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Forbes—A Project Gutenberg eBook - </title> - <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> - <style> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - text-indent: 1em; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -hr.fulla {width: 95%; margin: .5em 2.5% .1em 2.5%;} -hr.fullb {width: 95%; margin: .1em 2.5% .5em 2.5%;} -hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 47.5%; margin-right: 47.5%;} - -div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} -h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} - -.fs80 {font-size: 80%} -.fs120 {font-size: 120%} -.fs130 {font-size: 130%} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} -table.autotable { border-collapse: collapse; } - -.tdl {text-align: left;} -.tdr {text-align: right;} -.tdc {text-align: center;} - -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: small; - text-align: right; - font-style: normal; - font-weight: normal; - font-variant: normal; - text-indent: 0; - color: #A9A9A9; -} /* page numbers */ - - -.bb {border-bottom: 2px solid;} - -.bl {border-left: 2px solid;} - -.bt {border-top: 2px solid;} - -.br {border-right: 2px solid;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -/* Images */ - -img { - max-width: 100%; - height: auto; -} -img.w100 {width: 100%;} - - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; - page-break-inside: avoid; - max-width: 100%; -} - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:small; - padding:0.5em; - margin-bottom:5em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; -} -.illowp15 {width: 15%;} -.x-ebookmaker .illowp15 {width: 100%;} - - </style> -</head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Frank Allen and his motor boat, by Graham B. Forbes</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Frank Allen and his motor boat</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em;'>or, Racing to save a life</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Graham B. Forbes</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: December 9, 2022 [eBook #69509]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: David Edwards, Bob Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK ALLEN AND HIS MOTOR BOAT ***</div> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 85%"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Cover"> -</div> - -<div class="figcenter" id="frontis" style="width: 85%"> - <img class="w100" src="images/frontis.jpg" alt=""> -</div> - -<p class="center">“THERE HE IS!” CRIED LANKY EXCITEDLY, POINTING TO THE MOTOR -BOAT THAT LOOMED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THEM</p> - -<p><em>Frank Allen and His Motor Boat</em><span style="margin-left: 9em;"><em>Frontispiece</em> (Page <a href="#Page_203">203</a>)</span></p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<h1> -FRANK ALLEN AND<br> -HIS MOTOR BOAT</h1> -<p class="center fs120"><span style="margin-left: -1em;"> -OR</span><br> -Racing to Save a Life<br> -<br> -BY<br> -GRAHAM B. FORBES<br> -<em>Author of “Frank Allen’s Schooldays,” “Frank<br> -Allen—Pitcher,” “Frank Allen at<br> -Rockspur Ranch,” etc.</em><br> -<br></p> -<div class="figcenter illowp15" id="bookmakers_mark" style="max-width: 8em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/bookmakers.jpg" alt=""> -</div><br> -<br> -<p class="center">GARDEN CITY <span style="margin-left: 9em;">NEW YORK</span></p> -<p class="center fs120">GARDEN CITY PUBLISHING CO., INC.</p> -<p class="center">1926</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<table class="autotable fs120"> -<tr> -<td class="tdc bt bl br">FRANK ALLEN SERIES</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc bl br">BY</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc bl br bb">GRAHAM B. FORBES</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc bl br bb fs80"><em>See back of book for list of titles</em></td> -</tr> -</table> -<br><br> -<br> -<p class="center fs80">COPYRIGHT, 1926, BY<br> -GARDEN CITY PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC.<br> -MADE IN U. S. A.<br> -</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span></p> - -<p class="center fs120">FRANK ALLEN<br> -AND HIS MOTOR BOAT</p> -</div> -<hr class="r5"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">TUNING THE ROCKET</p> - - -<p>“Cunningham really wants a race, does he? -Well, I’m ready after to-day to give him a chance -to beat the <em>Rocket</em>; but, Lanky, he’ll have to handle -the <em>Speedaway</em> better than he handles himself or he -will find himself taking the rough water of this little -boat mighty quickly.”</p> - -<p>Frank Allen and Lanky Wallace were out on the -Harrapin river giving the regular daily try-out to -the <em>Rocket</em>. Lanky’s father, after their return from -a recent trip to the West, had presented Frank with -this neat, little, rakish-modeled motor boat for three -reasons: first, because he liked the upstanding leader -of the Columbia boys and felt that his own son, -Clarence (though Lanky was the name known best)<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span> -could be in no better company; second, because he -was himself a lover of the great out-of-doors and -felt that kinship to Frank which the outdoor life -develops in men; and third, he felt that Frank -had done him a great turn out at Gold Fork when -he had so successfully outwitted those who had -tried to rob him of the gold which was rightfully -his.</p> - -<p>“You know, sweet little Clarinda—” and Frank -started “kidding” his pal.</p> - -<p>“Listen, boy,” Lanky spoke up quickly, “the -Harrapin’s wetter than usual to-day. One of us -might get damp.”</p> - -<p>“As I was saying,” and Frank’s eyes sparkled, -“Clarice,” keeping a watch on Lanky, “you know -that a gas engine has fifty-seven varieties of tricks -in it, just like a good Missouri mule, and before I -get into any contests I am going to learn a few of the -tricks this one has.”</p> - -<p>At the moment there seemed to be no reason why -Frank Allen should doubt the faithfulness of his -motor, for it was running smoothly, hitting regularly, -and had been responding to-day to its master’s -touch. Which very fact was stated by Lanky -Wallace.</p> - -<p>“That’s all right, Lanky—what you say. But -you heard me compare a gas engine to a mule, didn’t -you? That is using other words to say that when<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span> -you think things are the smoothest is when they are -getting ready to be the worst.”</p> - -<p>The words had just left Frank’s lips and reached -Lanky Wallace’s ears when there was a loud pop -and the engine’s explosions ceased.</p> - -<p>“Oh, ye prophet!” and Lanky started laughing.</p> - -<p>“Here! Grab the wheel, hold her straight ahead, -and let me tickle this thing into action,” and Frank -let Wallace have his place.</p> - -<p>His wrenches in hand, he took out a spark plug -and immediately found this particular trouble. -Cleaning the plug and respacing the two points across -which the spark leaps, he replaced the plug and -started the engine. Again it worked smoothly, and -he threw it into gear with the propeller shaft.</p> - -<p>“I wonder who Cunningham is, really,” he said -as he wiped his hands on some waste and stood again -alongside Lanky Wallace.</p> - -<p>“Beats me. But I don’t like him, no matter who -he is nor where he’s from. There’s something about -him that isn’t square, Frank. His eyes are shifty -and he seems too anxious to be the leader in everything -in Columbia. I don’t see what Minnie sees in -him——”</p> - -<p>The mention of Minnie Cuthbert’s name along -with Cunningham’s was not at all pleasing to Frank -Allen, and a little frown stole across his face. There -was silence between the two boys while the <em>Rocket</em><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span> -continued up the river at a medium pace, taking -them on an errand for Frank’s father.</p> - -<p>“Well,” Frank broke into the put-put of the exhaust, -“I guess it’s just a strange face and new ways -and new words and lots of great things he has -done, and all of that. They say a woman’s intuition -is unerring, but I believe that you and I have -better intuition in this case than the girls have. I’m -going to venture this: I don’t believe Cunningham -is here for any good reason, and I believe that fast -motor boat of his is for some other purpose than -just to challenge us fellows to a race.”</p> - -<p>Silence fell again between the two boys while the -<em>Rocket</em> passed one after another of the beautiful, -green, wooded islands which dot the Harrapin and -make it one of the prettiest water-courses in the -country. From among the trees on each of them -peeped out pretty houses or cottages or partly built -summer homes, the finished houses possessed of neat -boat landings where week-end parties often stopped -during the solstice days and spent a merry time as -guests.</p> - -<p>“What a summer!” suddenly exclaimed Lanky.</p> - -<p>“How?”</p> - -<p>“Well, first out at Rockspur and Gold Fork, and -lots of fun and go almost every minute, and dad’s -map being stolen, and the sudden appearance of Lef -Seller, and the hot chase we had, and Lef’s getting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span> -away, and your finding all the gold for dad, and -his giving you a bunch of it, and now back here—all -of it, you know.”</p> - -<p>“And don’t forget we’ve got to have a good camp -yet before the summer’s gone,” put in Frank. “I’ve -been thinking of it all the summer and I don’t want -to see the time get away from us before we pull that -off.”</p> - -<p>“You’re sure right,” agreed Lanky.</p> - -<p>For a while they chatted about the pleasant times -in store for them on a camping trip, then the conversation -again drifted back to their adventures in the -West. All the while Frank was listening, even -through the spoken words, to the action of the -motor, feeling all the time as if something might be -wrong with it.</p> - -<p>“Something’s out of adjustment,” he said to his -companion, breaking suddenly into one of Lanky’s -speeches. “This motor is good, a perfect daisy, a -four-cycle type that is hardly without equal, and yet -it isn’t acting right, Lanky. I’m not so awfully expert -that I can figure it all out, but there is a noise -here that isn’t right. Listen! Just as I pick her up -for some speed, there’s a peculiar sound.”</p> - -<p>With this Frank increased the speed of the boat, -and in perhaps sixty seconds the <em>Rocket</em> was heading -up the Harrapin at a pace which Frank had not -previously held it to.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span></p> - -<p>“Gee, Frank,” cried Lanky enthusiastically, “what -chance has Fred Cunningham with this? This is -speed, I’ll say!”</p> - -<p>“Righto—it’s speed. Look at her nose! Up and -after ’em! Look back of us at the wash. But also -listen to that sound. Some of these days when I -need speed and think I’m going to get it, I’m going -to find myself in trouble if I don’t find the cause -for it,” and Frank’s tone was one of extreme worry.</p> - -<p>“What’s the use of worrying? I don’t hear anything -half as much as I see some speed. This is -great!”</p> - -<p>Gradually the speed of the <em>Rocket</em> was lessened, -for Frank was not inclined to take chances on something -which he did not understand.</p> - -<p>“How far do we go?” asked Lanky.</p> - -<p>“Up to Crescent Island. Father asked me to deliver -that message in my coat pocket up to Mr. -Sneed on the Island. I guess it must have been -important, or he would have sent it by mail.”</p> - -<p>Around a long bend of the river they went, past -one of the prettiest of the island group, whereon a -handsome summer home stood back of the shrubbery.</p> - -<p>“I wonder why Mrs. Parsons keeps that big place -on the island and also her home on the shore of the -river,” idly observed Lanky Wallace, nodding over -to the very handsome old home on the shore of the -river, standing back on a knoll, protected from the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span> -view of the river boats by great trees and row upon -row of shrubs.</p> - -<p>“I understand she has become a sort of miser since -Mr. Parsons died. I have heard that she keeps lots -of her family heirlooms and silver and all that sort -of thing up there.</p> - -<p>“I’ve heard all sorts of mysterious things about -her place, among them that she has secret chambers -to keep her money and jewels,” and Lanky looked -back at the place. “But, Frank, I don’t believe -half of those stories. You know that lots of the -small talk we hear in town about many folks isn’t -so.”</p> - -<p>“That’s true enough,” agreed Frank. “Of course, -there is the old saying that where there’s smoke there -is also fire, but I can’t help but think that a sensible -person who is rich is not going to keep stuff of -that sort about the place, exposed to thieves and burglars.”</p> - -<p>“I wonder if she’s afraid to stay there unguarded.”</p> - -<p>“Then why doesn’t she move into town, where she -would be close to neighbors and friends?”</p> - -<p>“On advice of counsel, I must refuse to answer,” -said Lanky banteringly, striking a mock heroic attitude.</p> - -<p>Just at this juncture the expected happened. -Frank’s exclamation of “Now! what’s the matter?” -showed that his fears were being realized. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span> -engine stopped dead, and the <em>Rocket</em> was going -upstream merely because of its own headway.</p> - -<p>Lanky Wallace took the wheel at the suggestion -of Frank, so that he himself could get down to -tinker with the engine.</p> - -<p>Once, twice, three times he tried to get it started, -but there was no success.</p> - -<p>Without any show of temper, but a determined -look of the conqueror, Frank Allen rolled his sleeves -back, chose the wrenches he wanted, and started to -work.</p> - -<p>“While we’re drifting, Lanky, hold her in toward -shore, and when we’re close enough you might as -well ease her up to some good spot to tie. I’m going -to fix this thing if I know how.”</p> - -<p>First the plugs were taken out. They showed -considerable fouling, but when he had cleaned and -replaced them there was no success. What Frank -noticed particularly was the resistance which the -motor offered to being turned over.</p> - -<p>A half-hour of drifting passed away, Lanky in -charge of the wheel, and then a slight bump told -the boys that he had brought the <em>Rocket’s</em> nose up -against a soft place in the bank. Lanky leaped off -with a line and ran to a low-bending tree, a very -convenient willow, and tied.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span></p> - -<p>They had drifted back to a point just upstream -from the Parsons house.</p> - -<p>Several boats out in midstream passed them, but -the two boys, busy in the cockpit, paid no heed to -those who were going their own ways. The afternoon -was wearing on.</p> - -<p>The first thing Frank had discovered was that two -of the valve springs were weak, or appeared to be -so, and he placed the only spare ones he had—two -new ones from the tool kit—where they belonged, -then had Lanky try the engine by slowly turning -it over to note the effect.</p> - -<p>Next came his examination of the carburetor, -where so much of the trouble of a gas engine lies, -and found that the needle valve was dirty. This -being cleaned, an examination of the float having -been made, and all parts then carefully put together, -Lanky grabbed the flywheel and gave it a spin. -Away it went with a whir!</p> - -<p>“Now, which of three things was wrong?” laughed -Frank, as the motor spit and sputtered and then went -to running evenly.</p> - -<p>“All three!” exclaimed Lanky. “It’s not for me -to choose the right one—so I’ll just play safe and -say it was all of them at the same time.”</p> - -<p>The two boys washed their hands, Lanky -loosened the fastening to the tree, gave a huge shove<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span> -to the boat to cast it far off shore, leaped on it as it -moved away, and grabbed an oar to propel it further -from shore, paddle-like, so that the propeller would -not foul.</p> - -<p>Then, its nose slowly turned upstream, the engine -running smoothly, the <em>Rocket</em> picked up speed under -the hand of Frank, and out to midstream they went, -toward the Parsons Island.</p> - -<p>“There’s Cunningham right now!” exclaimed -Wallace, pointing to a rapidly moving boat which -was rounding the upper side of the narrow island.</p> - -<p>It was a trim craft, the <em>Speedaway</em>, and worth -watching as it skimmed around the island and made -its way toward the same side of the river as was the -<em>Rocket</em>.</p> - -<p>“What’s the fool mean? Look at him! Heading -straight at us!” cried Frank, throwing his wheel -over to get passing space and blowing his whistle.</p> - -<p>“Drat his hide!” muttered the other. “Turning -directly at us and not slowing down.”</p> - -<p>Once again Frank eased the <em>Rocket</em> to the port. -At once the <em>Speedaway’s</em> direction was changed, the -boat answering quickly to the wheel, as its speed was -kept.</p> - -<p>A long slim V of water washing behind as its bow -cut the river with its burst of speed, the Cunningham -craft was bearing directly at the <em>Rocket</em>, a deliberate -attempt to run it down!</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">THE SCREAM IN THE DARK</p> - - -<p>Lanky Wallace looked aghast as the <em>Speedaway</em> -bore squarely at them, aimed at tearing the <em>Rocket</em> -in two.</p> - -<p>Frank Allen, realizing what a dastardly attempt -was being made to disable the boat and probably to -injure Lanky and himself, knowing that only the -coolest maneuvering would save them, was as steady -as a post.</p> - -<p>With one swing of his arm to the motor he increased -speed and with the coolest deliberation turned -the nose of the <em>Rocket</em> squarely for the <em>Speedaway</em>. -His hope was two-fold: that he would scare off the -other men and that he might be in a better position -to throw his own craft hard over to one side at the -last moment before any impact.</p> - -<p>His movement was entirely successful in at least -one respect—that he got into position quickly for -his own next move.</p> - -<p>In a flash of time the two boats were almost -touching noses. Then came the necessary alertness<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span> -and deftness of movement. With a hard tug at his -wheel Frank threw the <em>Rocket</em> to one side.</p> - -<p>Crunch! The sides of the two boats rubbed each -other all the way from stem to stern. As quickly as -this happened Frank threw the wheel hard in the -opposite direction, with the effect that it threw the -<em>Speedaway</em> around, and did so with such a jerk -that a large box fell overboard on the other side.</p> - -<p>“Hey, you blame fool! What do you mean trying -to run me down? What kind of dirty tricks are you -up to?” yelled Fred Cunningham as they passed.</p> - -<p>Frank, hearing the splash and not knowing that it -was not a man overboard, for he had seen two other -men beside Cunningham in the boat, immediately cut -off speed and continued the long turning movement -started when he so quickly gave the push to the -stern of the <em>Speedaway</em>.</p> - -<p>Her nose now downstream, Frank and Lanky saw -that the <em>Speedaway</em> had also made a wide turn and -was coming back toward a box which was floating -in the river. The speed of the <em>Rocket</em> lessened as it -neared the other motor boat.</p> - -<p>The two men in the <em>Speedaway</em> were busily engaged -in reaching for the floating box, which appeared -to be an empty one, and were thus averting their -faces. His quick eyes taking in the scene, however, -Frank got enough of a glimpse of the men to be able -to recognize them again if he should ever see them.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span></p> - -<p>“Say, what kind of business is this? Do you -know that you could have swamped this boat and put -us all into the river?” called Cunningham.</p> - -<p>“That’s about what you had coming to you,” -called Frank. Since Cunningham was playing this -kind of trick and since there was nothing to be -gained by having any argument about the guilt of -one or the other, Frank merely showed his contempt -for the other.</p> - -<p>By this time the two other men had rescued the -box and had placed it on the deck forward.</p> - -<p>“Do you think that raft of yours has any speed -in it?” asked Cunningham sneeringly. “If you think -so, I’ll give you a race any time you want it.”</p> - -<p>“That’s exactly what I’ll be glad to do. Any -time you say and where you say we’ll show you what -a regular boat can do that doesn’t spend its time -running other people down,” called Frank quite -coolly.</p> - -<p>“What’s that?” called Cunningham threateningly, -getting out from the cockpit as the two boats lay -alongside each other.</p> - -<p>Frank was equally ready, and saw that a lack of -movement on his part might be misinterpreted. Out -he stepped from the cockpit of the <em>Rocket</em> and -started toward the side.</p> - -<p>“I said this boat was ready for a race any time, -and I said it was not in the nasty habit of trying to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span> -run into other people. Did you get me plainly?”</p> - -<p>“Race you any time you say, then. Better put -two or three more engines into your rowboat,” again -sneered Cunningham, as he stepped back into the -cockpit of the <em>Speedaway</em>.</p> - -<p>With that he threw the motor into gear and moved -away from the <em>Rocket</em>, which now slowly turned its -nose upstream.</p> - -<p>Frank and Lanky were both quiet. Wallace -wanted to talk, but he knew Frank well enough to -know that the young captain of the <em>Rocket</em> did not -wish to say anything. Under such conditions Frank -Allen was always most quiet.</p> - -<p>The afternoon sun was slanting its way down into -the west and the cooler breezes of the river were -flitting past their tousled heads, cooling them off a -bit after the rather exciting moments they had -had.</p> - -<p>It was just at dusk that the boys came to Northeast -Bend in the Harrapin and saw the island for -which they were headed.</p> - -<p>As quickly as it was possible to do, without taking -too many chances on injuring the craft, Frank -brought it up to the landing with the engine dead. -Lanky leaped ashore and tied to the landing post, -while Frank made sure he had the note in his pocket -before stepping off.</p> - -<p>“Well, we’re going to have a moonlight ride on<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span> -the Harrapin to-night—provided there’s a moon,” -laughed Frank, as he came hurrying back to the -<em>Rocket</em> and found Lanky stretched out astern, viewing -the sky.</p> - -<p>“Good enough, only it’s going to cost someone -something to eat when we get back to town, for -I’m as hungry as one of those bears they talk -about.”</p> - -<p>“I think father ought to be the one to buy it. -What do you say if you come on to the house and -we’ll have a snack laid out for us that will improve -conditions in the department of the interior.”</p> - -<p>“That’s the most sensible thing you’ve said since -we started—so far as I can recall.”</p> - -<p>In the meanwhile Lanky pulled his frame up -from the stern seat, stretched, jumped to the landing, -cast off, and the <em>Rocket</em> was ready to go. The -stream slowly turned the boat’s nose downward as -Frank threw the wheel over. A moment later the -motor was going, the gear shifted, and the <em>Rocket</em> -started on its homeward journey.</p> - -<p>“Better get the lights going, Lanky. And while -you’re at it, get the searchlight uncovered and start -it. Might as well have all the light we need. This -is the first time we’ve navigated at night, and there -are about two hours of it to do.”</p> - -<p>Lanky took up his task, whistling the while, but -suddenly ceased the music and cried:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span></p> - -<p>“Say, Frank, there’s not a bit of juice. What’s -the big idea? Can’t light one of them.”</p> - -<p>“Throw the main switch on.”</p> - -<p>“I have, but not a bit comes through. The line’s -dead.”</p> - -<p>Here was something more to concern them. -Frank Allen knew he did not dare go far down the -river without lights, for the many islands in the -river and the tortuous path it followed at times would -put their own safety at risk, while anything that -might be floating in the stream would be an additional -risk. On top of all would be the risk to themselves -and to others should they meet a motor boat -or a rowboat coming upstream.</p> - -<p>“Here, take the wheel and hold her in the middle -of the river,” he directed Lanky, as he threw the -engine out of gear with the drive and started to -seek for the trouble.</p> - -<p>Fifteen minutes passed without any degree of success, -and actual darkness was on them.</p> - -<p>“Put her nose over to shore, Lanky. No use -taking any chances. We’ve got to find the trouble.”</p> - -<p>Whereupon Lanky did his duty, and the <em>Rocket</em> -was soon tied to the bank, the engine was stopped, -and the two boys began their search for the trouble. -They started at the battery end to trace out the -wiring.</p> - -<p>Doing the work carefully, not dodging about after<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span> -one connection or another, working methodically, as -was Frank’s wont in all things, they came across -a grounded connection which was causing the -trouble.</p> - -<p>“What has always got me,” said Lanky, as Frank -declared it was a ground, “is that you call that kind -of a connection a ground, or you say the current is -grounded, when there’s no ground near the boat.”</p> - -<p>“Simple as can be to a high-class, first-grade, expert -electrical engineer such as yours truly,” declared -Frank, poking out his chest and striking an attitude.</p> - -<p>“Yes, like I’m a good jeweler!”</p> - -<p>“Now, little playmate, wilt thee kindly cast off the -vessel from yonder coral reef?” Frank continued -his attitude.</p> - -<p>Lanky went shoreward, loosed the rope, and -threw it on board at the bow, gave the <em>Rocket</em> a -push and leaped aboard himself, hastily grabbing the -oar once again to push the stern away from the -shallow water.</p> - -<p>“Put-put!” and the engine started as he gave the -flywheel a spin, Frank at the wheel ready to throw -it in gear and get to midstream. All lights were -going properly.</p> - -<p>Silence now held the boys for a while as Frank -picked his way easily to midstream and headed for -Columbia.</p> - -<p>“You know,” Lanky suddenly broke the stillness,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span> -still, except for the muffled exhaust of the motor, -“I’ve been wondering about that fellow Cunningham, -Frank. What the mischief is that fellow up to? -What does he want around here? Who are those -two men who were with him? Why did he try to -run us down to-day? And any other questions I -may have forgotten.”</p> - -<p>“You haven’t forgotten any. But you sure can -have the first chance to answer all or any of them, -too. I don’t know the answers. Wish I did.”</p> - -<p>Lanky was silent again. Frank joined him.</p> - -<p>The <em>Rocket</em> was skimming the Harrapin at a fair -pace, no great amount of speed, however, being -shown, for Frank Allen was not anxious to run into -trouble. The searchlight was lighting the river -fifty yards in front of them, first flashing across to -the tree-lined banks as they came to great curves in -the river, and again lighting up some one of the -emerald-like isles, though now looming up out of -the water like spectres. No moon was up.</p> - -<p>“Getting down toward home. There’s the Parsons -island ahead of us. We’ll pass it on this side, -and then I believe I know the river better from that -point to home.”</p> - -<p>“What’s that over there?” excitedly cried Lanky, -as he pointed to a shadowy thing which had been -brought up out of the river as the searchlight swung -toward the shore.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span></p> - -<p>Back again Frank swung the light, disclosing a -rowboat tied to the bank, with a form, much resembling -a living being, at the bow of the boat. -But the light was not strong enough to bring out -details.</p> - -<p>“Some one tied there for a while, I guess,” and -Frank turned the searchlight again toward the middle -of the stream.</p> - -<p>“Look! A signal!” Lanky had seen a flare of -light in the direction of the boat.</p> - -<p>“Rats, Lanky, you’re letting this darkness get on -your nerves.”</p> - -<p>“Well—maybe. Anyhow, if it wasn’t a signal of -anything else it was a signal or sign that he was -lighting his pipe.”</p> - -<p>Then a distant hail came to their ears above -the put-put of the motor. They were almost on a -line between the Parsons island and the Parsons -home on shore. Frank stooped and cut off the -motor, permitting the boat to drift with its -headway. Both the boys listened. There was no -sound.</p> - -<p>“Guess I’m the one that let the light and the sound -get on my nerves. What time is it, Lanky?”</p> - -<p>“Half-past nine o’clock.”</p> - -<p>“That’s early for anything wrong to be happening -anywhere, so I guess there’s nothing happening. -Those sounds are common to the river, no doubt,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span> -and Frank stepped over to grasp the flywheel and -start the engine.</p> - -<p>“Help!” It came across the water from the shore -of the Parsons estate.</p> - -<p>Frank straightened and listened. Lanky was sitting -bolt upright. Once again there came the shrill -scream of a woman. No other sound.</p> - -<p>“Wonder what it is, Lanky!”</p> - -<p>“Some one in trouble over at the Parsons place.”</p> - -<p>In a trice Frank grasped the flywheel, gave it a -twist, the motor started, and they swung to the shore. -Wallace went forward, hoping to catch any sound -that might come across the lessening expanse of -water.</p> - -<p>Cutting off the motor, throwing the nose around -so as to strike the bank easily, with Lanky ready to -leap ashore with a line, Frank maneuvered the -<em>Rocket</em> expertly.</p> - -<p>Just as Lanky Wallace jumped ashore, as Frank -held tight to the wheel, there came again the shrill -scream of a woman from the Parsons house!</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">THE PARSONS JEWELS</p> - - -<p>Up the inclined bank went the two boys, determined -now to get to the Parsons house, whence -the cries came.</p> - -<p>Dodging through the shrubbery, which whipped -their faces in the inky darkness, tripping and stumbling -over the gnarled roots of some of the older -vines, as they missed their steps, they came to the -broad expanse of lawn in front of the estate which -faced the river.</p> - -<p>Once more came that cry of a frightened woman!</p> - -<p>It seemed to come from the rear of the house. -Dashing up the steps to the front porch, Frank tried -the door. It was locked. Still another cry from -the woman!</p> - -<p>“Around to the rear!” cried Frank, as Lanky and -he turned back from the resisting front door.</p> - -<p>They dashed as fast as their legs could carry them -around the large building, coming to the rear porch, -or gallery, which faced toward the river road, and -up to which a broad driveway led.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span></p> - -<p>Swish! The starting of a motor! Then a light -flashed and an automobile moved out from the drive -at the garage a hundred feet away!</p> - -<p>“There they go!” both boys cried in the same -breath, just as a loud cry came from within:</p> - -<p>“Help! Let me out!”</p> - -<p>It was just over their heads. Frank looked up, -but could see nothing. The night was as black as -ink.</p> - -<p>Rushing up the steps to the wide back porch, the -two boys tried the door. It gave to their touch. -Both tried to get in at the same time, and for a -second wedged each other.</p> - -<p>Again Mrs. Parsons, for in all probability it was -she, screamed, and Frank dived through the dark -for the direction indicated by her voice.</p> - -<p>“Find a light, Lanky, quick!” he cried, feeling -about for the door.</p> - -<p>While Frank fumbled along the wall, trying -to find the door or closet wherein Mrs. Parsons was -imprisoned, Lanky was in turn fumbling in his -pockets for a match, which, finding at last, he -scratched. The feeble light flared up, and the quick -eyes of both boys located the push button. Each -made a dive to get it, but Lanky being nearest -reached it and flooded the room with the necessary -light.</p> - -<p>In another moment Frank was smashing against<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span> -the door behind and beyond which the woman was -screaming even more lustily, more excitedly, than before.</p> - -<p>As it gave before his second onslaught, he saw -she was lying on the floor, her arms and feet pinioned, -a rag which had been used as a hurriedly -made gag lying alongside her head.</p> - -<p>Loosening her arms quickly and lifting her bodily -to her feet, Frank and Lanky both supported her -to a chair.</p> - -<p>It was Mrs. Parsons, the wealthy recluse of the -county. She was thoroughly hysterical.</p> - -<p>“My jewels! My silver! They’ve stolen it all -and got away! What shall I do? What shall I -do?”</p> - -<p>Frank tried to quiet her, but for a few minutes -it was of no avail. She was thoroughly excited -over her experience and her loss, wildly hysterical -about it, crying one moment and screaming the -next.</p> - -<p>What seemed to the boys a very long time was -only a few minutes, and then she quieted enough -to tell, between gasps and moans, something of what -had happened.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Parsons said that she had returned to her -house from a trip to Columbia just after dark and -that her automobile had been put up. She came into -the house, and her maid being out for her regular<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span> -weekly day off, she had prepared a little supper for -herself. In doing this she had not gone any further -than the kitchen, the pantry, and the small room off -the kitchen which she used as a breakfast room and -which, under circumstances such as these, she used -also as a dining room.</p> - -<p>Having finished her supper she sat in the same -small room checking over her balance in bank as -shown by her bankbook as against her own check -stubs.</p> - -<p>“How long were you engaged at this?” asked -Frank.</p> - -<p>He was decidedly anxious to get to the heart -of the story, yet realized that she must tell the tale -in her own way, even though the miscreants were -putting more and more distance between themselves -and this place at every minute that she detailed the -story.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I suppose it was fully an hour that I sat -here checking and thinking idly about different things, -then——”</p> - -<p>She proceeded with her story, about as follows:</p> - -<p>She had heard a noise of a peculiar kind several -times, but had paid no heed to it, thinking the -noises were caused by the wind, coupled with the -queer noises that one always hears at night. Living -alone in this house for so long she had become -quite accustomed to extraordinary noises, and had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span> -enjoyed herself on many occasions concentrating -on some of them and guessing what they were.</p> - -<p>“Suddenly I felt as if some one were behind me,” -and she turned quickly, apprehensively, around, expecting -to see some one.</p> - -<p>“As I twisted around to see what could be behind -me,” she gasped, “a man seized me by my shoulders -and another placed a hand over my mouth. I -screamed as I jerked and for a moment freed myself -from his grasp over my mouth. But in a -second he again placed his hand over my mouth, -the other hand going around my throat, and I could -not even breathe.”</p> - -<p>“Then they placed you in the pantry?” asked -Frank.</p> - -<p>“Yes, they dragged me over there, one of them -tied a rag around my face, to gag me, and then they -bound my hands and feet.”</p> - -<p>“How did you get the gag off so that you could -scream so loudly—for we were attracted by your -screams?”</p> - -<p>“I guess it was because I twisted and squirmed -so much. Anyway, finally, while I was almost -frantic over the noises I could hear of their packing -up my silver and loading it into a box and -carrying it out, I managed to free myself from -the gag, and then I started screaming as hard as I -could.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span></p> - -<p>“But why scream, when you knew you were so -far from neighbors?”</p> - -<p>“You heard me, didn’t you? You heard me from -the road and came. That’s why I screamed.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, we heard you from out on the river. -That’s how far your screams carried,” replied -Frank, speaking softly so as to reassure her. “Now, -let’s call the police and get them out here.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes, call the police!” she cried, gaining -strength and with it her composure. “Let’s look -around and see what is gone, too.”</p> - -<p>Lanky hurried to the telephone, being directed -to its location by Mrs. Parsons, and sent in a call -for the police headquarters in Columbia, reporting -the robbery and asking for men to be sent at once. -The night lieutenant replied that he would send two -special men immediately. It may be added here that -Frank’s old friend, Chief Hogg, was no longer at -headquarters in Columbia. His health had given -out and he was away on a long vacation and another -man the boys did not know was now at the head of -the police department.</p> - -<p>In the meanwhile Mrs. Parsons and Frank started -through the house. In the dining room they saw the -sideboard drawers all pulled out, and linens strewn -on the floor.</p> - -<p>“All my silverware—gone!” she moaned, her -hands to her face. “Thousands of dollars’ worth<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span> -of the very finest sterling silver dishes and all my -flat silver, too! There’s the plated ware on the sideboard—they -did not want that. Oh, what shall I -do. All my silver gone, gone!”</p> - -<p>Frank surveyed the scene quietly, not knowing -how much of the ware there might have been. Nor -had he any idea of what amount it would take to -make “thousands of dollars’ worth.”</p> - -<p>“Let us not touch anything here, Mrs. Parsons,” -Frank suggested, as Mrs. Parsons stooped to put -one of the drawers in its place in the sideboard. -“Let us leave things just as they are until the police -get here.”</p> - -<p>She stood quietly and looked at the disturbed condition -of things for a while. Then she said:</p> - -<p>“I wonder if they could have gotten my jewels -upstairs. Let’s see!”</p> - -<p>She started off with the sudden recollection that -these same men could have gotten more than the -silverware.</p> - -<p>Up the steps to the second floor they went, into -her own apartment. There the dresser drawers -were scattered about the floor, everything in the -closets was down, showing that a search had been -made for valuables.</p> - -<p>Over in one corner of the room, in a place that -was rather out of sight, a small safe was standing, -its door wide open.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span></p> - -<p>“The safe! My jewelry!”</p> - -<p>The safe was empty. Papers and large legal envelopes -lay on the floor, but otherwise the safe was -absolutely, completely, hopelessly empty.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Parsons sat stiffly down on the bed and -cried, moaning the while about the loss of her -jewels.</p> - -<p>“How much was there, Mrs. Parsons?” asked -Frank, after taking in the whole scene and waiting -for the first shock to pass.</p> - -<p>“Literally thousands upon thousands of dollars. -There were jewels there which my grandfather and -my own father and mother had left to me, and much -that Mr. Parsons had bought for me at different -times. Oh, there were rings and necklaces and -bracelets and pins and scores, scores of small pieces -of all kinds! And there were four large diamonds -which were unmounted, all in a small iron box.”</p> - -<p>The robbers had made a good haul while they -were at it. Evidently they had known something -of the lie of the land, had figured where everything -was, or had been told where things were. And, -thought Frank, they had not done all this after they -had bound and gagged the wealthy widow. There -was so much to be done that they had probably been -in the house while she was away, and the small noises -they made upstairs were those which she had heard -and had permitted to pass unheeded.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span></p> - -<p>Having looked carefully about the room, having -seen how thoroughly these fellows had worked, -Frank proposed they go downstairs to await the -police.</p> - -<p>They had not long to wait. They had barely -gained the landing below when the police knocked -at the front door, having come around from the -broad front of the house.</p> - -<p>Frank admitted them while Mrs. Parsons, still -almost overcome at the fright and also at the realization -of her loss, sat in a large chair, sobbing, patting -her eyes with her handkerchief the while.</p> - -<p>The whole story was told again, this time a few -little details being added which explained to Frank -the very things he had thought were true that these -fellows had been in the house all the time, and that -they had caught and bound her when they had -finished upstairs and had come down to rifle the -lower part of the house.</p> - -<p>“Have you any idea who did this, Mrs. Parsons?” -asked one of the men from the police department.</p> - -<p>“If I had, would I have you out here? Wouldn’t -I have you chasing them right now?”</p> - -<p>“I mean, madam, would you recognize them if you -saw them again?”</p> - -<p>“No, because they wore handkerchiefs over their -faces, and that is all I saw as I turned to see what -was behind me.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span></p> - -<p>“Did you notice their clothes or anything?”</p> - -<p>“No—oh, yes! I’ll tell you something,” and she -smiled for the first time. “When that fellow put -his hand roughly over my face the second time, one -of his fingers got between my lips and I bit down -hard on him, so hard that he jerked it away, but he -had it back again before I could draw my breath -and scream. I know I bit him so hard that it will -show.”</p> - -<p>The policeman smiled.</p> - -<p>“Pretty hard work to find one fellow out of -thousands whose finger was bitten.”</p> - -<p>“And, besides,” broke in Frank Allen, “they are -a long distance from here right now. That car -started away mighty fast.”</p> - -<p>“What car? Did you see them? Did you get -here in time to see them get off in a car?”</p> - -<p>The man from police headquarters swung on -Frank.</p> - -<p>“Yes, we heard the screams and came running -here. Just as we came to the rear of the house -we heard a car door slam, saw the lights flash on, -and the car pulled out from the garage.”</p> - -<p>“Where were you when you heard Mrs. Parsons?”</p> - -<p>“Out on the river,” answered Frank.</p> - -<p>“And you heard her scream from here away -out in the river, from the rear of this house to that -broad lawn and out there?” questioned the man.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span></p> - -<p>“Sure. How would we have come here if we -hadn’t heard the noise?” asked Frank in turn.</p> - -<p>The two men from police headquarters drew -aside and held a whispered consultation. Then the -chief of the two came back.</p> - -<p>“Mrs. Parsons, how long after the two men left -did these young fellows come in here to turn you -loose? How did they get in?”</p> - -<p>“How would she know the answer to the last -question?” asked Frank. “We found the rear door -open, and we broke down the pantry door, as you -can see by looking at it.”</p> - -<p>“You have been in this house several times as the -guest of Mrs. Parsons, have you not?” asked the -policeman. “When she entertained you while you -were at high school?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, officer,” cried the widow. “What do you -mean? Frank Allen could have had nothing to do -with this!”</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">WHEN FIRE LIGHTS THE SKY</p> - - -<p>The accusation, hardly to be called veiled, rather -startled Frank Allen. Lanky, close chum of -Frank’s that he was, moved as if to strike the policeman, -but refrained on sober second thought, since -it would certainly have placed him in a bad light.</p> - -<p>“You are inclined to jump at conclusions without -much thought,” remarked Frank quietly, though -in that quietness there was the glint and swish of a -rapier blade. “We thought you were coming up -here to help find the thieves and not to waste time -making wild accusations.”</p> - -<p>“Zat so, young man? Well, my advice to you -is to keep a quiet tongue or things won’t be so quiet -for you.”</p> - -<p>This exchange of remarks brought Mrs. Parsons -around from her hysterical fright to a feeling of resentment.</p> - -<p>“Pray, let us not have any trouble of the kind. -We have had enough trouble to worry us. Let us -proceed to learn whether we might not find a way<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span> -to gain proof against the men who have done this.”</p> - -<p>“I quite agree with you, Mrs. Parsons. If there -are such things as clues which will help us fasten -this on the men who did it, let’s try to find the clues.” -Frank was keeping his cool demeanor.</p> - -<p>“I’ll see to the clues.” The policeman still held -to his manner, which was bellicose, to say the least. -“We do not need your help, young man, and you -may leave.”</p> - -<p>“This is my house, sir!” The widow spoke -angrily. “Mr. Allen will stay here until he pleases -to leave.”</p> - -<p>“No, Mrs. Parsons, I think it wise that I leave. -I thank you ever so much for what you have said, -but since it might merely slow things down if I -stayed, I will be getting back home, for it is already -late.”</p> - -<p>With this Frank and Lanky bowed themselves -out of the house and were gone down the river -bank.</p> - -<p>Walking at a medium pace across the great spread -of carpeted grass, the two boys said nothing to -each other, though both were thinking deeply.</p> - -<p>The vines and shrubs cracked and swished as they -pushed their way through these, and both came -out at the river bank at practically the same time—and -with the same thought.</p> - -<p>For both were looking, or trying to look, through<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span> -the darkness to a point upstream. Seeing in this -inky blackness was impossible. Even their boat, -the <em>Rocket</em>, was a slightly darkened blob against -the river.</p> - -<p>Not until the boat had been pushed into the -stream and Frank had guided it away after Lanky -had turned the engine over, was the silence between -these two friends broken.</p> - -<p>“What does it mean?” asked Wallace.</p> - -<p>“It really, down to brass tacks, doesn’t mean anything, -Lanky, as you will realize if you think of it -for a minute. We know we haven’t done anything -wrong, don’t we? So, all it can mean is that the -police force has one more member on it than we -thought who hasn’t all that’s coming to him.”</p> - -<p>“But it doesn’t alter the fact that he has accused -us of having something to do with this robbery.”</p> - -<p>“He also hasn’t altered the fact that we didn’t, -has he? You’ve got to battle with facts when you -get after things of this kind. Now, I know a fact -which I should like to place before your attention—there -was an old boat tied up to the river bank just -above us when we landed.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and I was remembering the same thing when -we came through the brush. But you can’t see -anything in the dark. Let’s go back and see if it’s -there.”</p> - -<p>“Sure, it isn’t there! What’s the use of going<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span> -back? If the fellow had no reason whatever for -being there he would have moved by this time, -because it has been more than an hour, maybe nearly -two hours. And if he did have something to do -with it, he wouldn’t be there yet.”</p> - -<p>“But those fellows who got into the auto when -we came to the house—how about them? What -connection would they have with the boat, for they -had a car?”</p> - -<p>Lanky had asked a question that meant something. -What, indeed, could the car have to do with the -boat?</p> - -<p>Frank was silent, thinking, as was Lanky.</p> - -<p>The steady put-put of the exhaust broke the silence, -and Frank steered a course well toward the -farther side of the Harrapin, thinking to skirt close -to the next island, for in doing so at the wide bend -of the river below he would gain a short distance.</p> - -<p>Wallace was standing close to Frank in the cockpit, -and their words were not spoken, when they did -speak, very loudly. The submerged exhaust did -not bother them greatly.</p> - -<p>“Wish we could have got some idea of the shape -of that car,” muttered Frank Allen. “When he -flashed on the lights to get away we might have had -gumption enough to have noticed the license tag.”</p> - -<p>“I did,” replied his mate. “There wasn’t any.”</p> - -<p>“What? Are you quite sure?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span></p> - -<p>“Well,” and Lanky drawled his reply to the question, -“maybe I oughtn’t to have said that. As I -recall the impression on my mind when they started -off, the red light did not show any license tag beneath -it.”</p> - -<p>“We didn’t even notice whether they turned up -the road or down, either, so there’s that much information -that we lost. Instead, we dashed up -those steps and into the house.”</p> - -<p>“They must have had a lot of time to do what -they did.” Lanky spoke suddenly after another -period of silence. “They could not have done all -that after they bound her in the pantry.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what I think. They probably were already -in the house before she got home. But that -brings up this question, Lanky—if their car was -standing at the spot where we saw them get in at -the time she came home, why didn’t the driver of -her own car notice it and tell them?”</p> - -<p>“Gee, that’s a fact! Now, what does that mean? -Does it mean that they arrived after she did? Does -it mean they entered the house after she arrived -home, proceeded upstairs and finished the work, -and then came down and got her?”</p> - -<p>“Doesn’t sound reasonable. Let’s see what we -would have done if we had been the culprits.” -Frank was reasoning it out slowly. “If I had gone -in there after she returned, and I had known she<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span> -was there, I would not have taken a chance on proceeding -upstairs, making noise which she might have -heard and reported over the telephone before I could -get downstairs to quiet her.”</p> - -<p>“How about this?” Suddenly a thought struck -through Wallace’s mind. “Could not these fellows -have left their car outside somewhere, out of sight, -and the driver of it could have brought it up after -she had returned home and after her own driver -had gone away?”</p> - -<p>The idea was a good one, and Frank turned to -look fairly at his friend before he answered.</p> - -<p>“Hey! Hold off there! What the dickens!”</p> - -<p>The sudden cry had come from out the darkness -on the river. Frank’s head was back again to the -forward end of the <em>Rocket</em>. Squarely in his path -was a dark object of considerable size!</p> - -<p>With a wide sweep of the wheel he threw the -<em>Rocket</em> hard over to the port side, his right hand -reaching down to slow the motor so as to decrease -the impact when he struck.</p> - -<p>But the <em>Rocket</em> missed the object.</p> - -<p>It was a rowboat with three men in it, and a -large box or trunk-like object in the stern. Frank -threw his searchlight into play and dropped it -squarely on the rowboat.</p> - -<p>But the man at the oars was pulling hard on them, -getting out of range of the light.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span></p> - -<p>“Why don’t you watch where you’re going?” -came out across the river to them.</p> - -<p>Frank and Lanky said nothing. The searchlight -was reaching out in an effort to locate them, but -when it found the mark, two of the men ducked -low in the boat while the third one was plying the -oars as hard as his strength permitted.</p> - -<p>“Isn’t that the same boat?” gasped Lanky.</p> - -<p>Frank said nothing. Instead, he changed the -course of the <em>Rocket</em>, but he was too late to get immediately -after the fellows. The island was -squarely in front of him, the one he had aimed at -passing on this side to shorten the run down the -river.</p> - -<p>Around it to the far side he went, then swung -as closely as good navigation of the <em>Rocket</em> would -permit, to get back to the course made by the rowboat.</p> - -<p>Several minutes were consumed in making this -return to the former location, and the path had led -completely around the island in an attempt to head -off the rowboat.</p> - -<p>Back upstream they went, the searchlight playing -here and there, seeking for the little craft.</p> - -<p>“I’d be careful, Frank,” muttered Lanky Wallace. -“If there’s anything wrong about these fellows, -they’re very apt to do some shooting.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll take the chance,” and Frank gritted his teeth.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span></p> - -<p>Over toward the farther shore they went, then -swung back again, but the searchlight of the <em>Rocket</em>, -though flung first to one side and then the other, -failed to reveal the boat.</p> - -<p>“That’s mighty queer. That boat is on the river. -It has no motor. It can’t move away fast. We -are faster than it is. So, it is not far from here -right now.”</p> - -<p>“But it isn’t in sight. It is so plagued pitchy -dark that one can’t see, anyhow,” replied the other.</p> - -<p>“But we’ve come right across their path. They -can’t have gotten far.”</p> - -<p>“No—you’re right. But they’ve gotten out of -sight whether they got far away or not.”</p> - -<p>“Suppose they turned, too, when they saw us -turning, and went to the upper side of the island? -Let’s take a look?”</p> - -<p>Lanky said nothing. But he was thinking that -he did not relish the plan. He knew that a bullet -could come out of that darkness very easily, for -the willows hung far over the water on the upper -side of this island, as he well recalled, and the boat -could easily have slid somewhere beneath them.</p> - -<p>Frank navigated toward the island, the searchlight -playing about, like some great sepulchral hand -reaching out to grasp, in weird, ghostlike fashion, -whatever it might find.</p> - -<p>Though they searched the waters and around<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span> -the island for several minutes, no trace of the -rowboat was to be found. It had completely vanished -in the night.</p> - -<p>“Frank,” declared Lanky, as they moved down -the river after the fruitless hunt, “that rowboat -is on the upper side of the island, under those -willows, snugly tucked away, and there was at -least one gun pointed our way in case we ran in -there.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe you’re right. Even at that I don’t see -that we need to risk our skins hunting for something -that may be as peaceable as a baby.”</p> - -<p>“Not much, and you know it!” exclaimed Lanky. -“That boat was something crooked, or they -wouldn’t have dodged out of sight. If everything -was all right it would have been in plain sight -when we came up around that island.”</p> - -<p>“You’re absolutely right, Lanky. And it was -that very idea in my own mind that caused me to -want to hunt it out.”</p> - -<p>The <em>Rocket</em> was now headed straight for Columbia. -Only a few more miles and they would be -at home—at a rather late hour, and probably with -two families worrying over the two boys.</p> - -<p>“We might have been thoughtful enough to have -called our people from Mrs. Parsons and let them -know where we were,” ruefully remarked Frank.</p> - -<p>“As if we could have been so thoughtful under<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span> -such circumstances as those. I think we did a -wonderful thing when we thought to call up even -the police station with all that excitement.”</p> - -<p>They looked straight ahead for several minutes. -The minds of these two youths, both active ones, -were fully engaged on the happenings of the evening, -which had, to say the least, come rather thick -and quite fast.</p> - -<p>“Was that a trunk or a box in that boat?” asked -Frank.</p> - -<p>“Looked to me like a large box—about the size -of one I saw earlier in the day in the <em>Speedaway</em>.”</p> - -<p>“Huh?” This had set Frank to thinking.</p> - -<p>“And that rowboat looked as much like the one -we saw at the bank above the Parsons place as -any other rowboat would look.”</p> - -<p>“That’s putting two and two together, Lanky, as -rapidly as that policeman did.”</p> - -<p>“What’s that?” Lanky’s startled voice cried as -he pointed ahead of them toward the city of Columbia, -whose electric lights were now dancing -across the waters.</p> - -<p>The two boys studied a bright reflection in the -sky for some seconds, both figuring what this -might be.</p> - -<p>“It’s a fire, and a big one, too—or at least it is -big enough to look mighty big in the skies,” said -Frank slowly.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span></p> - -<p>“Where can it be? In the heart of town? Or is -it further away?”</p> - -<p>“Don’t know. But my guess is that it’s right where -dad’s place is. See that smokestack there to the -right? That’s right across the street from dad’s -store. How far is the fire from that stack?”</p> - -<p>“It’s right there, Frank! Sure as can be, that -is your father’s place on fire—and it looks like it -is a real one, too!”</p> - -<p>Midnight, almost, with a great fire in the Allen -department store—his father’s place of business—and -he on the river, unable to be of aid!</p> - -<p>Frank gave the motor all its speed. The -<em>Rocket</em> fairly leaped out of the water on its way!</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">THE TOLL THAT FIRE COLLECTS</p> - - -<p>Everything in the town of Columbia seemed -to be astir. As Frank and Lanky came rapidly -down the Harrapin to the landing at the Boat Club -they heard the clanging of bells, the tooting of -automobile horns, the blowing of steam whistles, -and the sound of many voices, all in a babel.</p> - -<p>“It is dad’s place, all right!” Frank’s remark -was more in the nature of a groan than anything -else, though he was not usually given to taking -things that way. But, at the end of a day of excitement -of several kinds, at the end of a day -wherein he had been openly accused of a theft of -silverware and jewels by the policeman from headquarters, -this outbreak of the fiery monster in his -father’s place was calculated to give him a sinking -of the heart.</p> - -<p>“I believe it is, too,” came from his friend.</p> - -<p>They made the landing and tied the boat as -quickly as safety would permit, having first drifted -it into its house. Frank looked hurriedly about -to see that nothing of an inflammable nature was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span> -exposed to anything which might start a fire, and -then, ready to leave, he threw off the main switch.</p> - -<p>Out of the building they went on the shoreward -side, and started the dash for the fire.</p> - -<p>“Dad’s place, is right!” Frank gasped, as they -turned into the main street leading uptown and -could see the exact location of the blaze.</p> - -<p>Crowds had gathered quickly, the streets were -fairly jammed, people being there in all manners -of dress, for it was close to the midnight hour -and Columbia had, in a very large measure, retired -for the night when the summons came.</p> - -<p>Lines of hose were lying about the streets, all -drawn tight like so many wriggling snakes of huge -size, as the two boys neared the square where the -fire was.</p> - -<p>At the corner below the Allen store, standing -close to a fireplug, stood one of the city’s engines, -manned by two coal-dust-covered firemen, adding -to the pressure of the water line.</p> - -<p>The police had taken charge of the situation, and -were holding back, by means of a patrol, the great -crowds of people so that they would not hinder -the hurrying firemen in their work.</p> - -<p>Sparks and flying pieces of burning wood were -being hurled in every direction.</p> - -<p>Frank and Lanky, leaping lines of hose, dodging -the firemen, roughly breaking their way<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span> -through the cordons of people here and there, -dashed headlong for the fire.</p> - -<p>“Hi! Come back there! Get back of the line!” -yelled one policeman, as Frank broke through a -crowd of onlookers.</p> - -<p>Before he could dodge or wriggle through somewhere -else the burly fellow had him by the shoulder.</p> - -<p>“That’s my father’s place!” cried Frank. “Let -me through so I can help him. Maybe he’s in -there!”</p> - -<p>The policeman looked the boy over, and then, -slowly through his brain came a recollection of this -young fellow and his athletic exploits in Columbia.</p> - -<p>“All right, young feller,” he said, and Frank was -released. “I’ll let ye go, but take care when ye -reach the main line up there. Orders is orders, -and we’re not to let any one through.”</p> - -<p>Again Frank and Lanky stretched their legs for -the fire, this time being slowed down considerably -by the heat which rushed down upon them from -the blaze which was rapidly gaining.</p> - -<p>As they turned around the corner from the street -on which the store faced, and looked down the side -street this sight greeted their eyes:</p> - -<p>The entire northwest corner of the Allen Department -Store was ablaze, flames leaping from -the tier of windows running up the freight elevator.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span> -The flames had probably started at some -floor near the bottom of the building and had been -drawn straight upward through the elevator shaft, -which acted as a giant flue, or stack. The danger -lay in their spreading to each of the floors.</p> - -<p>Frank stood motionless as the sight lay before -him. Lanky stood panting beside him, their eyes -taking in the scene from top to bottom.</p> - -<p>“There’s dad!” Frank moved swiftly across the -street to where he saw his father helping direct the -work of the firemen. “What can I do, dad?”</p> - -<p>“Nothing right now, boy. The thing is just -trying to get a start. Those iron doors at the elevator -openings will hold the flames from each of -the floors, if only we can keep them in check for -a little while.”</p> - -<p>But Frank was hardly willing, like the red-blooded -boy he was, to stand idly by and permit -this to be going on without some effort on his part -to help.</p> - -<p>“Dad—” he grabbed his father by the sleeve—“what -do you say if I take some of that fire-fighting -powder and try to get it down the shaft?”</p> - -<p>“That’s the idea! But don’t you do it! Let -some of the firemen do that. They’re better prepared.”</p> - -<p>Frank paid no further heed. He called to -Lanky, and then led the way to the warehouse<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span> -across the alley from the store. In his pocket was -a key which he always carried, for he stored much -of his athletic material there from time to time. -Unlocking the door and quickly closing it behind -them as the two boys entered, Frank found the -spot where the stock of fire-fighting powder was -kept. He and Lanky took three packages each, -as much as they could safely carry.</p> - -<p>“How’ll we get up there?” asked Lanky.</p> - -<p>“Go through the lodge rooms next door. Let’s -get over there and get to that adjoining roof. -Some of the firemen can bring a ladder up.”</p> - -<p>As they came out of the warehouse Mr. Allen -was there to meet them, with the chief of the department -alongside.</p> - -<p>“Here, Frank, the chief will attend to that.”</p> - -<p>“No, keep as many men down here with the -water as you can. Give me a couple of men to -bring up a ladder through the lodge next door, and -we’ll get to the roof. Then we can douse this -powder down the shaft and slow it up enough to -fight.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll put a hose up there, too!” cried the chief.</p> - -<p>“Look out for the garage over there!” went up -a shout from the crowd just at this juncture, and -they all turned to look.</p> - -<p>Great fiery embers were floating down on the -roof of the garage which stood on the opposite side,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span> -wherein was stored barrel upon barrel of oil and -where a great deal of oily waste was lying around, -gas also being kept in the tanks which were fed -from the sidewalk.</p> - -<p>“Put a hose on that garage!” called the chief. -“Now, Tom, you and Andy get a ladder and go -with these two boys. Get to the roof adjoining. -Tell Micky to send a hose up through the stairway -next door and try to get it to the roof.”</p> - -<p>The two boys got around the corner, the police -keeping the surging crowds back, and started up -the steps to the lodge room at the top. Reaching -there, panting hard for breath, the two boys faced -the door of the lodge room, closed, locked.</p> - -<p>But Frank knew better than to go this way. In -all such buildings there is an opening to the roof -from the hallway, and Frank’s observation was -that this opening was usually at the rear. So it -was in this case.</p> - -<p>In another moment the two firemen with the -ladder hoisted it in place. One of them scrambled -to the top, unhooked the hatch, threw it on to the -roof, and all four of them were very quickly out -on top.</p> - -<p>“Just in time!” cried the first fireman. “And -luckily for us, the wind is blowing the other way—off -the building instead of on to it.”</p> - -<p>Making their way quickly across to the parting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span> -wall, having pulled the ladder up behind them, they -now placed it against the wall and all four scaled -to the roof of the Allen store.</p> - -<p>One of the firemen grabbed a bag of the fire-powder -from Frank’s arm, and both of them rushed -toward the elevator shaft, where blazes were breaking -through the wooden door. Laying the powder on -the roof, they again dragged the ladder up from -the wall, and, using it as a battering ram, they -very quickly knocked the burning door inward.</p> - -<p>Out leaped a perfect rush of flames, their long -red hungry tongues leaping and crackling in fiendish -glee as the opening gave a first-class draft for -the fire below in the shaft.</p> - -<p>Crack! The first bag of fire-powder was hurled -into the shaft, spilling downward. Crack, went another. -Then another, and one more, in quick succession, -each carefully aimed through the center -of the opening.</p> - -<p>By this time the firemen with the hose were -calling for the ladder, which was passed down to -them by the two firemen on the roof while Frank -and Lanky continued hurling the powder at the -opening until all six bags were gone.</p> - -<p>Frank recalled that the salesman of the powder -had stated that it was merely a deterrent of fire, -and would not extinguish a large blaze—only hold -it in check for a few moments.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span></p> - -<p>So it did in this case. The flames of a sudden -grew smaller, and Frank realized that their time to -get water down the shaft had arrived.</p> - -<p>“Water!” went the cry from one of the firemen -on the roof, as he signaled to the street below, -where a burly fellow stood at the water plug with -hand on wrench ready to give them the water.</p> - -<p>Instantly the hose swelled and twisted and -turned, writhing to get away from them, but six -men, including Frank and Lanky, were at the nozzle -end of the hose, keeping it to its duty.</p> - -<p>Swish! The first rush of water came, stopped, -and then a full stream came pumping through the -nozzle. Straight into the elevator shaft it went. -The flames leaped up in defiance, and the water -struck again.</p> - -<p>“We’ve got it now!” came from one of the firemen -in a muffled voice. “It may break through -one of the other floors, but it can’t do any more -harm in this shaft.”</p> - -<p>Seeing that the fire through the shaft was now -held in check, or would be in a few minutes more, -as black smoke commenced rolling up, Frank went -over the side and started down. Lanky was immediately -behind him, having first asked the firemen -if four of them could handle the nozzle.</p> - -<p>“Gee, I hope it hasn’t gotten through any of -those floor doors,” remarked Frank, as they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span> -reached the top floor of the lodge building and -walked down the stairs.</p> - -<p>“I don’t suppose it has, but even if it has they -can hold it now, because the fellows on top will -stop it from going up the flue,” remarked Lanky.</p> - -<p>Down at the street level once more, they turned -to where the fire had been raging. Sparks were -no longer flying as freely as they had, and the sky -was not so well lighted by the flames.</p> - -<p>Crash! Crash! A sound as of a floor falling.</p> - -<p>Just at this moment the fire chief came running -toward Frank.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Allen’s down in the basement! He went -in there a minute ago!”</p> - -<p>“Is father in there?” blurted Frank Allen dazedly.</p> - -<p>“So one of the men says. I told him to keep -out of there, but he went in by the front door a -few minutes ago this fellow says, and he just came -back to tell me.”</p> - -<p>“That’s a fact. Went running in, and I yelled -at him, because there’s no telling what’s in there -yet.”</p> - -<p>Frank turned and started for the front door.</p> - -<p>“Here, here!” the chief grabbed for Frank. -“Hold on! I’ll go in there and find him! Stay -out of there!”</p> - -<p>But he had spoken too slowly, and even his words -would not have stopped the boy. Lanky went leaping<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span> -behind his chum, but the chief grabbed Wallace -and threw him to one side, telling him to stay out, -while he, the chief, went dashing through the door -behind Frank.</p> - -<p>A heavy pall of smoke hung over the entire first -floor, and as the door opened and closed behind -him, Frank Allen felt a heavy rush of heat and -wondered how his father could have gone through -it.</p> - -<p>“Dad! Dad!” he cried, but then decided to keep -his mouth closed, for he had sucked in a mouthful -of the choking smoke, and his lungs seemed to be -bursting.</p> - -<p>Holding his breath, he rushed along the broad -aisle toward the rear. Flames were licking around -the elevator shaft, just breaking through. Around -the stairway opening the floor was gone! It had -caved in, and flames were now starting to leap -through to the first floor.</p> - -<p>How should he get below? His father was -probably down there. Probably had been directly -over this spot when the cave-in happened, caused -by the flames having eaten away the floor supports -in the basement.</p> - -<p>A groan came from the right of them. Like -a flash Frank leaped in that direction. He recalled -the narrow stairs which led to the vault in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span> -the basement from the rear office, while the broader -stairway was used for customers.</p> - -<p>Barely able to hold his breath, gasping and gulping, -the boy made his way to that narrow stairway, -down its sinuous path, heard the groan again, and -himself fell to the floor as he slipped on the steps.</p> - -<p>The flames in the farther part of the basement -were leaping and crackling, lighting the entire -space. Mr. Allen was crawling along the floor, -groaning and moaning, having tumbled through -when the floor caved in.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">AN UGLY INTIMATION</p> - - -<p>Grabbing his father under the arms, Frank half -carried, half supported him to the stairway, just -as the chief came scrambling down.</p> - -<p>They very soon brought the man into the open -air. Everything was at a high pitch of excitement, -as the word had gone around the crowd -that Mr. Allen had been injured, perhaps killed. -A half-dozen other rumors were in the air, all -caused by the knowledge that a part of the building -had caved in and that Frank Allen and the -chief had been seen dashing into the place.</p> - -<p>As the three emerged from the building, doctors -grabbed them, for the chief and Frank were choking -from the smoke, while Mr. Allen was now -unconscious.</p> - -<p>In a short while the chief was himself, as was -also Frank, while Mr. Allen had been hurried off -to a hospital. Being informed of this when he -had come around, Frank, too, was driven quickly -to the hospital. Mrs. Allen and Frank’s sister<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span> -Helen were out in the Canadian Rockies on a visit.</p> - -<p>The chief now directed the fire-fighting to better -effect since he knew the situation more -thoroughly within the building. In an hour the -fire was completely out.</p> - -<p>At the hospital aid was given to Mr. Allen, who -had suffered bruises from the fall through the floor, -probably also from pieces of timber or goods which -fell on top of him, and, as the doctors said, maybe -internal injuries were inflicted.</p> - -<p>It was too early to make a close examination, -and Frank could only content himself with hearing -the carefully worded reports of the physicians and -the nurse.</p> - -<p>Morning came to find a very weary young man -still waiting nervously around the hospital for better -word of his father’s condition.</p> - -<p>Lanky Wallace, who had tried to be of assistance -to Frank after the accident, but who had gone -home at his earnest solicitation, now came to the -hospital and took him away for breakfast.</p> - -<p>After breakfast Frank went to the store, and, -with several of the clerks, attended to laying out -plans for repairs and also for getting things -straight.</p> - -<p>The actual damage, from a financial point of -view, was not great, though the entire stock had -been subjected to damage by water and smoke.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span> -The cleaning and brightening of the store would -require some days.</p> - -<p>Before going home to get a rest which was so -needed, he sat in conference with his father’s -friends and the banker, making preparations for -the contractor to take charge of all repair work.</p> - -<p>This done, and noon-time having arrived, Frank -returned to the hospital, to receive the joyful news -that his father had regained consciousness and was -able to talk with him, though only for a limited -number of minutes.</p> - -<p>Frank explained what had been done, and the -smile on his father’s face indicated that a great -deal of worry had been removed. The doctor -standing close by nodded his approval of the things -which Frank related.</p> - -<p>“Getting his mind in a quiet frame will help -much toward bringing him around,” remarked the -physician. Then Frank was told to leave and, also, -that he must not return to see his father until late -in the evening, when the promise was that he would -be even more improved.</p> - -<p>Evening came, finding Frank much rested and -back at the hospital. The nurse was the only one -present, and informed him that his father was decidedly -better, his consciousness fully regained, that -no signs had yet shown themselves to indicate any -internal injuries—that, in short, all was going well.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span></p> - -<p>In the meantime Mrs. Allen and Helen were -planning to return home as speedily as possible, as -both wished to be at the side of husband and father -at this time of trouble. But the trip was a long -one and would take over a week to accomplish, for -they were not even near the railroad.</p> - -<p>On the second morning after the fire Lanky and -Frank were together and were joined along the -streets by several of the boys, among them being -Ralph West. Rapid fires of questions as to the -condition of his father were hurled at Frank, and -every one seemed pleased at the cheery news that -he was apparently better.</p> - -<p>“Tell me about this robbery up the river,” said -Ralph, when they had a moment together. “It has -been in the papers, and I saw you and Lanky had -been there shortly after it happened.”</p> - -<p>“I haven’t seen the article, Ralph, but Lanky and -I got there right after it all happened and turned -Mrs. Parsons loose. But this fire and dad’s getting -hurt knocked out of my mind most of the -thoughts of the robbery.”</p> - -<p>He told Ralph some parts of the story, the high -lights of it, following Ralph’s questions.</p> - -<p>“Why are you asking so many questions about -it?” asked Frank, for Ralph was not generally -given to gathering such close details.</p> - -<p>“Because I heard on the street a while ago that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span> -the chief is going to have a hearing of some sort -and that they are going to ask you and Lanky over -there.”</p> - -<p>“That wouldn’t be out of the way,” replied Frank. -“They wish to get all the information they can -in order to locate those thieves, I presume, and certainly -Lanky and I were there very closely behind -them—in fact, we were there at the same time they -were and saw them go—and something we might -tell the chief that Mrs. Parsons hadn’t told or -didn’t know, may help.”</p> - -<p>Though he did not mention it to Ralph, Frank -had not forgotten the accusation made by the policeman -while at the Parsons place, and, though he -knew it was a false one, it was an uncomfortable -feeling to realize that some one, whether in authority -or not, whether a thinking man or not, had -accused him of complicity of some sort.</p> - -<p>“Frank,” said Lanky, as he came up and joined -the two, “what do you say if you and I and any -of the others who care to do so go up to the Parsons -place to see what we can learn? You know, -we might see something in daytime that we couldn’t -see at night.”</p> - -<p>“It may be of no use,” replied Frank. “How do -we know they have not already found the fellows?”</p> - -<p>At this juncture a policeman waved to the boys<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span> -from across the street, and came up to Frank.</p> - -<p>“The chief is going to have a hearing to-day -and wants you to be present. Also you,” turning -to Lanky. “It will be at two o’clock.”</p> - -<p>“Can we go?” Ralph West immediately asked, -meaning Paul Bird and himself.</p> - -<p>“Sure, you can go! But I don’t know whether -the chief will let you in.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll go and try,” both the boys agreed.</p> - -<p>Just before two o’clock all four of them were -at the chief’s office, but Paul and Ralph were refused -admission. At this refusal, which had been -expected, they told Frank and Lanky they were -going to remain within easy distance, because they -wanted to get in on the search and its expected -excitement, if one should be started.</p> - -<p>In the chief’s office Frank and Lanky saw Mrs. -Parsons, the chief, the two policemen who had been -there when called to the place by telephone, and, -much to the surprise of both the boys, Fred Cunningham -was sitting there.</p> - -<p>As these two boys were the last, evidently, who -had come of those invited or summoned, the chief -greeted them quietly and at once started his hearing.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Parsons first told her story, practically the -same as she had told two nights before, the difference<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span> -lying primarily in her quietness of manner -as opposed to the rather hysterical recital she had -formerly made.</p> - -<p>Then followed the two statements by Frank and -by Lanky, both the same, for they had seen the -same things.</p> - -<p>Following this came the statements of the two -policemen who had appeared on the scene after -having been called.</p> - -<p>Frank felt much relieved when the principal of -the two did not make any allusions such as those -which he had made at the Parsons place.</p> - -<p>“Now, I’d like each of you to be prepared -to answer questions,” the chief sat forward toward -his desk, taking it by both sides with his -hands in rather a pugnacious attitude, or one -that was calculated to show that he meant business.</p> - -<p>“First, how far, Mr. Allen, were you out in -the river when you heard the cries of Mrs. Parsons?”</p> - -<p>“I should say we were a hundred yards from -shore.”</p> - -<p>“How long did it take you to land and get to -the house?” asked the chief.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps five minutes, though one cannot very -well guess at the time. We got to shore, tied, -and ran through the underbrush, but it was very<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span> -dark and we probably were longer than we might -have been had it been daylight.”</p> - -<p>Then the chief skipped over the whole narrative -to the next question, which was one of opinion:</p> - -<p>“If you were in my place, would you say the -robbers were in the house when Mrs. Parsons got -home or that they got in after she arrived home?”</p> - -<p>Frank smiled a little, for he and Lanky had -talked over the same question.</p> - -<p>“Wallace and I talked about that very thing -when we got back to the boat. From the things we -saw in the upper room and from what Mrs. Parsons -told us about the queer noises she heard, I believe -they were already in the house.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” answered the chief. “Now, then, -if there was a car which took those men away, -will you please tell me why it wasn’t there when -Mrs. Parsons came home?”</p> - -<p>“Really, since I was not there at that time and -since my guess isn’t any better than that of any -one else, I don’t know.” Frank felt a little nettled -at being the target for questions of opinion.</p> - -<p>“Well, Mr. Allen,” pursued the chief, “perhaps -you have some idea, since you and your friend have -talked about it.”</p> - -<p>“I have,” said Frank. “I believe the car arrived -at the roadway and let the men out. They then -proceeded to the house, and the car did not come<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span> -for them until some prearranged signal had been -given.”</p> - -<p>At this remark Fred Cunningham leaned over -and said something in a whisper to one of the -police.</p> - -<p>The chief turned toward him immediately.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Cunningham, we’re going to hear your -story in a little while. Please do not talk with -others meanwhile.”</p> - -<p>So Cunningham had a story to tell! Frank -wondered what it would be.</p> - -<p>“Now, Mr. Allen, will you please express your -opinion as to whether the robbery could have been -committed earlier in the day and the robbers could -have come back a second time?”</p> - -<p>This was an angle that Frank did not see the -end of. Further, the chief seemed to be questioning -him as if he knew more than he had told.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Berry,” he replied, “I have no idea of what -these men may have done. I told you what I saw, -and I cannot see that my guesses would be any -good. If I were able to guess at such things -with a reasonable amount of accuracy, I’d be out -hunting for these men right now, for it was a -shame to have robbed Mrs. Parsons and to have -tied her in that pantry.”</p> - -<p>“All right, but I have one more question I would -like to ask, and then I may be through. It is this:<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span> -What were you doing that day on the river with -your motor boat? That is, please account for your -time.”</p> - -<p>Again Frank saw the veiled intent of accusation. -There was something deeper here than he -knew.</p> - -<p>But he accounted for the time in a general way -by saying they had gone up the river on an errand -for his father, had some mishaps with the motor -and with the electric lighting system, and were -running along at a reasonable speed late in the -evening when they heard the cries of the imprisoned -woman.</p> - -<p>“Ordinarily, would it take you so long to run up -the river on such an errand and come back?”</p> - -<p>“Certainly not, sir, but you must remember that -I had trouble with the motor.”</p> - -<p>“Will you please tell me, then, why you were -tied to the shore just above the Parsons place and -lay there for two hours on that afternoon? Will -you please tell why you were tied at the only point -along the shore where there is an open path -through the underbrush to the lawn of the Parsons -house? And will you please tell me where -you were for those two hours?”</p> - -<p>Frank told them it was motor trouble, that -he had tied there because it was the first place he -could get to when the motor stopped and that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span> -any other place would have been just as good.</p> - -<p>“But you have not told me why you were not in -that boat for two hours.”</p> - -<p>“Sir? Who said I was not in that boat for -two hours? I certainly was there every minute. -I did not even get on shore, as my friend tied the -boat and came back aboard to help me with the -motor.”</p> - -<p>“The word has been brought to me that your boat -lay there for two hours and that you were not on -board.”</p> - -<p>“The person who told you that told an untruth. -I never put my foot on shore that afternoon.”</p> - -<p>“Mr. Cunningham,” as the chief turned to him, -“did you see Mr. Allen’s boat tied there while -you were out in your own?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir, I did.”</p> - -<p>“And do I understand that you are sure that -neither Mr. Allen nor his friend were in the boat -for two hours?”</p> - -<p>“That’s it, exactly,” replied Cunningham.</p> - -<p>“How does Mr. Cunningham know that I was not -there for two hours? Where was he all that time?” -Quickly Frank threw in the question. Cunningham -went pale.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">A BREACH</p> - - -<p>This quick retort on the part of Frank Allen -threw the hearing into dismay for a few moments. -The question had not occurred to the chief of -police, who, it was now becoming more evident, -was willing to place the blame on the most convenient -shoulders, and, Frank thought to himself, -he may have been influenced by the policeman who -had so openly accused him of knowledge of the -crime at the Parsons place two nights before.</p> - -<p>Cunningham did not reply. Instead he fidgeted -in his chair, and looked at the chief, who was nonplussed.</p> - -<p>“That is a fair question,” he said slowly. “Mr. -Cunningham, will you please explain why you are -so sure this young man and his friend were not -in the boat for two hours?”</p> - -<p>“It is not possible for me to explain,” was the -very deliberately pronounced reply of Fred Cunningham. -“I got my information from a source -which I do not care to name.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span></p> - -<p>“Then you do not say that you actually saw my -<em>Rocket</em> tied to the shore for two hours?” asked -Frank, directing the question at Cunningham.</p> - -<p>“No, I did not say I saw it myself. But the man -who told me is a thoroughly reliable one.”</p> - -<p>“Is he any more reliable than the information -he gave you?” Again Frank shot a direct question.</p> - -<p>“Now, now, that will not do. I am carrying on -this hearing,” broke in the police chief.</p> - -<p>“I just wish to remark,” Frank was not to be -stopped, “that if the informant of Mr. Cunningham -is no more reliable about any other information -than he was about this, I cannot see that anything -Mr. Cunningham can say will be of any value to -you, Mr. Berry.”</p> - -<p>“Do you mean to say that this information is -not true?” asked the chief.</p> - -<p>“I mean to say exactly that and nothing more. -Now, Mr. Berry, this stranger, unknown to any -one in town, comes in here and places before you -some hearsay evidence that is not the truth. Instead -of asking me privately my whereabouts on -that day, you proceed to accept his statement as -if it were the truth. I am known in this town, -while he is not. You have known me a long time, -and you have known my father. You have not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span> -known this man at all, nor do you know anything -about him.”</p> - -<p>The chief looked fairly at Frank, at first inclined -to temper, but he bit his lip and held back whatever -it was that he started to say. For a moment -everything was quiet.</p> - -<p>“Further,” said Frank, “I will answer no more -questions. Any further questions I have to answer -will be in a court room and will be under -oath, when all other people, too, will be under -oath.”</p> - -<p>With this the young man rose to go. The chief -stood and raised his hand.</p> - -<p>“I wish you to remain right here until I have -finished this hearing.”</p> - -<p>“I will remain until you have finished your hearing, -but I will decline to answer any more questions. -You have no right to demand replies from me, and -I will not reply.”</p> - -<p>The chief sat only after Frank had re-taken his -seat, and the hearing then became a humdrum of -asking several minor questions of the others, all of -which had been told before.</p> - -<p>As they left the room, Lanky took Frank’s arm, -but not a word passed between the two boys.</p> - -<p>Ralph and Paul joined them outside, but it was -plain to both the boys that Frank and Lanky did<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span> -not care to talk at this time, and they contented -themselves with walking along the street.</p> - -<p>Just as they reached the next corner, a bevy of -the girls of the old high school crowd spied the -four boys, for whom they had been looking.</p> - -<p>In the bunch of girls was Minnie Cuthbert, looking -sweeter than ever since her return from Rockspur -Ranch.</p> - -<p>“We hope you haven’t forgotten that to-morrow -is the day of the picnic,” Minnie told them. -“Everything is ready, and we have planned on going -down the river to the picnic grounds we used -last year. But why the long faces?” and she -laughed merrily at the quiet of the four boys.</p> - -<p>Frank was the first to regain his happy manner.</p> - -<p>“Sure, we’re going. That is, I am. You can -leave the others at home, but I’m going to gobble -all the sandwiches and ice-cream you’ve got.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what we have, and if you think you can -eat all of it, you’re welcome to try. Where is -Mr. Cunningham? Have you seen him? We -wish him to go along, too.”</p> - -<p>This was precisely like waving a red flag in the -face of a bull, except that Frank did not storm. -He just had a violent feeling of wanting to throw -the fellow into the river or of doing something else -desperate with him. Then a sinking feeling followed.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span></p> - -<p>“I haven’t seen him in the last few minutes. He -was up the street a while ago.”</p> - -<p>“Come on, girls, let’s go and find him, because -we have not invited him yet,” and Minnie Cuthbert -led the girls away in the quest of the good-looking -stranger who had seemed to capture all of them.</p> - -<p>It was late afternoon, and the four boys made -their way to the high school grounds, where they -sat down under one of the trees, Paul and Ralph -listening to the story which Frank and Lanky told -them. The entire story was told to them in detail, -for Frank felt that, if he did this, he might -get some help or suggestions and felt that a stray -idea might come to the surface which would help -them locate the men who had robbed Mrs. Parsons.</p> - -<p>After this little meeting broke up Frank went -to the hospital to see his father, finding him resting, -but nervous, and the nurse said that he did not -appear to be doing quite so well as he had during -the earlier part of the day.</p> - -<p>The day of the picnic broke bright, clear, sunny, -perfectly wonderful for such an outing as had been -planned. Vehicles of every kind, but most of them -new automobiles, were pressed into service to take -the crowd of high school students to the picnic -grounds. Frank asked Lanky Wallace, Paul Bird -and Ralph West to go there in the <em>Rocket</em>, especially<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span> -since Minnie Cuthbert had refused Frank’s request -to take her and said she was going to go with the -crowd of girls.</p> - -<p>The <em>Rocket</em> had to be given a load of gas and oil, -which caused the four boys to be a little later in -getting away than had been planned, but finally -they were ready to push the trim boat out of its -house.</p> - -<p>Before doing so, Frank saw that the engine would -turn over easily, and, as it emerged from the house, -Lanky gave the wheel a twist and the put-put started -merrily.</p> - -<p>Paul and Ralph had not yet had the pleasure of -a ride in the new boat, nor had they done any more -than give it a cursory inspection. Now, aboard -for a real ride, they bent to looking around for the -things that made the craft complete.</p> - -<p>“This is far better than going down in a car,” -remarked Paul. “But according to my ideas we -are wasting time to-day. What we ought to do -is to search for some clues to the Parsons robbery. -Picnics are fine when there’s nothing else to do.”</p> - -<p>To this the boys all agreed, even Frank. What -was puzzling Frank, though never a hint did he -give, was what it was about Cunningham, the -stranger, that caused him to get along so easily with -the girls, and especially why Minnie Cuthbert, the -girl he liked so well, should be attracted to the fellow,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span> -even to the point where she was willing to refuse -Frank’s attentions.</p> - -<p>They ran down to the picnic grounds in a very -short while, the motor humming along beautifully. -No particular speed was shown, nor did Frank wish -to try for any, as he felt that he would rather warm -the engine up little by little, feeling the boat along -for several more days, after which he would give -it a good test if the chance was offered for a race -with Cunningham’s <em>Speedaway</em>.</p> - -<p>The girls were at the picnic grounds, as, indeed -were most of the boys, when they swung in toward -the shore to land.</p> - -<p>“Wonder where the <em>Speedaway</em> is,” remarked -Wallace.</p> - -<p>Frank did not know. It was enough to see -Fred Cunningham standing there on the bluff -alongside of Minnie, appearing to take most of her -time.</p> - -<p>“What’s doing?” called Ralph, as he jumped -ashore. “Let’s stir up something to keep from -going to sleep. Let’s eat or have some games.”</p> - -<p>“Eat! That’s the big idea! Let the games go! -Let’s eat!” roared the attenuated Lanky Wallace -as he climbed the stairs cut in the side of the bluff -and came to the grassy grounds.</p> - -<p>But the girls vetoed any spoiling of their plans. -Moreover, the truck containing the best part of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span> -the luncheon had not yet arrived, they declared.</p> - -<p>But the noon-hour came, as noon hours do when -young folks are on picnics, and the girls spread the -cloths on the ground, laying out the paper dishes -which had been supplied in large quantities, while -the boys helped break into baskets and bundles to -get at the food. The two large ice-cream freezers -got the attention of Paul, Ralph, and Buster -Billings.</p> - -<p>During the lunch, when all had been seated -and it had been agreed that no one person -should wait on any of them, but all should scramble -as best they could for things which were not being -passed quickly enough, the conversation suddenly -veered to the races which had been proposed some -days before, and about which Cunningham had -made some very boastful remarks.</p> - -<p>It was Irene Rich, the girl who probably was -most anxious to be in the company of Fred Cunningham -but who had not thus far succeeded, who -started the talk.</p> - -<p>“How about that race?” she cried, just as a -lull fell for a moment in the conversation, as pieces -of fried chicken were demanding attention. “I’ll -bet on the <em>Speedaway</em>!”</p> - -<p>“Atta girl!” came from Cunningham. “You’re -a judge of boats!”</p> - -<p>“Also of those who run them!” she bantered.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span></p> - -<p>“And that’s agreed!” came instantly from the -stranger. “The <em>Speedaway</em>, though, doesn’t need -much brains to run it—she’s naturally the best boat -along the Harrapin or any other river. She’s -ready to run anything ragged that gets into a race -with her.”</p> - -<p>“I thought Frank Allen was going to race his -<em>Rocket</em> against her.” Irene was pursuing the matter -insistently.</p> - -<p>“That’s what Frank Allen is going to do,” that -personage spoke up. “The <em>Rocket</em> is ready any -time, including to-day.”</p> - -<p>“I haven’t the <em>Speedaway</em> here this afternoon,” -said Cunningham, “and I am mighty sorry. -Moreover, I’ve got to be out of town on some business -for a few days. But as soon as I get back -I’ll be ready.”</p> - -<p>“How about one week from to-day?” asked -Frank Allen.</p> - -<p>“Fine! That’s agreed, is it?” Cunningham replied. -“I’ll be back in a few days and we’ll run -the race one week from to-day. Let’s attend right -now to all the details of distance, starting, passengers, -and everything else.”</p> - -<p>So, while the luncheon proceeded, all details were -set forth, some being the cause of disagreement, -but some one was prepared to meet any of these -points, and everything was determined for the race.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span></p> - -<p>As they left the lunch Frank got a chance to -speak with Minnie, asking her and two of the girls -to take a short ride in the <em>Rocket</em>. Though Minnie -acted rather coolly, she agreed to go, and in -a few minutes three of the girls were with Frank -in his boat, and had put out from the shore.</p> - -<p>“Look at that cloud,” one of the girls said. “Is -there any danger of being caught in a rain? -There’s no place on the boat to keep dry.”</p> - -<p>Frank cast his eye toward the cloud, but he did -not feel that there was any immediate danger of -a rain, and proceeded down the river a distance -before giving the subject much more thought, in -the meanwhile trying to engage Minnie in conversation -while the other girls sat forward.</p> - -<p>But Minnie was not as free with her bright talk -as was her wont, and Frank was disturbed over -it. In fact, Minnie mentioned the name of Fred -Cunningham during the conversation a little oftener -than Frank thought was necessary.</p> - -<p>During a fifteen minute run the girls had forgotten -about the cloud, but now it was making itself -evident. A stiff little breeze gusted across the -boat.</p> - -<p>“We’re going to get caught in a rain!” those in -front cried as a few drops of water fell.</p> - -<p>Frank, who had paid no attention to the change<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span> -in the weather in his deep thought about Minnie’s -change toward him, now took a look at things.</p> - -<p>“This is going to be a stiff little rain. We’re -nearest to this island. Let’s land and get in that -hut. It will keep off the rain.”</p> - -<p>He changed the course of the <em>Rocket</em> slightly, -for they were approaching an island in midstream. -The rain was peppering down a little more as they -made the landing, and, while Frank tied the boat, -the girls dashed for the shelter of the rickety looking -hut which stood at the edge of the shore, a -great elm tree spreading out to reach it but not -quite doing so.</p> - -<p>But it did them little good. As the storm broke -in full intensity, the water poured through the roof -as if there were none there. The girls huddled together -in one corner, but even that did them little -good. The rain came in a perfect sheet. Ten -minutes of this and their dresses were soaked.</p> - -<p>“I think you should have used a great deal more -care about this,” Minnie said to Frank coldly. -“It surely is not a very nice thing to bring your -friends out and then get them soaked in this manner. -I don’t appreciate it a bit.”</p> - -<p>There was nothing for Frank to say. He had -just succeeded in widening the breach a little more, -though certainly he had intended no such thing.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">SHARP WORDS</p> - - -<p>Even more quickly than the rain storm had developed -did it pass away—and the bright summer -sun came out in its resplendent glory. Frank and -the girls emerged from the hut, drenched to the -skin, the girls’ dresses hanging to them like so many -rags.</p> - -<p>“I am just as sorry as I can be, girls,” said -Frank in an apologetic tone of voice. “Had I -thought the rain was going to be so severe, even -had I thought we were going to have a shower, I -would not have come. But, there’s nothing to be -done about it but to be miserably wet and uncomfortable -until we get back.”</p> - -<p>Minnie seemed to be in a tempest, her expression -one of anger when Frank spoke.</p> - -<p>“Your attention was called to it when we started,” -she shot at him as they reached the <em>Rocket</em> at the -shore.</p> - -<p>“Quite true, Minnie. But do you think for a -moment that I came down here to get myself wet,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span> -too, just for the fun of getting you girls wet? -Just remember that I got as much of it as any one -else.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t think Frank is to blame one bit,” one -of the other girls spoke up. “Let’s make the best -of it. The sun will dry us out a little, and the -wind on the river will help. The only thing is that -we’ll look like we’ve been rough dried.”</p> - -<p>Into the <em>Rocket</em> climbed all the girls, while Frank -shoved easily off and took charge of the engine -and the wheel.</p> - -<p>The cheery reaction of the sunshine as opposed -to the drear of the rain and clouds and the breeze -of the water, the open air, and the feeling of freedom—all -combined to return the little group to -something more resembling normal, and in a very -few minutes, before they had half traversed the -return distance to the picnic grounds, all the girls -were laughing and giggling, making light of the -incident.</p> - -<p>Frank was delighted to see the turn of affairs, -and even more pleased to notice that Minnie seemed -to be regaining her former spirits, denoted by a little -more freedom in her conversation with him. She -sat on a steamer stool at the edge of the cockpit -while he held the <em>Rocket</em> to its course.</p> - -<p>“Please let me run it, won’t you?” she asked.</p> - -<p>Whereupon the length of time it took Frank to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span> -permit her to take the wheel in hand and assume -charge of their path was measured by the speed with -which he could slip to one side and let her get into -the pit.</p> - -<p>“Girls, isn’t this fine? I’m going to capture that -port yonder. Fire when you are ready, men!”</p> - -<p>Minnie, a driver of an automobile herself, fearless -of mechanical things, swung the <em>Rocket</em> far out -of the midstream and made a run around the little -island standing in the center of the Harrapin’s -course just opposite the picnic grounds.</p> - -<p>The crowd on shore had returned to the grounds, -for, as Frank learned afterward, they too, had been -caught in the rain and had sought shelter under -benches, inside of cars and wagons, and under -doubled cloths which had been spread as tents.</p> - -<p>Some one from the picnic grounds noticed that -Minnie was steering the <em>Rocket</em>, and sent the news -around. This very largely accounted for the interest -exhibited by all of them in gathering along -the little bluff of the shore, watching.</p> - -<p>Minnie took the speedy little craft gracefully -around the island, making a three-quarter turn, -and then dashed straight for shore.</p> - -<p>Frank gave her directions to go slightly upstream -before making the turn down again to the grounds, -and then cut off the engine.</p> - -<p>“It must be truthfully said,” laughed Lanky, as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span> -he watched, “that Frank’s nerve for one thing and -his fear of hurting Minnie’s feeling for another -thing, causes him to allow her to make the landing.”</p> - -<p>But it was smoothly done, a feat of which Minnie -herself was not sure when she essayed it, but which -she was determined to try now that she had the -wheel.</p> - -<p>Out of the boat all of the passengers jumped as -they touched, Frank tying, and the crowd was all -around them.</p> - -<p>“Where were you during the rain?”</p> - -<p>“Did you make Whipper’s Island?”</p> - -<p>“Did you go into that hut?”</p> - -<p>“Look how wet they got!”</p> - -<p>Questions, statements, suggestions, quips and -gibes, all came thick and fast from the crowd of -young folks. Finally, the explanation was given, -Minnie enlarging it as much as one can who is -happy over a feat well performed and who, therefore, -had almost forgotten the unkind remarks and -cutting looks which she had directed at Frank Allen.</p> - -<p>“I must have you drive the <em>Speedaway</em>!” cried -Fred Cunningham coming forward and making a -very successful attempt to separate Minnie from the -others.</p> - -<p>“I certainly should love to. Can’t we get it out -to-morrow?” she asked.</p> - -<p>“No, because I am going to be out of town. You<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span> -see, I have some business which I must attend to. -My two friends are anxious to have me with them -on a business deal.”</p> - -<p>“Did you hear that, Frank?” whispered Lanky.</p> - -<p>“I did.”</p> - -<p>“Rather nervy, I’ll say.”</p> - -<p>“Well, he has the right to do it, I suppose,” returned -the owner of the <em>Rocket</em>.</p> - -<p>“Humph, he ought to have his head punched,” was -the growled-out reply.</p> - -<p>Just after lunch, about the time Frank and his -group had started for the boat ride, others had strung -a tennis net beyond the trees in an opening which -was reasonably smooth, though far from perfect. -Fortunately, some thoughtful person had put the -rackets beneath the seat of an automobile, protected -from the rain, and now these were unlimbered from -their hiding places and a game proposed.</p> - -<p>It had not occurred to Frank to bring along the -two folding stools aboard the <em>Rocket</em>, but this did -not alter the fact that it was a rather nervy thing -for Fred Cunningham to step aboard the little boat -shortly afterward and take both of them, using one -for himself and one for Minnie as they took seats -alongside the tennis court to watch.</p> - -<p>“What do you think of that?” Lanky asked Frank.</p> - -<p>“I think if whatever nerve he has continues to develop, -he ought to be able to get along in this world,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span> -was Frank Allen’s very apt reply. “But he has -shown me what a bonehead I carry on top of my -own shoulders, anyhow.”</p> - -<p>“I agree,” Lanky rejoined, without a smile.</p> - -<p>However, the act was just one more little coal -added to the fire of dislike which was well kindled -in the breast of Frank, for, though he did not resent -the act as one of gallantry when he had forgotten it, -he did resent the nerve of this fellow who had gone -aboard his boat under the circumstances which existed -and in face of the rift which was between them. -Instead of his feeling any jealousy, he had a feeling -that this fellow was trying to take entire charge of -things, trying to make light of Frank before his -friends.</p> - -<p>The game of tennis went merrily on, though the -ground was wet and slippery, the balls soon became -the same, and the rackets gradually became slow. -In fact, the players knew the gut were ruined, but -none of them would stop from playing. To-morrow -was time enough to think of the cost.</p> - -<p>It was just as the afternoon was getting along to -a close, when the happy crowd of young folks was -commencing to weary, that some one made a remark -again about the race between the <em>Rocket</em> and the -<em>Speedaway</em>.</p> - -<p>“It will be only a few days more,” called out Fred -Cunningham. “I have been watching the <em>Rocket</em><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span> -of Allen’s, and I saw the way it acted this afternoon. -It really will be a shame the way the <em>Speedaway</em> will -run off from the <em>Rocket</em>.”</p> - -<p>“I shouldn’t be surprised but what you expect to -run several rings around me,” declared Frank Allen, -making a very brave attempt to make the speech -laughingly.</p> - -<p>“Now, that hadn’t occurred to me; but I believe it -can be done.” Cunningham, instead of taking it -up in the same bantering fashion, made a serious -matter of it.</p> - -<p>“Well, as you said, it will be only a few days. -In the meanwhile I think I shall install a couple of -pair of wings on the <em>Rocket</em>,” answered Frank.</p> - -<p>For a while the conversation ran in this wise, and -then veered off to a discussion of the Parsons robbery -case, a subject which had thus far been taboo -with Frank’s closest friends.</p> - -<p>The boys supposed none of the girls knew the inside -facts of what had been going on, and the five of -them, Frank, Lanky, Paul, Ralph, and Buster -felt that they could keep this particular subject clear -of any personal references.</p> - -<p>But they missed their guess, for Irene Rich was -the one who spoiled their hopes with the remark:</p> - -<p>“Frank was up there, and he ought to know a -whole lot. Why not tell us all about it, Frank?”</p> - -<p>Fred Cunningham appeared to be interested in what<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span> -was going on, and looked from one to the other as -questions and urgings passed around the little crowd.</p> - -<p>“But there isn’t anything to tell that you don’t -already know,” Frank tried to stem the tide. “The -newspapers have told what we saw, Lanky and I.”</p> - -<p>“Sure they have,” Lanky now interrupted. -“What’s the use of serving it all over again—cold?”</p> - -<p>“But who do they think did it? Wasn’t that awful—robbing -Mrs. Parsons and scaring her almost -to death putting her in that closet?” went on another -girl.</p> - -<p>Fred Cunningham rose from his seat and walked -around the group, fearful that something might be -said which he would not hear.</p> - -<p>“I think,” said Frank, “that it’s getting late and -we ought to commence packing. It will be dark by -the time we get back to town.”</p> - -<p>“That is right,” spoke up Cunningham, a guest, -but willing to get away from the grounds.</p> - -<p>So, there being little else to do, the crowd being -weary of the day, packing operations were started -immediately.</p> - -<p>The boys who were closest to Frank gathered -about him, each doing his own part toward packing, -but there seemed to be a natural gravitation of his -friends toward one little group.</p> - -<p>“Say,” Paul Bird spoke up quietly, as he was standing -near Frank at one time, “what do you say if<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span> -several of us go up there to-morrow to see if we can -find anything.”</p> - -<p>“That’s the idea! We know more to start with -than any one else, and we ought to be able to find -something, provided there is anything to be found,” -Lanky put in.</p> - -<p>“A lot of time has passed,” interposed Frank. “I -am not opposed to the idea, but I am fearful that we -won’t find anything that will be of benefit.”</p> - -<p>“It certainly would be too late to hunt for any -tracks of automobiles or anything of that kind,” said -Buster. “Even if we had a chance this morning, the -rain has spoiled whatever chance remained.”</p> - -<p>“It doesn’t seem to me that hunting for automobile -tracks would help us, anyhow,” said Frank. “I -don’t think the automobile had very much to do with -it.”</p> - -<p>“It took those men away, didn’t it?” asked Ralph.</p> - -<p>Frank smiled quietly. That question had been -asked before, as also the other one—where was the -automobile when Mrs. Parsons came into the house?</p> - -<p>“What time can we get started? I want to go -to the hospital and then I want to see the contractors -in the morning, but I’ll be ready to go after that. -Say about ten o’clock?”</p> - -<p>It was agreed at once that all the boys should be -down at the boat-house at ten o’clock, and Lanky -was given the job of seeing that oil and gas were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span> -aboard, and Buster’s job was to have lunch for all on -board, inasmuch as they would spend the day up the -river.</p> - -<p>Minnie joined the group of boys after a short -while.</p> - -<p>“I am having a little lawn party at the house to-morrow -afternoon in honor of Mr. Cunningham,” -she said. “Won’t you boys be there?”</p> - -<p>This invitation was a bombshell in the crowd. -They all looked at Frank for an answer.</p> - -<p>“Sorry, Minnie, but all of us have agreed to make -a little trip of exploration to-morrow to try out the -<em>Rocket</em>, and we won’t be able to go. If it were the -next day, now——”</p> - -<p>“It can’t be the next day. I can’t change my arrangements, -and you can change yours.”</p> - -<p>“Well, the other boys may do as they see fit, though -I think they feel as if they are bound to make this -trip, but I am going to make it, whether or no.”</p> - -<p>Frank’s position rather startled Minnie. She was -not accustomed to having people attempt to alter her -plans.</p> - -<p>Just at this moment Fred Cunningham walked over -to the crowd.</p> - -<p>“I say, fellows, surely you will be there. I want -to get away on a business trip the day after. Surely -your trial of the <em>Rocket</em> can wait another day.”</p> - -<p>“I am afraid it has waited too long.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span></p> - -<p>“Going to hunt up the place where you had your -two hours of engine trouble?” Cunningham shot -covertly at Frank.</p> - -<p>“No. But I’m going to find the rowboat that gets -in the way at nighttime and learn where it keeps its -boxes that it carries aboard.” Why Frank made such -a remark he was never able to explain. But Cunningham -went as white as a sheet.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">THE MYSTERIOUS ROWBOAT</p> - - -<p>Fred Cunningham turned away from the crowd -and walked over to where Irene Rich was tying the -last of the bundles when Frank shot this decidedly -pointed shaft at him.</p> - -<p>This action on Cunningham’s part reacted on -Frank’s mind, and he, now amazed at what he had -said and the result it had produced, grew quiet -while he made his preparations to get aboard the -<em>Rocket</em>.</p> - -<p>Minnie Cuthbert came over to his side while he -was making ready to cast off from the river bank.</p> - -<p>“Frank, may I ride back with you to town? I’d -like to go up the river instead of riding back in a -car.”</p> - -<p>“Surest thing you know!” he exclaimed. Not only -was he delighted to take Minnie along because he -wished her company, but he also felt that Cunningham -would realize that he had not done so much damage -as he thought.</p> - -<p>“Won’t you please tell me,” she asked when they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span> -had got away from shore and Lanky, Paul, and -Ralph had gone forward to allow the two to be alone -at the cockpit, “what you meant when you said what -you did to Fred? And why did he turn and leave so -suddenly?”</p> - -<p>“I wish I could tell you, Minnie. But right now -I may not tell you the truth. I am guessing at some -things. That wild guess may be right and it may -be wrong. At any rate, it had an effect that surprised -me.”</p> - -<p>“What does it all mean? Has it anything to do -with that robbery at Mrs. Parsons? I’ve heard so -many things dropped that I am very curious.”</p> - -<p>The <em>Rocket</em> had swung far out into the middle of -the stream and under the increasingly expert hand -of Frank Allen, it turned its nose toward Columbia, -past the dredge which was cutting a channel close -to one of the islands, and, as the golden glow of the -sun fell aslant the quiet waters of the Harrapin, -they were started for home, weary of the day’s picnic, -but wide awake, all of them, to the new things which -had opened up in this quick exchange of words.</p> - -<p>At the bow of the boat, Paul, Lanky, and Ralph -were close together, whispering exchanges about the -most recent happening.</p> - -<p>“What do you think Frank knows?” Paul was -asking.</p> - -<p>“I don’t think he knows any more than we do,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span> -answered Lanky. “But he made a wild guess, and -he seems to have struck home. This fellow Cunningham -knows a whole lot more than we have been -thinking he does.”</p> - -<p>At the cockpit Frank and Minnie were standing.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” he replied to her question, “it had something -to do with the Parsons robbery, but I don’t -know just yet what its real significance is.”</p> - -<p>“Why so mysterious about it, Frank? You know -I am not going to say anything.”</p> - -<p>“Well, Minnie, you tell me what you have heard. -Tell me what Cunningham has told you about me, -and then maybe I can put two and two together.”</p> - -<p>“He hasn’t talked about you, Frank. You know -very well that I would never stand for anything of -that kind.”</p> - -<p>Frank had hoped that he would learn something -that Fred might have said about him in an effort to -hurt him in the eyes of Minnie Cuthbert, but now -it appeared that he had been too careful or too shrewd -to say anything, or that Minnie was hiding something -from him—and he did not believe the latter.</p> - -<p>“Did he not tell you what occurred over in the -rooms of the chief of police in the hearing yesterday -afternoon?”</p> - -<p>“Not a word. What happened?”</p> - -<p>“Hasn’t he told you that I stand suspected of -knowing something about this robbery?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span></p> - -<p>Minnie gasped in amazement at this question.</p> - -<p>“You have something to do with it? Have you -really, Frank? What is it? Surely you are not -implicated——”</p> - -<p>“Do you think I am?” he looked straight into her -eyes as he put the question.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Frank, please forgive me! I did not mean to -hurt you! Did not mean it that way! Only what -you said so surprised me that I had to ask for more.”</p> - -<p>“What I want to know is whether Cunningham -told you that I was suspected of knowing something -about it. Or did he say anything else that might -injure my reputation?”</p> - -<p>“No, I do not recall that he said anything except -one time this morning when we were talking about -your pitching the games, and he said something about -the brunette at Bellport being so interested in you—and -that you were interested in her. You were over -there after we got back from Rockspur, weren’t -you?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, on father’s business. I went to see no girl—brunette -or blonde.”</p> - -<p>Frank’s mind was much relieved that the coolness -had been caused by this rather than anything else. -He had felt all day that Cunningham was poisoning -the girl’s mind against him by implicating him in -some manner in the Parsons case. But now that the -coolness had been produced by Cunningham’s very<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span> -sly connection of this brunette, whoever he meant, -with himself—that was another thing.</p> - -<p>Minnie asked again what it was that Frank had -done to be implicated in any manner, but Frank -merely asked her to await developments.</p> - -<p>“This much is certain, Minnie: I don’t know a -thing about that robbery, but I certainly propose to -know something. And I am not going to be long -about it, either.”</p> - -<p>Paul, Lanky and Ralph heard the statement of -their friend, and they saw in his tense expression, -his firmness of manner, the same determination to -win which they had seen often enough on the athletic -field to recognize at a glance.</p> - -<p>“Trust Frank to get to the bottom of the affair,” -remarked Ralph.</p> - -<p>“I sure hope so,” came from Paul.</p> - -<p>They reached Columbia at dusk, warped easily -into the boat-house, and made for home, Frank walking -out with Minnie.</p> - -<p>“Gee, I’m glad Minnie and Frank have made -up,” said Lanky, as the three boys walked up to -town ahead of the young couple. “Not that -they’ve had a fuss, but that Cunningham fellow has -been throwing sand on the track. I wish I could -find a first-class reason for punching his eye for -him.”</p> - -<p>“Why not on general principles?” laughed Ralph.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span></p> - -<p>“No—I want something very specific, so that I -can feel that I have a job to finish well.”</p> - -<p>The other two boys felt largely the same way toward -the good-looking stranger who had forced himself -on them.</p> - -<p>Parting for the evening, with their plans laid for -the next day, they went home, while Frank and Minnie -took their time, chatting gaily about things in -general, Minnie taking a little more pains to keep -away from Cunningham as a subject for conversation.</p> - -<p>“But he is such a nice boy,” she thought to herself, -when Frank had bade her good-bye. “I am sure he -isn’t quite so great a villain as Frank seems to think.”</p> - -<p>Before Frank could go to the <em>Rocket</em>, even though -the other boys were up early and doing their tasks -toward the day’s trip, he had to call at the hospital -to learn about his father, since the news of the evening -before had been only average, nothing to make -him feel cheerful.</p> - -<p>“He’s getting along well, I think,” cheerily said -the nurse on this bright morning. “Had a good -night’s sleep, and seems to be resting. Go in and -see him.”</p> - -<p>They chatted for a while, Frank doing most of -the talking, telling of the day previous, the picnic, and -ending by saying that he was going out to-day to -help Mrs. Parsons. As yet Mr. Allen had not been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span> -told much of the details, merely that Mrs. Parsons -place had been robbed. Mr. Allen was a sick man.</p> - -<p>“All ready, fellows?” asked Frank as he reached -the boat-house and saw the four boys lined up. -“Let’s get her out, then!”</p> - -<p>So the <em>Rocket</em> was started on her voyage up the -Harrapin, a voyage of exploration for clues or direct -knowledge—a voyage intended to turn up something -before the day was ended.</p> - -<p>“Can you show us what kind of speed she’s got -in her, so we’ll know in advance whether you’re going -to win against the <em>Speedaway</em>?” asked Paul.</p> - -<p>“Pretty coarse way you have of getting a speedy -joy ride,” Frank smiled at his good friend. “Wait -until we clear out of these boats and get past the island -there and we’ll show them, won’t we, Lanky?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll say we will! Wait a minute! I’m a sea-faring -man, I am, and I’ve got to speak correctly. -You can lay to that we will sir, aye, aye! Blow -me, just show these landlubbers what she’s got in -her.” Ending this speech, Lanky bent his shoulders -forward and hitched his trousers in imitation of -vaudeville sailors.</p> - -<p>Getting past the few boats that were on the river -in front of Columbia, clearing past the first of the -islands, Frank gradually opened up the speed of the -<em>Rocket</em>. Taking the very middle of the stream, moving -against the current, the bow lifted clear, and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span> -<em>Rocket</em> skimmed at a merry pace for four miles, the -boys uttering exclamations of delight the while. The -speed was the best that Frank had yet gotten out of -the Rocket, but at that he realized that he was not -up to the top-notch.</p> - -<p>“The <em>Speedaway’s</em> in for a trimming, sure!” cried -Ralph hilariously. “It’s too bad Fred Cunningham -isn’t along to see this so that he wouldn’t have to -waste his gasoline.”</p> - -<p>Making one of the wide bends of the river, seeing -two other boats beyond, Frank blew his whistle -in signal, and also cut down the speed, fearing that -he might run into trouble.</p> - -<p>“Where do we go first?” Lanky asked.</p> - -<p>“I think the wise plan is to go up to the Parsons -place and look around. I’d like to get to the place, -Lanky, where we saw that rowboat tied, if we can -find it, for I’ve an idea in my head.”</p> - -<p>Frank only shook his head negatively when asked -what his idea might be.</p> - -<p>“Might not be worth anything. Let’s wait until -we get there and see if I am right. If I am right, -fellows, we’ve got something to think about.” At -this there came a chorus from all four, begging, -pleading with Frank to tell—to no avail.</p> - -<p>In a short while they were standing off the shore -of the Parsons place. Frank ran a quarter of a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span> -mile up the river, and then turned and came slowly -downstream, drifting.</p> - -<p>Lanky lay forward as far as he could stretch, his -eyes glued on the shore line. Once he looked quickly -back to catch Frank’s eye, but that young man was -easing the <em>Rocket</em> over to shore, his eyes also fixed -on the slightly inclining bank.</p> - -<p>Touching at practically the same spot where they -had landed before, all the boys climbed out and -started for the broad lawn of the Parsons estate, -Lanky and Frank finding it much easier to make -their way this time than during the darkness a few -nights before.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Parsons was on the lawn, directing the cutting -thereof by a burly laborer who was operating a hand-powered -lawn-mower. To Frank’s pleasant greeting, -she replied:</p> - -<p>“What is it that gives me the pleasure of this -visit?” speaking very frigidly.</p> - -<p>“Clarence Wallace and I have brought three of our -friends along, Mrs. Parsons, this morning to see if -there is anything we can learn here that might lead -to the capture of those men who robbed you.”</p> - -<p>“I think the police can do that perfectly well.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps they can,” Frank replied pleasantly. -“But it so happens that two of us are decidedly interested -in having something done at once.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span></p> - -<p>“I think something is being done,” she replied.</p> - -<p>Frank saw that she had turned completely against -him, for she had never been so cold before to him.</p> - -<p>“If anything is being done beyond accusing honest -boys of dishonest acts and motives, then I have -not been informed, and I am much more interested -in the information than even you are, Mrs. Parsons, -for, you must remember that ‘he who steals my -purse steals trash!’”</p> - -<p>Whether the semi-quotation was lost on the -woman Frank did not know, but he was afterwards -to learn.</p> - -<p>“So far, you are here without my invitation,” she -said just as coldly as ever, “and I must ask that you -leave the place.”</p> - -<p>“We will, Mrs. Parsons, by the road at the rear -of the house.”</p> - -<p>Frank bowed politely to her and strode across the -lawn toward the road at the rear, taking pains to pass -as close to the house as possible, in order to observe.</p> - -<p>Out on the road the boys stopped while Frank -gave directions to seek for automobile marks at the -side of the road. Very slowly they proceeded. -Stopping at one point, Frank looked across the distance -stretching toward the river, his eyes carefully -searching the trees and shrubbery. Suddenly he -gasped, and pointed to an opening.</p> - -<p>“Lanky, you go down to that opening right away.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span> -When you get to it go slowly, and back out to the -river, while I watch.”</p> - -<p>In five minutes Lanky was there, backing away -through the opening. When he reached the water’s -edge, his shoulders were still visible to Frank.</p> - -<p>Looking to see where he was, Lanky saw a pasteboard -box in which lunch might have been, a discarded -tobacco bag, and a piece of rope on the bank. -Here was where that rowboat had been tied when -they came down the river the night of the robbery!</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">THE ROWBOAT IS FOUND</p> - - -<p>Lanky Wallace involuntarily gasped as he realized -what Frank had sought—and here was a clue -at the very start. He wildly waved his arms for -the other boys to come.</p> - -<p>“He’s found something!” cried Frank, as he led -the boys across the lawn of Mrs. Parsons like hounds -in full chase.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Parsons, her eyes having never left the boys -from the time they passed her on the lawn, now -watched this strange thing—four of them running -at full speed toward a point on the river to which -one of them had gone a few minutes before.</p> - -<p>“Henry,” she said to the hired man, “go down -there at once and see what those boys are doing. -There is something here that needs watching.”</p> - -<p>Henry started away as he was told, but his pace -was not calculated to get him there too soon, for -Henry did not know what he was expected to do -when he found what the boys should be doing, and -Henry remembered, as burly as he was, that there -were five of these live young fellows.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span></p> - -<p>“Look, Frank!” Lanky cried as quickly as the -other boys came to the river bank, Frank well in the -lead. “This must be the spot where the rowboat -was tied the other night.”</p> - -<p>“I rather think it is. Let’s study it all very carefully,” -Frank looked downstream to where the -<em>Rocket</em> was riding the current of the Harrapin. -“First, are we the right distance above the <em>Rocket</em>, -because, if you remember, we had time to throw our -searchlight before we heard the scream.”</p> - -<p>Lanky called Frank’s attention to the fact that they -were not abreast the rowboat when they first saw it, -nor even when they were searching for it through -the heavy darkness with the electric spotlight.</p> - -<p>“All right, let’s agree on that point to start with. -Now, Lanky, you know as much as I do about the -happenings on that night. If we agree that this -lunch-box, this empty tobacco bag, and the piece of -rope are indications that the rowboat was here, what -other reason is there? I want to see if you are getting -to the same conclusion that I have reached.”</p> - -<p>Lanky had it in his mind, however, for he, too, -had been thinking of the same thing Frank had -when Frank first spied the opening through the trees -and the shrubbery to the river’s bank.</p> - -<p>“Remember the match that was lighted in the rowboat -that night, and how it stood out above everything?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span></p> - -<p>“What—a signal?” cried Ralph West, while Paul -and Buster stood with mouths open, listening.</p> - -<p>“Precisely,” replied Frank Allen. “I believe there -was a signal that night from this boat to some one -on that road. Why was this boat tied at the only -actually open space along this part of the river?”</p> - -<p>“That seems to answer our question about the -automobile,” Lanky slowly reasoned things out.</p> - -<p>“That’s it! The automobile was in the road back -of the house, instead of standing by the garage, and -it received a signal from this rowboat! Now here -comes our next question: When and why did the -fellow in the rowboat signal to the fellow in the -automobile?”</p> - -<p>Ralph, Buster and Paul, not having been there, -could only picture the scene in imagination, but -Frank and Lanky were revisualizing what they had -seen that pitch-dark night on the river.</p> - -<p>“Gee, this is getting exciting!” cried Buster.</p> - -<p>“I’ll say it is,” added Ralph.</p> - -<p>“Regular detective story,” put in Paul.</p> - -<p>“Well, we—ll—” Lanky was thinking hard over -another point, and he was drawling to gain plenty of -time to think before replying—“Frank,” he looked -suddenly at his good friend, his forehead wrinkling -in a frown, “if my memory serves me rightly, we -heard the scream of Mrs. Parsons about a minute -or two after we saw the flare.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span></p> - -<p>Frank agreed that the time might be right.</p> - -<p>“But,” he added, “do you recall we thought we -heard a sound from shore as if some one were answering?”</p> - -<p>“Sure! I had not forgotten that! You stopped -the motor and kidded yourself that we were both -allowing the darkness and the mysterious sounds -of the river to get on our nerves.”</p> - -<p>Frank smiled as he recalled plainly what remarks -he had made. At the time it happened he little -thought he would be nudging his memory to serve -him in recalling all the things that had occurred, nor -that he would have strong personal reasons for retracing -all the detailed steps of that night.</p> - -<p>“We haven’t answered the question yet why and -when the signal was given.”</p> - -<p>“What is this—an examination?” Ralph broke in. -“I wish I could help!”</p> - -<p>“Absolutely, this is an examination,” said Lanky -Wallace. “This is the greatest little examination -you ever saw. Frank is thinking certain things and -he is using me to trace all the steps of his reasoning -in order to assure himself that he is right. Eh, -old boy?”</p> - -<p>“Right you are—and if you come to the same -conclusions I have, we’re going to get on the track -of somebody.”</p> - -<p>“I have it!” cried Lanky, touching Frank on the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span> -arm. “See the house from here?” and he turned -to point to the house. There stood the hired man, -Henry, just at the edge of the lawn! “Hey! -What’re you standing there listening to?”</p> - -<p>“The madam said for you to clear out of here.”</p> - -<p>“You clear out yourself!” called Frank, starting -toward the fellow. “We’re doing no harm to any -one.”</p> - -<p>Henry did not wait any longer. He said, “All -right,” and started back for the lawn. The boys -watched him leave.</p> - -<p>“Now, what were you saying, Lanky?”</p> - -<p>“I was saying that you can see the house from -here. The room that was ransacked is right there -on the corner in front. Suppose there came a signal -from there—it could be seen from here.”</p> - -<p>“But why would a signal come from there?”</p> - -<p>“Well, suppose they had finished their work, -suppose they were not in need of the automobile; if -they signaled from up at the window, then a signal -from here, like the lighted match, would let them -know their signal had been seen and it would also -act as a signal to the fellow in the automobile.”</p> - -<p>“Exactly!” cried Frank. “That’s the way I have -it figured out. Now, the next question is: Did they -ransack the dining room between the time Mrs. -Parsons screamed—or the first scream we heard—and -the time we got to the rear door?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span></p> - -<p>“They surely did, Frank,” agreed Wallace. “I -believe they could have done it.”</p> - -<p>“All right!” The other three boys listened in -admiration to this exciting disclosure of the details -of the robbery. “But that means we have how many -in the gang?”</p> - -<p>“Four, of course!” came in quick reply from -Lanky.</p> - -<p>“Well, then, if that’s agreed, let’s go to the -<em>Rocket</em> and we’ll do some more hunting.”</p> - -<p>Frank led the way back on to the lawn of the -Parsons place, skirted the trees and shrubs downstream, -finally starting through at the point where -they had left their motor-boat.</p> - -<p>Arriving there, all climbed aboard, not a word -having been spoken the while, not a word spoken -now. The three boys, Paul, Buster and Ralph, were -consumed with curiosity, as the saying goes, wondering -what the next move was to be. They had -not long to wait.</p> - -<p>“We’ll go hunting for that rowboat now, Lanky,” -said Frank, as the <em>Rocket</em> was shoved off from -shore. “It is somewhere along the river. We’ll -just spend the rest of the day finding it.”</p> - -<p>“I suppose the first place to start the hunt will be -at the point where we almost struck it?” asked -Lanky.</p> - -<p>“Absolutely! Let’s try to locate that spot, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span> -then follow, for you will remember it was going -across stream, headed for the opposite side of the -river just above the island we circled trying to find -it.”</p> - -<p>Paul and Ralph was sitting at the bow of the -<em>Rocket</em> whispering to each other, their remarks concerning -their hopes that they would locate the little -craft.</p> - -<p>Frank eased the <em>Rocket</em> well out to the middle of -the Harrapin, the sun bearing down heavily on them -now, for it was getting toward noon.</p> - -<p>“How about something to eat? Let’s have the -eats!” Buster Billings demanded when they were -well started down the stream, the <em>Rocket</em> riding the -water smoothly.</p> - -<p>“I’m agreeable; but what do you say to waiting -until we get to that island and we’ll eat in the shade?” -suggested Lanky.</p> - -<p>It appeared to Lanky and Frank, as the <em>Rocket</em> -glided along down the river, that the distance from -the Parsons place to the island where they had encountered -the rowboat that night was shorter now -than before. One remarked it to the other, as if -reading each other’s minds.</p> - -<p>“This is the place, Lanky, that we met the rowboat, -and there’s the direction it took. Now, I’m going -around the island, following the same path we -did before, and see what the result is.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span></p> - -<p>Suiting the action to the word, Frank Allen held -the <em>Rocket</em> over toward the island, swung around it -at the lower end, and came up on the farther side, -until he was abreast the upriver side of it.</p> - -<p>“Now, don’t you think this is about where we -were?”</p> - -<p>Wallace agreed that, as nearly as could be told -in the daylight, this was the spot where they had -started their hunt.</p> - -<p>“And right over there is where I claim that rowboat -went under the trees and stayed while we sought -it,” Lanky turned and pointed to the upper part of -the island, where old willows dropped and spread -their branches down close to the water, entirely hiding -the shoreline.</p> - -<p>“All right. Since you think so, I move we eat -our lunch under those trees. Let’s get where you -think they were, and see what the outcome is.”</p> - -<p>Frank put the <em>Rocket</em> hard over, and gradually -brought it under the trees, though it was a close -shave to make it fit under the low-hanging branches.</p> - -<p>“Why, fellows,” cried Paul Bird, “even in the daytime -this is a good hiding place. Look, you can’t -see out, and it is a sure thing no one could see in! -Just think what it must be after dark, especially on -such a pitch-dark night as you say that one was!”</p> - -<p>Frank was won over to Lanky’s idea, after studying -the situation very carefully.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span></p> - -<p>The boys fell to on the food with a will such as -only hungry, manly, athletic fellows, can show. -They attacked the sandwiches front and rear.</p> - -<p>And, be it said in all truth right here, neither -Frank nor Lanky, serious as they were in the matter -gave any heed to further quest for clues or information -of any sort until the food was devoured and the -containers had been buried deep in the soil of the -shore.</p> - -<p>But, having partaken heartily of everything that -had been brought along, the boys walked around this -part of the island, curiously looking here and there, -not for anything in particular, but as observant boys -will do when in a strange place.</p> - -<p>“Now, fellows, since I am willing to concede the -point to Lanky about this being the hiding place -that night, let’s see if we can figure where the thing -went. I believe it had something to do with that -robbery, and I wish to run it down.”</p> - -<p>The <em>Rocket</em> slowly, very carefully, nosed out of -the willow-nook and turned straight for upstream.</p> - -<p>“You see, it was headed this way when we met it, -and the chances are there is a spot on this side -where it found a landing—its goal, I might say.”</p> - -<p>The boys took the cue of their leader, Frank, and -while he brought the <em>Rocket</em> farther over to the opposite -side of the river, they strained their eyes to -watch for any trace of it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span></p> - -<p>An hour passed slowly by, with the <em>Rocket</em> making -its way steadily up the Harrapin, the boys watching -the shore. But no success was theirs.</p> - -<p>“How far shall we go, do you say?” Frank asked -Lanky. “Do you suppose it could be any farther -up the river than we have come?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe so,” slowly replied Wallace. -“You see, it was a rowboat, which, if my line of -reasoning is any good, means there was not a great -distance to go. If the distance had been greater -they surely would have used a motor boat.”</p> - -<p>Frank agreed with this, for it seemed a logical -conclusion to reach, excepting for the one item of -noise, which Frank suggested, but which Lanky set -aside.</p> - -<p>They decided to turn the <em>Rocket</em> downstream, hold -it back as well as possible, even to the extent of drifting -once in a while, the better to give a chance of -studying the brush along the shore of the river.</p> - -<p>Another fifteen minutes passed, and it was noticeable -they were moving with the current a little faster -than they had come up against it.</p> - -<p>It was Frank who, happening to glance up from -the wheel at the right moment, saw something which -attracted his attention at the shore.</p> - -<p>“Look! Do you see anything?” he cried.</p> - -<p>“It’s a rowboat!” exclaimed Lanky. “And I believe -it’s the same one! Let’s get to it.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span></p> - -<p>Frank started the engine, swung the <em>Rocket</em> out -toward midstream, and turned its nose back toward -the spot where he had seen the boat among the weeds, -pulled well up from the river.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">THE MYSTERY BOX</p> - - -<p>Lanky Wallace leaped to shore as the <em>Rocket</em> -was brought slowly in, and Paul cast the line to him. -It took several minutes to tie the motor boat properly, -but when it was done the other boys stepped gingerly -off.</p> - -<p>They gathered about the rowboat, as if it were -some strange animal, five pairs of eyes centered upon -it.</p> - -<p>“If this is the boat, we ought to be a little more -careful about being seen, for the owner of it may be -somewhere near here, and he knows much more -than we do.”</p> - -<p>Frank spoke cautiously as he very slowly turned -to look beyond the shoreline of the river for any -habitation. On this side the bank was grown with a -dense thicket.</p> - -<p>The rowboat was of the same general appearance -as a thousand other rowboats. It was of average -size and of the same semi-flat design which the boys -might have seen all along the Harrapin. The oars<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span> -were lying about five feet away, side by side, not -hidden. The boat was not tied—merely pulled up -from the river so that it would not float away.</p> - -<p>Frank stood quietly looking at it, taking in everything -about the boat and its surroundings, which -were weeds and coarse shrubbery of the river-bank -variety.</p> - -<p>Why were they led to choose this particular boat? -What reason had they for thinking that this rowboat, -and this one only, had been the one which they -had met that night on the river? Why could it -not have been some other rowboat, farther upstream -or downstream? Why could not the rowboat they -were seeking not just as well be out on the river -somewhere, busy at a rowboat’s regular tasks?</p> - -<p>These were some of the thoughts which flashed -through Frank’s mind as the five boys stood looking -upon it.</p> - -<p>“Let’s see what is beyond the thicket,” suggested -Lanky, turning to lead the way through the undergrowth.</p> - -<p>“It was just a hunch, that was all,” mused Frank, -not moving away. They had come out to look for -a rowboat, a rowboat of very common design, perhaps, -and certainly one which they had seen hastily, -in the dark, under the glare of a dancing searchlight, -in moments of excitement. To choose this particular -one was certainly following a hunch.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span></p> - -<p>If they had seen three rowboats pulled up from -the stream, as this one was, which would they have -chosen, even though all three had been of different -sizes and general shapes?</p> - -<p>Lanky, Buster, Paul and Ralph were starting -through the brush and had gotten twenty or thirty -feet from the boat before Frank followed.</p> - -<p>“Psst!” came a sound from the leader of the Indian -file, and Lanky signaled back to Frank to come -forward.</p> - -<p>“There’s a house and a barn, and here’s a path -leading to them!”</p> - -<p>That was true, but, again Frank was trying to -find a reason for this blind following of a trail which -had opened up to them so very suddenly.</p> - -<p>Surely there were hundreds of just such houses -and barns along the banks of the Harrapin, places -inhabited by small farmers who dwelt along the -stream, and all of them probably owned a small boat -with which to cross the river or fish. Certainly, -there was nothing about this particular house and this -particular barn to cause them any anxiety or any -feelings of discovery.</p> - -<p>Where would this trail lead them? What was -there to make them think the robbers or the loot or -any information about either lay at the end of the -trail?</p> - -<p>“Let’s sneak up there and see what is the lie of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span> -land,” murmured Lanky, ready to proceed at a signal -from Frank.</p> - -<p>There was no move on the part of the latter. -There was no expression of face or body to indicate -to Lanky that his suggestion had been heard. He -looked at Frank’s troubled expression in question, -wondering why there was no instant desire to -move.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter, Frank? Don’t you think this -is the right place? There is the boat——”</p> - -<p>“We—ll, all right, let’s see what we see. Let’s go -along mighty carefully. Don’t disturb anything.”</p> - -<p>Like Indians stalking their prey, every nerve at -tension, every muscle under perfect control, ready -for action of any kind, the inner urge of adventure -pulsing through the veins of four of them, they crept -slowly, stealthily, forward.</p> - -<p>The sun was slanted down toward the west, indicating -midafternoon of a bright summer’s day.</p> - -<p>The path followed no straight line to its goal. So, -after twisting and turning, dodging high weeds on -both sides, holding some of them carefully back to -prevent the swishing sounds which they might create, -the seekers came close to the barn.</p> - -<p>Before they realized where they were they broke -out at the corner of a tumble-down structure with -a loft, one which had been allowed to drift, with the -years, into decay.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span></p> - -<p>Lanky, in the lead, came to a halt, holding his -hand up in quick signal.</p> - -<p>Coming down through the weeds and tall grass of -a lot between the farmhouse and this barn was the -figure of a man, moving slowly, picking his way -along the weed-grown path.</p> - -<p>“Get back!” breathed Frank in a whisper, reaching -for Lanky’s shoulder to draw him back. “Let’s -see who it is and what he is doing.”</p> - -<p>The five boys crouched in the rank growth, and, -each trying to peer through the weeds, they waited -for the man to come to the barn.</p> - -<p>Seconds seemed like hours, but Frank, who, by -going to the left side of the trail, had the point of -vantage, soon saw the man get to the barnyard -proper and move across toward the weather-beaten -structure.</p> - -<p>He signalled to the others that the man was in -sight, and Lanky craned his head to get a good view. -Frank’s attention was drawn from the man by the -sharp intake of breath on the part of Lanky Wallace:</p> - -<p>“That’s the man who was rowing that boat!” he -exclaimed whisperingly to Frank.</p> - -<p>The man went inside, and in another moment his -face appeared at a door which he opened at the rear, -the side on which the boys were hiding. Stealthily -the man looked in all directions.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span></p> - -<p>“That’s Jed Marmette,” muttered Frank to Lanky, -who had, meanwhile, quietly crept over to the side of -his friend. “Marmette is the man who was arrested -several months ago, if you will remember, for bootlegging. -But they were never able to get him with -the goods.”</p> - -<p>“Sure, I recall!” murmured Lanky, as the recollection -of the story came to him. “They thought -they had found a lot of evidence, but he was able to -show that he had nothing to do with it. I remember -it well.”</p> - -<p>The man still stood at the half-door peering -around, his iron-gray hair falling to one side as he -brushed it over with his hand nervously, otherwise -being of very unkempt appearance.</p> - -<p>Gradually the door was closed, and the boys plainly -heard the hook as it was brought into place.</p> - -<p>“I’m going to slip up close. You fellows listen -for any trouble or noise. I’m going to see what that -fellow is doing there. Maybe he’s as innocent as a -baby, but I’m not taking any chance. Listen for -any signal from me, and then come.”</p> - -<p>Frank crouched low, and then, when he felt that he -could clear the open space quickly, he was off. In the -flash of a second he was at the corner of the barn -and around toward the front.</p> - -<p>The other boys, stooping and watching with eyes -that strained and ears that were sharply set for every<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span> -sound, waited for any eventualities. Second after -second passed away, but nothing of untoward significance -came to their ears.</p> - -<p>In the meanwhile, Frank reached the corner at the -front of the barn and then carefully made his way -toward the door which was closed and saw a hook -holding it from the inside. Obtaining a small sliver -of wood, he worked through the crack at the jamb -of the door until he had raised the wire hook within -and let it slowly, silently drop out of the staple at -the side.</p> - -<p>Stealthily opening the door and fastening it from -the inside again, he peered around the barn, accustoming -his eyes to the semi-darkness.</p> - -<p>Above him in the loft he heard a cautious tread. -The boards creaked as some one moved about. Jed -Marmette was there. For what purpose?</p> - -<p>Frank’s mind was in a whirl of ideas, of guesses, -of plans. His first involuntary thought was to go -quietly up the ladder to the loft and see what this -man was about. The lay of the land up there he -did not know, however, and on second thought, the -more sober one and the one of sounder judgment, he -decided to wait for the man to descend, after which -he would explore.</p> - -<p>After many minutes had passed, during which he -heard different kinds of sounds, some of which he -imagined he knew, others entirely foreign to any<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span> -notion he could arrange in his mind, Frank heard -the stealthy tread again, as if the man were approaching -the loft ladder.</p> - -<p>Quietly the boy now tiptoed to one of the stalls, -and there crouched while he saw the feet of the man -dangle downward through the hole, reach for and -gain the ladder, followed by the body, the shoulders, -and the head.</p> - -<p>In one hand the thick, heavy-set, gray-haired, but -none-the-less active man was carrying a package -about the size of a cigar box, wrapped in brown -wrapping paper. He carried it gingerly as he carefully -grasped the ladder with one hand round after -round, throwing his body toward the ladder to balance -himself as the hand released one round and -grasped the next lower down.</p> - -<p>Reaching the floor of the barn he stood to get his -breath, and then, turning toward the door, Frank saw -the package more plainly. As Marmette reached -the door he exchanged the package from one hand -to the other in order to unfasten the hook, and Frank -heard many small particles fall from one side of the -box, which must have been of metal, to the other.</p> - -<p>Letting himself out through the door, the man -placed the box on the ground and very carefully -locked the door from the outside with a large padlock.</p> - -<p>Frank’s face lighted with a merry smile as he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span> -thought of his own predicament—inside the barn -with the rear door locked from the inside!</p> - -<p>Slipping over to the front door he peered through -and saw the man leave the barn, going straight toward -the lot by which he had come.</p> - -<p>Then, going to the rear, he quietly lifted the lock -on the back door and slipped out, the four boys -watching him as the door opened.</p> - -<p>He signaled to them to keep back. Lanky was -watching Jed Marmette as he made his way toward -the farmhouse.</p> - -<p>Frank took no chance on his going to the boys. -Instead, he called to them, in a stage whisper, and -told three of the boys to watch the man while Lanky -was to come over to him.</p> - -<p>“He took a metal box out, Lanky, and it’s got -something inside that sounds like a whole lot of -things; for instance, the way that a lot of buttons -or nails or something of the kind might sound inside -a metal box. The box is wrapped in paper. He -got it up in the loft.”</p> - -<p>“Let’s follow and see what he does with it.”</p> - -<p>“All right. Get him located, and we’ll follow.”</p> - -<p>By this time the man was almost to the farmhouse, -but they saw him turn to the right and stride over -toward an old-fashioned grape arbor.</p> - -<p>Along the weedy pathway the two boys ran as -quickly as stealth permitted, now and then peering<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span> -up to see where the man was and what he was doing. -He had gone, by the time they approached -within safe distance, into the grape arbor.</p> - -<p>“You stay right here and I’ll sneak as near as I -can. If I need any help, come quickly.”</p> - -<p>With this admonition, Frank stole through the -weeds, circling toward the grape arbor, hoping to -find some point where he might see through. But -no such point appeared, and Frank, determined to -get whatever information he could, took the long -chance of creeping through the weeds straight up the -arbor.</p> - -<p>Here he saw plainly! Jed Marmette had dug a -hole under the arbor. Into that hole he was now -placing the box. He then covered it carefully with -the earth, tamped it down, smoothed everything off -and then replaced, so it appeared, a large flagstone -which was turned up to one side. This flag fitted -over the new-made hole and did away with all newness!</p> - -<p>Frank backed out of the weeds, crouchingly made -his way back to Lanky, beckoned him to follow and, -without words, they got back to the barn thence to -the trail behind.</p> - -<p>Here Frank laid a new scheme of exploration, and -took Lanky with him while the other boys, Paul, -Buster and Ralph, watched.</p> - -<p>Into the rear of the barn, up the ladder to the loft,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span> -and then a search. Frank led, for he felt he knew -where the sounds had been made—and success was -his at once.</p> - -<p>Under a small amount of hay was a large box, -or chest, roughly looking like the one they had seen -the night on the rowboat.</p> - -<p>It required no tug, no hardship—just the lifting of -the lid, after pitching the hay aside, and there they -saw, within the chest, piece after piece of silver of -all kinds, the dining-room treasure which Mrs. Parsons -had lost!</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">STOPPED BY THE HAND OF FATE</p> - - -<p>Though such an idea had been finding a home in -the brain of Frank Allen, it was a distinct shock -to him when he saw the contents of that chest.</p> - -<p>Lanky gasped in the utmost surprise, and looked -at the many pieces with wide eyes.</p> - -<p>There were knives and forks, and many spoons of -all sizes and kinds; there were plates and salad pieces, -small pitchers and shells, some gold lined and others -plain sterling silver; literally hundreds and hundreds -of pieces, enough for a dozen families.</p> - -<p>Lanky Wallace looked at Frank, and Frank looked -at his chum. Across the face of each stole a smile, -just a wee smile of one who knew his honor could -now be vindicated.</p> - -<p>No sound of warning had come from below, yet -Frank quietly closed the lid, strewed the hay over the -box as carefully as it had been done when they found -it, and led the way toward the ladder leading to the -floor below. Down he went first, followed very -closely by Lanky.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span></p> - -<p>In a few minutes more they were on the trail leading -up from the river, beckoning to Buster, Paul and -Ralph to join them. Not a word thus far had been -spoken by either.</p> - -<p>Not knowing what had been found, completely at -a loss to understand why Frank and Lanky said -nothing, Paul and Ralph and Buster followed meekly -behind, picking their way along the trail, until they -had reached the <em>Rocket’s</em> landing place.</p> - -<p>“Let’s get it out into the stream as quietly as possible,” -whispered Frank as they climbed aboard, -and Lanky, whose particular business it appeared to -have become, waited to push the <em>Rocket</em> well into the -river.</p> - -<p>Away it shoved off, Lanky grabbed an oar from -its convenient place to pole the boat out against the -fouling of the propeller blades, and Frank headed the -<em>Rocket</em> toward midstream, trying to get far enough -to drift with the river’s current before starting the -engine.</p> - -<p>Still not a word came from either of the two boys -as to the happenings within that barn on Jed Marmette’s -place.</p> - -<p>Having gotten a full eighth of a mile below the -landing, Frank gave Lanky the signal to start the -motor, and the muffled exhaust set up its song.</p> - -<p>“Well?” Paul could hold himself no longer. -“Please tell what you saw up in the barn! You<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span> -must have seen something of interest or you -wouldn’t be so quiet.”</p> - -<p>“All right, fellows,” replied Frank graciously (for -he surely could afford to be in a gracious mood right -now) “gather close up and we’ll tell you what we -saw.”</p> - -<p>As the sun was sinking farther and farther into -the west, as the long, last, struggling rays which it -threw out upon the world were cast across the rippling -current of the Harrapin River, Frank and -Lanky, piece by piece, told what they had seen at -the arbor and what they had seen in the loft of the -old barn.</p> - -<p>The three listeners sat with mouths open, their -eyes bulging, listening to this tale as children do to -the wonders of princes and princesses and giants and -kings in fairy tales.</p> - -<p>“And all the Parsons’ stuff is in that chest?” Paul -asked the question.</p> - -<p>“I don’t think it is. I think all the silverware -and such heavy pieces as they stole downstairs in -the dining room are in that chest, but I believe the -jewels which they got upstairs in her safe are in -that metal box which is buried.”</p> - -<p>“Why do you suppose he buried it?” again Paul -queried.</p> - -<p>“Hump——”</p> - -<p>“Do you think he was putting it there so that no<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span> -one would find it in case they were discovered?”</p> - -<p>“I certainly do not!” spoke up Lanky Wallace.</p> - -<p>“And I’ll bet Frank agrees with me, too! I believe -that fellow was double-crossing his partners—that’s -what I think! I believe he put that box of -jewels, which is the easiest of all things to get off -with, away in a safe place so that he could come -back himself some of these days and get it—after -his pals are in jail or away from this part of the -country.”</p> - -<p>“But, suppose Jed goes to jail?” asked Paul.</p> - -<p>“Listen, Paul Bird! You’d better start using -your head pretty soon. This detective agency has -no place for weak sisters. We run a first-class, efficient -detective agency, we do! Don’t we, Frank?” -teased Lanky.</p> - -<p>“Why kid me?” Paul stuck to his questioning.</p> - -<p>“Oh, listen to him! Say, Mr. President, we’ll -have to call this operative. He’s a mess!”</p> - -<p>This had the effect of quieting Paul, who wondered -what could be wrong with his question. Suppose -Jed Marmette went to jail, what would become -of the jewels?</p> - -<p>“Youthful aide-de-camp to the world’s leading -detectives, will you kindly notice that when Jed Marmette -starts to jail we’ll have the little box of jewels -safely back in Mrs. Parsons’ hands?”</p> - -<p>Paul said nothing more, yet they had not answered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span> -his question for him. For his question must not, of -course, include the knowledge which Jed Marmette -did not have—that he had been seen burying the -jewel box.</p> - -<p>Quietly the <em>Rocket</em> drifted along for a while, the -motor running slowly and smoothly, Frank making -no effort to get back to Columbia in a hurry. He -was trying to lay out a plan in his own mind, and -held the boat to the center of the stream while he -thought it all out.</p> - -<p>“You know,” said Frank, speaking to Lanky -more than to the other two boys, “those two fellows -in the boat that night were the same two who -were with Cunningham that same day when he tried -to run us down.”</p> - -<p>“Sure,” agreed Wallace instantly.</p> - -<p>“Next, you remember they dropped a large box -of some kind off the <em>Speedaway</em> when I swerved -and struck them aft.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” again agreed Lanky. “And it’s my impression -the box they dropped off the <em>Speedaway</em> that -day and the box we saw on the rowboat that night -and the box we saw in the loft to-day are all the same -box.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve just been wondering if that is true.”</p> - -<p>Again silence reigned on the <em>Rocket</em>.</p> - -<p>Frank called for the lights, which Lanky attended -to without further ado. The sun’s rays had passed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span> -out below the horizon, the day was coming to an end, -and the boys were getting toward home in the beautiful -hour of twilight.</p> - -<p>The whole scene was different. Things which -had appeared plain and definite during the sun’s -hours were now blots and blurbs on the dancing surface -of the river. Paul and Ralph and Buster saw -things which were new to them.</p> - -<p>What was the proper move to make? Frank asked -himself the question time after time. Should he go -back and recover the trunk or chest of silverware and -also the metal box of jewels and restore them to the -widow from whom they had been stolen?</p> - -<p>Frank knew that he and his four friends in this -boat, without any help, could very easily return to the -Marmette place an hour or two later, quietly recover -both the large chest and the smaller box, and he believed -they could get away without being discovered.</p> - -<p>But, if this was done, what would be the result?</p> - -<p>Simply that he and Lanky, already accused of -knowing something of the robbery, would still stand -accused by those whose minds had become poisoned. -True, the goods would be returned, but the attitude -of the poisoned minds would be that the boys had -become fearful and had restored the stolen goods in -fear of being caught with them in their possession.</p> - -<p>On the other hand, if some plan were worked out -by which the actual thieves could be caught removing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span> -the stolen goods or dividing their booty among themselves, -two very necessary ends would be achieved: -First, their own skirts would be shown to be clean -of the robbery; second, the thieves would be removed -from further contaminating contact with -society.</p> - -<p>Certainly, the locating of the thieves was the way -to proceed. But how do it?</p> - -<p>Could they expect help from the police department?</p> - -<p>Were they to carry their news to Chief Berry -would that dignitary of the law send out his officers -in an effort to find the men, or would they merely -uncover and bring in the booty without locating the -thieves, thus leaving Frank and Lanky in a rather -anomalous position?</p> - -<p>The distant lights of the town were coming into -sight as the <em>Rocket</em> made the last bend in the river -when Lanky finally broke the silence which had -fallen upon the lads.</p> - -<p>“What shall we do, Frank? Shall we go to the -chief or shall we follow this thing out ourselves?”</p> - -<p>Frank was not surprised at the question, realizing -that Lanky had probably spent the many minutes of -silence in going over the same questions which had -kept his own mind busy.</p> - -<p>“It seems the only thing we can do, Lanky. If -we keep this knowledge to ourselves we are apt, in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span> -some unforeseen manner, to find ourselves in a tight -box.”</p> - -<p>“I had thought of that, too,” replied the long lad. -“If some one else discovers anything, or if something -slips, we’ll be in for trouble.”</p> - -<p>“Absolutely!” Frank rehearsed the chance for -trouble. “For instance, it is plain as can be that -since we know where that silver is, it is our duty to -see that, so soon as possible, it is returned to the -rightful owner. If, through any fear on our part -that we may not get right and just treatment, we -permit the thieves to get away with it, we are accessories -after the fact, aren’t we?”</p> - -<p>The other boys nodded their assent to this statement.</p> - -<p>“This very evening we could have retrieved every -piece of the silver, and I haven’t the slightest doubt -we could also have gotten that box of jewels. Why -didn’t we?”</p> - -<p>No one replied; they waited for Frank to reply to -his own question.</p> - -<p>“Simply because we were selfish, thoughtful only -of our own reputations. That’s rough, but it’s true, -isn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“But if we don’t think of our own reputations -when our motives are impugned, who is going to -help us?” Lanky came fighting back to the aid of -themselves and their first ideas.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span></p> - -<p>“Quite so, Lanky,” Frank replied slowly, as they -drew nearer and nearer to Columbia. “But the -facts are just as I have stated. Now, if they be -true, what is our best move? Isn’t it to report to -the chief of Police?”</p> - -<p>The boys felt that there was nothing but to admit -it was the straightforward thing to do—leaving their -reputations in the hands of the chief or of the public -when the story should be told.</p> - -<p>It being agreed among them, no other course suggesting -itself to any of them, they fell silent while the -<em>Rocket</em> headed straight for its boat-house on the -Harrapin.</p> - -<p>“Well,” said Paul, “I’ve enjoyed the day immensely, -and we’ve learned more than we expected to -when we started. Now, as to the outcome.”</p> - -<p>“I feel that things will come out all right in the -end,” Frank replied serenely. “There is a path that -we must follow—the rules of right living demand -that—and we shall merely follow that path. It runs -straight, to say the least.”</p> - -<p>The <em>Rocket</em> ran slowly, easily, quietly into the boat-house, -and everything was made ready for the night. -It was already well past dark, and along the river -front all was still.</p> - -<p>The door at the river side was closed and locked, -the ignition locked, and the key placed where the -boys could find it, the battery switch thrown safely<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span> -off, and the day was done in so far as the motor boat -was concerned.</p> - -<p>“Now, it’s up to the chief’s office for us, and if -he isn’t there we’ll have to find him.”</p> - -<p>They stopped at the first drug store to quench their -thirst with soda-water, and from there proceeded in -the direction of the police headquarters.</p> - -<p>Stopping along the street to pass remarks with -other boys of their acquaintance, answering questions -about the speed of the <em>Rocket</em>, they found themselves -a few blocks nearer to the large brick structure -without having attracted any undue attention.</p> - -<p>This, though unplanned, was the best way to -proceed.</p> - -<p>Buster Billings met his father on the way and -was asked to look after a family matter of extreme -importance. Buster could not have refused, even if -he had wished to, so after promises on the part of -the other boys to tell him everything that passed -in police headquarters and with assurances that his -name would be given to the chief as knowing something -of the matter, he said good-bye and went on -his way.</p> - -<p>Finally, when the others reached the police department, -Frank led the way in. He saw Chief Berry -sitting in his office, his feet comfortably cocked up -on his desk.</p> - -<p>Just then one of the attendants at the hospital<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span> -came rushing up, touched Frank on the shoulder -and whispered:</p> - -<p>“Come to the hospital quickly. The doctor wants -you.”</p> - -<p>Before Frank could ask questions, before he could -get any information, the attendant was gone.</p> - -<p>Frank turned and dashed for the hospital at full -speed, all of the other boys right behind him.</p> - -<p>Not waiting to reach the gate, Frank vaulted the -fence and raced for the building. Just inside stood -the doctor.</p> - -<p>“Frank!” he cried, “They just told me you were -here. You’ve got to act quickly. Your father’s -weaker, suddenly, and there’s only one thing I know -to be done. The drug we need for his heart is not -in town nor at Bellport, and we’ve only one chance -to get it—a druggist at Coville has it. I’ve just -telephoned. Can you make it there in your boat—is -it fast enough—can it be trusted to come back at -once? It’s life or death. You’ve got to get to -Coville and back with the utmost speed!”</p> - -<p>Frank stood dazed for a moment.</p> - -<p>“Tell the druggist I’m coming!” he cried, turning -to the door.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">RACING FOR A LIFE</p> - - -<p>Fate had taken a hand in affairs. Frank Allen, -one of the most loving and obedient of sons, had -grown up to his present age with a fine respect and -a high regard for his father. He was now stricken -by this news from the lips of the doctor.</p> - -<p>“It’s life or death!” resounded in his ears as he -turned to run out of the hospital.</p> - -<p>Paul, Ralph and Lanky had overheard the words -of the doctor—and could not misunderstand. But, -as is always the case, the news came to their ears -with an entirely different meaning. Though they -regarded Frank highly, though they loved him, -though there was little they would not do for him -and with him as their guide, the words meant not so -much to them as they meant to their sturdy, aggressive -leader.</p> - -<p>“It’s life or death!”</p> - -<p>The words were thundered at him by an inner -consciousness, literally throbbing in his mind.</p> - -<p>“Frank, can we go with you? We are going. -Tell us what to do and we’ll do it!” From Lanky<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span> -came the words, quiet, meaningful, the words of a -friend ready to help in a crisis.</p> - -<p>“The quickest possible way to Coville is by river. -It’s our only way now,” muttered Frank. He was -still in a daze at the news which had been given to -him by the doctor.</p> - -<p>“You come along slowly. Don’t run. Take your -time. I’ll have the <em>Rocket</em> ready!” and Lanky -turned on his heel and made a dash out of the door -of the silent hospital while the others stood in a -small group near the door.</p> - -<p>The words of Lanky Wallace galvanized all of -them into action. He had thought of the thing to -do—prepare the <em>Rocket</em> for the trip, and he alone had -started toward the river to attend to the duty of -getting the boat out of the house.</p> - -<p>Just as the other boys started for the door a girlish -figure came in—Minnie Cuthbert.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Frank!” she exclaimed as she reached out -her hand to his. “I’m so sorry to hear the news. -Is there anything I can do? Please tell me—anything!”</p> - -<p>“The doctor says there’s only one thing to be done—to -get a drug which the druggists around here -don’t seem to have. A Coville druggist has it, so -he told me. The quickest way to get it is to drive -the <em>Rocket</em> down. I’m going now to get it.”</p> - -<p>They looked fairly into each other’s eyes, this girl<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span> -whose attractiveness held Frank in its grip, and this -one boy who had been the magnet for most of the -attention of Minnie Cuthbert.</p> - -<p>“Is there nothing I can do for you?” she asked. -“If I can go with you in the motor boat, or if there -is anything I can do for you while you are gone—tell -me, and I’ll be more than glad to be of service.”</p> - -<p>“There isn’t a thing you can do—now—Minnie. -God and the doctor have put everything into my -hands. The <em>Rocket</em> must make her real race to-night—for -the life of dad. And mother and Helen! -Oh, what will they find when they reach here! -Lanky has gone ahead to get the <em>Rocket</em> out. I’m -going now—every minute means something. The -doctor says it’s life or death.”</p> - -<p>There was the drama which is forced upon people -frequently in this life. A pleasure craft, given to -be a thing for joy only, trimmed and tried for its -foremost activity in the ownership of Frank Allen—the -race against the <em>Speedaway</em>—was now called -into action by the Fates to race against the greatest -contestant in the activities of life—Death.</p> - -<p>Yet Frank, still not quite out of the realm of -dreams, still suffering the rude shock of the news -which the doctor had given to him, comprehended -mentally something of the awful tragedy which he -faced or which faced him, but the body was unwilling -to act in unison with the demands of the moment.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span></p> - -<p>It is not a simple thing to be told, without warning -of any kind, to be told with words that come as -scathingly and as relentlessly as a bolt of lightning -from a stormless sky, that one’s father, beloved, is -lying at death’s door and that one’s own action is -the only possible thing which might save him to the -contact of the worldly things.</p> - -<p>He stepped quickly, lightly, to the front door, -screened and swinging half open in the breeze which -was blowing in from the river, and followed the two -boys who had gone out to the broad veranda ahead -of him.</p> - -<p>“There isn’t a minute to spare!” he said, his cap -thrown to his head. “It’s life or death!”</p> - -<p>The three boys fairly raced for the foot of the -avenue, Frank knew that good old Lanky was probably -even now swinging open the doors and loosening -the fastenings of the <em>Rocket</em>, ready for the race.</p> - -<p>“Hey! Hey!” came a cry from the crossing of -Fourth Street as the boys tore at full speed to the -river.</p> - -<p>“Frank! Frank Allen!” came the cry.</p> - -<p>All three of the boys halted almost instantly, for -the loud cry came from one who seemed to call for -a purpose.</p> - -<p>It was Chief Berry, hurrying around the corner. -He beckoned to Frank.</p> - -<p>“Frank, it is my very sad duty to say to you that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span> -you must come to my office at once. I want you to -explain something which has just been brought to -my attention.”</p> - -<p>“I can’t! I’ve got to go to Coville. My father -is dying, and the doctor just told me that I must -get to Coville for a medicine which is necessary to -save him.”</p> - -<p>“I cannot help it—you’ve got to come to my office!” -sternly announced the officer of the law.</p> - -<p>Frank was unmindful, however, of anything that -any one might tell him, of any obstacles which might -be placed in his way. There was only one goal, -only one activity. Dominated only by the one -thought, he turned and started away.</p> - -<p>“Wait a minute, young man!” exclaimed the officer -of the law. “I say you must come to my office -with me at once.”</p> - -<p>“And I told you that I must go to Coville. Now, -I’m going to Coville. Whatever you have to ask -me or say to me can wait!” Again Frank started.</p> - -<p>“I’ll place you under arrest!”</p> - -<p>“Listen!” Frank Allen turned and faced the chief -of police. “Don’t say anything like that to me when -I’m in trouble, or, Chief Berry, I’ll forget myself -and I’ll forget your position. I’ll smash your face -if you make a move to stop me.”</p> - -<p>Frank Allen, determined, knowing only one duty -in the whole world, and the chief of police, knowing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span> -only that he was trying to stop a boy whom he had -always known as an upstanding, honest, honorable -one on hearsay evidence which had come to him late -that afternoon, faced each other for only one minute, -and then, like the flash of a bullet, Frank Allen -left the corner and was gone.</p> - -<p>Racing to the boat-house, putting every ounce of -his strength into the legs which carried him to the -<em>Rocket</em> for his race down the Harrapin River and -back again, Frank’s mind was not in any way -crowded with thoughts of the chief of police.</p> - -<p>It was only after he leaped aboard the <em>Rocket</em> -which, as he reached the boat-house, was being pushed -out of the little place by Lanky Wallace, that he gave -any thought to the words of the officer of the law.</p> - -<p>The other two boys had overheard all that passed, -and only Paul, of the two, was anxious. Ralph -West was dumbly, silently, unthinkingly, following -Frank, without heed to any one or anything else.</p> - -<p>The <em>Rocket</em> moved out to the river, was met by -the current and her nose turned downstream, while -Lanky threw the flywheel around with a spin, and -they were off.</p> - -<p>Frank turned the searchlight full on the stream, -seeking for anything which might interpose itself -as an obstacle, but the river was clear. Stars peeped -out overhead, and a new moon shyly looked down.</p> - -<p>Though the words of the chief of police puzzled<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span> -Frank, though he thought he recognized in them a -threat, there was something far more important for -him to do—his father lay at the point of death -back there in the hospital, the only drug the doctor -knew which would save him was down the river at -Coville, and nothing could get that drug back in -time to save this precious life but the <em>Rocket</em> and -himself.</p> - -<p>Picking his way carefully downstream for half a -mile, getting out of the zone where trouble might -rise, he found himself very shortly pushing the -<em>Rocket</em> faster and faster, her nose well up out of -water, the steady noise of the muffled exhaust telling -him that all was going well. The breeze, to help him -along his way, was at his back.</p> - -<p>Paul and Ralph lay prone on their stomachs as far -forward as they dared to go, while Lanky Wallace -kept his place at the side of the cockpit where he -could hear any word that Frank might utter.</p> - -<p>Faster and faster went the <em>Rocket</em>. The speed -was far beyond any expectation of Frank’s, the air -rushing past his face causing his eyes to squint until -they were almost closed, his hand now and then directing -the searchlight to keep the path ahead well -lighted.</p> - -<p>Miles slipped from under them in the night, and -Frank, no other thought in mind save the goal at -Coville as quickly as it could be made, urged the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span> -<em>Rocket</em> on its way, having every foot of speed the -engine could give.</p> - -<p>No word passed between the boys. The two forward -gasped now and then as a rush of air suddenly -shot down their open mouths.</p> - -<p>Ahead of them loomed a broad raft of logs, and -Paul turned his head involuntarily to signal or to -call to Frank.</p> - -<p>But the searchlight had picked it up and Frank -held the <em>Rocket</em> far enough over to make around one -end of the raft without lessing speed.</p> - -<p>Was there any chance that the doctor may have -failed, in the excitement at the hospital, in his own -sincere and earnest solicitation over the condition -of Mr. Allen—was there any chance that he might -have forgotten to telephone to Coville so that the -man might have the drug ready?</p> - -<p>Could he make it down there and then, returning -against the strong current of the Harrapin River and -the wind as well, be back in Columbia in time to -save his father?</p> - -<p>Would this race be a futile one? Was the fast-moving -specter of Death to win this contest?</p> - -<p>Frank thought of all the kind things his father had -said and done, of the counsel his father had given to -him. He thought too of his mother and Helen rushing -on toward Columbia, now nearly there, and of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span> -what they would have to face if he, Frank, did not -get the drug back in time.</p> - -<p>He was facing the greatest strain he had ever faced—racing -his motor boat in an effort to save the life -of his father—himself, the son, trusted with the one -mission which meant so much to the family, the life -of his father!</p> - -<p>Frank’s involuntary effort was to push on the -wheel, to urge, to force the <em>Rocket</em> to increased speed, -to make it fly. What was there that could be done -to give her greater speed? Surely, this was not all -he could get from this boat!</p> - -<p>He leaned over to see that everything exterior was -functioning properly.</p> - -<p>Out of the darkness to one side came the shrill -sound of a tug’s whistle, and Frank threw the searchlight -over to find it. It was dead ahead, whistling -the passing signal, which Frank returned at once.</p> - -<p>“Wow! Where are ye goin’ in such a hurry?” -came a yell from aft of the tug as the <em>Rocket</em> shot -by only two boat-lengths away, at the same time -striking into the wash from the tug and casting -spray in goodly amounts over the two boys forward.</p> - -<p>Paul and Ralph released their holds to wipe the -spray from their eyes.</p> - -<p>Just at this moment something came up the river<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span> -from the port side, long and slim, running directly -across the path of the <em>Rocket</em>!</p> - -<p>The searchlight was shooting a little high, and its -rays were cast upward instead of along the surface -of the river.</p> - -<p>There was no time to throw it into place. The -spray and the rocking of the motor boat in the wash -of the tug had decreased their ability to see clearly -for just a few seconds. They were almost upon this -obstacle, whatever it was.</p> - -<p>Frank saw two ends of it—recognized they were -running squarely into the midships of a launch which -was crossing their path slowly!</p> - -<p>Action was demanded! Something must be done! -This thing would be cut in two! Their own boat -would be injured! They might lose in this race for -a life!</p> - -<p>Frank threw the <em>Rocket’s</em> nose far over, the rudder -acted instantly, the <em>Rocket</em> careened, and Paul -Bird went tumbling into the river.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">WILL THE RACE BE LOST?</p> - - -<p>Ralph West hung to the tie-hook at the bow -with all his might and main, and succeeded in staying -on the <em>Rocket</em>.</p> - -<p>Cries went up from the thing in front, which was -a motor boat with several men aboard, while Lanky -Wallace yelled as loudly as he could to attract Frank’s -attention to the fact that Paul Bird had gone over.</p> - -<p>But Frank needed no cry, nor warning, to tell him -what had happened. As he threw the <em>Rocket</em> so far -over to evade a collision with the other boat—and -succeeded, missing the other craft by the width of -a hair, he saw Paul thrown by centrifugal force into -the water.</p> - -<p>Frank knew that Paul could swim. But—was it -possible that Paul had been thrown with enough force -to cast him against the other boat, or might the other -boat hit him in the water and thus bring unconsciousness -to him?</p> - -<p>There was no time to look around. No time to go -into reverse, for he would first have to check speed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span> -forward. No time to throw a lifeline or a belt. -It was swifter, surer action that was demanded at -this moment.</p> - -<p>All the alertness, the ability to think quickly and -to think surely, the mental strength of Frank Allen, -this boy who had been through just as tight places -on the field and the track, who had several times before -thought himself out of a hole, came to his aid -now.</p> - -<p>Holding the wheel hard over, Frank sent the -<em>Rocket</em> on a complete circle, and within a radius of -about one hundred yards he brought the boat back -again toward the downstream, but above the point -where the collision had so nearly taken place.</p> - -<p>During this narrow circle, with centrifugal force -tending to cast Ralph West off the bow of the <em>Rocket</em>, -Lanky Wallace was holding tight to the gunwale, -stooping low in an effort to keep his center of gravity -close to the boat.</p> - -<p>As the <em>Rocket</em> now faced downstream again, Frank -cut off the speed, and reached for the searchlight. -But the plug had fallen out in the trip around, and -no light was cast forward!</p> - -<p>“Paul! Paul! Are you all right?” yelled Frank -as soon as he realized that his chance of seeing the -boy was gone.</p> - -<p>“Here!” came a voice from the water, and Frank -got the propeller into reverse, churning the Harrapin<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span> -into a wild foam in order not to go past the point and -also in order that he might not run down his friend.</p> - -<p>Suddenly a hand shot up out of the water, and -Lanky grabbed quickly to give the boy help. In -another minute a very wet Paul Bird came into the -boat from the waters of the Harrapin River.</p> - -<p>“Wow! Some wetting!” he gasped.</p> - -<p>In the meanwhile the other boat had gone its way -quietly, or it seemed quietly, for no sound had come -from it after the cry that preceded the sudden swerve -of the <em>Rocket</em> which averted the collision.</p> - -<p>There was no chance to continue down the river -without lights, and Frank called to Lanky to hold -the wheel while he made the repair.</p> - -<p>However, Lanky Wallace was not to be denied -that single thing which he could do, for it had become -his part of the operation of the <em>Rocket</em> to see that the -lights were in order.</p> - -<p>Instead of obeying Frank and taking hold of the -wheel, Lanky, knowing what had happened, or surmising -it as well as Frank, groped his way to the -searchlight and felt around for the loose wire. He -found it in a moment, felt along the fallen wire until -he found the plug, and slipped it back into the -socket of the swinging search. It almost seemed -that they heard the swish of the light when the connection -was made and the beam suddenly shot out -and lighted the Harrapin in a bright glare.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span></p> - -<p>“Where is that other boat?” asked Lanky Wallace, -looking around and moving the light to and fro over -the river. But no motor boat was in sight. Advantage -had been taken, if there was any advantage -wanted by the occupants thereof, and it had disappeared.</p> - -<p>“Paul, throw on that rubber coat that’s in the -locker aft,” Frank said to his friend. “I’m as sorry -as can be that we gave you that ducking, but it -couldn’t be helped. I had to dodge those fellows, -whoever they were. Wonder why they didn’t stop -to help—surely they knew that some one had gone -overboard.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll be all right in a little while,” answered Paul. -“I’ll get into this slicker. Keep her going, Frank. -Let’s see if we can’t miss everything between here and -Coville.”</p> - -<p>He said it with a hearty laughing sound in his -voice that brought about a feeling of cheeriness to -the others, who had become nervous as a result of the -double incident.</p> - -<p>Frank put the propeller into gear again with the -engine, and the <em>Rocket</em> answered as the steady muffled -sound of the exhaust told them the engine ran -smoothly and was ready to do its part of this arduous -night’s duties.</p> - -<p>As the <em>Rocket</em> regained its speed, Frank carefully -wiped the surface of the river clean with the bright<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span> -beams of the electric light, and, seeing nothing as they -proceeded, he allowed the speed to increase until, -within a few minutes, they were again rushing headlong -down the Harrapin.</p> - -<p>“Hope that delay won’t cost too much,” breathed -Frank through gritted teeth as he firmly grasped the -wheel and held the <em>Rocket</em> down the center of the -river.</p> - -<p>Paul and Ralph were no longer lying forward on -their stomachs, trying to see things first. Instead, -they were both seated firmly aft of the cockpit, each -holding a rope so that no more such accidents should -happen.</p> - -<p>Paul’s teeth chattered for a while, as the wind -struck against him, but the slicker soon had him -warmed, in prisoning the heat of his body, and though -the clothes were soaked thoroughly, he was suffering -no inconvenience.</p> - -<p>Frank’s eyes were even more watchful of the river -than they had been before, and his grip on the wheel -was firmer, every muscle tensed, ready for action.</p> - -<p>A log or two came swinging into sight, floating, -but as they were moving downstream with the steadily -flowing current with the narrower part toward the -boat, he was easily able to evade them, though each -of them brought a slight twinge of nervousness.</p> - -<p>“How long have we been coming? How far are -we?” asked Lanky.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span></p> - -<p>“It’s quite a distance yet to Coville,” muttered -Frank, speaking slowly. “We ought to make it -pretty soon, but it’s going to take speed to get us -there and back again, I’m afraid. I only wish there -had been some quicker way to get to that drugstore -than this. And, the worst of it is, that we have to -go back yet, and we’ll be going against the current.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t let that worry you, Frank,” replied Lanky -reassuringly. “The <em>Rocket’s</em> showing what’s in her. -We’ll get back in nothing flat.”</p> - -<p>It was quite true that the <em>Rocket</em> was showing -what was in her, for the bow stood far out of the -water now, with the load well aft, and the wash of -the river showed behind them that they were cutting -a slight, though rapid, furrow through the water.</p> - -<p>Time brings about a healing influence, and time -also brings about a lack of watchfulness. Just so -it was this night.</p> - -<p>As the conversation between the boys went on, -not spiritedly, but continuous nevertheless, Frank’s -grip on the wheel was relaxed, though his eyes -seemed never to leave the river ahead.</p> - -<p>They came to a hairpin bend in the stream, one -which was famous as a place for picnics on the point -which jutted into the Harrapin. The searchlight, -fixed ahead, swung around as Frank negotiated, or -started to negotiate, the bend which he had never met -before while in command of a craft.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span></p> - -<p>Like a huge mountain there suddenly loomed -from out of the darkness a great bulk which blocked -their path!</p> - -<p>“Look out!” yelled Lanky, as the thing came into -sight.</p> - -<p>But Frank had seen it, had seen the lights on either -side, had seen the tremendous bulk of the thing -which looked down upon them frowningly.</p> - -<p>Again the call came to the relaxed muscles to act. -Again the mind of wearied Frank Allen awoke to -the necessity for dodging the danger which impended. -Again Frank’s alertness was to the fore.</p> - -<p>This time Lanky was ready to help, and a willing -and sure hand he gave as he swung his long body -low to the deck of the <em>Rocket</em>, and braced against -Frank who stood behind the wheel, turning it as -hard as possible, while his foot reached down to -cut off the speed of the engine.</p> - -<p>An old-time barge, its broad, straight-front nose -high out of the water, was floating easily along upstream, -with a tugboat at its side, the steady puff-puff -of the tug plainly heard as the rush of the wind -died down.</p> - -<p>This time there was some co-operation, however, -from those on the other craft. They had seen the -flashlight ahead of them in the bend, and the helmsman -of the tug had been wondering what it was. -He had been alert to any danger.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span></p> - -<p>There was a clanging and clinking of bells, and -then the sudden swish of the water as the towboat’s -rudder went into reverse and the engineer tried hard -to slow the pace of the great load which was hitched -alongside.</p> - -<p>The <em>Rocket’s</em> propeller was again in reverse, for -the second time within a very short while, and the -motor boat came against the side of the towboat, -where great manila ropes stood outward from the -gunwales, and slid with a bump to the midships of -the tug.</p> - -<p>“Hi, there!” called a heavy voice from the wheel-room -of the tug. “What’s down there? Why not -a signal?”</p> - -<p>“Beg your pardon, captain,” called back Frank. -“I didn’t see you soon enough. I thought the river -was clear and did not slow down much to make this -bend.”</p> - -<p>“Go easy, boy,” answered the man at the wheel of -the tug, as half a dozen faces showed up in the dim -lights here and there on the sturdy craft. “Always -take that bend same as you would in an auto. Can’t -always tell about these roads.”</p> - -<p>There was a heartiness about the voice that was -reassuring to the boys on the <em>Rocket’s</em> deck—the -heartiness that is so often met among sea-faring -men.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span></p> - -<p>The boys jollied and talked with the man aboard -the tug for a few minutes, long enough to be courteous, -and thanked the skipper for his work in holding -back the speed of the huge bulk until they could -get control of their own craft.</p> - -<p>Then Frank got the <em>Rocket</em> under way again, and -was soon well past the obstacle, past the hairpin bend -of the river, and headed downstream again toward -Coville.</p> - -<p>“There it is!” Paul Bird, his spirits still high notwithstanding -his ducking in the river, was the first -to sight the far-off lights of the town to which they -were going.</p> - -<p>All the boys looked through the darkness, past the -strong beam of the searchlight as it tried to find -everything on the surface of the water, and saw the -flickering lights of the town.</p> - -<p>“But I can’t understand,” Frank was still thinking -of the incident, “what became of that motor boat -back there and why it disappeared right at the -moment when most folks would have stopped to -help.”</p> - -<p>“Guess they were like a whole lot of folks on the -roads,” replied Lanky Wallace. “You see lots of -them in cars who won’t stop to give a fellow a helping -hand when they see he’s in trouble.”</p> - -<p>Fifteen minutes more of steady running of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span> -<em>Rocket</em> brought them to the landing place at Coville, -and there, standing under an electric light, was a man -waving to them to come to him.</p> - -<p>It was the druggist with the package for the doctor -at the hospital in Columbia.</p> - -<p>“Doc told me to meet you boys down here at the -wharf—and here is the package. Keep your motor -running and turn her upstream right away. And -here’s another package I brought. It’s a lot of cold -drinks for you and a sandwich for each one. You’ll -need them, boys.”</p> - -<p>“That’s mighty good of you.” Frank felt very -grateful to the man for his kindness. “Send the -bill up to the doctor and it’ll be paid right away. -Thank you ever so much.”</p> - -<p>Lanky reached out for the packages as the <em>Rocket</em> -ran in close to the wharf, running alongside, Frank -holding a foot off so that they might slip easily -by and start back up the Harrapin with the least possible -loss of time. Minutes were counting now. -Frank realized it, and feared it as well.</p> - -<p>“Gee, that was good of him,” Paul was munching -on one of the sandwiches, the <em>Rocket</em> back in the -middle of the river, the engine humming at full speed, -and the bow of the motor craft holding high out of -the water as it moved rapidly forward.</p> - -<p>Mile after mile slipped from under them, Frank’s -grip on the wheel sure and steady, while Paul and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span> -Ralph lay back and went to sleep. Lanky, though, -was alert to every movement of the boat.</p> - -<p>“Here’s where we passed that boat, about,” he -muttered to Frank, when it seemed that many, many -hours had passed.</p> - -<p>Just then the motor spit, puffed, throbbed, popped -at the exhaust, and came to a dead stop. Something -had gone wrong. Frank recognized that series -of noises of a gasoline engine. It could be nothing -else. Out on the Harrapin, miles away from home, -fighting their way back to Columbia as hard as they -could, they were out of gasoline!</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">SCHEMING VOICES IN THE NIGHT</p> - - -<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Lanky, who, though -he had been much with Frank, failed to recognize -the kind of trouble, but merely knew that they were -in trouble when they could least afford it.</p> - -<p>“Out of gas!” muttered Frank, though his reply -was mechanical. He was already thinking hard as -to what they should do.</p> - -<p>“Out of gas?” echoed the tall youth. “Oh, -Frank, are you sure?”</p> - -<p>“Certainly am,” was the laconic reply. “See for -yourself, if you don’t believe it. Gee, but it’s rotten -luck, just at a time like this!” and Frank gritted -his teeth and heaved a long sigh.</p> - -<p>The momentum of the <em>Rocket</em> at the time the -engine stopped, when Frank quickly threw it out of -gear, was great enough to carry it quite a distance -against the stream’s current.</p> - -<p>“Wasn’t that an island over there?” came the -question from Frank as he recalled what had been -said by Lanky only a few moments before. “Here,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span> -Lanky, grab the oar and paddle awhile, and I’ll turn -toward that island and drift back. The current will -take us down stream, and we ought to land at the -island, provided I can get far enough over to that -side.”</p> - -<p>Already Frank was turning the <em>Rocket</em> to the opposite -side, trying to get in line with the island, above -it, so that he might drift back to the boat landings -which he remembered were on the upstream side, for -this place had for a long time been a summer resort -island.</p> - -<p>Lanky grasped the oar, as he had been bidden, and -began using it to good effect, aiding the <em>Rocket</em> to -make through the current as it began to turn down -the river. The trick was to hold it upstream as -much as possible while Frank maneuvered at the -wheel to get across.</p> - -<p>He reached for the searchlight, turned it toward -the island, the long beam of light seeking here and -there to find the landing. Then, suddenly, it went -out!</p> - -<p>Lanky Wallace quickly pulled the oar from the -water and started to fix the searchlight, when Frank -called to him to stop, asking him to keep on paddling -instead, as this was much more necessary than -that the light should be fixed.</p> - -<p>Ahead of him, since his eyes had become somewhat -accustomed to the night-lights of the river,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span> -though darkness was prevailing, he could see the -trees of the island and knew that a little more time -would bring to his eyes the bulk of the landing.</p> - -<p>The other boys, Paul and Ralph, were not conscious -of any trouble, sleeping soundly on the small -after deck.</p> - -<p>It was a long guess on Frank’s part, yet, when -analyzed, it was the only sensible thing to do, this attempt -to land on the island. If there were other -boats tied there, and it was altogether probable there -would be, it should not be very difficult for them to -obtain an amount of gasoline sufficient to take them -back to Columbia. And, whether this should prove -true or no, the landing at the island instead of drifting -aimlessly down the stream would be by all odds -the wisest thing to do.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes, sent more and more rapidly -down the stream, Frank saw through the darkness, -or what might be described as a night half-light, the -landings at the island. As he drew closer he was -able to make out the blurred outlines of other boats -tied there, rocking slowly to and fro with the lapping -of the passing current.</p> - -<p>Now came the problem in Frank’s mind of making -a landing safely without bumping into other boats -or without putting the <em>Rocket</em> against the landing -with too much force, nose first.</p> - -<p>“Lanky! Quick! Get forward with your oar.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span> -No! Take the oar!” for Lanky had started to lay -it aside in obeying the sudden command. “Hold it -out in front and reach the landing. Then hold us -back from hitting too hard!”</p> - -<p>Lanky did as he was told and his long arms and -body reached forward of the bow, with the oar held -as far in front of him as was possible, until he -touched the landing with its blade. All his muscles -froze tight as he felt the rush of the <em>Rocket</em> toward -the landing. For a second it seemed he would be -swept back, but he held tensely to his position. The -strength of the lad’s arms was great enough, and -success came of the trial. The <em>Rocket’s</em> speed -slowed down.</p> - -<p>Bump! It was only slight, not enough to do damage -to the bow of the boat, but it awoke the sleeping -Paul and Ralph.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter?” cried Paul, rubbing his eyes -and tried to locate himself. “Are we back in town?”</p> - -<p>“No, just at the island where we had that accident. -Out of gas and trying to find some,” muttered Lanky -Wallace.</p> - -<p>Frank’s imaginings now were of the worst, though -he tried to keep a stiff upper lip, and did so, thinking -hard as to the best course to take. How long -would they be in their quest for gas? What would -this loss of time mean in the race for a life that he -was making? Would his father, fighting for his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span> -life back at the Columbia hospital, be strong enough -to hold out until he could get back with the heart -stimulant? Would the doctor fight for all he was -worth while waiting for him, and would he succeed -in staying the fatal moment until he could arrive -to give his father one more chance at life?</p> - -<p>All four of the boys stepped to the landing, Lanky -taking the end of the rope to make it fast to the tie-stake.</p> - -<p>“What’s the first move? Where do we find gas?” -Paul asked.</p> - -<p>“Let’s look around and see what we’ll do,” slowly -said Frank. “I think the best thing is for you two -fellows,” indicating Paul and Ralph, “to remain here -and watch the boat. Lanky and I will scout around -to find some gas. We’ve got to do it quickly, too.”</p> - -<p>“Tell you, Frank!” Lanky was spurred into action. -“Let’s hunt in these boats and see what we can -find. You go one way and I’ll go the other. If -you find it, whistle, and I’ll do the same.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” drawled Frank, thinking the while. -“Look, Lanky. If you find a can of gas in one of -the boats, or any way to get some, try to leave the -owner a note telling him who we are so that we -shan’t be stealing. Hear? Got a pencil and paper? -Write the owner a note and tell where he can find us.”</p> - -<p>Lanky Wallace started in one direction along the -boat landing and Frank in the other.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span></p> - -<p>As Frank came to the first of the several boats -which were tied there, he looked through the gloom -to see if there might be a can of gasoline aboard, -carried as an extra for the sake of precaution.</p> - -<p>The first boat was not so provided, nor was the -second, and he wondered if Lanky were having the -same sort of luck along his part of the wharf.</p> - -<p>“But,” thought Frank, “its the law of averages, as -the salesmen all say. That means that if we look -into enough boats, provided there are enough boats -tied up there, we’ll find a can of gas, or maybe a gas-tank -filled that we can get at.”</p> - -<p>He had looked in three boats and had come to the -end of the string. Through the darkness he tried -to discern more of them tied to the landing. Stooping -low, in order to peer on a level with the wharf, -and aiming his gaze out over the water, he tried -hard to see at least one more boat.</p> - -<p>Faintly, hazily through the gloom, he thought he -saw one other craft moving up and down on the -stream, with its nose to the landing.</p> - -<p>“That’s the law of averages,” he smiled to himself -at his own humor. But, deep down in Frank’s -heart was a feeling akin to despair, though it could -not be called that properly. He was not despairing, -but hope was having a struggle to reach out far -enough to grasp at the very small straws which were -floating his way.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span></p> - -<p>Picking his way along the wharf, which was of -oddly laid planks, trying to hurry yet fearing to trip -if he should run, Frank went toward the one remaining -craft which he could see more plainly now, though -there were trees growing at that spot, their great -branches hanging out over the wharf.</p> - -<p>Suddenly a great hole yawned in front of him! -Planks had been removed from the wharf, or had -rotted out. It was too wide to leap, and one of -the big trees leaned out, its branches like ghost-arms, -to grasp at him.</p> - -<p>Turning carefully, picking his steps, he stepped -from the wharf to the sandy shore behind, and started -around the big tree trunk. He was in the midst of -half a dozen of them, forming a shady retreat at -this point of the island.</p> - -<p>Pitchy darkness prevailed. Frank realized that -the gnarled roots of the great old trees were sticking -up from the ground like giant knees peeping from -a sandpile, and he picked his way carefully.</p> - -<p>At the farther end of this little grove of trees a -match suddenly flared, lighting a limited area, and -the man holding the match lifted it to his cigar and -carefully lighted it, the yellow glow of the light reflected -on the man’s face by the cup of his hands.</p> - -<p>Frank Allen stopped. Three men were there, he -felt quite certain, though the others were but shadows -dimly limned by the match’s glow.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span></p> - -<p>This was a queer hour of the night for three men -to be standing at such a place, evidently talking together -in low tones, for he had heard no sound of -voices as he came. And it was quite evident they -had not heard him.</p> - -<p>Yet, he thought, if this were not a queer time of -night for him to be groping around on this island, -why should he be sitting in judgment and assume -that this was a queer time for these men to be -abroad? It was possible that they belonged on the -island, residents during the summer.</p> - -<p>Whether to step forward to ask them for help was -the question. He decided this was the best action -to take, and certainly he stood a far better chance of -getting the gasoline.</p> - -<p>Thereupon he groped forward, still picking his -steps, and in being so careful of his own safety, he -was, quite naturally, quiet in his action.</p> - -<p>The three men had become two. One of them -had disappeared as another match lighted up the little -area only a few yards away.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I mean Jed Marmette.” Frank’s keen ears -caught the words. He stopped instantly, all his -senses even more alert as this name came to him.</p> - -<p>Forgotten for the moment was all thought of his -errand, his quest for the necessary gasoline to get -him back to Columbia.</p> - -<p>Not that he was forgetful of the duty owing to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span> -his father, of the necessity for getting the stimulant -back to the doctor at the hospital. But, his mind -having been filled with the things which he had -learned on the farm of Jed Marmette, is it at all out -of the ordinary for him to have hesitated and to have -lost this time in seeking to learn why that name was -spoken here, in this lonely spot, at this unseemly hour -of the night?</p> - -<p>Moreover, was it to be expected that he would -now be able to get any help from these people? For -if they were using this name, it was almost certain -they had something to do with the stolen goods that -were in that barn loft.</p> - -<p>The next sentence he could not hear, spoken so -quietly as it was—and he moved, stealthily, every -nerve keenly applied to getting closer unseen and -unheard.</p> - -<p>“If we get there to-night and load it all in suitcases -we can make a getaway before any one is the wiser,” -said one of the voices.</p> - -<p>A grunt was the only response, and the two stood -there smoking in perfect silence while Frank Allen’s -ears were turned to catch every sound.</p> - -<p>What had become of the third one of the party? -And, if they were going to the Marmette place (provided -that was where they were talking about going) -why were they waiting here?</p> - -<p>But that question was very soon answered. It<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span> -seemed, and Frank often thought of it afterward, -that all the Fates combined at this eerie hour of night -to help him.</p> - -<p>“If the kid would only hurry and get his bags we -could get away from here. If I knew how to run -that blamed boat I’d start her off right now,” said -one of the shadows.</p> - -<p>“Oh, well, what’s the use of getting impatient. -We’ve loafed along for a while now, things have -died down, we’ve got the police guessing, the stuff is -safe, and we’ll soon be on our way,” the other -shadow replied.</p> - -<p>With this there came the flare of a match as one -of them lighted still another cigarette. Frank started -violently as the glow became bright, fearing lest he -be discovered, and held his breath in fear that they -might hear.</p> - -<p>“It is a good thing we’ve got a can of gasoline on -board. That was a wise idea, getting an extra five -gallons. We can get a long distance away before -daybreak, and then take a train. I wonder what’s -keeping him so long.” One of them was still very -impatient to be on the way.</p> - -<p>A five-gallon can of gasoline aboard that boat!</p> - -<p>The thought struck Frank fairly in the middle -of the brain, and he wondered whether it might be -possible to get it.</p> - -<p>Just then the Fates stepped in.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span></p> - -<p>“Let’s walk along and see if we can help,” one of -the men suggested.</p> - -<p>With this the two walked quietly away from -Frank toward the center of the island.</p> - -<p>Their boat was the one he had seen. It was tied -to the wharf near by and it had a five-gallon can -of gasoline on board, waiting for him to help himself?</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">RACING BACK TO HIS FATHER</p> - - -<p>In Frank’s mind there was no idea of theft. Just -as he asked Lanky Wallace to do, he now did.</p> - -<p>When these two men had calmly and slowly sauntered -away from the trees, Frank stole silently to -the boat and climbed aboard.</p> - -<p>Here to his hand was a five-gallon can of gasoline -waiting for proper use. And he knew the best use -to which it could be put! For a moment he hesitated. -Then, digging deep into one pocket he pulled -out a pencil and a scrap of paper, writing thereon -the name and address of a gasoline man in Columbia -and saying that he had taken a five-gallon can of -gasoline, to be charged to F. A. He was not going -to give his own name to these unknown ones.</p> - -<p>In what might have been another minute he was -on the wharf with the can and had made his way -stumblingly through the little grove of trees, over the -gnarled knees and rough spots of the ground, breaking -out again on the wharf at the point where the -planks had been removed or had rotted away.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span></p> - -<p>Just then came a shrill whistle! Through the silent -night-atmosphere it had a ghostly sound, but he -knew what it meant—Lanky Wallace had found a -store of gas!</p> - -<p>Frank knew also that both of them, chums, were -making their separate ways back to the boat, each -with the needed fuel.</p> - -<p>There was on Frank Allen’s face a smile as he -stooped once again and grabbed up the can which -he had filched from the thieves who had broken into -the Parsons’ house.</p> - -<p>Not resting a single time, he made his way back -to the <em>Rocket</em>, moving swiftly, surely, as he recalled -every step of the way along the wharf.</p> - -<p>Back at the <em>Rocket</em> he found Paul Bird and Ralph -West, each on the <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">qui vive</i>, for they had heard the -whistle of one of the boys, not being sure which it -was, but knowing that a can of gasoline had been -found or a cache of some kind was there for their -taking.</p> - -<p>These two boys, loyal to the last ditch, had conversed -in low tones over the plight in which they -found themselves, each anxious to know what the two -leaders were doing, but knowing that if help of -any kind were to be found on that part of the island, -one of these two boys would find it.</p> - -<p>“Got a can of gas!” he muttered, an optimistic<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span> -tone in his voice as Frank told the news to the waiting -boys.</p> - -<p>“Did you whistle?” asked Paul.</p> - -<p>“No. That must have been Lanky. He’ll be -along in a minute with another,” replied Frank.</p> - -<p>At that moment out of the gloom came the long, -lean body of the lad, lugging at his side a can of -gas, the same size as Frank’s!</p> - -<p>When Frank saw Lanky and Lanky saw Frank -they each fell to chuckling. But Frank had the -better of it.</p> - -<p>They hurried in their efforts and poured both cans -into the gas tank aboard the <em>Rocket</em>—Lanky’s much-rehearsed -duty of pushing off from land or wharf -then became necessary, and the <em>Rocket</em> moved out -from the landing at the island.</p> - -<p>But all four of the lads heard the sudden explosions -of a motor from the distance, along the wharf, -and they knew that a boat at the farther end of -the landing-wharf was moving quickly out into the -stream of the Harrapin.</p> - -<p>Frank alone knew that a race was on between -the two craft. One of them had to win!</p> - -<p>“What is that boat?” asked Paul Bird.</p> - -<p>“Those are the fellows who loaned me one of the -cans of gasoline, only they don’t know yet that they -loaned it to me,” laughed Frank Allen grimly.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span></p> - -<p>“How about fixing our searchlight before we get -going?” asked Lanky. “We’ll need it to make any -speed.”</p> - -<p>“Let’s save every minute we can, Lanky,” replied -Frank. “You work on the searchlight and I’ll get -her out and start upstream as fast as we can without -the light.”</p> - -<p>Suiting the action to the word, Frank turned the -<em>Rocket</em> as he backed away from the landing, and -soon was headed up the Harrapin.</p> - -<p>It was slow work, while Lanky and Paul worked -on the connections at the light.</p> - -<p>As yet Frank had had no time to tell the other boys -what he had overheard, and reserved the telling of -it now until they had finished the work which was -necessary to be done. Frank realized as he swung -the <em>Rocket</em> into the stream that he would have to -use the light before he could go very fast. But, -at any rate, they were saving a little time.</p> - -<p>The <em>Rocket</em> had gone about a mile up the river -when Lanky found the connection which was loose, -and, having made it tight, switched on the search.</p> - -<p>Immediately Frank gave the <em>Rocket</em> the full speed -of the engine. The fast little craft almost moved -out from under the boys as it leaped forward under -the suddenly applied power, the propeller churning -up the water furiously.</p> - -<p>Ahead of them, its beams darting here and there,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span> -jumping about the river to pick up anything which -might do them injury or which might hold them -back, the searchlight played under the guiding hand -of Lanky Wallace.</p> - -<p>“Fellows,” said Frank, “if you’ll stand close so -that I can keep my eyes on the river, I’ll tell you -something that I just learned.”</p> - -<p>Instantly the three boys were alert with interest.</p> - -<p>“That boat that just went out of the island ahead -of us is on the way to Jed Marmette’s place to get -that stuff up there. It’s going up to-night and they -are going to make their getaway.”</p> - -<p>Nothing that Frank might have said could have -brought to all three of the boys a greater shock of -surprise than this.</p> - -<p>They started to ask questions, but he stopped -them:</p> - -<p>“Wait a minute. Don’t be so fast with the questions. -I’ll tell you all about it.”</p> - -<p>Whereupon he recited the proceedings in the little -grove of giant trees, the three boys keen to hear each -word, and not a question from any of them to interrupt -him.</p> - -<p>“Now, they’ve pulled out. We’ve got to beat it -back just as fast as possible to get this medicine to -dad, and, if the doctor says I may leave, I’m going -to see the police and get up there as quickly as we -can.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span></p> - -<p>“But suppose—” started Lanky.</p> - -<p>“I’ve thought about that, too,” answered Frank, -knowing what Lanky had intended when he hesitated. -“In case dad is not doing so well, I’m going -to ask you three fellows to go to the police, tell -them the story, tell them everything I saw as well -as what you saw; and then take them up on the -<em>Rocket</em> yourselves. Lanky knows exactly where the -place is, and you’ll have to depend on Lanky’s ability -to run the <em>Rocket</em>.”</p> - -<p>“But, Frank,” asked Paul Bird, “what boat was -that at the island—the one that’s ahead of us?”</p> - -<p>“The one from which I got the gasoline,” Frank -answered, though his tone was a noncommittal one.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you know what the boat’s name is?” Paul -continued.</p> - -<p>“It bore a mighty strong resemblance to the <em>Speedaway</em>,” -came the low-spoken words from Frank.</p> - -<p>“The <em>Speedaway</em>!” All three of the boys muttered -the word at the same time.</p> - -<p>“I said it very much resembled the <em>Speedaway</em>. I -could not make out the name, and I didn’t stop to -look closely at it. I was in a hurry to get the gasoline -and I was in a hurry to get away before they -returned.”</p> - -<p>“But,” urged Paul, “that is Fred Cunningham’s -boat, and you did not say you saw him!”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t,” Frank held back from making any accusation<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span> -or from saying anything which might be -interpreted as an accusation. “There were only two -men there when I got close, though I know there -were three men when I first saw them, and I also -know they were waiting for some one to join them. -He must have come along just as I succeeded in -getting away.”</p> - -<p>“Wonder how well filled their gas tank is,” muttered -Lanky. “If they had a full tank they could -get quite a distance. The extra gas would have -given them the additional chance.”</p> - -<p>All stood in silence while Frank held the wheel -of the <em>Rocket</em> and sent the sturdy little craft up the -Harrapin at a speed that might have been a little -less than the speed they had when going downstream, -but they did not notice any difference.</p> - -<p>Frank’s mind was on the question of whether there -was any possibility of their catching the boat ahead -of them, perhaps of passing it. Yet, thought he, the -chance was very remote, inasmuch as they had gotten -away a full three minutes before the <em>Rocket</em>. Not -for a moment did he consider the idea that the <em>Speedaway</em>, -if that were the boat, could outdistance the -<em>Rocket</em>. Frank Allen considered that the men ahead -of him were merely the same distance ahead as at -the start.</p> - -<p>“I wonder if that is the boat which crossed our -path and caused Paul to go over,” remarked Ralph.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span></p> - -<p>“If it is, I want to catch the fellows that are in -it and duck all of them,” Paul replied.</p> - -<p>Frank paid no heed to the two boys who now -started bantering each other, all crouching low to -the deck of the boat as it sped along.</p> - -<p>“Lanky,” spoke up Frank after everything had -grown quiet, “when we get to Columbia I’ll run up -to the hospital, and I wish you’d get to police headquarters -as quickly as you can, tell them the story -of those fellows—where they are going and what -we saw to-day. Tell them that the <em>Rocket</em> will see -them through. And I wish Paul and Ralph would -find some gasoline and fill up the tank.”</p> - -<p>The boys agreed at once to this program.</p> - -<p>“I have an idea we’re going to have a race this -night after those fellows, and we’ll need plenty of gas -aboard. So, be sure about it. We’re getting near -town now, and I must get this package up to the -hospital post haste,” Frank went on.</p> - -<p>As they neared the landing place at Columbia -Frank cut off the engine, relying on its momentum -to send the <em>Rocket</em> to the boat-house, so that he could -listen for the exhaust of the boat ahead of them.</p> - -<p>“That’s it!” cried Lanky, as all the boys plainly -heard the steady put-put of an exhaust ahead of -them up the river.</p> - -<p>“We’ve come along behind them,” Frank said<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span> -quietly. “The <em>Rocket</em> must be a pretty speedy boat, -after all.”</p> - -<p>They warped the craft into the landing place, did -not attempt to enter the boat-house, but, instead, tied -at the outside. The instant they touched Frank was -on the wharf and started on a dead run for the -hospital. He had no idea of the time of night or -early morning, whichever it might be.</p> - -<p>The three boys now conferred in low tones as to -the duties of each, and Lanky started away for -police headquarters, all unmindful of the hour of -night.</p> - -<p>Frank dashed up the steps of the hospital, and -there at the head of the steps leading to the second -floor stood the doctor. Behind the medical man -were Mrs. Allen and Frank’s sister Helen, who had -reached Columbia an hour before.</p> - -<p>“Is he all right?” gasped Frank.</p> - -<p>“All right, Frank. We need this stimulant badly, -but we’ve held him steady while you were gone. -You made a quick trip.”</p> - -<p>“I thought we would never get back here! We -had trouble.”</p> - -<p>The doctor took the package and hurried into the -room where his patient lay. Frank greeted his -mother and sister with a kiss and followed close -behind.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span></p> - -<p>The doctor made up his mixture for the hypodermic -injection, and he and the nurse administered it -to Mr. Allen, who lay on the cot breathing slowly, -his mouth wide open as if he were trying hard to -get as much air as possible. Frank’s heart went -out to his father and suffered with him and for him. -Would the fight be won? Would his father survive? -Had the race been a winning one?</p> - -<p>All was silent as they stood by, the doctor intently -watching the patient with the practiced eyes -of the man who has stood with many close to the -shadow and who has seen the battle for life won -and lost many times.</p> - -<p>It seemed they stood there looking down on the -man for an interminable period, when, with a smile -on his kindly face, the doctor turned and laid a hand -on Frank’s shoulder and grasped Mrs. Allen’s hand.</p> - -<p>“He’s winning.” He spoke very quietly.</p> - -<p>Tears came to Frank’s eyes, tears of sheer joy. -It had been worth the while, that race to Coville! -He had helped bring his father back! The doctor -listened with his stethoscope, lay it down on the -small table at the head of the cot, and again there -appeared that sweet, kindly smile.</p> - -<p>“You must go now, boy, and get a rest. Come -back in the morning, and I’m sure we’ll find him -considerably better. He’s safe now, thanks to our<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span> -getting that stimulant in time,” the doctor spoke in -low tones. “Run along now and get a rest.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, go home by all means, and get a good sleep,” -said Mrs. Allen.</p> - -<p>“You’ll need it—after such a run on the river,” -added Helen. Then she added impulsively: “Oh, -Frank, it was grand of you to get that medicine! -I’m so proud of you!”</p> - -<p>Frank walked slowly out of the room into the -hall and down the long flight of steps to the first -floor.</p> - -<p>How much better the whole world seemed! How -much lighter the load on his shoulders. The doctor -said his father would be better in the morning and -his mother was here to lift part of the burden from -his shoulders.</p> - -<p>Reaching the front door, walking out into the -night, Frank saw three people running down Main -Street, and, just behind, came two more. As he -darted under a street light Frank recognized the lean -form of Lanky Wallace in the lead.</p> - -<p>He had the police! They were on their way to -the <em>Rocket</em>! Down the steps he bounded, over the -fence of the hospital yard, and before they reached -the boat-landing, Frank had caught up with them. -Another race was on!</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">THE LOOT AND THE LOOTERS</p> - - -<p>“Is there plenty of gas?” he asked as he leaped -on the deck of the <em>Rocket</em>, addressing himself to -Paul and Ralph.</p> - -<p>“Plenty. We got it at the gas station up the -street, and had just got it when we saw you coming. -How is your father?” It was Paul speaking.</p> - -<p>“Getting along all right, the doctor says,” Frank -answered with a smile of gratitude to the thoughtful -boy who, even in his moment of excitement, -knowing that they were now proceeding on an errand -fraught with much adventure, had not forgotten the -trials through which his friend had gone. “And -mother and Helen have arrived and are with him,” -he added.</p> - -<p>“Good!” shouted Lanky.</p> - -<p>In another moment, with the police chief and his -men aboard, the four boys got the <em>Rocket</em> out into -the stream, turned its nose against the current, and -started away.</p> - -<p>“Now, Allen,” the chief edged over close to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span> -cockpit where Frank was maneuvering the boat, “can -you tell me what this story is? Wallace tried to -tell me about it, but I haven’t got it all in my head.”</p> - -<p>Frank replied by telling the chief that he would -be glad to tell him the story in detail just as soon -as he got the <em>Rocket</em> around and going at a better -speed.</p> - -<p>“They’re ahead of us only so much as the time -since we landed—how long has that been, fellows?” -he asked the boys.</p> - -<p>“A little more than half an hour. Time has been -going slow, all right, but things have been going -fast.”</p> - -<p>Lanky had peered at his wrist watch before replying.</p> - -<p>“That’s long enough to put them up at Jed Marmette’s -place,” Frank muttered, while the bow of -the <em>Rocket</em> stood up from the river’s surface and -the muffled exhaust told them they had full speed -ahead. “Keep the spotlight ahead of us, Lanky, -and watch close, so I can talk to the chief. They’re -just about landing there now if they haven’t had -any trouble.”</p> - -<p>Frank detailed the story of the day’s exploits. -He began with the search across the Parsons’ lawn; -the discovery of the place where the rowboat had -been landed and which they had seen on the night -of the robbery; continued with the story of their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span> -lunch under the willows where the same rowboat -had in all probability hidden from them on that -same night; went on through the part of having to -do with the discovery of the Marmette farm, with -the old rowboat tied at the bank, of the trip of Jed -Marmette to the barn, of his burying a small box -under the grape arbor, and of their looking into -the trunk.</p> - -<p>He told of the things which they had seen in -the trunk; then of their return to town for the -purpose of informing the chief of police; then of -the sudden summons for a trip to Coville; ending -with the race back up the river after they had learned -at the island of the proposed trip of another motor -boat that night to the farm of Jed Marmette for -the sole purpose of getting away with the loot from -the Parsons place.</p> - -<p>“Have you any idea who the men are?” asked -the chief, when Frank had finished the story.</p> - -<p>“I haven’t the slightest, Mr. Berry. The only -thing that I am guessing at is that the <em>Speedaway</em> -is the boat that left the island to-night and went up -ahead of us.”</p> - -<p>“What about Fred Cunningham? Did you see -him? Is he on the <em>Speedaway</em>? Surely, he is not -mixed up in this thing!” and the chief of police -showed his surprise.</p> - -<p>“No, I did not see Cunningham. I don’t know<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span> -who is running the boat, and I am not sure it is -the <em>Speedaway</em>. I said I was guessing. I couldn’t -see well in the dark what boat it was, but it had her -lines.” Frank wished to get his position very plain -and definite with the chief.</p> - -<p>Silence prevailed for several minutes, while Frank -looked far ahead along the river, trying to make short -cuts so that every foot of the distance which could -be would be saved. The only sound was the exhaust -of the <em>Rocket</em> as it slipped its best along the -Harrapin River.</p> - -<p>“I am trying to picture this whole thing over again. -Will you tell me why you went back to the Parsons -place?”</p> - -<p>“Sure,” Frank replied like a shot. “Lanky Wallace -and I both had the same idea—that the rowboat -we met on the river that night as we came home -was the same rowboat that we saw in front of the -Parsons place at the river bank. And both of us -were puzzled about the fact that those men left -in a car after Mrs. Parsons had come home in a car, -yet her chauffeur had not seen the robber’s car—and -everything pointing to their being in the house -all the time.”</p> - -<p>“Why didn’t you tell me these things at the hearing?” -asked the chief.</p> - -<p>“Because I wanted to tell what I knew and not -what I was guessing at. Also, chief, don’t you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span> -remember that you practically accused Lanky and -me of having a hand in the robbery?”</p> - -<p>The chief did not make answer to this.</p> - -<p>“And why did you try to have me come to your -office when you saw I was in trouble? Something -was the matter. Some one had put some kind of -a notion into your head. Is that so?”</p> - -<p>The chief was standing at the cockpit, saying -nothing while Frank continued to pour out his -thoughts.</p> - -<p>“Those men down at the island said to-night -they had the police fooled, so they’ve caused some -kind of a story to get to your ears. Now, chief, -there’s more to this than we think. They planned -things out pretty well, and it is only an accident -that we have any trail of them.”</p> - -<p>Frank continued to talk at and to the chief while -he kept an eye on the river, covered as it was with -the spotlight handled by the lean lad. He went on:</p> - -<p>“I’ll make the guess that they got the loot into -that rowboat a short distance up the river, then -one of them took the auto into town while the others -saw to the safe conduct of the stuff to Jed Marmette’s -place. And they’ve trusted the stuff with -Jed because they felt that he would not get away. -But he was double-crossing them, just as thieves -will do.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span></p> - -<p>“I guess that part is right.” The chief spoke -for the first time in several minutes.</p> - -<p>“If they get that stuff packed into suitcases at -Marmette’s place, they will load it aboard the boat -they’ve got, and then, to play safe, they can run up -the river for a short distance and get away by train,” -continued Frank. “Only, they’ll get away without -the jewels in that box unless some one takes an -inventory.”</p> - -<p>The chief started noticeably.</p> - -<p>“By jove,” he exclaimed, “that’s a fact! They -are taking suitcases to pack that stuff in, and that -means that Jed will have to make good with the -jewels. Wonder what that might do to things?”</p> - -<p>Frank was developing the same idea in his own -mind. The whole thing was exciting to the last -degree. There might be a showdown between Jed -Marmette and these two men who seemed to have -engineered and carried out the plans for the robbery—in -which case there might yet be a chance to -catch them.</p> - -<p>“There’s the place!” Lanky called out in a hoarse -whisper. “Shall I keep the spotlight open or shut -it off?”</p> - -<p>Frank peered far over the wheel and they saw -they had reached the island where the willows grew -so far over the river.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span></p> - -<p>“Turn it off, Lanky. I’ll slip in as easily as I -can, though we’ve got to keep the motor going. -Every one keep still.”</p> - -<p>When the light snapped out they were in total -darkness for several seconds, but finally their eyes -accustomed themselves to the peculiar light that -stretches over bodies of water at night.</p> - -<p>Frank reduced the speed of the <em>Rocket</em>, and it -seemed that the exhaust did not make as much noise -as they might have expected. However, any one -with an ear for such noises could easily have recognized -the exhaust of a motor-engine from a long -distance.</p> - -<p>“Look! See that light?” The chief pointed to -a yellow spot which dodged here and there for a -moment through the bushes and small trees along -the river bank on Marmette’s side.</p> - -<p>“I’m going in right here and we’ll crawl up there,” -Frank suggested, looking at the chief, who nodded -his approval of the scheme.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes they touched at the bank, running -slowly with the motor cut off, the three boys -poling with the oar and pulling along by grabbing -at bushes and trees until the <em>Rocket</em> touched at a -firm spot.</p> - -<p>All crawled off the craft and made their way up -to the bank through the bushes. They were about<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span> -a hundred yards below the flicker of light which -they could see moving toward the bank.</p> - -<p>“I’ll take the lead,” said the chief. “You boys -be ready with your guns and we’ll catch these fellows.” -He was issuing instructions to his policemen.</p> - -<p>Slowly, stealthily, in Indian file, they made their -way along the river’s bank, now and then catching -a glimpse of the yellow lantern-light.</p> - -<p>Not a word was spoken by any of them, though -the boys behind the police were breathless in their -excitement. Frank wanted to see more of what was -going on, but he had to sacrifice his desire to the -general scheme of keeping quiet and unseen as well. -The darkness of the night was an ally of the robbers.</p> - -<p>Now they were close enough to hear angry words -passing between men, but not plainly enough to -give them an understanding.</p> - -<p>A few paces more and they were fairly upon the -group of four men—three of them together, while -a fourth one held a lantern and led the way. They -were on the path which the boys had followed before, -the one leading from the river bank to the -barn.</p> - -<p>Stealthily, like cats, lifting their feet slowly, without -causing the slightest noise of a bush or twig, -the entire party moved along with their chief still<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span> -leading, never having stopped his advance upon -these men.</p> - -<p>Now they were within a few yards of the spot -where they would cross at right angles the path -leading to Marmette’s barn. And the little group -from Jed Marmette’s was at the crossing!</p> - -<p>With the little light shed by the lantern over the -scene, they saw that two men were holding a third -one, each carried a suitcase, and the man with the -lantern also carried a traveling case. The loot was -ready to be gotten away with!</p> - -<p>“Look here, Marmette,” one of the men spoke in -low but harsh tones, deadly anger buried in his -words. “We’re going to play fair. You’re to get -a hundred dollars. That’s what you get, and we’ll -pay you. But you’ve got to tell us where that box -is.”</p> - -<p>“I told you I don’t know anything about no box,” -sullenly replied the man in the center.</p> - -<p>One of the men put down his suitcase as they -came to a halt on the river bank. The man with the -lantern also set down his bag.</p> - -<p>The fellow who had set down his suitcase first -now reached back of the center man and brought a -rope more tightly around him. The watching party -saw that Jed Marmette was bound tightly with a -heavy rope, his only freedom being his legs.</p> - -<p>“You know that the chest was not in that place<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span> -when we put it there. Some one uncovered it. You -were the only one who knew where it was, and you -uncovered it. You’ve been into it. You got that -little box out of there, and we want to know where -it is.” The second man spoke tensely, hoarsely, a -severe threat in every tone of his low-voiced words.</p> - -<p>Again the prisoner said he knew nothing of the -box.</p> - -<p>“All right then, bo, we’ll see what we can do about -it,” and he, too, set his suitcase on the ground.</p> - -<p>With this he helped the first man tighten the rope -around Jed Marmette, pinioning his arms securely -to his sides, fixing him so that he could offer no -resistance.</p> - -<p>The party of trailers stood in the shadow of the -bushes, looking on at this drama between thieves, -catching every word that was said, seeing every -move that was made.</p> - -<p>The chief made no attempt to regain the silver -which was in all probability in the three suitcases.</p> - -<p>Paul and Ralph wondered why he waited. Why -did he not step forward, armed as all of the police -were, and get these fellows while the chance was -good? There were only three, really, as the fourth -was trussed so that he could do nothing.</p> - -<p>But the chief was waiting for further disclosures. -It was evident they were getting more and more information -as this drama unfolded itself, and all<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span> -of this conversation could be used against the thieves -when the trial came.</p> - -<p>“Now, Jed, we’ll give you one more chance. -When we leave here you’ve got no more than a -Chinaman’s chance.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know a thing about where that box is,” -gruffly, morosely came the answer from the prisoner.</p> - -<p>“If you don’t tell us where that box is, do you -know what will happen?” The leader was speaking -slowly, intently, trying to make Jed know how serious -the matter was.</p> - -<p>But Jed was quiet this time.</p> - -<p>“When we start out in that boat—” his thumb indicating -the motor boat—“you go with us. And -when we get to the middle of the river you go overboard. -We’ve got enough rope to tie your feet, -and you haven’t got a chance. See? Now, tell -what you know, or down you go.”</p> - -<p>Every one waited for the man to reply, which he -did:</p> - -<p>“All right, I’ll tell. That young feller that has -that motor boat came up here with some of his -friends and got the box!”</p> - -<p>He was accusing Frank Allen of getting the -jewels!</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">THE <em>ROCKET</em> RACES THE <em>SPEEDAWAY</em></p> - - -<p>Lanky Wallace made a move as if would leap -out and throttle the fellow for making such an accusation.</p> - -<p>Frank’s arm restrained him, though, and the chief -of police quickly signaled for all of them to be -quiet.</p> - -<p>“Marmette, you’re not telling the truth. That -young fellow knew nothing about this. If he had -known as much as you say, he would have had the -police on us by this time.”</p> - -<p>The leader of the little gang spoke menacingly to -the prisoner. There was no answer from Jed Marmette, -and he continued:</p> - -<p>“You’ve hidden that box somewhere. No use to -lie out of it. Come across, or you go down in the -river. No more foolishness!”</p> - -<p>These were tense moments. Frank Allen wondered -why the chief did not step forward and take -command of the situation, for he was surely backed -by a crowd large enough to take these three prisoners.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span></p> - -<p>What had Jed Marmette done with the jewels? -Was it possible that he had seen the boys or was -this merely a ruse which had risen suddenly in his -mind?</p> - -<p>“I tell you those young fellows were up here -in their boat—I seen ’em! And there were five -of them—too many for me to stop. They went -into the barn, two of them, while the other three -watched outside. And they got away with the box. -I seen ’em!”</p> - -<p>Frank was startled by the things this fellow Marmette -was telling. Then, he had really seen them! -He had known they were there—had seen them go -into the barn—else how would he have known they -were five?</p> - -<p>What would the chief think now? But what was -the use of worrying about it? Frank knew where -the jewels were buried, under the grape arbor, and -it would be an easy matter to recover the metal -box just as soon as these fellows were taken prisoner.</p> - -<p>“You’re lying, Marmette! You can’t pull that -stuff on us. We’ll put him aboard, fellows, and -throw him in. Get that other rope ready. Is everything -ready to go?”</p> - -<p>The leader was preparing to settle matters for -Jed Marmette.</p> - -<p>“Throw up your hands—all of you!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span></p> - -<p>Into the small circle cast by the lantern’s light -stepped the chief of police, his revolver drawn. The -other police were directly behind him, all with drawn -weapons. It had been done so quickly that even -Frank, behind them, did not realize that the chief -had given his signal to act.</p> - -<p>The four conspirators turned at the sound of -the voice. The fellow with the lantern made a -move toward the boat, still holding the light.</p> - -<p>“Halt! Stand where you are or I’ll fire!” commanded -Chief Berry. The fellow stood still. -“Now, get your hands up, all of you!”</p> - -<p>This command was obeyed.</p> - -<p>“Boys, while I keep them covered, you take the -ropes and tie them. Slip the handcuffs on those two -big fellows, and tie the one with the lantern. Hang -the lantern where we can have light.” The chief -was in full control of the situation.</p> - -<p>“Chief,” whispered Frank while the men performed -their duties. “Let us four go up there and -get the box of jewels. I know where they are buried—in -the grape arbor!”</p> - -<p>“Sure,” the chief acquiesced in the scheme. -“Take the boys and go along. Here is a box of -matches and here is a flashlight,” and he slipped a -long cylinder out of his pocket, handing it to Frank.</p> - -<p>Immediately the four boys started along the trail -leading to the barn, through the barnyard, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span> -thence up toward the grape arbor by the dilapidated -old farmhouse. The flashlight helped them on the -way.</p> - -<p>Not a word passed between the boys as they filed, -Indian fashion, through the long weeds. It was -only when they reached the grape arbor that anything -was said. It was Frank who spoke:</p> - -<p>“I wonder why Marmette tried to pull such a -stunt as that? Yet, of course he didn’t know we -were standing there listening to all of it.”</p> - -<p>“Just the same, Frank,” Lanky argued the matter, -“if we had not been there his story would not have -gotten him anywhere. That fellow didn’t believe -it—wasn’t he going to drown Jed?”</p> - -<p>At this moment they were at the entrance to the -grape arbor. Frank flashed the light under the -dark place and saw that the stone was still in place!</p> - -<p>Frank started the work post haste.</p> - -<p>“Paul, you and Ralph pull that flagstone aside. -There is a new hole right there and the box is in -there.”</p> - -<p>The two boys heartily grabbed the stone and laid -it aside. One of them stooped and started pulling -aside the dirt with his hands, but Frank halted him.</p> - -<p>“You can’t get it away quickly enough that way. -The hole is deep. Lanky, find a spade or a stick of -wood.”</p> - -<p>In only a moment or two Lanky Wallace found<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span> -a sharp stick that could be used for the purpose, -and went at the work of uncovering the metal box -with a willing vim.</p> - -<p>Pound after pound of the soft earth came out -of the hole, but there was no evidence of the box -containing the jewels.</p> - -<p>Frank was becoming nervous with the excitement -of this search, and, particularly, because there was -as yet no indication of success.</p> - -<p>“Push the stick straight down to see how far it -goes before it strikes the box!” he hoarsely called -to the boys.</p> - -<p>Lanky sent the stick downward, then pushed on -it with his foot, but, despite the stick’s length of -about a foot and one-half, it struck nothing to impede -its progress.</p> - -<p>“That box isn’t there, fellows!” said Frank. “I -know the hole was not that deep. Jed Marmette took -it out and has hidden it somewhere else!”</p> - -<p>Just now it came forcibly home to Frank Allen -that the boys had been seen by Jed Marmette. Of -course, he knew they had not taken the jewels, as -well as Marmette knew it, but Marmette had used -this fact as his excuse for not having the jewels, -and, unthoughtedly, unknowingly, he had evidenced -to Frank that, having seen the five boys on the place -and having feared they would come back or send -back to get the metal box, he had dug it up and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span> -placed it in some other spot after they had gone.</p> - -<p>The three boys looked askance at Frank.</p> - -<p>“What’ll we do?” he took the question from their -lips before they had done so. “We’ll go into the -house and see what evidences there are there of Jed’s -having placed it somewhere around inside.”</p> - -<p>With this all four of them trooped into the small -farmhouse, and their nostrils were struck by the -odors of dankness, of old coffee, of burned grease, -showing that this ill-kept man did not permit the -fresh air that nature so freely gave to every living -being to pass through the house.</p> - -<p>The beams of the flashlight darted here and there, -and Frank handed his supply of matches to Lanky -to use so that they could get a better light. In a -few seconds Paul saw an oil-lamp, which was immediately -lighted, and with this as an aid they stood -at the center of the back room and carefully studied -the general features.</p> - -<p>Nothing in this room gave the boys any indication -of a hiding place, and Frank led the way, holding -the lamp, into the next room, a combination of bedroom -and general living room. Two broken chairs, -a wobbly old table, a box used for a washstand or -dresser and a cot were the only pieces of furniture.</p> - -<p>All four of the boys stood, rather breathless, at -the doorway and peered in.</p> - -<p>“What’s that?” Frank nodded his head toward<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span> -the broad, old-fashioned fireplace. “Go over there -and see what those ashes are. It looks to me like -burned string lying there.”</p> - -<p>Lanky was the first to get there. He knelt and -studied the hearth closely, not disturbing anything -with his hands.</p> - -<p>“This is a piece of burned string, Frank,” he said, -“and it looks as if this is the ash of a piece of paper. -Looks to me as if he had burned the wrapper around -the box.”</p> - -<p>“Yep, look here!” It was Paul Bird who had -found something else. “Here is a little fresh earth, -yellow, too!”</p> - -<p>The lamp was brought close, and all four of the -boys on their knees looked carefully and closely at -the little specks of brown or yellow on the floor. -There was no mistaking it—it was damp earth from -outside under the grape arbor!</p> - -<p>“I don’t think that this was brought in on his -feet,” ventured Ralph West, “for I don’t see any -heel print right here, and the heel would have brought -it in.”</p> - -<p>For a long minute the four boys looked here and -there along the floor, at the hearth, at the fresh -particles of earth, and at each other.</p> - -<p>“Let us go through everything in this room,” said -Frank decisively. “I believe he has unwrapped the -box, burned the paper and string, and has hidden the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span> -box somewhere in the house, so that he could guard -it more closely.”</p> - -<p>With this the boys, having set the lamp on one -of the wooden boxes, started a search of the room. -Under the cot, behind the boxes, back of the clothes -hanging on the hooks along the wall opposite the -fireplace, they looked closely for a metal box. But -to no avail. Several minutes were passed in this -search.</p> - -<p>From here the search spread into the kitchen, or -combination kitchen and dining room. Into all sorts -of boxes and tin cans and cardboard containers they -went, finding particles of food in all these places. -A looking glass on one wall was brought down for -fear the jewel-box might rest behind it.</p> - -<p>The search was getting nowhere, excepting failure.</p> - -<p>“Let’s look in the stove,” said Lanky Wallace, -as he reached for the lid-lifter and started to raise -part of the top.</p> - -<p>“That gives me an idea!” cried Frank, wheeling -on his heel and looking toward the bedroom which -was now dark.</p> - -<p>Grabbing up the lantern he strode into that room, -the other boys directly and very breathlessly behind -him. What kind of idea had their leader now? -They instinctively felt it was a good one, and probably -a winner—but what was it?</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span></p> - -<p>“That box was black. All such document boxes -are black—they are made of thin iron and are -japanned, as they call it.”</p> - -<p>Frank was starting the disclosure of his idea by -setting down a premise on which to work logically -to his conclusion.</p> - -<p>“Now, if it is black, then the logical place to hide -it is where everything else is black. Is that right?”</p> - -<p>“Up the flue!” exclaimed Lanky Wallace happily.</p> - -<p>Before Frank could answer, before he could turn -to make an investigation, the lean lad had dived -past him to the fireplace, had stooped to the hearth, -and a long arm was reaching far up the flue—on -to the ledge which is formed at the top of all fireplaces, -and out of there, covered with soot, bringing -down a perfect storm of the black, sifting, fine powder, -he brought a metal box!</p> - -<p>He shook it. There was no doubt. It was -black—it was metal—and it contained a great many -pieces of things which seemed to be small.</p> - -<p>Frank took it and looked at the lock. It was -locked, he ascertained. Was this the thing they -wanted? Every circumstantial indication pointed -to an affirmative. But he thought they should be -sure, rather than take back a box full of something -else than jewels.</p> - -<p>He remembered seeing an old case-knife on the -kitchen table, and one of the boys brought it quickly.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span></p> - -<p>With this they pried open the top, tearing the lock -loose, and opened the cover. There, exposed to -their gaze in the dim yellow glow of the oil-lamp, -lay diamonds, sapphires, rings, necklaces, all sorts -and kinds of jewels and fancy pieces of women’s -jeweled wear! The loot from the Parsons’ safe!</p> - -<p>They had expected this—yet they gasped in surprise -and delight.</p> - -<p>“Come on, fellows. We’ve got what Jed Marmette -stole from his thieving friends, and we’ve -found the jewels for Mrs. Parsons. This is all too -good to be true! Let’s get back to the chief.”</p> - -<p>Frank took the box, tucked it under his arm, and -indicated that they should turn out the oil-lamp while -he switched on his flashlight.</p> - -<p>Out of the house they trooped, a happy crowd of -boys, all but the end of the mystery solved—in fact, -the mystery itself was solved, the trial and conviction -of these thieves being the only thing left.</p> - -<p>The flashlight darted hither and yon as the four -boys found the trail and started for the barnyard.</p> - -<p>Bang! A shot rent the air just as they got to -the barn. It came from the direction of the crowd -on the river bank!</p> - -<p>All was quiet for a moment, then they heard the -call of one man.</p> - -<p>“Halt! Halt, or I’ll kill!”</p> - -<p>Another crack of a weapon tore through the air.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span></p> - -<p>The boys stopped dead in their tracks at the first -shot, as they heard the command to halt. But -started on a wild run for the river bank when the -second shot was fired.</p> - -<p>Crashing and breaking through the weeds and -brush, they came to the little cleared place, where -they saw the entire party looking toward the river.</p> - -<p>The chief was just taking aim to fire again. The -motor boat was already out from shore, its motor -had started, and the occupant was turning it downstream!</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter? Who is it?” cried Frank.</p> - -<p>“It’s Fred Cunningham! He was the third one. -He got away and is on that motor boat!”</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">WHEN THE <em>ROCKET</em> SHOWED HER SPEED</p> - - -<p>It was the <em>Speedaway</em>! And it was Fred Cunningham -running it! He was a party to this robbing -of Mrs. Parsons—at least, all the evidence was -that he was a party to the plan to get away with the -loot this night!</p> - -<p>Out into the stream the <em>Speedaway</em> was moving, -the engine running in excellent shape.</p> - -<p>“Get your boat and catch him!” cried the chief -of police. “Men, watch those fellows close. Don’t -let one of them get away. Shoot to kill if one of -them starts. I’ll go with the boys to help ’em get -off!”</p> - -<p>Saying this, the chief pushed Frank roughly by -the shoulder, and all five of them, the four boys -and the chief, dashed through the weeds and brush -along the bank of the river to the point where the -<em>Rocket</em> was tied.</p> - -<p>Out on the river they could plainly hear the put-put -of an exhaust. They reached the <em>Rocket</em>. -Frank stopped a moment to listen.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span></p> - -<p>“He’s going downstream, chief. If I catch him -I’ll take him to the jail. But how shall we get -you?”</p> - -<p>“Send some one back here to get us,” replied the -chief sharply, as he urged the boys to get aboard and -start quickly.</p> - -<p>Already Paul and Ralph were on board, and Lanky -had untied and thrown the rope to the deck of the -sturdy little craft that was now entering another -race for the day.</p> - -<p>Over to the deck of the boat Frank went, Lanky -cast the boat off from shore, leaping aboard at the -same moment. Frank gave a twist to the flywheel -of the motor and they were off on the race!</p> - -<p>It was when he reached to take the flywheel that -he laid down the package which he had been carrying.</p> - -<p>“Chief,” he called as the motor started and they -were moving out to the stream, “I’ve got the box -of jewels. I forgot to give them to you. We found -the place where he had them hidden—so they’re -safe!”</p> - -<p>“Fine work, lad! Good luck to you! Catch that -fellow and we’ve done a good day’s work!” called -back Chief Berry.</p> - -<p>Lanky had the searchlight going in another second, -flooding the river’s surface in front of them.</p> - -<p>Downstream they started, skirting past the island<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span> -on the bank side instead of going around it, -thus saving some distance.</p> - -<p>The steady exhaust of their own engine kept -them from hearing anything of the boat which was -in front. And, quite naturally, their failure to hear -the engine of the <em>Speedaway</em> caused Frank to raise -a question as to whether they might miss the wily -fellow in front.</p> - -<p>What if he should duck to one side of the river -in the darkness of the early morning—for it was -well pass the midnight hour and the darkest time -of the night—and disappear in the shadows of the -growth along some island or along one of the shores -of the Harrapin?</p> - -<p>Studying over this problem, Frank brought a solution -to mind and determined that after they had run -a mile or so he would put his plan into effect.</p> - -<p>It was not a meandering or shambling or loitering -gait that the <em>Rocket</em> had taken—quite the contrary. -The bow of the craft was well up from the surface -of the river, the propeller blades were churning and -whirling the water into foam behind them, and the -breeze created by the speed was at once cooling and -invigorating.</p> - -<p>Frank had his accustomed position in the cockpit, -his steady hand on the wheel. Ralph and Paul had -their places, flat on the after deck, helping hold the -bow out of the water and permitting the <em>Rocket</em><span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span> -to skim and glide along the Harrapin at the fastest -rate of speed it had ever made.</p> - -<p>This was a race worth the while—a race with a -thief to be caught or one who had conspired with -thieves, and also a race between the two motor boats.</p> - -<p>“See him?” asked Frank of Lanky, as that long -lad twisted the searchlight from side to side.</p> - -<p>“Not a see,” muttered Wallace. “If this light -were only stronger we might see him ahead of us. -I can’t even hear the exhaust.”</p> - -<p>Just at this moment Frank cut off the motor. All -was silent on the <em>Rocket</em>. From far ahead of them -came the steady, rapidly firing put-put of the <em>Speedaway</em>! -It was ahead of them down the stream! -Were they gaining or losing in the race? It was almost, -if not quite, impossible to determine.</p> - -<p>Before they could lose much of their momentum -Frank had whirled the flywheel over again, the -heated engine picked up explosions at the first turn, -and the Rocket seemed to fairly leap from under -them as it dashed forward.</p> - -<p>Feeling sure of their quarry now, Frank’s mind -went back to some of the doings of the past few -hours and the past few days. To his mind came, -for a second, a thought of his father, and he wondered -if everything at the hospital was going on as -the doctor had said it would and that his father would -show improvement after his heart had been stimulated<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span> -by the drug. Then came a brief thanksgiving -that his mother had reached home.</p> - -<p>Who was Fred Cunningham? Was he one of -the gang of thieves or had he merely fallen in with -these fellows because he owned a fast motor boat -and they could use one?</p> - -<p>Why had he come to Columbia, unheralded by -any one who knew him or knew anything of him? -Was it he and his influence that had caused Mrs. -Parsons to turn against Frank and his boy friends -after they had been the cause of her release?</p> - -<p>How had these men got the silver and the jewels -to that rowboat? Had they gone up the river or -down? Was their car really standing outside on -the road during the time when Mrs. Parsons’ car -came in?</p> - -<p>And, since there were two robbers who looted -the house and tied Mrs. Parsons, who was it driving -the automobile that took the thieves away? -That is, there must have been a third one if the -auto was really standing outside the place and had -received a signal from the house.</p> - -<p>After all, was the lighting of the match on the -river a signal?</p> - -<p>“Stop the motor again and see if we can hear him,” -Lanky interrupted Frank’s thoughts.</p> - -<p>Frank cut off the engine, and from a distance -down the river came the sound of the exhaust from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span> -the <em>Speedaway</em>. Instantly the engine was started -again.</p> - -<p>“Was it closer this time?” asked Frank.</p> - -<p>“I couldn’t tell with certainty, but I believe it was. -I believe we’ve gained a little, but the next mile will -tell the story. He has to go around the broad island, -and he’s running without lights—taking all -kinds of chances.”</p> - -<p>“Well, he ran upriver without lights,” replied -Frank. “I wondered while we were coming up behind -him to-night how he was doing it.”</p> - -<p>There was no way to increase speed. The engine -was doing its utmost. There was only one -way to gain—except that the <em>Rocket</em> might be faster -than the <em>Speedaway</em>—and that was to beat Cunningham -at maneuvering.</p> - -<p>Frank set his mind to the task. From the several -recent trips up and down the river he began to put -together the knowledge he had gained.</p> - -<p>Standing steadfastly at the wheel, his entire being -now put into this purpose of catching the man -on the <em>Speedaway</em>, Frank Allen cut off every inch -in the bends and around the islands that could possibly -be cut.</p> - -<p>“Better be careful, old boy,” called Lanky, as -Frank made one close shave past a bank at a bend -in an effort to cut off distance.</p> - -<p>“Can’t—right now.” Frank smiled as the spirit<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span> -of this race seized full control of him. He was determined, -more than ever, to catch the <em>Speedaway</em>!</p> - -<p>Taking a long chance at losing some of the space -that he felt he had gained, he suddenly cut off the -engine and listened.</p> - -<p>They were nearer! They were gaining rapidly! -There was no doubt of it now.</p> - -<p>The lights of Columbia came in sight on the far -side of the river. Their engine was running full -tilt and the <em>Rocket</em> was bounding forward like a -smoothly running race-horse.</p> - -<p>“We’ll catch him right in front of the town!” -called Lanky Wallace as he swung the searchlight -about the river.</p> - -<p>“Hope so. It’ll make things easy. But maybe -he has a gun,” suggested Frank.</p> - -<p>“Couldn’t have, unless it was on the boat. The -chief’s men disarmed them,” laconically replied -Lanky.</p> - -<p>The lights of the town, only a few in number -but enough to act as beacons to the boys, came closer -and closer. They could not yet discern the <em>Speedaway</em> -ahead of them, though they knew it must be -close.</p> - -<p>“What do we do when we catch up?” Paul Bird -sat up and asked. “Better lay out a plan so we’ll -all do the right thing.”</p> - -<p>Frank was once again making a short cut on the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span> -last bend above Columbia. “Well,” he said, “we -shall try to get alongside. Then you two fellows -go over and engage him if he shows fight, while -I hold the <em>Rocket</em> close up, and Lanky can take the -tie line with him to tie him.”</p> - -<p>That was all there was to the plan. Just general -in nature. No use, thought Frank, of crossing this -particular bridge until they got to it. Time enough -to do the right thing after they had caught up with -their man.</p> - -<p>“There he is!” cried Lanky excitedly, pointing to -the motor boat that loomed directly in front of them -as Frank made the last twist to gain ground.</p> - -<p>Cunningham was peering back over his shoulder -as the searchlight from the <em>Rocket</em> lighted that part -of the river.</p> - -<p>Suddenly he veered to one side; probably, thought -Frank, in an effort to get to the side opposite Columbia -and there beach his craft and run for it.</p> - -<p>Lanky shot the search behind him.</p> - -<p>“Look out!” Frank fairly screamed as he saw -a tremendous obstacle loom in front of the <em>Speedaway</em>, -less than fifteen feet away—too close to permit -the helmsman to again maneuver his boat.</p> - -<p>Up out of the darkness, totally unexpectedly, arose -the great bulk of a barge, loaded and piled high with -boxes and bales, the towboat on the farther side.</p> - -<p>So exciting had been the chase that neither Fred<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span> -Cunningham in the first boat nor Frank and -his friends in the second had seen the small lights -of the tug as it steadily pulled its great burden upstream.</p> - -<p>Crash! There was nothing else to be expected! -Into the side of the big barge went the <em>Speedaway</em>, -full power ahead!</p> - -<p>There was a noise of splintering wood, cries and -yells of warning and of horror from the men on -the barge, yells from the four boys on the <em>Rocket</em>.</p> - -<p>The bow of the <em>Speedaway</em> telescoped as if a giant -were squeezing down on it, and the stern dipped -deeply into the stream.</p> - -<p>There was a flash of light for a second, then the -gasoline tank exploded, spreading gasoline to all -parts of the water.</p> - -<p>The <em>Rocket</em>, being far enough to the rear, could -be properly maneuvered to avoid a repetition of such -an accident.</p> - -<p>Frank Allen threw the boat over slightly, cut off -the engine and tried to reverse. Even in his excitement, -though, he realized that his momentum was -too great to permit anything of the kind.</p> - -<p>Throwing the engine into action again, he went -down past the barge and made a wide circle, coming -back upstream in a minute or two after the -plunge of the <em>Speedaway</em> against the barge.</p> - -<p>The three boys watched closely as Lanky Wallace<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span> -turned the searchlight from point to point, seeking -to find the wreck.</p> - -<p>Débris was scattered over all parts of the rapidly -flowing Harrapin.</p> - -<p>“Where is Cunningham?” asked Paul Bird.</p> - -<p>The wreck of the <em>Speedaway</em> was slowly settling -into the river as the water rushed into it and the -weight of the engine helped to drag it down.</p> - -<p>The skipper of the towboat was now around on -their side of the barge and five or six men had ropes, -ready to cast them for a rescue.</p> - -<p>Suddenly a head bobbed up out of the water. It -was Fred Cunningham! There was a faint cry for -help, and he sank again.</p> - -<p>“Lanky, hold the light there. Paul, take the wheel -and keep going around in a circle,” ordered Frank, -at the same time grabbing the boy and pulling him -into the cockpit.</p> - -<p>Splash! Over the side of the <em>Rocket</em> went Frank -Allen, to rescue the fellow who, if not actually his -enemy, was certainly no friend to the boy who was -risking his own life to keep him from drowning.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center">WHEN ALL ENDS WELL</p> - - -<p>Though Frank Allen was an expert swimmer, -the best in Columbia and the surrounding country, -he found trouble in going to the aid of Fred Cunningham.</p> - -<p>The explosion of the tank had spread blazing -gasoline over the surface of the river; the wreck -of the <em>Speedaway</em> was settling by the stern quite -rapidly; the hundreds of splintered pieces were moving -here and there, jagged and rough, a menace -to the swimmer; the barge had come to a stop and -was rocking to and fro while the tug held it.</p> - -<p>Men aboard the barge were yelling and calling -warnings and suggestions and the searchlight of the -<em>Rocket</em> danced about the water as Lanky tried to -compensate for the failure of Paul Bird, not very -expert at the wheel, to hold the <em>Rocket</em> where it -belonged.</p> - -<p>Down into the river went the intrepid boy, bent -on bringing Cunningham to the surface if possible—and -determined that it was possible.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span></p> - -<p>It seemed hours to the three boys on the <em>Rocket</em> -before they spied Frank’s head on the surface, bobbing -suddenly from the water, and saw that he was -tugging at a heavy load.</p> - -<p>“Here, Ralph! You take the searchlight! Keep -it squarely on Frank and I’ll get the boat over!”</p> - -<p>Lanky got Ralph West into active service, and, -as he felt he could handle the <em>Rocket</em> better than -Paul Bird was doing, he took hold of the wheel -and brought the <em>Rocket</em> around to the spot where -Frank struggled to keep himself above water and -hold the other at the same time.</p> - -<p>“Paul, give him a hand! Grab him when I get -up close!” called Wallace, the engine cut down to -low speed, as he glided easily toward the boy in the -water.</p> - -<p>It was the work of but a few more seconds to -get Frank out of the water and to drag Fred Cunningham -along with him.</p> - -<p>“Let’s try to save him,” gasped Frank, unmindful -of his own condition.</p> - -<p>A cry went up from the barge when they pulled -the two boys over to the deck of the <em>Rocket</em>, and -now the skipper of the towboat yelled:</p> - -<p>“Ahoy there! Can I help you any? Is he all -right, or can you get him over to town?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll attend to him. Thank you ever so much!” -called Frank, as three of the boys turned their attention<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span> -to the injured lad. Lanky had already -started the <em>Rocket</em> for the landing at Columbia. -The searchlight was bearing straight ahead, since -it had been abandoned in that position, and Lanky -could see his way.</p> - -<p>Frank gave instructions to the others at once, -with a snap like an officer, and they went to work -with vim.</p> - -<p>Just as they touched the landing at Columbia -Frank heaved a sigh of relief—Fred Cunningham -was showing signs of coming back to life. Frank -saw the first flush and noted that he was gasping for -breath.</p> - -<p>As they landed they saw a dozen people standing -on the wharf, having been attracted by the crash -of the motor boat against the barge and also by the -sight of the fire.</p> - -<p>Into an automobile the boys placed Cunningham’s -limp body quickly, Frank giving directions:</p> - -<p>“Get him to the hospital! Quick! Don’t waste -a minute!”</p> - -<p>As the automobile pulled out, Frank turned, soaking -wet, a laughable sight notwithstanding the seriousness -of it all and the stress and tragedy of the -race.</p> - -<p>“I’m going back for the chief. You fellows -want to come along?” he asked.</p> - -<p>The question was almost unnecessary. Lanky<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span> -and Paul and Ralph, weary and worn as they were, -ready to drop off to sleep except for the excitement -of the day and night, were ready to follow their -leader. But a thought came suddenly to Frank.</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you, fellows. Paul and Ralph ought to -stay here to take care of that fellow and see that -he doesn’t get away if he revives quickly. Maybe -he’s not badly hurt and he could be released from -the hospital. You two fellows stay here and see -that things are ready when we get back. Tell the -doctor I’ll be back in an hour or so to see dad—and -all that, you know. Tell mother, too, if she’s still -at the hospital.”</p> - -<p>The two boys, sensible, realizing a division of -forces was now the best, grabbed Frank and Lanky -by the hands, wished them well and promised to see -about Cunningham.</p> - -<p>Before the <em>Rocket</em> left the wharf, they brought -back a bottle of hot coffee and warm rolls, which -Frank and Lanky barely gave thanks for as they -grabbed, in their hunger, for the viands.</p> - -<p>Just as the sun broke through the far horizon and -shot its first shafts of light into the world, the -<em>Rocket</em> got away from the landing at Columbia -and started back to the Jed Marmette farm.</p> - -<p>Though as tired as two boys can ever be, a morning -breeze which blew across the Harrapin was an -invigorating one, their worries were almost over—the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span> -principal ones were over except for Frank’s -father, and the boys fell to chatting gaily while -they raced the <em>Rocket</em> upstream as rapidly as the -engine would take it.</p> - -<p>“Frank,” said Lanky, as they had gained their -full speed and stood looking ahead of them along -the river, “the <em>Rocket</em> is a better boat than the <em>Speedaway</em>.”</p> - -<p>“Right now, you mean?” laughed Frank.</p> - -<p>“No, I mean she always was. She gained on the -<em>Speedaway</em> to-night in straight running.”</p> - -<p>“Not to-night.” Frank felt in a teasing humor.</p> - -<p>“Well, last night, then. But, believe me, Frank, -you surely did do some clever headwork! By jove, -that was good the way you made those bends and -beat him to the punch.”</p> - -<p>Full daylight was upon them as they made the -landing at the Marmette place.</p> - -<p>“Did you catch him? I know you did!” called -the chief as the <em>Rocket</em> warped into the shore.</p> - -<p>“I’ll say we caught him—out of the water!” cried -Lanky from the bow. “He smashed into a barge -and tore his boat all to pieces!”</p> - -<p>The chief had to hear the entire story before he -brought his charges on board, which was done very -shortly.</p> - -<p>The two strangers and Jed Marmette were led<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span> -aboard, their arms pinioned and locked with handcuffs.</p> - -<p>“Here is the jewel box!” said Frank, when they -were ready to leave the shore. He reached down into -a locker and brought out the black iron box, no -longer mat-surfaced with soot, but shining brightly -from the new japanning on it.</p> - -<p>The chief took it, raised the cover and peered -within. Then he gasped with surprise. Here, -surely, was a fortune which these fellows had almost -made away with. He carefully closed the box -and tied it with a piece of the rope which his sharp -knife clipped off from the arms of Marmette.</p> - -<p>The trip down the river was without event. The -chief asked many questions of the two boys, and -the boys, in turn, asked how things had gone after -they had left so hurriedly.</p> - -<p>“What’s all the crowd about? Some one hurt?” -asked Chief Berry, pointing to the throng that had -gathered at the river in Columbia.</p> - -<p>They had not long to wait for the answer. As -glasses in the hands of some of the people told them -the approaching boat was the <em>Rocket</em>, a series of -wild cheers went up, hats were thrown into the air, -and as rapidly as cheers died away someone started -them over again.</p> - -<p>“What’s it all about?” asked Frank.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span></p> - -<p>“Sounds as if they’re cheering this boat for some -reason.” The chief seemed to understand.</p> - -<p>“Three cheers for Frank Allen and Lanky Wallace!” -they heard some one cry from the shore, and -the cry was followed by wild cheering by the crowd.</p> - -<p>Frank brought the <em>Rocket</em> up to the main landing, -with the crowd laughing, cheering, waving and talking, -and allowed the chief and his policemen to take -the three prisoners off the boat. Then he very easily -pulled out and circled to the boat-house where the -<em>Rocket</em> slipped in easily, seeming still to have the -same go and pep that it had in the beginning.</p> - -<p>“She doesn’t seem to be a bit tired,” said Frank.</p> - -<p>To this Lanky replied that the indicator on the -gas tank said she ought to be feeling quite run down, -inasmuch as the pin was standing close to the word -“empty.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, well, before we take her out again we can -fill her,” and the two boys walked out of the house -and locked the door.</p> - -<p>Instantly they were seized by friends in the crowd, -and a thousand questions of all kinds were shot at -them.</p> - -<p>Frank spied the doctor in the crowd, and before -answering any of the questions, before hardly being -civil to his friends, he called to that gentleman:</p> - -<p>“Doctor, how’s dad? Any good news this morning?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span></p> - -<p>“Nothing else but good news, boy!” the doctor -waved back at him. “Don’t worry—he’s getting -along nicely. Going to get well, quick!”</p> - -<p>Tears of joy welled up into the lad’s eyes as he -heard these words so cheerily spoken by the man -who had fought so sturdily at his father’s bedside.</p> - -<p>Just then Minnie Cuthbert accompanied by Helen -Allen made her way through the crowd close about -these two boys and grasped Frank by the hand.</p> - -<p>“You’re a real hero! I’m so glad you did all those -things they tell about you,” she exclaimed, her eyes -shining brightly.</p> - -<p>“Who tells about me?” asked Frank.</p> - -<p>“Why, Paul Bird and Ralph West haven’t done -anything else since early this morning but tell every -one on the streets and telephone all those they didn’t -see!” she laughed.</p> - -<p>So that was what caused this crowd to be here!</p> - -<p>“Come on, Lanky, let’s get away from here as -soon as we can. I want to catch those two fellows -and lay them across my knee,” muttered Frank in -an undertone to his chum.</p> - -<p>The two boys finally got free of the crowd, Minnie -and Helen walking along with the heroes of the -hour, while the crowd followed behind, talking loudly, -cheering every once in a while.</p> - -<p>“There’s Mrs. Parsons. She’s trying to attract -your attention.” Minnie nudged Frank and nodded<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span> -toward the street, where an automobile was moving -slowly along.</p> - -<p>Looking that way, he could not help but see the -excited beckonings of the wealthy widow up the -river, who had been robbed.</p> - -<p>“Frank, I want to apologize to you and to your -friends for the way in which I have acted. I’m -not going to explain anything—I’m just awfully -sorry for the way I treated you.”</p> - -<p>“Mrs. Parsons,” and Frank spoke very evenly, -though pleasantly, “that is all right. I know that -things were awfully exciting, and you probably -didn’t think of lots of things. I don’t blame you at -all.”</p> - -<p>“And that’s the way all of us feel,” spoke up -Lanky.</p> - -<p>“I am awfully glad to hear you say that. I’ll -tell you!” and a happy smile spread over her face, -“won’t you organize a party and come up to my place -on a great big picnic—just any day you say? Minnie, -can’t you organize it?”</p> - -<p>“Surely! We’ll make it day after to-morrow, -too!” cried the young lady.</p> - -<p>“You are to bring absolutely nothing to eat with -you. I shall have all the things that a really nice -picnic needs. Now, I’m going to depend on you, -Minnie, to get up the picnic and be there day after -to-morrow—the whole day!” Saying this she gave<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span> -a nod to the driver of her car and waved the young -people a happy good-bye.</p> - -<p>“I guess I can organize a picnic, all right,” Minnie -laughed gaily, as she took Frank’s arm and they -stepped back to the sidewalk. “She ought to give -you boys a first-class picnic, and I’ll see that she -does.”</p> - -<p>The girls said good-bye, and then over to the hospital -walked Frank, his clothes dried on him, but -looking slouchy, rough-dried, and anything but the -neatly dressed boy that Frank Allen was. Lanky -walked alongside.</p> - -<p>There the news the nurse gave was of the very -best, and Frank walked into the room, to see his -father lying on the bed smiling happily, holding up -his arms as if he would take his boy in them.</p> - -<p>Fred Cunningham had suffered contusions which -were very painful, and the doctor kept him in bed, -announcing that he would not allow the young man -to leave the hospital for several days.</p> - -<p>At the preliminary hearing it was learned, -through telegrams which Chief Berry sent out, -coupled with the admissions of the men themselves, -added to which were letters on their persons, that -these men were professionals who looted the homes -of wealthy people after careful, painstaking study -of the locale, of the habits of the people, their -friends, and their goings and comings.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span></p> - -<p>It was shown that Fred Cunningham was a tool -of one of them who had some things on the young -man. It could not be learned exactly what that -“something” was, though it was surmised that it -was a boyish indiscretion which had been multiplied -strongly by the man in order to force the boy -to do his bidding.</p> - -<p>The picnic turned out as Minnie Cuthbert had -planned it should: a perfect repayment by Mrs. -Parsons for all the insulting looks and remarks she -had made about these boys. The picnic was an -entire success.</p> - -<p>But Mrs. Parsons was to do still more for Frank -and his chums, and what that was will be related in -the next volume, to be called, “Frank Allen at Old -Moose Lake; or, The Trail in the Snow.” In that -volume we shall learn the particulars of a stirring -vacation in a winter camp and solve a very perplexing -mystery.</p> - - -<p class="center">THE END</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="The_New_Western_Series">The New Western Series</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center fs130">Exciting, Thrilling Stories of the Old West</p> -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> - -<table class="autotable"> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">TEXAS MEN AND TEXAS CATTLE</td> -<td class="tdr">E. E. Harriman</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">THE SCOURGE OF THE LITTLE “C”</td> -<td class="tdr">J. E. Grinstead</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">THE LONE HAND TRACKER</td> -<td class="tdr">William W. Winter</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">WHEN DEATH RODE THE RANGE</td> -<td class="tdr">William W. Winter</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">RAW GOLD</td> -<td class="tdr">Clem Yore</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">DON QUICKSHOT LOOKING FOR TROUBLE</td> -<td class="tdr">Stephen Chalmers</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">THE LAST SHOT</td> -<td class="tdr">William MacLeod Raine</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">STRAIGHT SHOOTING</td> -<td class="tdr">W. C. Tuttle</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">SAD SONTAG PLAYS HIS HUNCH</td> -<td class="tdr">W. C. Tuttle</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">THE SENTENCE OF THE SIX GUN</td> -<td class="tdr">Anthony M. Rud</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">THE OUTLAWS OF FLOWER-POT CANYON</td> -<td class="tdr">Frank C. Robertson</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">THE CLEAN-UP ON DEAD MAN</td> -<td class="tdr">Frank C. Robertson</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">THE MASTER SQUATTER</td> -<td class="tdr">J. E. Grinstead</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">SIX GUN QUARANTINE</td> -<td class="tdr">E. E. Harriman</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">THE VALLEY OF SUSPICION</td> -<td class="tdr">J. U. Giesy</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">TREASURE TRAIL</td> -<td class="tdr">Robert Russell Strang</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">MOUNTAIN MEN</td> -<td class="tdr">Ernest Haycox</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">BATTLING HERDS</td> -<td class="tdr">W. C. Tuttle</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">HOSTAGES OF HATE</td> -<td class="tdr">Anthony M. Rud</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">TAKE-A-CHANCE TAMERLANE</td> -<td class="tdr">Stephen Chalmers</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">HASKELL OF THE DUG-OUT HILLS</td> -<td class="tdr">Frank C. Robertson</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">GUNPOWDER VALLEY</td> -<td class="tdr">Murray Leinster</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">RUSTLERS’ RANGE</td> -<td class="tdr">George C. Shedd</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">TROUBLE TRAIL</td> -<td class="tdr">Clem Yore</td> -</tr> -</table> - - -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> -<p class="center fs130">Garden City Publishing Company, <em>Inc.</em></p> -<p class="center">Garden City <span style="margin-left: 11em;">New York</span></p> -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="The_Movie_Boys_Series">The Movie Boys Series</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center fs130"><em>By</em> VICTOR APPLETON</p> -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> - -<p> -THE MOVIE BOYS ON CALL,<br> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">or Filming the Perils of A Great City.</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE MOVIE BOYS IN THE WILD WEST,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">or Stirring Days Among the Cowboys and Indians.</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE MOVIE BOYS AND THE WRECKERS,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">or Facing the Perils of the Deep.</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE MOVIE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">or Lively Times Among the Wild Beasts.</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE MOVIE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">or Filming Pictures and Strange Perils.</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE MOVIE BOYS AND THE FLOOD,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">or Perilous Days on the Mighty Mississippi.</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE MOVIE BOYS IN PERIL,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">or Strenuous Days Along the Panama Canal.</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE MOVIE BOYS UNDER THE SEA,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">or The Treasure of the Lost Ship.</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE MOVIE BOYS UNDER FIRE,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">or The Search for the Stolen Film.</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE MOVIE BOYS UNDER UNCLE SAM,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">or Taking Pictures for the Army.</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE MOVIE BOYS’ FIRST SHOWHOUSE,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">or Fighting for a Foothold in Fairlands.</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE MOVIE BOYS AT SEASIDE PARK,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">or The Rival Photo Houses of the Boardwalk.</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE MOVIE BOYS ON BROADWAY,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">or The Mystery of the Missing Cash Box.</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE MOVIE BOYS’ OUTDOOR EXHIBITION,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">or the Film that Solved the Mystery.</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE MOVIE BOYS’ NEW IDEA,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">or Getting the Best of Their Enemies.</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE MOVIE BOYS AT THE BIG FAIR,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">or The Greatest Film Ever Exhibited.</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE MOVIE BOYS’ WAR SPECTACLE,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">or The Film that Won the Prize.</span><br> -</p> - -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> -<p class="center fs130">Garden City Publishing Co., <em>Inc.</em></p> -<p class="center">Garden City <span style="margin-left: 11em;">New York</span></p> -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="The_Dave_Fearless_Series">The Dave Fearless Series</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center fs130"><em>By</em> ROY ROCKWOOD</p> -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">DAVE FEARLESS AFTER A SUNKEN TREASURE,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Rival Ocean Divers</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">DAVE FEARLESS ON A FLOATING ISLAND,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Cruise of the Treasure Ship</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">DAVE FEARLESS AND THE CAVE OF MYSTERY,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or Adrift on the Pacific</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">DAVE FEARLESS AMONG THE ICEBERGS,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Secret of the Eskimo Igloo</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">DAVE FEARLESS WRECKED AMONG SAVAGES,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Captives of the Head Hunters</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">DAVE FEARLESS AND HIS BIG RAFT,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or Alone on the Broad Pacific</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">DAVE FEARLESS ON VOLCANO ISLAND,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Magic Cave of Blue Fire</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">DAVE FEARLESS CAPTURED BY APES,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or In Gorilla Land</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">DAVE FEARLESS AND THE MUTINEERS,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or Prisoners on the Ship of Death</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">DAVE FEARLESS UNDER THE OCEAN,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Treasure of the Lost Submarine</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">DAVE FEARLESS IN THE BLACK JUNGLE,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or Lost Among the Cannibals</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">DAVE FEARLESS NEAR THE SOUTH POLE,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Giant Whales of Snow Island</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">DAVE FEARLESS CAUGHT BY MALAY PIRATES,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Secret of Bamboo Island</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">DAVE FEARLESS ON THE SHIP OF MYSTERY,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Strange Hermit of Shark Cove</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">DAVE FEARLESS ON THE LOST BRIG,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or Abandoned in the Big Hurricane</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">DAVE FEARLESS AT WHIRLPOOL POINT,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Mystery of the Water Caves</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">DAVE FEARLESS AMONG THE CANNIBALS,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Defense of the Hut in the Swamp</span><br> -</p> - -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> -<p class="center fs130">Garden City Publishing Company, <em>Inc.</em></p> -<p class="center">Garden City <span style="margin-left: 11em;">New York</span></p> -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="The_Larry_Dexter_Series">The Larry Dexter Series</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center fs130"><em>By</em> RAYMOND SPERRY</p> -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> - -<p> -LARRY DEXTER AT THE BIG FLOOD,<br> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">or The Perils of a Reporter</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">LARRY DEXTER AND THE LAND SWINDLERS,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">or Queer Adventures in a Great City</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">LARRY DEXTER AND THE MISSING MILLIONAIRE,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">or The Great Search</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">LARRY DEXTER AND THE BANK MYSTERY,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">or Exciting Days in Wall Street</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">LARRY DEXTER AND THE STOLEN BOY,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">or A Chase on the Great Lakes</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">LARRY DEXTER AT THE BATTLE FRONT,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">or A War Correspondent’s Double Mission</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">LARRY DEXTER AND THE WARD DIAMONDS,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">or The Young Reporter at Sea Cliff</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">LARRY DEXTER’S GREAT CHASE,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">or The Young Reporter Across the Continent</span><br> -</p> - -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> -<p class="center fs130">Garden City Publishing Company, <em>Inc.</em></p> -<p class="center">Garden City <span style="margin-left: 11em;">New York</span></p> -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="The"><em>The</em><br> -FRANK ALLEN SERIES</h2> -</div> -<p class="center fs130"><em>By</em> GRAHAM B. FORBES</p> -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">FRANK ALLEN’S SCHOOLDAYS,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The All Around Rivals of Columbia High</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">FRANK ALLEN PLAYING TO WIN,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Boys of Columbia High on the Ice</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">FRANK ALLEN IN WINTER SPORTS,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or Columbia High on Skates and Iceboats</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">FRANK ALLEN AND HIS RIVALS,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Boys of Columbia High in Track Athletics</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">FRANK ALLEN—PITCHER,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Boys of Columbia High on the Diamond</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">FRANK ALLEN—HEAD OF THE CREW,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Boys of Columbia High on the River</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">FRANK ALLEN IN CAMP,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or Columbia High and the School League Rivals</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">FRANK ALLEN AT ROCKSPUR RANCH,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Old Cowboy’s Secret</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">FRANK ALLEN AT GOLD FORK,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or Locating the Lost Claim</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">FRANK ALLEN AND HIS MOTORBOAT,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or Racing to Save a Life</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">FRANK ALLEN CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Boys of Columbia High on the Gridiron</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">FRANK ALLEN AT OLD MOOSE LAKE,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Trail in the Snow</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">FRANK ALLEN AT ZERO CAMP,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Queer Old Man of the Hills</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">FRANK ALLEN SNOWBOUND,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or Fighting for Life in the Big Blizzard</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">FRANK ALLEN AFTER BIG GAME,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or With Guns and Snowshoes in the Rockies</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">FRANK ALLEN WITH THE CIRCUS,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Old Ringmaster’s Secret</span><br> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">FRANK ALLEN PITCHING HIS BEST,</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">or The Baseball Rivals of Columbia</span><br> -</p> - -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> -<p class="center fs130">Garden City Publishing Company, <em>Inc.</em></p> -<p class="center">Garden City <span style="margin-left: 11em;">New York</span></p> -<hr class="fulla"> -<hr class="fullb"> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="transnote"> -<h2>Transcriber’s Notes</h2> -<br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 8 Changed Rocket was going up-stream to: upstream</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 19 Changed between the Pasons to: Parsons</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 23 Changed Lanky was siting to: sitting</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 26 Changed for the police head-quarters to: headquarters</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 36 Changed spread of carpetted to: carpeted</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 93 Added missing quote before: Let’s get her out</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 95 Changed period to comma: Perhaps they can, Frank replied</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 99 Changed if you are geting to: getting</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 102 Added comma after: finished their work</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 121 Changed way along the trial to: trail</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 121 Changed Rocket toward mid-stream to: midstream</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 136 Added hyphen to: Racing to the boathouse: boat-house</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 136 Added hyphen to: reached the boathouse: boat-house</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 137 Changed Ralph lay pone to: prone</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 143 Changed to be denied hat to: that</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 145 Changed soon had him warmed, inprisoning to: imprisoning</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 176 Changed colon to semi-colon after: seen in the trunk</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 194 Changed switched on his flash-light to: flashlight</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 212 Changed good news his morning to: this</span><br> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pg 214 Added quote before: won’t you organize a party</span><br> -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK ALLEN AND HIS MOTOR BOAT ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -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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