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diff --git a/old/50201-0.txt b/old/50201-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 9425ee1..0000000 --- a/old/50201-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8506 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Young Oarsmen of Lakeview, by Ralph Bonehill - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: The Young Oarsmen of Lakeview - -Author: Ralph Bonehill - -Release Date: October 13, 2015 [EBook #50201] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOUNG OARSMEN OF LAKEVIEW *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, Cindy Beyer and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from scanned images of public domain -material from the Google Books project.) - - - - - - - -[Illustration: THE YACHT WAS BEARING DOWN UPON THEM.] - - - - - THE - YOUNG OARSMEN OF LAKEVIEW. - - - BY - - _CAPT. RALPH BONEHILL._ - - - _Author of_ - “_Rival Bicyclists_,” “_Leo, the Circus Boy_,” _Etc._ - - - [Illustration] - - - NEW YORK - W. L. ALLISON CO., - PUBLISHERS. - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1897. - BY - W. L. ALLISON CO. - - - - - CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER. PAGE. - I. Jerry, Harry and Blumpo 5 - II. Mrs. Fleming’s Runaway Horse 12 - III. Jerry’s Bravery 18 - IV. Saving the Sloop 24 - V. Harry is Rescued 30 - VI. The Single Shell Race 37 - VII. Who Won the Shell Race 43 - VIII. A Prisoner of the Enemy 48 - IX. Tar and Feathers 55 - X. What Towser Did 61 - XI. Off for Hermit Island 67 - XII. An Attack in the Dark 73 - XIII. Jerry’s Shot 78 - XIV. The Hermit of the Island 83 - XV. The Hermit’s Secret 89 - XVI. An Exciting Chase 94 - XVII. Harry’s New Yacht 99 - XVIII. The Robbery of the Rockpoint Hotel 108 - XIX. The Red Valise 113 - XX. The Mishap to the Yacht 118 - XXI. Words and Blows 125 - XXII. Another Boat Race 132 - XXIII. Jerry Starts on a Journey 140 - XXIV. The Work of a Real Hero 146 - XXV. A Fruitless Search 153 - XXVI. Alexander Slocum is Astonished 160 - XXVII. Jerry’s Clever Escape 165 - XXVIII. Something About a Tramp 171 - XXIX. Mr. Wakefield Smith Again 178 - XXX. An Unlooked for Adventure 182 - XXXI. Nellie Ardell’s Troubles 187 - XXXII. A Crazy Man’s Doings 193 - XXXIII. The Little Nobody 200 - XXXIV. Alexander Slocum Shows His Hand 208 - XXXV. A Strange Disappearance 215 - XXXVI. Jerry Hears an Astonishing - Statement 222 - XXXVII. A Joyous Meeting 229 - XXXVIII. Alexander Slocum is Brought to Book 237 - XXXIX. Harry to the Rescue 244 - XL. A Struggle in the Dark 252 - XLI. A Last Race—Good-bye to the Rival - Oarsmen 262 - - - - - CHAPTER I. - JERRY, HARRY, AND BLUMPO. - - -“I’ll race you.” - -“Done! Are you ready?” - -“I am.” - -“Then off we go.” - -Quicker than it can be related, four oars fell into the water and four -sturdy arms bent to the task of sending two beautiful single-shell craft -skimming over the smooth surface of the lake. - -It was a spirited scene, and attracted not a little attention, for both -of the contestants were well known. - -“Go it, Jerry! You can beat him if you try!” - -“Don’t let him get ahead, Harry. Keep closer to the shore!” - -“How far is the race to be?” - -“Up to the big pine tree and back.” - -“That’s a full mile and more. I’ll bet on Jerry Upton.” - -“And I’ll bet on Harry Parker. He has more skill than Jerry.” - -“But Jerry has the muscle.” - -“There they go, side by side!” - -And thus the talking and shouting went on along the lake front. Most of -the boys present were members of the Lakeview Boat Club, but there were -others of the town there, too, as enthusiastic as the rest. - -It was a clear, warm day in June. The summer holidays at the various -institutes of learning in the vicinity had just begun, so many of the -lads had nothing to do but to enjoy themselves. - -There were not a few craft out besides the two shells to which we have -drawn attention. But they drew out of the way to give the racers a free -field. - -On and on went Jerry and Harry until the big pine was reached. Then came -the turn, and they started on the home stretch side by side, neither one -foot ahead of the other. - -“It’s going to be a tie race.” - -“Pull, Harry! Let yourself out!” - -“Show him what you can do, Jerry!” - -Encouraged by the shouts of their friends, both boys increase their -speed. But the increase on both sides was equal, and still the boats -kept bow and bow as they neared the boathouse. - -“It’s going to be a tie, sure enough.” - -“Spurt a bit, Jerry!” - -“Go it for all you’re worth, Harry!” - -Again the two contestants put forth additional muscle, each to -out-distance his opponent, and again the two row-boats leaped forward, -still side by side. - -As old Jack Broxton, the keeper of the boathouse, said afterward: “It -would have taken twelve judges, sitting twelve days, to have told which -had the advantage.” - -The finishing point was now less than five hundred feet distant, and in -a few seconds more the race would be over. The crowd began to stop -shouting, almost breathless with pent-up interest. It was surely the -prettiest race that had ever been rowed on Otasco Lake. - -Splash! - -The splash was followed by a splutter, and then a frantic cry for help. -A portion of the high float in front of the boathouse had unexpectedly -given way, and a short, stocky, reddish-black youth had gone floundering -over board. - -“Blumpo Brown has gone under.” - -“It serves him right for standing away out on the edge of the float.” - -“Help! Help!” cried the youth in the water. - -“Hold on, Harry! Jerry, don’t run into me!” - -Alarmed by the cries, the two racers turned around, easing up on their -oars as they did so. A single glance showed them that the unfortunate -one was directly in their path. - -“We must stop!” cried Jerry Upton to his friend. - -“All right; call it off,” responded Harry Parker. “It was a tie.” - -As he finished, both shells drew up, one on either side of Blumpo Brown. -Each of the rowers offered the struggling youth a helping hand. - -Blumpo was soon clinging to Jerry’s shell. He was dripping from head to -foot, and not being at all a handsomely-formed or good-looking youth, he -presented a most comical appearance. - -“It’s too bad I spoiled the race,” mumbled Blumpo. “But that’s just -me—always putting my foot into it.” - -“I guess you put more than your foot into it this time,” was Harry’s -good-natured comment, as he ran close up alongside. - -“Where shall I land you, Blumpo?” questioned Jerry Upton. - -“Anywhere but near the boathouse,” returned Blumpo, with a shiver that -was not brought on entirely by his involuntary bath. “If you land me -there the fellows won’t give me a chance to get out of sight.” - -“I’ll take you up the lake shore if you wish,” said Jerry. “I intended -to go up anyway in a row-boat.” - -“All right, Jerry, do that and I’ll be much obliged to you,” returned -Blumpo Brown. - -“You are going along, aren’t you, Harry?” continued Jerry, turning to -his late rival. - -“Yes, I want to stop at Mrs. Fleming’s cottage,” replied Harry Parker. - -In a moment more Harry had turned his shell over to old Jack Broxton and -had leaped into a row-boat. - -“Ain’t you fellows going to try it over again?” asked several on the -shore, anxiously. - -“Not now,” returned Jerry. Then he went on to Harry, in a lower tone: “I -didn’t expect to make a public exhibition of our little trial at speed, -did you?” - -“No; not at all. It was a tie, and let it remain so.” - -Jerry soon left his shell; and then four oars soon took the row-boat far -away from the vicinity of the shore; and while the three boys are on -their way up the lake, let us learn a little more concerning them, -especially as they are to form the all-important characters of this tale -of midsummer adventures. - -Jerry Upton was the only son of a well-to-do farmer, whose farm of one -hundred acres lay just beyond the outskirts of Lakeview, and close to -the lake shore. Jerry was a scholar at the Lakeview Academy, and did but -little on the farm, although among the pupils he was often designated as -Cornfield. - -Harry Parker was the oldest boy in the Parker family, which numbered two -boys and four girls. Harry’s father was a shoe manufacturer, whose large -factory was situated in Lakeview, and at which nearly a fourth of the -working population of the town found employment. - -It had been a singular incident which had brought the two boys together -and made them firm friends. Both had been out skating on the lake the -winter before, when Harry had lost his skate and gone down headlong -directly in the track of a large ice-boat, which was coming on with the -speed of a breeze that was almost a hurricane. - -To the onlookers it seemed certain that Harry must be struck and killed -by the sharp prow of the somewhat clumsy craft. But in that time of -extreme peril Jerry had whipped up like a flash on his skates, caught -Harry by the collar, and literally flung himself and the boy, who was -then almost a stranger to him, out of harm’s way. - -This gallant deed of courage had been warmly applauded by those who saw -it. It also came to Mr. Parker’s ears, and from that time on the rich -shoe manufacturer took an interest in the farmer boy. He persuaded Mr. -Upton to allow Jerry to attend the academy, and promised that the boy -should have a good position in the office of the factory, should he wish -it, when his school days were over. - -Harry was already a pupil at the academy, and it was here that the two -boys became warm friends. It was nothing to Harry that Jerry was a -farmer’s boy and that he was sometimes called Cornfield. He knew and -appreciated Jerry for his true worth. - -And now what of Blumpo Brown, you ask? There is little to tell at this -point of our story concerning that semi-colored individual. He was alone -in the world, and had lived in Lakeview some ten years. Previous to that -time his history was a mystery. Where he had come from no one knew, and -if the truth was to be made known, no one but Blumpo himself cared. He -was a very peculiar youth, often given to making the most ridiculous -remarks, and many persons around Lakeview fancied he had considerable -Indian blood in him. He lived in half a dozen places, according to the -condition of his finances, and picked up his precarious existence by -working for anyone who would employ him. He might have had a steady -situation more than once, but it was not in Blumpo’s composition to -stick at one thing for any great length of time. We will learn much more -concerning him as our story proceeds. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER II. - MRS. FLEMING’S RUNAWAY HORSE. - - -“Well, now that the midsummer holidays have really commenced, what do -you intend to do with yourself, Jerry?” asked Harry, as they took it -easy for a bit after leaving the vicinity of the town. - -“I expect I’ll have to help on the farm—at least, I think I ought to -help,” was the reply. “You know this is the busy season.” - -Harry’s face fell a little at this reply. Evidently something was on his -mind, and this answer did not harmonize with it. - -“I’ll tell you what I would like mighty well,” put in Blumpo. “I would -like to leave town and take to the woods.” - -“Why, Blumpo, you must have been reading my thoughts!” cried Harry. “I -was thinking exactly the same thing.” - -“Take to the woods?” repeated Jerry. “What do you mean? Clear out from -home entirely?” - -“No, no,” laughed Harry. “I mean to go off for awhile—say, two or three -weeks or a month. Sail up the lake and camp out, you know.” - -“Oh!” Jerry’s face took on a pleased look. “I would like that myself, -especially if we could go fishing and swimming whenever we wanted to.” - -“I’ve had it in my mind for several days,” Harry continued, slowly. “I -was going to speak of it yesterday, but I didn’t get the chance.” - -“You mean you want me to go with you?” asked Jerry. - -“Yes. Don’t you think your folks would let you?” - -“They might. Who else would go along, do you think?” - -“I haven’t thought of anyone else. We might ask—” and Harry hesitated -in thought. - -“What’s the matter with asking me?” put in Blumpo, with a serenity that -took away the lack of politeness in his remark. “I’m just as tired of -Lakeview as anybody.” - -Harry burst out laughing. The idea of asking Blumpo had never once -entered his mind. - -“It ain’t nothing to laugh at,” went on Blumpo, half angrily. - -“Excuse me, Blumpo,” said Harry, stopping short. “I—that is—I wasn’t -thinking of you when I made the remark.” - -“I’m not rich, nor eddicated, as you call it, and all that, but I can -hunt and fish, and so on, as good as the next feller, can’t I?” - -“You certainly can,” put in Jerry, who had for a long time had a strange -liking for the homeless youth. - -“And I am as willing as the next one to do my full share of camp -work—washing dishes and the like,” went on Blumpo. “You ain’t cut out -for that,” he added, turning to the son of the rich shoe manufacturer. - -“Maybe not, but I reckon I can do my full share of work,” laughed Harry. -“I was not brought up with kid gloves on, you know.” - -“One thing is certain,” mused Jerry. “I wouldn’t want to leave until I -had rowed that race with Si Peters from Rockpoint.” - -The race to which Jerry referred was one to take place on the following -Saturday. Silas Peters was considered the best single-shell oarsman on -the lower side of the lake, and he had challenged Jerry as a -representative from the Lakeview Academy. - -“You’ll win that race, suah,” put in Blumpo. “I’ll bet my hat on it.” - -As Blumpo’s hat was of straw and full of holes, this made both Jerry and -his friend burst into a fit of laughter. - -“I don’t mean this hat. I mean my Sunday-go-to-meetin’ one,” said the -homeless youth, hastily. - -“Blumpo, on your honor, did you ever own two hats at once?” asked Harry -gravely. - -“Well, since you buckle me down, no,” was the low reply. “What’s the -use? Can’t wear but one at a time.” - -“That’s as true as you live,” returned Jerry. - -The three boys talked over the subject of an outing for some time. All -thought it a glorious idea, and Jerry said he would go if he possibly -could. - -All this time Jerry and Harry were rowing up the lake at a moderate rate -of speed. Jerry loved the water, and spent nearly all of his spare time -in the vicinity of the lake. - -Presently Harry grew tired and Blumpo took his place at the oars. - -“Here comes the Cutwater!” cried Harry, a few minutes later. - -The Cutwater was a large sloop owned by one of the gentlemen living in -Lakeview. As she came past, those in the row-boat noticed several young -ladies on board, who were sailing the boat under directions of a young -man named Clarence Conant. - -Clarence had but little idea how a boat should be managed, and as the -sloop went by Harry’s face grew troubled. - -“Jerry, what do you think of that?” - -Jerry stopped rowing for a moment to look at the sloop. - -“A good lot of sail up, especially if it should blow up stronger,” he -said. - -“Just what I think.” - -“That Clarence Conant don’t know nuffin’ about sailing,” snorted Blumpo -Brown. “The ladies better beware how they go out with him.” - -“I agree with you, Blumpo,” said Jerry, gravely. - -The sloop now disappeared from sight around a turn in the lake at which -several islands were situated. - -A few minutes later the row-boat drew up to a small dock at the end of a -well-kept garden. - -This was Mrs. Fleming’s place, where Harry intended to stop on an errand -for his mother and father. - -He sprang on the dock and hurried toward the house, saying he would not -be gone more than five minutes. - -The two boys waited for him to return, and during the interval Jerry -caught sight of the Cutwater up the lake and watched her progress with -interest. The wind was getting stronger and the sloop carried more sail -than was good for her. Soon she again disappeared, and Jerry turned -toward the house, wondering what kept Harry so long. - -“Must have been invited to lunch,” was Blumpo’s comment. “Pity he didn’t -ask us in, too.” - -“No, he wouldn’t stay and leave us here,” replied Jerry, “Most -likely—hullo!” - -Jerry sprang up in the row-boat in amazement. Down the garden path -leading from the front of the house to the dock came a beautiful black -horse on a gallop. On the animal’s back sat a little girl not more than -eight years of age. The horse was running away with her, and she was -clinging tightly to his mane. - -“Oh, John, stop him!” she screamed. - -“Whoa, Banker, whoa!” shouted a man who came running after the animal. - -But the horse, a nervous creature, was frightened over something and -would not stop. - -He clattered on the dock, and the next instant went over into the lake -with a loud splash, carrying the little girl with him. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER III. - JERRY’S BRAVERY. - - -Blumpo was so scared by the accident that he uttered a short yell. - -“Fo’ the lan’ sake,” he moaned, in a shaking voice. - -The horse disappeared from sight for a brief space of time and then came -up and began to churn the water madly in an endeavor to save himself -from drowning. - -The little girl was nowhere to be seen. - -“She’ll be drowned,” thought Jerry, with rising horror. - -At that moment a lady rushed from the house, followed by Harry. It was -Mrs. Fleming. - -“My child! my child!” she shrieked. “Save my Cora!” - -Jerry waited to hear no more. At that moment the head of the little girl -appeared directly by the horse’s side, and he made a clever dive from -the row-boat and came up close to the child. - -The girl was so bewildered that she simply beat the water in a helpless -fashion, and this frightened the horse still more. - -Swimming up behind the little one, Jerry caught her under the arms. It -was a perilous thing to do, for Jerry was in great danger of having his -brains dashed out by one of the horse’s hoofs. - -“Good for you, Jerry!” shouted Harry. - -“Look out for the hoss!” shouted the man. “He’ll kick you if he can!” - -As rapidly as he could, Jerry swam out of the mad animal’s reach. It was -difficult with the struggling girl in his arms, but at last he -accomplished it, and willing hands helped him to the dock. - -“My Cora! my Cora! is she dead?” cried Mrs. Fleming. - -“No, she is more frightened than hurt,” returned Jerry. “Let us take her -to the house.” - -But before he could go a step, Mrs. Fleming clasped her girl in her arms -and led the way. - -Anxious to be of assistance, Jerry followed the lady, while Harry, -Blumpo, and the hired man tried to rescue the horse, who was very -valuable despite his nervousness. - -A noose was made at the end of a rope, and this was thrown over the -animal’s neck. Then the horse got one foot through the noose, and in -this fashion they towed him to a spot where it was easy for him to wade -out without assistance. - -The hired man was very much put out, for it was his fault that the horse -had run away. He led the animal around to the barn and gave him a good -rubbing down. - -Harry started for the house and met Jerry coming out. - -“How is Cora?” - -“She’s all right. Come on,” and Jerry brushed on toward the row-boat. - -“Why, what’s your hurry, Jerry?” - -The young oarsman blushed. - -“Oh, I hate to stand around and receive thanks,” he said. “Mrs. Fleming -wants to make a first-class hero of me and I——” - -“And that’s just what you are,” cried Harry. - -“Indeed he is,” added Blumpo. - -“Nonsense!” Jerry brushed them to one side. - -“Come on!” and he made a run for the row-boat, and the others were -compelled to follow. - -“But your clothing is all wet,” insisted Harry, when they were seated in -the craft. - -“So is Blumpo’s,” returned Jerry. - -“I’se most dry, the sun is that warm,” remarked the homeless youth. - -“I don’t mind the wetting a bit,” said Jerry. “Rowing will keep me warm -and the sun will dry me off quick enough.” - -“You’re a regular water dog, anyway,” laughed Harry. He could not help -but admire Jerry’s modesty in running away from Mrs. Fleming as soon as -it was ascertained that little Cora was all right. - -On and on up the lake the boys went. Inside of half an hour they came to -a sheltered nook on one of the numerous islands. - -“I move we take a swim,” said Harry. - -“Second de emotion,” said Blumpo, and before Jerry could say a word the -homeless youth was running about as if in the savage wilds. - -It did not take Jerry and Harry long to disrobe. The plunge into the -water was very pleasant, and they remained in bathing until Jerry’s -clothing, spread out on the top of a number of bushes, was thoroughly -dry. - -In the meanwhile Jerry and Harry raced to another island and back. Jerry -came out first, with Harry four yards behind. - -The swim over, they dressed, and, after picking several handfuls of -berries, which grew on the island in profusion, they once more embarked -in the row-boat. - -“Time to get back, boys,” said Jerry. “I promised to be home before -dark.” - -“So did I,” said Harry, “and we have several miles to go.” - -“It don’t make no difference to me when I git back,” remarked Blumpo, -dolefully. - -“Don’t worry, Blumpo. Think of the good time we are going to have when -we go camping,” said Jerry. - -“And I must ask father for a regular situation for you when we come back -from our outing,” added Harry. - -“Will you?” and the homeless boy’s face brightened. - -The wind had been increasing steadily, and now it blew so strongly that -the whitecaps were to be seen in every direction. - -“We’re going to have no easy time getting back,” said Jerry, with an -anxious look on his manly face. “Maybe we may be caught in a hurricane.” - -“It’s hot enough,” returned Harry. “Such oppressive heat generally means -something.” - -A mile was covered, and then the wind began to send the flying spray in -every direction and filled the row-boat’s bottom with water. - -“Wet again!” laughed Jerry, grimly. “Never mind.” - -“Blumpo, you had better bail out the boat,” said Harry. He was as wet as -the rest, but did not grumble. - -While the homeless youth bailed out the water with a dipper they had -brought along, Jerry and Harry pulled at the oars with all their -remaining strength. Another mile was passed. But now it was blowing a -regular hurricane and no mistake. - -“We’ll go to the bottom, suah!” groaned Blumpo dismally. - -“Not much!” shouted Jerry. “Keep on bailing.” - -“Look! look!” yelled Harry at that moment, and pointed over to the -centre of the lake. - -There, beating up in the teeth of the wind in the most hap-hazard -manner, was the Cutwater. Evidently Clarence Conant was nearly paralyzed -with fear, for he had almost lost control of the craft. - -“Those ladies on board are worse off than we,” went on Harry. - -“That’s so,” replied Jerry. - -But the words were hardly out of his mouth when there came an extra puff -of wind. It sent the Cutwater almost over on her side, and threw a -monstrous wave into the row-boat. - -The smaller craft could not stand the wind and waves, and with a lurch, -she sank down and went over, dumping all three of the youths into the -angry lake. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - SAVING THE SLOOP. - - -It was no pleasant position to be in. The three lads had been cast so -suddenly into the angry waters that for the moment they could not -comprehend the situation. - -Then Blumpo let out a yell of terror. - -“Save me! De boat has gone down!” - -He was wrong, however, for a second later the row-boat bobbed up, less -than four yards off. - -“This way!” shouted Harry to his companions, but the wind fairly drowned -his voice. He swam toward the upturned craft, and Blumpo and Jerry were -not slow in following it. - -Hardly had they reached it when a new peril confronted them. The -Cutwater was bearing directly down upon them. With every sail set, she -was in the very act of cutting them to pieces! - -“Look! look!” yelled Harry. “We are doomed!” - -“My gracious!” moaned Blumpo. - -On and on came the sloop, with gigantic bounds over the whitecaps. -Clarence Conant seemed utterly powerless to stay her course, or steer -her to the right or left. - -The young ladies on board with him huddled in a heap near the tiny -cabin, their faces white with terror. - -It was truly a thrilling moment. - -Of the entire crowd Jerry was the only one to keep perfectly cool. - -He was astride the row-boat, directly in the centre of the bottom, and -it seemed as if the prow of the Cutwater must strike him in a second -more. - -“Every one dive under!” he called out, and went overboard like a flash. - -For a wonder Harry and Blumpo promptly followed suit. - -Crash! - -The row-boat was struck and stove in completely. - -The Cutwater was quite a good-sized craft, and though the force of the -collision did not damage her to any extent, it checked her progress -considerably. - -Jerry went down and down. He made a long dive, and when he came up it -was within a yard of the sloop’s rudder. - -Before another boy would have had time to think, the boy who so loved -the water made up his mind what to do. He made a mighty leap and caught -hold of the rudder end ere the Cutwater could get beyond his reach. - -It was hard work to hang on, as the sloop bobbed up and down with every -wave, and the rudder, being beyond control, swayed from side to side. - -But Jerry was both plucky and full of grit. He clung fast, and, watching -his chance, climbed up to the stern and leaped on the deck. - -A brief glance showed him the cause of the present trouble. Clarence -Conant was actually too much frightened to lower the sails. He had -started to act and got a rope twisted, and then, overcome with fear, had -allowed the matter to go while he clung to the bow in despair. - -“You confounded coward!” cried the young oarsman. “You ought to have -known better than to go out on anything bigger than a duck pond.” - -He sprang to the halyards, and soon the main-sail came down with a bang. -The jib followed. There was no time to attend to the sails more than -this. - -Jerry looked around anxiously for Harry and Blumpo, but for a long while -could see nothing of them. - -“Look here,” demanded Clarence Conant, recovering his composure, now the -greatest of the danger was over. “What—ah—do you mean by talking to me -in this fashion?” - -“I mean just what I say,” retorted Jerry. “You had no right to take -these young ladies out and expose them to such peril.” - -“The—ah—hurricane took me by surprise,” was the dude’s lame excuse. - -“I am very thankful to you, Jerry Upton,” cried Dora Vincent, the oldest -and prettiest of the girls on board. - -“And so am I.” - -“And I.” - -“Thank you,” replied the boy, blushing. “But now is no time to talk. -Which of you will take the tiller, if I tell you exactly what to do?” - -“I can—ah—take the tiller,” interposed Conant, haughtily. - -“You won’t touch it!” cried the young oarsman, sternly. - -“Why, boy, what do you mean? Do you—ah—” - -“Sit down! If you dare to stir I’ll pitch you overboard!” - -Overcome with a new terror, the dude collapsed. He was hatless, the curl -was out of his mustache and hair, and altogether he looked very much -“washed out.” - -He sank down near the bow, and it was well that he did so, for just then -came an extra heavy blast of the gale. - -“Hold hard, every one!” yelled Jerry. “Perhaps you ladies had better go -into the cabin,” he added. - -“I am to take the tiller, you know,” said Dora Vincent. - -“Well, then, let the others go. We can work along better with a clear -deck.” - -So while Dora went aft, the others crawled into the cabin, or cuddy. -Under pretense of seeing after their comfort, Conant crawled after them. - -“Now I will tell you just how to move the tiller,” said Jerry to Dora -Vincent. - -“All right, I am ready,” responded the brave girl. - -Now that she had Jerry with her, and knowing he was well acquainted with -boats, she felt that she was safe, no matter how bad the storm might -prove itself. - -After giving the girl some instructions Jerry hoisted the main-sail a -few feet only. The sloop then swung around and moved in a beating way -against the storm. - -Jerry wished to learn what had become of his companions. He was fearful -that they had been drowned. - -It took quite some time to reach the vicinity where the accident had -occurred, and even then but little was to be seen through the driving -rain. - -“Hullo, Harry! Blumpo!” he called out. - -No answer came back and he repeated the cry a dozen times. Then he -fancied he heard a response directly ahead. The sloop was moved -cautiously in the direction, and presently they saw Blumpo clinging to -part of the shattered row-boat. - -“Sabe me! sabe me!” yelled the youth. “Don’t let me drown, Jerry.” - -“Catch the rope, Blumpo!” cried Jerry in return, and threw forward the -end of a coil. - -Blumpo clutched the rope eagerly, and then it was comparatively easy to -haul him on board. - -“Praise de Lawd!” he muttered fervently as he came on deck. “I t’ought I -was a goner, suah!” - -“Where is Harry?” - -“I can’t tell you, Jerry.” - -“You haven’t seen him since we jumped from the row-boat?” - -“No.” - -The young oarsman’s face grew sober. What if their chum had really gone -to the bottom of Lake Otasco? It would be awful to tell Harry’s parents -that their son was no more. - -“We must find him, dead or alive, Blumpo. Take the tiller from Miss -Vincent, and we’ll cruise around, with our eyes and ears wide open,” -said Jerry, with determination. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER V. - HARRY IS RESCUED. - - -“I can stay on deck, can’t I?” asked Dora, as she turned the tiller over -to the homeless youth. - -“If you wish. But be very careful when the sloop swings around,” replied -Jerry. “You did very well,” he added. - -Dora smiled at this. Then she went forward and settled down, in spite of -the rain, to help look for Harry Parker, whose folks she knew fairly -well. - -The Cutwater was put on a different track, and they began to move across -the lake, it being Jerry’s idea to cross and recross at a distance of -every six or seven hundred feet. - -Twice did they come close to each shore without seeing anything of -Harry. - -“Gone down, suah’s you’re born!” said Blumpo, and the tears started out -of his big, honest eyes. - -“I am afraid so,” returned Jerry, “and yet—hark!” - -He put up his hand and all were instantly on the alert. The wind had -gone down somewhat, and from a distance came a low cry. - -“It’s Harry’s!” said Jerry. “Hullo, Harry!” he yelled, with all the -power of his lungs. - -He waited, and an answering cry came back from toward the center of the -lake. It was very weak, showing that Harry was almost exhausted. - -The course of the sloop was instantly changed, and they strove to reach -the spot before the boy should go down. - -Jerry was the first to see the form floating about amid the whitecaps. - -“Keep up, Harry!” he called encouragingly. “We will soon have you on -board.” - -“I can’t keep up any longer,” gasped his chum. “I am played out.” And -throwing up his arms, Harry disappeared. - -Tying the end of a long rope about his waist, Jerry leaped overboard. He -struck the spot where Harry had gone down and felt in every direction -for his chum. - -His hand touched an arm, and then he held Harry fast and brought him to -the surface. The poor boy was too weak to make the first movement. - -“Haul in on the rope, Blumpo!” called Jerry. - -Turning the tiller over to Dora Vincent, the homeless youth did as -directed. - -Jerry, with his burden, was soon brought alongside. - -It was no easy matter to hoist Harry on deck in the storm, but at last -it was accomplished, and Jerry followed his charge. - -Harry was unconscious, and he was taken to the cabin, where Dora and the -other girls did all in their power for him; and then the Cutwater was -headed for Lakeview, two miles distant. - -The hurricane, or whatever it might be called, had by this time spent -itself. The rain ceased and before the lake town came into view the sun -shone once more as brightly as ever. - -Clarence Conant came on deck looking very much annoyed. He felt that he -had played the part of a coward, and knew he would have no easy time of -it to right himself in the eyes of the young ladies. - -“The—ah—truth is, I was very sick,” he explained to Jerry. “I got -a—ah—spasm of the—ah—heart.” - -“Sure it wasn’t a spasm in your great toe?” said Jerry, with a grin. - -But Clarence never smiled. It would not have been good form, you know. - -As soon as the dock was reached, Jerry left Blumpo to tie up and went to -Harry. He found his chum able to sit up. He was very weak, but that was -all. - -“It was a close call for me, Jerry,” said Harry, with a shudder. “I owe -you my life.” - -“It was a close call all around,” replied our hero. “We can be thankful -that we are here safe and sound.” - -Harry felt too weak to walk, so a carriage was called to take him home. -Jerry went with him, while Blumpo went over to the grocery store to tell -of all that had happened. - -Clarence Conant was utterly left. He tried to excuse himself to Dora -Vincent and the other young ladies, but they would have nothing to do -with him. - -“The next time I go out it will be with somebody who can manage a boat, -and who is brave enough to do it, even in a storm,” said Dora, and -walked away with her lady friends. - -“Beastly bad job, beastly!” muttered Clarence to himself. “And my best -sailor suit utterly ruined, too! Oh, why did that storm have to come up -on us?” - -But this was not the end of the matter for the dude. - -The row-boat that had been smashed was a valuable one belonging to the -Lakeview Boat Club. They did not care to lose the cost of it, and so -called on Conant to pay for the same. - -At first he refused, but when they threatened arrest he weakened. It -took nearly three weeks of his salary to square accounts, and then the -young man was utterly crushed. He never went sailing again. - -It did not take Harry long to recover from the effects of his outing on -the lake. Inside of a week he was as well as ever. - -Blumpo took good care to tell every one of all that had happened, and on -every side Jerry was praised for his daring work in saving the Cutwater -and his chum. - -We have spoken of the match to take place between Jerry and Si Peters of -Rockpoint. This was postponed for two weeks on Si’s account. - -Si Peters was a tall overgrown youth of eighteen, and was generally -considered to be the best oarsman on the lake. - -Consequently, when a match was arranged by the clubs to which they -belonged between the pair it was thought, even by many Lakeview people, -that Si Peters would win. - -Si had one great advantage over Jerry. His father was rich, while -Jerry’s father was poor. Consequently, while Jerry had to help on the -farm during idle hours Si Peters could go out and practice, and thus get -himself in perfect condition. - -It was this fact that made Si think he was going to have an easy time -defeating Jerry. - -But, unknown to him, Jerry got more time than he thought. Harry was -anxious to have his chum win, and spoke to his father about it. - -Now, Mr. Parker and Si Peters’ father were not on good terms, and the -former readily agreed to a plan Harry proposed. - -“Mr. Upton,” he said one evening, when he met Jerry’s father down in the -town, “I would like to hire Jerry to work for me every afternoon for a -couple of weeks.” - -“All right, Mr. Parker,” said Jerry’s father, promptly. “When do you -want him to come?” - -“To-morrow, if he can. I’ll pay you five dollars a week.” - -“Very well. You can pay Jerry.” - -So it was settled, and every afternoon the young oarsman went over to -the Parker place, which bordered on the lake. - -Here Jerry would practice in secret in a little cove seldom visited by -any boats. - -As the time grew close for the race between Jerry and Si Peters the boat -clubs began to bet on their favorites. - -So sure were the Rockpointers that they would win, that they gave the -Lakeview people heavy odds. - -Together the two clubs put up as a trophy a silver cup, which later on -would be engraved with the name of the winner. - -Of course, Jerry’s father soon found out what his son was doing. - -But he would not break his bargain with Mr. Parker, and so let Jerry -practice every afternoon, feeling sure that Jerry would not take the -money the rich manufacturer had offered. - -“You will win,” said Harry, confidently. - -“I shall try my best,” returned Jerry. - -Si Peters and his friends smiled broadly whenever they came over to -Lakeview. - -“Jerry Upton won’t be in it after the first quarter,” said they. - -The race was to be a mile, half a mile each way, the turning point being -a well-known rocky island scarcely fifty feet in diameter. - -Jerry kept at his practice steadily until the great day for the race -arrived. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - THE SINGLE SHELL RACE. - - -The race had been spoken of so much that Lakeview presented a holiday -appearance. - -All those who could, crossed over from Rockpoint, and many came from -other places. - -The lake was crowded with craft of all sorts, and even standing room -along the shore was at a premium. - -Even Farmer Upton grew interested. - -“You must win that race, son,” he said. “Not only for your own sake, but -for the sake of the whole Lakeview district.” - -And this made Jerry more determined to win than ever. - -The race was not to come off until three o’clock in the afternoon. In -the meanwhile there were half a dozen other contests, in which, however, -the masses took but small interest. - -While one of these contests was going on, and Jerry was in the dressing -room of the boathouse putting on his rowing rig, Harry came in -excitedly. - -“Jerry, you want to be on your guard,” he said in a low tone, so that -those standing about might not hear. - -“On guard? How?” - -“Against Si Peters.” - -“I don’t understand.” - -“From what I have overheard, I imagine there is a plot on foot to make -you lose the race.” - -“What sort of a plot?” - -“I can’t say.” - -The young oarsman gazed at his chum in perplexity. - -“What have you heard? I don’t know what to make of this.” - -“You know Wash Crosby?” - -“Yes. He is Si Peters’ toady.” - -“Well, I heard him tell Browling that it was a dead sure thing Si would -win.” - -“That might have been mere blowing.” - -“No. Browling thought so, too, but then Crosby whispered in his ear. At -once Browling’s face took on a look of cunning. - -“‘Can you do it?’ he asked, and Crosby said he could. - -“Then Browling said he would put out his money on Si, if he could find -anyone to bet. You know the whole crowd is rich.” - -“Yes, and I know another thing!” exclaimed Jerry suddenly. “I fancy I -can see through their plan.” - -“What?” - -“Crosby owns a steam launch, you know.” - -“I do.” - -“What is to prevent him from running the launch so that I shall get all -the swash? It would make me lose a quarter minute or more, and perhaps -upset me.” - -“Jiminey crickets! I believe you are right!” whispered Harry. - -“Did they mention the steam launch?” - -“They did. Browling said he would go and take a look at her.” - -“Then that is what the plot is, you may be sure of it. You ought to be -able to stop them, Harry. You are going to be on your uncle’s naptha -launch.” - -“I will! If they get too close to you I’ll boathook them and pull them -off!” cried Harry. - -“Good for you.” - -“But beware, Jerry, the plot may not be that after all.” - -“I’ll keep my eyes open,” replied the young oarsman. - -A minute after this Harry went off. - -Then Jerry, having donned his rowing outfit, was surrounded by the other -members of the club. His shell was inspected and found in perfect -condition. It had been guarded carefully, and now the club members did -not dare to let their eyes off of it. - -“Bring me my blades, please,” said Jerry, and they were at once brought -from the locker. - -He began to examine them from end to end. Suddenly he uttered a cry. - -“Boys, look here!” - -“What’s up, Jerry?” - -“This one has been strained and cracked. An extra hard pull on it, and -it would give out.” - -A murmur arose. - -“Who did this?” - -“Some enemy wants Jerry to lose, sure!” - -How the blade had got into that condition was a mystery. - -But now was no time to speculate on the affair. A new set of blades must -be procured at once. - -Luckily there was a pair belonging to a private party to be had. They -were just the same size and weight. - -“I would rather have my own, but I’ll make these do, and beat them in -spite of all,” said Jerry. - -At a given signal six of the boat club boys marched down the float -carrying Jerry’s shell, which had been polished and oiled until it shone -like a mirror. - -With a faint splash the shell dropped into the water. Then Jerry ran -down and stepped in. His feet were “locked,” and the oars were handed -over. - -“Hurrah for Jerry Upton!” - -“He’s the boy to win!” - -“Hurrah for Si Peters!” - -“Jerry won’t be in it with Si!” - -“He will!” - -“Never!” - -And so the talking and the shouting ran on. - -Meanwhile Si Peters had emerged from the landing at a private boathouse -some distance up the lake shore. - -He received a hearty shout as he moved slowly over to the starting -point. - -[Illustration: THE SINGLE SHELL RACE.] - -Si Peters won the choice of positions, and, of course, took the inside. - -The race should have been a mile straightway, but the original challenge -which led to the race had been for a half mile going and the same -coming. - -Soon the two boys were in position. - -“Ready?” - -There was a dead silence. - -Bang! - -They were off! Both boys caught the water at the same instant. Each -pulled a long but quick stroke. Ten yards were covered, and they -remained side by side. - -“Pull, Si!” - -“Go it, Jerry!” - -Like two clocks, so far as regularity went, the two contestants bent -their backs and pulled with might and main. - -One thing was certain, unless something happened, it would be a close -race. - -But now the Lakeview boys were getting wild. - -“See Jerry! He is gaining.” - -“Jerry is five feet and more in the lead!” - -It was true. Slowly but surely our hero was forging ahead. Should he be -able to keep this up he would cross Si Peters’ course at the turning -point. - -But now Wash Crosby showed his hand. Without so much as a toot of the -whistle, his steam launch kept drawing closer and closer to Jerry’s -side. - -Then it gradually went ahead, until Jerry was caught in the swash of the -tiny waves it produced. - -Under ordinary circumstances these waves would not have been noticed, -but in a shell, and especially during a race, even such apparent trifles -count heavily. - -“Keep off!” shouted the young oarsman. - -“Mind your business!” shouted Wash Crosby in return, but so lowly that -no one but Jerry could hear him. “This is Si Peters’ race!” - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - WHO WON THE SHELL RACE. - - -Jerry saw at once that he had been right in imagining that this was the -plot against him. Wash Crosby intended to keep just close enough to -cause him trouble without actually fouling him. - -Already the swash from the steam launch was telling on Jerry’s lead. Si -Peters kept up at his best and soon was once more abreast of our hero. - -“Hurrah!” came from the shore. - -“Si Peters leads!” - -“I said he would win!” - -“That steam launch is too close to Jerry Upton.” - -“Nonsense! Don’t croak because you are going to lose the race,” shouted -Browling. - -The Lakeview boys began to look glum. - -But now something happened that Wash Crosby had not calculated upon. - -Straight from across the lake came the naptha launch belonging to Harry -Parker’s uncle. In the bow stood Harry, boathook in hand. - -When the launch was within three yards of the Crosby craft she came to a -halt. Wash Crosby was so interested in watching the race that he did not -notice what was going on. - -Harry threw the boathook and it caught fast in the steam launch’s stern. -Then the naptha launch was moved back, and away she went, carrying the -steam launch with her. - -She could do this because Crosby did not have on a full head of steam. - -Astonished at the turn of affairs, Wash Crosby looked around to see what -was the matter. - -“Hi! what are you doing?” he bellowed to Harry. - -“Hauling you off,” returned Jerry’s chum. “I know your plot, Wash -Crosby; but it is not going to work.” - -“Let go there!” - -“Not much! You’ll keep your distance from Jerry Upton’s shell.” - -“I would like to know who made you my master!” stormed Crosby, in a -perfect rage. - -“If you don’t come away I’ll report you and get the town to lynch you,” -retorted Harry, valiantly. “Don’t you dare to touch that boathook.” - -However, Wash Crosby did dare. But as long as the line attached was taut -he could not loosen it. Then he tried new tactics. He put on a full head -of steam. - -It was a tug of war between the steam and the naptha launches, and for -the moment it was hard to tell which would come off victorious. - -But Harry’s craft was more powerful than Crosby’s, and soon the steam -launch was carried far away from the racing shells. - -Wash Crosby was furious and would have eaten Harry up could he have -gotten at the lad. - -“I’ll fix you for this!” he cried and threw a heavy chunk of coal at -Harry’s head, which the boy dodged. - -“Don’t try that again, Wash Crosby, or I’ll retaliate in a way you least -expect.” - -“You had no right to haul me off.” - -“You had no right to interfere with Jerry Upton.” - -Wash Crosby grumbled but could do nothing. Harry calmly proceeded to -hold him back until the race was almost over. - -In the meanwhile, how was Jerry faring? - -With long, quick strokes, he swept on, side by side with Si Peters. - -It was going to be a close contest, and the spectators along the lake -front went wild with enthusiasm. - -“Don’t let up, Si!” - -“Show the Rockpointers what you can do, Jerry!” - -“A dollar that Si wins by a length!” - -“A dollar that Jerry wins by two lengths!” - -At last the two reached Rocky Island, which formed the turning point. - -They were still side by side, but Si had the inner turn all to himself, -while Jerry had to move about in a much larger area. - -This brought Jerry a good length behind Si Peters when the return was -begun. - -Si Peters saw this and grinned to himself. - -“You ain’t in it a little bit, Jerry Upton!” he called out, but Jerry -did not reply. He was not foolish enough to waste breath just then in -talking. - -Over the smooth water swept the two long shells, each boy working with -quick and long strokes. - -Now the finishing stake was in view. Si Peters still kept his lead. - -“It’s Si’s race, no doubt of it!” - -“Didn’t I say Jerry Upton wouldn’t be in it?” - -“What does Cornfield know about rowing, anyhow?” - -But scarcely had the last remark been made when Jerry began to increase -his stroke. - -Slowly but surely his shell began to overlap that of Si Peters. Now he -was half-way up, now three-quarters, now they were even! - -“See him gaining!” - -“Look! look! Jerry is ahead!” - -“He can’t keep that stroke! It’s enough to kill him!” - -“Can’t he? Look, he is actually walking away from Si.” - -Jerry was now “letting himself out.” - -Like a flash he swept past Si Peters and reached the finish two and a -half lengths ahead. - -A rousing cheer from the Lakeview boys greeted him, while the -Rockpointers were as mum as oysters. - -Si Peters looked decidedly crestfallen. For several minutes he had -nothing to say. Then some of his friends whispered into his ear. - -“You must do it, Si,” said one of the number. - -“All right, I will,” replied Peters doggedly, and hurried to the judges’ -boat. - -“I claim a foul!” he cried out loudly. - -Every one was astonished, and none more so than Jerry. - -“Where were you fouled?” asked one of the judges. - -“Up at the turning point.” - -“That is a falsehood!” cried Jerry indignantly. “I never came anywhere -near you.” - -“I’m telling the truth,” said Si Peters. “If he hadn’t fouled me I would -have beaten with ease.” - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - A PRISONER OF THE ENEMY. - - -At once a loud murmur arose. Some sided with Jerry, while others took Si -Peters’ part. - -From hot words the boys of the rival towns almost came to blows. - -In the midst of the quarrel a row-boat came down the lake carrying two -elderly and well-known gentlemen, both residents of Rockpoint. Curious -to know the cause of the trouble, the gentlemen came up to the judges’ -craft, now moored along shore. - -“Peters claims a foul up at the turning point,” said some one of the -gentlemen. - -“You mean up at the island?” - -“Yes.” - -“There was no foul there. Was there, Greenley?” - -“None at all,” replied the second gentleman. - -These assertions attracted attention. On inquiry it was learned that the -two gentlemen had been up at the island fishing. They had watched the -race in the meanwhile, and they were willing to make affidavit that -Jerry had not interfered in the slightest degree with Si Peters. - -“He took the outside, and he really gave Peters more room than was -necessary.” - -The two gentlemen were too well known to be doubted in what they said, -and at once the judges refused to accept Si Peters’ plea. - -“The race goes to Jerry Upton, who won it fairly.” - -Then how Jerry’s friends did yell with delight! The lad was pounced upon -and raised up on his friends’ shoulders, and away went the boat club -boys around the town, Blumpo in advance of them blowing a big fish-horn. - -“You is de boy!” said the homeless youth. “You is de best oarsman on de -lake!” - -Harry was in the crowd, and when he told how he had outwitted Wash -Crosby every one roared. - -The race, however, made lots of ill-feeling. The Rockpoint boys could -not stand defeat, and that evening half a dozen rows started in as many -different places. - -Sticks and stones were freely used, and many boys went home with their -arms and heads tied up. - -Jerry became involved in one of the worst of the fights in rather a -peculiar manner. He was on his way home rather late, thinking all was -over and that the Rockpointers had departed, when he heard a hoarse cry -for help from down a side street. - -He recognized the voice as that of Blumpo Brown, and at once hurried to -the spot, there to find the youth at the mercy of four of the Rockpoint -boys, including Wash Crosby, Si Peters, and two others named Banner and -Graves. The quartet had poor Blumpo down on his back and were kicking -him as hard as they could. - -“You cowards!” shouted Jerry as he rushed up, “to kick a fellow when -he’s down!” - -“This is none of your affair,” shouted Si Peters. “He insulted us, and -we won’t take an insult from anybody, much less an Indian coon.” - -“Da jess pitched inter me!” howled Blumpo. “Sabe me!” - -“Let up, I say!” went on Jerry, and, clutching Si Peters by the -shoulder, he flung the big Rockpointer flat on his back several feet -away. Then Jerry pitched into the others of the crowd. - -This gave Blumpo a chance to rise. He scrambled up and let out a long -and loud yell for help. Luckily, some other boys were not far away. They -heard the cry and arrived on a run. - -“We must skip now!” cried Wash Crosby to Si Peters. “We’ll have the -whole town on us in another minute.” - -“Hang the luck!” howled Peters. “But just wait, Jerry Upton, I’ll get -square with you yet.” - -He turned away with his friends, and the quartet scooted for the lake, -with Jerry, Blumpo, and half a dozen others at their heels. - -Wash Crosby’s launch was tied up at a dock, and into this they tumbled. -The line was cut, and off they steamed, amid a perfect shower of stones, -lumps of dirt, old bottles, and anything that came handy to the Lakeview -boys’ reach. - -“There, I fancy that’s the end of them,” said Jerry. “I thought they had -gone long ago.” - -“Da laid for me!” groaned Blumpo. “Wish I dun had a hoss pistol, I would -shoot ’em all full of holes!” - -Soon the steam launch faded away in the darkness, and a little later -found Jerry again on his way home. Of course his folks were proud to -think he had won the race. - -“My boy, Jerry!” was all Mrs. Upton said, but the way she said it meant -a good deal. - -It was a week later that the boat club gave a reception, at which Jerry -was the lion. He was presented with the silver trophy, and made a neat -little speech. There were refreshments and music, and altogether the -affair was the most brilliant Lakeview had seen for some time. - -Matters moved along slowly for a week after the racing and the reception -were over. Jerry worked on the farm, and never was there a more -industrious youth. - -In the meanwhile Harry Parker made several arrangements for the outing -up the lake, in which Jerry and Blumpo were to accompany him. - -One day Mr. Upton received a letter from Rockpoint. It was from a -friend, and asked if the farmer could send him over at once a load of -hay. - -“I can’t go very well,” said Mr. Upton. “Supposing you take it over to -Mr. Dike, Jerry?” - -“I will, sir,” replied Jerry, promptly. - -The young oarsman had not been over to Rockpoint since the races, but he -thought he could go over and come back without encountering trouble. - -The hay was soon loaded on the rick, and then Jerry started off for the -other shore. He was compelled to drive nearly to the lower end of the -lake to cross on the bridge, consequently it was well on toward the -middle of the afternoon when Rockpoint was reached. - -He and Mr. Dike put the load in the barn, and after being paid, and -partaking of a glass of cold milk and a piece of home-made pie, Jerry, -at just six o’clock, started on the return. - -It had been a gloomy day, and, consequently, it was already growing -dark, although it was midsummer. - -But Jerry knew the way well, so he did not mind the darkness. He let the -team go their own gait, and took it easy in the rick on a couple of -horse blankets. - -He was in a sort of day dream, when suddenly, his team was stopped by a -couple of boys, who sprang from behind a clump of trees. - -The boys wore masks over their faces, and when they spoke, they did -their best to disguise their voices. - -Jerry sprang up in alarm. At the same time four more boys, also masked, -surrounded the hay-rick. - -“What’s the meaning of this?” demanded Jerry. “Let go of those horses.” - -Instead of replying, the two boys continued to hold the team. The other -four leaped into the hay-rick and fell on Jerry. Taken so suddenly, he -was at a disadvantage. Hardly could he make a move before one of the -boys struck him on the head with a club, dazing him. - -Then a rope was brought forth, and Jerry’s hands were tied behind him -and he was thrown on the ground. - -The boys sent the team on their way, trusting to luck that the horses -would find their way home. - -“What are you going to do with me?” asked Jerry, when he found himself -bound and helpless. - -“You’ll soon see, Jerry Upton,” came from the leader, in such a muffled -voice that our hero tried in vain to recognize the speaker. - -“Make him march!” said another. - -“All right, march!” - -Into the woods the masked gang hurried Jerry. When he attempted to turn -back, they hit him with their sticks and tripped him up. - -Finally, when he would go no further, four of the boys picked him up and -carried him. - -Nearly a quarter of an hour was spent in this manner, and the party -reached a little clearing. On three sides were tall trees, and on the -fourth a wall of rocks. - -“This is the spot,” cried the leader. “Now tie him to a tree and get the -stuff out of the cave.” - -At once the young oarsman was bound to a tree on the edge of the -clearing. - -Then two of the boys entered a cave between the rocks. - -Soon they came forth with a pot filled with a thick, black liquid and -two big pillows. - -At once Jerry realized what his captors meant to do. They were going to -tar and feather him! - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - TAR AND FEATHERS. - - -The prospect was far from pleasant to our hero. In spite of his bravery, -he shivered as he saw the gang of masked boys start up a fire over which -to heat the tar. - -“So you intend to tar and feather me,” he said to the leader. - -“You’ve struck it, Jerry Upton.” - -“All right, Si Peters, do it, and you shall go to prison, mark my -words.” - -Jerry had only guessed at the identity of the leader, but he had hit -upon the truth. - -“Who told you I was”—began Peters, and broke off short. “You’re -mistaken,” he went on in his assumed voice. - -“I am not mistaken, Si Peters. I know you, and you had best remember -what I say.” - -“Oh, you’re too fresh, Upton, and we’re going to teach you a lesson,” -put in another of the crowd. - -“A good coat of tar and feathers is just what your system needs.” - -“We’ll paint you up so artistically that, even your own mother won’t -know you.” - -“Not if I can help it,” muttered Jerry, under his breath. - -A great mass of wood had been collected, and this gave a roaring fire -and also afforded a good light for the workers. - -On each side of the fire a notched stick was driven into the ground. A -third stick was laid across the top, just beyond the flames. From this -upper stick the pot of tar was suspended by an iron chain. - -The heat soon began to tell on the tar. As it softened it could be -smelled a long distance off. - -“How do you like that smell?” asked Peters of Jerry. - -“Oh, it’s a good enough smell,” replied our hero, as coolly as he could. - -“Never had a dose of tar before, did you?” - -“I haven’t had this dose yet.” - -“That’s so, but you soon will have.” - -“Maybe not.” - -“Oh, you can’t escape us.” - -“Not much, he can’t,” put in another, and now Jerry felt sure that the -speaker was Wash Crosby. - -“We’ll talk about that later, Crosby.” - -The masked boy started back and denied his identity. But it was plain to -see he was much put out. - -“I know you, Peters, Crosby, Banner and Graves,” went on Jerry. “And -I’ll discover who you other two fellows are before I leave here, too.” - -“Fiddlesticks!” shouted one of the boys by the fire who was stirring the -tar. - -“Is it getting soft?” asked Crosby. - -“Yes.” - -“Where is the brush?” - -“I’ve got it,” spoke up another, and he held up the stump of an old -whitewash brush. - -“That’s all right.” - -At a signal from Peters the crowd of masked boys withdrew to the side of -the fire. - -Here a long talk followed. It was so low that Jerry could not hear a -word. - -Peters was making the crowd solemnly promise that they would not inform -upon each other, no matter what happened. - -“If we stick together, Upton can prove nothing,” he said. “He has no -witnesses.” - -“Right you are, Si.” - -“We want to get square, and this is the chance of our lives to do it.” - -“We can give him the tar and feathers and then leave him tied up in such -a fashion that he can get free, but not before we have had a chance to -make good our escape and get home and to bed.” - -“That’s the way to fix it.” - -“It will teach Lakeporters a good lesson,” put in one of the unknowns. -“My! but ain’t I down on every one of ’em.” - -“And so am I!” - -“And I!” - -“And I!” - -In the meanwhile the young oarsman was trying his best to work himself -free of his bonds. He felt that unless he escaped he would surely be -tarred and feathered. - -He tugged at the ropes around his body, and after a hard struggle he -managed to free his left arm. - -His right arm followed, although this cost him a bad cut on the wrist, -from which the blood flowed freely. - -But he gave the wound no thought, and in haste began to work at the rope -at his waist. - -Now that was loosened, only the one around his knees remained. - -He looked anxiously toward the fire. The masked boys were still in deep -discussion, and not a single eye was directed toward the prisoner. - -Oh, for three minutes more time! - -He worked with feverish haste. - -And now he was practically free! - -Si Peters turned and beheld him as he took a step behind the tree, out -of the glare of the fire. - -“He has got away, fellows!” he shouted. “After him, quick!” - -A yell went up, and the crowd rushed forward. - -“He mustn’t escape us!” - -“We worked too hard to capture him!” - -“See, he is limping! The rope is still fastened to one of his legs!” - -Like a pack of wolves after a rabbit they came after Jerry. - -Our hero did his best to out-distance them, and he would have succeeded -had it not been for the rope around one knee, which caught in a tree -root and threw him down flat on his face. In another moment the crowd -was on top of him. - -They showed him no mercy. Si Peters was particularly brutal and kicked -Jerry heavily in the side half a dozen times. - -“I’ll teach you to crawl away, you sneak!” he cried. “You can’t fool us -in this fashion.” - -The kicks stunned Jerry and deprived him of his wind. He fought as best -he could, but he was no match for six strong boys. - -Again he was overpowered. Then the gang dragged him to the side of the -roaring camp fire and threw off their masks. - -“Now we’ll strip him,” said Wash Crosby. “The tar is all ready and so -are the feathers.” - -Jerry’s struggles availed him nothing. His coat and vest were literally -ripped from his body, and his shirt followed. - -“Give me the brush. I want to give him the first dose,” sang out Si -Peters. - -The old whitewash brush was handed to the leader. Si dipped it deeply -into the pot of hot tar, and approached the young oarsman. - -“Now, Jerry Upton, we’ll tar and feather you in spite of your threats,” -he said. - - [Illustration] - -[Illustration: THE TAR WAS READY FOR USE.] - - - - - CHAPTER X. - WHAT TOWSER DID. - - -“Well, by creation? what does this mean?” - -The speaker was Mr. Upton, Jerry’s father. He was gazing at the -hay-rick, which was coming down the road to the barn at a lively gait. - -As the boys who had captured Jerry had thought, the horses had found -their way home alone. - -Anxiously, Mr. Upton looked around for Jerry, and then he stopped the -team and put them up in the barn. - -Running into the house he told his wife of the state of affairs. -Instantly Mrs. Upton grew alarmed. - -“Perhaps they ran away and threw Jerry out!” she cried. - -“It ain’t likely they could get away with Jerry,” replied Mr. Upton. -“But I allow it is curious.” - -A half hour went by, and the farmer determined to start on a hunt for -his son. He went off on horseback, and took with him Towser, the farm -dog. - -Towser was an old and faithful animal, a prime favorite with Jerry, and -he trotted along beside the horse as if he knew something was wrong. - -“We want to find Jerry, Towser,” said Mr. Upton. “Jerry, Towser, Jerry!” - -And the dog wagged his tail as if to say that he understood perfectly. - -It was now quite dark. The farmer had brought along a lantern, and this -he lit and swung around first on one side of the road and then on the -other. As he journeyed along he remembered Jerry’s troubles with the -Rockpoint boys. - -“Maybe he has had another fight,” he thought. “It was foolish to let him -go over there.” - -Inside of an hour the other side of the lake was reached, and they -struck the lonely road leading into Rockpoint. - -As the farmer went on he became more and more sober in mind. He seemed -to feel in his mind that something was wrong. - -Towser let out a mournful howl. - -“Jerry, Towser, Jerry!” - -Again the dog howled. Then he came to an unexpected halt and although -Farmer Upton went on, the dog refused to budge. - -“What is it, Towser?” - -For reply the dog started into the bushes, and this at first made the -old farmer angry, for he did not understand the dog. - -“Come, Towser!” he cried. “We are not after game just now!” - -But the dog would not come. He wanted to enter the brush. - -At last Mr. Upton went to catch him by the collar, but just as he did so -the dog gave a short bark and picked up something from among the bushes. - -“Hullo!” - -No wonder the old farmer was surprised. The article Towser had -discovered was a sling-shot Jerry often carried with him. - -“Must have come in here,” mused Farmer Upton. - -Then of a sudden he began to examine the ground. It was soft in spots -and plainly showed the footmarks of Jerry and the Si Peters crowd. - -“He’s in trouble!” said the old farmer to himself. “Maybe some tramps -have carried him off and robbed him.” - -Urging on the faithful dog, Mr. Upton hurried along the path through the -woods, leaving the horse tied to a tree. - -It was an uneven way, and he stumbled many times. But he did not -mind—his one thought was to reach his son and find out the boy’s -condition. - -Towser ran ahead, howling dismally at every few yards. But the faithful -dog did not lose the scent. - -Presently, through the bushes, Farmer Upton caught sight of a distant -camp fire. - -“Hist!” he called to Towser. “Go slow, now! Down!” - -And the dog obeyed and howled no longer. - -A hundred yards more were passed, when a loud cry rent the air. - -“Help! help!” - -It was Jerry’s voice. Si Peters was in the act of applying the first -brushful of tar to his back. Utterly helpless, there was nothing left -for Jerry to do but to use his lungs. - -“Shut up!” cried Si Peters. “Yell again and I’ll hit you in the mouth -with the tar.” - -“You are an overgrown coward!” retorted Jerry. “Give me a fair show, and -I’ll knock you out in short order.” - -And again he called for help. - -In a rage, Si Peters started to plaster Jerry’s mouth with the hot tar. -But ere the brush could descend, Mr. Upton and Towser burst upon the -scene. - -“Stop, you young scamps!” roared the old farmer. “At ’em, Towser! Chew -’em up!” - -Startled at the unexpected interruption, the rowdies fell back. Then -Towser leaped forward and caught Si Peters by his trowsers. - -“Save me!” yelled Si, in terror. “The dog is going to chew me up!” - -“Good, Towser!” returned Jerry. “Hold him fast!” - -And Towser did as bidden. - -In the meantime Mr. Upton ran after the boys who had been holding Jerry. -He caught two of them, and before they knew it, knocked their heads -together so forcibly that they saw stars. - -Jerry, delighted at the unexpected turn of affairs, turned upon Wash -Crosby. Si Peters had dropped the tar brush, and this Jerry secured. - -Bang! whack! Crosby received a blow over the head, and one in the ear, -which left a big black streak of tar. - -“Oh, don’t! please don’t!” he screamed. “Let up, Jerry! It was only a -joke! We weren’t really going to tar and feather you!” - -Then the fellow ran for his very life. - -During this time Si Peters was trying his best to get away from Towser, -who held on with a deathlike grip. - -Around and around the camp fire the two circled, until Jerry came up. - -The youth called off the dog and went at Si in about the same manner as -he had treated Wash Crosby. - -Si wanted to run for it, and in his hurry rushed through the fire, -knocking over the kettle of tar. - -The sticky mess emptied itself over his clothing. Then the young oarsman -tripped him up, and over he rolled among the loose feathers. - -“Now you can see how you like it!” cried Jerry. - -And growling and panting for breath, Si Peters ran away after the -others. - -The Rockpoint rowdies were thoroughly demoralized. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - OFF FOR HERMIT ISLAND. - - -It took Jerry and his father some little time to get back their breath -sufficiently to leave the woods and make their way to the road. - -“You came in the nick of time, father,” said the lad. “In another five -minutes I would have been tarred and feathered.” - -“Tell me about the whole affair, son,” said the old farmer; and Jerry -did so. - -“The good-for-nothing rascals!” cried the old farmer. “If they touch you -again I’ll have ’em all up before the squire.” - -“That won’t help us, father,” replied Jerry. “They are rich, you know. -They would get off somehow.” - -“Then I’ll take it out of their hides.” - -Mr. Upton told how Towser had led the way into the woods. Jerry had -always loved the farm dog, but now he thought more of him than ever. - -“Good boy,” he said. “You shall go with us when we take our outing—that -is, if father will let you go.” - -“Yes, Jerry, take him along. He may help you out of some more trouble,” -replied Mr. Upton. - -It was rather late when they arrived home. Mrs. Upton was shocked to -learn of what had occurred, but glad to learn that Jerry had escaped his -enemies. - -The next day the young oarsman told Harry Parker and the other boys of -his adventure. Harry was very indignant. - -“Those Rockpoint boys ought to be driven out of the state.” - -“I dun racken I’ll carry my hoss pistol after dis,” said Blumpo. “Da -don’t cotch dis chile for to tar and feather him!” - -A week later Jerry, Harry, and Blumpo started up the lake on a ten days’ -outing. - -They were in Harry’s largest row-boat, the one that had a sail, and -carried with them a tent and a good stock of ammunition. Jerry and Harry -were armed with guns, and Blumpo carried his “hoss pistol” and a rusty -spear. - -They were bound for Hermit Island, a wild but beautiful patch of land -situated almost at the end of Otasco Lake. The island was so called -because it was said by some that the place was inhabited by an old -hermit who lived in a cave and never showed himself to visitors. - -Some did not believe this story, for try as hard as they could, they had -never been able to locate the strange creature, who was said to have a -white beard to his waist, and white hair equally long. - -The day that the trio started away was a fine one, and the boys were in -excellent spirits. - -“I trust we have no more squalls,” remarked Harry, as they glided along, -the sail set and the oars out. - -“No storm to-day,” returned Jerry. “We are going to have at least three -or four days of fine weather.” - -“Say, I wondah if I could shoot a bar wid dis yere gun,” put in Blumpo, -as he held up his pistol. - -“You might if you threw the pistol at the bear when you pulled the -trigger,” laughed Jerry. “Sure as you are born, Blumpo, that pistol will -go to pieces if you try to fire it.” - -“Den I’ll fire it dis way,” replied the homeless youth, and swung the -weapon as if to heave it away. - -An hour passed, during which the boys laid their plans for a camp and -talked over what they would do. - -“I hope we have good hunting and fishing,” said Jerry. - -“So do I,” returned Harry. “And I likewise hope we find the hermit, if -there really is such a creature.” - -“Maybe he won’t want us on his island,” put in Blumpo. “He may be an -ugly feller.” - -“We’ll risk it, Blumpo.” - -“I ain’t in fer stirrin’ up no hornets’ nest,” went on the homeless -youth. “I jess like ter lay around an’ take it easy under de -trees—a-listening to—” - -“‘The tumble bugs tumbling around,’ as the song says,” laughed Jerry. -“Blumpo, you must get more ambition in you. Come, row up lively. It’s a -good long distance to the island, and we must make it before sundown.” - -All three braced up, and the big boat went forward at an increased rate -of speed. - -“Hullo!” cried Harry, presently. “Jerry, doesn’t that look like Si -Peters’ yacht?” - -And Harry pointed over to the west shore of the lake, where a craft had -just emerged from behind a small headland. - -“It is the Peters yacht, sure enough,” replied Jerry, after studying the -craft. - -“If she cums dis way, we’ll hab lively times,” remarked Blumpo. - -“That’s true, Blumpo. Come, maybe we can get away from her.” - -The boys kept steadily on their course, and for a long time those on the -yacht seemed to pay no attention to them. - -But after awhile the big boat put on another tack, and fifteen minutes -later it was within hailing distance. Then they saw that Si Peters and -Crosby were in possession. They had with them five other Rockpoint lads, -including Banner and Graves. - -“Hi, you fellows, stop rowing!” yelled Peters at the top of his voice. - -“Mind your own business, Si Peters,” retorted Harry. - -“You won’t stop?” - -“No. Leave us alone.” - -“We want you to give up Jerry Upton.” - -“Give him up?” - -“Exactly. Come up alongside and let him jump on board of the yacht.” - -“That’s as cool as a cake of ice!” cried Jerry. “You want everything, -don’t you?” - -“We are going to get square with you, Jerry Upton!” put in Wash Crosby. - -“Let us pull away as fast as we can,” whispered Harry. “Those chaps mean -trouble.” - -“Dat’s de talk,” said Blumpo, who was the worst scared of the three. - -They bent to their oars, and soon moved off a hundred feet or more. - -Then Si Peters ran out to the jib of the yacht. “Stop!” he commanded. -“Pull another yard and you’ll be sorry for it.” - -“We’ll risk it,” replied Jerry. - -“We’ll run you down!” - -“You won’t dare!” yelled Harry, in alarm. - -“Won’t we? Just see if we won’t!” - -At once Si Peters gave some directions to Wash Crosby, who was at the -wheel. The course of the yacht was slightly changed, and now the craft -was headed directly for the boat containing our friends. - -“Anudder smash-up, shuah as you’re born!” groaned Blumpo, and he -prepared to leap into the lake. - -“Stay where you are!” ordered Jerry. “I’ll check their little game.” - -Reaching into a locker, the young oarsman brought out his gun. Leaping -on one of the seats, he pointed the weapon at Si Peters’ head. - -“Sheer off!” he cried. “Sheer off, or I’ll fire on you!” - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - AN ATTACK IN THE DARK. - - -Si Peters was nearly dumbfounded at the unexpected turn affairs had -taken. The bully at once gave the necessary directions, and the yacht -passed to windward of the other boat. - -“A good idea, Jerry!” exclaimed Harry. “That will make them steer clear -of us for good, I reckon.” - -“If they haven’t got guns of their own, Harry.” - -The boys on the yacht were evidently much crestfallen. They had hoped to -get Jerry in their power, but that plan was defeated. They dropped -behind several hiding places, and again headed for the big row-boat. - -But once more Jerry outwitted them. Calling to Blumpo to steady the -temporary mast, he climbed to the top, his gun slung over his shoulder. - -From this elevated point he was able to sweep the yacht’s deck from stem -to stern. - -“Now turn about, or I’ll fire on you, as sure as fate!” he ordered. - -“You think you are smart, don’t you,” sneered Wash Crosby. - -“I’m too smart for your crowd,” retorted Jerry. - -“We can fire as well as you,” put in Graves. - -“If you had a gun, which you haven’t,” retorted Jerry. - -The boys on the yacht growled among themselves, but could do nothing. -Wash Crosby tried to throw a piece of iron on the row-boat, but it fell -short. Then Harry retaliated by shooting through the yacht’s main-sail. - -Seeing the boys on the big row-boat meant business, Si Peters and his -crowd withdrew from the encounter. - -As soon as they were gone, Jerry came down from his perch, and off they -started once more for the island. - -The yacht sailed so far off they thought they were no longer observed. - -But in this they were mistaken for Si Peters had a field glass with him. - -This glass was now brought into play, and Peters’ crowd kept track of -Jerry and the others until the vicinity of Hermit Island was reached. - -“Going to camp there,” said Wash Crosby. - -“It ought to give us a fine chance to get square,” replied Si Peters, -and the crowd began to plot against our hero and his friends. - -But in the meantime the big row-boat disappeared behind the bushes which -fringed a narrow inlet, and, try their best, those on the yacht could -not locate it again. - -“Never mind, we’ll come up some other day,” said Si Peters. “It’s -getting too late to do anything now.” - -And the yacht returned to Rockpoint. - -It was Harry who selected a landing place on Hermit’s Island. He found a -smooth, sandy beach, and here the row-boat was drawn up well out of the -water. - -Back of the beach was a little clearing. On one side were tall rocks, -and on the other the woods. - -“As good a place as any to pitch the tent,” said Jerry. “Come, Blumpo, -stir yourself.” - -The tent was brought out and put up, and a camp fire was lit. While -Blumpo gathered brush to put into the tent to sleep on, Jerry and Harry -tried their hands at fishing. - -Soon Harry had a bite, and brought in a perch weighing a little over a -half a pound. - -“Good for you, Harry, you take first prize!” cried Jerry. - -Hardly had he spoken when he felt a jerk. There was a lively struggle -for fully a minute, and then Jerry landed his catch—a rock bass, all of -a pound in weight. - -“Second, but best,” laughed Harry. “I guess that is all we want for -to-night.” - -The pan was over the fire getting hot. Blumpo cleaned the fish and put -them on. In the meantime, Jerry made a pot of coffee. - -Never had a meal tasted better to the boys. They lingered over the -scraps for a long while, talking over the events of the day. Blumpo also -gave them a song. It was a happy time. - -“Somebody ought to stand guard all night, I suppose,” said Jerry, when -it came time to turn in. - -“Oh, nonsense!” cried Harry. “Who is going to hurt us in this out of the -way spot?” - -“We don’t know what may be around.” - -“I’se too tired to watch,” put in Blumpo. - -“Never knew the time you weren’t tired,” laughed Jerry. “But let it go, -if you wish.” - -Quarter of an hour later all of the boys had turned in. Blumpo picked -out a corner of the tent nearest the rear. Harry slept in the middle, -while Jerry took up a place not far from the front flaps. - -As it was rather warm, they left one of the flaps open to admit the air. -Jerry lay in such a position that he could look out on the smoldering -camp fire. - -Jerry was as tired as the rest, and it did not take him long to drop off -into a sound sleep. - -How long he slept he did not know. A low noise outside aroused him. He -opened his eyes with a start, wondering what it was. - -Then came another growl or grunt, he could not tell which. He sat up and -looked outside. - -A sight met his gaze that nearly caused his heart to stop beating. The -camp fire was almost out, but beyond its fitful glare he beheld a pair -of large eyes bent directly upon the tent opening. - -The eyes belonged to some savage beast which was about to attack the -camp. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - JERRY’S SHOT. - - -Jerry realized that he and his friends were in great peril. What the -savage beast outside was he could not tell, but it looked large and -powerful in the gloom beyond the camp fire. - -There was no time to lose if anything was to be done. - -Luckily, before lying down, the young oarsman had loaded his gun and -hung it up on the front pole of the tent, within easy reach. - -Sitting up, he now took the weapon and pulled back the trigger. - -The click reached the ears of the animal outside, and once again it let -out that peculiar sound, neither grunt nor growl. - -Then Jerry put the gun to his shoulder, and, taking aim at one of the -shining eyes, fired. - -Bang! - -The report of the firearm caused Harry and Blumpo to spring up in wild -alarm. - -“What’s the matter?” - -“Heaben sabe us!” moaned Blumpo. - -“A wild animal outside,” cried Jerry. “Get your gun, quick!” - -Harry leaped for his weapon. - -“What is it?” - -“I can’t make out.” - -Reloading as rapidly as he could, our hero dashed into the open. A howl -of pain told he had hit his mark. The beast had turned and was crashing -through the brush close to the rocks. - -“Let us find out what it was!” cried Harry. - -“Doan go!” moaned Blumpo. “You will git chewed up!” - -And then he dove back into the tent for his “hoss” pistol and his rusty -spear. - -Catching up a blazing brand, Jerry threw it into the brush. By the light -they saw the creature crouching on a rock. - -Bang! bang! - -The two guns spoke simultaneously. Harry hit the beast in the shoulder. -Jerry’s shot was more effective for it struck in the neck, and with a -snarl the creature leaped into the air and fell—dead. - -“You’ve settled him!” cried Harry. “Come on and inspect him.” - -“Wait and load your gun first,” cautioned our hero. “He may have some -fight in him still.” - -The weapons were put in order, and then, with firebrands to light the -way, they moved forward to inspect their victim. - -It was a large and heavy boar. - -“A wild hog!” shouted Jerry. “My, what a big fellow he is!” - -“I thought it was a bear,” said Harry. He was somewhat disappointed. - -“He was savage enough, at all events,” replied Jerry. “These wild hogs -put up a terrible fight, father says.” - -“Oh, I know that. Wasn’t Dick Harben’s uncle killed by one? Well, he’s -dead enough and we have meat to last a month.” - -“Pretty strong eating,” smiled Jerry. - -They called Blumpo. The homeless youth was delighted over the dead -animal. - -“‘Ham’s de best ob meat,’” he sang. “I’ll soon fix him up, see if I -don’t.” - -The boys were glad that it was getting toward morning, for the -excitement had taken all the sleep out of them. They replenished the -fire, and sat around waiting for daybreak. - -As soon as the sun rose, Blumpo prepared breakfast, while Jerry and -Harry took a plunge into the lake. It was great sport, and they remained -in the water until Blumpo called them. - -That day the boys tramped nearly two miles around the island. They took -their guns with them and came back with their game bags full of birds. -Returning, they were thoroughly tired out, but nevertheless resolved to -set a watch. - -“Four hours each,” said Harry, and this was agreed to. - -But nothing happened to disturb them, and on the following night the -watch was abandoned. - -The boys put in nearly a week in hunting, fishing, swimming, and lying -around, and they enjoyed every minute of the time. - -Nothing had been seen or heard of the hermit who was supposed to inhabit -the island, and they began to think that no such person existed. - -Neither had they heard anything more of Si Peters and his crowd, and -they fancied they were safe from molestation. - -Sunday passed quietly, and on Monday morning Jerry proposed they take -along a game bag full of provisions and climb to the top of the rocky -hill in the centre of the island. - -“We must go to the very top before we leave,” he said. - -The game bag was filled with eatables, and cups, plates, etc., and then -they tied up the tent flaps and drew the boat still higher up out of the -water. - -The first quarter of a mile of the journey was easy enough, but after -that they struck the rocks, and climbing became more and more difficult -with every step. - -“Phew! but dis am work!” puffed Blumpo. “Dis boy’s most tucked out!” - -“We’ll take a good long rest at noon, Blumpo,” said Harry. - -Up and up they went until Jerry, who was in advance, came to a sudden -halt. A deep split in the rocks barred his further progress. - -“Will we have to go back?” asked Harry, anxiously. - -“It looks like it.” - -“Can’t we leap over?” - -“We might try. I can, if you are willing to follow.” - -“I kin jump dat easy enough,” put in Blumpo. - -Jerry stepped back, and running a few feet, made the leap in safety. -Harry followed, and then both boys waited for Blumpo Brown to join them. - -The homeless youth measured the distance with his eye and came on like a -steam engine. - -But just before he reached the edge of the split he slipped and went -headlong. Unable to stop himself, he crashed down into the opening head -first. - -In going over the rocks he twisted himself partly around. - -With one hand he caught hold of a frail bush growing among the rocks. - -His left foot caught in a crevice, and there he hung, unable to help -himself, and with death staring him in the face! - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - THE HERMIT OF THE ISLAND. - - -“He’ll be killed!” yelled Harry. - -His face was deadly white. - -“Help me!” came faintly from Blumpo. - -Before the others could realize it, Jerry had leaped back to the other -side of the opening. Catching hold of a jutting rock with one hand, he -grasped Blumpo’s wrist with the other. - -“Now let go below and I’ll haul you up, Blumpo,” he said. - -The frightened youth did as requested, and slowly but surely Jerry -dragged him up to a safe spot. - -“Good for you, Jerry!” shouted Harry. - -“By golly! but dat was a close call!” shuddered the homeless youth. - -Then, with tears in his big, honest eyes, he wrung our hero’s hand. - -“You dun sabed my life, Jerry!” he declared solemnly. “I won’t forgit -dat, neber!” - -The nervous boy was averse to attempting a second jump, and so the party -walked along the opening until a much narrower spot was reached. - -Once over, the upward climb was again begun. By noon they reckoned that -they were within half a mile of the top. But all were exhausted, and -glad enough to rest and take a bite to eat. - -A fine spring was found, and here they washed up and quenched their -thirst before resuming the journey. - -They found a large quantity of huckleberries growing on the hillside, -and these made very acceptable eating. - -“A fellow could put in a month here,” remarked Jerry. “But, heigho! the -vacation will soon be ended, and then for school again.” - -The rest over, they went up and up again. - -“Beat you to the summit!” cried Jerry, and started up the last stretch -on a rush. Harry followed, and Blumpo was not far behind. - -What a splendid panorama was spread before them! They could see clear to -either end of the lake and off to the hills east and west. - -“I see the church steeple!” cried Jerry. - -“Look! look!” exclaimed Harry, suddenly. - -He pointed down the lake to where a yacht was bowling along before the -breeze. - -“Si Peters’ boat!” - -“I wonder if Peters knows we are still on the island?” mused Jerry. - -“I reckon he does.” - -“It’s a wonder he and his crowd never came up to make more trouble for -us.” - -“Perhaps he dun got scared at dis hoss pistol ob mine,” put in Blumpo. - -To him that “hoss” pistol was a mighty weapon, greatly to be feared. - -A little back of the summit of rocks was a grassy plateau, and here the -boys decided to camp for the night. - -“What a beautiful place for a picnic!” said Harry. - -“Rather hard to get to, though,” returned Jerry. “I wonder if there is a -spring handy?” - -“A spring away up heah!” exclaimed Blumpo. “Yo’ expect watah to run up -hill? Ha, ha!” - -“Yes, Blumpo; strange as it may seem, the finest springs are found at -the very tops of mountains. Come on and look for one.” - -The homeless youth showed his surprise, but he readily joined in the -hunt, and so did Harry. There was a patch of brush behind the plateau, -and this they skirted. Ere long Jerry found a tiny rivulet flowing in a -well-worn hollow. - -“The head of this rill of water will bring us to the spring,” he said. - -They began to follow the watercourse. It led around half a dozen big -rocks. - -“Halt!” - -All three of the boys sprang back in amazement. From whence had that -unexpected command proceeded? - -“Halt, I say!” - -They stopped short. - -“Who are you?” asked Jerry quickly. - -“I am the Lonely Man. Leave me!” - -“The Lonely Man,” repeated Jerry. - -“Yes. Depart, my boys, at once.” - -“Are you the man they call the hermit of the island?” asked Harry. - -“I presume so. Now leave me. I have not spoken to other men for years.” - -“We would like to get a little water first, if you please,” said Jerry. -“Surely so good an old man as you will not refuse us that.” - -This way of talking evidently struck the hermit’s fancy, for there was a -rustle of bushes, and the hermit of the island stepped into view. - -All of the boys stared at him in blank amazement. He was a reddish-black -individual, with snow white hair and long flowing beard. - -Blumpo grew so frightened that he immediately fell on his knees. - -“De voodoo doctor, suah!” he muttered. - -Like many other ignorant people, he was very superstitious and believed -in charms and voodooism. - -“We are sorry to have disturbed you in your lonely retreat,” began -Harry. “But we—” - -“Say no more, my boy. Get the water you need and depart.” - -“We will.” - -Harry and Jerry turned toward the spring and quietly filled up the big -tin can they had brought along. - -The old hermit watched them curiously. - -“You look like good boys,” he said. “I want to ask a favor of you.” - -“What?” asked both boys in a breath. - -“I wish to end my days here undisturbed. Will you promise not to reveal -my dwelling place to your friends?” - -“I am willing to say nothing,” said Jerry, promptly. - -“So am I,” returned Harry. - -The old man looked much relieved. - -“And how is it with you?” he went on, turning and walking to where -Blumpo had his head bent low on the ground. - -“Please, sah, don’t charm me, sah! don’t cast no spell ober me!” howled -Blumpo. “I ain’t dun nuffin’ ’deed I ain’t. I’se de best boy in -Lakeview! Ain’t I, Harry? Ain’t dat de truf, Jerry?” - -“I will not harm you, so do not be afraid,” said the hermit with a faint -smile on his reddish-black face. - -“I won’t tell a t’ing! not a word, sah, hope ter die if I do!” went on -Blumpo, still keeping his face down. - -He was afraid that if he looked at the hermit he would be bewitched. - -“Blumpo, get up!” said Harry, sharply. “Don’t make a fool of yourself. -This gentleman is not going to hurt you. Stand up and be a man.” - -Thus spoken to, the homeless boy arose slowly to his feet. His knees -were still trembling, and he needed but little incentive to take to his -heels. - -“I have not seen a colored or an Indian boy in years,” went on the old -hermit. “If you are an honest boy let me take your hand.” - -He advanced, and with his knees knocking together Blumpo put out his -hand and looked the old man in the face. - -The next instant the hermit gave a leap back in profound astonishment. - -“Abraham! As sure as the sun shines! And I thought he was dead!” - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - THE HERMIT’S SECRET. - - -All three of the boys were much mystified by the old hermit’s words. - -“He must be a little off in his head,” thought Harry. - -“Who is Abraham?” asked Jerry. - -“This is Abraham!” cried the hermit. “Are you not Abraham?” he went on -to Blumpo. - -“I reckon not, sah. I’se jess plain Blumpo Brown.” - -“Blumpo Brown! Ha! how well I remember that name! You are indeed -Abraham, and I am your father!” - -And the hermit caught Blumpo in his arms. It is needless to say the -youth was frightened and bewildered. - -“Come to my cave and I will tell you all,” went on the hermit, and he -dragged Blumpo along. - -Jerry and Harry willingly followed. They found that the old man had -quite a comfortable place among the rocks. It was elaborately furnished, -showing that the hermit was well-to-do. - -They all took seats on some skins thrown over rude couches. The hermit -made Blumpo sit close to him. - -“My name is Daniel Brown,” he began. “And you, Blumpo, are my -only son. Your full name is Blum-pou-la-hau,—the Indian for -boy-of-the-laughing-face,—for, you know, you have much Indian blood in -your veins.” - -“Dat’s what folks said I had,” said Blumpo. - -“I thought you were dead—that you had been drowned. It was this drove -me to make a hermit of myself.” - -Then the old hermit went into many particulars, to which all listened -with great interest. - -Blumpo could scarcely believe his ears. His face began to expand, and a -smile broke out on it, the like of which had never before been seen. He -was a homeless waif no longer. He had found a father. - -Jerry and Harry talked to the old hermit for an hour and more. They -found him peculiar in his ideas, but with a warm heart. - -Before they retired for the night Daniel Brown came to the conclusion to -give up his dwelling on the top of the mountain. - -He said he would build a cabin down by the lakeside and there he and -Blumpo could live like ordinary people. - -“I have several thousand dollars saved up,” he said, “so we will not -want for anything. I will buy a boat, and Blumpo can make a living by -letting her out to pleasure parties.” - -“Dat will suit me exactly,” cried Blumpo. - -“But you must also go to school in the winter,” went on Daniel Brown. -“And you must drop that dialect, and not say dat for that.” - -“Golly! but won’t I be eddicate!” murmured Blumpo. “Say, Pop maybe I kin -hab—I mean have—a new suit, eh?” - -“Two of them, Abraham,” said the hermit; and then all hands laughed. - -It was well for the boys that they were housed in the hermit’s dwelling, -for that night a terrible thunder storm came up. The wind howled and -shrieked around the mountain top, and continued until dawn. - -“If we had been on the plateau we would have been blown off into the -lake,” said Harry, at breakfast. - -By nine o’clock it cleared off and at twelve the mountain was as dry as -ever. They packed up, and, accompanied by the hermit, set off, for the -old camp. - -Daniel Brown knew every inch of the mountain and under his guidance they -reached the bottom much quicker than they would otherwise have done. - -As they were trailing through the woods toward the camp, Harry suddenly -put up his hand. - -“Listen! Don’t you hear some persons talking?” he asked. - -“Where can it be?” asked Jerry. - -“Down by the camp,” said Blumpo. - -“Si Peters’ crowd, I’ll bet a new hat!” cried Jerry. “Come on, all of -you!” - -The young oarsman broke into a run, and Harry and Blumpo came after, -with the hermit lagging on behind. A turn in the brush brought them in -sight of the camp. - -There were Si Peters, Wash Crosby, and four others in the act of shoving -Harry’s craft into the water. - -“They intended to run off with our boat!” yelled Jerry. “Stop, there, -you thieves!” - -“Stop, or we’ll fire on you!” added Harry. - -The Peters crowd were surprised and alarmed. They hesitated for a -moment. - -“Go ahead, don’t mind them!” howled Si Peters. “Quick, fellows, shove -out to the yacht!” - -Before Jerry and the others could reach the spot the big row-boat was -afloat. The Peters crowd leaped on board and quickly shipped the oars. - -“Stop, or we’ll fire on you!” sang out Harry again. - -“Fire and be blowed!” howled Wash Crosby. - -Bang! went Harry’s gun, and the shot rattled all around the row-boat. - -But now a turn of a headland took the craft out of range. - -“Follow me!” said Jerry, as he leaped across the camp to where they -could again catch sight of the craft. - -Over the rock and through the brush they stumbled, a distance of two -hundred feet. Then the shore of the lake was again reached. - -But, alas! before they could do anything the Peters crowd was entirely -out of range. They saw the big row-boat taken over to where the yacht -lay at anchor. Harry’s craft was tied fast to the stern and the -Rockpointers clambered aboard their own vessel. - -“Good-bye and good luck to you!” cried Si Peters, mockingly. “Hope you -fellows enjoy playing Robinson Crusoe. We’ll come back for you some time -next year.” - -And then the yacht sailed away, leaving those on the island to their -fate. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - AN EXCITING CHASE. - - -For the moment the boys did not know what to do. Si Peters and his crowd -had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a -serious question. - -To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no -telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to -take them off. - -But the hermit solved the problem. - -“If you want to follow those boys you can take my boat,” he said. - -“Have you a boat?” asked Jerry, quickly. - -“Certainly, although I use it but sparingly, and then only at night.” - -The hermit led the way to the lower end of the island. Here in a -water-cave rested a long, round-bottomed row-boat, containing two pairs -of oars. - -“Just the thing!” cried Jerry. “Come on, Harry!” - -He and his chum leaped in. Blumpo looked at his newly found father. - -“I will go along if you wish,” said the hermit. - -In five seconds more all four were in the boat, which was then shoved -out into the lake. - -With Jerry and Harry at the oars, they made good progress in the -direction of Si Peters’ yacht. - -All were armed, and Blumpo occupied the time in seeing that every weapon -was ready for use. - -“The wind is dying out,” said Harry. “That is in our favor.” - -“They have not more than half a mile start,” rejoined Jerry. “We ought -to catch up in half an hour.” - -It was evident that those on the yacht did not anticipate pursuit, for -it was not until the distance between the two craft had been -considerably lessened that they showed signs of alarm. - -“They see us!” cried Blumpo. “Shall I give ’em a shot?” - -“No; wait,” replied Jerry. - -The wind had now gone down almost entirely, and the yacht’s sails were -flapping idly. - -Si Peters and Wash Crosby were evidently alarmed at the turn affairs had -taken, and they called their chums around them for consultation. - -“We can’t do anything while the wind is down,” said Crosby. - -“Let’s get out and row,” suggested Graves, who was one of the number. - -“Can we tow the yacht?” - -“We can try.” - -This was decided on, and all of the crowd leaped into Harry’s boat. They -brought the craft around to the yacht’s bow, and then every one took an -oar. - -“See, they are hauling off the yacht!” cried Harry. “They mean to get -away somehow.” - -“We’ll race them,” replied Jerry. - -They bent to their oars and made the old hermit’s boat fairly fly -through the water. Slowly they crept nearer and nearer. It was an -exciting chase. - -“Take my place, Blumpo!” cried Jerry, at last, and the boy willingly -obeyed. - -Jerry leaped into the bow, and taking up his gun pointed it at Si -Peters’ head. - -“Si Peters!” he called out, “do you see this gun? Unless you stop rowing -I’ll fire at you, no matter what the consequences are.” - -Si Peters turned deadly white, for he was in reality a big coward. - -“Do you hear me?” went on Jerry. “One—two—th——” - -“Stop! don’t shoot!” yelled the Rockpoint bully, and he held up his oar. - -“Now, Wash Crosby, you stop rowing, too!” went on Jerry. - -“Think you are boss, eh?” sneered Crosby. - -“I am. Up with the oar!” - -Crosby hesitated, and then his oar went up beside Si’s. The others -became badly frightened and also stopped rowing. In a moment more the -hermit’s craft was beside the big row-boat. - -The Rockpointers gazed at the white-haired man in astonishment. They -wanted to know who he was, but just then had other matters to attend to. - -“You think you own the earth when you have a gun!” howled Si Peters to -Jerry. - -“We’re on top, that is certain,” responded our hero. “Say, Harry, -supposing we get on the yacht and make them row us back to the island?” - -“Not much!” growled Wash Crosby. - -“Just the thing!” cried Harry. - -Still keeping the Peters crowd under guard, Jerry and his friends -boarded the yacht. - -Then, much against their will, they made the others turn about and drag -them back to where they had started from, towing the hermit’s craft -behind. - -Peters and Crosby were in a perfect rage, but could do nothing, as Jerry -pretended to be very savage and itching to shoot them. - -The island reached, Jerry made the Peters crowd beach the boat and clean -her. - -“Now take your yacht and begone!” he commanded, and the crowd hurried -off in double-quick order. As the yacht drifted away the hermit laughed -heartily. - -“Cleverly done!” he said. “Jerry Upton, you are a smart lad.” - -The boys spent one more day on the island and then left for home. The -hermit went along, and created some surprise when he appeared on the -streets of Lakeview with Blumpo, his son. - -All the boys were glad that the homeless youth had found a father, who -would endeavor to make something out of the good-natured and honest lad. - -There was also a surprise for our hero and Harry. - -Si Peters and his gang had been arrested for burning down a barn -belonging to Harry’s father. - -The Rockpoint lads tried to beg off, but the authorities took the matter -in hand, and every one of them was sent to the reformatory. - -This ended the rivalry for the time being between Lakeview and Rockpoint -and, as a consequence, the autumn and winter which followed were -comparatively quiet. But stirring events were on the way, as the -chapters which follow will testify. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - HARRY’S NEW YACHT. - - -“Luff up a bit, Harry!” - -“All right, Jerry. Do you think we will make that point?” - -“If the wind holds out. We are behind the rocks now, and that cuts most -of the breeze off.” - -“Blumpo, coil up some of that rope, will you?” - -“To be suah,” returned the youth addressed. - -The scene was the deck of a handsome yacht named the Whistler. She was -as clean cut as a craft could be, and carried a spread of snowy white -sails which would have gladdened the heart of any sea-dog to behold. - -Three boys and an old man were sailing this craft. The three boys were -Jerry, Harry and Blumpo. The man was Jack Broxton, the boathouse keeper. - -The yacht was a new one, recently purchased by Harry Parker’s father for -the use of his son and Jerry. - -“Do you remember what a row we had up around this island last summer -with Si Peters, Wash Crosby and the rest of the Rockpoint crowd?” mused -Jerry, as the yacht swung around the north point of Hermit Island, that -spot where Blumpo had so strangely found his father. - -“Don’t I, though!” cried Harry. “I wonder if they are out of the -reformatory yet for setting fire to the barn?” - -“I heard da was,” put in Blumpo, who now attended school regularly. “Si -Peters got out las’ month, an’ Wash Crosby got out six weeks ago.” - -“Well, I hope they turn out better boys now,’” said Harry, seriously. “I -don’t see why they want to get into such trouble. A fellow can have lots -of sport without doing wrong.” - -“By the way, Harry, the great yacht race comes off in Long Lake in a few -weeks,” said Jerry. “Why can’t we take our yacht down through the river -and be on deck to see it?” - -“By golly, dat would be most splendiferous!” yelled Blumpo. “De best -t’ing I’ve dun heard of dis Summah!” - -“I’ve thought of it,” returned Harry. He turned to the old tar. “Jack, -could we take the Whistler down through Poplar River to Long Lake?” - -“I reckon we could,” was the slow answer, as Jack Broxton rolled his -quid from one cheek to the other. “The water is running putty high now.” - -“It would be a fine trip in itself,” went on Jerry. “I’ve never sailed -down the Poplar beyond Carlville.” - -“Nor I,” returned Harry. “But never mind that just now. Here we are at -the landing.” - -“An’ heah am my father’s house,” said Blumpo. - -The former hermit, now, however, a hermit no longer, came out to greet -his son. In the meantime all hands lowered sail and tied up. - -It was a beautiful day, and the young oarsman and Harry had come over to -the island to see what they could shoot. They left Jack in charge of the -yacht and Blumpo with his father, and started off with guns and game -bags for the interior. - -“There can’t be much game at this season of the year,” said Harry. “But -we may have a little sport, and tramping in the woods does a fellow lots -of good.” - -“Indeed I know that,” was the quick response. “Hullo, here’s a nasty bit -of bog to cross.” - -“We’ll go around by yonder big tree.” - -The two boys went on in a semi-circle. When the big tree mentioned was -reached Jerry stepped on what he supposed was one of the twisted roots. - -A second later he let out a yell which was heard down to the landing. - -He sprang back so suddenly that he bumped into Harry, who was close -behind, and both rolled over in the wet grass. - -Ere they could rise they heard an angry hiss, and a snake darted from -the tree and settled directly upon Jerry’s body! - -For a moment Jerry was too paralyzed with fear to move or speak. Then as -he recovered he threw off the snake and rolled away, over Harry and -close to the boggy spot. Harry also turned away, but came up against a -heavy mass of brush. - -The snake hissed angrily. The pressure of Jerry’s foot on its head had -just been sufficient to arouse its anger. It meant to strike if it -could. - -“Hit it with your gun!” shouted Harry. - -“You hit it!” cried our hero. “Oh!” - -The snake was again coming on, its long, green body quivering in the -spots of sunlight which shot under the trees. There was no doubt but -what it intended to fight the intruders. More than likely it had a nest -of young near. - -Bang! - -The shot was a square one, and when the smoke from the gun cleared away -it was found that the reptile’s head was completely severed from the -body, which latter continued to twist about until it fell into the water -of the bog hole. Jerry kicked the head in after it, out of sight. - -“Let us get out of here,” he said, with a shudder. “Who knows but what -we have dropped into a regular nest of snakes.” - -That he was right in his surmise was soon evident, for low hissings -could be heard on several sides. Without delay they sprang across the -bog swamp and took to the higher ground, where they could see every foot -of the way before them. - -“I’ve had snakes enough to last me the rest of the summer,” soliloquized -Jerry. “I hate them worse than anything else in the world. Look!” - -He pointed on ahead, to where there was a tree almost loaded with game -birds. At a sign from Jerry both raised their guns and fired. - -There was a flutter and a whirr, and then came a number of shrill cries -from the birds which were wounded. These the boys at once proceeded to -put out of their misery. - -“Four birds,” said Harry, as he counted the lot. “That wasn’t bad, eh?” - -“You’re right, Harry. We won’t get another such shot if we tramp all -day.” - -“I move we get back to the yacht. We have come a good distance, and it -will be more than dinner time before we can make it.” - -“I am with you. We can go out hunting again this afternoon, or try our -hand at fishing.” - -With the birds in their bags, Jerry and Harry set out on the return to -the landing. - -On the way they talked over the great yacht races soon to come off, and -also of the proposed trip through the Poplar River to the large lake -beyond. - -“It will be a dandy trip,” said Jerry, and then he added, with much -spirit: “How I would like to sail on one of the yachts and help win.” - -“So would I,” rejoined Harry. “It would be great sport, not to say -anything of the honor.” - -When the chums arrived at the boat-landing they found Blumpo and the -others waiting for them. A camp fire was burning a short distance away -from the log house, and over this the birds were done to a turn by the -youth, while the others prepared some potatoes and coffee brought from -the yacht. - -Blumpo’s father considered it a great holiday to have his son with him -for the time being. He asked Blumpo how he was getting along with his -studies, and was pleased to learn that the youth was making fairly good -progress. - -After dinner it was decided to sail around to the lower end of the -island and try bass fishing, for which the lake was famous. - -“And then we’ll come back here and stay all night,” said Jerry to the -old man. - -The lines were soon cast off and the main-sail and jib set, and as soon -as they caught the breeze they swung around and down the lake at a speed -of several knots an hour. - -“Somebody else out besides ourselves,” observed Jack Broxton, as he -pointed to half a dozen sail-boats cruising around. “This year everybody -has the yachting craze.” - -“It’s great sport,” returned Harry. “By the way,” he went on, pointing -to a large yacht coming up the lake on a long tack. “What boat is that?” - -“She is called the Arrow, I don’t know who owns her,” was the old -boatkeeper’s reply. - -“She is coming over this way. Let us stand out a little and see who is -on board.” - -“Just as you say, sir.” - -“Yes; I’m curious about that yacht, too,” put in Jerry. - -The course of the Whistler was altered several points, and they left the -vicinity of the island shore. As they drew closer to the big yacht Jerry -uttered a cry of astonishment. - -“By Jinks! It can’t be possible!” - -“What’s up?” asked Harry, coming to his side. - -“There are Si Peters and Wash Crosby on the deck of that yacht. I can -see them as plain as day.” - -“Our old enemies!” murmured Harry. - -“Da didn’t lose no time in gittin togedder after da got out of de -’formatory, did da,” laughed Blumpo. “Da say de bad ones allers do stick -like glue.” - -“Oh, maybe they’ll be first-class chaps now,” said Jerry, who was -willing to let the past be forgotten. - -“Don’t you be too sure on that p’int, lads,” put in Jack Broxton. “It’s -mighty hard to make anything out of a bad egg, and Si Peters and Wash -Crosby are bad eggs if ever there were any.” - -“Dat’s so, fo’ suah,” murmured Blumpo. - -“Well, we won’t have any words with them,” said Jerry. “We’ll let -bygones be bygones.” - -“I would like to know where they got that yacht,” said Harry. “It can’t -be possible Mr. Peters bought it for Si. When Si went to the reformatory -he told father he intended to send his son to a military school and cut -off his allowance.” - -“Maybe Si has promised to reform. Hullo! they are coming this way!” - -Jerry sprang up in alarm, for the big yacht had suddenly veered around -several points and was now coming head on toward them. - -“We’ll be run down!” shrieked Blumpo, in terror. - -“The young fools!” muttered Jack Broxton. “Don’t they know anything -about steering?” - -“The big yacht is evidently one too many for them. See, there is no one -aboard but Si and Wash. Two hands are not enough for such a craft.” - -Nearer and nearer the two yachts came to each other. - -Jack Broxton did his best to steer clear of the Arrow, but he was at a -disadvantage. Soon the big yacht took away all the wind of the Whistler -and she lay helpless. - -“Keep off!” yelled Jerry, but the cry was unheeded. - -Bang! Crash! The Arrow struck the Whistler on the bow, the long bowsprit -ripping a hole in the main-sail. - -Then came a smashing of woodwork and the Whistler began to sink. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - THE ROBBERY OF THE ROCKPOINT HOTEL. - - -“We are lost!” - -“Heaben sabe us!” - -“Cling fast for your lives!” - -A dozen other cries rang out, for the force of the collision was -terrible. - -But all clung fast and no one was thrown into the water, to be struck -and perhaps instantly killed. - -“What do you mean, Si Peters?” yelled Jerry. “You ran into us on -purpose!” - -There was no time to reply nor to say more. After the crash the two -yachts drifted apart, and with a somewhat damaged bowsprit the Arrow -went on her way. - -As she slid by, Harry caught a glimpse of Wash Crosby holding fast to a -big red valise, which had come near bounding overboard. He thought no -more of it at the time, but had good reason to remember it later. - -“What shall we do?” asked Jack Broxton. “We’ve got a neat little hole in -the side.” - -“Can we beach her on the island?” asked Harry. “I don’t want the -Whistler to go to the bottom of the lake.” - -“I reckon I can manage it. Just hold that bit of canvas over the hole.” - -Harry and our hero jumped to do as bidden, while Jack Broxton and Blumpo -undertook to steer the yacht toward shore. The craft was becoming so -water-logged that she acted clumsily, and they had their hands full. - -“We is gwine down, suah!” groaned Blumpo, but as he spoke the keel -grated on the sand, and a moment later she swung around hard and fast, -and the danger of sinking was past. - -While Jack and Blumpo lowered the sails, Harry and Jerry carried several -lines ashore and tied them to the trees in such a fashion that the yacht -could not pound herself, even if the wind came up. - -After the sails were lowered old Jack inspected the damage done. - -“I can patch the main-sail in an hour,” he said. “But that hole at the -bow will take three, and I ought to have more tools than I’ve got -aboard.” - -“Can’t we patch things up sufficiently to take her back into Lakeview?” -asked Harry. - -“Maybe we can. But it would be better on account of the wind to steer -for Rockpoint. She couldn’t stand the chop sea on the other course.” - -“All right; we’ll steer for Rockpoint, and take her over to Dan Mason’s -boatyard.” - -Blumpo ran down the shore of the island to tell his father of what had -happened. While he was gone the others patched up the break at the bow -with some thin wood and a square of canvas, tacked on, and gave all a -coating of pitch. - -Half an hour later found the Whistler bound for Rockpoint. They had to -sail along with great care, for fear of breaking open the patched place. -Had this occurred they would all have gone to the bottom. - -It was growing dusk when the harbor at Rockpoint was reached. At the -dock they saw that something unusual had happened. A crowd of men were -gathered about talking earnestly, and pointing up the lake. - -“Whoever they were, they took a boat, I’m sure of that,” said one man. - -“That’s so,” said another. - -“But who were they, and where did they go?” asked a third. - -“Ah, that’s for the police to find out.” - -Wondering what was up, Jack Broxton and the three boys brought the -Whistler around to the boatyard and turned her over to Dan Mason. The -old fellow, who was a first-class man at repairing boats of all kinds, -promised to have the craft in good trim by noon of the next day. - -“Did you hear the news?” he asked, after their business talk was at an -end. - -“What news?” asked Jerry. - -“About the hotel being robbed.” - -“Robbed!” - -“Exactly. A couple of thieves got into the safe and took a box of -jewelry and four hundred dollars in cash.” - -“By George! dat am a loss!” ejaculated Blumpo. - -“The jewelry is said to be worth nearly one thousand dollars.” - -“Have they any idea who the thieves were?” - -“No, they wore handkerchiefs over their faces, with holes cut in ’em for -to see. Some thinks as how they got away in one o’ the boats lying up -shore.” - -“How did they do the job?” questioned Jerry, with much interest. - -“I didn’t hear any of the particklers, boys.” - -“Come on up to the hotel and find out,” said Harry. “We haven’t got to -hurry home this evening.” - -Side by side Harry and the young oarsman walked to the Rockpoint Hotel, -a large place, now filled to overflowing with Summer boarders. - -They found every one around the resort talking over the case. Presently -Harry heard somebody say that the stolen money and box of jewels had -been placed by the robbers into a large red valise belonging to the -proprietor of the hotel. At once he called Jerry aside. - -“I know who committed this robbery,” he said. - -“Who?” - -“Si Peters and Wash Crosby.” - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XIX. - THE RED VALISE. - - -Of course Jerry was astonished at his chum’s declaration. - -“How do you know this?” - -“They had that red valise. I saw it.” - -“Let us make a few more inquiries before we say anything,” replied -Jerry, slowly. “It’s pretty bad to accuse anybody of such a crime as -this.” - -They asked a number of people about the robbery, but could gain no -information which would directly implicate Si Peters and his crony. - -“We had better keep mum for the present, Harry.” - -“What, and let the robbers escape?” - -“Oh, I don’t want that to happen.” - -The two talked it over for awhile, and when they returned home they were -much troubled. But that night word came from New York City which -mystified them greatly. - -A detective telegraphed he had captured two tramps who confessed to a -hotel robbery on Lake Otasco. - -“That settles it,” said Harry. “We were all wrong, and I am glad we said -nothing.” - -On the following day they rowed over to Rockpoint for the Whistler. They -heard no more about the hotel robbery, and the matter almost slipped -their minds. But they were destined ere long to remember the occurrence -full well. - -Jerry and Harry talked matters over with their parents and made plans to -sail down the Poplar River to Long Lake, and go to the yacht races at -once. - -Jack Broxton was to accompany them. Unfortunately for Blumpo, his father -was taken sick and the youth had to remain behind to attend him. - -Bright and early the next day the trip was commenced. - -It lasted two days and three nights, and then they found themselves out -on Long Lake, a large and beautiful sheet of water. - -Harry and Jerry had studied up all the newspaper reports concerning the -race between the Defender, a splendid yacht from the Poplar River, and -the Spray, a craft from up the lake, and they knew exactly where to go -in order to see the race to the best advantage. - -“I know the captain of the Defender well,” said Harry. “He and father -are old friends.” - -“Maybe he’ll let you on his yacht then,” said Jerry. “My, but wouldn’t -that be jolly!” - -“I won’t go without you,” said Harry. - -“I would like to be on that yacht myself,” said old Jack Broxton, as -they presently came in sight of the Defender, anchored a short distance -from the starting point of the race. - -“We’ll run up and I’ll hail the captain,” said Harry. - -This suited everybody, and it was done. The captain of the Defender was -on deck seeing to it that everything was in order for the race. He -greeted Harry with a pleasant wave of his hand. - -“Can we come on board and take a look around?” asked Harry. - -“Yes, but you won’t have time to waste,” was the captain’s reply. “We’ve -got to get down to the starting point soon.” - -The Whistler was run up alongside, and Harry and Jerry leaped on board -of the Defender. They shook hands with the captain, and also with Frank -Lee, the captain’s nephew, a bright boy of their own age. - -They were much interested in the magnificent yacht and all of her -appointments, and laughed greatly when Frank Lee snatched off their caps -and placed caps on them with the name of the Defender above the peaks. - -“Now you fellows belong to the crew!” cried Frank Lee. - -“All right, we’ll help you beat the Spray,” returned Jerry, quickly. - -The captain overheard the remark and turned to Harry: - -“Would you really like to remain on board during the race?” - -“Indeed we would!” said Harry. “And we’ll do duty, too, same as the rest -of the crew, if you’ll only keep us. You know both of us understand all -about a regular yacht.” - -“Well, you can stay. I am short one man, and two boys ought to more than -make up for him.” - -Perhaps Jerry and Harry were not delighted? They sent word to Jack -Broxton, and then made themselves familiar with the great yacht, the -pride of all on board. - -Soon it was time to up anchor and make for the starting point. Jerry and -Harry worked manfully at the ropes, and so did Frank Lee. No one is -allowed to remain idle on a racing yacht. The least one can do is to -rush to this side or that and thus make “ballast.” - -“All ready!” came the word, and the signal was given to start, and the -Defender and the Spray were off. - -Presently Jerry came over to the captain, who was at the wheel. - -“Can we pass the Spray?” he asked, anxiously. - -“We can try, Upton,” was the reply. “Can you take the wheel for a -minute. I must have a drink of water.” - -“Aye, aye, sir,” said Jerry. - -How proudly he took hold of the wheel! He was for the time being in -absolute command of the Defender. - -An extra breeze sprang up. They were sailing almost side by side with -the Spray. Suddenly the Defender shot ahead. Our hero stuck to the -wheel, while Harry and Frank Lee did their full share of work with the -rest of the crew. - -The Defender was ahead, but the race was not yet over. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XX. - THE MISHAP TO THE YACHT. - - -The young oarsman was not allowed to remain at the wheel long. Soon the -captain of the Defender came up again and took charge. - -“I see we have passed the Spray,” he said. “That’s a good one for you, -Upton. Now we must keep ahead.” - -After turning the wheel over to the captain, Jerry moved forward to -where Harry and Frank Lee were standing. - -In the meanwhile the gallant yacht was cutting the water like a razor. -The breeze was stiff, and they were running free before it. Soon the -Spray was almost out of sight behind them. - -“This Defender is a great boat,” said Harry. - -With the wind on the starboard quarter the Defender and the Spray -reached along for over a mile at a six knots an hour gait. - -Then the wind fell off to almost a calm. - -“This is no good,” observed Jerry. - -“Fortunes of racing,” laughed Harry. - -“I would like to see another stiff breeze.” - -“We may catch more than enough before we have finished,” put in Frank -Lee. - -The further on the two yachts went the lighter became the wind, and each -in turn ran into “soft” spots, when balloon top-sails hung up and down -idly. - -But no matter how the wind came the Defender got along, leaving the -Spray steadily behind. - -It was a triangular course, of three miles to each side, and soon the -first side was sailed. - -The yachts wore around the first mark float, leaving it on the port -hand. - -Baby jib top-sails had been sent down before the rounding, and spinnaker -poles were now ready for the balloon sail. - -With booms well off to port, the Defender led the way to the second -stretch. - -Sharp work was done in handling the spinnaker, for just one minute after -rounding this big balloon was set and pulling. - -This was clever work, but the Spray sailors did fully as well, for they -had their spinnaker on just as fast. - -“Great Caesar!” ejaculated our hero, suddenly, “Look!” - -Ashore the sky grew black and ominous, foreboding a coming squall. - -The weather certainly looked bad, and it turned out worse than it -looked. - -Instead of wind, rain came on, and soon all on board the yachts were -soaked. - -“What do you think of that, Jerry?” asked Harry. - -“We’re going to catch it and no mistake,” replied the young oarsman. - -All hands on board saw the coming squall and looked at the captain for -orders, but none came. - -The yachts, favored by a strengthening breeze, were pushed on to meet -that which was sure to come, and half-way over on the third stretch it -came on hard and struck the Defender. - -Bang! slash! went the sails and the gallant yacht swept well over on her -side. - -Again all looked to the captain, but he shook his head. - -“Reckon he wants to see what she can stand,” whispered Jerry. - -He was right. The captain, at the wheel, held the yacht up to it, and -held her true. - -On and on they went, the sky growing blacker and blacker as they -proceeded. - -Suddenly Jerry heard a crack like a pistol shot, and looking forward saw -that the standing part of the bridle to the jib had parted. The seizing -pulled out and away went the sheets. - -The sail snapped and cracked loudly, and in a second more it carried -away the club on the clew of the jib. - -“There she goes!” yelled somebody. - -Hardly had he uttered these words when the big sail split in half and -hung flapping in the wind. - -It was now utterly useless to the racing yacht. - -A new sail must be set at once, but in that high wind who would bring -the old sail in? - -“I’ll volunteer!” cried Jerry, as he sprang forward, and Harry and Frank -Lee came close on his heels. - -The crew hung back for a moment, and in that time Jerry reached the -flying sail. - -He caught one end just as an extra heavy puff of wind came on, and in a -twinkle he was dragged half overboard. - -But now Harry and Frank Lee sprang to the rescue, and then the regular -crew came forward. All worked like beavers, and soon the torn sail was -taken off. - -Six minutes later a new sail was in place, and on went the gallant -Defender as speedily as before. - -She carried herself well, and nothing was lost in that blow but the jib. - -In the meanwhile the Spray could not stand the strain and ran on behind -with all sails reefed. - -“A great yacht,” said those on the other boats. And the Defender stock -went away up. - -The captain praised Jerry for the quickness with which he had taken hold -of the torn sail and steadied it. - -“A loose sail on board a racing craft is a dangerous thing,” he said, -“for there is no telling how much damage it will do.” - -The squall was of short duration, not lasting over seven minutes, if as -long. It gathered strength as it worked off shore, and some of the -pleasure boats received the full benefit of it. - -As the Defender got within two miles of the finishing line the breeze -fell off. - -Still the gallant craft held her own. - -“The finish is in sight!” cried Jerry, presently. - -He was right. A mile more and the race would be over. - -Those on board of the Spray did their best to haul up to the Defender. - -The effort did not avail them, for the Defender gained steadily. - -At last the line was crossed. - -The Defender had won the race by a lead of over half a mile, and she -received a rousing reception. - -Steam whistles blew their mightiest, flags waved, and the crowd on the -other boats shouted themselves hoarse. - -It was a great day, and one never to be forgotten. - -“That settles it,” said Harry. “The Defender is the champion yacht of -the club.” - -It was not long after this that the Whistler ran up and took Jerry and -Harry on board. Old Jack Broxton had seen the race and was greatly -pleased. - -The boys resolved to anchor the Whistler off the upper shore of Long -Lake that night. - -“We’ll leave Jack in charge and take a trip down to Harmony Beach,” -suggested Harry. - -This suited Jerry, and by half past six the two boys were on board the -open cars on their way to the great Summer resort. They enjoyed the ride -very much, especially Jerry who had never been to the beach before. They -visited the hotels and had supper, and then listened to a band concert. - -It was after eleven o’clock before they were ready to return to the -Whistler. - -As they were making their way back to the cars Jerry caught Harry by the -arm. - -“Look! Look!” - -Harry looked, and in a crowd of people saw Wash Crosby. Not far away -stood Si Peters. - -Both were swaggering around as if they had plenty of money and wanted -everybody to know it. - -“What shall we do?” asked Harry. - -“I hardly know,” replied Jerry. “I feel certain in my mind that they -robbed the Rockpoint Hotel in spite of what the detectives think.” - -“So do I. But we can’t prove it.” - -The two boys resolved to watch Peters and Crosby and try to overhear any -private talk they might have. - -Peters and Crosby entered a large music hall and sat down at one of the -tables. - -Motioning to Harry, our hero led the way to the side of the building. - -A board was off, and by standing near the opening they could hear -everything Si Peters and Wash Crosby said. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXI. - WORDS AND BLOWS. - - -The very first words spoken by Si Peters confirmed the young oarsman’s -suspicions. - -“What did you do with the valise, Wash?” he asked. - -“Left it on the yacht at the cove,” replied Wash Crosby. - -“That’s where you made a big mistake.” - -“How so?” growled the toady. - -“They might take it into their heads to search the yacht.” - -“Oh, I guess not.” - -“We don’t want to run any chances of being found out.” - -“We’re all right; don’t worry.” - -“Perhaps we are and perhaps we are not.” - -“Oh, keep still, and let us enjoy the music,” growled Crosby, for an -orchestra was now playing. - -A waiter came up and Si Peters gave an order. Jerry was quite sure he -had ordered something stronger than what he was in the habit of drinking -at home. It was evident that the bully of Rockpoint had turned out even -worse than before. - -“What shall we do?” whispered Harry. - -“We ought to inform the police.” - -“Just my idea of it.” - -“I don’t know if there are any officers around here.” - -“Oh, there must be.” - -They looked around, but in the darkness no policeman could be seen. - -“You stay here and I’ll go hunt up somebody,” said Jerry. - -Scarcely had he spoken, however, when their attention was attracted to a -row that was taking place in the concert hall. Two men were fighting, -and presently a chair flew through the air. - -At once those sitting around tried to retire. - -Peters and Crosby rushed out in the crowd, and not to lose sight of the -pair Jerry and Harry went after them. - -Fifty feet from the concert hall the four came face to face. Si Peters -started back, and Wash Crosby wanted to run for it. - -“Who—what?” stammered Peters. - -“We have caught you,” said Jerry, boldly. “You may as well give in.” - -“What do you mean?” - -“We know that you robbed the Rockpoint Hotel,” said Harry. - -“It’s not so,” cried Crosby. - -“Shut up!” hissed Si Peters. - -Without warning he hit Jerry a sharp blow in the face. Then he rushed at -Harry and tripped him up. - -“Come on!” he yelled to Crosby. “We must get away!” - -Like a deer he ran off, behind a large roller coaster where all was -dark. - -Jerry stopped Peters, but only for a moment. Heavy blows were exchanged -and then Peters followed his chum. - -“They are gone, sure enough!” cried Harry, in dismay. - -And gone they were, swallowed up in the crowd which surged on all sides -of them. - -Jerry and Harry searched in vain for the two evil-doers and then hunted -up the police and told their story. - -A watch was set, but Si Peters and Wash Crosby managed to escape from -the beach resort without being detected. - -Jerry and Harry returned to Lakeview with the Whistler, and the report -spread that Si Peters and Wash Crosby had robbed the hotel. - -At first Mr. Peters refused to believe it. He came over to Jerry’s home, -and threatened Mr. Upton with a lawsuit. - -But the farmer quickly silenced him. - -“Don’t say a word to me, Mr. Peters,” he said. “A boy that will try to -tar and feather another boy, and then set fire to a barn and burn up -cattle, isn’t none too good to rob a hotel.” - -“My son is as good as yours!” growled Mr. Peters, and went off in a -perfect rage. But he bothered the Uptons no more, nor did he go near the -Parkers. - -The lake was searched, and the yacht found up at the cove Si Peters had -mentioned. On board was found the valise taken from the hotel. - -After this detectives were sent out to find the two young rascals. But -Si Peters and Wash Crosby kept out of sight. - -Yet the day of reckoning was not far off, as we shall soon see. - -About a week after this Harry invited Jerry to a drive along the west -shore of Lake Otasco. - -As they bowled along they talked over all sorts of matters, and -presently Harry mentioned Si Peters and Wash Crosby. - -“I wonder if they are still hanging around Harmony Beach?” he said. - -“Oh, I don’t think they would dare,” replied Jerry. “They must know by -the newspapers that the detectives are on their track.” - -“I wish we could bring them to justice. It would be a feather in our -cap.” - -“So it would, Harry. But I would rather have the law do the work. I -never want to have anymore to do with either of them.” - -It did not take the two boys long to drive to the lower end of the lake. -Here the team was put up at a livery stable, and the chums hired bathing -suits and houses, and spread themselves for a fine dip in the lake. - -The water was just right, and they enjoyed every second of the half hour -they allowed themselves. - -It was eight o’clock in the evening before they went to get their team -again. - -The moon was just coming up over the rim of the lake and this promised -them a splendid drive back to Lakeview. - -As Harry and our hero entered the turnout two figures stole up from the -back of the barn. - -The pair were Si Peters and Wash Crosby. - -They ran on ahead, and as the boys waited to settle with the livery -stable keeper they soon disappeared. - -Harry drove, and the young oarsman leaned back and took it easy. - -A mile was covered, and they were just passing a clump of bushes when -whizz! a stone came flying into the carriage. It struck Jerry on the -arm, causing him to cry with pain. - -“Who threw that?” he exclaimed. - -Whizz! came another stone. It struck Harry in the cheek, drawing blood. - -“Whoa!” yelled Jerry, and while the horses were still in motion, he -leaped to the road. - -He had noted the direction from which the missiles came, and bound off, -but behind the bushes all was dark. - -“Look out for yourself!” cried Harry. - -He was busy with the horses, who were shying first to one side and then -to the other. - -At first Jerry could see nothing, but soon he discovered two forms in -the semi-darkness. - -He rushed over and found himself face to face with Si Peters and Wash -Crosby. - -“Peters!” he ejaculated. - -Scarcely had he spoken when a club was raised. Jerry tried to avoid the -descending blow, but was only partly successful. - -The club landed over his shoulder and neck and he was more than half -stunned. - -“Come!” he heard Peters whisper to Crosby, and then all became a -confused whirl and he pitched forward in the grass. - -The two rascals ran out into the road. - -“That for you, Harry Parker!” yelled Si Peters, and struck Harry in the -knee with the club. - -In the meantime Wash Crosby sprang half into the carriage. - -He made a grab at Harry’s gold watch chain. - -The chain broke from the buttonhole and along with it came Harry’s -beautiful timepiece. - -“I’ll keep this to remember you by!” cried Wash Crosby in derision, and -away he sped across the highway and down a side road, with Si Peters at -his heels. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXII. - ANOTHER BOAT RACE. - - -The horses now demanded all of Harry’s attention. One of them was bound -to run away, and the youth had all he could do to hold the animal in -check. But the lad knew what he was doing and presently held them under -complete control. - -Then our hero staggered out of the bushes with his hand on his neck, -where a big lump was rising. - -“Where are they?” - -“Gone! Did they rob you, Jerry?” - -“No.” - -“Then you are in luck.” - -“What do you mean, Harry?” - -“Crosby took my gold watch and chain.” - -“Never!” - -“He did. Jerry, those two chaps have turned nothing but common thieves,” -went on Harry, bitterly. - -“It certainly looks so, Harry. What shall we do now?” - -“Jump in and we’ll go after them.” - -Jerry was soon beside Harry, and they turned up the side road taken by -the fugitives. The moon was out full, making the way as light as day, -yet nothing was to be seen of the rascally pair. - -This was not to be wondered at, for after running along the road but a -few hundred feet, Si Peters and Wash Crosby had taken to an open field. -Crossing this, they came out upon a railroad track. A freight train was -coming along slowly, around the bend of the lake, and they had small -trouble in boarding this. Inside of an hour they were many miles away -from the vicinity. - -Jerry and Harry searched for the pair until midnight, and then gave up -the hunt and returned to Lakeview. Once again the authorities were -notified, and the detectives started on a fresh hunt for the evil-doers. -Yet it was destined to be a long time before Si Peters and Wash Crosby -were heard of again. - -About this time the Lakeview boat club was organizing another series of -rowing races, and both Harry and Jerry were easily persuaded to enter a -contest, which was to take place between a number of local oarsmen. - -A prize of a fine bicycle had been put up, also several other articles -of more or less value, and Jerry and Harry immediately went into -training, with a firm determination to win. - -There were seven entries, all by young fellows of Jerry’s age, and as -the youth looked at his opponents he felt that the race would be no easy -one. - -Saturday afternoon, the time appointed for the contest, came, bright and -clear, and it found the lake front crowded to its utmost capacity. Many -came over from Rockpoint, but it was noticed that those who had belonged -to Si Peters’ crowd were absent. - -The race was to be two miles long, up the lake and back again. The boats -were all drawn up in a line, and everything was made ready for a start. -Jerry was at one end of the line, with Harry at the other, and the -remaining five contestants between them. - -Bang! went the gun on the judges’ boat, and away shot the seven rowers -like one man; and the race was begun. - -For over half a mile the seven contestants kept almost side by side. -Then three of them were seen to drop behind. - -“Gravling is ahead!” - -“Harry Parker is second.” - -“Phil Raymond is a close third!” - -“Jerry Upton is crawling up!” - -So the shouting went on, as the four leaders swept past. When the -turning point was reached, Harry led, Raymond came second, Gravling -third, and Jerry fourth. The remaining three felt they were out of the -race, and rowed back to the boathouse. - -“Good for you, Harry!” - -“What’s the matter, Jerry? You’re not doing as good as the day you beat -Si Peters!” - -“Hurry up, Gravling!” - -“Pull for all you know how, Raymond!” - -On and on came the four, their long blades flashing brightly in the -sunshine. They were making fast time, and, no matter who won, the lake -record was likely to be broken. - -Half way down the homestretch, Harry still led, with Gravling but half a -length behind him. A length further back came Raymond and Jerry, side by -side. - -But the terrific speed was now beginning to tell upon Raymond, and -slowly but surely he fell behind, despite the urgings of his friends. -Then Jerry set to work to overtake Gravling. - -“See Jerry Upton crawling up!” - -“Oh, but isn’t that a beautiful stroke!” - -“Gravling can’t shake him off!” - -“They are a tie!” - -The last cry was true. When still a dozen lengths from the finish Jerry -had overtaken Gravling. But they did not remain tied long. Half a dozen -strokes and Jerry shot ahead and the bow of his craft overlapped Harry’s -stern. - -“Jerry Upton is second!” - -“He’s going to shake up Harry Parker for first place!” - -On came the two friends, but now it was noticed that Jerry, although he -still rowed his best, seemed to be losing his interest in the race. - -“It will be no fun to beat Harry,” was the thought which ran through his -head; and then, with a yell from three thousand throats, Harry crossed -the line a winner, with our hero not quite half a boat length behind. - -“Hurrah for Harry Parker!” - -“Hurrah for Jerry Upton!” - -Cheer after cheer rent the air, and both lads were immediately -surrounded by their friends. Jerry was one of the first to shake his -chum’s hand. - -“You won it fairly, Harry,” he said. “What kind of time did we make?” - -He was greatly pleased to learn that the lake record for two miles had -been lowered by forty-three seconds, and that he had helped lower it by -forty-two seconds. - -That evening the club held a meeting, and Harry was presented with the -bicycle, something he had been wishing for for some time. Jerry’s prize -was a silver watch and chain. - -“This just suits me,” he said. “Now, when I’m away from home, I’ll be -able to tell what time it is.” - -The celebration was at its height, when a message came for Jerry from -his home, stating that his father had been kicked by one of the horses -and was badly injured. - -This news shocked the youth a good deal, and bidding his friends a hasty -good-night, the young oarsman set off for the farm on a run. - -He found his father lying on a couch in the dining-room. A doctor had -just arrived, and he was doing all that he could for the sufferer. - -“Where did the horse kick him, mother?” he questioned, hurriedly. - -“In the side, right under the heart,” replied Mrs. Upton. “Oh, I do -trust it is not serious!” - -“So do I. What can I do?” - -“I don’t know. We must see what the doctor says.” - -The medical man, after a long examination, declared that several ribs -had been fractured, and that Mr. Upton was suffering from shock. Some -medicine was administered, and the patient was carefully carried -upstairs and placed upon a bed. - -No one in the farmhouse slept that night. Mrs. Upton sat by her -husband’s side, and Jerry came and went, ready to do anything that might -be asked of him. - -Two days later the doctor pronounced the wounded man out of danger. But -his injuries were severe, and it would be a long while before Mr. Upton -would be able to go around as before. - -His enforced idleness made the farmer fret a good deal. It was true that -the harvest work on the farm was over, but he had wished to do much -more. - -“And I reckon that trip to New York is now out of the question,” Jerry -heard him say to Mrs. Upton. - -“Why, father, were you going to New York?” asked the boy, in much -curiosity. - -“I had an idea that way, son,” returned Mr. Upton, slowly. “I was going -on business,” he added, after a pause. - -At this Jerry was more curious than ever. New York was over two hundred -miles from Lakeview, and he had never heard of his parent having -business in the metropolis. - -“You see it’s this way, Jerry,” said Mr. Upton, noticing his look. “When -your uncle Charley died he left all his property to me. Some time ago I -was cleaning out one of his old trunks and I ran across some deeds to -property in California. From what I can make out the land must be nigh -to the city of Sacramento.” - -“And the property belongs to you?” cried Jerry. - -“No, I can’t say that exactly. As near as I can figure it, your uncle -Charley owned an interest in it. The property was in the hands of a land -boomer named Alexander Slocum, and there was a letter in the trunk from -this Alexander Slocum which was dated from New York. I think this boomer -holds other papers relating to the land, and I was thinking of making a -trip to New York and hunting him up, if he is still there.” - -“Why not let me go to New York in your place,” suggested Jerry, quickly. -It had always been the ambition of his life to pay a visit to the great -metropolis. - -“Well, I was kind of thinking of that, son,” returned the sick man, -slowly. “I’ll see about it in a day or two.” - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII. - JERRY STARTS ON A JOURNEY. - - -Now that the matter had once been talked over, the young oarsman was -very anxious to know all about the property in California, and his -mother brought forth the deeds and other papers found in the old trunk. - -The boy studied the documents with care. He knew but little of the law, -yet he felt that if the land mentioned in the papers was valuable his -father’s share, as heir to his uncle, must be considerable. - -“I would like to ask Mr. Parker about this,” he said to his folks, but -Mr. Upton shook his head. He was a very retired man and never brought -his affairs to the ears of any outsider. - -“The whole thing might prove worthless,” he said, “and then we would be -laughed at by our neighbors.” - -“I’d risk it,” said Jerry, but his father only shook his head again. - -Nevertheless Mr. Upton appeared to be favorably impressed with the idea -of Jerry’s going to New York to hunt up Alexander Slocum. - -“It won’t do any harm,” he said to his wife. “I have money for the fare -in the house, and it will give Jerry a chance to see a bit of the -world.” - -Mrs. Upton was doubtful, but when Jerry begged to go she finally -consented. Long talks about the western land and Alexander Slocum -followed, and the youth prevailed upon his folks to let him take the -deeds and papers with him, promising that he would take the best of care -of them. - -“And while I’m in New York I’m going to look around for a situation, and -earn a little money,” said Jerry. “Who knows but what I may strike even -a better opening than that Mr. Parker has promised me at his shoe -factory.” - -“It’s not likely a lad off the farm can strike much,” smiled his mother, -yet she was pleased at Jerry’s earnestness. - -Three days later Jerry was off, valise in hand. He had bid good-bye to -Harry and Blumpo, telling them he was going to New York on some private -business for his father. His mother saw him to the train and kissed him -affectionately. - -“Take good care of yourself, Jerry,” she said. “And remember, New York -is an entirely different place from Lakeview or Rockpoint, and you must -have your eyes and ears open to avoid trouble.” - -“I’ll take care of myself, don’t worry mother,” and two minutes later -the train came along and he was off. - -Yet it must be confessed that our hero felt just a bit strange as he -settled back in the cushioned seat, with his valise beside him. He was -going over two hundred miles from home and among total strangers. - -“I suppose it will be different from knocking around Lakeview, Rockpoint -or even Long Lake,” he mused. “I’ll have to brace up and watch myself, -or they’ll take me for a regular greeny.” - -As the train moved on, Jerry revolved the situation in his mind. He knew -he would arrive in the metropolis late in the afternoon, and determined -to seek a boarding-house first of all, knowing it would be useless to -hunt for any trace of Alexander Slocum after office hours. - -At last the run through green fields and small towns and cities came to -an end, and the train ran into the Grand Central Depot at Forty-second -Street, and Jerry alighted in a crowd and made his way to the street. - -“Cab! coupe! This way for the Central Hotel! Evening paper! Sun or -World!” - -A hundred cries seemed to start up all in an instant, making Jerry’s -ears ring. The rattle of the carts and trucks on the pavement was also -new, and for the moment, the Lakeview boy did not know which way to -turn. - -“Carry yer baggage?” queried a bare-foot boy, and almost caught his -valise from his hand. But the young oarsman pulled it back and shook his -head, and got out of the crowd as quickly as he could, starting -eastward, for he had heard that the cheaper boarding houses lay in that -direction. - -It was not long before the boy came to several places which displayed -the sign, Boarding. But the first two were too elegant, and Jerry passed -them without stopping. Then came a third, and ascending the steps Jerry -rang the bell. - -An elderly lady answered the summons, a sharp-faced woman with powdered -hair. - -“You take boarders here?” queried Jerry. - -“We do, young man,” she answered, in a voice that made our hero far from -comfortable. - -“I expect to stay in New York a week or two, and I—” - -“We don’t take transients,” she snapped. “Only regular boarders with -first-class references,” and she shut the door in Jerry’s face. - -He was glad enough to escape to the pavement, feeling satisfied that he -would not have cared to have boarded there, even had she been willing to -take him in. - -A block further on was another place, a modest brick residence, set back -behind a small plot of green. Thinking this looked inviting, and not -reasoning that the spot of green was as valuable as a brown-stone -building would have been, Jerry entered the garden and made known his -wants to the servant who was dusting the piazza chairs. - -She called the lady of the house, who on hearing what Jerry had to say, -smiled in a motherly way. - -“I hardly think I can take you in, my boy,” she said. “Do you know how -much I charge a week?” - -“No, ma’am.” - -“Twelve to fifteen dollars for a single room and not less than ten -otherwise.” - -Jerry almost gasped for breath. - -“That is twice what I can afford to pay,” he returned. “Gracious! I had -no idea rates were so high.” - -“That is not high, here in New York. But perhaps I can direct you to a -place that will suit. I have a friend three blocks over. Here is her -card,” and she handed it over. - -Thanking her, the young oarsman got out without delay. He was glad she -had directed him, for now he was certain he would at least strike a -place that would fit his pocket-book. - -Jerry went on until he came to an avenue down which the elevated cars -were running. They were a great novelty and he paused on the corner to -watch several of the trains rattle along overhead. - -As Jerry was about to move on, he heard a wild cry of alarm from the -second story window of a house opposite. Looking in the direction, he -saw a girl pointing up the street to where a baby-carriage had rolled -from the pavement to the gutter, overturning itself and spilling a -little child into the street. - -The youth ran in the direction with the idea of picking the child up. As -he did this an ice-wagon came along at a furious speed, the driver on -the seat trying in vain to stop his horse. - -The ice-wagon was heading directly for the child and unless something -was done the little one would be run over and most likely killed. With -his heart in his throat our hero threw down his valise and leaped to the -rescue. In another instant the runaway horse was fairly on top of the -lad. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV. - THE WORK OF A REAL HERO. - - -Jerry’s heart was in his throat when he sprang to the rescue of the -little child in the street. He saw that the horse attached to the -ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant -should he be struck down. - -Yet the sight of that innocent face nerved him on, and in less time than -it takes to write it he had the child in his arms. Clinging to the -little one, he flung himself backward, and like a flash the horse sprang -past, dragging the ice-wagon so close that the wheels scraped his leg. - -A shout went up from the crowd, but Jerry did not hear what was said. -Staggering up, he ran back to the sidewalk, leaving the baby-carriage a -wreck behind him. - -In another moment the girl who had given the first cry of alarm was at -Jerry’s side. - -“Is he hurt? Is little Tommy hurt?” she cried, as she snatched the -youngster from Jerry’s arms. - -“Me fell in the dirt,” lisped the little one. “Me ain’t hurt, but me -awful dirty.” - -“Never mind the dirt, dear,” cried the girl. “I am thankful you escaped. -Mary, why didn’t you take better care of him?” - -The last words were addressed to an Irish girl who had just sauntered -up. - -“I went to get a hoky-poky at the corner,” replied the girl. “I don’t -care to mind yer brother any more anyway,” she added, and darted out of -sight into the crowd. - -Seeing the little boy was uninjured, the crowd moved on, and presently -the young oarsman found himself alone with the girl, who appeared to be -several years older than himself. - -“You are a brave boy,” she said, warmly. “I would like to reward you, -but I am poor.” - -“I don’t want any reward,” replied Jerry, stoutly. “It was a close -shave, though.” - -“You look like a stranger around here.” - -“I am—I just arrived in New York and I am looking for a boarding-house. -Can you tell me where this one is?” and Jerry showed her the card the -lady had given him. - -“Oh, yes; it is one block over to your left—a real nice house, too. May -I ask your name?” - -“Jerry Upton.” - -“Mine is Nellie Ardell, and this is my brother Tommy. We are alone -here.” - -“Haven’t you any folks?” - -“No. Mother was with us up to last winter, but she had consumption and -died.” - -The tears stood in Nellie Ardell’s eyes as she spoke. Jerry saw at once -that she had had a hard struggle of it. - -“What do you do for a living?” he ventured to ask. - -“I do sewing and mending for my neighbors—principally mending for the -girls who work in the stores.” - -“And can you make much that way?” - -“Not a great deal. But I try to make enough to pay the rent and store -bills. May I ask what you are going to do in New York?” - -“I came to find a real estate dealer named Alexander Slocum. I want to -see him about some property left by my uncle to my father. Have you ever -heard of him?” - -“Heard of him?” she cried in surprise. “He is my landlord.” - -Jerry was dumbfounded by this unexpected bit of information. - -“You are certain?” - -“Why, of course I am. He was around to see me only day before yesterday -about the rent. I am a bit behind, and I had to put him off.” - -“And what kind of a man is he?” - -“I think he is very hard-hearted. But then, that may be because I am -behind in my payment. He threatened to put me out of my rooms if I -didn’t pay when he called again.” - -“How many rooms have you?” - -“Only two, and I pay six dollars a month for them.” - -“And how far behind are you?” - -“I only owe for the month.” - -“And he won’t trust you even that long? He certainly must be mean,” -Jerry rejoined warmly. - -“You said something about property belonging to your father,” said -Nellie Ardell. “Has Mr. Slocum an interest in it?” - -“He has and he hasn’t,” the boy replied, and he told his story in a few -words as they walked along to the entrance of the house in which she -lived. - -“Well, I trust you get your right, Jerry Upton,” said the girl. “Come -and see me some time.” - -“I will,” and after Jerry had procured Alexander Slocum’s office address -from her, the pair separated. - -Jerry was very thoughtful as he proceeded on his way. By a turn of -fortune he had gotten on Slocum’s track much quicker than expected. The -question was, how should he best approach the man? - -“I’ll settle that after I have procured a boarding place,” he thought, -and hurried to the address given him. - -Mrs. Price, the landlady, was a very nice old person. She had a top room -in the back she said she would let with board, for five dollars a week, -and Jerry closed with her without delay, paying for one week in advance. - -This finished, our hero found he was hungry, and after a washing-up, ate -supper with a relish. He could not help but notice that the vegetables -and milk served were not as fresh as those at home, but remembered he -was now in the city and not on a farm, and did not complain. - -Mrs. Price had taken in another new boarder that day, a tall, slim man, -possibly thirty years of age. He was introduced as Mr. Wakefield Smith, -and he did all he could to make himself popular. Jerry felt that a good -bit of his pleasantry was forced, but as there was no use in finding -fault, he became quite friendly with the man. - -“Supposing we take a walk out together this evening?” Wakefield Smith -suggested. “No doubt you would like to see the sights.” - -“I’ll go out for an hour or so,” answered the young oarsman, and they -started while it was yet light. - -Mr. Wakefield Smith knew the metropolis from end to end, and as the pair -covered block after block, he pointed out various buildings. He smoked -constantly, and several times invited Jerry to have a cigar, but the -youth declined. - -“Supposing we have a drink, then?” he urged. - -Again Jerry declined, which made the man frown. He insisted Jerry should -at least have some soda water with him, and at last the boy accepted, -and they entered rather a modest looking drug store on a side street. - -“Hullo! what’s that crowd on the street?” exclaimed Mr. Wakefield Smith, -as the glasses were set out, and as Jerry looked out of the doorway he -fancied the man shoved up close to where his glass was standing and made -a movement as if to throw something into it. - -Jerry saw nothing unusual in the street, and the man’s manner made him -suspicious, so that he hesitated about drinking the soda. He swallowed a -small portion of it and threw the remainder in a corner. - -“What’s the matter, don’t you like it?” demanded Wakefield Smith, almost -roughly. - -“No, it’s bitter.” - -“Humph!” He growled something under his breath. “I’ll not treat you -again,” he went on, as they came out on the street. - -What Jerry had taken of the soda had made his head ache, and this caused -the young oarsman to grow more suspicious than ever. He had read in a -daily paper about folks being drugged by friendly strangers, and -resolved to be on guard. - -The pair passed on the distance of a block, and then Jerry announced his -intention of returning home to the boarding-house. - -“Oh, don’t go yet,” urged Mr. Wakefield Smith. “Come on across the way. -There are some beautiful pictures in an art store window I want to show -you. One of the pictures is worth ten thousand dollars.” - -He caught our hero by the arm and hurried him over the way and into the -crowd. Jerry was jostled to the right and left, and it was fully a -minute before he squeezed himself out to a clear spot. Then he looked -around for Mr. Wakefield Smith, but the man was gone. - -Like a flash Jerry felt something had gone wrong. He put his hand in his -pocket. His money was missing! - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXV. - A FRUITLESS SEARCH. - - -“Less than half a day in New York and robbed! Oh, what a greeny I have -been!” - -Thus Jerry groaned to himself as he searched first one pocket and then -another. It was all to no purpose, the money was gone and he was left -absolutely penniless. - -The young oarsman was certain that Mr. Wakefield Smith had robbed him. -He had been wary of the man from the start, and now blamed himself -greatly for having given the rascal the chance to take the pocket-book. - -Without loss of time Jerry darted into the crowd again, looking in every -direction for the thief. He was so eager, he ran plump into an old -gentleman, knocking his silk hat to the pavement. - -“Hi! hi! stop, you young rascal!” puffed the man, as Jerry stooped and -restored the tile to him. “What do you mean by running into me in this -fashion?” - -“Excuse me, but I have been robbed! I want to catch the thief.” - -“Robbed?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -The gentleman nervously felt to see if his money and watch were safe. -Several others heard the words, and they gathered around Jerry. - -“Who robbed you?” - -“How much did you have?” - -“Why didn’t you hold the thief?” - -Before Jerry could answer any of the questions a policeman came forward -and touched him on the shoulder. - -“Are you the boy said he was robbed?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“What were you robbed of?” - -“A pocket-book containing nearly thirty dollars.” - -“Did you see the thief?” - -“I believe it was a man I was walking with. He called himself Wakefield -Smith.” - -The policeman questioned Jerry closely, and then took a good look around -for the individual. Later on, boy and officer walked to Mrs. Price’s -boarding-house. - -Here it was learned that Mr. Wakefield Smith had not paid any board -money, giving as an excuse that he had nothing less than a -one-hundred-dollar bill and that he would pay in the morning. It also -came to light that he had walked out with Mrs. Price’s silver-handled -umbrella, worth eight dollars. - -“The villain!” she cried. “I hope the police catch him!” - -“You don’t wish it more than I do,” returned the young oarsman, -dolefully. “He took my last dollar.” - -Acting on the policeman’s advice, Jerry walked around to the nearest -precinct station and made a complaint, giving the best description of -Mr. Wakefield Smith he could. - -“We will do our best to capture him,” said the captain in charge, and -with this promise the youth had to be content. - -My readers can imagine our hero did not spend a restful night. He lay -awake for several hours speculating on the turn affairs had taken. His -board was paid for a week, but that was all. He did not even have money -to pay car fare back to Lakeview. - -“I wonder what mother and father would say if they knew?” he thought. “I -won’t let them know until there’s nothing else to do.” - -Jerry arose early the next day and got breakfast before any of the other -boarders. - -“I must find something to do without delay,” he explained to Mrs. Price. -“A fellow without a dollar in his pocket can’t afford to remain idle.” - -“You have a week’s board coming to you,” she said, with a faint smile. - -“Yes, but I haven’t even the price of a car fare in my pocket.” - -“Well, Mr. Upton, I like your looks, and if you’ll accept it I’ll loan -you a couple of dollars. I suppose it was partly my fault that Smith -robbed you. But don’t blame me, I’ve suffered, too.” - -“I will accept the loan gladly, Mrs. Price. I don’t like to go around -without a cent. I will pay you back as soon as I can.” - -“I know you will. I may have been deceived in that Smith, but I am -certain I am not in you,” added the landlady. - -With the two dollars tucked away in a safe place, Jerry left the house. -He knew it would be useless to go to Alexander Slocum’s office at such -an early hour, and determined to look around in the hope of striking -something whereby he might earn at least enough money to last him while -stopping in New York. - -“I won’t write home unless I have to,” he muttered to himself. “My time -is my own and I’ll make the most of it while I’m here.” - -Getting one of the dollar bills changed, Jerry bought a morning paper -and looked over the Help Wanted—Males—column, and noted several -addresses. - -“I’ll try them and lose no time,” he thought, and hurried to the nearest -store where a boy was wanted. - -He was surprised to find a dozen applicants ahead of him. Worse than -that, a boy had already been hired; so all of the others were forced to -leave. - -Jerry next tried a florist’s establishment. But here a boy was wanted -who understood the city thoroughly, and he was quickly told he would not -do. - -Jerry walked from one place to another for three hours without success. -Somewhat disheartened, he strolled into a park close to Broadway and sat -down. - -The situation was certainly a serious one, and the young oarsman was -decidedly sober in mind as he sat there, staring vacantly at the -hurrying throng. - -“Well, young man, how did you make out last night?” - -The question came from a bench just behind Jerry. Looking around, he saw -sitting there the gentleman he had run into while trying to find -Wakefield Smith. - -“I didn’t make out at all, sir.” - -“Couldn’t find him, eh?” - -“No, sir.” - -“Those pickpockets are slick chaps, and no mistake,” went on the -gentleman. - -“Did you lose much?” - -“All I had—nearly thirty dollars.” - -“Phew! that is too bad. Well, I wouldn’t sit down to mope about it. You -might as well get to work and earn the amount over again.” - -“The trouble is, I can’t find any work,” answered the boy, earnestly. “I -would work fast enough if I could only find it to do.” - -“You are out of a situation?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Since when?” - -“Since I came to New York,” answered Jerry. - -“You are about as bad off as I was some forty years ago,” said the man, -with a broad smile. “At that time I found myself in this city, with just -twenty-five cents in my pocket. But I struck employment, and rose from -one place to another until now I am my own master, with a -book-binding-shop where I employ nearly fifty hands.” - -As he spoke he gazed at Jerry curiously. - -“You were going to ask me for a job, weren’t you?” he went on, and Jerry -nodded. “What can you do?” - -“I’m not used to any such work, sir. But you’ll find me willing and -strong—and honest. I would like to earn a little before I went back to -my home.” - -“Well, those three qualities you mention are sure to win, my boy. -Perhaps I can find an opening for you. Here comes a friend I have been -waiting for. I am going out of town with him. Call at my shop to-morrow -morning, if you don’t strike anything in the meantime.” - -And, handing out his card, Mr. Islen walked rapidly away. - -Fifteen minutes later found Jerry on the way to Alexander Slocum’s -office. In an inner pocket he carried the papers his father had -unearthed from the trunk in the garret at home. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI. - ALEXANDER SLOCUM IS ASTONISHED. - - -Jerry felt that his mission to the real estate man was a delicate one. -What would he have to say when he learned who the youth was and what he -had come for? - -The boy resolved to be on guard. He might be from the country and green, -but no one should catch him napping, as had Mr. Wakefield Smith. - -The distance to the address furnished by Nellie Ardell was nearly a -dozen blocks, but Jerry was used to walking and made the journey on -foot. - -The young oarsman found Alexander Slocum’s set of offices located on the -top floor of an old-fashioned four-story office building. There was an -elevator, however, and this Jerry used and soon found himself in front -of a ground-glass door, which bore the sign: - - ALEXANDER SLOCUM, - Real Estate and Fire Insurance. - Loans Negotiated. - -There was a hum of voices from within, but the hum ceased as Jerry -knocked. - -“Come in,” was the short invitation, and the boy entered, to find a -large apartment, comfortably furnished with desks, stuffed chairs and -other things which went to show that the man he had come to interview -was doing well. - -Near an open window sat two gentlemen dressed in black. One was much -older than the other, and Jerry rightfully guessed that he was an office -assistant. - -The other man was well preserved, with a waxed mustache and piercing -black eyes. He held a silk hat in his hand, as if he had been on the -point of leaving. - -“Well, young man, what can I do for you?” questioned the office -assistant, as he regarded Jerry indifferently. - -“I came to see Mr. Alexander Slocum,” replied our hero. - -“I am Mr. Slocum,” put in the other man. “What is it you want?” - -“I came to see you on a bit of private business, sir.” - -“Yes. Well, Mr. Casey here knows all about my affairs; so you need have -no hesitation in speaking in front of him,” laughed the real estate man -somewhat harshly. - -“I am Jerry Upton, and I came from Lakeview. My uncle, Charles Upton, -who is now dead, was once interested in a colonization land scheme that -you started.” - -Jerry watched Mr. Slocum narrowly as he spoke, and saw that the man was -greatly astonished. He started back, and for an instant the assuring -look his face wore faded. - -“Jerry Upton from Lakeview,” he murmured slowly. Then he cleared his -throat. “I—I did not expect to see you.” - -“I suppose not, sir.” - -“What is it you want?” - -“I want to find out how matters stand in regard to the land in -California. My father heard you had gone to Europe.” - -“I did go to Europe, but not to escape inquiry,” added Slocum, hastily. -“You see, that scheme failed utterly,” he went on slowly. “Why, I lost -nearly every dollar I possessed in it. What your uncle lost was nothing -in comparison.” - -“It was to him, Mr. Slocum. To whom does the land belong?” - -“Why, it—er—it reverted to its original owners, some mine speculators -of Denver.” - -“Where is the land located?” - -“Not far from the city of Sacramento.” - -“Can’t you give me the precise location?” - -At this Alexander Slocum glared at our hero savagely. - -“It would do you no good to spend money on hunting the matter up,” he -answered. “That affair was settled long ago. The money was lost, and -that is all there is to it.” - -“Not if I know it, Mr. Slocum. I intend to sift the matter to the -bottom. I am convinced that all was not carried out as it should have -been.” - -“You appear to be a very foolish boy.” - -“That may be your opinion, but it won’t alter my intention. I have my -uncle’s papers with me, and, unless you will give me some particulars of -how the scheme fell through, I shall place the matter in the hands of a -lawyer.” - -Alexander Slocum winced at this, and Jerry fancied he was hard struck. -He made a movement as if to clutch the youth by the arm, then drew back. - -“You have your uncle’s papers?” he asked cautiously. - -“Yes. My father is his sole heir.” - -“I should like to see them. Perhaps I spoke hastily; but really you are -mistaken in thinking it can be of any use to bring that old deal up -again. The money was lost, and there is no chance of getting it back -again.” - -“But, either you are responsible for the amount, or else my uncle’s -interest in the land still holds good,” said Jerry. - -“Let me see the papers.” - -Mr. Slocum made a movement as if to take them. But Jerry drew back and -shook his head. - -“I prefer not to let them go out of my possession.” - -“Do you mean to say you won’t trust me?” - -“You can put it that way, if you wish, Mr. Slocum.” - -The real estate man bit his lip. Then he made a movement to his -assistant, who at once slid behind Jerry, towards the door. - -“What are you going to do?” the young oarsman asked, in alarm. - -Without replying, the assistant locked the door and slipped the key into -his pocket. - -“Don’t grow excited,” said Alexander Slocum, coldly. “I want to see -those papers, that’s all. Show them to me at once!” - -Like a flash Jerry realized he was trapped by the enemy. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXVII. - JERRY’S CLEVER ESCAPE. - - -Jerry saw at once that things were growing warm. From the look on his -face it was plain to see that Alexander Slocum was in deadly earnest -when he said he wanted to see those papers. - -His manner made our hero feel that the papers would not be safe in his -hands. If he gave them up he might never see them again, and without the -documents the claim on the land in California would fall flat. - -“Did you hear what I said, Upton? I want you to let me see those -papers,” Slocum went on, after a second of intense silence. - -“What do you mean by locking that door?” Jerry demanded of the elderly -assistant, without paying any attention to the real estate dealer’s -words. - -Casey made no response. Instead, he took his stand by his employer’s -side, as if awaiting further orders. - -“You act as if you were afraid of me,” sneered Slocum. “I won’t hurt -you.” - -“You won’t—not if I can help it,” answered Jerry. “But I want you to -unlock that door. I am not to be treated as a prisoner.” - -“I only wanted to secure us against interruption. So many agents come up -here, and they are a regular nuisance.” - -Slocum advanced and held out his hand, as if expecting Jerry would drop -the precious papers into it. Instead, the boy retreated and took up a -position behind a flat-top desk in the centre of the office. - -At this the real estate dealer grew furious behind his well-waxed -mustache. He had expected to intimidate our hero easily, and now he was -nonplused. - -“Are you going to let me see those papers?” he fumed. - -“No; at least not now.” - -“Why not?” - -“I prefer not to answer that question.” - -“You think you have a case against me—that you can place me in a tight -hole.” - -“Well, if all is straight you have nothing to fear.” - -“Don’t preach to me, boy. All is straight. I lost my money as well as -the others did.” - -“This doesn’t look as if you had lost much,” ventured Jerry, as he -glanced about the elegant apartment. - -“Oh, I have made money since, in a lucky real estate deal in Brooklyn. I -won’t keep your papers.” - -“I want that door unlocked.” - -Slocum muttered something under his breath, and his face grew suddenly -red. Like a flash he placed his hands on the flat desk and leaped over -it. - -“I’ll bring you to terms, you young country fool!” he cried, and made a -clutch for Jerry’s collar. - -Had our hero not turned like a flash he would have had the lad. But -Jerry was on guard and fled to the office door. Raising his foot he gave -the barrier a kick that caused it to crack heavily. - -“Stop that!” - -“I won’t. Let me out, or I’ll kick the door down.” - -“Casey, catch the young rascal!” cried Slocum. “I’m going to teach him a -thing or two.” - -Anxious to obey the command of the man who held him completely under his -thumb, Casey ran forward. Seeing him coming, Jerry fled behind a large -screen. Here rested a heavy cane, and he picked it up and brandished it -over his head. - -“Keep back! Advance at your peril.” - -“I’m afraid to go near the young fool,” said Casey. - -“I’ll fix him. Stand aside. I never yet saw the boy that could get the -best of me,” muttered Alexander Slocum. - -“He may kill you, Mr. Slocum.” - -“I’ll risk it.” - -Running around the desk, the real estate dealer came for the young -oarsman. As he approached, the boy pushed the screen against him and he -went down, with the heavy object on top of him. - -“You—you villain!” he spluttered. - -To this Jerry made no answer. Taking advantage of the time afforded him, -he looked around for some means of escaping his enemies. To remain a -moment longer in the office he felt would be perilous in the extreme. - -Near the corner to which Jerry had retreated was an open window. -Glancing out of it he saw that the roof of the next building was but six -or eight feet below the window sill. - -Without stopping to think twice, our hero leaped out of the window and -on to the roof below. - -“Stop! stop!” - -Both Slocum and his assistant called after Jerry, but he paid no -attention. Leaving the vicinity of the window, he ran along the roof to -the rear. Here there was an addition to a tin-shop underneath, and he -dropped down and found himself within twelve feet of a narrow alleyway. - -“Are you coming back?” bawled Alexander Slocum; and then, as Jerry let -himself down over the edge of the roof, he suddenly disappeared from the -window. - -Guessing he was coming down to head him off, the youth lost no time in -dropping to the ground. - -Once down, it was an easy matter to gain the street. As he came out on -the pavement, Slocum came running up all out of breath. - -“You’re a fine boy!” he cried. “Come back to the office, and let us talk -matters over.” - -“Not to-day,” answered Jerry. “I’ve had enough of a dose for the -present.” - -“You are making a mistake.” - -“I don’t intend to put my head into the lion’s mouth.” - -While the two were speaking Casey came up, and, as the two appeared as -if they wanted to drag Jerry back into the building just left, the youth -retreated. - -Alexander Slocum followed for a block, and then gave up the chase. -Seeing this, Jerry walked on more leisurely. - -Our hero’s visit to the real estate dealer had set him to thinking -deeply. The man’s anxiety concerning the papers made the boy feel sure -there was more at the bottom of the land speculation than either his -parents or he had suspected. - -Perhaps the land was still held by this man and was of great value. If -this was so how was he to go to work to establish his father’s claim? - -Pondering over the affair, the young oarsman thought of Mr. Randolph -Islen and of his kindness. He resolved to tell that gentleman his story -and see what he would have to say. - -This conclusion reached, Jerry felt in his inner pocket to see if the -precious papers were still safe. To his horror they were gone. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXVIII. - SOMETHING ABOUT A TRAMP. - - -“Gone!” - -The cry burst involuntarily from Jerry’s lips, and for the moment his -heart seemed to stop beating. The precious papers were missing. - -What had become of them? With great haste he hunted all of his pockets, -not once but a dozen times. Then he felt in the linings, and in fact in -all places where the packet might have become concealed. - -It was useless; they were gone; that was all there was to it. - -Had he dropped them in Slocum’s office, or during his hasty flight to -the alleyway? - -Our hero retraced his steps, with eyes bent to the ground, in hopes that -they would be found lying on the walk. In doing this he ran into half a -dozen folks, many of whom did not take kindly to the collision. - -“Look where you are going, boy.” - -“Hunting for a pin or gold dollars?” - -Jerry paid no attention to the remarks. Reaching the alleyway, he turned -into it and continued the search, but without success. - -“Say, wot yer doin’ in here?” - -The question was asked by a youth in the tin-shop. He was red-headed and -had a freckled face, but not an unpleasant one. - -“I was looking for something I lost,” said the young oarsman. “Have you -seen anything in here of a flat, white package with a black shoestring -tied around it?” - -“Why, yes, I did,” he answered. - -“And where is it?” - -“A tramp had it. I saw him walk out of der alley wid it not five minutes -ago.” - -“A tramp? What kind of a looking man?” - -“Tall and thin, with a grizzly beard. Oh, he was a regular bum.” - -“Where did he go?” - -“Up the street, I think. Was the bundle valuable?” - -“Indeed it was, to me,” replied Jerry, and hurried off. - -He could see nothing of any tramp, and, after dodging around among the -trucks for several minutes, returned to the youth. - -“Please describe that tramp to me, will you?” asked Jerry, and the -tinner’s boy did so, as well as he was able. - -“I think da call him Crazy Jim,” he concluded. “He don’t come down here -very often. He belongs uptown somewhere.” - -“Well, if you ever see him again, please let me know. My name is Jerry -Upton, and here is my address,” and our hero handed it over. - -“All right, I will. My name is Jerry Martin. Wot was in de package?” - -“Some papers belonging to my father.” - -The boy wanted to question Jerry for further particulars, but the young -oarsman did not care to say too much, and hurried off, to seek the tramp -again. - -That evening found our hero at Mrs. Price’s, footsore and downhearted. -He had seen nothing of Crazy Jim, and it looked as if the precious -packet was gone for good. - -Jerry could not help but wonder what Alexander Slocum’s next move would -be. Would the man endeavor to hunt him out or would he write to his -father? - -The next morning, on his way to Mr. Randolph Islen’s place of business, -Jerry met Nellie Ardell. - -“Did you find Mr. Slocum’s?” she asked. - -“I did; and had a very disagreeable visit,” returned our hero. - -“I knew you would have,” she went on. “I wish he was not my landlord.” - -Jerry asked her how Tommy was, and then they parted, and five minutes -more brought our hero to the book-bindery. - -Mr. Islen was not yet in, but he soon arrived, and smiled as Jerry -presented himself. - -“On hand, I see, my young friend. Well, how did you make out? Did you -obtain a position?” - -“No, sir.” - -“It’s rather hard. Mr. Grice!” he called out. - -The foreman of the book-bindery came in and Jerry was introduced to him. -Quite a chat followed, at the end of which Jerry was hired to work in -the stock department at a salary of six dollars a week. - -The salary was not large, but it would pay his expenses, and that was -all he wished for at present. - -“I won’t have to write home for money,” he thought. - -Mr. Grice wanted Jerry to come to work immediately, but our hero begged -to speak to Mr. Islen in private for a moment, and when they were left -alone told his story from beginning to end. - -The rich book-binder listened with interest, and tapped meditatively -upon his desk when Jerry had finished. - -“This is rather a strange story, Upton,” he said. “What would you like -me to do?” - -“I would like you to give me some advice, sir. What had I best do?” - -“You can do a number of things. What would be the best I cannot say. You -might hire a lawyer to look into the case, and again you might have this -Slocum arrested for locking you in the office. The loss of the packet -complicates matters. Did it have your name on?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Then you had better wait, and in the meantime advertise for the packet, -offering a reward. That tramp may be watching for such an -advertisement.” - -This was sound advice; but Jerry had no money, and said so. - -“I will pay for the advertisement and take it out of your pay,” said Mr. -Islen; and the notice was written out without delay and sent off by the -office boy. - -The young oarsman now felt a trifle lighter in heart. He reasoned that -the packet would be of no value to the tramp and that he would be glad -to surrender it in hope of a reward. He did not remember at the time -that he had written Alexander Slocum’s name and address on the outside -wrapper; yet such was a fact. - -When Jerry entered the bindery he found several pairs of curious eyes -bent upon him from boys of about his own age. Without delay Mr. Grice -set our hero to work. - -“What is your name?” asked one of the boys, as soon as he had a chance. - -“Jerry Upton. What is yours?” - -“Dick Lenning. Say, do you know you have got the job Grice was going to -give my brother?” - -“No, I don’t.” - -“It’s so. Jack was coming to work to-morrow. It ain’t fair to take the -bread out of a fellow’s mouth like that,” growled Dick Lenning. - -“I fancy Mr. Islen gave me my position—” Jerry ventured. - -“Oh! So it was the boss put you in. Well, it ain’t fair anyway. Where do -you come from—Brooklyn?” - -“No, Lakeview.” - -“Never heard of it. Must be some country village. You look like a -hayseed.” - -As Dick Lenning spoke he gazed around to see if Mr. Grice had gone. Then -he added in a whisper: - -“You have to set up the drinks for the crowd before you can work here, -see?” - -“Drinks,” repeated our hero. - -“Sure; all the new hands do that.” - -“I—I rather think I won’t.” - -“You are too mean.” - -“It’s not that; I don’t drink.” - -“You are a country jay, and no mistake.” - -Dick Lenning leaned forward and shoved Jerry with his elbow, at the same -time putting one foot behind the youth. He wanted to trip our hero up, -but Jerry was on guard, and, resisting him, the young oarsman caused him -to slip down against a bench upon which rested a pot of book-binders’ -glue. - -The glue tipped over and part of it went down Lenning’s leg, causing him -to yell like a wild Indian. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXIX. - MR. WAKEFIELD SMITH AGAIN. - - -“I’ll hammer you for that!” - -“What did he do, Dick?” - -“Knocked the glue over me. You country jay, you!” howled Dick Lenning, -and, leaping up, he bore down on Jerry. - -Lenning was a good deal of a bully. He was tall and strong, and -evidently he thought he could make our hero submit to his will easily. - -“Take that!” he fairly hissed, and aimed a blow at Jerry’s ear. The -youth dodged it and caught his arm. - -“Hold on!” Jerry ejaculated. “I don’t want to fight. You will only make -trouble.” - -“Let go!” - -“Not until you promise to keep quiet.” - -“I’ll promise nothing,” stormed Lenning, and began to struggle more -excitedly than ever. - -But he soon wore himself out, when Jerry got behind him and clasped -hands over his breast. The bully was about to call on his friends to -assist him, when a cry went up. - -“Cheese it! Grice is coming this way.” - -As if by magic the boys who had gathered around ran off to their work, -leaving the bully and Jerry alone. Our hero released his opponent, and, -turning around, Lenning glared at him vindictively. - -“I’ll get even with you for this, see if I don’t,” he muttered in a -hoarse whisper. - -Then he followed his friends; and Mr. Grice came up and took Jerry to -another part of the shop. - -“I have changed my mind about letting you work here,” he said. “I want -you to get used to the place before I put you among those other boys.” - -Evening found our hero a good deal worn out, not so much by the work as -by the close confinement of the bindery. How different life in the great -metropolis was to life in the green fields of the country! - -After supper Jerry determined to take a walk uptown, to get the outdoor -exercise and also in hope of seeing something of the tramp who had taken -the packet. He knew that looking for the tramp in the metropolis was a -good deal like looking for a pin in a haystack, but imagined that even -that pin could be found if one looked long and sharp enough for it. - -The young oarsman sauntered forth toward Broadway, and thence past the -Forty-second Street depot and up to Central Park. It was a long walk, -but he did not mind it; in fact, it seemed to do him good, for it rested -his mind. - -The window displays interested Jerry not a little, and he took in -everything that came along. So the time flew quickly, until, coming to a -jeweler’s window, he saw it was after ten o’clock. - -“I’ll have to be getting back,” he said to himself, and was on the point -of returning when he saw that which surprised him greatly. A cab whirled -past the corner upon which he was standing, and on the back seat he -recognized Mr. Wakefield Smith. - -The pickpocket was alone, and ere Jerry could stop him the cab rolled -down the side street out of hearing. - -Our hero did not stop long to consider what was best to do, but took to -his heels and followed the cab as best he could. - -The cab gained a distance of nearly two blocks, and Jerry was almost on -the point of giving up, when it came to a halt in front of what looked -like a private club-house. Wakefield Smith alighted and paid the cabman, -who went about his business without delay. - -“Stop there!” cried Jerry to the pickpocket, as the man mounted the -steps of the house. But whether the man heard our hero or not, he paid -no attention. When Jerry reached the spot he was standing on a low -porch. - -“Did you hear me?” went on Jerry, and, to prevent Smith from entering -the place, our hero caught him by the button of his coat. - -To Jerry’s surprise, the rascal offered no resistance. Instead, he came -down the steps backward, and fell on his back on the sidewalk, his hat -rolling toward the gutter. - -“Shay, waz you do that fer?” he hiccoughed. - -Jerry gazed at the pickpocket in wonder. Then the truth flashed over our -hero. The man who had robbed him was beastly intoxicated. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXX. - AN UNLOOKED FOR ADVENTURE. - - -It would be hard to express Jerry’s feelings when he found Mr. Wakefield -Smith was suffering heavily from intoxication. For the moment he could -do nothing but stare at the man as he lay helpless on the pavement. - -“Waz you mean, boy?” went on Smith, and he tried in vain to get up. “Waz -you knock me down for, I demand to know?” - -“Do you recognize me?” said our hero sharply, as he looked the -pickpocket squarely in the face. - -“No—don’t know you from Adam, ’pon my word.” - -“I am Jerry Upton, the boy you robbed the other night.” - -At the words Smith straightened up for a moment and a look of alarm -crossed his face. - -“Jerry Upton,” he repeated, slowly. - -“Yes. What have you done with my money?” - -“Ain’t got a dollar of your money.” - -“If you haven’t, you’ve drank it up,” Jerry ejaculated. “You ought to be -ashamed of yourself.” - -“Zat’s all right, m’boy, all right, I assure you. Come on and have a -good time with me.” - -With great difficulty Wakefield Smith arose to his feet and staggered -towards the house he had been on the point of entering. Jerry pulled him -back and held him. As our hero did this he saw Smith drop a ten-dollar -bill. Jerry picked it up. - -“You are not going in there—you are going with me.” - -“Where to?” - -“To the nearest station-house.” - -The pickpocket gave a hiccough and a cry of alarm that was very much -like a whine. - -“To the station-house?” - -“Yes; come on.” - -“Never.” - -Smith struggled feebly to get away, but the boy held him with ease. -Overcome, the man finally sat down on the curbstone and refused to -budge. - -“Shay, let us compromise,” he mumbled. “It was all a mistake.” - -“It was no mistake.” - -“If I give you ten dollars, will you call it off?” - -“No.” - -“Then you don’t git a cent, see?” - -And with great deliberation the pickpocket closed one bleared eye and -glared at Jerry. - -“We’ll see about that later,” cried our hero, hotly, and catching the -rascal by the collar the youth yanked him to a standing position. “Now -come on, and no nonsense.” - -Seeing that the youth was not to be fooled with, Wakefield Smith tried -to dicker again, getting himself badly twisted in his plea that he would -make everything all right. Jerry would not trust him and forced him to -walk along until the nearest corner was reached. Here he suddenly made a -clutch at an electric-light pole and held fast. - -“Help! help! help!” he cried out at the top of his lungs. “Police!” - -The young oarsman did not know what to make of this appeal for -assistance, for it seemed to him that the authorities were the very -people Mr. Wakefield Smith wished to avoid. He was destined, however to -soon learn a trick that was brand new to him. - -The pickpocket had hardly uttered his cry when a bluecoat put into -appearance and came running to the spot. - -“What’s the trouble here?” he demanded. - -“Shay, officer, make that young fellow go away,” hiccoughed Mr. -Wakefield Smith. - -“What is he up to?” - -“Trying to rob me, officer; reg’lar slick Aleck.” - -At this cool assertion Jerry was dumbfounded. - -“So you’re trying to rob this gent, eh?” said the bluecoat, turning to -our hero and catching his arm. “I reckon I came just in time.” - -“It’s a falsehood; he is the pickpocket,” rejoined Jerry as soon as he -could speak. - -“He looks like it,” said the officer, sarcastically. - -“He didn’t rob me now, he robbed several nights ago. I just ran across -him.” - -“He’s a slick Aleck,” went on Mr. Wakefield Smith. “Don’t let him take -my watch, officer!” - -“No fear of that. Come along with me, young man.” - -“If I have to go I want him to go, too.” - -At these words Mr. Wakefield Smith’s face changed color. - -“I can’t go, officer; have an important engagement at the—er—club.” - -“He is a pickpocket and I’ll prove it at the station house,” said Jerry, -warningly. “It is your duty to make him go along. I’ll help you carry -him if it’s necessary.” - -“And you’ll skip out, too, if you get the chance,” remarked the -policeman, grimly. - -“If you think that, handcuff me to this fellow.” - -“Do you mean that?” - -“I do, sir.” - -“Hang me if I don’t think you are honest, after all.” - -“He’s a big thief!” bawled Mr. Wakefield Smith. - -“Keep quiet and come along. They can straighten matters out at the -precinct.” - -The officer took Mr. Wakefield Smith by the arm and started to walk the -prisoner away. With a dexterous twist the intoxicated man cleared -himself and plunged down the street. - -The bluecoat and Jerry made after him as quickly as they could, but a -drawing school in the neighborhood had just let out, and they were -detained by the crowd. Mr. Wakefield Smith stumbled across the street -and down a side thoroughfare that was very dark. The officer and our -hero went after him, but at the end of the second block he was no longer -to be seen. - -“Now you’ve let him escape,” said Jerry to the policeman. “I have a good -mind to report you.” - -“Go on with you!” howled the officer in return. “I reckon it was a put -up job all around. Clear about your business or I’ll run you in for -disorderly conduct!” - -And he made such a savage dash at the young oarsman with his long club -that our hero was glad to retreat. - -He continued the hunt for the pickpocket alone, but without avail, and, -much disheartened, finally returned to his boarding-house. He was afraid -he had seen the last of Mr. Wakefield Smith, and was glad he had gotten -at least ten dollars from the pickpocket. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXXI. - NELLIE ARDELL’S TROUBLES. - - -On the following morning Jerry went to work at the bindery as if nothing -had happened. When he went in, Dick Lenning glared at our hero and -stopped as if to speak, but changed his mind and walked off without -saying a word. - -During the day the young oarsman became much better acquainted with his -work and began to like it. - -That night, on leaving the bindery by the side entrance, which opened on -a narrow lane, our hero saw Dick Lenning and several of his friends -waiting for him. - -He attempted to pass but Lenning put out his foot, and had Jerry not -stopped he would have been tripped up. - -“Let me pass,” said he, sharply, but instead of complying, Lenning took -a stand in front of him and hit the youth on the shoulder. - -“I said I’d git square,” he hissed, savagely. “If yer ain’t afraid, -stand up and fight.” - -“I’m not afraid,” replied Jerry, and pushed him up against the wall. - -Without delay a rough-and-tumble fight ensued. - -“Give it to him, Dick!” - -“Do the hayseed up!” - -“Knock him into the middle of next week!” - -These and a dozen other cries arose on the air, and the crowd kept -increasing until fully a hundred spectators surrounded the pair. - -Dick Lenning had caught Jerry unfairly, but the youth soon managed to -shake him off, and, hauling back, gave him a clean blow on the end of -his unusually long nose, which caused the blood to spurt from that organ -in a stream. - -“He’s tapped Dick’s nose!” - -“My! wasn’t that a blow, though!” - -“The country lad is game!” - -Wild with rage, Dick Lenning endeavored to close in again. Jerry stopped -the movement this time by a blow on the chest which sent him staggering -back several feet into the crowd. - -“What’s the matter, Dick?” - -“Don’t let him use you like that.” - -“I’ll fix him!” howled the bully, and rushed at our hero a third time. - -Again he hit Jerry, this time in the chin. But our hero’s blood was now -up, and, calculating well, he struck a square blow in the left eye that -knocked the bully flat. - -“Dick is knocked out!” - -“That country jay is a corker!” - -“Git up, Dick. Yer eye is turnin’ all black!” - -“Better let him go, he’s too much for you!” - -Dick Lenning was slow in coming to the front. The eye was not only -black, but it was closing rapidly. - -“He’s got a stone in his fist—he don’t fight fair,” he growled to his -friends. - -“I have nothing in my fist,” retorted Jerry. “If he wants any more, I -fancy I can accommodate him, although I don’t care to fight.” - -Dick Lenning was uneasy. He glanced toward his friends and passed a -signal to one of his cronies. - -“Police! skip!” cried the crony. “Come on, Dick, you don’t want to git -caught!” - -And he dragged Dick Lenning away, while the crowd scattered like magic. -No policeman was in sight, nor did any appear. It was only a ruse to -retire without acknowledging defeat. - -But that fight taught Dick Lenning a severe lesson. He still remained -down upon the young oarsman, but in the future he fought shy of our -hero, knowing that Jerry would not stand his bullying manner. - -On Saturday the shop closed down early, and, having nothing else to do, -Jerry walked down to the newspaper office in hope of receiving some -answer to the advertisement for the missing papers. - -But no answer was forthcoming, and, disappointed, he retraced his steps -and sauntered in the direction in which Nellie Ardell and her little -brother Tommy lived. - -“I’ll call on them and see how she made out about her rent,” he said to -himself, and mounted the stairs to her apartment. - -There was a murmur of voices in the kitchen. The door was partly open -and Jerry saw the girl and her little brother standing there, confronted -by a burly man. - -“That rent has got to be paid, that’s all there is to it,” the man was -saying. - -“I cannot pay to-day,” replied Nellie Ardell. “I will try to pay -Monday.” - -“It won’t do. I’ve given you notice, and if you can’t pay, you have got -to leave.” - -At this the girl burst into tears. - -“Would you put me on the street?” she wailed. - -“I’ll have to—it’s orders,” replied the burly man doggedly. - -“Whose order?” - -“Mr. Slocum.” - -“Mr. Slocum is a very hard-hearted man,” cried the girl, indignantly. - -“That’s so,” Jerry put in as he entered. - -“Oh, Jerry Upton!” Nellie Ardell cried, when she saw our hero. “This man -wants to put me out of my rooms.” - -“It’s a shame.” - -“Who are you?” demanded the burly man. “Do you live here?” - -“No. I am this young lady’s friend, however. Did Mr. Slocum say to put -her out?” - -“Yes.” - -“What shall I do if they put me on the street?” wailed Nellie Ardell. - -“I’m sure I don’t know. But Slocum sha’n’t put you on the street if I -can help it,” went on Jerry, suddenly. - -“What will you do?” - -“How much do you owe him?” - -“Twelve dollars. I have four, but he won’t take it. He wants the entire -amount.” - -“I will let you have ten dollars,” said our hero, and brought out the -bill Wakefield Smith had dropped. - -“Oh, won’t that be robbing you?” cried Nellie Ardell, but her eyes -glistened with pleasure. - -“Never mind; take it and pay this man off.” - -Nellie Ardell accepted the amount without further words. - -“Now,” she said, as she paid the man, “I am going to move.” - -“Move! What for?” - -“I can get better rooms for less money just across the way.” - -The burly man’s face fell. He was Alexander Slocum’s agent, and he knew -that to get tenants for the rooms Nellie Ardell occupied would be -difficult. - -“It ain’t right to move now—in the middle of the summer.” - -“You intended to put me out—if I couldn’t pay the rent.” - -“That is different.” - -“I have paid up promptly for many months. Mr. Slocum could have been a -bit easier for once.” - -“He is more than mean,” put in Jerry. “I would advise you to move by all -means.” - -“You seem to know a great deal about him,” sneered the agent. - -“I do—and I’ll know more some day.” - -The agent began to growl, but, seeing he could do nothing, he went off -to inform Alexander Slocum that Nellie Ardell intended to move. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXXII. - A CRAZY MAN’S DOINGS. - - -“You are more than kind to me, Jerry Upton,” exclaimed Nellie Ardell, -when they and her little brother were left alone. - -“I didn’t want to see you thrown out of your home,” said Jerry, soberly. - -“I shall pay you back that money as soon as I possibly can,” she went -on. “I expect to get about twenty dollars for sewing next week. One of -the ladies I work for is out of town, but is coming back on Wednesday.” - -“All right—take your time. When will you move? Maybe I can help carry -some things for you.” - -“I’ve a good mind to move this afternoon. Those other rooms are all -ready.” - -“Then do it, and I’ll pitch right in,” and in fun the young oarsman -picked up several chairs. - -“I will. Will you be kind enough to stay with Tommy a few minutes?” - -“Certainly.” - -Nellie Ardell went off at once, and was back in ten minutes. When she -returned she had rented three small rooms for less money than she now -paid. - -She had not many articles of furniture and it did not seem the least bit -like working to our hero to assist her in transferring them across the -way. The two worked together, and as they labored they talked, Jerry -telling her a good deal about his mission to New York and the girl -relating her own experiences in keeping the wolf from the door. - -“We were not always poor,” said Nellie Ardell. “When father was alive we -lived in our own home in Brooklyn. But he grew interested in a Western -land scheme and it took all of his money.” - -“That was our trouble. I came to New York to see what I could do toward -making Alexander Slocum give an accounting of the money he put in a -California land scheme for my uncle.” - -“Why, my father was in Slocum’s land scheme!” she ejaculated. - -“Perhaps it was the same. This land scheme I speak of was called the -Judge Martin—why, I don’t know.” - -“It is the same. It was so called because the land once belonged to a -Judge Martin of Colorado.” - -Of course, Jerry was deeply interested, and, the moving finished, he and -she sat down to talk the matter over. - -From what our hero learned of Nellie Ardell he came to the conclusion -that Alexander Slocum was every inch the villain he had taken him to be. - -The real estate dealer had hoodwinked the girl completely, and she had -surrendered to him all the documents her parent had left behind at the -time of his death. - -“It’s too bad,” said Jerry. “We must work together against him. But -nothing can be done until my missing papers are recovered.” - -Before he left, another matter was discussed and settled. In her new -quarters Nellie Ardell had a small room she did not really need, and she -offered to board Jerry at three dollars and a half a week. As this would -be an acceptable saving just at present, our hero accepted the offer and -agreed to make the change on the following Monday. - -Sunday passed quietly. Jerry spent part of the day in writing a long -letter home, telling the folks just how matters stood and urging them -not to worry, as he felt certain all would come out right in the end, -and that he was quite content to remain in New York and support himself -until he had settled matters with Alexander Slocum. The letter was -finished late in the afternoon, and after taking supper he went out to -post it. - -The novelty of life in the city had not yet passed, and, the letter put -into a corner box, the young oarsman sauntered on and on, taking in the -many strange sights. - -He had gone a distance of half a dozen blocks when he came to a church. -The doors were wide open, and as the congregation were singing, he -stopped to listen to the music. - -When the music stopped, our hero passed on down the street, which seemed -to grow poorer as he advanced. The new houses gave place to those that -were very old, and on all sides Jerry could see the effects of grinding -poverty. - -“It’s a great city,” he thought. “And it is true that one half doesn’t -know how the other half lives.” - -“Please, mister, will you give me five cents?” - -Jerry stopped in his walk and looked down to see who had addressed him. -It was a little girl, and she was crying bitterly. - -“Five cents?” he repeated. - -“Yes, mister; please don’t say no. I’ve asked so many for the money -already and they won’t give me a cent.” - -“What are you going to do with five cents?” - -“I’ve got to bring it home to daddy.” - -“To daddy—you mean your father?” - -“He’s a sort of a father, but he’s not my real papa,” sobbed the little -girl. “He took me when papa died.” - -“What does your—your daddy want with the five cents?” - -At this question the little girl’s face flushed. - -“I—I daren’t tell you—daddy would whip me,” she whimpered. - -“Does he drink?” - -“I daren’t tell you.” - -“Does he send you out very often to beg?” - -“He sends me out when he’s—when he’s—but I daren’t tell you. He would -whip me most to death.” - -“Where do you live?” - -“Over there.” - -And the little girl pointed to a long row of rear tenements, the very -worst-looking in the neighborhood. - -“And what is daddy’s name?” - -“His real name is James MacHenry, but the folks around here all call him -Crazy Jim,” she answered. - -Jerry started back in surprise. Crazy Jim was the tramp who had been -seen walking off with his packet of documents! - -“So you live with Crazy Jim?” said our hero, to the little girl, slowly. - -“Yes, sir.” - -“How long have you lived with him?” - -“Oh, a long while, sir.” - -“Take me to him.” - -At this request she drew back in horror. - -“Oh, I can’t do that, indeed I can’t,” she faltered. - -“Why not?” - -“I took a man to him once—a charity officer—and daddy—whip—whipped -me for it.” - -“Then show me where he lives,” went on Jerry after a pause. “You needn’t -let him see you. I must have a talk with him. Perhaps I’ll give him some -money.” - -The little girl still hesitated, but finally led the way up the street -into a horrible-looking alley and pointed to a dingy tenement-house. - -“Daddy is up there on the top floor in the back.” - -“And is that where you live?” asked Jerry, with a shudder he could not -repress. - -“Yes, of course.” - -“It’s not a nice place.” - -“Oh, no,” and something like a tear glistened in the girl’s eye. - -“Here is ten cents for you,” added Jerry. “You had better keep it for -yourself. Are you hungry?” - -“A little. I only had some bread to-day for dinner and supper.” - -“Then go down to the restaurant on the corner and get something to eat -for the money. You need it.” - -The little girl ran off to do as bidden, and our hero entered the -dilapidated tenement. Four dirty men and women sat on the stoop smoking -and drinking from a tin pail. - -“Who are ye lookin’ fer?” asked one of the men, roughly. - -“Crazy Jim,” answered Jerry, briefly, and brushed past him. - -The hallway was dark, and it was with difficulty that the young oarsman -found the rickety stairs, every step of which creaked as he trod upon -it. - -Arriving at the top floor, the youth noticed a shaft of light streaming -from beneath a door in the rear. He knocked loudly. - -There was a movement within, the door was flung back, and Jerry found -himself confronted by a tall, round-shouldered individual, with long, -unkempt hair and a wild look in his small black eyes. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIII. - THE LITTLE NOBODY. - - -“Well!” demanded the man laconically. - -“Is this James MacHenry?” - -“That’s me, boy.” - -“I would like to see you on business,” Jerry went on, as he brushed past -and entered one of the barest living apartments he had ever seen. - -“On business?” - -“Yes, a few days ago you picked up a packet downtown belonging to me—a -packet containing some documents and letters.” - -“Who said they belonged to you?” - -“I say so. My name is Jerry Upton, and I dropped the packet in the -alleyway where you found it.” - -The man stared at our hero. - -“Say, is this a game?” he demanded, harshly. - -“What do you mean?” - -“Are you trying to get me into trouble?” - -“No, I am trying to keep you out of trouble,” replied the young oarsman, -warmly. - -“You say that packet belonged to you?” - -“Yes.” - -“It didn’t have your name on it.” - -“No, it—” Our hero stopped short. “It had Alexander Slocum’s name on -it!” he burst out. - -“Exactly.” - -“You don’t mean to say you delivered that packet to him?” gasped the -youth. - -“I did—not an hour ago.” - -Jerry fell back into a chair and breathed heavily. The packet was -gone—into the hands of the enemy! - -“The man said it was his package,” said Crazy Jim. “He gave me a reward -of five dollars for returning it to him.” - -“It was mine. He wanted to steal it—and now he’s done it,” cried Jerry. -“You let him have it but an hour ago?” - -“Yes.” - -“Where did he go?” - -“I don’t know.” - -“Did you open the packet?” - -“Yes, but I couldn’t make nothing out of it—’cos I ain’t eddicated. I -read his name on it and got another fellow to write a postal card -yesterday afternoon. He came here, examined the papers, and seemed much -pleased.” - -“No doubt he was pleased,” groaned the young oarsman. - -“Was the thing worth much?” - -“It was worth a good deal. I would have given five dollars to get it -back.” - -“What does he want with it?” - -“Wants to do my father out of some property,” answered our hero. “By the -way, who is that little girl who lives with you?” - -At this question Crazy Jim’s face darkened. - -“That ain’t none of your business,” he growled. - -“You shouldn’t send her out on the street to beg.” - -“Wot! has she been blabbin’ again? I’ll break every bone in her body!” -and off the man started out of the room and down the narrow stairs. - -Jerry had noticed that his breath smelt strongly of liquor. He was not -only a drinking man, but also one who was not quite right in his head. - -“Don’t hurt her, you brute!” called out the boy, and followed him out of -the alleyway into the street. At the nearest corner stood the little -girl, and Crazy Jim rushed up to her fiercely. - -“You good-fer-nothin’!” he bawled. “I’ll teach ye a lesson! Didn’t I -tell ye ter keep yer clapper still about me? Take that! and that!” - -He raised his heavy hand and struck her a cruel blow on the side of the -head. She staggered back, and he was about to repeat his unjust action, -when Jerry thought it about time to interfere. Catching him by the arm, -our hero hurled him backward with such force that he fell flat in the -gutter. - -At once a shout went up from those who saw Jerry’s action. - -“What are yer doin’?” - -“Who is that boy?” - -With a fearful exclamation, Crazy Jim arose to his feet. - -“I’ll fix ye fer that!” he hissed, and sprang forward. “You ain’t got no -right ter interfere between me an’ the gal.” - -“You are a brute!” burst out our hero. “This little girl has done -nothing to deserve such punishment.” - -“Who set you over me?” howled the infuriated man. “I’ll fix ye!” - -He tried his best to hit Jerry with his fist, but the young oarsman -dodged him and took a stand in front of the little girl. - -“You had better run away,” Jerry whispered to her. “He is in a terrible -mood just now.” - -“Where shall I go?” whimpered the girl. - -“Anywhere? Up two blocks. I will join you soon.” - -Without delay the little girl ran off. Crazy Jim tried to follow her, -but Jerry headed him off. - -Seeing he could do nothing with his hands, the savage man looked around -for some weapon. A heavy stone was lying handy, and he picked it up. The -next moment it was launched at our hero’s head. - -Luckily, Jerry was quick at dodging, or he might have been seriously -wounded. The missile went sailing over the lad’s head and flew with a -crash through the front window of a neighboring store. - -The smashing of the pane of glass was followed by a shout of alarm from -the storekeeper, who sat in a chair on the pavement. - -“Here, vot’s dot?” he yelled. “Vot you means py preaking mine vinder, -hey, you Crazy Gim? I vos got you locked up. Ain’t it? Bolice! bolice!” - -The German storekeeper continued to yell so loudly that it was not long -before an officer appeared. Seeing this, Jerry backed out of the crowd -and hurried off. He saw the policeman catch Crazy Jim by the arm, and a -wordy war followed. A minute later the fellow was being marched off to -the station-house. No doubt the policeman would have liked it had he -found Jerry, but our hero kept at a safe distance. - -It was now quite dark, and it was with some difficulty that Jerry again -found the little girl. She stood by a hitching post, sobbing bitterly. - -“Where is he?” she asked, choking back her sobs. - -“The policeman took him off. Don’t cry any more,” Jerry added, -soothingly. - -“But where shall I go?” she asked. “I can’t go back.” - -“Have you no friends?” - -“No. Crazy Jim and I came to New York alone when papa died.” - -“Where did you come from?” - -The little girl shook her head at this. She had been too young to -remember. - -“What is your name?” - -“Dottie.” - -“Dottie what?” - -“Nothing, only Dottie.” - -Jerry was in a quandary. To a certain degree he felt responsible for her -present forlorn condition. Suddenly an idea struck him. - -“If you will come with me, I’ll see to it that you have a good bed -to-night, and breakfast in the morning,” he said. “And after that I’ll -see what I can do for you, Dottie.” - -“Who are you?” - -“My name is Jerry Upton.” - -“You look like a nice boy and I’ll go with you,” and she placed her hand -confidently in that of the young oarsman. - -Jerry took the little one to Nellie Ardell’s apartments. Of course she -was much surprised, and, sitting down, our hero had to explain -everything as far as he was able. Nellie Ardell agreed instantly to take -the little girl in. - -“You can stay here until we can do something for you,” she said. “I know -how it would feel to have little Tommy on the streets homeless.” - -And soon after that Dottie was put to bed, very well content. Her hard -life with Crazy Jim had made her used to ups and downs that no ordinary -little girl could have endured. - -The reader can well imagine that Jerry did not sleep much that night. He -could not forget that Alexander Slocum had the precious packet of -papers. Bitterly he regretted not having taken better care of the -documents. - -“I will call on Slocum, and come to some sort of an understanding,” -Jerry said to himself. “Perhaps when I tell him that both Nellie Ardell -and myself are ready to proceed against him he will be willing to come -to terms.” - -The next day was a busy one at the book-bindery, and our hero got no -chance to call on Slocum. During that time he learned that Crazy Jim had -been locked up for resisting the officer and had been sentenced to -thirty days on Blackwell’s Island. - -The young oarsman did not know what to do about little Dottie, but -Nellie Ardell solved this question. - -“I have received a whole lot of new work,” she said. “So for the present -we can keep her to mind Tommy while I am dressmaking.” - -So the little girl stayed on. Jerry never dreamed of how much she had to -do with his future life. - -On Thursday Mr. Islen’s brother died and the bindery was closed for -several days. Jerry took the opportunity to walk down to Alexander -Slocum’s offices. - -The real estate man was alone, and greeted our hero with a sinister -smile. - -“So you have seen fit to call again, young man,” were his first words. - -“Mr. Slocum, let us come to business,” Jerry replied firmly. “What are -you going to do about my father’s claim?” - -Alexander Slocum laughed harshly. - -“Your father’s claim?” he repeated. “I don’t recognize the fact that -your father has any claim against me.” - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIV. - ALEXANDER SLOCUM SHOWS HIS HAND. - - -Alexander Slocum’s statement was no more than Jerry had expected, so he -was not taken back by the words. He looked the man steadily in the eyes. - -“So that is the position you are going to take now—since you received -my packet from James MacHenry,” said Jerry, deliberately. - -Slocum started and winced, and the young oarsman saw that Crazy Jim had -spoken the truth. - -“I haven’t anything belonging to you, Upton.” - -“It is useless for you to deny it, Mr. Slocum. He found the packet and -delivered it to you for a reward of five dollars.” - -“The packet he delivered to me was my own. It contained some legal -documents belonging to this office.” - -“You may make others believe that, Mr. Slocum, but—” - -“But what, boy? Remember, I want none of your insolence here. I will -listen to you, but you mustn’t grow impertinent.” - -“I’m only speaking the truth. You virtually robbed me, just as you -robbed my father and Mr. Bryant Ardell.” - -“Ha!” Slocum leaped to his feet. “Who—where did you hear of Bryant -Ardell?” he asked, excitedly. - -“I have met Nellie Ardell several times—in fact, I am boarding with -her.” - -“Did she set you to hounding me?” - -“No; we met by accident after I had come to New York almost on purpose -to see you.” - -“She is an impudent young woman.” - -“She told me that you had her land papers, just as you now have mine.” - -“It’s a falsehood!” - -“If both of us go to court with our story, we may prove that it is not a -falsehood.” - -“Ha! are you going to combine to ruin my reputation?” cried the real -estate dealer, growing pale. - -“We are going to try to obtain our rights.” - -“You’ll gain nothing. I’ll—I’ll have you locked up on a charge of -black-mail!” Alexander Slocum began to pace his office nervously. “See -here, Upton how much do you want to go off and leave me alone?” he -questioned, suddenly. - -“I want what is due my father.” - -“You’ll not get it!” he whispered, hoarsely, throwing his mask aside. -“Do you think I have plotted and worked all these years for nothing? Not -much! All that property is mine, do you hear? Nobody else shall ever own -a foot of it. Now, I’ll tell you what I am willing to do. I’ll give you -a hundred dollars in cash and we’ll call it square. Mind you, I don’t -admit your claim. I only want to avoid trouble.” - -Jerry looked at the man and drew a long breath. He could see through -Slocum’s words as clearly as he could see through the window. His -father’s claim was worth a fortune! - -“Come, what do you say?” demanded Slocum as Jerry did not answer him. - -“I say this, Mr. Slocum,” rejoined our hero. “I won’t accept your -proposition, and before I am done with you I’ll have our rights and -you’ll be in state’s prison.” - -With a snarl very much like that made by a fretful tiger, the man leaped -toward the boy as if to grab him by the throat. - -“You fool! I’ll make you come to terms!” - -His hand touched Jerry’s collar, but the young oarsman evaded him and -placed the flat-top desk between them. When the man ran around the desk, -Jerry picked up a heavy brass-bound ruler. - -“Stop, or I’ll crack you with this!” cried our hero, and, seeing the -weapon, Slocum halted. - -“Don’t be a fool, boy!” - -“I don’t intend to be.” - -“You can do nothing against me.” - -“That remains to be seen.” - -“Who will take your word against mine? Nobody. You are a mere country -lad, while I am a well-known New York citizen.” - -“Mr. Ardell was also well known in his day.” - -Again Alexander Slocum’s face grew pale. - -“Nellie Ardell has no doubt urged you to attack me,” he growled. “I must -see her. Why didn’t she come with you?” - -“She is busy.” - -“I will explain matters to her in detail. Really, the claim is not worth -anything, but I wish to avoid trouble, and—” - -“You might as well stop, Mr. Slocum, for it’s too late to say that now. -I am positive our claims are of great value. Since you won’t do the -right thing, I shall advise my father to bring action in court to compel -you to come to terms.” - -While speaking, Jerry had walked to the door, and now placed his hand on -the knob. - -“Stop! stop!” - -“No, I have had enough for the present.” - -“You villain!” - -Slocum ran toward Jerry, who opened the door to step out, but found the -way blockaded by Casey, his book-keeper. - -“Here, what’s up?” cried the man, in wonder. - -“Don’t let him get away, Casey!” cried Alexander Slocum. “He is going to -make trouble, sure!” - -“Let me go!” burst out our hero as the book-keeper caught hold of him. -“Let go, or I’ll——” - -Jerry never finished that sentence. Alexander Slocum had picked up the -ruler the youth had dropped, and leaped to the front. Down came the -weapon on the young oarsman’s head; he felt a sharp stinging pain—and -then he knew no more. - -When Jerry came to his senses all was dark around him. He was lying on a -damp, cement floor, evidently that of a cellar. - -His head ached greatly, and for several minutes he could not remember -what had happened. - -Then came back that scene in Slocum’s office. He staggered to his feet. - -Where was he and how long had he been there? - -The first question was readily answered. Stepping forward, Jerry -stumbled over some loose coal. He was in a coal-cellar. Around and above -were brick walls. The door was of sheet-iron, and it was tightly closed -and barred. How had he come to that place? Probably his enemies had -carried him hither, although how they could do it without being seen was -a question. - -As soon as our hero felt strong enough he looked about for some means of -escaping from his prison. With great care he examined the walls and -tried the door. - -Finding no outlet on any side, he turned his attention to the pavements -above. From one spot there came a faint glimmer of light, in a circle, -and he rightfully guessed that the coal-hole was located there. - -How to reach the hole was a problem. It was several feet above our -hero’s head, and there was nothing in the coal-vault to stand upon. - -Jerry considered the situation for a minute, and then, standing directly -under the cover of the hole, leaped upward, sending his hand over his -head as he did so. - -The cover was loose, and the force of the blow caused it to fly upward. -Another blow and it fell away entirely, and in a second more the young -oarsman was clambering out of the opening. - -It was drawing towards evening, and the street was full of people, some -of which eyed the boy curiously. Restoring the cover to its place, he -left the spot. - -The question now was, should he return to Slocum’s office or seek -outside assistance? He decided upon the latter course. To attempt to -bring the rascally real estate agent to terms alone would be foolhardy. - -Jerry’s head ached so much he could think only with difficulty, and he -decided to return to Nellie Ardell’s apartments. It was a hard walk, and -he was glad when the place was reached and he could sit down. - -“What’s the matter—are you hurt?” cried the young woman. - -“I was knocked out,” replied the youth, with a sorry little laugh. “I’ve -got a pretty big lump on the top of my head.” - -Sitting down, he told his story, to which Nellie Ardell listened with -breathless attention. - -“The wicked man! He should be locked up!” she burst out, when Jerry had -finished. “It’s a wonder he didn’t kill you.” - -“That’s true. As it was, the blow was awfully hard.” - -“What will you do now?” - -“I really don’t know.” - -“Won’t that Mr. Islen whom you work for, help you?” - -“Perhaps he will,” returned the youth, struck with the idea. “The -trouble is his brother is dead, and that has upset him.” - -“One thing is certain, Jerry, the property is valuable.” - -“Yes, and another thing is certain,” added our hero. “We want our shares -of it.” - -“It would be a great help to me to get some money out of it,” said -Nellie Ardell, with a sigh. “This sewing constantly day in and day out -is wearing on me.” - -The two talked for over an hour, and then Jerry felt compelled to lie -down. It was nearly morning before his head stopped aching and he got -some rest. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXXV. - A STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE - - -On the next day the bindery was opened as usual, but Mr. Islen did not -appear, having gone to Philadelphia. Jerry worked throughout the day, -wondering what Alexander Slocum had thought and done after he had -discovered the escape. Little did the young oarsman dream of what the -real estate dealer was then doing. - -Our hero was proving himself to be skillful at the work assigned to him -and the foreman often praised him. - -“You’ll be worth a raise in wages,” he said. “I never saw a boy take -hold as you do.” - -Jerry never delayed after the day’s work was over. He washed up, put on -his coat, and hurried forth to his boarding place. - -When Jerry reached the house he found little Dottie on the stoop, with -Tommy in her arms. Tommy was crying for something to eat, and the little -girl was having her hands full with him. - -“Where is Miss Nellie?” asked our hero in some surprise. - -“I don’t know,” returned the girl. “She sent me out with Tommy after -dinner, and when I tried to get in after awhile the door was locked and -she was gone.” - -“And you have been sitting here ever since?” - -“Yes.” - -“Come up. I’ll open the door.” - -Jerry led the way, and with a night key opened the door to the kitchen. - -A cry of surprise burst from his lips. Everywhere were the signs of a -desperate struggle. Two of the chairs were overturned, the table-cloth -hung half off the table, and Nellie Ardell’s sewing was strewn in all -directions. - -“This is Slocum’s work!” - -Those were the words which arose to the youth’s lips as he surveyed the -situation in the kitchen. - -Alexander Slocum had tried to get him out of the way, and now he had -tried the same plan upon Nellie Ardell. - -There had been a fierce struggle, of that there was not the slightest -doubt. - -But the girl had been overpowered in the end and taken off. - -To where? - -That was the all-important question. - -While our hero was gazing around the room, little Tommy was crying at -the top of his lungs. - -To quiet him, Jerry gave him his bowl of bread and milk, and also gave -Dottie her supper. - -Then Jerry began a minute examination of the rooms. - -There was mud on the oil-cloth—the tracks of four boots. - -“Slocum and Casey, his book-keeper,” he said to himself. - -Going below he interviewed Mrs. Flannigan, a good-natured Irish woman -who lived on the next floor. - -“Did you see Miss Ardell this afternoon?” - -“Sure, an’ Oi did not Oi was out,” she replied. - -He next tried the janitress, who lived in the basement. She was a -peppery old woman who seldom had a pleasant word for anybody. - -“Did I see her? Yes, she went out with two men about two hours ago,” she -said. - -“What sort of looking men?” - -“I can’t say—I’m not taking notice of everybody who comes and goes.” - -“But this is important, Mrs. Foley. I am afraid something has happened -to Miss Ardell.” - -“They were tall men, and I guess both had big black mustaches and -beards.” - -“Where did she go with them?” - -“Into a carriage. All of ’em seemed to be in a big hurry.” - -“Which way did the carriage go?” - -“Down towards the Brooklyn ferry.” - -In a thoughtful mood, the young oarsman walked back upstairs. He met -Mrs. Flannigan outside of the door. - -“What’s wrong, Mr. Upton?” - -“That is what I am trying to find out. Miss Ardell is missing. If I go -out, will you look after the children?” - -“Sure, Oi will, bless the dears,” she said. Her heart was as large as -her ruddy, full-blown face. - -Without waiting longer, Jerry ran down into the street and endeavored to -trace the carriage down to the ferry. In this he was successful, and -learned that the turnout containing two men and a young lady, who -appeared to be ill, had crossed to Brooklyn. - -By this time night had set in, and all efforts to follow the carriage -proved unsuccessful. Yet unwilling to give up, Jerry spent over two -hours in Brooklyn, hunting in every direction for a clew. - -Our hero had never been across the East River before, and in hunting -around it was but natural that he should get lost. At the end of the -search he found himself a good distance from the river, in a -neighborhood that looked anything but respectable. - -“It’s time I got back,” thought the youth, and started to make -inquiries. - -“You’re a dozen blocks out of your way,” said a man. “Go down that way -three blocks, and turn to your left.” - -As Jerry walked along a somewhat gloomy street, he noticed three men -walking ahead of him. One was a tall, finely built man, wearing a large -round hat, of the western type. - -The other men were short fellows, each with a red mustache. They carried -heavy canes and walked on either side of the tall individual. - -“Aren’t we almost there?” Jerry heard the tall man ask, as he drew -closer to the trio. - -“Yes, it ain’t but a step further,” was the reply from one of the short -men. - -“You are certain this Crazy Jim is the man I am after?” - -“Oh, yes.” - -The mentioning of Crazy Jim’s name interested Jerry. Crazy Jim was still -up on Blackwell’s Island. It was possible, however, that they referred -to some other individual. - -To hear what further they might have to say the young oarsman kept close -to the party. - -“It’s been a long hunt for me, gentlemen,” said the tall man, and by his -speech Jerry felt sure he was a westerner. “But if I am on the right -trail, things will soon come out right.” - -“What do you want to find Crazy Jim for?” asked one of the short men. - -“I’m not saying anything about that just now,” was the cool response. - -“Oh, excuse me, of course not.” The short fellow looked around, but -failed to catch sight of our hero. “Jack, how about a smoke?” he said to -the other short fellow. - -“Strike a light,” was the answer. - -The words were evidently a secret signal, for hardly were they spoken -when one of the short men caught the westerner from behind and held his -arms. - -“Here, what’s the meaning of this?” cried the man, in alarm. - -“Keep still, old man, and we won’t hurt you. Raise a row and you’ll get -knocked out. Quick, Pete, with his diamond pin and that roll of bills in -his left pocket!” - -At this command the man in front rushed in and caught hold of the man’s -pin. Out it came in his hand, a beautiful affair, worth at least a -hundred dollars. - -“Stop! stop!” yelled the westerner. “Police! police!” - -“Shut up!” hissed the man who held him. “Pete, crack him over the head. -We can’t afford to take any chances here.” - -Thus ordered, the man who held the diamond pin slipped it into his -pocket. Then he raised his heavy cane and started to do as bidden when -Jerry rushed at him. - -“Stop! Don’t hit that man!” - -The rascal was surprised. - -“Who are you? Oh, it’s only a boy. Clear out of here!” - -“I won’t! You let that man alone.” - -“Don’t leave me,” pleaded the victim. “They want to rob me. He has my -diamond pin!” - -“Shut up!” howled the man in the rear. “Crack him, Pete, and crack the -boy, too.” - -Once more the heavy cane was raised. Our hero caught it in the center, -and by a dexterous twist wrenched it from the rascal’s hand. - -With a howl of baffled rage the rascal turned and caught Jerry by the -throat. - -“Give me that stick, boy, or I’ll choke the life out of you!” he hissed -into the youth’s ear. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVI. - JERRY HEARS AN ASTONISHING STATEMENT. - - -When the footpad, for the fellow was nothing less, attacked Jerry, our -hero felt that he had a tough struggle before him. - -The rascal’s grasp on the young oarsman’s throat was light, however, and -Jerry quickly shook it off. - -In the meantime the westerner began to struggle and shout at the top of -his voice: - -“Help! Police! police!” - -In vain the fellow who held him tried to stop his cries. They grew -louder, and soon footsteps were heard approaching. - -Jerry received a savage blow on the chest and struck out in return, -hitting the footpad in the chin. Then the two clinched, and both rolled -to the pavement. - -Jerry’s assailant was a strong man and he was slowly but surely getting -the best of the youth when three men put in an appearance. They were -heavy-set individuals and were followed by a policeman. - -“What’s up here?” - -“Don’t kill that boy!” - -“He is a thief!” cried Jerry. “He has that man’s diamond pin.” - -“That’s right,” put in the westerner, who had managed to turn and catch -hold of his assailant. “This fellow is his mate. They just tackled me -when the boy came to my help.” - -“It is a falsehood,” roared the footpad who had attacked our hero. - -Saying this, he arose and tried to sneak away. But Jerry tripped him up, -sending him headlong, and before he could rise the policeman had him -handcuffed. - -While this was going on the westerner and two of the new arrivals -managed to make a prisoner of the other footpad. He used some terrible -language, but this did not avail him. - -“I know them,” said the policeman, after the capture was effected. “They -are Hungry Pete and Jack the Slick. They are wanted for a burglary at -Sheepshead Bay. How did you happen to fall in with them?” - -“I met them up at Rumford’s Hotel. They said they knew a man I was -looking for.” - -“Will you come along and make a charge against them?” - -“Certainly. He has my diamond pin.” - -The pin was brought to light and handed over to its owner, and then our -hero was asked to go along. - -Anxious to know what the westerner might want of Crazy Jim, Jerry -agreed, and a minute later found the whole crowd bound for the nearest -station-house. - -Here the westerner gave his name as Colonel Albert Dartwell. He said he -was from Denver and had come east on private business. - -“I have been sick for two months,” he said. “I am still weak. That is -the reason I did not put up a better fight when those two men tackled -me.” Jerry told his story, and the upshot of the matter was that the two -footpads were held for another hearing before the judge in the morning. - -“My boy, I owe you something for your services to me,” said the -westerner, as he and our hero came out on the street. “You did well for -a boy.” - -“I did the best I could,” replied the young oarsman. “But I want to ask -you a question. I heard you mention Crazy Jim. What do you want to see -him for?” - -A look of pain crossed Colonel Dartwell’s face at my words. - -“It’s a long story, Upton. I am from the West and came many miles to see -him. Do you know the man?” - -“I know one fellow called Crazy Jim, sir.” - -“His right name is James MacHenry.” - -“That’s the man.” - -“Ah! And where can he be found?” - -“Most likely on Blackwell’s Island.” - -“He is in prison?” - -“Yes.” - -“What for?” - -“For breaking the glass in a store window and creating a row.” - -Colonel Dartwell drew a long breath. - -“Those footpads told me he was in a hotel in the neighborhood. You are -sure you are right?” - -“Yes, sir. To be truthful, I was mixed up in the scrape that took Crazy -Jim to prison.” - -“Indeed. Would you mind telling me about it? You don’t look like a boy -that would do wrong.” - -“It wasn’t my fault. Crazy Jim had a packet belonging to me—a packet -containing some valuable documents. I called for them and found he had -given them up to an enemy of mine.” - -“And that led to the row.” - -“Not exactly. He is a bad man, and there was a little girl living with -him, and he—” - -As Jerry spoke Colonel Dartwell grasped him by the arm. - -“Stop! What did you say about a little girl?” he demanded, eagerly. - -“I said there was a little girl living with him. He used to send her out -to beg. He got it into his head that she had set me against him, and he -started to beat her. I told her to run away, and then he attacked me and -got arrested.” - -“And what became of the little girl? Tell me, quickly!” And Colonel -Dartwell’s voice was husky as he spoke. - -“I met her afterward and took her to where I was boarding, and she is -still stopping there.” - -“Describe her to me.” - -Seeing there was something behind the inquiry, Jerry gave him the best -description he could. The colonel listened with fixed attention. - -“It must be her!” he murmured. “My poor, lost Dottie.” - -“Dottie! That’s her name!” cried our hero. “And she is—” - -“She is my daughter,” was his answer. - -“Your daughter!” ejaculated Jerry, in amazement. - -“Yes, my daughter. Take me to her at once.” - -“I will, sir; but this is the strangest thing I ever heard.” - -“I have no doubt of it.” - -“Was she stolen from you?” - -“Yes. It’s a long story. I will tell it to you while we are on the way. -She is well?” - -“Yes, sir. But she has been misused, so you mustn’t expect to see her -looking real good. She is very thin.” - -“I have not seen her for four years, not since she was a mite of a -toddler.” - -The pair started for the ferry without delay, and as they proceeded, the -colonel related his story. - -He was a mine-owner and had lived in the West for fifteen years. His -wife had died when Dottie was born, and the child had been turned over -to the care of a colored nurse. - -At that time James MacHenry had been a prospector in the region and he -had opened a mine close to that located by the colonel. - -All went well until the MacHenry mine petered out, as it is called, and -then the man’s mind became deranged. He accused the colonel of having -cheated him out of a slice of the richest land and a bitter quarrel -resulted. - -Two weeks later MacHenry disappeared, and shortly after that baby Dottie -was missing. A long search was made for the child, but without avail. - -Curiously enough, the colonel did not connect the disappearance of his -child with that of Crazy Jim. He started to hunt for the little one -among the Indians and the outlaws in the mountains. - -Two years passed, and then one night a good-for-nothing miner named -Duffy was shot in a quarrel over a game of cards. On his dying bed Duffy -confessed that he had once been intimate with Crazy Jim and that the -latter had acknowledged stealing Dottie. - -A hunt was at once made for the abductor. It was said he had gone to San -Francisco, and later on he was traced to Chicago, but there the trail -was lost until long after, when a tramp turned up who spoke of having -seen Crazy Jim around New York. - -Without delay Colonel Dartwell had come East and scoured the metropolis. -While here he had fallen in with footpads who had sought to rob him. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVII. - A JOYOUS MEETING. - - -By the time Colonel Dartwell’s story was told he and Jerry had landed in -the metropolis, and a hurried walk of a few minutes brought them to -Nellie Ardell’s apartment. Mrs. Flannigan was waiting for our hero, -having put both of the children to bed. - -“An’ did ye find Miss Ardell?” she asked, quickly. - -“No, Mrs. Flannigan. But I have found somebody else—the father of -little Dottie.” - -“Indade, now! An’ ain’t that noice,” she exclaimed, glancing at Colonel -Dartwell’s well-dressed figure. “Well, the poor dear needs somebody, not -but what she got good care here,” she added, hastily. - -Tears stood in the colonel’s eyes as he stepped up beside the bed upon -which Dottie lay. He took the white-robed figure up in his arms and -kissed her face. - -“It is she,” he said, in a choking voice. “The living picture of her -dead mother!” - -Dottie awoke with a start and was inclined to cry out. But Jerry and the -colonel quickly soothed her. - -“I am your papa, Dottie; don’t you remember papa and big Ruth that used -to be with you?” - -The little girl looked puzzled. Then she gave a cry. - -“Papa! papa! I know you! I knew you would come to me! Oh, papa, don’t go -away again! Crazy Jim said you were dead! Oh, papa!” - -And she clung to him convulsively. It was such an affecting scene Jerry -had to turn away, while Mrs. Flannigan, standing in the partly open -doorway, shed copious tears. - -An hour later the children had again retired, and the colonel and the -young oarsman sat in the little kitchen talking. - -“And you say you think Miss Ardell was abducted?” he said. - -“I felt sure of it, sir. This Alexander Slocum wants to get her out of -the way on account of some property he is holding back from her. I am -interested in the same property.” - -And Jerry told him the particulars of affairs so far as they concerned -Slocum. - -“If the land in question is near Sacramento it ought to be of great -value,” said the colonel. “Property in that section is booming.” - -“I want to find Nellie Ardell, sir. I am afraid he will do her bodily -harm. He might even kill her to get her out of the way.” - -“I will help you all I can, Upton. You have done me a great service, and -I certainly owe the young lady much for taking my child in and caring -for her.” - -Our hero and the colonel went over the matter carefully for fully an -hour and decided to start on a hunt as soon as it grew light. The -colonel offered to employ a detective and this offer Jerry readily -accepted. - -Jerry passed several hours trying to sleep, and at the first sign of -dawn was up and dressed. The colonel had rested in an arm-chair, not -caring to separate himself from his child by going to a hotel. - -Mrs. Flannigan was again called upon and readily agreed to take charge -of Tommy and Dottie once more. She took them to her own rooms and was -cautioned about letting strangers in. - -“Don’t fear, they’ll not take ’em from me,” she said, and in such a -determined way that Jerry was compelled to laugh. - -The call at a detective’s office was soon over, and it was not as -satisfactory as our hero had anticipated. - -“You mustn’t expect too much,” laughed the colonel. “In spite of the -thrilling detective stories published, detectives are only ordinary men, -and cannot do the impossible. Mr. Gray will no doubt go to work in his -own way and do the best he can.” - -Their next movement was to cross to Brooklyn. Here the pair started on -the hunt for the carriage that had carried Nellie Ardell off. - -An hour was spent in a fruitless search. They were about to give it up, -when they saw a carriage coming down to the ferry that was covered with -dust and mud. - -“That looks as if it had been out in the country a good distance,” -observed Colonel Dartwell. “I’ll stop the driver and see what he has to -say. It can do no harm.” - -Walking up in front of the team he motioned for the driver to halt. - -“Want a carriage, boss?” - -“No, I want to know where you have been?” demanded the westerner. - -At this question the driver seemed plainly disconcerted. He looked -around, and, seeing a clear space to his left, whipped up his animals -and sped off. - -“He’s our man!” cried the colonel. “Come on, he must not escape us!” - -He set off with all speed and Jerry followed. The driver drove as far as -the first corner and then had to halt because of a blockade in the -street. - -“Come down here!” commanded Colonel Dartwell. - -“I ain’t done nothin’,” growled the fellow. “You let me alone.” - -“I asked you where you had been.” - -“Up to the park.” - -“Who did you have for a fare?” - -“An old man.” - -“That’s not true—you had two men and a girl.” - -The carriage driver muttered something under his breath. - -“I—I—who said I had the men and a girl?” he asked, surlily. - -“I say so. Where did you take the young lady?” - -At first the driver beat about the bush. But the colonel threatened him -with arrest, and this brought him around. - -“Don’t arrest me, boss. I wasn’t in the game. The men hired me to take -’em out—that was all. They said the girl was light-headed and the place -was a private asylum.” - -“Probably,” rejoined Colonel Dartwell, sarcastically. “Take us to that -place without delay. But stop—drive to police headquarters first.” - -Very unwillingly the fellow complied. At the headquarters help was -procured in the shape of two ward detectives. All four of the party -entered the carriage and were driven off to effect Nellie Ardell’s -rescue. - -It was with deep interest that Jerry accompanied Colonel Dartwell and -the officers of the law in the search for the missing young lady. - -On through the crowded streets of Brooklyn drove the carriage, the -driver now apparently as willing to help the law as he had before wished -to evade it. - -The carriage was turning into one of the fine thoroughfares when Jerry -caught sight of a figure which instantly arrested his attention. The -figure was that of Mr. Wakefield Smith. - -“Stop!” cried the young oarsman to the driver of the carriage. - -“What’s up?” demanded the colonel. - -“Do you see that man over there by the paper stand?” - -“Yes.” - -“That is Wakefield Smith, the pickpocket.” - -“Indeed! He ought to be arrested.” - -“You know him to be a pickpocket?” questioned one of the detectives. - -“I do. He robbed me of over twenty dollars. I got back ten dollars. He’s -a very smooth and slick worker.” - -“I think I know that chap,” returned the detective. “Don’t he look like -Charley the Dude?” he asked of his companion. - -“By Jove! that’s our man!” ejaculated the second detective. “I would -know him anywhere by that peculiar walk. He has grown a heavy mustache -since I saw him last.” - -“Will you stop and arrest him?” asked Jerry. “He ought to be locked up.” - -“We can get the policeman on the beat to attend to him. There is an -officer on the next corner. Just call him, Harrity.” - -The carriage was brought up to the curb and our hero and the officers -alighted, the Colonel remaining behind to keep an eye on the driver. - -Mr. Wakefield Smith was strolling down the street in a lordly way when -Jerry tapped him on the shoulder. - -“So I’ve met you again,” he said. - -The pickpocket turned and his face fell. But only for a moment; then he -gazed at the youth brazenly. - -“I don’t know you, me boy,” he drawled in an assumed voice. - -“But I know you, Mr. Smith,” rejoined Jerry. “I want the balance of my -money. I got ten dollars the night you were intoxicated, but that is not -enough.” - -“Boy, you are talking riddles. I never saw you before.” - -“I can easily prove it, I fancy.” - -“It’s no use, Charley,” broke in the detective, who had followed him. -“We know you well enough.” - -“And who are you?” asked the pickpocket, much disconcerted. - -“I am a detective. You are the rogue known as Charley the Dude. You may -consider yourself under arrest.” - -“This is an outrage!” - -“Hardly.” - -By this time the second detective had arrived with a policeman. At sight -of the bluecoat the pickpocket became nervous. Turning, he suddenly -started to run. - -But the others ran for him, and soon he was handcuffed. Explanations to -the policeman followed, and the officer took him off, and Jerry and the -detectives continued on their way. - -It may be well to state here that the pickpocket, whose real name was -Charles Heulig, was later on convicted of several crimes and sent to -state prison for a term of years. Jerry never received a cent of the -balance of the money due, but other events that followed made this loss -seem a trivial one. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVIII. - ALEXANDER SLOCUM IS BROUGHT TO BOOK. - - -In half an hour after the arrest of the pickpocket the young oarsman and -his companions found themselves on the outskirts of Brooklyn and bowling -along a smooth country road which the detectives said they knew well. - -On and on they went, until Colonel Dartwell asked the driver how much -further they had to go. - -“About half a mile, sir,” was the answer. - -His words proved correct. Turning into a side road, the carriage came to -the entrance to a large grounds, surrounded by a high board fence. - -Over the gateway was the sign: - - DR. HALCONE’S PRIVATE SANITARIUM. - -“A private lunatic asylum,” murmured Colonel Dartwell. - -“Yes, sir,” said the driver. “You know I told you they said the young -lady was a bit off.” - -“What shall we do?” was the question put by the westerner to the -detectives. “Shall we go in boldly and order them to produce the girl?” - -“Will they do it?” asked Jerry. “They may be in Slocum’s pay, and hide -her away.” - -“The young man is right,” said one of the detectives. “We’ll drive on a -way and then sneak back and size the place up.” - -This was done, and five minutes later found the colonel and our hero -walking along a hedge which separated the grounds on one side from a -woods. - -“Look there!” Jerry cried suddenly, and pointed to an upper window of -the brick building beyond. - -He had seen Nellie Ardell’s face as the young lady walked about the -apartment. As the others gazed upward Alexander Slocum appeared. He held -a sheet of paper and a pen in his hands. - -“He wants her to sign something,” cried our hero in a low voice. “See! -see! he is going to force her.” - -“Leave me be, Mr. Slocum,” those below heard Nellie Ardell exclaim. “I -will not sign off my interest in that property. Leave me be! Oh, that -somebody was at hand to help me!” - -“Come on—there is no time to waste!” cried Colonel Dartwell, and pushed -through the hedge. - -Jerry followed, and both ran for a side door of the building, which -stood open. - -Here they found themselves confronted by a burly man of advanced age, -evidently the proprietor of the sanitarium. - -“Here, what do you want here?” he demanded, roughly. - -“We want that young lady upstairs!” cried Jerry. - -“You can’t have her.” - -“We’ll see about that,” put in Colonel Dartwell. “You have no authority -to detain her here.” - -“She is insane, and——” - -“Help! help!” came from upstairs, and rushing past the burly doctor, -Jerry skipped up the stairs, three steps at a time. - -The colonel came behind. The doctor was about to remonstrate when he -found himself confronted by the two detectives. - -Our hero and the colonel soon found the proper door. It was locked, but -putting his shoulder to it the young oarsman soon burst it open. - -Alexander Slocum stood at the table in the center of the room. He had -Nellie Ardell by the wrist, and was endeavoring to force her to sign the -paper before them. - -“Leave her alone, you villain!” cried Jerry, and dragged him backward. - -“Jerry Upton!” exclaimed the young woman, and her tone was full of joy. -“Oh, how thankful I am that you have come!” - -“What—what is the meaning of this?” asked Slocum, turning deadly pale. - -“It means that you have been found out, Alexander Slocum,” replied our -hero. “We have learned—” - -“Darnley the boomer!” burst out Colonel Dartwell at this point. “So this -is where you drifted to after the swindle at Silver Run.” - -“Do you know him?” queried Jerry. - -“Only too well. He was in Colorado for several years under the name of -Chester Darnley. He is a boomer and all-around swindler.” - -“It’s a—a falsehood,” burst from Alexander Slocum’s lips, but his voice -trembled as he spoke. - -“I can prove all I say,” said the colonel. “There are witnesses enough -against you at Silver Run.” - -Slocum was all but overcome. He sank in a chair, and a moment later one -of the detectives came up and slipped a pair of handcuffs on his wrists. - -The proprietor of the so-called sanitarium was also arrested, and both -prisoners were driven down to the Brooklyn police station. A hearing was -had, and the prisoners were held for trial. - -From Brooklyn the colonel, Nellie, and Jerry returned to New York. -Nellie left the party to go home, and Jerry and the colonel continued on -to Slocum’s office with an officer. - -The book-keeper, Casey, was found and arrested, and the office was -placed in care of the authorities. The next day Jerry recovered his -father’s papers and also those belonging to Nellie Ardell. - -The young oarsman lost no time in sending word home how matters had -turned, stating that the claim was probably worth a good deal of money. -He added that if his father was not well enough to come to the -metropolis, Colonel Dartwell stood ready to take entire charge of the -case and see that they got their rights. - -An answer soon came back, written by Mrs. Upton. Mr. Upton was well -enough to sit up, but that was all, and he would be glad enough to do as -his son had suggested. So the necessary papers were made out, and a suit -instituted against Alexander Slocum. - -In the meantime, Mr. Islen sold out his bindery, and by this turn of -affairs our hero found himself out of employment. But he had had enough -of the great metropolis for the present, and was glad enough to go back -to Lakeview while awaiting the time when Slocum should be brought to -trial. - -The news of what he had accomplished had leaked out, and when he arrived -he found Harry and Blumpo awaiting him at the depot. - -“You’re a clever one, Jerry!” cried Harry, shaking his hand warmly. “To -run off on the quiet and come back with a fortune for your family.” - -“We haven’t got the fortune yet,” laughed the young oarsman. “But we -hope to have it before long.” - -“I always said Jerry was de greatest boy dat eber was born,” ejaculated -Blumpo, with his face on a broad grin. - -“How is your father Blumpo?” asked Jerry, to change the subject. - -“He’s very well again.” - -“You must tell us your whole story,” went on Harry. “I am dying to hear -it.” - -“I will—but I must get home first,” answered the young oarsman. - -He was soon on his way to the farm, where his parents received him with -open arms. A splendid dinner was awaiting him—such a repast as he had -not had since leaving—but none of the food was touched until his tale -was told from end to end, with all of its details as they have been -presented to my readers. - -“You did well, son,” was Mr. Upton’s comment. “I don’t believe anybody -could have done better.” - -Mrs. Upton smiled fondly and put her arms about the boy. - -“He’s our Jerry, father,” was all she said, but the simple words meant a -good deal. - -His own story told, and the dinner finished, Jerry wanted to know the -news around Lakeview, but his parents had little to tell. - -“I have not been out since your father was taken down,” said Mrs. Upton. -“You’ll have to ask Harry Parker and your other friends.” - -“Have Si Peters and Wash Crosby been caught yet?” - -“No, and I doubt if they ever do catch them,” responded Mrs. Upton. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIX. - HARRY TO THE RESCUE. - - -Early on the following morning Harry came over to take Jerry for a sail -on the lake in the Whistler. - -“We can sail and talk at the same time,” he explained. “I know you must -be longing for a whiff of the water.” - -“You are right there, Harry,” returned the young oarsman. “Lake Otasco -is better than the hot pavements of New York City a hundred times over.” - -The two boys soon set off. Harry had expected Blumpo to accompany them, -but that youth was out in his own boat with a party that had hired the -craft for several days. - -“Blumpo is making money,” said Harry, “and I am glad of it.” - -“So am I,” replied our hero. “He is an odd sort of chap, but his heart -is of gold.” - -The Whistler was soon on her way up the lake with old Jack Broxton at -the tiller, and as the breeze was steady the boys had little to do but -talk. Once again our hero related his story, and Harry proved a most -attentive listener. - -“That Alexander Slocum ought to go to prison for life,” he said, at the -conclusion. “The idea of daring to make out that Nellie Ardell was -insane.” - -“It was a bold scheme, Harry.” - -“It seems to me the world is full of bad people, Jerry. Look at such men -as that Slocum and his tools, and then at such boys as Si Peters and -Wash Crosby.” - -“Where do you suppose Crosby and Peters are?” - -“The authorities don’t know. But Blumpo told me a few days ago he was -almost certain he had seen them on the north shore of the lake. He said -they took to their heels in the bushes just about the time he spotted -them.” - -“They are bound to be brought to justice sooner or later.” - -“I don’t know. But I do know one thing; I would like to get back my gold -watch.” - -Thus the talk ran on, until Hermit Island was reached. Here they ran in -for a few minutes, to pass a word with Blumpo’s father, who greeted them -cordially. After this, they continued up along the south side of the -lake. - -As they skirted the beautiful shore they gradually crept up to a large -excursion boat. - -“Hullo, what’s that boat doing here?” cried Jerry. - -“It’s a Sunday school excursion from Cedar Falls,” replied his chum. - -The steamboat was not a large one and she seemed to have more than her -regular allowance of passengers aboard. Every deck was full of grown -folks and children, dressed in their best. - -A band was playing a merry air, and some of the children were singing. - -“Let’s give them a cheer,” suggested the young oarsman, as they drew -closer. - -“All right,” replied Harry, pulling out his handkerchief. “One, two, -three. Hurrah! hur—” - -Harry stopped short, as a cry of horror arose on board of the excursion -boat. - -A young girl had been standing close to the rail on a camp stool at the -bow of the boat. - -As the steamboat swung around the girl lost her balance. - -She tried to save herself, and, failing, pitched headlong into the -water. - -Harry saw her go under the greenish waves. - -“She’ll be struck by the paddle wheel,” he yelled, and then, splash! he -was overboard himself. - -Bravely he struck out to save the maiden. - -The order was given to back the steamboat. - -The wheels churned up the water into a white foam, but still the -momentum carried the large craft on. In the meantime Harry came up and -struck out valiantly for the girl, who was now going down for a second -time. - -“Save her! Save her!” shrieked the mother of the girl, in an agony of -fear. - -Half a dozen life preservers were thrown overboard, but none came to -where the girl could reach them. - -The mother of the girl wanted to join her daughter in the water but -strong hands held her back. - -“The young fellow will save her, madam!” - -“He’s a true hero!” - -Life lines were thrown over, but even these did no good. - -The steamboat swung around, but the run of the water washed the girl -closer and closer to the paddle wheel. - -She now came up a second time. Should she sink again all would be over. - -Harry was swimming with all the strength and skill at his command. - -At last he was within a yard of the struggling girl. - -The maiden threw up her hands and went under. - -As quick as a flash Harry dove down. - -A second passed. Then up came the youth with the girl clinging to his -shoulder. - -But now the current was apparently too strong for both of them. - -They were hurled up against the paddle wheel of the steamboat, and then -disappeared entirely from view. - -Jack Broxton gave a groan. - -“Harry is lost!” - -Jerry shuddered. - -“It looks like it,” he replied. - -The captain of the steamboat did not dare to move his craft for fear he -would do more harm than good. - -The mother of the girl continued to struggle to free herself. - -But now a cry was heard. It came from the stern of the steamboat. - -“There they are!” - -“The girl is safe and so is that brave young man.” - -Jerry and Jack Broxton heard the cry, and immediately put about in their -yacht. - -Harry was swimming along on his side. The girl was too weak to support -herself, and he was holding her up well out of the water. - -It took the Whistler but a moment to run up alongside of the pair. Jerry -reached over and caught hold of the girl and placed her on deck. - -In the meantime Harry secured a rope thrown by Jack Broxton and pulled -himself up. - -A cheer arose from those on the excursion boat. - -“She is safe now, sure!” - -The girl was too exhausted to move, and both boys rubbed her hands and -did what they could for her. - -Jack Broxton ran up alongside of the steamboat and a little later the -girl was placed on board. - -The mother clasped her child to her breast. - -“Go ahead, Jack,” said Harry in a low voice. “I don’t want the crowd to -stare at me.” - -“But the mother wants to thank you,” began Jerry. - -But Harry would not listen. He was too modest, and made Jack Broxton -actually run away from the excursion boat. - -But five hundred people cheered Harry and waved their handkerchiefs. - -“How did you escape the steamboat?” asked Jerry, when the excitement was -over. - -“We went under part of her,” was the reply. “I swam for all I knew how, -but it was a close call.” - -After this Harry retired to the cabin and changed his clothing. He drank -several cups of hot coffee, and half an hour later declared that he felt -as well as ever. - -The remainder of the run down the lake was uneventful. They dropped -anchor near the mouth of the Poplar River and started in to fish. - -They had all the necessary tackle on board, and procured bait at a -boathouse near by. - -The yacht was anchored at a well-known spot, and then the sport began. - -“I’ve a bite!” cried Harry. - -And sure enough he had something. He began to reel in with great -rapidity. - -“First fish,” said Jerry. - -Scarcely had Harry landed his haul than click, click, click went Jerry’s -reel. The line went off like a flash. - -Jerry began to reel in. That something big was on his hook was certain. - -The fish darted in every direction and Jerry had his hands full playing -him. - -“You’ll lose him!” cried Harry, excitedly. - -“I’ll do my best with him,” responded Jerry, quietly. - -After playing the fish for nearly five minutes he reeled him in rapidly. - -“Get the landing net, Jack,” he said, and the old tar stood ready the -moment the fish came into view. - -“A bass! A three-pounder!” cried Harry. “By jinks! but that’s a haul -worth making!” - -It was indeed a beautiful catch, and Jerry was justly proud of it. - -After this nothing was caught for twenty minutes. Then Harry landed a -fine fat perch weighing a pound. Jack was not fishing, but smoked and -looked on contentedly. - -Evening found them with a fine mess of bass and perch. - -“Not a bad haul,” said Jerry, as he surveyed the lot. - -“I reckon it’s about time to be gitting back,” observed Jack Broxton. -“We want ter make Lakeview afore dark.” - -So the anchor was hoisted and away they went before a nine-knot breeze. - -The return was made along the north shore. Here there were numerous -little islands, separated from the mainland by a series of channels, -some shallow and others deep enough to admit of the passage of a -good-sized yacht. - -The Whistler was just passing one of these channels, and Jerry and Harry -were at the side, cleaning their fish, when suddenly old Jack Broxton -uttered a cry. - -“What is it, Jack?” asked the young oarsman, quickly, while Harry also -raised up. - -“There’s a boat over yonder, back of that island, and I’m certain I saw -Si Peters and Wash Crosby on board,” was the old boatman’s interesting -answer. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XL. - A STRUGGLE IN THE DARK. - - -“You are sure?” demanded Jerry and Harry, in a breath. - -“Yes. The boat had the name Redeye painted on the stern. If I remember -rightly, she belongs to a tough crowd of fishermen from Long Lake.” - -“Where is she now?” demanded Harry. - -“Back there, somewhere.” - -“We must follow that boat; eh, Jerry?” - -“I am willing,” replied the young oarsman. - -“You may have lively times with that crowd,” put in Jack Broxton with a -grave shake of his head. - -“We’ll risk it,” answered Harry. He was thinking of his missing gold -watch. - -The course of the Whistler was changed, and soon they rounded the shore -of the island Jack Broxton had pointed out. - -Sure enough, there was the Redeye, with all sails set, making up the -lake. - -Near the stern stood Si Peters, Wash Crosby and several rascally looking -men. - -“They have discovered that we are after them,” cried Jerry, a few -minutes later. “See, they are crowding on all sail!” - -The young oarsman was right. Leaving the vicinity of the islands, the -other craft stood out boldly into the lake, and cut the water like a -knife. - -“She’s a good one,” observed Jack Broxton. - -The Whistler already had all sails out; and thus the craft went on, -neither gaining nor losing for half an hour. - -Then darkness settled over the lake, and the wind fell flat. - -“We’ve lost them now,” said Harry, dismally. - -“It’s a good thing the wind has fallen,” replied Jerry. - -“How so?” - -“As soon as it is dark enough we can take the row-boat and follow in -that.” - -“That’s an idea.” - -Soon night had settled over Lake Otasco. Then our hero and Harry lost no -time in entering the tender of the Whistler. - -“Make as little noise as possible,” cautioned Jerry. - -He was in the bow peering ahead, while Harry was at the oars. - -So they went on a distance of a quarter of a mile. - -“See anything?” whispered Harry. - -“Not yet. Pull in a little closer to shore. I have an idea Peters and -Crosby may land somewhere around here.” - -“Like as not that is their game.” - -On they went, the darkness growing more intense as they proceeded. There -was no moon, and the stars shone but faintly in the blue vault overhead. - -Suddenly Jerry held up his hand as a sign to Harry to stop rowing. -Instantly his chum raised the oars. - -“What do you see?” he whispered. - -“Something ahead—I can’t make out just what yet.” - -Several minutes of breathless silence followed. Then Jerry bent back. - -“The Redeye is just ahead, but I believe Si Peters and Wash Crosby have -already left her.” - -A second later a low but clear cry rang out: “You left that bundle -behind, Crosby!” - -“Never mind, I don’t want the old suit,” was the reply, coming from some -distance in toward shore. - -“That settles it,” whispered Jerry. “Crosby and Peters are in a row-boat -pulling for shore, beyond a doubt.” - -“That’s all right,” replied Harry. “I would rather tackle them than all -those on the Redeye.” - -“So would I.” - -The row-boat was headed for the west. - -How far off the shore was they did not know. They had located the voice -of Crosby and now steered in the direction. - -Jerry at the bow continued to keep his ears on the alert. - -“A little to the right, now,” he said. “That’s it. If you don’t make too -much noise we’ll surprise them completely.” - -“I think the best thing we can do is to follow them after they land, -until they reach some place where we can have them locked up, Jerry.” - -“That is certainly a good plan. It will save us the trouble of dragging -them off to jail, if we are fortunate enough to capture them.” - -Harry’s plan was accepted, and on they went. - -“Look!” cried Jerry, presently, and pointed down the shore. - -“I don’t see anything, Jerry.” - -“Don’t you see the lights coming toward us?” - -Harry strained his eyes. - -“I see them now.” - -“It’s a steamer coming this way.” - -“My gracious, we’ll have to get out of the way or we’ll be run down!” - -“She is close in shore,” went on Jerry. “I believe she’ll pass between -the other row-boat and ours.” - -“Let us hold up a minute and see what she intends to do,” said Harry. - -He rested on his oars. Soon the craft came closer. It was the excursion -boat on her return. - -“She is not coming near us,” said Jerry. “Pull on.” - -Harry had just taken to the oars again, when a wild cry rang out. It -came from the row-boat which held Peters and Crosby. - -“Stop! Don’t run us down!” - -“The steamboat is onto them!” ejaculated Jerry. - -Scarcely had he spoken when there came another cry, followed by a crash. - -“They’ve been struck!” yelled Harry. - -“Pull ahead!” cried Jerry. “Like as not they have either been killed or -are drowning!” - -He sprang to Harry’s side, and with an oar each they sped on to the -assistance of the unfortunate ones. - -In the meanwhile the steamboat stopped. - -“What’s the trouble?” called a voice. - -No answer was vouchsafed, and a moment later the steamboat went on. - -“Like as not, Si Peters and Wash Crosby are dead,” observed Harry, as he -bent to his oar. - -“We’ll soon know the truth,” replied the young oarsman. - -Both boys pulled a swift stroke, and were soon on the spot where the -catastrophe had occurred. - -In the meanwhile the steamboat was fast disappearing in the distance. -Soon the last light faded from sight. - -In the darkness of the night Jerry and Harry could see but little. - -“There is an oar,” cried Harry, pointing it out. - -“And there is part of the row-boat’s bottom,” said Jerry. “It looks as -if the row-boat was actually ground to pieces.” - -“Then it isn’t likely that Si Peters and Wash Crosby escaped.” - -“Well, we’ll take a good look around.” - -The two continued to row about, but for a long while saw nothing but -bits of wreckage. - -Then our hero beheld a form floating just to their right. - -“Take both oars, Harry,” he said, “and be careful, for that is Wash -Crosby’s body.” - -Harry took the oars and began to row slowly. - -As he moved on, Jerry stood in the bow. - -At that instant a strange thing happened. Si Peters came up under the -boat, giving it such a shove that Jerry was hurled overboard. - -Then, with a swiftness that was really surprising, Si Peters clambered -into the row-boat. - -In his hand he held part of a broken oar. - -“Jump out after Jerry Upton!” he growled as he advanced upon Harry. - -Without replying, Harry leaped up to defend himself. As he did this he -saw that Jerry and Wash Crosby were fighting in the water. - -Neither Crosby nor Peters had been hurt by the collision, both having -left their craft before the steamboat struck it. - -Their one thought now was to get the good row-boat away from our two -heroes. - -Jerry, thinking Wash Crosby seriously hurt, was taken completely by -surprise. - -Crosby caught him by the shoulder and forced him far under the water, -and then did his best to hold him there. - -Crosby was a powerful fellow, and he well understood what defeat and -capture meant—a term in prison. - -But, as we know, Jerry’s muscles were like iron, and his first surprise -over, he went for Crosby tooth and nail. - -With a powerful twist he freed himself from the rascal’s grasp and swam -some distance away. - -Then coming up behind Crosby, the young oarsman let out with his right -fist. - -The blow took the Rockpoint bully behind the ear, and Crosby let out a -wild yell of pain, broken by a gasp for air, as he went under the bosom -of the ocean. - -As he went down, our hero gave him an extra shove and then swam with all -speed for the row-boat, which had drifted several yards away. - -He saw Harry and Si Peters standing up in the boat. Peters had just -struck at his chum, and Harry had partly dodged the vicious blow. - -But the broken oar landed on Harry’s arm, causing him to cry out from -pain. - -“Drop that, Si Peters.” - -The command, coming so unexpectedly, startled Peters. He turned, to find -Jerry at the gunwale directly behind him. - -“Oh, Jerry, help!” cried Harry. - -Si Peters gave a low yell of rage. - -Again Harry sprang away, and now armed himself with an oar. - -“You can’t frighten me, you fool!” shouted Peters. “Don’t you dare to -put your hand on the boat!” - -And as Jerry grasped the gunwale, Peters raised his heavy foot as if to -crush our hero’s fingers. - -But Jerry was too quick for him. - -He dropped off. Then whizz! something dark flew through the air. - -It was part of the broken oar, thrown by Jerry, and it took Si Peters in -the neck. - -“Whack him one, Harry, while you have the chance!” - -Harry needed no advice on the subject. He sprang in, and a second later -a resounding crack laid Si Peters flat on his back. - -“That was a good one,” cried Jerry, as he clambered over the side. “Now -bind him before he comes to.” - -“Haven’t a blessed thing,” replied Harry. - -“Here is some cord. Tie his hands together.” - -While Harry was doing this, Jerry began to look around for Wash Crosby. - -“This way! We are in trouble!” yelled Crosby. - -“Pshaw!” exclaimed Jerry. “He’ll have that yacht down on us in another -minute.” - -But for once the young oarsman was mistaken. The men on the Redeye had -no desire, after befriending Si Peters and Wash Crosby, to fall into the -hands of the law, and instead of coming up they allowed their craft to -float off in an opposite direction. - -“There is Crosby!” shouted Jerry, a moment later, as he beheld the youth -floundering around in the water. “And look, here comes the Whistler.” - -He was right. A slight breeze had sprung up and Jack Broxton had nursed -the yacht along with all of the skill at his command. - -The coming of the old sailor ended the battle, so far as the bad boys -from Rockpoint were concerned. Both Si Peters and Wash Crosby were -hauled on board, and here they were tightly bound, to prevent their -making further trouble. - -It was after midnight when Lakeview was reached and the prisoners were -handed over to the local police. Then Harry and Jerry separated, to go -home and tell of their fresh adventures. - -The following morning Si Peters and Wash Crosby were taken to Rockpoint -and an examination was held. The bad boys confessed robbing the hotel -and the larger part of the money taken was recovered, as was also -Harry’s gold watch, which Si Peters had been bold enough to wear. Some -time later the evil-doers were tried and sent to jail, and that was the -last our heroes heard of them. - - [Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XLI. - A LAST RACE—GOOD-BYE TO THE RIVAL OARSMEN. - - -“Hurrah, here they come!” - -“It’s going to be a dandy race, Harry.” - -“Indeed it is, Dick.” - -“There comes Hosmer!” - -“Here comes Pinkney!” - -“What’s the matter with Villelet?” - -“He’s all right!” - -The conversation took place on the bank of the Hudson River, not far -from Poughkeepsie. - -It was the day of the great intercollegiate boat races. - -The single-shell race had just been ordered. - -Among the number to compete in this race was Jerry Upton. - -Our hero was rich now—that is, his folks were, which amounted to the -same thing. - -On trial it had been proven what a villain Alexander Slocum was. All of -his masquerading in the west under the name of Darnley was exposed, as -well as his fraudulent land schemes in the east. The real-estate -manipulator was sent to prison for a term of years, and the property in -California was divided up between Jerry’s father, Nellie Ardell and -several others who held an interest in it. - -The land was found to be within the city limits of Sacramento, and the -Upton share was computed to be worth forty-five thousand dollars. - -Mr. Upton was offered forty thousand dollars for it, but by the advice -of Colonel Dartwell, who became his intimate friend, he concluded to -keep it. - -“The investment is bringing in good interest,” he said, “and as it was -Jerry who did the work in getting it, the lad shall have it just as it -stands when I and my wife die.” - -Immediately after these matters were settled up, Jerry began to study -for college, and Harry did also, and both made the entrance examination -with ease. - -Jerry was a fine scholar and he was also one of the best oarsmen in his -class. Harry likewise rowed a good deal, although not near as much as -formerly. - -It was a perfect day and the river was, filled with pleasure boats, -loaded down to the rails with sightseers. The banks of the stream were -likewise lined with the crowds which had poured in to see the various -college oarsmen compete for the supremacy in aquatic sports. - -In the crowd on shore was our old friend Blumpo Brown. Blumpo was now in -business at Lakeview, letting out pleasure boats, of which he owned -several, and he was unusually prosperous. Just at present he was wearing -the colors of Jerry’s college and “whooping her up” for our hero -whenever the chance presented itself. - -At the given signal the single shells took their places at the starting -point. - -The participants were the pick of the single-shell men, and Jerry -realized that he would have a struggle to win. - -A puff of smoke, the report of a gun, and they were off! - -“A fine start!” - -“Hosmer leads!” - -“He will lead to the finish!” - -“Pinkney is a close second!” - -“Jerry Upton is third!” - -“My! but they are cutting the water!” - -“Two to one that Hosmer wins!” - -“Three to one that the record is broken!” - -“Foah to one dat Jerry Upton wins dis race!” cried Blumpo Brown, waving -a big college flag over his head. “Dat boy don’t know what it is to -lose!” - -“Hear that chap talk!” - -“Pitch him overboard to cool him off!” - -“Dat’s all right, it’s Jerry Upton’s muscle dat’s talkin’, not me!” -growled Blumpo. - -Down the straight course came the single-shell oarsmen, each back -bending to a long and powerful stroke. - -The quarter stretch was past with Hosmer still in the lead. - -Behind him came Pinkney and Jerry, side by side. - -Then came the half stretch. The leaders still held the same positions. - -“Told you Hosmer would win!” - -“Jerry Upton is falling behind!” - -It was true. Pinkney had increased his stroke and was crawling up slowly -but surely to the leader. - -“Pull, Jerry, pull,” yelled Harry. - -“You dun got to win dat race, suah!” screamed Blumpo. - -Jerry heard them, but paid no heed. He was rowing the race of the -year—the race that would make his college chums shout with joy or look -glum for the balance of the season. - -And now the three-quarter mark was past. A quarter of a mile more and -the race would be over. - -“See! Pinkney is drawing up to Hosmer!” - -“Pinkney leads! Hosmer has dropped away behind!” - -“Pinkney first and Jerry Upton second!” - -“Villelet is crawling up!” - -“He has passed Pinkney!” - -And so the shouting went on. The end of the course was in sight. How the -oarsmen were pulling! But now look at Jerry. - -How like a flash his back bends! How powerful is that broad stroke! How -quick his recovery! - -In vain Pinkney tried to hold his lead. Jerry means to win and nothing -can hold him back. - -He fairly flies past Pinkney and comes in a winner by a length and a -half. His friends go wild. - -“Hurrah for Jerry Upton!” shouts Harry. - -And the cheers echo and re-echo along the water and back to the distant -hills. - -Blumpo dances a breakdown for joy. - -“I told you he could do it,” he cries. “Da can’t beat our Jerry nohow!” - -“That’s right, they can’t!” adds Harry. “Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!” - -Jerry leaves his shell, and is hoisted up upon the shoulders of his -friends and marched around the town. - -That night he is given a big reception by his fellow students. It is the -happiest moment of his life. - -And here we will leave him and Harry and Blumpo, and all of the rest, -shouting as do our hero’s many friends: - -“Hurrah for the Young Oarsman of Lakeview!” - - THE END - - - - - TRANSCRIBER NOTES - - -In this .txt file, all words in italics are preceded and end with a _ tag -while all words in mixed or small capital letters are displayed in all -capital letters. - -Misspelled words and printer errors have been corrected. The original -spelling has been retained, except in case of obvious inconsistencies. -Where differences occur, the majority occurence prevails, e.g. Dick -Lanning to Dick Lenning, Islin to Islen, and Rockport to Rockpoint. - -Inconsistencies in punctuation have been maintained. - -Some illustrations were moved to facilitate page layout. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Young Oarsmen of Lakeview, by Ralph Bonehill - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOUNG OARSMEN OF LAKEVIEW *** - -***** This file should be named 50201-0.txt or 50201-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/2/0/50201/ - -Produced by David Edwards, Cindy Beyer and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from scanned images of public domain -material from the Google Books project.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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