explained the situation to him and told him that he had -better make a clean breast of it. The man was very much frightened and -his voice trembled as he spoke, telling them that he would tell them -all he knew. - -According to the man's account, the house in the woods belonged to -him. It had been built by a man from New York, three years ago, who -intended to use it as a summer home, but his wife had died before it -was completely furnished, and he had bought it at a very low price. -King and Reed had driven into his yard one afternoon, a week or so -ago, in an automobile. The smaller of the two, Reed, had said that he -was a wealthy business man from Boston and that King was his servant. -He, Reed, had suffered from a nervous breakdown, and his doctor had -ordered him to go way somewhere, with his man, where he could be -perfectly quiet and where no one would bother him, and they were -looking for a place which they could rent. - -He had at once thought of the log house in the woods and had offered -to show it to them. On seeing it, Reed had declared it to be just the -thing and had paid him a month's rent in advance. He had thought that -Reed was pretty healthy looking for a sick man, but considered it none -of his business so long as he got his money. He had seen but little of -them, but did know that they were away most of the time. Yes, he -thought it strange, seeing that he wanted to be perfectly quiet, but -here again, it was none of his affair and he had not bothered his head -about it. - -Bob asked him why he had been so hostile toward Jack and him, and why -his son had stolen their wheels, and why he had kept the cap, on -abandoning them. He said, in explanation, that Reed had called at the -house one day, and during their conversation had told him that two -boys had stolen an invention from him. Some kind of a storage battery, -the secret of which was in some metal caps. He had said that he was -very anxious to get back at least one of the caps as he had lost the -formula for making them and had been unable to get the right -proportion of metals. Asked why he didn't have the boys arrested, he -had replied that, unfortunately, he had no proof that they had stolen -it, but that he would give one thousand dollars to get one of the -caps. So, it happened that when he had seen the boys the day before, -and had noticed the electric motors on their wheels, he had at once -jumped to the conclusion that they were the boys Reed had told him -about. So, seeing a good chance, as he thought, to make one thousand -dollars honestly and without much trouble, he and his son, who had -been at work in a field nearby, had followed them, and he guessed they -knew the rest. - -The farmer's story sounded plausible enough as he told it, and, as -they had no evidence to the contrary, Mr. Switzer said he guessed -probably he was all right, but cautioned him to be more careful in the -future or he might get into trouble, and telling him that he might be -called as a witness, proposed that they start back. - -"I don't know I'm sure," he said to the boys, on the way back, -"whether that fellow was telling the truth or not, but as long as we -caught the robbers, I don't see that we'd gain anything by arresting -him and I guess we'd have a pretty hard time proving anything against -him." - -"Well, I got one good crack at him anyhow," chuckled Bob, "and I guess -that son of his will think twice the next time, before he tackles a -dude." - -As the car drew up in front of the bank, they found that their father -and the others had returned and getting their wheels, the boys lost no -time in starting for the cottage, as they felt, according to Jack, -hollow clear to the toes. Mrs. Golden said that he and Uncle Ben had -eaten lunch and would be up later as he had some business to attend to -at the bank. - -As they rode through the town, they had to stop a dozen times and -receive congratulations from their friends, and it was nearly two -o'clock when they reached the cottage. However, they found a good -lunch awaiting them, as their father had 'phoned that they were -coming. While eating, they gave their mother, their aunt and the two -girls an account of the events of the forenoon. - -"I am very glad," declared Mrs. Golden, "that they are caught, as I -would never have felt easy with them at large." - -Mr. Golden and Uncle Ben came up in time for supper and the evening -was spent in talking over the events of the last few days. - -The next night, when Mr. Golden came up from Skowhegan, he told the -boys that he had a surprise for them. - -"What is it?" both asked eagerly. - -"I received a telegram this afternoon from Captain Long, saying that a -check for ten thousand dollars had been sent to you, which is the -reward offered for the capture of Jim the Penman and Oily Joe." - -The boys were surprised, and of course delighted, for they had not -thought of a reward, although they now remembered that Captain Long -had told them that one had been offered. - -"But, father, don't you think that Mr. Switzer and the other policemen -ought to have part of it?" asked Bob. - -"No," replied his father, "I hardly think so. They only did their duty -in arresting them, while you were really the ones who caught them. -What do you say, Ben?" - -Uncle Ben agreed with their father, in thinking that the reward -belonged to them alone, but Jack proposed that they would feel better -about it if they gave them a part, and Mr. Golden smilingly told them -to do as they thought best. So, after talking it over, they decided to -give them one thousand dollars each. Mr. Switzer and the other two men -were much pleased when the boys gave them the money, and all decided -that they had not expected any part of it as they considered that it -belonged to the boys. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -CONCLUSION. - - -"Say, Bob, what'll we do with this money?" - -The check had been received on the day following Mr. Golden's -announcement, and as soon as the boys got into bed that night they -began to talk about it. - -"Well, I'll tell you my idea. You remember what I said before I was -kidnapped, about that prize of fifty thousand dollars for flying -across the Atlantic, don't you? Well, tomorrow, let's ask dad about it -and if he says we may try it, we can use it to buy an airplane next -summer. What do you say?" - -"What do I say? I say that, for a youth of your tender years, you have -a mighty level head, and that last remark of yours is certainly a -corker." - -The next morning, at breakfast, they broached the subject to their -father. - -"Well, I never!" declared Uncle Ben, "What in the name of common sense -will you boys think of next? But of course, you are only fooling." - -"Indeed we're not," declared Bob, emphatically. - -"But sober earnest now, Bob, do you think the scheme is practical?" -asked his father. - -"I don't see why not. Lots of aviators can stay in the air as long as -their gasoline will hold out and the only reason they can't fly -farther is because they can't carry enough fuel. Now we could carry -enough of those cylinders to take an airship round the world." - -"Well, well," said their father, as he rose from the table, "there's -lots of time to think of that between now and next summer. I won't say -yes, and I won't say no at present, but we'll see." - -It was now the beginning of the last week in August and the boys spent -the next few days delightfully, sailing in the Sprite, fishing, -swimming and playing tennis with the girls. To Jack's secret delight -Mrs. Golden invited Evelyn Nason to spend a week with them, and as she -was a lively girl, they were a very jolly party, and Mike declared -that they made more noise than a barrel of monkeys. - -September came around too soon, and Uncle Ben announced that the next -day he and Aunt Lucy must start for home. All were very sorry to have -them go, for they all loved them dearly. - -"Don't forget, boys, that you are to spend a week with us next -Christmas," was the last thing Aunt Lucy said, as they started off in -their big car. - -Two days later, May and Evelyn went home and the Roost seemed quite -deserted, and the Goldens began to think about leaving the lake for -the summer. - -It was Wednesday evening, and they were going to close the cottage the -following Friday. They were all sitting around the open fire in the -living room, for the night was chilly. - -"Boys," said Mr. Golden, throwing down the paper he had been reading, -"how would you like to be tin soldiers?" - -"Tin soldiers? What in the world do you mean?" asked Jack, as they all -laughed. - -"Well, I'll tell you. This afternoon a friend from Philadelphia was in -the bank and he was telling me about a military college near there, -where his boy went last year, and he praised it so highly, that I -thought it might be a good place for you. I believe in military -training," he continued, "as it teaches, besides other things, -alertness and efficiency. I have very much regretted that I did not -have the advantage of such training, and I would like my boys to have -it. What do you say?" - -The boys thought for a moment and looked at each other. Finally Bob -said: - -"I think it would be bully; how about you, Jack?" - -"Same here. Do they teach cavalry there, dad?" - -"Yes, they give courses in infantry, cavalry and artillery." - -"That'll be great," declared both boys. - -"Then you think you would like to go, do you?" - -"Yes, sir, I think it will be just the place for us," answered Bob and -Jack said the same. - -"All right then, we'll consider it settled and I'll write to the -president the first thing in the morning as the term opens the -seventeenth." - -The boys talked about it for a long time that night, after they were -in bed, and the more they thought about it, the more anxious they were -to go. - -Friday morning came, and after a final sail in the Sprite, she was -pulled into the boathouse and made snug for the winter. Needless to -say, the cells were taken to Skowhegan for safe keeping. By noon, the -Roost was ready to be closed, and after lunch, they left for their -town home, the boys on their motorcycles and the rest of the family in -the car. - -"This has been a splendid summer," declared Bob, as they were about to -start, "in spite of all the trouble we've had, and I've had more -excitement than I expected to have all my life." - -"That's so," agreed Jack and then added soberly, "we certainly ought -to be very thankful that everything turned out so well." - -One day, about a week after they came down from the lake, Mr. Golden -said, at the supper table: - -"Mr. Jenkins was in the bank today and said that Fred and Will were -coming home tomorrow, and that he had decided to send them to the same -college where you're going." - -Instantly the faces of the two boys fell. - -"He said," continued their father, "that he wished you two were more -intimate with them." - -"I don't," said Jack. "They're too mean and selfish and then you can't -trust them. I'm mighty sorry they're going there." - -"Oh, well," declared Bob, "I guess there'll be room enough for them -and us, too." - -It was Thursday and they were to leave the following Monday, and so we -will leave them, busy and happy in their last minute preparations for -their new life in college. - -And so we shall take leave of them for a short time. Their subsequent -adventures will be found in a succeeding volume entitled "THE GOLDEN -BOYS AT THE FORTRESS." - - -THE END. - - - - - The Boy Allies - With the Navy - - (Registered in the United States Patent Office) - - By ENSIGN ROBERT L. DRAKE - -Handsome Cloth Binding. - -Frank Chadwick and Jack Templeton, young American lads, meet each -other in an unusual way soon after the declaration of war. -Circumstances place them on board the British cruiser "The Sylph" and -from there on, they share adventures with the sailors of the Allies. -Ensign Robert L. Drake, the author, is an experienced naval officer, -and he describes admirably the many exciting adventures of the two -boys. - - THE BOY ALLIES ON THE NORTH SEA PATROL; or, Striking the - First Blow at the German Fleet. - - THE BOY ALLIES UNDER TWO FLAGS; or, Sweeping the Enemy - from the Seas. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE FLYING SQUADRON; or, The Naval - Raiders of the Great War. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE TERROR OF THE SEA; or, The Last - Shot of Submarine D-16. - - THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE SEA; or, The Vanishing Submarine. - - THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALTIC; or, Through Fields of Ice to - Aid the Czar. - - THE BOY ALLIES AT JUTLAND; or, The Greatest Naval Battle - of History. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH UNCLE SAM'S CRUISERS; or, Convoying - the American Army Across the Atlantic. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE SUBMARINE D-32; or, The Fall of - the Russian Empire. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE VICTORIOUS FLEETS; or, The Fall of - the German Navy. - -For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by -the publishers - -A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 East 23rd St., New York - - - - - The Boy Allies With - the Army - - (Registered in the United States Patent Office) - - By CLAIR W. HAYES - -Handsome Cloth Binding. - -In this series we follow the fortunes of two American lads unable to -leave Europe after war is declared. They meet the soldiers of the -Allies, and decide to cast their lot with them. Their experiences and -escapes are many, and furnish plenty of the good, healthy action that -every boy loves. - - THE BOY ALLIES AT LIEGE; or, Through Lines of Steel. - - THE BOY ALLIES ON THE FIRING LINE; or, Twelve Days Battle - Along the Marne. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE COSSACKS; or, A Wild Dash Over the - Carpathians. - - THE BOY ALLIES IN THE TRENCHES; or, Midst Shot and Shell - Along the Aisne. - - THE BOY ALLIES IN GREAT PERIL; or, With the Italian Army - in the Alps. - - THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN; or, The Struggle to - Save a Nation. - - THE BOY ALLIES ON THE SOMME; or, Courage and Bravery - Rewarded. - - THE BOY ALLIES AT VERDUN; or, Saving France from the - Enemy. - - THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES; or, Leading - the American Troops to the Firing Line. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS; or, The Fighting - Canadians of Vimy Ridge. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH PERSHING IN FRANCE; or, Over the Top - at Chateau Thierry. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE GREAT ADVANCE; or, Driving the - Enemy Through France and Belgium. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH MARSHAL FOCH; or, The Closing Days of - the Great World War. - -For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by -the publishers - -A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 East 23rd St., New York - - - - - The Boy Scouts Series - - By HERBERT CARTER - - THE BOY SCOUTS' FIRST CAMP FIRE; or, Scouting with the - Silver Fox Patrol. - - THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE BLUE RIDGE; or, Marooned Among the - Moonshiners. - - THE BOY SCOUTS ON THE TRAIL; or, Scouting through the Big - Game Country. - - THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE MAINE WOODS; or, The New Test for - the Silver Fox Patrol. - - THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER; or, The Search for - the Lost Tenderfoot. - - THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE ROCKIES; or, The Secret of the - Hidden Silver Mine. - - THE BOY SCOUTS ON STURGEON ISLAND; or, Marooned Among the - Game Fish Poachers. - - THE BOY SCOUTS DOWN IN DIXIE; or, The Strange Secret of - Alligator Swamp. - - THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA. A story of - Burgoyne's defeat in 1777. - - THE BOY SCOUTS ALONG THE SUSQUEHANNA; or, The Silver Fox - Patrol Caught in a Flood. - - THE BOY SCOUTS ON WAR TRAILS IN BELGIUM; or, Caught - Between the Hostile Armies. - - THE BOY SCOUTS AFOOT IN FRANCE; or, With the Red Cross - Corps at the Marne. - -For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by -the publishers - -A. L BURT COMPANY, 114-120 East 23rd St., New York - - - - - Our Young Aeroplane Scout Series - - (Registered in the United States Patent Office) - - By HORACE PORTER - -Handsome Cloth Binding. - -A series of stories of two American boy aviators in the great European -war zone. The fascinating life in mid-air is thrillingly described. -The boys have many exciting adventures, and the narratives of their -numerous escapes make up a series of wonderfully interesting stories. - - OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM; or, - Saving the Fortunes of the Trouvilles. - - OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN GERMANY. - - OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN RUSSIA; or, Lost on the - Frozen Steppes. - - OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN TURKEY; or, Bringing the - Light to Yusef. - - OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN ENGLAND; or, Twin Stars in - the London Sky Patrol. - - OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN ITALY; or, Flying with the - War Eagles of the Alps. - - OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS AT VERDUN; or, Driving Armored - Meteors Over Flaming Battle Fronts. - - OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN THE BALKANS; or, Wearing the - Red Badge of Courage. - - OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN THE WAR ZONE; or, Serving - Uncle Sam In the Cause of the Allies. - - OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS FIGHTING TO THE FINISH; or, - Striking Hard Over the Sea for the Stars and Stripes. - - OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS AT THE MARNE; or, Harrying the - Huns From Allied Battleplanes. - - OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN AT THE VICTORY; or, Speedy - High Flyers Smashing the Hindenburg line. - -For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by -the publishers - -A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 East 23rd St., New York - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Boys and Their New Electric -Cell, by L. P. Wyman - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOLDEN BOYS AND NEW ELECTRIC CELL *** - -***** This file should be named 43197-8.txt or 43197-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/1/9/43197/ - -Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Melissa McDaniel and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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P. Wyman. @@ -137,44 +137,7 @@ p.hanging { </style> </head> <body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Boys and Their New Electric Cell, by -L. P. Wyman - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Golden Boys and Their New Electric Cell - -Author: L. P. Wyman - -Release Date: July 12, 2013 [EBook #43197] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOLDEN BOYS AND NEW ELECTRIC CELL *** - - - - -Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Melissa McDaniel and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43197 ***</div> <div class="tnbox"> <p class="center"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b></p> @@ -335,7 +298,7 @@ ceased, he added, "There you are."</p> inches square by 8 deep, and nearly filled with dilute sulphuric acid, Bob disconnected two wires and reaching in his hand, lifted out a cylinder of metal -about 6 inches long and 1½ inches thick.</p> +about 6 inches long and 1½ inches thick.</p> <p>"Hurrah," he shouted, "she's almost full. Now in about a minute we'll know whether or not we've @@ -7197,381 +7160,6 @@ line.</p> <p class="center">A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 East 23rd St., New York</p> </div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Boys and Their New Electric -Cell, by L. P. Wyman - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOLDEN BOYS AND NEW ELECTRIC CELL *** - -***** This file should be named 43197-h.htm or 43197-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/1/9/43197/ - -Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Melissa McDaniel and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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